A gaunt young boy, appearing no older than seven or eight, lay on the thatched roof, gazing at the sky.
Upon hearing his mother's call, he started to rise but lost his footing and tumbled directly from the roof. Fortunately, he landed on a haystack below, avoiding injury.
It seemed as though Gou Dan was already accustomed to such things. He patted himself down, straightened his clothes, and then scampered toward home.
At the dinner table, his mother, while serving Gou Dan, chided him, "Did you go to the east end of the village to play again? I told you to stay away from that madman!"
Gou Dan ate ravenously, saying dismissively, "I think Uncle Feng is a good person. He's not as scary as you all say."
Gou Dan's father, who had always been taciturn and had remained silent since the meal began, put down his chopsticks upon hearing Gou Dan's words. He then slapped Gou Dan on the head.
"What do you know! How many people in the village defied fate and what was their ending? I told you to stay away from him, so stay away!"
Under the iron fist, Gou Dan dared not retort. In his heart, however, he remained unconvinced. He merely lowered his head and continued eating.
After this, although Gou Dan outwardly stopped going to Uncle Feng's house.
Whenever an opportunity arose, Gou Dan would secretly bring some food and visit Uncle Feng.
Uncle Feng was Gou Dan's own moniker for him. The villagers bluntly called him "the madman."
He was also a member of the village, orphaned from a young age and raised by the village. In his childhood, he was normal. But as he approached middle age, he began to act somewhat mad.
He would often mutter strange words.
Things like, "I've seen multiple versions of myself," and "I'm not me at all." Sometimes, he would even point at someone in the village, his expression one of sheer terror, and shout, "Didn't you die already?"
And remarkably, eight or nine out of ten villagers he cursed would indeed die suddenly not long after.
The existence of Immortals and deities in this world was undeniable. The villagers were certain that the madman was connected to those profound and mysterious forces. To avoid further trouble, the villagers decided to unite and expel him.
But in the village, there seemed to be something he cared for deeply. Sensing the villagers' malice, the madman suddenly became violent and injured people.
Gou Dan was unsure how many people died that day. All he knew was that from then on, the villagers chose to keep their distance from the madman, treating him with avoidance and fear.
Only the fearless, like Gou Dan, dared to approach him.
The madman always stayed in his ancestral dilapidated house, out of sight of the sun, dark and gloomy. He would curl up in a corner, constantly repeating something in a low murmur.
Initially, Gou Dan had stumbled into the house during a game of hide-and-seek with his friends. He was startled by the eerie and terrifying atmosphere within.
However, when he heard the madman's murmuring, though he didn't understand the meaning of the sounds, Gou Dan was involuntarily drawn in.
Only when the shouts of his friends outside reached his ears did Gou Dan reluctantly leave. From then on, whenever Gou Dan felt dazed, the madman's whispers would echo in his mind.
Finally, one day, Gou Dan could no longer resist the temptation. He returned to the madman's dark hovel.
Politely, he brought a roasted duck.
Perhaps it was the aroma of the food that briefly awakened the madman's senses. He stopped muttering, unceremoniously snatched the roasted duck, and devoured it greedily.
After a filling meal, the madman, in his lucid moment, merely warned Gou Dan to stay away from him.
Having been tricked out of a roasted duck, how could Gou Dan give up so easily? Naturally, he refused to leave. He even inquired about the sentences the madman had been chanting.
The madman remained silent at first.
Then, from the ruins of the house, he dug out a pile of wooden tablets, saying they were ancestral tablets.
He didn't know what he was saying when he was acting mad. However, this peculiar affliction had plagued their Xuanyuan clan since ancient times.
Fortunately, only one person in each generation suffered from this strange ailment. As the Xuanyuan clan branched out, few humans still remembered this hereditary disease.
"Let this curse end with me." The madman arranged the tablets in order on the ground. When it came to himself, he placed only an empty wooden tablet.
Then, to Gou Dan's shocked gaze, all the tablets spontaneously ignited, turning to ash in an instant within the small wooden room.
Gou Dan then asked about the unexplained deaths in the village.
Uncle Feng flashed a pale smile. "Predestined deaths have nothing to do with me. The rooster crows, and the world turns white. Do you think the sun in the sky is truly called out by a rooster's crow?"
"Gou Dan, you must understand that everything in the world has already happened countless times. This is merely another rehearsal. Just like you..."
Uncle Feng stared intently at Gou Dan, then a look of extreme terror slowly spread across his face. After the fear subsided, he began to act mad again. Before completely losing his sanity, he casually flung Gou Dan out of the door.
From that day on, Gou Dan vaguely believed that this mad uncle must be hiding some great secret.
Although young Gou Dan couldn't understand Uncle Feng's words. He firmly believed that the secret surrounding Uncle Feng was likely connected to the legendary Immortals!
For this reason, Gou Dan painstakingly inquired about Uncle Feng's real name from his father.
Xuanyuan Sheng.
Even though everyone in the village was surnamed Xuanyuan, Gou Dan found his uncle's name particularly pleasing.
In the days that followed, Uncle Feng's madness grew more severe. Even Gou Dan's attempts to comfort him with food became ineffective.
Gou Dan could only climb onto Uncle Feng's roof and close his eyes, listening to Uncle Feng's increasingly bizarre pronouncements from below.
Each time he listened to Uncle Feng's unsettling tone, which seemed terrifying to outsiders, Gou Dan would sleep exceptionally soundly.
This continued until Gou Dan turned nine years old.
One night, a deafening explosion suddenly erupted from the village. Villagers were startled awake and discovered that the sound originated from Xuanyuan Sheng's house.
By the time they arrived, they found that the place had inexplicably been razed to the ground.
Uncle Feng's death did not cause much of a stir. To the majority of the Xuanyuan clan, the disappearance of Xuanyuan Sheng, a source of trouble, was actually a good thing.
Only Gou Dan was immensely saddened by Uncle Feng's death. He even searched the accident site carefully when no one was around. Unfortunately, apart from a scorched ancestral tablet, he found nothing else.
This wooden tablet was burned down to its last corner. Gou Dan, being illiterate, took it to a literate elder in the village to inquire. He learned that it was the character "Hong."
"Xuanyuan Hong."
Gou Dan had an excellent memory. He vaguely recalled that when Uncle Feng arranged the tablets in order on the ground, this tablet seemed to have been solemnly placed in the first position by Uncle Feng.
Knowing it was an ancestral tablet, Gou Dan dared not keep it for himself.
After respectfully kneeling and paying homage, Gou Dan burned the remaining wooden tablet to ashes.
Xuanyuan Village had always been a place of peace, indifferent to the outside world.
After Xuanyuan Sheng's death, the village returned to its former peaceful life. Gou Dan gradually grew up, and the villagers no longer called him "Gou Dan."
Instead, they called him by his given name, Xuanyuan Tuo.
Xuanyuan Tuo's life trajectory was similar to that of other villagers.
Sowing, plowing, harvesting. Marrying, taking a wife, having children.
However, in his spare moments, Xuanyuan Tuo would vaguely recall Uncle Feng's murmurs from his childhood.
As time passed, that mystical melody remained etched in his mind, never fading.
As Xuanyuan Tuo grew older, his life seemed destined.
Until, in his fiftieth year.
Xuanyuan Tuo's son died of illness. His wife, unable to bear the grief of a parent outliving a child, also passed away shortly after.
In less than half a year, he lost two beloved family members in quick succession. Xuanyuan Tuo was consumed by grief.
Feeling that life was meaningless, he often contemplated ending his own life.
But at the critical moment, that familiar mystical melody, which had accompanied him throughout his life, rang out again, dispelling the dark thoughts in his mind.
Xuanyuan Tuo sat in a daze for several days, his sorrow gradually subsiding.
He no longer planned to remarry or have children.
Instead, a thought, like a tiny flame, ignited in his heart, then spread like wildfire, becoming uncontrollable.
Witnessing the deaths of his loved ones one after another, Xuanyuan Tuo profoundly realized the fragility of life.
Thinking that he was already over fifty and perhaps would soon follow the footsteps of the deceased, Xuanyuan Tuo felt an immense sense of dread.
Without eating or drinking, he sat meditating for two days.
Finally, Xuanyuan Tuo decided to cultivate, to seek longevity!
For an old farmer who was nearly fifty, seeking immortality seemed like a complete joke.
Xuanyuan Tuo knew how absurd his decision was.
Therefore, he did not announce it. He quietly packed his belongings and left Xuanyuan Village.
Alone, he embarked on the path of seeking immortality.
Fortunately, the immortal path was prosperous in this era. Immortals were not reclusive; on the contrary, in almost every large town, one could occasionally see the figures of Immortals soaring through the air.
After enduring countless taunts, Xuanyuan Tuo finally inquired about the location of the nearest cultivation sect.
The Returning Origin Sect!
After a thousand hardships, Xuanyuan Tuo finally arrived outside the Returning Origin Sect.
He was astonished to find hundreds of people gathered like him. However, most of them were young children accompanied by attendants. He, on the other hand, with one foot already in the grave, was contemplating immortality – a unique case.
After some inquiries, Xuanyuan Tuo learned the reason for the gathering outside the sect gates. It was because the sect's protective formation was currently active, encircling the mountains, and it was not yet time for the Returning Origin Sect to recruit disciples. Blessed immortal lands were inaccessible to mortals.
Xuanyuan Tuo inquired about the date of the next disciple recruitment ceremony. He learned that it would be held three years later.
He had initially intended to wait obediently outside the sect gates like these people. But for some reason, as Xuanyuan Tuo looked at the sect's protective formation, which everyone else feared like a tiger, he vaguely felt that it wasn't all that terrifying.
With a restless urge, Xuanyuan Tuo, always bold, decided to take a risk.
As a result, it turned out to be as he expected. He encountered no danger at all and, in a muddled state, successfully reached the gates of the Returning Origin Sect!
Upon meeting an Immortal Elder, Xuanyuan Tuo was overjoyed. He wished to join the immortal sect, but was cruelly mocked by the elder.
Fortunately, just as he was about to be forcibly expelled, an Immortal Elder surnamed Xu, perhaps pitying him, gave him a beginner immortal technique. He promised that if Xuanyuan Tuo could cultivate Spirit Qi within a year, he could return to find him.
Although he did not formally join the immortal sect on this trip, he had at least obtained an immortal technique.
Xuanyuan Tuo treasured the book next to his skin, bypassed the crowd still waiting at the sect gates, and for safety's sake, he traveled a long distance to a more remote mortal town.
Xuanyuan Tuo was illiterate himself. To cultivate the immortal technique, he seized every opportunity along the way to ask others for explanations and to learn.
Although he was old, his mind was not dull. After safely reaching his destination, Xuanyuan Tuo could recognize most of the characters in the beginner immortal technique.
Without an immortal master to guide him, Xuanyuan Tuo pondered it himself.
The immortal technique was profound. Even a beginner cultivation technique was not something a rustic farmer who had never seen the world could successfully cultivate on his own.
Moreover, Xuanyuan Tuo was already in his fifties, far past the optimal period for cultivation.
Additionally, he had to earn money during the day to sustain his basic livelihood…
In the blink of an eye, the year was drawing to a close. Yet, Xuanyuan Tuo, with an immortal technique in hand, had achieved nothing.
"Even if I cultivate Spirit Qi, I won't be able to return in time."
Xuanyuan Tuo's heart was filled with despair.
"Cultivation is truly too difficult for ordinary people like us."
He suddenly remembered the young Immortal Master he had seen looking up at the sky in the city a few days ago. Not yet twenty, he could already command the wind and soar freely.
How unfair was the Heavenly Dao!
Despair, jealousy, fear…
Xuanyuan Tuo collapsed on the ground, looking up at the sky.
"Why can't everyone in the world cultivate?"
"Why must there be such restrictions between heaven and earth?"
"This cursed heaven!"
Such curses were commonplace, happening ceaselessly all over the world every moment.
But as Xuanyuan Tuo cursed in his heart, the familiar murmurs of his mad Uncle Xuanyuan Sheng resounded in his ears again.
This time, however, they did not disappear quickly.
Instead, they looped over and over, completely filling his mind!
In a trance, Xuanyuan Tuo seemed to return to his childhood.
In that eerie small hovel, Uncle Feng stood amidst the ancestral tablets filling the room, his face contorted in a demonic grimace.
"It's happening again! Burned but unquenchable, the lingering spirit!"
"Then let's die together!"
Fierce flames suddenly erupted from Xuanyuan Sheng's body.
He then charged towards the towering, dense rows of ancestral tablets.
The dark flames gradually transferred from Xuanyuan Sheng's body to the tablets.
Amidst Xuanyuan Sheng's frenzied laughter, the fire gradually engulfed everything.
In the end, only the corner of the tablet inscribed with "Xuanyuan Hong" remained.
And then, it was picked up by Xuanyuan Tuo!
【Xuanyuan Hong】!
Three large characters appeared ghost-like in his mind, gradually seeping blood-red from their golden hue.
Then they exploded with a thunderous roar!
Xuanyuan Tuo fainted from the shock.
When he awoke, he stared blankly at the sky. He then looked at his reflection in a mirror.
Something seemed to have changed.
Looking back at the beginner immortal technique bestowed by the Returning Origin Sect Immortal Elder, Xuanyuan Tuo found it incredibly easy to understand.
It was even…
somewhat simplistic.
Xuanyuan Tuo was no longer in a hurry to achieve success and return to join the Returning Origin Sect.
Instead, he began to ponder the question he had previously considered.
"Why can't everyone in this world cultivate?"
Xuanyuan Tuo naturally understood that heaven and earth gave birth to all things, and each person was different.
But was there a way for all beings to ignore the disparity in talent and cultivate?
The murmurs that had always been by his side no longer sounded, and Xuanyuan Tuo felt a moment of unease.
But at the same time, numerous images began to appear in his mind.
Among them were scenes of countless plants and beasts.
There were familiar and yet unfamiliar faces.
And some were scenes of dialogues with unclear meanings.
"Going forward, what certainty do you have?"
"We can only do our best and leave the rest to fate."
"That doesn't sound like you."
"The disparity in strength is too great; we can only risk our lives."
"Enough, go then. I don't know if it will be a blessing or a curse."
…
Xuanyuan Tuo pressed his glabella.
It seemed he had forgotten some extremely important mission.
The chaotic memories did not affect Xuanyuan Tuo's resolve.
Instead, with the help of these fragmented memories that suddenly surged into his mind.
Xuanyuan Tuo continued to delve deeper into his previous question.
How could everyone cultivate?
The images in his mind grew more numerous and chaotic.
Gradually, they pieced together the life of another powerful cultivator named 【Heavenly Physician Venerate】.
However, Xuanyuan Tuo, driven by the obsession in his heart, forcibly suppressed everything for the time being.
He continued to ponder mechanically.
For thirty-three days he sat in the courtyard.
On this day, Xuanyuan Tuo, who had become extremely emaciated, with only a thin layer of skin hanging loosely on his bones, resembling a skeleton, suddenly stood up.
His eyes sparkled like the stars in the sky, bright and luminous.
He looked up at the heavens and murmured, "I wish to become an Immortal; why seek heaven? If heaven does not grant it, I shall take it myself!"
"Following heaven leads to mortality, defying heaven..."
"...leads to immortality!"
Xuanyuan Tuo's slightly hunched chest straightened instantly.
With his mortal body, he met the vast sky's gaze.
Though he bore no special aura, he seemed to be on equal footing.
He continued to chant, "Therefore, the path of immortality is..."
"To absorb the Spirit Qi of heaven and earth to control its qi;
To borrow the oddities of heaven and earth to build the Dao foundation;
To peer into the laws of heaven and earth to refine the Golden Core;
To seize the essence of heaven and earth to achieve the Nascent Soul;
To extract the marrow of heaven and earth to attain divinity;
To sacrifice the soul of heaven and earth to merge with the Dao;
To defy the principles of heaven and earth to prove longevity!"
Xuanyuan Tuo spoke faster and faster, until the last sentence, collapsing in exhaustion.
But he did not get up, lying there on the ground, laughing heartily.
Too weak, Xuanyuan Tuo, who had attained the Dao he desired, fell into a deep slumber.
The Spirit Qi between heaven and earth was spontaneously attracted, surging forth to form a whirlwind, lifting and enveloping Xuanyuan Tuo in mid-air.
After a long while, the phenomenon of Spirit Qi infusion gradually dissipated.
Xuanyuan Tuo slowly descended to the ground. His half-century-old body was filled with renewed vitality. Although his appearance remained aged, his body contained boundless vigor within.
An unknown amount of time passed…
Xuanyuan Tuo's face twitched intensely in his sleep.
He abruptly opened his eyes.
However, his eyes were devoid of pupils, filled entirely with white, a bizarre sight.
His voice became even more aged and deep.
"The Azure Nether Heavenly Dao is more difficult to deal with than I had imagined."
"I almost completely lost myself, unable to recover my original consciousness."
"Cough, cough, I miscalculated somewhat."
"The Xuanhuang Realm is indeed a realm favored by immortals. Its Heavenly Dao possesses power far exceeding the Heavenly Law Realm.
The 'Method of Heavenly Soul Reincarnation,' which completely severs connections with the past realm, leaving only a sliver of consciousness to reincarnate. I had already tested this method countless times in the Heavenly Law Realm without any failure.
Although I anticipated encountering some unexpected situations in the Xuanhuang Realm, the actual level of danger far exceeded my expectations.
It took a full fifty years for me to awaken…
After a period of assessment, the ancient voice spoke again, filled with disbelief.
'Strange! Heavenly Soul Reincarnation uses the 'Heavenly Soul' Great Dao of the Heavenly Law Realm as a sacrifice, allowing reincarnation and integration into the Xuanhuang Realm, transforming into a native being to deceive the Xuanhuang Realm's Heavenly Dao.
The original plan was for me to awaken, then observe the Xuanhuang Realm, and then create a new method to sow chaos from within. But now, before my true consciousness has even awakened, this body has already created a new technique?!
'To defy the principles of heaven and earth, and prove longevity…'
The Heavenly Physician grew increasingly astonished. 'This cultivation method aligns perfectly with my own thoughts and aspirations. Even the exquisite details surpass my own!'
At this very moment, as if sensing the Heavenly Physician's words, Xuanyuan Tuo's eyelids twitched violently.
The Heavenly Physician's voice began to fade.
'No! Heavenly Soul Reincarnation is superior to soul possession. I have awakened, why does the consciousness of this body still exist?'
'The Xuanyuan clan?!' Amidst the Heavenly Physician's startled cry, Xuanyuan Tuo fully awoke from his comatose state.
The Heavenly Physician fell utterly silent.
Xuanyuan Tuo, upon waking, seemed completely unaware of the Heavenly Physician's presence within him. He joyfully examined his cultivation, having already reached the Qi Refining stage.
After a while, Xuanyuan Tuo took to the air, soaring into the sky amidst the astonished cries of the mortals in the city.
Within the immortal formation, light and shadow shifted.
Subsequently, guided by an inexplicable sense in his mind, Xuanyuan Tuo continuously searched for rare cultivation items throughout the Xuanhuang Realm.
In a mere half a year, he forged his Dao foundation with 'Myriad Spirits of the Azure Nether,' achieved the Golden Core with the 'Heaven's Derivation Technique,' and advanced to Nascent Soul with the 'Primordial Grotto-heaven.'
He then ascended to the Soul Transformation realm, utilizing the world's 'Embodiment of the World's Essence to Unite with the Dao.'
His progress was unstoppable, advancing like a rapid torrent!
However, at the peak of the Soul Transformation realm, he paused at the step of 'Embodying the World's Essence to Unite with the Dao.'
The Xuanhuang Realm possessed countless essences of heaven and earth. Choosing the right one presented a dilemma for Xuanyuan Tuo.
Before the creation of his new method, the essences of heaven and earth were regarded by cultivators as projections of the world's Heavenly Dao will, serving as the most suitable path for comprehending heavenly laws.
While some cultivators had attempted to capture these essences, they could at best use them for enlightenment, not refine them to enhance their own cultivation.
'Essences of heaven and earth are born with heavenly duties. Since my descent into this world in human form, although I appear as an independent entity, I remain connected to the Great Heavenly Dao network. My envisioned new method precisely exploits this connection to steal the power of heaven and earth.'
'Each strand of heavenly essence corresponds to a specific heavenly law. My objective is…'
Xuanyuan Tuo gazed upon the Xuanhuang Realm. The world's scenery blurred, transforming into a vast, interwoven net. His gaze swept across the colossal web as he meticulously searched for his target.
After an unknown duration…
Xuanyuan Tuo's gaze suddenly sharpened. A complex mix of emotions flickered across his face – confusion, then surprise.
'For some reason, I feel an inexplicable sense of familiarity.'
'Furthermore, the law corresponding to that strand of heavenly essence does not seem native to the Xuanhuang Realm. Compared to other laws, it appears somewhat out of place…'
'From the Upper Realm?'
Xuanyuan Tuo remained in silence for a long time before finally making a decision.
He spent another half a year, employing all his techniques, to finally draw out this distinctive strand of heavenly essence!
Enveloped in golden light, its aura was inviolable. It condescended to gaze upon Xuanyuan Tuo below, as if he were an ant.
'Even if you originated from the Immortal Realm and merged into the Azure Nether, you have fallen into the mortal world. Facing death, you are still unaware!' A year prior, Xuanyuan Tuo had the mindset of a-half-century-old farmer.
But as his cultivation and realm steadily increased over the year, and as more memories flooded his mind, Xuanyuan Tuo's demeanor transformed. He no longer showed any deference even to those with apparent ties to the Upper Realm, viewing them merely as prey.
Xuanyuan Tuo struck with his palm. The space around the golden heavenly essence instantly froze. Countless scenes of the Xuanhuang Realm materialized into formidable phantoms, surging forward.
It was as if he had created a world around the golden heavenly essence, and then manifested numerous heavenly essences to attack it.
Xuanyuan Tuo remained seated like a commander-in-chief, unfazed by the battle unfolding beneath him. Although the golden heavenly essence was powerful, after Xuanyuan Tuo severed its connection to the Xuanhuang Realm with his unfathomable methods, it became like a tree without roots or water without a source.
It was finally exhausted and died, transforming into a golden light that Xuanyuan Tuo absorbed.
'Heavenly Essence – 'Golden Arbiter'!'
The brilliant golden light receded as Xuanyuan Tuo exhaled deeply.
The 'Golden Arbiter' had existed in the Xuanhuang Realm since its creation. It was created by immortals and possessed the ability to manage and create all things in the Xuanhuang Realm. Originally hidden deep within the Xuanhuang Realm, it was undetectable by mortals. However, with the destruction of the Immortal Realm, the 'Golden Arbiter's' law lost its ancient formation and shattered. This allowed Xuanyuan Tuo to discover its traces.
By uniting with the 'Golden Arbiter,' Xuanyuan Tuo's strength leaped to a new qualitative level. Ordinary cultivators in the Longevity Realm were no match for him. Only the sect leaders of the Myriad Immortal Sects with profound foundations might pose a threat.
Xuanyuan Tuo knew it was time to begin his path of spreading his teachings, the final step.
'Using human momentum to seize heavenly momentum.'
'Using the Human Way to establish the Heavenly Dao.'
'When more and more cultivators in the world practice my new method, and eventually overturn the universe, making this the only methodology, that day will be when I attain the Dao!'
'From this day forward, I shall turn the Xuanhuang Realm upside down!'
With this conviction, Xuanyuan Tuo arrived at the Cloudy Sea, a desolate region on the frontier of the Xuanhuang Realm.
He began his first endeavor to spread his teachings.
When he manifested his divine form and declared to the world, 'To defy the principles of heaven and earth and prove longevity,' it did not cause a significant stir. The new method was too astonishing, and few cultivators were willing to believe him and reform their practices.
However, Xuanyuan Tuo was undeterred and continued to propagate the new method across the Azure Nether land.
When the first batch of mortals, unable to cultivate through conventional means, ascended to become cultivators, they became his most fervent followers.
They did not know Xuanyuan Tuo's name, only referring to him with reverence as the 'Doctrine Transmitter Immortal Venerable.' His followers spontaneously formed organizations like the Myriad Immortals Alliance, helping each other and spreading the new method.
Within a few years, the new method had spread like wildfire, sweeping across the entire realm!
Such a commotion naturally attracted the attention of the aloof Myriad Immortal Sects.
Slaughter descended.
The Myriad Immortals Alliance was merely in its nascent stages; how could it stand against the Myriad Immortal Sects that had dominated the Xuanhuang Realm for millennia? Even without the direct intervention of the Myriad Immortal Sects, their subordinate sects alone inflicted heavy losses on the Myriad Immortals Alliance.
However, cultivators of the new method possessed an advantage that old method cultivators lacked.
Firstly, the cultivation speed of the new method was incredibly fast. Even if they were annihilated, a large number of new method cultivators would reappear shortly thereafter.
Secondly, once they reached the Nascent Soul realm, the survival capabilities of new method cultivators were exceptionally strong. As long as their divine souls were not fatally wounded, any physical injuries could be instantly healed.
With these two factors combined, although many new method cultivators perished, most were in the Qi Refining to Golden Core stages. Those in the Nascent Soul realm and above, however, frequently survived.
Through continuous struggle, their experience grew richer.
In contrast, the old method cultivators required a significant amount of time and resources to train a qualified fighter. Each loss was irreplaceable.
With this imbalance, the tides began to slowly turn.
Furthermore, Xuanyuan Tuo could sense that even within the ten sects, some individuals had begun to switch to the new method. They were no longer a monolithic entity, so how could they possibly sweep away external enemies in one fell swoop?
As everything was progressing favorably according to his plan, a sense of foreboding intensified within Xuanyuan Tuo, as if impending doom were imminent.
Even though Xuanyuan Tuo had meticulously concealed his whereabouts and no longer openly preached in broad daylight, this sense of crisis did not diminish.
Xuanyuan Tuo realized he must have been targeted by the major figures of the ten sects. He knew that only by facing them directly could he truly understand the despair one felt when confronting such colossal entities.
Xuanyuan Tuo tried every conceivable method, but it seemed an inescapable fate awaited him: death.
However, Xuanyuan Tuo refused to die.
Just as despair threatened to engulf him, the ethereal murmuring voice that had accompanied him since childhood, after many years, resurfaced!
Since embarking on the path of cultivation, this voice had vanished from Xuanyuan Tuo's life. Its return now brought back all the experiences Xuanyuan Tuo had undergone over the years!
Within the hazy, mystical murmurs, Xuanyuan Tuo seemed to relive his past experiences. He could even observe everything around him from a third-person perspective.
Xuanyuan Tuo even felt an inexplicable sensation: he seemed to be able to, to some extent, manipulate and alter the thoughts of these individuals!
When he saw a young cultivator in his memories, who had surrounded him and listened to his teachings, Xuanyuan Tuo was suddenly filled with an inexplicable surge of joy. He knew that this young man was his lifeline!
His divine soul rejoiced and leaped with excitement. Accompanied by the murmuring sounds, Xuanyuan Tuo approached, touched, and invaded… Even though it was a phantom within his memory, empowered by the mysterious force of the murmurs, Xuanyuan Tuo felt as if he had truly entered the other person's divine soul. He became aware of everything about him.
'Chen Tianhai! The foremost legitimate disciple of the Grand Origin Sect! The Heaven's Derivation Nine Scrolls, the Mother Stone of Dao Dissolution!'
'There are such divine artifacts in the world?' Xuanyuan Tuo's mind churned, nearly jolting him out of the mystical state. The Mother Stone of Dao Dissolution was something he had never heard of, even amidst the countless images that flooded his mind.
'If I could borrow the power of this Mother Stone of Dao Dissolution for deduction, it would undoubtedly help me find a sliver of hope for survival!' Xuanyuan Tuo's heart ignited with hope.
However, the Mother Stone of Dao Dissolution was a treasure that even Chen Tianhai, the foremost legitimate disciple of the Grand Origin Sect, was not qualified to use. For an outsider like himself, and an enemy of the Myriad Immortal Sects, to attempt to invoke it… was sheer madness!
'Perhaps I can manipulate and influence Chen Tianhai to accomplish this.' Xuanyuan Tuo suddenly had a flash of insight.
To probe the thoughts of phantom images from past memories was already incredible. To influence the future reality through past phantom images was even more unheard of. Yet, for some reason, Xuanyuan Tuo felt an unshakeable confidence. If he could utilize the murmuring voice in his mind… this matter would not be difficult.
Xuanyuan Tuo was indeed a prodigy. Even without fully understanding the principle behind the murmuring voice, he instinctively began to research its practical applications.
In a trance, he established a connection with the real Chen Tianhai. He could vaguely perceive Chen Tianhai's every thought and intention.
Silently, Chen Tianhai's memories were altered. It was as if, when he had observed the preaching session back then, the preaching figure had inexplicably glanced at him. In the years that followed, that gaze from the preacher had haunted him, becoming his inner demon, plaguing his every waking moment.
Chen Tianhai was chosen as the foremost legitimate disciple of the Grand Origin Sect due to his exceptional talent and unwavering will – a true prodigy. With immense willpower, Chen Tianhai suppressed the sense of unease in his heart.
Xuanyuan Tuo did not grow arrogant, patiently awaiting the opportune moment he sensed. The seed had been sown; it would surely blossom.
As expected, not long after, the Sect Leader of the Great Dao Sect, Fang Dingge, entrusted the task of using the Mother Stone of Dao Dissolution for deduction to the Grand Origin Sect Leader, Xing Ji Daoist, before embarking on an expedition to encircle and eliminate the preaching figure with six Longevity Realm experts.
Xing Ji Daoist performed five hundred million deductions, all concluding with the preaching figure's death. Upon receiving the reply, Fang Dingge set out to search and capture the preacher.
'Six Longevity cultivators… what a grand undertaking,' Xuanyuan Tuo's heart chilled. Sensing his impending doom, he remained calm despite his alarm. He utilized the mysterious power of the murmuring voice to further corrupt and influence Chen Tianhai's will.
It was also fated that Xuanyuan Tuo's life would not end here. Xing Ji Daoist temporarily left the Grand Origin Sect to suppress disturbances in the Prison of Uncertainty. Chen Tianhai, unable to resist the inner temptation, autonomously initiated deductions with the Mother Stone of Dao Dissolution.
After countless deductions, amidst impossibility, he found the sole path to survival! Chen Tianhai, foreseeing the demise of the six Longevity cultivators, was shaken and became distraught. Xuanyuan Tuo seized the final opportunity, heading straight for the pocket world indicated by the Mother Stone of Dao Dissolution's deductions. He arrived just before the six Great Longevity cultivators from the immortal sects could surround him.
The six Longevity cultivators arrived one after another. Even with his heaven-defying abilities, Xuanyuan Tuo was quickly heavily injured under their assault. Just as he was about to perish, the foreign tribes within the pocket world, tragically caught in the crossfire of their battle, launched an unexpected counterattack.
Those beings, whom the six Longevity cultivators dismissed as ants and utterly disregarded, chanted and summoned a gate. This gate Enveloped all seven figures, including Xuanyuan Tuo. The gate opened, and boundless darkness engulfed them all.
Within the Sea of Darkness, utilizing the scenario deduced by the Mother Stone of Dao Dissolution, Xuanyuan Tuo, with the revived will to survive of a True Immortal, slew the six Longevity cultivators one by one. He himself finally succumbed to his severe injuries and fell unconscious in the Sea of Darkness.
During this time, the Heavenly Physician, who had been lurking and waiting, finally regained control of the body.
'What is that murmuring voice?' The Heavenly Physician, who had been observing the entire ordeal, was also stunned by that mysterious, unfathomable power. The Heavenly Physician believed this body was doomed, but unexpectedly, Xuanyuan Tuo had indeed found a path to survival against all odds. The ability to influence reality from past memories simply did not exist in the mortal world!
'More importantly, Xuanyuan Tuo and I are essentially one soul. Yet, that murmuring voice only exists within his memories.'
'Although I know of its existence, I cannot recall or perceive it specifically…' The Heavenly Physician's mind was profoundly shaken, and he remained in a state of turmoil for a long time."
While shocked by this unknown power, the Heavenly Physician also felt a great sense of apprehension towards the original owner of this body.
Taking advantage of Xuanyuan Tuo's severe injuries and unconscious state, the Heavenly Physician began to subtly manipulate things within the body.
Knowing Xuanyuan Tuo was protected by the power of a mysterious murmuring sound, the Heavenly Physician avoided conventional methods. Instead, he relied solely on the connection formed between his and Xuanyuan Tuo's souls through the "Heavenly Soul Reincarnation" technique, using himself as the medicine to slowly infiltrate.
In a sense, he was Xuanyuan Tuo, and Xuanyuan Tuo was him. However, due to the mystical force shrouding the Xuanyuan clan's bloodline, Xuanyuan Tuo, who should have lost his independent consciousness, still retained control of his body.
The stronger Xuanyuan Tuo became, the stronger the Heavenly Physician also became.
As his injuries gradually healed, Xuanyuan Tuo slowly awoke and escaped the dark sea.
The inexplicable disappearance of six Longevity Realm powerhouses naturally caused a huge stir.
However, the Ten Sects were deeply rooted, and although this loss was a severe blow, it was not enough to cripple them.
Xuanyuan Tuo had a vague premonition that he would soon face the Ten Sects' true trump cards.
Yet, for some unknown reason, Xuanyuan Tuo seemed to have overestimated the Ten Sects. Until he achieved Longevity Heavenly Venerate, the Ten Sects never mounted a strong counterattack. They merely consolidated their forces and defended their sect territories.
They allowed the Myriad Immortals Alliance to devour the smaller sects on the periphery of the Ten Sects.
When Xuanyuan Tuo finally attained Longevity, the Xuanhuang Realm's laws were irrevocably changed.
The old methods were obsolete, and the new methods became the only path for cultivators in the world.
Xuanyuan Tuo's long-held ideals and ambitions were finally realized. All those in the world who wished to cultivate could do so without hindrance.
Although he had foreseen that as the number of cultivators increased, the resources required for advancing through the new methods would become a bottleneck.
However, Xuanyuan Tuo already had a plan in mind.
He had absorbed the power of the "Golden Arbiter," enabling him to manipulate the Xuanhuang Realm and continuously generate various oddities, grotto-heavens, and even the very essence of heaven and earth.
Internally, the Xuanhuang Realm evolved endlessly, self-sustaining.
Externally, it annexed and absorbed the remnants of cultivation worlds still surviving in the star sea to supplement its resources.
As the number of cultivators following the new methods grew, Xuanyuan Tuo's own strength would also continuously increase.
Even though the immortal path was broken, he could still reach the pinnacle of the star sea. At that time, he would repair the ancient formation left by the Heavenly Mysteries Sect and lead the Xuanhuang Realm to escape the grasp of the Immortal Ruins.
After reaching a relatively safe area for a period of time, he would then use the power of reversing the principles of heaven and earth, which one achieves when ascending to Longevity Heavenly Venerate, to continuously transform the Xuanhuang Realm.
According to Xuanyuan Tuo's calculations, with about a dozen Longevity Heavenly Venerates working together to build the Xuanhuang Realm and activating the power of the ancient formation, they might be able to leap over the The Great Barriers.
Xuanyuan Tuo, who was also known as the Doctrine Transmitter Heavenly Venerate, while accumulating strength and improving himself, was also secretly assessing cultivators in the Xuanhuang Realm who could shoulder great responsibility.
He did not focus on talent, but solely on their character and integrity.
If they passed his test, the Doctrine Transmitter Heavenly Venerate would secretly intervene, aiding them in comprehending the method of reversing principles and directly attaining the Longevity Realm.
Xuanyuan Tuo had indeed identified several promising young individuals worthy of his trust.
However, before he could act, a calamity suddenly descended upon the Xuanhuang Realm – the law could not be cultivated together!
This profound change in heaven and earth was entirely unexpected by Xuanyuan Tuo.
He wielded the Dao of the "Golden Arbiter," and the principles of the Xuanhuang Realm should have been within his grasp. Yet, such a change occurred inexplicably.
The Azure Nether Great Heavenly Venerate!
This name instantly appeared in Xuanyuan Tuo's mind.
Xuanyuan Tuo held no ill will towards this newly ascended Azure Nether Great Heavenly Venerate. He even considered approaching him for a discussion.
But unfortunately, this Great Heavenly Venerate, using the power of the Azure Nether Heavenly Dao, had remained well-hidden.
Meanwhile, Xuanyuan Tuo had to divert his attention to deal with the mess left behind by the Myriad Immortals Alliance after the "Incompatibility of Laws" calamity struck.
The Ten Sects, with their deep foundations, had cultivation methods that varied greatly among their disciples. Their order was still maintained, preventing an immediate collapse.
The Myriad Immortals Alliance, on the other hand, had experienced an explosive growth in cultivator numbers. However, the vast majority of them practiced Xuanyuan Tuo's "Heavenly Net Divine Skill."
This technique, personally deduced by Xuanyuan Tuo, was incredibly comprehensive and could lead to enlightenment in all laws. Yet, when the calamity arrived, it became a death sentence for the Myriad Immortals Alliance!
The Myriad Immortals Alliance, having been established for a short time, was a loose confederation formed by cultivators of the new methods. Apart from Xuanyuan Tuo's immense prestige, no one else commanded enough authority to unite them. Under the calamity, the Myriad Immortals Alliance descended into horrific infighting.
Thus, the Myriad Immortals Alliance, considered a major threat by the Ten Sects, collapsed on its own before the Ten Sects even had to act.
After this incident, Xuanyuan Tuo deeply understood the importance of foundations.
Although the Myriad Immortals Alliance seemed powerful when it first rose, its accumulation of strength was insufficient, making its ability to withstand disaster extremely poor. Any slight disturbance would break it.
Xuanyuan Tuo attempted to salvage and preserve the spirit of the Myriad Immortals Alliance while simultaneously seeking the Azure Nether Great Heavenly Venerate.
However, having established the new methods, if he did not possess the power of the "Golden Arbiter," he and the Azure Nether Heavenly Dao were fundamentally opposed.
The Azure Nether Great Heavenly Venerate, naturally, held an irreconcilable hatred towards him.
"You misunderstand me deeply. This is judging by actions, not intentions." Xuanyuan Tuo felt a sense of regret.
But as a supreme expert, his pride would not allow him to proactively offer explanations.
Even the Azure Nether Great Heavenly Venerate could not stop the Doctrine Transmitter Heavenly Venerate, who had already succeeded in reversing the principles!
However, not long after, two unexpected events occurred that Xuanyuan Tuo had not anticipated.
The first event was that Xuanyuan Tuo, already the strongest being of the current era, occasionally experienced a sense of dread. His inner premonitions were filled with unease and sorrow. After careful investigation, Xuanyuan Tuo was horrified to discover that these emotions did not originate from himself but from another existence within his body! A second consciousness that he had failed to detect for a long time!
The second event was that while the calamity of "Incompatibility of Laws" had not yet passed, a disaster known as the Celestial-Mortal Miasma quietly descended upon the world. The arrival of the Celestial-Mortal Miasma was accompanied by the demise of the unknown Azure Nether Great Heavenly Venerate!
This event was even more baffling to Xuanyuan Tuo than discovering another consciousness within himself. This was because Xuanyuan Tuo understood that it was the Azure Nether Great Heavenly Venerate who, at the cost of his own life, had initiated a reversal of principles.
While achieving the status of both new and old Heavenly Venerates, he had also suffered a backlash and perished.
Xuanyuan Tuo could not comprehend the other's actions.
But Xuanyuan Tuo knew that someone capable of simultaneously holding the titles of new and old Heavenly Venerates could not be incompetent. There must have been a reason for his actions.
Xuanyuan Tuo racked his brain, unable to understand.
It wasn't until later that he discovered that even after being expelled or overcome by cultivators, the Celestial-Mortal Miasma would still linger in the bloodlines of their descendants.
As a part of the heavenly laws, it prevented mortals from cultivating.
However, if mortals could overcome this inhibitory force and embark on the path of cultivation, it would be equivalent to completing a small-scale reversal of principles.
While it did not reach the scope of affecting the heavenly laws, over an extended period, countless mortals would embark on the path of cultivation.
The birth of each cultivator was, in essence, shaking the foundation of the Dharma-Preachers.
"You could not kill me, but you have offset a large portion of the benefits I gain from every cultivator cultivating the new methods."
"Originally, every cultivator born within the new method system would be a part of my foundation, increasing my cultivation. With continuous accumulation, one day, I would be pushed to an unknowable divine realm!"
"But now..."
"You have severed my path!"
Even a clay figurine has a bit of temper.
Xuanyuan Tuo, realizing this, was enraged. But the Azure Nether Great Heavenly Venerate was already dead, so where could Xuanyuan Tuo vent his anger?
Just as Xuanyuan Tuo's mind was thrown into unprecedented instability, his consciousness was suddenly pulled into a pitch-black space, losing control of his body.
Opposite him floated a weathered old man with white hair.
Although his appearance was different, Xuanyuan Tuo felt as if he were looking in a mirror when he looked at the other person!
"Heavenly Physician!" For some reason, Xuanyuan Tuo blurted out the name.
The Heavenly Physician did not waste words with him.
Instead, blood tears flowed from his eyes.
As if possessed, he kept repeating, "Quickly return to the Heavenly Law Realm, quickly return to the Heavenly Law Realm!"
Xuanyuan Tuo immediately understood that this was the reason for his recent sense of unease.
The Heavenly Physician, his heart set on returning to the Heavenly Law Realm, was impervious to any words.
Xuanyuan Tuo tried to suppress him, but to his horror, he found that the other person was almost a duplicate of himself, with nearly identical strength.
Furthermore, fueled by an incredibly strong desire to return home, he was even slightly stronger than Xuanyuan Tuo!
Gradually, he gained control of the body!
The body's appearance, which belonged to the Doctrine Transmitter, slowly shifted to resemble the Heavenly Physician's original form.
Like being sealed in a dark room, Xuanyuan Tuo could only vaguely sense what was happening outside.
He saw that when the Heavenly Physician, after enduring immense hardship, finally returned to the Heavenly Law Realm, the inhabitants of the realm had been massacred.
The tragic scene was almost unbearable even for Xuanyuan Tuo.
His homeland ravaged by disaster, the Heavenly Physician descended into madness.
A terrifying storm raged within his heart, severing Xuanyuan Tuo's connection with him.
Xuanyuan Tuo accumulated strength, attempting to regain control of his body.
After an unknown period, a transparent figure, besides the Heavenly Physician, appeared.
What caused Xuanyuan Tuo to feel an immense sense of crisis was that this transparent figure seemed oblivious and without consciousness, yet it could attach to and erode his consciousness.
This was a bizarre power Xuanyuan Tuo had never encountered before.
Despite his best efforts to resist, he could not prevent its gradual erosion.
Just as this transparent figure was about to completely possess Xuanyuan Tuo, that ethereal murmuring sound reappeared in his mind.
With the help of this miraculous power, Xuanyuan Tuo managed to maintain his consciousness.
In the dark space, time seemed to stand still.
After another unknown period, Xuanyuan Tuo finally sensed that the moment had arrived.
The body seemed to have entered a peculiar space.
And here, the mystical murmuring sound became clearer than ever before.
Xuanyuan Tuo, using his accumulated power, seized the opportunity and counterattacked, managing to briefly regain control of the body for an instant.
Although it was only for a moment, after understanding his current state, Xuanyuan Tuo devised a plan.
The space the body was currently in seemed to be the interior of an immortal artifact. This was why it resonated with the murmuring sound of that immortal-level power.
Xuanyuan Tuo softly chanted, leaving the murmuring sound within the space of the immortal artifact.
With this mystical murmuring power, which could influence future reality through past memories in a heaven-defying manner, Xuanyuan Tuo was confident that by leveraging future individuals who entered this immortal artifact space, he could find a way to escape.
After imprinting the murmuring sound, Xuanyuan Tuo lost control of his body once more.
He was once again sealed in an endless, dark consciousness.
Time flowed by without his knowledge.
During this period, he attempted to counterattack several times, but the power that suppressed and sealed him inexplicably grew stronger. It seemed as if he had no hope of turning the tables.
But Xuanyuan Tuo never gave up.
Because the murmuring sound he had previously implanted was continuously gathering counter-attacking energy for him.
It was just that the time required for him to completely break free would be a bit longer.
...
Time returned to the present.
As Li Fan watched the scene rendered in the illusion formation, derived from the memories of the Doctrine Transmitter's body, his expression shifted several times.
Even though he thought he already understood the story of the Doctrine Transmitter Heavenly Venerate and the Heavenly Physician, he had never expected the truth to be so convoluted and...
Fate played tricks on people.
However, what concerned Li Fan the most were the peculiar phenomena surrounding the Xuanyuan clan.
Not only the incredibly mystical murmuring sound, but also Xuanyuan Sheng, the "crazy uncle" Xuanyuan Tuo saw in his childhood.
"Dog Egg, you must understand that everything in this world has already happened countless times..."
Li Fan narrowed his eyes, carefully pondering these words.
"Is this meaningless babbling from a madman, or does it carry a true meaning?"
The description in these words made it difficult for Li Fan not to associate it with "Reflection."
And in Xuanyuan Tuo's memories, it was not yet certain whether Xuanyuan Sheng had truly died on the night he disappeared.
"The Xuanyuan clan enshrines Xuanyuan Hong's ancestral tablet, which should be a contingency left by the Heavenly Mysteries King."
"Did the Heavenly Mysteries King somehow wield the power of that murmuring sound, such a heaven-defying technique?"
"Or perhaps, that is the true might a Half-Immortal should possess?"
Although Li Fan had advanced to Half-Immortal, the immortal-grade techniques he possessed were limited to formations.
His other abilities were no different from those of mortal cultivators.
"Imprinted in the Heavenly Mysteries Realm?"
Li Fan's gaze traversed the Abyssal Sea, focusing on the Xuanhuang Realm.
He had entered the Heavenly Mysteries Memorial Hall numerous times before.
He had also experienced various illusionary transmissions of different Doctrine Transmitter experiences.
"It seems like experiencing the past of the Dharma-Preachers."
"In reality, it's being eroded by the murmuring sound..."
The murmuring sound echoed in the sea of consciousness of all cultivators who had entered the Myriad Immortals Alliance headquarters. Although it only existed in memory and seemed incapable of causing any disturbance, the accumulated, secretly amassed power was enough for Xuanyuan Tuo to break free. At its sudden eruption, with its peculiar nature, it was likely that most cultivators would be completely drained by a past memory. Li Fan’s eyes flickered.
The immortal formation, miniaturized, transformed into a point of light. It carried the still-sleeping Xuanyuan Tuo and the spectral image of the Heavenly Demon into Li Fan’s palm, suppressing them within his body.
Then, in the direction of the Xuanhuang Realm, Li Fan’s expression was calm as he slowly extended his right hand. The aura of a True Immortal, looking down from above. His palm descended upon the mortal world, spanning across the sea of stars. Standing at the fringe of the star sea, Li Fan, from afar, unleashed a palm strike towards the Xuanhuang Realm. He did not employ immortal-grade methods, merely utilizing the superiority of his position for a downward strike.
The True Immortal of the Immortal Ruins was deeply engrossed in comprehending the Dao. Through past reincarnations, Li Fan had verified this numerous times. As long as it was not an energy fluctuation at the True Immortal level or the emergence of the Dao Erasure Tribulation, it would not disturb him. Even the world-ending immortal formation, "Immortals Descend, All Things Return to Void," only prompted him to send a strand of divine sense to observe.
Li Fan’s palm strike landed precisely on the Four Central Prefectures of the Myriad Immortals Alliance within the Xuanhuang Realm. The target direction was not the Immortal Ruins, nor was there any overflow or diffusion of energy. The True Immortal in the Immortal Ruins remained completely unaware. Li Fan's colossal palm gently descended. Not even an anomaly appeared on the heavenly canopy of the Xuanhuang Realm. It was only the Four Central Prefectures of the Myriad Immortals Alliance that, without warning, as if it were the end of the world, violently shook.
Li Fan's fingers traversed the sea of stars, touching and sensing. The Four Central Prefectures of the Myriad Immortals Alliance were an extension of the Heavenly Profound Mirror's internal space within the Xuanhuang Realm. When Li Fan first entered the Myriad Immortals Alliance headquarters, he had witnessed the scene within the Heavenly Profound Mirror: countless black and white lines crisscrossing, colliding, tangling, and finally forming a void-like small dot. An endless stream of these dots flickered, igniting and extinguishing, continuously extending outwards in the void, eventually turning colorful. At that time, Li Fan had been bewildered by such a wondrous scene within the Heavenly Profound Mirror. Now, Li Fan understood that the Heavenly Profound Mirror was deconstructing the Xuanhuang Realm in its own way.
With a flash of light in his eyes, Li Fan’s five fingers became like blades, instantly severing the connection between the Heavenly Profound Mirror and the Xuanhuang Realm. Then, he flicked his finger, clenching it fiercely! Feeling a slight recoil, Li Fan applied a bit more force and simply pulled. His hand instantly traversed space and time, returning from the Xuanhuang Realm to the fringe of the star sea. It was as if he had reached into the water to retrieve something. Li Fan now looked at his palm where a faint, dark light pulsed. An ancient bronze mirror struggled within it.
Li Fan narrowed his eyes. From the main body of the Heavenly Profound Mirror before him, he sensed faint, almost imperceptible lines leading to the Xuanhuang Realm. "These are the various restrictions set by the Doctrine Transmitter in the past, as well as the connections between the Heavenly Profound Mirror, his human clone, and the many Heavenly Mysteries branch mirrors." "Truly worthy of being a former immortal artifact. Even when spanning across the entire star sea in an instant, it can maintain the stability of such connections amidst drastic changes," Li Fan praised inwardly. He referred to it as a "former immortal artifact" because Li Fan could not sense any fluctuations of immortal Spirit Qi from the main body of the Heavenly Profound Mirror. Even the few immortal artifacts preserved in the Azure Nether Heavenly Venerate's legacy, despite the consumption from generations of use in the Xuanhuang Realm, still retained residual immortal Spirit Qi. The Heavenly Profound Mirror, however, seemed to have completely severed its connection with immortal Spirit Qi. "In a sense, it's like transforming an immortal into a mortal." "If the cutting is not thorough, it means it was never cut at all. Perhaps only in this way can one truly avoid the impact of the Dao Erasure Tribulation." Recalling the Devouring Calamity he had seen in the remnants of immortal artifacts like the Boundless Mirror from the Xuanhuang Realm, Li Fan pondered.
With a thought, a white ring flew out, firmly binding the main body of the Heavenly Profound Mirror. Li Fan sent a strand of divine sense into it. Knowing that the murmuring demonic sound had been imprinted within the Heavenly Profound Mirror, his actions still required caution. Having already ascended to the immortal realm, even a strand of divine sense surpassed the mortal realm. The Heavenly Profound Mirror, suppressed and forcibly taken by an unknown palm from beyond the heavens, had plunged the Myriad Immortals Alliance headquarters into unprecedented chaos. The reason the Doctrine Transmitter had established the Myriad Immortals Alliance headquarters within the Heavenly Profound Mirror was to ensure its maximum safety. He never expected that after so many years, this seemingly unbreakable defense would be instantly shattered by an unknown existence! Even knowing they faced an unimaginably terrifying entity, the Myriad Immortals Alliance headquarters did not immediately abandon their counterattack. All the Dharma-Preachers gathered together. Within the headquarters, all formations and restrictions were activated, entering the highest emergency state. However... All these measures, to the current Li Fan, were like children playing house. If he willed it, even with just a strand of divine sense, Li Fan could destroy all the defensive measures of the Myriad Immortals Alliance. But he did not do so. The divine sense, stealthily infiltrating, went unnoticed. The divine sense evolved into a body, standing within the Heavenly Profound Mirror, sensing the faint, mystical forces that enveloped it, attempting to pull him into the illusion of the Doctrine Transmitter's memories. Although the murmuring sound was the work of a True Immortal, it was ultimately cast through the Doctrine Transmitter Heavenly Venerate as the medium. It might be invincible against mortal existences, but for Li Fan, who had already reached the half-immortal stage, it was somewhat insufficient. Merely by producing a thought of resistance, the murmuring sound could no longer drag Li Fan. Contact was mutual. During the time it attempted to corrupt Li Fan, Li Fan had also, on some level, "seen and heard" it. In Xuanyuan Tuo's consistent impression, it was meaningless, void murmuring. But to Li Fan... it was a solemn, sacred scripture being recited! "...Empty words, life, life. Intent, spirit, body, soul, born in chaos, returning to chaos." "One exists eternally. Both lost and existing." Perhaps it was because Xuanyuan Tuo had relayed it, that Li Fan, as much as he tried to discern, could only clearly hear one section. The rest was indistinct, rapid chanting. This sacred, bizarre chanting voice was not emitted by any single person but seemed to be a collective chant of countless beings. Even more chilling to Li Fan was that he could faintly hear the voices of some acquaintances. Not just their tones, but the words they had spoken during their interactions with him. "Dao Xuanzi, you bully others too much!" "At twenty-nine years old, late-stage Qi Refining..." "Little friend, what are you expecting?" "Tian Yang's life is no less than anyone else’s!" ...And so on. Not just from this life, but tracing back to Li Fan's past reincarnations. Accompanied by these voices, blurred figures also appeared in Li Fan's sea of consciousness. Even without faces, Li Fan could easily discern their identities. Under the influence of this chanting, Li Fan even felt a faint sensation, similar to what Xuanyuan Tuo had felt in the past, as if he could influence their current, real selves through these illusory images from memory! Within the Heavenly Profound Mirror, the divine sense clone stood quietly, eyes closed in contemplation. Outside the Heavenly Profound Mirror, Li Fan's true self was already on high alert. This profound chanting sound, capable of projecting past reincarnation scenes from his divine soul memories, was extraordinary. While it might not necessarily mean it had discovered the secret of Return to Truth's continuous reincarnation, Li Fan could not afford to be careless. Immortal formation rings were already in place, guarding him, ready for Return to Truth at any moment. Fortunately, the dire situation Li Fan had anticipated did not materialize. Li Fan did not relax his vigilance, synchronizing with the knowledge and feelings of his divine sense clone. As he listened, Li Fan, for some inexplicable reason, felt a sense of familiarity. With a moment's thought, ambiguous voices and memories surfaced in his mind. "Dao, ancient. Sin, annihilation." "Practice thought cultivation, connect intention, move towards spirit." "Thousand paths, soul shifts, hundred bends, spirit twists." "No blame." ... This voice, independent of the profound chanting, resonated alongside it. The two sounds chimed together, not only without obstructing each other but becoming clearer! In front of Li Fan, it was as if two figures appeared, one on the left and one on the right, narrating certain great principles of the world to him. After a moment of stunned silence, Li Fan quickly recognized the source of this voice. It was a passage chanted by the Grand Master Tiandu in the life of the Sacred Emperor, when facing the Devouring Calamity. In the preceding life, when the characterless monument appeared, intending to turn everything into text on the monument, the Grand Master had also chanted this scripture to ward off disaster. At that time, Li Fan had heard it and tried to memorize it, but he was met with contempt and mockery from the Grand Master. Li Fan had not understood why then, but now, upon ascending to the immortal realm and listening again, Li Fan realized that, just like the profound chanting sound, immortals and mortals heard the same sound, but there were crucial differences. "Dao arises, ancient transmits. Sorrowful sin, Dao annihilated." "Practice mixed thoughts, connect Dao intention, move towards spirit and spirit." "Thousand paths, soul shifts, hundred bends, spirit twists." "Boundless, infinite, no blame." ... The difference in hearing between immortals and mortals was like that between heaven and earth! Li Fan's heart trembled tremendously and he became immersed in this true disaster-warding immortal technique. "It seems my body has no change." "But it can, to a certain extent, erase the 'corruption' of the chanting sound on me..." A brilliant light burst from his eyes. Li Fan, moved by inspiration, also began to recite this disaster-warding immortal technique. Enveloped by the profound chanting sound, the faint chill and unease in his heart gradually subsided. Li Fan himself had hardly noticed this subtle fear. Only when it truly dissipated, and the significant change between before and after became apparent, did Li Fan realize its existence. "If I were influenced by any single profound sound, even as a half-immortal, I would inevitably be deeply trapped. But now, with both profound sounds emerging simultaneously, they seem to have formed a balance." "They are vying with each other, yet I remain unharmed." Li Fan exhaled deeply. The power of the True Immortal realm was indeed incredibly bizarre. Contacting it required utmost caution. "The Grand Master's Dao sound is a disaster-warding immortal technique." "Perhaps it is precisely because of this technique that it has been able to reside peacefully in the Xuanhuang Realm without any disturbance." Having personally experienced the marvelousness of the disaster-warding immortal technique, Li Fan looked at the profound chanting sound again. "Influencing and changing reality through illusory images of past memories..." Looking at the countless illusory figures standing in his sea of consciousness, Li Fan's gaze fell upon one of them. His intent focused... There were no fluctuations of immortal spiritual power, not even any mortal energy fluctuations. Something wondrous, however, happened in an instant. In the Xuanhuang Realm, on Glazed Island. He Zheng Hao stared intently at the Heavenly Mysteries Mini-Mirror. Due to Li Fan's palm strike and the shocking disappearance of the Myriad Immortals Alliance headquarters, the prices of all goods had gone out of control like a roller coaster. "Damn it, they won't even let me sell anymore." "This is the culmination of half my life's effort!" He Zheng Hao's eyes were bloodshot, and he was clearly on the verge of madness. But suddenly, his complexion turned deathly pale. His mind felt as if it had been split open, struck with a heavy blow, and he collapsed to the ground. After an unknown period, he finally recovered. As if he had lost half his life, he was bathed in sweat. "Spirit Mist Grass?" "All my contribution points are not lost?" "Mountain River Hidden Dragon Technique?" ... He Zheng Hao was utterly stunned as he looked at the countless memories that popped up in his mind. "Am I hallucinating due to the great shock?" The memories that appeared in his mind were too complex and chaotic. It took He Zheng Hao a long time to barely sort them out. "This... it's too real. It's as if I personally experienced it. What in the world is going on?" The more he sorted them out, the more his heart pounded with disbelief and shock. "However, Mountain River Hidden Dragon Technique? Isn't this the technique I've been yearning for, dreaming of?" Suddenly, he seemed to realize something, and his expression changed drastically. "This... could it be real?" He Zheng Hao cautiously began to write down the words that appeared in his memory. After writing only the beginning, his body froze uncontrollably. "There's absolutely no mistake, this is the genuine Mountain River Hidden Dragon Technique." "It actually appeared in my mind spontaneously. Doesn't that mean I've saved hundreds of thousands of contribution points?!" He Zheng Hao's heart began to pound. But soon, thinking of the Myriad Immortals Alliance's strict Law Enforcement Hall, he became dejected like a eggplant hit by frost. "No, the entire Myriad Immortals Alliance headquarters has disappeared. The Myriad Immortals Alliance can't even protect itself, so who cares about the leakage of cultivation techniques..." "In this chaotic world, dragons and snakes rise to power. Perhaps this is an opportunity for people like us." Depriving of some thought, a dangerous glint appeared in He Zheng Hao's eyes. "Heavenly Mysteries Spirit Locking Array?" Next, He Zheng Hao continued to sort through his memories, experiencing a cascade of gains and pleasant surprises. ... At the fringe of the star sea, as Li Fan utilized the power of the profound chanting sound to alter He Zheng Hao's memories, he himself underwent bizarre changes. Li Fan keenly sensed that a few strands of Spirit Qi had appeared within his body.
These wisps of Spirit Qi, when compared to Li Fan’s current half-immortal cultivation, were indeed negligible.
Yet, they appeared so abruptly, without any warning. Li Fan had no choice but to pay attention.
After careful discernment, Li Fan gradually understood. These spiritual energies that appeared inexplicably were precisely due to the changes that occurred to He Zhenghao in this life after Li Fan activated the Scripture Chanting Profound Sound.
“The generation of Spirit Qi originates from the feedback of the ‘Sitting Heaven Art.’ And the feedback force only arises from the improvement of He Zhenghao’s strength.”
“But He Zhenghao only awakened memories; his cultivation has not seen any substantial progress so far…”
Through the inexplicable connection generated by the Scripture Chanting Profound Sound, Li Fan’s sight seemed to pierce through time and space instantaneously, landing on He Zhenghao.
It could be said that Li Fan’s understanding of He Zhenghao surpassed He Zhenghao’s own.
With just a glance, Li Fan saw that He Zhenghao in this life was different from his past.
“Originally, He Zhenghao was only somewhat accomplished in formations. Whether it was his cultivation talent or his disposition, neither was considered top-tier.”
“But now…”
A strange expression suddenly appeared on Li Fan’s face.
He Zhenghao’s talent in this life was among the highest in the entire Xuanhuang Realm.
Furthermore, his disposition had also undergone a subtle transformation.
The past He Zhenghao, after experiencing various hardships in life, harbored a strong desire for “modest prosperity and contentment” that had almost completely dominated his mind. His lifelong greatest aspiration was to return to the Heng family in Tianyu Prefecture after achieving fame and success, and to hold his head high in front of Heng Ruoshui.
But to strive for a place in this era of great upheaval, where dragons and snakes leaped and coiled…
If Li Fan had not personally witnessed this transformation, he would have almost suspected that another soul had possessed He Zhenghao.
“What caused this sublime change?”
“Was it merely those extra memories?”
The current Li Fan possessed too many methods to implant memories that were indistinguishable from the real thing.
However, while implanting memories, to also cause the recipient to experience an effect akin to a life sublimation…
This was no easy feat.
“Scripture Chanting Profound Sound.” Li Fan’s expression slowly turned solemn.
He did not rashly alter other illusory memories that appeared in his mind. With He Zhenghao as an observational sample, it was currently sufficient.
“Is this merely my illusion, or a change that has truly occurred within you…”
“Allow me to add a little more fuel to the fire!”
With a slight movement of Li Fan’s will, the ring encircling the Heavenly Profound Mirror suddenly erupted with dazzling white light.
Analyzing the characteristics of the Heavenly Profound Mirror, the immortal formation underwent related derivations.
After a moment…
The Heavenly Profound Mirror, relying on its own immortal artifact properties and its connections within the Xuanhuang Realm, was forcibly severed by Li Fan!
The Myriad Immortals Alliance was founded on the Heavenly Profound Mirror and the Method-Derivation Jade as its cornerstones.
Now, with the disappearance of these two items and the collective vanishing of the Alliance’s high-ranking members, the Myriad Immortals Alliance had once again fallen into greater chaos. Anyone with clear eyes could see that this colossal entity, which once ruled more than half the land of the Xuanhuang Realm, was on the verge of disintegration! Perhaps for a short time, due to the former might of the Myriad Immortals Alliance and the Doctrine Transmitter Heavenly Venerates, cultivators could still maintain a degree of rationality.
But before long, chaos and slaughter would inevitably descend rapidly upon the Azure Nether lands.
The dramatic changes in the Myriad Immortals Alliance naturally could not be concealed from the Five Elders Council and their Longevity Heavenly Venerates.
However, Li Fan currently had no time to bother with them.
To prevent the Five Elders Council from disrupting his “observation,” Li Fan flicked his finger, sending forth a sword shadow.
The sword energy crisscrossed, traversing the star sea in an instant, descending into the Xuanhuang Realm.
Along the original boundary between the Myriad Immortals Alliance and the Five Elders Council, it gently sliced open.
The Essence-Devouring Mist barrier at the provincial border vanished without a trace under the influence of the sword shadow. In its place was a chasm that seemed to have no bottom.
Above the chasm, countless sword shadows seemed to permeate the air.
All cultivators who saw this chasm would immediately have the thought:
Those who cross the line die!
This was not a mere empty threat. It was the absolute suppression of mortal life by Li Fan, who was a half-immortal.
Even the five Longevity Realm Heavenly Venerates of the Myriad Immortals Alliance would be obediently restrained!
With a casual gesture, Li Fan had prepared a stage for He Zhenghao.
Li Fan’s attention once again returned to the Scripture Chanting Demonic Sound that had caused all the miraculous changes.
After careful contemplation, Li Fan seemed to realize something: “If the True Immortal Script is the interpretation of the great principles of heaven and earth through text, then the Scripture Chanting Demonic Sound originating from the Heavenly Mysteries King, and the protective immortal technique of the Grand Master Tiandu, are methods that use ‘sound’ to analyze the Great Dao.”
“If we make a horizontal comparison at the same level, the power displayed by the two…”
Li Fan frowned slightly, unable to ascertain for a moment.
This was because his understanding of the profound sound system was still too limited.
“The Immortal Script originated from the creation of the ‘Script-Carving Immortal.’”
“Could it be that this profound sound is also the work of some unknown True Immortal?” Li Fan could not help but frown and speculate.
Although he currently knew only a tiny fraction about the profound sound.
However, the practical application on He Zhenghao had already ignited Li Fan’s infinite fantasy about this mysterious power.
“Past memories and illusions influence reality.”
“The theoretical highest realm of this, is it not possible to change distorted reality by rewriting one’s own remembered actions?”
“Thus achieving an effect similar to ‘Return to Truth.’”
The more Li Fan thought about it, the more he was alarmed.
“However, this is merely the theoretical limit. Such a divine ability is by no means easy to achieve…”
Li Fan’s thoughts were interrupted by the fawning and communicative intention emanating from the Heavenly Profound Mirror, which was bound by the immortal formation in his hand.
“Junior ‘Mirror Profound’ greets the esteemed immortal.”
The voice of the Heavenly Profound Mirror was identical to that of the human avatar he had interacted with in his memories.
It had to be said, it was worthy of being an immortal artifact. Even though it had fallen from grace, its insight remained.
With a single glance, it recognized Li Fan’s current realm.
“Mirror Profound…”
Li Fan snorted coldly in his heart and paid no heed to the Heavenly Profound Mirror.
The divine sense avatar within the Heavenly Profound Mirror completely ignored the manifested body of the other party.
It simply bypassed him and flew towards the Divine Treasure Museum.
Mirror Profound looked embarrassed, not knowing where he had offended this esteemed immortal.
However, he dared not offend this suddenly appearing True Immortal in Li Fan’s form. Since the other party was displeased, he did not follow. He merely observed from afar, secretly.
Everything that happened within the Heavenly Profound Mirror naturally escaped his eyes.
Li Fan’s divine sense avatar, with practiced ease, traversed the Divine Treasure Museum and headed straight for the central area.
Within the Heavenly Profound Mirror, treasures were innumerable. The Divine Treasure Museum itself contained billions of items.
But the only thing worthy of Li Fan’s close attention was the skull of Mr. Bai, which was placed in the center of the Divine Treasure Museum.
As if already knowing Li Fan’s target, a figure had already appeared before the skull, waiting for a long time.
It was the curator of the Divine Treasure Museum, Emperor San Mo.
Since it was merely a divine sense avatar, Li Fan, standing before the skull, did not feel the eager desire of Return to Truth to devour it.
Li Fan did not rush to take the skull. Instead, he scrutinized Emperor San Mo with great interest.
This old man’s appearance seemed to have undergone no change compared to his image from thousands of years ago in the Fallen Immortal Realm.
“You knew I was coming for this?”
Emperor San Mo cupped his hands, neither humble nor arrogant, and said, “Only this item among the vast collection would warrant a True Immortal going to such lengths.”
Li Fan reached out and took out the skull of Mr. Bai.
He did not feel any restrictions or resistance. It seemed that Emperor San Mo, before him, had already ceased his futile struggles and silently removed all defensive measures.
“Do you know the particularity of this skull?” Li Fan asked, weighing Mr. Bai’s skull in his hand.
“This humble one does not know. It is merely the remains of an old friend. Upon seeing it again, my heart is filled with sorrow. Hence, I have kept it properly,” Emperor San Mo said, clearly insincerely.
“To lie before my eyes, are you not afraid?” Li Fan’s divine sense avatar narrowed his eyes.
Emperor San Mo cupped his hands again, “This humble one… will not die. Even a True Immortal cannot truly kill me.”
“But I also have countless ways to make you wish you could not die, nor live,” Li Fan smiled.
Emperor San Mo’s expression did not change. His ancient face seemed to have seen through everything, “Pain holds no meaning for me anymore. Naturally, I fear nothing and am afraid of nothing.”
The divine sense avatar nodded slightly, surprisingly not troubling him further. It merely said indifferently, “Give me a tour of this Divine Treasure Museum.”
The skull in his hand had already disappeared.
“Esteemed immortal, please come this way.”
“If we were to follow the normal browsing order stipulated by the Myriad Immortals Alliance, then the first stop should be the derivation and creation, ‘Era.’ However, this humble one has a different opinion.”
“Visiting the Divine Treasure Museum should begin with an ancient ruin.”
The divine sense avatar followed Emperor San Mo, slowly venturing deeper into the Divine Treasure Museum.
On the previous visit, he had not reached the area that seemed to be not open to the public.
…
Outside the Heavenly Profound Mirror.
Li Fan’s main body held the skull of Mr. Bai.
He felt the extreme yearning impulse transmitted by ‘Return to Truth.’
This was not the first time he had encountered it, but compared to before, Li Fan, who had now ascended to the immortal realm, sensed that Return to Truth’s desire was even stronger.
“Eternal Residual Will…”
“What secrets are hidden within Mr. Bai’s skull?”
With a flip of his hand, he first suppressed the Heavenly Profound Mirror. Protected by a white ring of immortal formations, Li Fan began to attempt to let Return to Truth devour the Eternal Residual Will.
Similar to when he devoured the Eternal Residual Will of True Yang previously.
A faint sense of dizziness spread through his mind, and the scene before his eyes suddenly changed.
“Hmm?”
Li Fan quickly regained consciousness and looked around.
“Unlike the previous True Yang’s lingering thought, where he replaced True Yang’s identity in the obsession and acted accordingly.”
“It seems he is personally participating and descending?”
It was as if he was still in the void, surrounded by darkness, vast and boundless.
After flying forward for a while, Li Fan abruptly stopped, his gaze sharpening.
And not far away, a figure stood tall.
Li Fan was not unfamiliar with him.
His appearance was exactly that of Su Bai, Mr. Bai.
But the moment he saw the person, Li Fan’s heart began to pound violently.
It was like a self-warning that only appeared when facing a life-threatening crisis.
It was as if he had encountered an extremely dangerous and terrifying existence. Even though the other party had not made any moves from beginning to end, the unease in Li Fan’s heart intensified.
“What is going on?”
Li Fan was shocked and bewildered.
Su Bai was merely a mere Longevity Heavenly Venerate.
Let alone the fact that the other party had already perished, even in his prime, Li Fan, who was already in the half-immortal realm, was confident he would not lose to him.
Why then, in the illusory realm of the Eternal Residual Will left by the other party, would such a sense of crisis arise inexplicably?
He silently called out to Return to Truth; there was no response. His divine sense avatar also perceived that his main body was still stopped in the void of the Abyssal Sea.
Only a strand of his divine soul had entered Su Bai’s Eternal Residual Will, and it would not truly affect his life or death in reality.
Even though he had confirmed this point, the pounding sensation in Li Fan’s heart could not be stopped.
Gradually, Li Fan finally came to his senses.
The abnormality in his heart was not a warning of a life-or-death crisis. It was because…
Facing a high-ranking hunter, an instinctual fear surged.
It urged Li Fan to flee quickly.
“High-ranking? Fear?” Li Fan was stunned at first, then felt an inexplicable absurdity.
He had now reached the half-immortal realm!
Su Bai was merely a Longevity Heavenly Venerate of the Xuanhuang Realm!
How could he possibly feel fear towards him?
With endless doubt and unwillingness,
Li Fan once again carefully examined the “Mr. Bai” in front of him.
Only then did he vaguely perceive something amiss.
Although they shared the same face, in Li Fan’s memory, Mr. Bai’s eyes were always filled with compassion. Just as Xu Ke and the orphans in the small temple in Ningyuan City had said, Mr. Bai was the best person in the world, the most beautiful person. He embodied all the beautiful qualities in the world.
But this one before him…
Was unsettlingly evil and bizarre.
Even though the other party’s eyes were still closed, Li Fan seemed to sense the monstrous killing intent and madness in his eyes.
“What is the difference…”
Li Fan was still secretly wondering in his heart.
Not far away, the evil Su Bai suddenly opened his eyes!
There was no pain.
The scene before his eyes changed, and changed again.
Li Fan seemed to have returned to a moment ago.
But only he knew…
Just now, he had been instantly killed by the evil Su Bai!
A drop of cold sweat slid from Li Fan’s forehead.
“Could it be that my cultivation in reality was not brought into this Eternal Residual Will?”
This was the first thought that sprang to Li Fan’s mind.
But after confirming it, Li Fan directly denied it.
“I am in the half-immortal realm, is that not correct?”
“How did I die just now?”
Li Fan was both shocked and angry in his heart.
“No wonder that phantom figure remained motionless for so long; it was preparatory time.”
He discovered that in this illusory realm, all his acquired skills seemed to be usable without any hindrance.
So this time, Li Fan chose to strike first.
“Nine Heavens Descending Dust Finger!”
A colossal palm descended from the sky.
Targeting the evil Su Bai, it was about to crush him like an ant.
But just as the divine ability was about to land, Su Bai’s figure suddenly vanished.
Li Fan was stunned, then suddenly came to his senses, raising his head abruptly.
He saw that at some unknown time, he had become as small as an ant and was now resting on the fingertip of evil Su Bai!
The malevolent Su Bai, in an instant, mimicked Li Fan and unleashed a Finger of the Heavens Descending. Its power, however, was a thousand times greater, amplified a hundredfold! An indescribable, colossal force descended. Li Fan did not, as on the previous occasion, “die” without sensation. Instead, he could clearly feel his body and soul being repeatedly crushed, inch by inch! Given the strength Su Bai had previously displayed, the strength that allowed him to instantly kill Li Fan, it was obvious this was deliberate torture! Li Fan could even vaguely see a look of enjoyment on the other's face!
“You…!”
The scene before him warped and changed. Li Fan found himself back at the moment before he encountered the malevolent Su Bai. Twice dead in rapid succession, Li Fan was consumed by a gnawing frustration. Yet, with his years spent in reincarnation, his disposition was not easily shaken. Within moments, Li Fan calmed down. His prior shock and anger stemmed from the fact that someone he believed was merely in the Longevity Realm could instantly kill him, a "Half-Immortal." This extreme contrast had been jarring. Now, however, Li Fan was certain that malevolent Su Bai’s power was far beyond the Longevity Realm. In the cultivation world, respect belonged to the strong, and the weak were prey. There was no point in anger.
“This place is not a real world,” Li Fan mused. “It is a phantom landscape constructed by an Eternal Residual Will. That malevolent Su Bai appearing here and attacking without a word suggests a test. He likely leaves those being tested a period to prepare. Even if the test fails and one dies, resurrection is instantaneous…”
As Li Fan pondered, he had a dawning understanding of the test posed by Su Bai’s Eternal Residual Will: Defeat the malevolent Su Bai!
“In reality, perhaps no one in the entire Xuanhuang Realm, or even the Abyssal Sea, could accomplish this,” Li Fan thought. “But this is a phantom realm generated by an Eternal Residual Will. It can be viewed as a thought experiment. Any conceivable method can be employed…”
“In a sense, this is an advanced version of the Heavenly Profound Mirror’s ‘Sitting and Discussing the Dao’ combat function,” Li Fan realized with enlightenment.
“Immortal Formation, Profound Origin Spirit Array!” His thoughts raced. In his mind, the Dissolution Disc suddenly emitted boundless radiance, as if it had truly completed the missing Profound Origin Spirit Array! Black and white light swirled around Li Fan, carving out earth, fire, water, and wind from the void, evolving into a world. Li Fan stood at its center, appearing like a mythical creator god, a maker of worlds! He had the illusion that as long as he was within this formation, he could control and diminish everything within its scope according to his will!
The Dissolution Disc, of course, had not yet acquired the complete diagram of the Profound Origin Spirit Array. However, by mastering three-ninths of it, Li Fan had gained a quantitative and qualitative understanding of the complete array's capabilities. Thus, with the aid of Su Bai's Eternal Residual Will space, he bypassed the intermediate steps and directly “conceived” the final outcome.
In the void, Li Fan sat at the center of the Profound Origin Spirit Array. The world he had created rapidly expanded, spreading towards the four prefectures, soon engulfing the malevolent Su Bai who stood on the spot.
“I am the ruler of the Immortal Realm!” Li Fan commanded, channeling the formation’s immense power. He transformed the myriad laws of the world he had created into chains, intending to bind the malevolent Su Bai. The Profound Origin Spirit Array, a fusion of nine formations, truly revealed its terrifying might. Glimmers of light flowed from Su Bai’s form, integrating into the world Li Fan had created. Numerous phantom images of Su Bai appeared simultaneously, each seemingly possessing the strength of the Longevity Realm. Like countless ants, they swarmed towards the malevolent Su Bai. Entangled by an ever-increasing number of chains, Su Bai seemed to have given up struggling, remaining motionless. He simply allowed the Profound Origin Spirit Array to diminish his power. Yet, the sinister smile on his face unsettled Li Fan.
Soon, Li Fan understood the source of his unease. The Profound Origin Spirit Array’s formation seemed unable to ascertain the malevolent Su Bai's power ceiling. Even though it could continuously reduce his strength moment by moment, adhering to the theoretical maximum allowed by the formation, this seemingly endless depletion… was of no consequence to Su Bai!
“How is this possible?!” Li Fan cried out in shock, even beginning to doubt if this test was a jest orchestrated by Mr. Bai before his demise. Theoretically, the complete Profound Origin Spirit Array could transform immortals into mortals and mortals into immortals with every breath. It was as if the true immortal’s cultivation was being constantly chipped away, yet Su Bai remained unmoved, like a steadfast mountain or an unfathomable abyss.
“The Realm of the Nameless?” Li Fan grew increasingly suspicious. Meanwhile, the malevolent Su Bai, as if tired of this tedious game, even actively transmitted energy, allowing the Profound Origin Spirit Array to deplete his power to his heart's content. An endless torrent of True Immortal cultivation poured into the world Li Fan had created, expanding infinitely in the endless void, covering billions of miles in an instant. Even the Dissolution Disc, now at its limit, began to show cracks. Ultimately, unable to bear the strain, it shattered into pieces! Li Fan’s created “Immortal Realm” met its end along with the collapse of the Profound Origin Spirit Array.
…
“The Realm of the Nameless True Immortal.”
Once he had revived again, Li Fan contemplated the theoretical means he possessed to counter the Nameless Realm. “Unite with the Dao, become one with the Dao…” As the malevolent Su Bai attacked once more, a seven-colored paintbrush suddenly appeared in Li Fan’s hand.
“Bind!” With a thought, a True Immortal Sigils manifested in the void before him. Like an invisible golden chain, it imprisoned the malevolent Su Bai.
“Chaos!”
“Starvation!”
“Trapped!”
“Ancient!”
…
One by one, True Immortal Sigilss representing the great laws of heaven and earth flew towards the malevolent Su Bai under Li Fan’s vigorous strokes. At this moment, Li Fan seemed to have transformed into the legendary Scripture-Carving Immortal, thoroughly understanding the principles of heaven and earth to subdue his enemy. The countless characters reverted from their script form to lines, weaving a bewitching and fantastical dream that continuously pulled the malevolent Su Bai into its depths. Li Fan’s body was enveloped by infinite Dao, becoming as if it were the Dao itself, no longer discernible.
Seeing that this battle seemed to hold the hope of victory, Li Fan's unintentional glance caught a hint of mockery on the face of the opposite, malevolent Su Bai. Li Fan's heart leaped violently. What followed was a sight that filled him with dread. The malevolent Su Bai, caught in the vortex of the Great Dao, slowly extended his right hand. The endless lines, as if drawn by an unseen force, shifted their target and converged upon him. In three breaths, the infinite Dao Li Fan had inscribed vanished completely, transforming into a crystal-clear candy. Su Bai tossed it into his mouth and crunched it into pieces! This time, Li Fan experienced the sensation of being refined into candy and swallowed whole by another.
…
“Even the Scripture-Carving Immortal is not enough?” Li Fan’s heart was devoid of any shock or anger now. As if numb, he set aside the question of whether Su Bai's displayed power was reasonable or even existed. He only thought about how to kill him, or more accurately, defeat him.
“If ordinary methods fail, then I will use what I am best at!” Once again, he stood on the challenge arena.
“Ascend!” Li Fan roared. The phantom images of the Xuanhuang Realm's Ascending Power stored within him transformed into reality, one after another. In this fantasy space, their numbers were amplified a millionfold. Instantly, billions of Xuanhuang Realms shone like stars, all ascending simultaneously! This bizarre spectacle momentarily captivated even the malevolent Su Bai, who had come to eliminate Li Fan.
As the billions of Xuanhuang Realms neared their transformation threshold, Li Fan, with a single thought, withdrew their power source for ascent. Instantly, they plummeted from their apex of momentum, like countless massive stones falling into the deep sea, creating terrifyingly vast waves! Black energy erupted from every crack in space, coalescing to form monstrous, terrifying beasts. Where the black energy was most concentrated, human-like figures even emerged! They bore a striking resemblance to the Xuanhuang Realm's Essence of Heaven and Earth, "Black Slaughter." Even Li Fan, the initiator of this, had his pupils contract as he watched this chaotic spectacle. The Tribulation of Dao Erasure, where black energy took form, surged towards the only two living beings in this temporal space. And the vast majority of their targets were directed at the malevolent Su Bai.
Li Fan, relying on his illusory Nameless True Immortal cultivation, could barely sustain himself, keeping his life from extinguishing. He observed the malevolent Su Bai's reaction to the endless onslaught of these black energy beasts. The malevolent Su Bai was no longer as calm as before, nor did he harbor playful intentions. With great caution, he avoided letting any of the transformed beasts touch his body. With every movement, swathes of transformed beasts were annihilated into nothingness. However, the tide of beasts was relentless, and for a time, he was trapped. The malevolent Su Bai frowned, seemingly annoyed. Li Fan saw his body ripple like waves. With each ripple, a Su Bai figure appeared in sync within this temporal space. Their faces were not as clear as the malevolent Su Bai's, but Li Fan could vaguely discern their expressions. There was one like Mr. Bai of the Xuanhuang Realm, compassionate towards all beings; another like a rogue, unrestrained; another like a scholar, utterly useless and servile; and another like a butcher, radiating murderous intent. Each of these Mr. Bai figures possessed the same cultivation as the malevolent Su Bai. And all these Su Bai’s, like the transformed black energy beasts, were endless! Under the encirclement of the Mr. Bai legion, the world-ending black tide was quelled. Yet, during the encirclement, they deliberately spared Li Fan, as if reserving him for the malevolent Su Bai. Seeing countless pairs of eyes fixed upon him, filled with amusement, mockery, and pity, Li Fan resolutely chose self-destruction.
…
Another rebirth.
“Even the black energy of the Tribulation of Dao Erasure falls short?” This time, Li Fan did not resist but calmly contemplated in the void. “Perhaps only a true Tribulation of Dao Erasure can obliterate him.” Unfortunately, Li Fan had no idea what the Tribulation of Dao Erasure was truly like. Aimless fantasies would not take effect in this space of Eternal Residual Will. Before Li Fan’s thoughts could wander, he was once again instantly killed by the malevolent Su Bai.
In the time that followed, Li Fan used every method at his disposal to resist the malevolent Su Bai while simultaneously devising a solution to break free. Although the damage to his divine soul from each death in the Eternal Residual Will was negligible, beyond a certain threshold, Li Fan's true form in reality was inevitably affected.
“As long as I wish, I can exit this trial at any time.” When one-third of his divine soul's limit had been depleted, the reborn Li Fan sensed a subtle change. However, he did not choose to escape immediately. Instead, he solemnly considered and made a decision.
“In truth, I have known how to deal with this malevolent Su Bai for a long time. Even after countless rebirths, this single path to victory likely remains unchanged.” Li Fan pondered with indecision. “Though I can easily suppress and kill this manifestation of Su Bai… it carries the risk of exposing ‘Return to Truth.’ Is it worth taking this risk?”
After an unknown passage of time, having died by the malevolent Su Bai’s hand once more, Li Fan, as he faced the hate-filled smile of his opponent in his final moments, suddenly had a look of resolve in his eyes. “Firstly, I believe in the character of this Mr. Bai from the Xuanhuang Realm. He willingly sacrificed himself for all mortals, and he should not have placed a trap within his remains.”
“Furthermore…” An unprecedented brilliance erupted in Li Fan's eyes. “I have ascended, no longer a mortal. ‘Return to Truth’ has been with me for so long; can it be stolen by mere lingering remains?” In the real world, Li Fan’s true form was prepared to use Return to Truth at any moment.
In the phantom realm of Eternal Residual Will, Li Fan gazed at the malevolent Su Bai, who was grinning and flying towards him from a short distance away. Li Fan’s expression turned proud, and he softly chanted, “When true becomes false, and false also becomes true.” The fleeing malevolent Su Bai suddenly stopped, a look of disbelief on his face. Then, his body gradually faded and vanished before Li Fan. The once invincible, supreme expert who could crush Nameless True Immortals and remain unscathed even amidst the tide of the Tribulation of Dao Erasure—the malevolent Su Bai. He was so easily killed by Li Fan with a single thought.
“This is…”
“The Dao of True Becoming False.”
“Not an unfounded fantasy.”
“But a supreme Dao truly within reach.”
“However, I am still far from mastering it.” Experiencing the taste of supreme power within the phantom realm, Li Fan felt a faint sense of loss and melancholy. Theoretically, he had successfully annihilated the malevolent Su Bai. The space of Eternal Residual Will began to dissipate. In a daze, he returned to reality. Li Fan felt a sense of ecstatic satisfaction emanating from Return to Truth, as if it had feasted.
“Azure Nether Heavenly Venerate truly loves all beings.”
“Seeking life amidst death, bringing the world back to Return to Truth.” A moment later, a notification echoed in Li Fan’s mind from Return to Truth.
"The 'Origin of the Dao' function has been unlocked.
Origin of the Dao: When the 'Return to Truth' can be activated, a designated area can accompany [you], returning to the state of a predetermined anchor point together.
Alternatively, you can abandon this 'Return to Truth' opportunity and designate a specific area to counteract 'Dao Erasure.'
"
Before Li Fan could carefully ponder the meaning of the 'Return to Truth' prompt, countless memories exploded in his mind like starlight.
Most were fleeting, discontinuous fragments.
But the memories contained within this eternal lingering thought skull were far too numerous. It was as if this eternally enduring lingering thought was formed layer by layer from countless different intentions.
Even with Li Fan's steadfast divine soul and will, no less than a True Immortal, he was almost lost in the constant onslaught of these countless memory fragments, like a great river and tide.
Fortunately, 'Return to Truth' stood firm amidst the flow, shining brightly and unswerving. And within the torrent of consciousness fragments, there were a very few, yet the largest in scale, pieces.
Like beacons in the white mist, like lighthouses on a vast ocean, like the North Star surrounded by stars.
They constantly guided and pointed Li Fan's direction, preventing him from being completely lost.
Boom!
Li Fan's intent slowly merged into the remnants of Su Bai's memories.
A world full of ruins, with a thick smell of blood permeating the air. It was like a purgatory, with corpses piled on the ground.
There was no sound in the world, only extreme silence.
Blood flowed and gathered into a river.
From the dark red reflection, Li Fan saw the face of this body, it was the Heavenly Physician!
However, the "Heavenly Physician" in the blood river's reflection was filled with confusion and fear.
His body trembled uncontrollably.
A voice sounded, originating from his mind.
The voice was exactly the same as Su Bai's own, but filled with malevolence.
"How is it? Satisfied?"
"What you always wanted to do, I've done it for you."
The "Heavenly Physician's" face contorted, trembling, and returned to Su Bai's original appearance.
"What I always wanted to do?" he questioned desperately, his voice trembling.
The malevolent Su Bai's voice was filled with flippancy: "Wasn't it? Originally a venerable of this world, you reincarnated your heavenly soul to the Xuanhuang Realm, attempting to use the path of 'healing' to gradually cause chaos within Azure Nether, leaving them no leisure to focus on the distant expedition..."
"What I did for you is no different from what that 'Heavenly Physician' did, isn't it?"
"Just... a bit more thorough."
"Hahahaha..."
The malevolent Su Bai's laughter echoed, occupying the consciousness space.
"Oh, oh, oh, the main character has arrived."
"Look at the expression on his face, it's truly delightful!"
Su Bai gritted his teeth and cursed, "You damned beast!"
The anger could no longer be suppressed, erupting like a volcano. His body trembled, and his aura reverted to the appearance of Mr. Bai from the Xuanhuang Realm.
The malevolent Su Bai continued to clamor, but his voice grew fainter and fainter.
"No need to be so angry."
"These ants, no matter how many die, it's of no consequence. In my life, I've seen billions of times more..."
"Heh heh heh, far more cruel than this. At least, I was kind enough to leave their corpses behind."
"Besides, I am you, and you are me..."
His voice became as faint as a mosquito's hum, inaudible.
Sensing the Heavenly Physician's figure rapidly approaching not far away.
Su Bai's face was filled with pain.
But in the end, he gritted his teeth and quickly fled.
...
In the endless dark void.
Su Bai reached out and touched the The Great Barrier, as if blocked by an invisible barrier, unable to advance further.
"High wall..."
Urgent, excited, and impatient thoughts kept flooding his mind.
Su Bai pondered, then took out the Azure Nether Great Heavenly Venerate's inheritance and the immortal artifacts bestowed by the Immortal Realm.
He lined them up.
"So many immortal artifacts self-detonating, plus the Xuanhuang Realm's assistance, should be enough to help me cross this threshold."
Su Bai hesitated for a long time, finally detonating the immortal artifacts.
In an instant, the edge of the star sea seemed to ignite countless suns simultaneously, even illuminating the darkest star sea with a stark white light.
But infinite light and heat were gathered on Su Bai.
His appearance was hidden, his expression unclear, only a brilliant white figure.
The figure took a step forward.
As if disappearing into thin air, a part of his body vanished.
With half a foot across the confinement of the The Great Barrier, about to completely escape this darkest star sea surrounded by the The Great Barrier, Su Bai still cast a reluctant, final glance back at the Xuanhuang Realm.
There, were too many things he cared about.
In the moment Su Bai's gaze lingered,
Suddenly, countless images surged into his mind for no reason.
And the content of these images, made this naturally kind Azure Nether Great Heavenly Venerate's heart tremble violently.
Mountains of corpses and seas of blood, countless worlds successively destroyed, and the perpetrator of this monstrous slaughter was exactly like him!
At the same time, Su Bai felt an unprecedented sense of crisis in his heart.
His thoughts raced, without any hesitation.
He actually withdrew the leg that had already crossed the The Great Barrier!
The scorching light on his body gradually disappeared.
Shaken, Su Bai ignored the Xuanhuang Realm's consciousness, which had suddenly gone mad due to his inexplicable change of heart, without understanding why.
"Just now... what was that?"
As his expression shifted continuously, his own voice suddenly echoed in his mind.
The tone and intonation... were inexplicably strange.
"Huh? There's one more hidden here."
"Tsk tsk tsk..."
"As expected, still so foolish."
The change in tone even affected Su Bai's body.
A trace of evil and madness flickered in his eyes.
Along with it, the Heavenly Dao consciousness of the Xuanhuang Realm attached to him also gradually lost its reason, spewing out all kinds of malicious words endlessly.
...
Heavenly Sword Sect.
In the Sword Tomb, countless swords were piercing straight into the ground.
On each sword, a phantom floated. These were sword spirits born from the tempering of countless long ages.
And now, these countless sword spirits, numbering beyond imagination, were fighting against the same person.
It was Su Bai, seated in the center.
Countless sword energies crisscrossed, like surgical scalpels, slicing at Su Bai's divine soul and intent.
Su Bai maintained a calm expression.
But he could not avoid occasionally flashing a look of pain.
At the edge of the Sword Tomb, the senior disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect watched this scene with an unreadable expression.
He drank mouthful after mouthful incessantly.
However, what flowed from the wine gourd this time was no longer wine, but water.
After an unknown amount of time.
Buzz!
A violent shockwave suddenly erupted from Su Bai.
The Sword Tomb was instantly in disarray.
Countless sword spirits vanished into smoke.
Situ Yao's brows twitched.
But this was not the time to be heartbroken, he flashed to Su Bai's side.
"Your Heavenly Venerate, how are things?"
A long silence.
After a long while, Su Bai's somewhat weak voice finally sounded: "The portions of my divine soul that were infected have all been cut off. Temporarily suppressed."
"But..."
"Just as that person said, doing this is only a temporary measure. He will find his way here sooner or later."
Situ Yao's expression was grave.
"So, are you still willing to proceed with that plan? Gambling with the lives of your entire Heavenly Sword Sect?" Su Bai asked softly.
Situ Yao took another big gulp of water from his gourd.
"Even if we stay here, destruction is only a matter of time."
"We sword cultivators, why should we fear death?"
"Besides, he is looking for you. We ants may not be targeted." With these words, he had made his decision.
Su Bai’s expression turned solemn, and he shakily stood up. With the body of the Azure Nether Great Heavenly Venerate, he bowed deeply to Situ Yao.
Situ Yao accepted it calmly.
...
Xuanhuang Realm.
Ningyuan City.
The vitality of mortals is as vigorous as wild grass.
On the former ruins, a bustling city has now re-emerged.
It was even more prosperous than before.
Su Bai strolled through the streets, his face seeming to hold a mixture of relief and melancholy.
Finally, he had reached his destination.
His original small house.
Recalling the bits and pieces that happened here in the past, Su Bai was filled with emotion.
Looking at the lovely children of yesteryear, who had now grown into adults, Su Bai's eyes were filled with joy again.
"I shouldn't have deprived them of the hope of life."
"I must die."
He said softly.
"Let me do one small thing for this world before I die."
Defying the principles of heaven and earth, to prove longevity!
Mysterious changes descended upon the Xuanhuang Realm.
...
Immortal Ruins.
A tall figure resembling a skeleton sat cross-legged on the ground, at the center of a mysterious symbol.
A figure quietly appeared behind her.
But this Dao Comprehension True Immortal didn't notice it at all.
That figure was Su Bai!
However, at this moment, he was dressed in black, his eyes filled with indescribable madness.
"This is the culprit who caused the calamity that created your Xuanhuang Realm, and even this star sea."
"If you nod, I'll kill her right now."
Su Bai flicked his finger, tapping the Starving Immortal's head, producing a crisp sound.
However, this Dao Comprehension True Immortal seemed completely unaware, still immersed in her own comprehension.
The answer to the malevolent Su Bai was a long silence.
The malevolent Su Bai did not urge, merely observing the scene in the Immortal Ruins with interest.
"You've been comprehending this word 'Starvation' for so long, and you're still at this level."
"I've killed countless beings of this caliber."
"And it's beings of this level, garbage, that have brought you thousands of years of suffering..."
The malevolent Su Bai's tone was full of mockery.
"Good? Evil? In the face of survival, do they have any meaning?"
The malevolent Su Bai lifted his foot, repeatedly grinding and trampling on the Starving Immortal's face.
He even leaned closer to observe.
Thinking of something, he let out occasional light chuckles.
But the Starving Immortal showed no reaction whatsoever.
"See, now you believe I wasn't lying?"
"Those things you saw were not illusions."
"They were real occurrences."
"The cruelty of reality far exceeds your imagination."
"Someone as kind as you can't adapt. Let me handle it..."
He treated True Immortals like ants, but he was exceptionally patient with Mr. Bai of the Xuanhuang Realm.
He babbled, even somewhat verbosely, trying to persuade him.
Mr. Bai of the Xuanhuang Realm's voice suddenly sounded: "You are so powerful..."
"Why was a mere The Great Barrier able to stop you?"
The malevolent Su Bai's voice abruptly halted.
With a fierce exertion, he stomped down hard.
The Starving Immortal, who was sitting on the ground of the Immortal Ruins, was directly kicked over.
The golden chains binding her rustled.
...
"So that malevolent Su Bai wasn't just Mr. Bai's baseless fantasy."
"But actually exists?"
Just as Li Fan's main consciousness, immersed in Su Bai's eternal lingering thought, felt immense dread, his divine sense clone, led by Emperor San Mo,
Arrived in the depths of the Divine Treasure Museum, before a seemingly ordinary ruin.
This architectural ruin was placed alongside other historical ruins from the Xuanhuang Realm, seemingly unremarkable.
"Does the esteemed immortal recognize this place?"
Because of the shocking scenes he perceived in Su Bai's eternal lingering thought, he was somewhat distracted at the moment.
After a long while, he snapped back to attention.
"This place..."
After identifying it, Li Fan was slightly taken aback.
"Southern Underworld Sacred Beast Mountain?" he asked the old man beside him, not entirely certain.
"The esteemed immortal has sharp eyes." Emperor San Mo nodded.
"But it's not the Sacred Beast Mountain of the Xuanhuang Realm. I brought this from my homeland and kept it here for preservation."
"Countless years have passed since then." Emperor San Mo's tone was filled with the weight of time.
Li Fan's expression gradually turned serious upon hearing this.
He pondered the meaning of Emperor San Mo's words.
"The Xuanhuang Realm originally had no demonic beasts."
"We fled here from another possibility." Emperor San Mo didn't play the riddle for too long and stated it directly.
Li Fan's expression was greatly shaken.
"Infinite futures hold infinite possibilities."
"But not all possibilities can continue indefinitely." Emperor San Mo sighed softly.
"We have multiplied and thrived in the Xuanhuang Realm for too long, even forgetting our ancient past."
"We thought we could continue to survive here, but we never expected that this place would also reach its end."
"So Emperor Yi once again led the clan on a path of escape, but this time, I decided not to leave." Emperor San Mo flickered and entered the ruins.
As if returning to his former homeland.
"Why?" Li Fan's clone asked with curiosity.
"Even with the Immortal Ruins appearing and the star sea withering, this is perhaps one of the few relatively safe places." Emperor San Mo smiled.
Combining Emperor San Mo's words with what he saw in the eternal lingering thought.
Li Fan narrowed his eyes, his mind racing with speculation.
...
In Su Bai's eternal lingering thought.
Li Fan's main consciousness was greatly moved. In the memories of the deceased Mr. Bai, he saw how powerful the malevolent Su Bai was.
Even a slight contamination could grant the Longevity Realm Su Bai the power to crush True Immortals.
As the contamination intensified, Su Bai also briefly experienced the true power of the malevolent Su Bai.
The world was no longer singular.
Instead, countless possibilities coexisted.
Su Bai saw countless possible futures for the Xuanhuang Realm after his death.
Amidst the numerous calamitous endings, he seemed to see the only path to survival.
Thus, Li Fan vaguely understood the reason for the establishment of this eternal lingering thought.
chapter 1415: Heavenly Physician Undergoes Enlightenment and Dies
"Beyond the The Great Barrier, the existence of the malevolent Su Bai is truly astonishing."
"It's not just the power of the malevolent Su Bai, but it also involves the truth of the entire mortal world."
"Infinite possibilities are arising simultaneously..."
"No, it's far more complicated than that!"
Li Fan watched countless memories of the departed Mr. Bai of Azure Nether flash by like shooting stars. He then looked at the countdown of seven million three hundred sixty thousand years on his "Return to Truth" panel.
"Su Bai's memories contain not only monstrous slaughter but also scenes of a truly terrifying catastrophe descending."
"Even with Su Bai's unfathomable strength, he could only flee in disarray before that world-ending calamity!"
"That was the instantaneous collapse of an entire world line!"
"The true Calamity of Dao Erasure!"
With the power of Mr. Bai of Azure Nether's eternal lingering thought, and through the eyes of the malevolent Su Bai, Li Fan personally experienced the terrifying nature of the true Calamity of Dao Erasure.
From the Xuanhuang Realm, the Abyssal Sea, the Great Void beyond the stars, and countless cultivation worlds. Including the Immortal Realm floating above the Infinite Sea.
This unimaginably vast and profound world collapsed in an instant.
It vanished without warning, without a sound. Even the concept of nothingness ceased to exist.
Only by crossing over to another possibility before the Calamity of Dao Erasure reached oneself could one possibly survive.
..."So, this seven million three hundred sixty thousand years is the countdown derived and calculated by Return to Truth, until all possibilities vanish?"
Li Fan's thoughts churned, his heart unable to calm for a long time.
"The malevolent Su Bai, in his madness, slaughtered other possibilities of himself. Upon sensing Su Bai's existence within the The Great Barrier, he used every means possible, all for the sake of having Mr. Bai leap over the The Great Barrier again and willingly surrender..."
"It seems that for him, his own existence in other possibilities is extremely important."
"Su Bai's memories show that each time he slaughtered himself, it was accompanied by monstrous slaughter, hundreds of times more brutal than what he did in the Heavenly Law Realm. It was a slaughter that left no corpses, no blood, no memories, filling the world with emptiness."
Compared to the malevolent Su Bai's actions, Li Fan's world-ending deeds were utterly insignificant.
"Is this Su Bai's inherent personality, or is this the operating style of a powerful being at this level beyond the The Great Barrier?"
Li Fan took a deep breath.
"Regardless, the existence of the malevolent Su Bai is even more terrifying for the Xuanhuang Realm than the Calamity of Dao Erasure."
"At the very least, the Calamity of Dao Erasure shows no signs of descending, but if the malevolent Su Bai from beyond the The Great Barrier were to be attracted, this realm would likely be instantly turned into nothingness."
"That's why Mr. Bai willingly went to his death, temporarily severing his connection with the malevolent Su Bai. He even modified all memories of the Azure Nether Heavenly Dao that followed him, and any inheritances in the Fallen Immortal Realm that involved the malevolent Su Bai."
"He only left behind crucial information in his eternal lingering thought."
Numerous complex memories slowly faded. Li Fan returned to reality, and the skull in his hand turned into specks of starlight, disappearing into the heavens and earth.
"During the time he was influenced by the malevolent Bai, Mr. Bai of Azure Nether's perspective transcended a single possibility."
"Although I don't know what he ultimately saw, it's almost certain that this information was left for those who came after him."
"No matter the method, only those who can pass the test and theoretically defeat the malevolent Su Bai are worthy of being entrusted with this."
"The secret to the malevolent Su Bai's repeated survival and increasing power during the Calamity of Dao Erasure!" Li Fan's eyes gleamed.
"Return to Truth awakened the 'Body Transformation' function by absorbing True Yang's eternal intent, which originated from True Yang cultivating 'Transforming into an Object' to near perfection."
"And this awakening of the 'Dao Origin' function is also due to the malevolent Su Bai's cultivation method."
Li Fan narrowed his eyes.
"Dao Erasure. Dao Origin."
...
Deep within the Divine Treasure Museum, at the ruins of the Southern Underworld Sacred Beast Mountain. Li Fan's divine sense clone continued his conversation with Emperor San Mo.
"Our clan isn't always this lucky, with the Southern Underworld Sacred Beast Mountain preserved intact in the worlds we happen to travel to."
"If, by chance, the stored energy in the Sacred Beast Mountain there has already been depleted, then it's truly a dead end," Emperor San Mo said with a chuckle.
In front of Li Fan, an image appeared of Emperor Yi, with his majestic divine face, taking a large, ancient bronze-lustrous key from within a white snake at the Realm-Splitting Great Vortex, opening the vast energy within the Southern Underworld Sacred Beast Mountain.
"So, it's a one-time consumable." Li Fan mused.
Emperor San Mo nodded. "This is also why I, and some of the demonic beasts, didn't follow, and Emperor Yi tacitly allowed it. Everyone was gambling. After all, with the characteristics of our clan, if Emperor Yi encountered any accidents and was wiped out, another Emperor Yi would be born among the remaining group not long after."
"This hasn't happened yet. It seems Emperor Yi has gambled and won again," Emperor San Mo chuckled again.
"But who can guarantee they'll keep winning?" Li Fan countered.
Emperor San Mo fell silent.
"Even after leaping to another possibility, escape was impossible. I truly wonder where such a terrifying calamity originated from," Li Fan sighed softly after a moment of silence.
"Esteemed Immortal," Emperor San Mo suddenly spoke, "perhaps you'd like to hear a story."
"Not long ago... a wisp of a divine soul escaped from that device called 'Era'. It could undergo hundreds of billions of cycles within the Era, yet always maintain its sanity. This kind of divine soul characteristic is ancient and rare."
Li Fan, having also gone through cycles within the Era, became interested upon hearing this.
"It sounds like good material for creating an eternal lingering thought," he thought to himself.
"What is its current condition?" Knowing that Emperor San Mo wouldn't speak without reason, Li Fan asked.
"It has already completely dissipated from the world," Emperor San Mo shook his head gently.
"It chose to hide in these ruins. The residual energy in the ruins could protect its fragile divine soul, but it was ultimately too little, not enough to sustain it for long. And it would rather die than be thrown back into the Era..."
"By the time I found it, it was already too weak."
"I only helped maintain its life force for a while longer, but in the end, it was beyond saving."
"However, during its final days, I discussed many things with it. Based on my memories and those of our entire clan, it proposed the reason for the descent of this terrifying world-ending calamity."
"Oh?" Li Fan's spirit was instantly uplifted.
"But it's just speculation. Esteemed Immortal, please take it as entertainment," Emperor San Mo cautioned first, then slowly began.
"Everyone knows that above True Immortals, there are Nameless True Immortals. Nameless True Immortals merge with the Dao. From then on, they are no longer recorded in the mortal world, becoming ethereal and untraceable. Since ancient times, no one knows how many have achieved the Dao and become nameless. But..."
Emperor San Mo waved his hand, and a phantom appeared in the ruins before them. Countless fine lines crisscrossed, supporting the entire world.
"Although the realm of achieving the Dao and becoming nameless is difficult, and the probability is small, in the face of infinite time, it's not such a fantastical matter."
"And every time a Nameless True Immortal is born..."
Emperor San Mo lightly tapped the phantom's vertical lines one after another. Each tap caused a vertical line to disappear. This continued for an unknown amount of time.
The net of heaven and earth, due to this constant loss, became incomplete. Slowly, it began to curve.
Li Fan's eyes suddenly narrowed.
Finally, the net of heaven and earth could no longer maintain its form. With a loud bang, it collapsed!
Heaven and earth, at that moment, crumbled!
Emperor San Mo waved his hand, and the phantom disappeared.
"This is merely our most superficial understanding, not the closest to the truth."
"Perhaps, every Great Dao in heaven and earth is more important than we imagine. Even the absence of just a few Great Daos is enough to cause the collapse of an entire possibility."
"Or, besides Nameless True Immortals merging with the Dao, there are other unknown factors that caused the Great Daos to disappear without reason, leading to an unstoppable world-ending calamity..."
Emperor San Mo spoke with a melancholic tone. In Li Fan's eyes, he saw again the leg bone of a Nameless True Immortal used to build the Southern Immortal Pillar.
"Perhaps, this truth is very close to the facts," Emperor San Mo continued. "It is precisely because countless possibilities have collapsed in a chain reaction that our action of escaping from one possibility to another has become exceptionally easy."
"Originally, even burning all the energy of the Southern Underworld Sacred Beast Mountain wouldn't have been enough."
"To put it simply, it's as if, due to the constant collapse of countless possibilities, they are becoming closer to each other..."
Li Fan listened intently. A scene seemed to unfold before his eyes. In the darkness, countless streaks of light lit up simultaneously, arranged side by side, extending infinitely. But suddenly, some began to disappear into the darkness without any cause. Gradually, more and more lights vanished. The remaining ones, under the influence of this inexplicable crisis, slowly drew closer, inevitably becoming distorted and chaotic.
"Great Dao Erasure."
"Great Dao Confrontation."
Li Fan's heart chilled as he connected this with what he saw in the malevolent Su Bai's memories.
"What was the name of this divine soul? To have such speculation, he was clearly no ordinary person." Li Fan's heart trembled.
Emperor San Mo did not conceal it and casually conjured a projection.
"His name was Qiao Sidao."
"Six months ago, he could no longer hold on and finally perished."
Li Fan looked at the person before him, their expression tinged with a rather resolute spirit, and nodded slightly.
"Half a year ago..."
...
Abyssal Sea. High wall.
The Heavenly Physician seemed to have forgotten Li Fan's threat and was wholeheartedly engrossed in comprehending the The Great Barrier. His progress was faster than he had anticipated. Perhaps it was due to the continuous attempts over the years, or perhaps after seeing Li Fan, a True Immortal, and witnessing the true difference between immortals and mortals, genuine comprehension surged within him. In any case, the Heavenly Physician had a vague premonition that he was not far from completely deciphering the secret of the The Great Barrier.
Realizing this, the Heavenly Physician's expression subtly shifted. He even began to doubt his actions over the years.
"Perhaps, that True Immortal was right?"
"If I had focused solely on cultivation, I might have found a way to save the Heavenly Law Realm long ago."
This thought flashed by him. The Heavenly Physician cast aside all distractions and immersed himself once more in comprehending the formless The Great Barrier. With sufficient accumulation, breakthroughs sometimes occur in an instant.
An instant passed. Or perhaps, eons passed.
Suddenly, the Heavenly Physician retracted all the radiating golden threads. In a daze, he seemed to have broken through the mystery of the The Great Barrier. But at the same time... an extreme sense of unease welled up within him. This feeling of unease was only present when the Heavenly Law Realm was being slaughtered, and he hadn't felt this way even when facing that True Immortal directly before.
"What exactly..." No longer comprehending the secret of the The Great Barrier, the Heavenly Physician instinctively wanted to distance himself from it.
Suddenly... he seemed to have discovered something, his pupils constricting sharply. At the location of the formless The Great Barrier, where nothing should have existed, the scenery inexplicably distorted. His heart pounded again, the premonition of danger reaching its peak.
A black thread suddenly appeared. Silently, it pierced through the Heavenly Physician's chest.
One became a thousand, a thousand became ten thousand, ten thousand became a hundred million. In an instant, it penetrated the Heavenly Physician's body, turning him into a puppet controlled by strings. The Heavenly Physician's consciousness gradually blurred. However, sensing the countless threads piercing him, he felt a sense of familiarity. Perhaps it was an illusion; shortly after, a figure appeared before him. The Heavenly Physician seemed to see himself in his youth, but he wasn't wearing his favorite white robe, but a black robe instead. His face showed no joy or sorrow.
*Creak...*
The Heavenly Physician's head was unnaturally twisted by 180 degrees, turning from his front to his back. Streams of light and shadow floated from the Heavenly Physician's body into the mysteriously appearing black figure. The Heavenly Physician's corpse slowly turned ethereal and transparent. And that black figure... or rather, the youthful Heavenly Physician, frowned slightly.
"Can you understand?" His gaze shifted to Li Fan's main body, not far away!
...
At the same time. Li Fan, engrossed in the secrets of the malevolent Su Bai from beyond the wall, also felt a sudden sense of impending doom, just like the Heavenly Physician. And this time, it was more intense than ever before.
"Could it be that by triggering Mr. Bai's eternal lingering thought, the malevolent Su Bai from beyond the wall sensed it?" Li Fan was extremely terrified. After only a moment of thought, without any hesitation, Li Fan silently recited "Return to Truth."
At this very instant, Li Fan also noticed something extremely strange. The lifespan cap of over three million years on his Return to Truth panel was wildly fluctuating, not decreasing, but increasing! In the mere moment Li Fan noticed, it jumped from three million to tens of billions, and it was still rapidly increasing at an astonishing rate!
"What does this mean?"
"In the Return to Truth's divination, a world-ending tribulation that spanned countless possibilities is showing signs of being averted?"
With immense speed, Li Fan silently recited the Return to Truth incantation. As the seven characters True Becomes False, False Also Becomes True exploded in his mind, he was filled with shock and doubt.
"After I attained the True Immortal realm, the maximum age displayed on the Return to Truth panel represented the estimated lifespan of this mortal world. As a great calamity loomed, my estimated lifespan in the mortal world not only failed to decrease but actually increased?"
A thousand thoughts raced through his mind in an instant.
The Realm of Hidden Dao descended upon the world.
With Li Fan at its center, everything within his sight, within the Abyssal Sea, was plunged into a stillness of black and white.
But unlike the last time, this time, within the scope of the Hidden Dao, besides Li Fan, there was another person who could maintain activity!
In the completely still world, he was incredibly conspicuous. Li Fan's gaze almost instantly detected and locked onto the other individual.
The other person also seemed to be looking in Li Fan's direction.
Their eyes met!
"Heavenly... Physician?"
Despite his appearance, clothing, and demeanor differing greatly from the Heavenly Physician he knew, Li Fan recognized him at first glance.
Recalling the existence of the malevolent Su Bai outside the High Wall, as seen in Mr. Bai's eternal lingering thought, Li Fan immediately understood the source of the inexplicable sense of crisis in his heart.
"Outside the High Wall, there isn't just the malevolent Su Bai, but also a corrupted Heavenly Physician?"
"How did he...?"
Suddenly, Li Fan thought of the "thousand-day agreement" he had made with the Heavenly Physician within the High Wall. The Heavenly Physician, under threat to his life by Li Fan, had thrown himself into comprehending the principles of the High Wall with all his might to break through as quickly as possible.
"The malevolent Su Bai was only perceived by Mr. Bai when he had one foot outside the High Wall. Before that, I didn't sense any Immortal-grade fluctuations. And before even crossing the High Wall, he was already detected by the corrupted Heavenly Physician?"
"Is this person's strength even greater than the malevolent Su Bai's?"
Countless thoughts flashed through Li Fan's mind.
In the black and white, still zone of Hidden Dao, the corrupted Heavenly Physician continued to fly towards Li Fan's location. However, it was as if he were moving in slow motion.
Li Fan also saw that at the edge of the Abyssal Sea, at the foot of the High Wall, the endless stretch of fragmented realm's great wall was in disarray, as if ravaged by a colossal flood.
The invisible High Wall that surrounded the Abyssal Sea also seemed to have a gap torn through it. Through this opening, the scenery outside the High Wall was faintly discernible.
Unlike the barren Abyssal Sea, there was clearly a concentration of vitality outside the High Wall, gathered in various places. Yet, within this flourishing domain of life, there was a starkly discordant, extremely abrupt blank straight line. It was like a grand thoroughfare leading to an unknowable realm further away. And at the end of this path, seemingly created by the rampaging impact of an ancient, primordial ferocious beast, Li Fan's gaze was inexplicably cut off.
It was as if he were obscured by a towering shadow, or blocked by a colossal wall!
Without time to think or comprehend the matters within the Hidden Dao zone, Li Fan's mind raced as he urged the Return to Truth, retracting the Realm of Hidden Dao. He now understood why the upper limit of his lifespan in the mortal world, as divined by Return to Truth, had suddenly surged. This was Return to Truth divining the scenario of it falling into the hands of the corrupted Heavenly Physician!
"With the corrupted Heavenly Physician's current strength, he could wield Return to Truth and save the mortal world from the great tribulation?"
Li Fan gritted his teeth inwardly. He did not believe that after snatching Return to Truth, the corrupted Heavenly Physician would spare his life.
"The lifespan limit on the Return to Truth panel is both for the mortal world and for me. If they weren't separated in the divination, it means..."
"As the vessel of Return to Truth, I might not be able to be separated, but rather refined into a magical artifact similar to the Method-Derivation Jade."
A chill ran down Li Fan's spine. He accelerated his activation of Return to Truth, further consolidating the Realm of Hidden Dao. The world's return to normal, enveloped by black and white, was faster than the corrupted Heavenly Physician's movement within the stillness. But what made Li Fan uneasy was the fog outside the Hidden Dao, which churned and vibrated incessantly. It seemed as though some terrifying existence was about to emerge at any moment.
"Return to Truth!!" Li Fan's final furious roar echoed in his heart. Even if the corrupted Heavenly Physician could save the mortal world from the great tribulation after obtaining Return to Truth, Li Fan would never willingly hand it over.
Either this mortal world would be utterly annihilated, or he, Li Fan, would be the sole savior. Forcing him to sacrifice himself... was out of the question!
Rolling white mist eventually submerged everything. As the familiar darkness began to engulf Li Fan, the tension that had been coiled in his heart finally loosened. Li Fan's consciousness sank into a brief period of unconsciousness.
...
After an indeterminate amount of time, which felt like both an eternity and a fleeting moment, a Heavenly Physician in a black robe looked at his empty hands with a hint of confusion in his eyes. Glancing back at the long trail of destructive marks he had created, his brow furrowed deeply. With a thought, he scanned the Abyssal Sea. His divine sense paused slightly as it passed over the True Immortal meditating in the Immortal Ruins. A flicker of hesitation appeared, and then he reached out, lifting the skeletal Starving Immortal, who seemed to be in a state of extreme hunger. He flew out of the High Wall, passing through a long, empty passage. As he looked up at the end of it, the Heavenly Physician's body suddenly stiffened. The hand holding the Starving Immortal involuntarily loosened. He stood there, frozen.
...
Boundless darkness surrounded him. Li Fan's consciousness drifted uncertainly, as if floating in water, in a peculiar state between wakefulness and sleep. Ignorant and without awareness, Li Fan observed his surroundings purely on instinct. Not far away, a starlight seemed to ignite. Then, myriad starlight began to shine together in succession. They connected into lines, piercing the darkness. Li Fan's consciousness plummeted towards this beam of light. Faster and faster. As the light filled Li Fan, it transformed into countless luminous images, exploding outwards. "Anchor Point: one year, center of the Abyssal Sea!"
"Hoo!" Like a drowning person struggling to surface, gasping for air with all their might, Li Fan was still immersed in the immense pressure brought by the corrupted Heavenly Physician in his previous life.
"Huh?" As this sense of dread gradually dissipated, a fleeting, enigmatic image of a white line appearing in the darkness flashed through Li Fan's mind.
"..."
Each time Return to Truth returned to its anchor point, it was the optimal moment to comprehend the Transformation Between True and False. Li Fan forcibly suppressed all extraneous thoughts, immersing himself in the supreme power of Return to Truth. Yet, for some inexplicable reason, the image of the white line lingered in his mind, refusing to fade. Gazing at the process of countless light points connecting in the darkness, Li Fan felt his comprehension of the Transformation Between True and False skyrocketing at a terrifying pace. Without questioning its origin, Li Fan simply went with the flow, becoming engrossed. After a long while, when the picture in his mind faded into dimness, he abruptly opened his eyes.
"False, also, becomes true." Li Fan slowly uttered these three words. Having experienced the Transformation Between True and False through multiple Return to Truth simulations, Li Fan finally understood the meaning behind the seven characters that always accompanied Return to Truth.
"When true becomes false..."
"Perhaps it refers to the Dao Erasure Tribulation, which affects all possible futures. Countless world-lines, in an instant, turn from true to false, annihilated, and vanish. They are not a so-called void, but a 'falsehood' that ceases to exist conceptually."
"False also becomes true, refers to..." Li Fan's expression became somewhat dazed for a moment.
"The power of Return to Truth, in the false spacetime consumed by the Dao Erasure Tribulation, creates new possibilities out of nothing!"
"This..." Even though he had speculated about the limits of Return to Truth's Transformation Between True and False many times, Li Fan was still stunned by what he had just realized.
"Wait, perhaps, it's not just that." Suddenly, Li Fan seemed to recall something and eagerly opened the Return to Truth panel again. Disregarding the prompt for four inheritance choices that popped up, Li Fan stared intently at the maximum age column on the Return to Truth panel.
Seven million, three hundred sixty-five thousand, eight hundred sixty-four years, thirteen days, and seven hours!
"Just like in my previous life," Li Fan mused. "So, activating Return to Truth doesn't just create something from nothing, opening a new possibility in a false spacetime. It also resets the time node of the entire mortal world to a predetermined anchor point."
"Such power..." Li Fan felt an unprecedented shock. This was especially true after witnessing beings like Evil Su Bai and Black Heavenly Physician, whose strength seemed to surpass even that of the Nameless True Immortal. No matter how powerful they appeared, in the face of Return to Truth, they were all illusions! With a thought, they became real; with a thought, they became false!
Based on this inferred power of Return to Truth, theoretically, even Black Heavenly Physician should not be able to operate within the "Hidden Dao" region after Return to Truth was activated. The only possible explanation seemed to be that Li Fan, as the carrier, was too weak, affecting Return to Truth's efficacy.
"Weakness..." Li Fan, now having ascended to the Half-Immortal realm, felt a pang of bitterness. But in the next moment, he recalled that even countless True Immortals had died like ants during the Dao Erasure Tribulation. Compared to that, the "weakness" of a Half-Immortal was not so difficult to accept.
Recalling the rapid increase in his lifespan limit when he encountered Black Heavenly Physician in his previous life, Li Fan's heart stirred. The Transformation of True and False **[还真]** was suddenly activated. Benefiting from witnessing the entire process of Return to Truth **[还真]** creating a new possibility, Li Fan's comprehension of the Transformation of True and False **[还真]** advanced by leaps and bounds. He visualized his Half-Immortal cultivation from the previous possibility. As his mind willed it, the cultivation descended upon his current being, layering itself. Unlike before, when it could only last for a very short time, Li Fan could now maintain this false cultivation for almost the time it takes to brew a cup of tea before dissipating!
Even... Li Fan narrowed his eyes and, with full concentration, attempted to layer the false cultivation once more. He could indeed do it. However, the mental strain brought about by this action instantly expanded more than tenfold. The duration of the layered cultivation also plummeted, and significant fluctuations appeared.
"Simply replicating my own cultivation is already so difficult. It's hard to imagine the realm of creating an entire possibility from nothing..." Li Fan sighed, looking at the numbers on his panel.
A triple Half-Immortal cultivation, while not enough to directly surpass True Immortals in strength, was likely very close. But... Seven million three hundred sixty-five thousand eight hundred sixty-four years, thirteen days, and eight hours! Such an increase in strength, in Return to Truth's **[还真]** deduction, could only delay the Great Tribulation of the mortal world by one hour! It was better than nothing!
"It seems my current strength is still insufficient to get involved." Li Fan's heart grew heavy. Admittedly, Return to Truth **[还真]** could reset the entire mortal world again and again, preventing complete annihilation. However, the world's decline was an inevitable trend. No matter how Return to Truth **[还真]** tried to turn the tide, the Dao Erasure Tribulation **[道湮之劫]** would eventually engulf everything. It was like an endless cycle of pushing a boulder up a mountain, only to have it inevitably roll back down. Only by reaching the level of Evil Su Bai **[邪苏白]** or Black Heavenly Physician **[黑天医]** did it seem possible to break free.
But the problem was, the appearance of these two was too sudden and unreasonable. Furthermore, they completely exceeded Li Fan's expectations. In Li Fan's original plan, the next step should have been to gradually explore beyond the The Great Barrier, utilizing the power of the Xuanhuang Realm **[玄黄界]** and the Mystic Immortal Boat **[玄仙舟]**, searching for clues about the Faceless Immortal **[无面仙]**, Cat Treasure **[猫宝]**, and even the Fishing Pond **[钓鱼池]**. Now, the sudden arrival of these two had almost completely disrupted Li Fan's plan.
The existence of Black Heavenly Physician **[黑天医]** in particular made Li Fan feel a lingering sense of dread. "Once the Heavenly Physician **[天医]** inside the wall is sensed, Black Heavenly Physician **[黑天医]** will descend instantly." "Doesn't this mean that the entire Abyssal Sea **[至暗星海]** has been walking on the brink of death all these years? If it weren't for the Heavenly Physician's **[天医]** consideration for his homeland, and most of his energy being used to revive the Heavenly Law Realm **[天法界]**, he might have attracted Black Heavenly Physician **[黑天医]** long ago!" "Even, according to the Heavenly Physician's **[天医]** comprehension progress shown in my previous life, it won't be long before he completely deciphers the secret of the The Great Barrier. Even without my intervention, once the Heavenly Law Realm **[天法界]** successfully returns from the borrowed corpse, the Heavenly Physician **[天医]** will eventually have to comprehend the The Great Barrier. The day he revives will also be the day of his demise... Truly ironic."
Li Fan's thoughts raced. He suddenly remembered the world of the Heavenly Lock Array **[天玄锁灵]** in his past. At that time, he had transformed into an Array Breaking Jade Disk **[破阵玉盘]** and experienced thousands of years. He anchored to the year 2078, when the world became desolate. It wasn't until he anchored to 3024 that he welcomed long-awaited sunlight.
"It seems that due to the existence of Black Heavenly Physician **[黑天医]**, under normal circumstances, the Xuanhuang Realm **[玄黄界]** will ultimately face a dead end." "But with Black Heavenly Physician's **[黑天医]** intervention, the Xuanhuang Realm **[玄黄界]**, or the newly born Heavenly Law Realm **[天法界]**, did not completely turn to dust. There is a possibility of revival after a thousand years..." "It's likely that Black Heavenly Physician **[黑天医]** was moved by the scene and showed mercy." Li Fan pondered.
Because of the presence of the two terrifyingly powerful beings, Black Heavenly Physician **[黑天医]** and Evil Su Bai **[邪苏白]**, within the wall, Li Fan's plan for this life would also have to be significantly altered. At the very least, he absolutely could not let the Heavenly Physician **[天医]** get close to the The Great Barrier again.
"The situation outside the The Great Barrier is still unclear." "In my previous life, within the Hidden Dao **[道隐]** black and white realms, through the straight white road that Black Heavenly Physician **[黑天医]** had broken through, I vaguely glimpsed the scene outside the The Great Barrier." "It seemed to be a normal starry sea, with planets dotted with life. And at the end of my sight, something blocked it." "Is there another The Great Barrier outside the The Great Barrier?" Li Fan couldn't help but doubt.
"To understand the current situation outside the The Great Barrier, perhaps I should start with that descendant of the Heavenly Sword Sect **[天剑宗]**." Shifting his attention back to the Return to Truth **[还真]** inheritance option, Li Fan pondered for a moment and chose to speed up the charging process. The charging speed of Return to Truth **[还真]** had always been closely related to Li Fan's strength.
After attaining the Half-Immortal realm, for the first time choosing this option, Li Fan was pleasantly surprised to notice a difference from before. On the Return to Truth **[还真]** panel, after the realm changed to "Immortal," the charging progress for Void Transformation **[化虚]** was already 50% upon Return to Truth's **[还真]** return. And when Li Fan chose to accelerate charging again, this progress bar jumped abruptly. It directly reached 99%!
"The waiting time has been greatly reduced." "It's just a pity it's not 100%." "A 1% gap is a world of difference!" If Li Fan could directly fill the progress after choosing to accelerate charging each time, it would mean he could activate Return to Truth **[还真]** continuously. Even if he encountered enemies who could cross possibilities in the future, he could escape calmly in an instant. But now, this 1% gap meant he still had to wait for at least seven days.
"Before I can achieve 100% charging instantly, I must still act with extreme caution." As Li Fan's strength increased, the beings he encountered became even more unfathomable. Especially threats like Black Heavenly Physician **[黑天医]**, who could pursue across possibilities and operate within the Hidden Dao **[道隐]** region, posed too great a threat to Li Fan.
"I wonder if I can suppress him if I advance to the True Immortal realm?" The indifferent, yet eerily similar, gaze of Black Heavenly Physician **[黑天医]** reappeared in his mind, and Li Fan fell into deep thought.
Seven days later. Return to Truth **[还真]** was fully charged. Li Fan's figure flickered, and he silently entered the Xuanhuang Realm **[玄黄界]**. The destination, naturally, was the hidden soul named Qiao Sidao **[乔似道]** within the Myriad Immortals Alliance's **[万仙盟]** Headquarters, in the Divine Treasure Museum **[博物神藏馆]**. To maintain his autonomous consciousness after billions of reincarnations and to deduce the possible truth of the Dao Erasure Tribulation **[道湮之劫]** based on Emperor San Mo's **[帝叁貘]** description, Li Fan was very interested in him.
"If possible, perhaps I can let him explore outside the The Great Barrier in my stead." "But I also need to be careful and guard against the possibility of another Qiao Sidao **[乔似道]** existing outside the wall." Li Fan paused as he passed by Mr. Bai's **[白先生]** skull. Return to Truth **[还真]**, having absorbed it once, indeed provided no further prompts. Li Fan avoided the illusory test within Mr. Bai's **[白先生]** skull, created by Evil Su Bai **[邪苏白]**, as much as possible. He didn't dwell on it further and headed straight for the Southern Underworld Sacred Beast Mountain **[南冥圣兽山]** ruins in the Divine Treasure Museum **[博物神藏馆]**.
"Speaking of which, even though Return to Truth **[还真]** can generate possibilities out of thin air with a single thought, it still needs to consume certain rare items from those possibilities..." Li Fan's thoughts drifted. Return to Truth **[还真]** seemed to sense his thoughts, as if releasing a chuckle mixed with a hint of helplessness. But afterwards, no matter how he tried to sense it, no further fluctuations were generated.
Arriving at the Southern Underworld Mountain **[南冥山]** ruins, Emperor San Mo **[帝叁貘]** was already waiting. Just as he had acted in the previous life, he respectfully said, "Greetings, Senior!" Although Li Fan had not displayed his actual combat power in this life, his ability to silently bypass all restrictions of the Myriad Immortals Alliance's **[万仙盟]** Headquarters and arrive at the Divine Treasure Museum **[博物神藏馆]** undoubtedly proved his strength. Li Fan noticed from Emperor San Mo's **[帝叁貘]** change in expression that he did not possess memories from the previous life. He felt a sense of relief and then, without speaking, nodded and began observing the ruins before him.
As Emperor San Mo **[帝叁貘]** had said, there were faint traces of mysterious energy remaining here. And within these dwindling remnants of energy, a severely weakened soul was hidden. Under the cloak of the mysterious energy, even as a Half-Immortal, Li Fan would not have easily detected it without Emperor San Mo's **[帝叁貘]** specific warning. The appearance of the soul was no different from how Emperor San Mo **[帝叁貘]** had described it in the previous life.
Li Fan reached out and directly took half of the life-saving energy for Qiao Sidao **[乔似道]**. The soul, which was already barely surviving in a nearly dry pool, was now shaken as the water in the pool inexplicably decreased. Qiao Sidao's **[乔似道]** soul trembled as if in great pain. Emperor San Mo **[帝叁貘]** wanted to speak but stopped. However, facing the faint aura of power Li Fan exuded, he ultimately chose to remain silent.
Li Fan had no intention of intentionally tormenting Qiao Sidao **[乔似道]**. On the contrary, Li Fan was going to save his life! Absorbing the mysterious energy into his body, Li Fan carefully savored it. It was different from the Spirit Qi of the Xuanhuang Realm **[玄黄界]** or even Immortal Spiritual Energy **[仙灵之气]**. However, Li Fan still felt a faint familiarity. This sense of familiarity seemed to stem from the inherited memories when he transformed into the Azure Nether Bird **[玄鸟]** in the Fallen Immortal Realm **[陨仙境]**. Beyond that, Li Fan knew nothing about it.
However, this did not prevent Li Fan from using the Transformation of True and False **[还真]** on it! Compressing and enclosing this lump of energy in his dantian. After standing still for a while and fully comprehending it, the Transformation of True and False **[还真]** was suddenly unleashed. Under the extremely mystical fluctuations, an identical small ball instantly appeared in Li Fan's hand! It emitted a strange coppery-green luminescence with a hint of silver. While the Transformation of True and False **[还真]** was still effective, Li Fan flicked his finger and injected the coppery-green small ball into Qiao Sidao's **[乔似道]** soul. Like a long-awaited rain for parched land, Qiao Sidao's **[乔似道]** extremely fragile soul visibly grew stronger.
After waiting for Qiao Sidao **[乔似道]** to completely absorb the energy ball, Li Fan willed it and canceled the Transformation of True and False **[还真]**. His divine sense enveloped Qiao Sidao **[乔似道]**, observing all the subtle changes in him. As Li Fan had predicted, although the enhancement of the Transformation of True and False **[还真]** had disappeared, after absorbing the energy generated out of thin air during its effect, it did not completely dissipate due to having a carrier. Instead, a small portion remained. Although this proportion was not large, it was still of great significance to Li Fan.
After a short rest, Li Fan activated the Transformation of True and False **[还真]** again and took out a second small ball. When the first energy ball was taken out by Li Fan, Emperor San Mo **[帝叁貘]** had assumed it was the energy Li Fan had just extracted. But now, seeing Li Fan take out a new one after exhausting the previous one, Emperor San Mo's **[帝叁貘]** usually steady expression could no longer maintain its composure. Li Fan also noticed that, from beginning to end, the other party seemed to have not detected the effect of the Transformation of True and False **[还真]**. Although the fluctuations of the Transformation of True and False **[还真]** were very obvious to Li Fan, "However, I cannot let my guard down." "Perhaps besides me as the carrier, there are other powerful beings in the world who can detect the activation of the Transformation of True and False **[还真]**." "In the future, when using divine abilities, I must always pay attention to my own safety."
While contemplating, through continuous activation of the Transformation of True and False **[还真]** and the ceaseless infusion of numerous mysterious energy balls, Qiao Sidao **[乔似道]** finally showed signs of improvement. He woke up from his comatose state. "Third Uncle, what is this..." Qiao Sidao **[乔似道]** quickly realized the unusual scene unfolding. Reacting swiftly, despite his weakened state, he expressed his gratitude to Li Fan for the rescue. Li Fan nodded slightly, his actions not stopping. Using the resources on hand, he created a temporary body for Qiao Sidao **[乔似道]** using materials from the Divine Treasure Museum's **[博物神藏馆]** collection. After implanting his soul, Li Fan finally stopped. Continuously using the Transformation of True and False **[还真]** was also a considerable burden for him. He stood and panted, showing no signs of fatigue. At the same time, he waited for Qiao Sidao **[乔似道]** to adapt to this new body.
In just over half a day, Qiao Sidao **[乔似道]** had recovered from his near-death state. Emperor San Mo's **[帝叁貘]** past efforts were all in vain, but now, the senior before him, with just a slight effort, could turn decay into magic... How could Qiao Sidao **[乔似道]** not understand the terrifying power of the person before him? Bowing slightly, Qiao Sidao **[乔似道]** sincerely expressed his gratitude, "Thank you, Senior, for saving my life!" Emperor San Mo **[帝叁貘]** seemed not to have recovered from his shock, his body still trembling slightly.
Li Fan extended his right hand and placed it on Qiao Sidao's **[乔似道]** head. A strand of divine sense entered Qiao Sidao's **[乔似道]** soul. Facing his savior and the absolute gap in strength, Qiao Sidao's **[乔似道]** expression changed slightly, but ultimately, he did not resist, allowing Li Fan to examine the memories within his soul.
Fragility and strength, two opposing words, seemed to unify in Qiao Sidao.
Even though his soul, before Li Fan saved him, was on the verge of dissipation, his vast and complex memories made Li Fan's expression subtly change.
"If my soul's strength were merely this, it would be impossible to support so many memories..."
Setting aside the peculiarity of Qiao Sidao's soul, Li Fan first scanned through the myriad scenes within Qiao Sidao's memories.
Li Fan was largely uninterested in the worlds simulated by the "Era" device. Even the various cultivation techniques and divine abilities that Qiao Sidao had personally encountered were of little use to the current Li Fan.
However, glimpses into ancient secrets and the Immortal Realm, inadvertently gathered by Qiao Sidao during his many stints as an "Inner Sect Disciple" within the Myriad Immortal Sects, proved more valuable.
"I wonder how much truth these pieces of information hold. Are they merely settings within simulated worlds, or remnants passed down from the destruction of various realms..."
Across all the worlds Qiao Sidao had experienced through hundreds of billions of reincarnations, only two merited Li Fan's closer examination.
One was the "Eternal Immortal Realm," and the other was "Turbulent Spacetime."
The Eternal Immortal Realm was a theoretical perfect world, conceived in simulation as the ultimate state of cultivation civilization in the absence of world-ending calamities. Not only did its inhabitants live exceptionally long lives, with thousands of years of lifespan even without cultivation, but it also housed a magnificent entity known as the "Immortal Spirit Pagoda."
The Immortal Spirit Pagoda was present in every corner of this world, tirelessly releasing pure Spirit Qi. Any knowledge one sought—cultivation techniques, formations, alchemy, medicine—could be queried and learned within the pagoda, without any restrictions.
It was within the Immortal Spirit Pagoda that Qiao Sidao accumulated enough experience to escape the "Era" device in one bold move.
Since this was merely a theoretical system derived from simulations, it couldn't be perfectly applied to reality.
With Li Fan's current insight, he could immediately discern the disharmonies in the methods Qiao Sidao had learned.
"It's almost, but not quite, right. It might have been effective in the simulated virtual world, but..."
Li Fan tested a powerful formation from Qiao Sidao's memories.
The formation was named "Heaven and Earth Reversal." Despite its unassuming name, once formed, it could truly invert a world's sky and earth. Any life form incapable of flight would uncontrollably plummet from the ground towards the sky. Either they would starve to death during their fall, or they would violently collide with the world's boundaries, perishing utterly.
If it were as described, this formation would indeed be quite interesting. However, when Li Fan brought it into the Dissolution Disc for testing...
The result was that the formation could not be formed at all.
"Perhaps in a scenario exactly mirroring the simulated world, this formation could function. But in the current reality, where the Great Dao is lacking and in conflict, the operating environment is incompatible."
Although it couldn't be used directly, Li Fan remained unfazed.
"It points to a possibility. While it doesn't conform to reality, it can be made to function with appropriate modifications."
"Qiao Sidao merely lived within the virtual 'Era' device, and his understanding of reality stemmed solely from his experiences within it, so he might not possess such capabilities. But I am different."
In his sea of consciousness, the Immortal Formation Dissolution Disc glinted with light.
Formation data, like rivers of light, was extracted from Qiao Sidao's memories into the Dissolution Disc.
His soul felt as if it were undergoing a thousand cuts, and Qiao Sidao involuntarily groaned. If not for Li Fan stabilizing his soul, this act could have directly led to his complete annihilation.
Yet, Qiao Sidao was indeed a remarkable individual, capable of struggling and escaping through endless reincarnation. Even after this ordeal, he remained silent. He even seemed to have grown accustomed to the suffering, his complexion gradually returning to normal.
It did not take much time.
Transformed by the Dissolution Disc, the countless formations within Qiao Sidao's memories shifted from illusory arrays to genuine ones that conformed to the real environment.
Li Fan, in turn, fed the conclusions derived by the Dissolution Disc back to Qiao Sidao.
Sensing keenly that the formations transmitted by Li Fan differed from what he had learned and known, Qiao Sidao's expression shifted from surprise to uncontrollable excitement.
Qiao Sidao could still recall how powerful he had been within the "Era" device after countless reincarnations, able to uncover the greatest mysteries of heaven and earth and break free. But upon arriving in the real world, the stark contrast was difficult for him to accept.
He was so fragile that a mere gust of wind felt like it could extinguish his soul. Qiao Sidao knew this was the difference between "Era" and reality.
But now...
Through the transformation between the two types of formations transmitted by this mysterious senior before him, Qiao Sidao seemed to vaguely grasp the precise nature of this difference.
"When one method is understood, all methods become clear. Given a little time, I should be able to complete the transformation of all my learning," Qiao Sidao greedily absorbed the knowledge transmitted by Li Fan, forgetting for a moment to express his gratitude.
Li Fan did not mind. He could see that Qiao Sidao was currently in a state of enlightenment.
This soul, indeed, had not disappointed him.
It was usable!
Li Fan then turned to Emperor San Mo, resuming their unfinished conversation from their previous life.
"What level of strength is required to transcend possibility?"
"What is this energy contained within the Sacred Beast Mountain?"
As Li Fan spoke, he transformed a ball of bronze-colored energy using the "True-False Transformation" and tossed it towards Emperor San Mo.
Li Fan's two questions had already caused this Longevity Beast to become somewhat nervous after immense shock.
And when he greedily absorbed this exceptionally pure energy into his body, feeling a sense of revival in every corner of his being, Emperor San Mo confirmed that the senior before him had likely reached that legendary stage.
Perhaps his current body was too ancient and decayed. The extremely pure and righteous "Ancient Primordial Source" he had swallowed was slowly seeping away, with only a small amount remaining in the end.
But even this small amount was hugely significant for him. At the very least, it would extend his life by ten thousand years.
More importantly, he had personally witnessed this senior continuously creating "Ancient Primordial Source" as if performing a magic trick.
This divine item, which was supposed to be consumed and depleted, was seemingly inexhaustible.
In an instant, countless thoughts flashed through Emperor San Mo's mind.
But they all coalesced into one resolute determination.
No matter what, he had to stay by this senior's side!
For survival, whether his own or that of his entire clan. Emperor San Mo had switched his allegiance to different individuals multiple times, including Emperor Yi, the Beast Taming Sect, and later the Doctrine Transmitter Heavenly Venerate.
The hope he saw in any of them combined did not compare to the hope he saw in the person before him now.
He was not one to hesitate.
Once a decision was made, he immediately translated it into action.
At this moment, when Li Fan inquired, Emperor San Mo held nothing back.
"To let Senior know, according to the ancient memories passed down in our clan, even the 'Primordial Dao Formations,' which embodied the Dao, could not easily leap across possibilities in the nascent stages of the primordial era."
"If we were to draw an analogy, a Primordial Dao Formation could be compared to the realm of 'Nameless True Immortal' among human cultivators. However, unlike human cultivators who achieve enlightenment through comprehension, the great Primordial Dao Formations were themselves direct derivatives of the Great Dao, taking form. In terms of strength and comprehension of the Dao, they were inherently superior. Except for a few supreme powerhouses, most Nameless True Immortals could not match a Primordial Dao Formation." Even though he had decided to pledge allegiance to Li Fan entirely, Emperor San Mo did not embellish, recounting the memories exactly as they were passed down.
Li Fan listened, offering no opinion, and gestured for Emperor San Mo to continue.
"The existence of Primordial Dao Formations was both an advantage and a disadvantage. Because certain potent Great Daos in the world did not manifest as Dao Forms, and due to inherent rejection, they lost the opportunity to comprehend these Daos forever."
"Human cultivators, however, are different. Any Dao inherent in heaven and earth can be refined and mastered by humans."
Emperor San Mo's tone suddenly became heavy.
"This was also the beginning of our clan's catastrophe."
"In our clan's original world, the number of human cultivators was far less than ours. Most humans were treated as pets or food by us. We monopolized the methods of cultivation, and only obedient humans were allowed to cultivate. They became our pawns, helping us suppress other humans..."
Emperor San Mo slowly revealed the secrets of the beast race.
Qiao Sidao, who was observing and learning nearby, couldn't help but be distracted and listen. Even through countless reincarnations in "Era," he had never experienced this history. Hearing that humans were merely beast fodder, he couldn't help but frown slightly. He had been looked after by Emperor San Mo for a long time, but he had never heard him mention this.
Li Fan, on the other hand, remained impassive.
"We are not a shortsighted or unintelligent race. From those human cultivators who defected, we saw the terrifying potential contained within the human physique. Thus, we further tightened our control over humans."
"According to the normal trajectory of historical development, theoretically, human cultivators in our homeland had no possibility of rising."
"And in reality, this was indeed the case. Because a tremendous variable came from beyond the possibilities of the world!"
Emperor San Mo's tone held a hint of helplessness as he spoke of this.
Li Fan's eyes flashed with understanding.
"Suddenly, a great calamity inexplicably descended upon our clan."
"A 'Nameless True Immortal' crossed over possibilities and appeared in our spacetime. After witnessing the plight of the humans, he began a frenzied slaughter and retaliation."
"Initially, our clan had thirteen 'Primordial Dao Formations.' However, in the battle against that Nameless True Immortal, more than half of them were killed or injured..."
Although Emperor San Mo's tone was calm, Li Fan could sense the deep fear hidden within.
"That Nameless True Immortal retreated temporarily, heavily wounded. But before he left, he plundered the remains of five Primordial Dao Formations that he had slaughtered. If he were to refine the Great Dao contained within these remains, our clan would undoubtedly face annihilation."
"The remaining 'Dao Forms' exhausted countless possibilities but found no way for our clan to win. In despair, with no other choice, they could only choose to flee."
"However, as I said before, in the early primordial era, it was extremely difficult to cross possibilities. Although I don't know how that Nameless True Immortal, who inexplicably appeared in our spacetime, managed it, according to our simulations and calculations, even if all eight surviving 'Dao Forms' sacrificed themselves, the majority of the clan could not escape."
"Exhausting everything in the world, it could only allow one person to escape!"
In Li Fan's mind, Emperor Yi's figure flashed instantaneously.
"Myriad Forms Unifying into One?"
Emperor San Mo nodded.
"Our clan all evolved from Primordial Dao Formations. At that time, to maintain a sliver of hope for survival, only fusion and regression were possible."
"To ensure the integrity of the surviving clan members as much as possible."
"Countless clan members, either willingly or by force, walked into that enormous furnace."
"Ultimately, they fused into 'Emperor Yi'," Emperor San Mo said indifferently.
"It's a pity that the most primitive and powerful Primordial Dao Formations, five of them, were already lost."
"Then seven more, sacrificing themselves during the crossing of possibilities, dissipated."
"Out of thirteen Primordial Dao Formations, only one remains. Our clan can no longer achieve the glory of the primordial era." Emperor San Mo's tone carried a hint of melancholy.
"Seven Primordial Dao Formations were needed to traverse timelines?" Li Fan, indifferent to Emperor San Mo's emotions, narrowed his eyes.
"That's an old account from the primordial era. Since the great tribulation descended, the power required to leap across possibilities has been decreasing." Emperor San Mo waved his hand, and countless illusions appeared within the ruins of the Southern Underworld Mountain before them.
They were identical to what Li Fan had seen in the Fallen Immortal Realm.
"As the saying goes, 'Be vigilant in times of peace.' After completing the escape, although temporary safety was achieved, and Emperor Yi successfully separated the clan's myriad forms, the terrifying presence of that Nameless True Immortal continued to linger in our minds."
"Therefore, we have been seeking a method to escape possibilities."
"'Ancient Primordial Source' is our discovery."
Li Fan gestured, and the bronze-colored energy ball reappeared.
"'Ancient Primordial Source'?" Li Fan mused.
"This is our clan's own name for it. In fact, among human cultivators, it should have a different designation, as we actually discovered this substance in human ruins. However, I have been integrated into human society for tens of thousands of years, yet I have never found any records of this item," Emperor San Mo explained in detail.
"The divine mask sealing the Ancient Primordial Source, and the key to activating the restriction, were also acquired from the ruins."
"This ruin is within the Xuanhuang Realm?" Li Fan's eyes glinted.
Emperor San Mo nodded: "In every possibility, the name and the actual location have slight differences. But at least in the ones we have experienced, it can be found in this general area."
"It seems you have had to flee more than once." Li Fan stared intently at Emperor San Mo.
"In the face of countless possibilities, time and the number of times hold little significance."
Emperor San Mo looked towards the now empty vortex of Realm-Splitting.
"Survival in the end is what matters most," Emperor San Mo said with a profound tone.
Within the Realm-Splitting Great Vortex, storms raged, and torrential rain fell year-round. Traces of the former Southern Underworld Mountain had long since vanished into the river of history.
After a prolonged silence, Emperor San Mo spoke again, "Aside from evading the pursuit of that nameless human True Immortal, the subsequent Heaven and Earth World-Ending Tribulation also forces us to flee continuously. Although we are fortunate enough to always find Primordial Source energy sources for our jumps and escapes, the facts we've discovered have inevitably bred a certain pessimism in our hearts."
"To prevent these emotions from having a fatal impact on our tribe, Emperor Yi chose to fragment and evolve these emotions, then let them extinguish on their own..."
Li Fan, who was certainly aware of the powerful and exceptionally strange demonic beasts with varying personalities among the beast-kin tribes, keenly caught the key point in Emperor San Mo's words: "Facts?"
"Innumerable futures, infinite possibilities. This was our general understanding of all worlds. But through repeated jumps and escapes, we have begun to doubt this understanding. Theoretically, each jump should lead to a brand-new possibility. The temporal node of arrival in that possibility should also be random. For instance, if we were lucky enough, we could have arrived in a world where the Twelve Primordial Dao Forms had not yet been slaughtered and their tribes were still prosperous."
"Perhaps our luck wasn't enough, and we never encountered such a world. If it were only this, it would be fine, but..."
Emperor San Mo's expression grew extremely solemn. "What instilled fear in us is that the temporal nodes we land on after each jump are continuously pushing backwards. Although we've jumped across possibilities, it seems we haven't been able to reverse our position in the temporal dimension."
"This is precisely why I've always used the term 'possibility' and not 'timeline' to describe it."
Li Fan and Qiao Sidao both understood Emperor San Mo's meaning immediately.
Qiao Sidao lowered his head in thought, concealing his inner fear.
Li Fan, however, recalled the fact that every time he activated Reflection, it reset the temporal node of the entire mortal world.
"The Dao Erasure Tribulation is not just destroying countless possibilities. It seems to be devouring the entire temporal river of the mortal world from its source."
"It's like no matter how I activate Reflection, I can never return to a point a year before the anchor point."
"Thinking further, if there were no such wondrous artifact as Reflection in the mortal world, wouldn't that mean..."
"That escape is impossible?" Li Fan's eyes flickered.
If Emperor San Mo's words were true, then the scale and terrifying nature of the Dao Erasure Tribulation, as well as the importance of Reflection, might far exceed his imagination.
However, Li Fan had not yet attempted to traverse possibilities without the aid of Reflection. Therefore, he couldn't confirm the veracity of Emperor San Mo's information.
It was even possible that the beast-kin tribe was simply too unlucky, and their possibility jumps had coincidentally always landed in the "future."
Countless thoughts flashed through Li Fan's mind in an instant. However, without any way to verify them, idle speculation was useless. Thus, he shifted the topic back to the ruins where the Primordial Source energy was discovered in the Xuanhuang Realm.
Li Fan asked Emperor San Mo to describe the location and detailed circumstances of the ruins.
With a slight movement of his heart, he drew a map of the original Xuanhuang Realm in the air and pointed to a location in the center. "Is it here?"
Emperor San Mo examined it carefully for a moment, then nodded.
Li Fan suddenly had a faint inkling of the answer.
The location of the Primordial Source energy was likely the central core of the ancient formation of the Xuanhuang Realm. Its ancient nature predated the Realm-Splitting Great Formation of the Heavenly Profound Mirror, tracing back to the very beginning of the Xuanhuang Realm's creation.
"My previous conjecture was that the original purpose of creating the Xuanhuang Realm was to serve as a testing ground for how to resist the Dao Erasure Tribulation. For instance, the high similarity between Black Slaughter and the black qi of the Dao Erasure Tribulation. Also, the countless figures that resembled Black Slaughter that appeared in a daze when the Dao Erasure black qi spread like a tidal wave in the previous life all affirmed my conjecture to some extent."
"However, my understanding of the Dao Erasure Tribulation was previously limited to simple black qi, and I didn't realize that this tribulation could even affect countless possibilities."
"I've only truly encountered the Dao Erasure Tribulation for a short time. In the past, the Immortal Realm had existences at the Nameless True Immortal realm. They must have understood the Dao Erasure Tribulation, perhaps even more deeply than the beast-kin tribe."
"It's understandable that a place capable of traversing timelines was left behind in the Xuanhuang Realm."
Li Fan couldn't help but recall the scene of True Immortal memories he saw within the True Immortal's flesh and blood.
"...Qionglang Starfield... Annihilation... to guard..."
"...Target found."
Once his understanding of the Dao Erasure Tribulation reached a certain level, looking back at this passage, Li Fan perceived certain information he couldn't grasp before.
"The Immortal Realm wasn't entirely without resistance to the Dao Erasure Tribulation. The Dao Erasure Tribulation didn't suddenly engulf all existence along a possibility in one go. Instead, it was the gradual downfall of different regions. Perhaps, this was the contribution of the Immortal Heavenly Pillars, which were made of the remains of Nameless True Immortals."
"And upon hearing the news that the Qionglang Starfield was submerged by the Dao Erasure Tribulation, I didn't feel any particular panic from the True Immortal's memories. Clearly, at that time, the inhabitants of the Immortal Realm weren't so pessimistic about the Dao Erasure Tribulation."
"I just don't know what happened later that caused the Immortal Realm to suddenly collapse and be destroyed."
His thoughts drifting, Li Fan considered more.
The Dao Erasure Tribulation completely devoured possibilities. Even the lofty Immortal Realm had vanished due to the Dao Erasure Tribulation; normally, the star sea in the lower realm should have also disappeared.
Yet, it had endured for tens of thousands of years…
"Perhaps it has something to do with the civilized region with vitality that I saw outside the The Great Barriers of the Abyssal Sea."
Li Fan mused slightly in his heart.
The situation he currently faced was akin to when he was still a mortal, leaving the Great Xuan and arriving in the Xuanhuang Realm, and suddenly learning about the existence of the Immortal Ruins' True Immortals and even the Formless High Wall.
"Looking too far ahead only disturbs the mind."
"It's better to proceed step by step, with careful planning."
...
Li Fan fell into deep thought, and Emperor San Mo and Qiao Sidao dared not disturb him.
After a long while, Li Fan finally spoke again.
He first said to Qiao Sidao, "You possess infinite theoretical knowledge, yet your personal strength is negligible."
"In times of chaos, cultivation is the guarantee for survival and stability. You have reincarnated for a long time; you must understand this principle."
"First, organize what you have learned and transform it into practical applications. Soon, I will find a tailor-made cultivation technique for you..."
Qiao Sidao's expression was solemn as he bowed. "Thank you, Senior."
Li Fan then said to Emperor San Mo, "Are you willing to work for me?"
He had only asked a simple question, yet Emperor San Mo had revealed so much, practically spilling all of his tribe's secrets. Li Fan, who was well-versed in human nature, already understood the other's intentions.
Clearly, after witnessing the supreme might of Li Fan's "True-False Transformation," Emperor San Mo had developed the idea of seeking refuge and dependence. Thus, he asked directly.
Emperor San Mo also replied directly, bowing slightly. "I am willing to serve you wholeheartedly, Senior!"
Li Fan nodded slightly. "You possess the countless years of memory inheritance of the beast race, your intelligence is extraordinary, and your knowledge is vast, even surpassing mine in some aspects. You can be of great help in advising me!"
"There's no need to hide anything now. I have indeed come to this world from another possibility!" Li Fan said sternly.
Qiao Sidao showed a hint of surprise.
Emperor San Mo, however, looked as if he had expected it.
After all, the sudden appearance of this "True Immortal," and Li Fan's remark about "what kind of strength is needed to traverse possibilities," undoubtedly pointed to his uniqueness.
"However, I didn't actively traverse possibilities to come here," Li Fan's brow furrowed, as if lost in memory.
"The world I came from had many similarities to this one, yet was also subtly different. Although the Immortal Realm was destroyed, it left behind many Dao traditions in the lower realm, and its overall strength was far superior to this place. For a time, there was even no danger of the Dao Erasure Tribulation descending. Who would have known..."
Li Fan's face darkened. "One day, two extremely terrifying experts suddenly descended. Their strength even surpassed mine! With a mere raise of their hands, they destroyed my homeland! Even with True Immortal strength, before these two, they were like ants!"
"But for some unknown reason, these two experts seemed to be at odds with each other. Soon after, they began to fight. The heavens and earth were in turmoil, and I could only flee in panic, relying on instinct. In my daze, I arrived here..."
Li Fan's words were heart-pounding.
He even conjured images from time to time.
The scenes of heaven and earth collapsing and the star sea being destroyed made Qiao Sidao and Emperor San Mo's expressions change slightly.
And when Emperor San Mo saw the Evil Su Bai and the Black Heavenly Physician that Li Fan displayed, his expression became one of undisguised shock.
Li Fan had been waiting, and his tone immediately changed. "Hmm? You seem to recognize these two?"
Emperor San Mo dared not speak carelessly, and after careful observation, he replied, "These two should be supreme experts capable of traversing possibilities through their own power."
"In the history of this world, these two were also existences like peerless prodigies. In fact, one of them still lives. And..."
Emperor San Mo paused, then added, "He also has a deep connection with the actual controller of the Myriad Immortals Alliance, the Doctrine Transmitter Heavenly Venerate."
He briefly introduced the lives of Su Bai and the Heavenly Physician to Li Fan.
Upon hearing this, Li Fan's brow furrowed. "If that's the case, it seems there were also two such figures in my world. However, with numerous sects and frequent emergence of prodigies, they weren't particularly conspicuous."
"Could it be that those two experts were in pursuit of their own counterparts in other possibilities?"
Li Fan's words caused Emperor San Mo and Qiao Sidao to exchange glances, a look of astonishment on their faces.
Another long silence ensued.
Li Fan looked outside the Divine Treasure Museum. "Anyone who hasn't reached True Immortal is an ant. The Heavenly Physician in this world is not worth worrying about. What concerns me is, is it possible that those two experts could also sense and come here?"
This question clearly exceeded Emperor San Mo's knowledge.
This Beast of Wisdom was, for a moment, unable to answer.
"It seems we can only strike first and kill that Heavenly Physician," Li Fan's voice grew colder.
"I don't recommend you do that, Senior," Qiao Sidao suddenly spoke.
Li Fan looked at him, signaling him to continue.
"Assuming those two experts are hunting their own counterparts for some reason, and based on your world's experience, they have done this before. It's clear they have a secret technique to sense their own existence in other possible worlds..."
Qiao Sidao pondered, organizing his thoughts. "If, as Uncle San said, the time of all possibilities is maintained in a certain degree of synchronized forward movement, then this hunting act of theirs also requires 'time' to consume. Even though they have traversed possibilities."
"Since they cannot slaughter simultaneously, it implies that their hunts must have a sequential order."
"Our current world is temporarily safe because it hasn't attracted their attention yet."
"If your killing action triggers your own counterpart in the Heaven and Earth Life and Death, it might instead attract powerful enemies from outside the possibilities," Qiao Sidao analyzed methodically.
Li Fan nodded with a hint of satisfaction.
He naturally didn't intend to kill the Heavenly Physician.
After all, he now had a thousand ways to trap the Heavenly Physician, so why take the risk and potentially attract the Black Heavenly Physician?
He hadn't even revealed that the Formless High Wall could block the Black Heavenly Physician's senses to a certain extent. Li Fan wanted to test the utility of Emperor San Mo and Qiao Sidao.
Judging by their current performance, it seemed satisfactory.
Emperor San Mo echoed, "Instead of taking risks, it's better to imprison him. With the Primordial Source energy as fuel, it can traverse possibilities. This mysterious energy might be able to shield against perceptions from outside possibilities to some extent..."
This was something Li Fan hadn't considered before.
Better to believe it exists than to believe it doesn't. Li Fan decided to integrate and utilize the Primordial Source energy in the formation to seal the Heavenly Physician.
The Dissolution Disc had already begun analyzing the Primordial Source energy.
Li Fan then looked at Emperor San Mo. "What are your thoughts on the existence of the Black Heavenly Physician and Evil Su Bai?"
"Why, in other possibilities, are beings who haven't even reached True Immortal so powerful?"
Emperor San Mo gave a wry smile. "Perhaps, there aren't so many 'whys' in the world. Just like the Nameless True Immortal who destroyed my tribe back then."
"A normal Nameless True Immortal fighting evenly with one of the Primordial Dao Forms is already considered strong. But that being could fight thirteen at once..."
"In front of true powerhouses, there are no such things as principles."
Qiao Sidao offered the same view. "Since ancient times, those who have survived tribulations are either chosen by fate or are absolute powerhouses."
"I believe these two are the latter."
"Talent, comprehension, and all sorts of innate qualities – their influence on actual cultivation might have a limit. Reaching the True Immortal realm means these aspects won't be lacking, no matter what."
"But to go a step further..." Qiao Si Dao continued to elaborate on his deductions to Li Fan.
"It probably requires a certain amount of luck, of chance."
"Every choice made creates a different life afterward. Senior, looking at Evil Su Bai and Black Heavenly Physician, their strength reached such unknowable realms because they made choices vastly different from their counterparts in this world, leading to a series of subsequent changes."
"And, perhaps through the matter of being hunted by powerful beings from other possibilities, we can also judge, to some extent, the entire world..." Qiao Si Dao mused, searching for the right words.
"Let's use 'the mortal world' as a placeholder," Li Fan suddenly interjected, then gestured for him to continue.
"Ah, perhaps we can judge the general state of the entire mortal world." Qiao Si Dao smoothly adapted his wording as Li Fan requested.
"Explain in detail." Li Fan's eyes flickered, and he instantly grasped Qiao Si Dao's train of thought.
"If the mortal world still possesses infinite possibilities, it means anyone in the Xuanhuang Realm theoretically exists beyond the starry sea, capable of easily crossing possibilities, becoming an ultimate supreme being. Third Uncle, myself, and all the myriad beings of the Xuanhuang Realm, are all like this."
"Conversely, if the current Dao Erasure Tribulation in the mortal world has already annihilated the vast majority of possibilities, this situation might not exist. The question is how to verify this while ensuring one's own safety..."
Qiao Si Dao furrowed his brow. "That's beyond what I can currently conceive. After all, such hypothetical enemies are too powerful; it's outside the scope of my abilities."
"Having a line of thought is already a good start," Li Fan praised casually. Qiao Si Dao's difficulties were not issues for him.
"In this lifetime, a basic judgment can be made."
"However, considering the might displayed by Black Heavenly Physician in the previous life, I need to prepare thoroughly beforehand."
Next, Li Fan inquired in detail from Emperor San Mo about Su Bai and Heavenly Physician, with a particular focus on Su Bai.
According to Emperor San Mo's account, the general situation was consistent with Li Fan's experience in the Fallen Immortal Realm. However, some aspects concerning Evil Su Bai were not revealed in the illusion.
"The Beast Taming Sect, after all, is one of the Myriad Immortal Sects, a leader ruling the Xuanhuang Realm. To have a nobody barge in and brazenly make demands wasn't something they'd easily agree to."
"However, after a brutal battle, weighing the pros and cons, they were forced to yield," Emperor San Mo said with a wry smile.
In the battle scenario Emperor San Mo described, Mr. Bai initially only injured the beasts, not the cultivators. But later, as the slaughter escalated, Mr. Bai's attacks grew heavier, and his demeanor gradually became unsettling. It was Emperor San Mo's keen observation of this and his prompt communication with the Beast Taming Sect Master that, along with the appearance of Lu Ya, who had been raised by Mr. Bai, might have prevented a horrific tragedy.
Emperor San Mo was unaware that Su Bai had once stepped across a The Great Barrier and was inexplicably influenced by Evil Su Bai. He merely believed it was Su Bai's deeply hidden character.
"Although my homeland was destroyed, I believe many acquaintances, like myself, managed to escape to other possibilities through chance."
"The short-term goal is to find a method to stably jump between possibilities. The long-term goal is to seek revenge against those two!"
"Although they are strong, they shouldn't treat us like ants. Such reckless behavior will surely be punished!" Li Fan's expression turned solemn as he shaped his persona. His words gained sincere agreement from Emperor San Mo, who had a nearly identical experience. Qiao Si Dao also nodded in heartfelt accord.
Indeed, Li Fan could have forced the two to work for him through various means. However, in Li Fan's view, having them willingly cooperate was far more efficient and stable.
"The developmental stage of this world is even inferior to my homeland. Reaching this goal will undoubtedly be arduous."
"We must work together," Li Fan said, looking towards the Myriad Immortals Alliance Headquarters outside the Divine Treasure Museum.
Emperor San Mo quickly understood Li Fan's implication and proactively stated, "The three ruling powers within the Myriad Immortals Alliance are the Dharma-Preachers, the Mirror Controllers, and the Illusory Sages. I lead and manage the 'Illusory Sage' faction. They are created from divine souls screened by the 'Era' device, then fused with life materials backed up in the Divine Treasure Museum, utilizing our race's refining technology for temporary creation."
"The most outstanding among them is a creation named First Young Master Proclivity. In truth, his birth was also filled with countless coincidences. His legendary tale even surpasses Qiao Si Dao's..."
During Emperor San Mo's account, Li Fan learned why First Young Master Proclivity was named "First." He wasn't originally a single divine soul. His name's similarity to the beast king "Emperor Yi" was no accident. During the process of forging bodies from hundreds of selected divine souls, an extremely rare accident occurred. In a massive explosion, all remaining life materials and divine souls merged together. Normally, such a mixture of residue wouldn't give birth to an intelligent individual. Yet, from this sludge-like substance, a prodigy like First Young Master Proclivity emerged.
Emperor San Mo said with great regret, "Even though I tried my best to conceal it, First Young Master Proclivity's uniqueness couldn't be hidden from the Dharma-Preachers and Mirror Controllers. To prevent First Young Master Proclivity from becoming a threat after his growth, they joined forces to suppress him."
"Under the new law cultivation rules established by Doctrine Transmitter Heavenly Venerate, without the necessary resources, no matter how heaven-defying your talent, you'll be restricted. Such talent that I find unbelievable, yet he's currently still in the Soul Transformation realm..." Emperor San Mo's tone held a touch of indignation.
"This also relates to the characteristics of our 'Illusory Sage' faction. When I pledged allegiance to the Dharma-Preachers, I made an agreement with him: I would not interfere in the Myriad Immortals Alliance's affairs, only offering assistance on special occasions. Thus, it's difficult for me to intervene too much," he explained to Li Fan.
Li Fan was not unfamiliar with this First Young Master Proclivity. When his strength was still weak, he had heard of his deeds: "Cultivated for three years, mortal formed Golden Core. Golden Core slew Nascent Soul, defeated Soul Transformation." Later, when appointed as the Island Master of Myriad Immortals Island, Li Fan had accepted his appointment to construct Cloudy Sea Immortal City and suppress the Nether Passage beneath Myriad Immortals Island.
However, with Li Fan's advantage of the "Return to Truth" and continuous cycles of reincarnation, he could recklessly gather intelligence in each life without consequence, making cultivation resources a non-issue for him. After achieving Nascent Soul in the Five Elements Great Grotto-heaven, this so-called "prodigy" was no longer on his radar.
"Speaking of which, this First Young Master Proclivity is a suitable pawn for testing."
"To see the richness of remaining possibilities in the current mortal world."
"Even with infinite possibilities, each has a chance to attain the strongest Dao. However, those with higher talent, comprehension, and temperament have a greater overall probability of achieving the Dao. After the Dao Erasure Tribulation swept through, the number of survivors would be greater. For someone like He Zhenghao to reach the Nameless Realm, even within infinity, they would be few and far between."
"I can divide them into different tiers based on their talent and send them beyond the The Great Barrier separately..." Li Fan had already settled on a plan.
Without summoning First Young Master Proclivity for now, Li Fan had Emperor San Mo lead the way directly to the Doctrine Transmitter Council. With Emperor San Mo, a Doctrine Transmitter Heavenly Venerate and the head of the Illusory Sage faction, citing an "extremely urgent" matter, the vast majority of Dharma-Preachers were gathered in one place.
Li Fan deeply understood the decadence of these Dharma-Preachers and, without wasting time, directly deployed an immortal formation to suppress them all. After training, if they were still usable, they would be released. If not, they would be destroyed, and new Dharma-Preachers would be created using simulated personalities and the body-refining technology provided by Emperor San Mo, replacing them.
The beast race's body-refining technology bore seven to eight parts similarity to that developed in the Imperial pocket world. However, all the Empire's technologies were based on exotic beasts completely stripped of their beast-kin bloodlines, allowing for greater excavation of their potential. Although the outwardly displayed technology seemed weaker, its essence was not far behind. When Li Fan shared this with Emperor San Mo, Emperor San Mo was filled with pleasant surprise and gained considerable inspiration.
Having silently gained control of the Doctrine Transmitter Council, Li Fan did not immediately confront the Heavenly Profound Mirror. Instead, he went to the Law Enforcement Hall first.
After the three Dao Integration guardians watching the Heavenly Profound Mirror repeatedly verified the authenticity of the transfer order and, with astonished uncertainty, hastily departed the Dharma Deduction Jade space, leaving only Yan Fa Jade alone.
The little loli, who had been listlessly slumped on the long wooden table, finally couldn't hold back after observing for a long time. She sneakily raised her head.
"What's going on?" the little loli pondered. After much thought, though she wasn't sure what had happened, it was a fact that no one was guarding her. Yan Fa Jade, the little loli, didn't even consider escaping. Instead, she was overjoyed and contentedly went to rest.
After an unknown period, a figure suddenly appeared before her and tapped lightly on the wooden table. The little loli jolted awake from a sweet dream, skillfully wiped the drool from the corner of her mouth, and widened her eyes, showing no sign of having been asleep. She sized up the newcomer and tentatively asked, "Are you the new guardian?"
The newcomer, Li Fan, smiled slightly, "Yes and no."
"I hate riddle-tellers like you the most," the little loli puffed out her cheeks, saying dismissively. Then, she ignored Li Fan, counting on her fingers as if calculating something, her large eyes looking up at the giant character sphere above.
Li Fan remained unfazed. He slowly conjured an identical long wooden table before him, spread paper, ground ink, and picked up his brush. With a few strokes, only two characters were written on the long wooden table. The moment these two characters appeared, they irresistibly captivated the little loli's attention. She was stunned for a moment, her eyes filled with confusion. Then, as if remembering something, she let out a series of meaningless shrieks that lasted for a long time.
"You... you... you..." Yan Fa Jade stammered, pointing at Li Fan as if she had seen a ghost. She couldn't even speak properly. Li Fan glanced indifferently at the little loli. The little loli flinched again, but under Li Fan's gaze, she dared not move. She just looked at Li Fan in terror.
"How much of your Immortal Realm memory remains?" Li Fan asked indifferently once Yan Fa Jade finally calmed down. This question further solidified the little loli's suspicion. Her fear intensified, and she quickly shook her head, replying, "I can't remember anything at all!"
"Oh?" Li Fan squinted, his brow furrowing. The little loli waved her hands, anxiously explaining, "Really, I'm not lying!"
"I'm a bit confused about that too. But Brother Jing Xuan said that to avoid the repercussions of the Immortal Realm's calamities, most immortal artifacts had to cut ties with their past selves to survive..."
"It was only upon seeing you write these two characters just now that I vaguely remembered them."
Immortal artifacts, immortal puppets, immortal servants, and the like, seemed to be at a natural disadvantage before True Immortals. With just a simple glance, Yan Fa Jade the little loli spilled out everything she knew. The Yan Fa Jade artifact that accompanied her, though from the Immortal Realm, was inherently incomplete. After she merged with it, her past memories vanished like salt dissolving in water.
"Don't move," Li Fan said calmly, reaching out and placing a hand on the little loli's head to examine her internal state. The traces of the Yan Fa Jade artifact were no longer visible. It had almost completely fused with her human body. However, her nature as a "person" still lingered, not fully merged or consumed.
"I can sense the wish in your heart."
"Do you wish to live on as the 'Yan Fa Jade,' or as a true 'person'?" Li Fan withdrew his hand and asked calmly. The little loli was startled and then, realizing something, slightly opened her mouth. She didn't immediately reply but seemed conflicted for a while.
"As the 'Yan Fa Jade,' though destined to lose freedom, you would have endless lifespan and no fear of death."
"As a 'person,' although you can escape the shackles of an artifact, perhaps true carefree bliss doesn't exist in this world," Li Fan reminded her gently. The little loli lowered her head, lost in thought. But ultimately, as Li Fan expected, she resolutely chose the latter: to become a "person."
"Good. Since your mind is made up, I will fulfill it." Thousands of golden threads erupted, plunging deep into Yan Fa Jade's little loli body. Amidst inexpressible agony, the little loli immediately burst into tears. Li Fan, however, paid no heed, merely sensing the artifact within her and slowly extracting it.
The Heavenly Oddity, Earthly Oddity Dharma Deduction Jade, had almost completely merged with the little girl’s physical body, making it nearly impossible to separate with ordinary methods. Fortunately, Li Fan was a master of medical arts and possessed the ability to manipulate reality. He decided on a direct and effective approach.
Without regard for the consequences, he would destructively extract the flesh and blood imbued with the Dharma Deduction Jade. During this process, he would use his illusory abilities to create new flesh and blood to replace what was removed, sustaining the little girl’s life.
The physical body was relatively easier to handle. The more difficult and dangerous part was the divine soul. Having been integrated with the Dharma Deduction Jade for so long, the little girl's divine soul was permeated with the overwhelming influence of the artifact.
Li Fan’s divine sense was like a blade, precisely cutting and separating it inch by inch. While the illusory ability replenished the lost flesh and blood, he also used the Profound Art of Infinite Void and Formation to produce strands of refined soul nourishment, which were then infused into her.
The entire process was one where not even the slightest mistake could be afforded. Otherwise, even if the Heavenly Oddity, Earthly Oddity Dharma Deduction Jade remained unharmed, the little girl would instantly be reduced to nothingness.
However, Li Fan displayed no trace of tension, even though this was his first attempt at such "medical treatment." After all, no one else in this world had witnessed his conversation with the Dharma Deduction Jade. If he were to fail … it would simply be the little girl’s misfortune.
Li Fan was completely focused, immersed in his work.
Slowly, as Li Fan extracted a piece of blood-red, circular jade, the little girl entered a wondrous state of being "between reality and illusion." She appeared no different from before the "surgery," except for a slight weakness. However, if Li Fan were to merely think of canceling the maintaining illusory state, this adorable creature would instantly collapse into a puddle of flesh and blood.
"The boundary between reality and illusion..." Li Fan carefully observed the creation he had brought into existence. Having experienced the full cycle of life, Li Fan felt that his understanding of the illusory ability had subtly reached a new level. He couldn’t yet achieve permanence; only a tiny fraction of the originally created flesh and blood would remain from the illusory ability. However, Li Fan could repeat the process, compensating with sheer quantity.
Even so, by the time Li Fan completed this incredibly intricate and unique separation technique in the world, the reborn little girl had shrunk considerably. She had originally looked about five or six years old, but now she appeared to be only three or four.
Upon waking and seeing her new body, the little girl’s eyes widened, her face filled with astonishment. Although she had lost the enhancement of the Heavenly Oddity, Earthly Oddity Dharma Deduction Jade, Li Fan’s creation of this new body had retained a trace of Spirit Qi from the Xuanhuang Realm's phantom. Now, while the little girl had no cultivation, in terms of profound depth, she likely surpassed all cultivators below the Longevity Realm in the Xuanhuang Realm.
"Do you remember your original name?" Li Fan asked, gently stroking the Dharma Deduction Jade with his left hand. The flesh and blood clinging to the Heavenly Oddity, Earthly Oddity had vanished, revealing its original form. On the cylindrical jade, a gap resembling a sword slash, occupying almost a tenth of its size, made it appear incomplete at first glance.
The little girl hesitated for a moment before finally replying crisply, "I don't remember." The incredible methods displayed by Li Fan confirmed her previous thoughts: this person before her must be a True Immortal descended to the mortal realm! No longer daring to show any mischievousness, she became remarkably reserved.
Such an obvious change in the little girl's demeanor could not escape Li Fan's notice. However, seeing her desire to completely bid farewell to her past, Li Fan couldn't be bothered to dwell on it further. "Since that is the case, from this day forward, your name shall be Li Ningqing."
Although separated from the Dharma Deduction Jade, thousands of years of co-existence had profoundly influenced her, imprinting fragmented memories of the Immortal Realm. Li Ningqing instinctively bowed, her small face solemn. "Thank you, master, for bestowing my name."
Li Fan nodded slightly and remained silent, meticulously studying the Dharma Deduction Jade in his hand. Li Ningqing stood by his side, not daring to disturb him. However, as the saying goes, it is easier to change mountains and rivers than a person's true nature. After standing for only a short while, Li Ningqing could no longer contain herself. She looked up, slyly observing Li Fan.
Indeed, as Li Ningqing had stated, there were not many memories of the Immortal Realm left in the Dharma Deduction Jade. Fragments of memories related to "creation" could still exist because the True Immortal Sigils was so special; it not only imprinted itself into the memories but also had a subtle influence on the Dharma Deduction Jade itself, thus surviving the erosion of time.
However, even with only scattered fragments, Li Fan saw scenes of value to him. Light and shadow flickered, and a figure paced. It seemed as though the original owner of the Dharma Deduction Jade had encountered an extremely difficult situation.
"Foolish, truly utterly foolish."
"To treat such a calamity as nothing..."
"No, perhaps they have other plans and simply cannot be bothered with us. It seems we must rely on ourselves. Otherwise, the tragic incident in the Thousand Illusions Starfield serves as a vivid example."
...
After an unknown amount of time, the human-shaped light figure had long since vanished. The Dharma Deduction Jade was left alone in its original spot. A whistling wind arose, as though a great terror was descending. A mysterious force suddenly enveloped the Dharma Deduction Jade. The Dharma Deduction Jade flew into the sky, transforming into a shooting star, and rapidly fled in a certain direction, beyond its control. All around it, countless rays of light, like the Dharma Deduction Jade itself, pierced the firmament. However, their positions seemed to vary.
...
In the star sea of the lower realm. After an unknown duration of flight, a figure suddenly reached out and caught the Dharma Deduction Jade. After a moment of careful examination, the figure shook its head slightly and then threw the Dharma Deduction Jade into the Xuanhuang Realm.
...
These memory fragments were deeply hidden within the Dharma Deduction Jade. Even after being absorbed by Li Ningqing as a wondrous object, they would not be perceived by her without special conditions to trigger or entice them. Only someone like Li Fan, who searched through it so thoroughly, almost to the point of damage, could awaken these ancient preserved memories.
"It seems that the Dharma Deduction Jade arrived in Azure Nether from the Immortal Realm a long time ago. It was then swallowed and absorbed by the world." Li Fan was familiar with the figure that had captured the Dharma Deduction Jade. It was the same lower realm True Immortal he had seen in the memory fragments of True Immortal flesh and blood generated by the Heavenly Bone Hand!
"In the Immortal Realm, the appearance of the Dao Erasure Tribulation was foretold. Even with the 'official' creation of Immortal Heavenly Pillars to maintain order, it’s likely that many True Immortals chose to pass through the calamity in their own ways. Whether they succeeded is another matter."
"In the face of disaster, everyone displays their unique abilities. This is not a new phenomenon in the history of the Xuanhuang Realm," Li Fan mused to himself. What troubled him even more was the scene of it fleeing like a meteor shower, each fragment escaping in its own direction.
"The time period indicated was still the ancient era for the Xuanhuang Realm, but the star domain in the Immortal Realm where the Dharma Deduction Jade was located seemed to be on the brink of a great calamity."
"What else might have been among those meteor-like lights, besides immortal artifacts like the Dharma Deduction Jade?"
"Was it a powerful being’s intervention, preserving the legacy of the Immortal Realm in this manner?"
Apart from this, there were no other special details in the past memories of the Dharma Deduction Jade. As for the rest, they were cultivation techniques that the Dharma Deduction Jade had continuously developed over the years. For Li Fan, who had already achieved the level of a Half-Immortal, these techniques held little significance. He had spent considerable effort extracting the Dharma Deduction Jade, mainly out of respect for its former status as an immortal artifact.
In his sea of consciousness, the Immortal Rank Dissolution Disc emitted faint sparks of immortal Spirit Qi. Li Fan first attempted to absorb this immortal Spirit Qi using the Dharma Deduction Jade. However, like Li Fan himself, the Dharma Deduction Jade was unable to utilize this mysterious energy. It merely circulated within its form and emerged unharmed. The Dissolution Disc reabsorbed the immortal Spirit Qi.
"As I suspected, immortal Spirit Qi must have a unique identifier. It can only be used by specific beings." Li Fan recalled the process by which the Dissolution Disc was officially promoted to an immortal artifact. "Left by the Great Azure Nether Heavenly Venerate, transformed by the Heavenly Dao of the Xuanhuang Realm, and forced to separate before reaching the ultimate point of the Immortal Realm." He vaguely understood.
"It seems the critical factor might be the transformation through the Azure Nether world. The mechanism behind this might have existed since the creation of the Xuanhuang Realm, similar to ancient immortal formations. Perhaps even the Azure Nether Heavenly Dao is unaware of it."
"To promote the Dharma Deduction Jade to an immortal artifact..." Li Fan had no intention of pushing the Xuanhuang Realm to a higher level again. Having learned from past experiences, while it might not be overly troublesome, Li Fan, with his current strength, possessed more convenient methods.
Temporarily putting aside the Dharma Deduction Jade, Li Fan looked at Li Ningqing, who had regained her senses and immediately lowered her head. "You haven't been out for a long time. I'll give you some time to go and explore. Although you have no cultivation, with this body alone, you can roam freely and without worry throughout the Xuanhuang Realm," Li Fan said calmly.
Li Ningqing was overjoyed and quickly bowed her thanks. "A year's time."
"After a year, heed my summons," Li Fan added. Li Ningqing paid it no mind, already intoxicated by the prospect of a year-long vacation. Heaven be praised, she had never had such a long period of rest in her entire life. Compared to that detestable Doctrine Transmitter Heavenly Venerate, her master was truly a benevolent being! Li Ningqing could not help but think this.
While she was still ecstatic, her vision blurred, and she was sent out of the Myriad Immortals Alliance headquarters by Li Fan. Li Fan’s voice faintly echoed in her ears: "Travel more. See more. Don't miss anything interesting."
"Don't worry, I'll have master's backing." Li Ningqing’s heart was set at ease, and her journey to the Xuanhuang Realm was filled with anticipation.
"Master is so kind; Mirror Xuan would surely be very happy to meet him."
Sensing the little girl's cheerful steps, Li Fan nodded slightly. "I hope you can discover some hidden secrets within the Xuanhuang Realm." Li Ningqing had been fused with the Dharma Deduction Jade for too long, forming a peculiar connection. Perhaps a similar connection existed with other ancient relics from the Immortal Realm, just as, moments ago, she had sensed it the instant Li Fan extracted the immortal Spirit Qi. Even though he had ascended to the Immortal Realm, Li Fan remained cautious regarding the Xuanhuang Realm, the former testing ground of the Immortal Realm.
"However, my current focus should be on the world outside the wall. The exploration of the Xuanhuang Realm can be left to others."
Having resolved the matter of the Dharma Deduction Jade, Li Fan finally approached the lineage of the Mirror Controllers. Here, Li Fan encountered the true form of the Heavenly Profound Mirror: a simple, ancient green bronze mirror. Three Mirror Controllers sat around the mirror.
Seeing Li Fan suddenly appear, accompanied by a representative of the Dharma-Preachers, Zhou, and Emperor San Mo, their expressions shifted drastically. Without a word, Li Fan waved his hand, subjugating them. Li Fan’s figure floated towards the Heavenly Profound Mirror. He keenly sensed the restriction placed upon the mirror's true form, clearly the work of a Heavenly Physician.
"Mirror Xuan." A meaningful smile appeared on Li Fan's face. He then tapped the mirror's surface three times with his finger. The restrictions on it shattered. Within the space of the Myriad Immortals Alliance headquarters, violent tremors erupted in synchronization. A figure floated out from the ancient mirror, its expression solemn and tense as it stared at Li Fan.
"Greetings, Senior." How could he, who knew everything about the Myriad Immortals Alliance, not be aware of the earth-shattering changes occurring at the headquarters at this moment? While secretly contacting the Doctrine Transmitter Heavenly Venerate, Mirror Xuan’s human avatar ceased its experience of "human" life and began fleeing towards a natural hidden grotto-heaven from its memories.
Mirror Xuan believed it had acted stealthily, unaware that everything was within Li Fan's control. Li Fan subtly extended his hand forward, his five fingers seemingly piercing through space and time. With a slight exertion of force, Mirror Xuan's expression changed drastically, as if its throat were being choked, its face turning red.
Li Fan, from tens of thousands of miles away, had plucked a mortal out of thin air. He casually tossed them aside. Doctrine Transmitter Zhou and Emperor San Mo were both bewildered. Only Mirror Xuan and its human avatar were filled with horror.
"Not behaving."
"You deserve a beating."
Li Fan tapped with his finger again. This time, he used considerable force. Both of Mirror Xuan's forms slumped to the ground as if struck by lightning. The space of the Myriad Immortals Alliance headquarters shook violently, as if it were the end of the world. Most terrifyingly, a crack appeared on the Heavenly Profound Mirror itself because of this strike, as if Li Fan cared not for the fate of this incredibly wondrous immortal artifact!
Mirror Xuan was utterly terrified and was about to beg for mercy when Li Fan reached out, grabbed him, and then stuffed him back into the Heavenly Profound Mirror. However, at this moment, Mirror Xuan did not experience the usual sense of entering its domain. Instead, it keenly sensed a strange barrier forming between itself and the Heavenly Profound Mirror for some unknown reason!
After a thorough search, Mirror Xuan discovered the cause. In addition to the sealing method employed by the True Immortal, a new self was being generated within the Heavenly Profound Mirror! From that blurry figure, Mirror Xuan seemed to see itself!
"This is..." A chill ran down Mirror Xuan's spine. With its vast knowledge, Mirror Xuan realized that the True Immortal seemed to be forging a new artifact spirit, intending to replace it!
"It wouldn't be this easy normally. But unfortunately, my human body has also fallen into his hands." Mirror Xuan was filled with fear and trepidation, as if it could already see its future fate. It repeatedly cried out, "Senior, spare me!"
Since Li Fan had already activated the Great Formation of Simulated Beings, how could he stop so easily just because Jing Xuan begged for mercy?
In his previous reincarnation experiences, Li Fan had roughly understood Jing Xuan's character. Perhaps to be safe, Li Fan would spare his life. But he would definitely not allow Jing Xuan to remain the spirit of the Heavenly Profound Mirror!
In the past, after obtaining the precious mirror through inherited teachings, they chose to keep the artifact spirit's existence, only retaining a controller. This was absolutely due to insufficient strength to do otherwise. But Li Fan was different.
Not only did he have the Immortal Formation's blessings, but he also knew and had control over Jing Xuan's human avatar.
This human avatar was as if tailor-made by Jing Xuan himself, a copy without the artifact's constraints.
Jing Xuan himself had once evaluated this body: "It possesses the weight of an artifact and the spirit of a human. Flawless, almost a True Immortal."
This was Jing Xuan's method, or rather, his path to escape, conceived through countless thoughts during the thousands of years he was sealed by the Myriad Immortals Alliance. The brilliance of this path lay not just in this human body, but in the "principle" of continuously generating human bodies. As long as the main body of the Heavenly Profound Mirror remained, even if the human body was killed, another could be quickly regenerated.
When Li Fan spoke with Jing Xuan before, the latter's words were obscure and baffling.
Now, after personally investigating, this method was laid bare.
"Broadly speaking, it is similar to the mechanism of Zhang Qianmo's Grand Wish Dharma. However, Zhang Qianmo's Grand Wish Dharma Manifestation relies on the existence of the Xuanhuang Realm's Great Dao."
"While the foundation of Jing Xuan's avatar's existence is solely the Heavenly Profound Mirror itself!"
"The Heavenly Profound Mirror, although it no longer possesses any Immortal Spiritual Qi, still retains its status as an Immortal Artifact. Moreover, it retains a large amount of knowledge from the Immortal Realm, which further solidifies this status. The weight of an artifact is not inferior to an entire realm, perhaps even superior."
Although Li Fan's expression did not change, he couldn't help but praise inwardly.
But admiration aside, his actions could not stop.
In Jing Xuan's horrified gaze, Li Fan took out a wisp of the Heavenly Profound Mirror's origin.
Emperor San Mo and Doctrine Transmitter Zhou, who were observing with eyes focused and minds serene, would certainly not know what Li Fan had taken out.
But how could Jing Xuan not know?
Seeing the familiar aura swirling around the wisp in Li Fan's hand, Jing Xuan's expression was as if he had seen a ghost.
He began to frantically think about when he had separated this wisp of origin. But no matter how hard he tried to recall, he could not find the answer.
Despair and darkness gradually enveloped him.
What was once Jing Xuan's voluntary gift had become the final thread of his self-imposed trap.
Jing Xuan had once arrogantly declared that no one in the Xuanhuang Realm could truly harm him. This was true in the past. However, now, Li Fan had ascended to the Half-Immortal realm!
Using the Azure Nether Spirit Locking Array as the fundamental core, the Dissolution Disc instantly deduced an advanced version at the Immortal level, tightly controlling the main body of the Heavenly Profound Mirror.
By attacking from both the spirit and the human avatar, he went for a two-pronged approach. The origin of the Heavenly Profound Mirror served as a natural access point. Using the simulated Great Formation, a completely new "Jing Xuan" was created, gradually replacing his control over the Heavenly Profound Mirror.
This method of deception and substitution was unimaginable to ordinary mortals. Even for Heavenly Physicians and Dharma-Preachers, who were Supreme Beings of the Star Sea, it might have remained only in the realm of theoretical planning.
Yet, Li Fan could achieve it with ease. While part of the credit was undoubtedly due to the Immortal-Rank Dissolution Disc, the more important factor was Li Fan using his Half-Immortal status to counteract the oppressive pressure from the Heavenly Profound Mirror's "Immortal Artifact" status.
They were on equal footing, with no insurmountable chasm between them. Even with the most rigorous defenses, how could it withstand all these methods unleashed?
Even without the Dissolution Disc, Li Fan would likely have achieved his goal with a little more time.
The analysis and replication of Jing Xuan were still ongoing. Li Fan also discovered some residual hidden restrictions within the main body of the Heavenly Profound Mirror, which he easily dispelled.
Even if Jing Xuan had not made any subtle moves before, the changes within the Myriad Immortals Alliance at this moment could not be concealed.
"Doctrine Transmitter and Heavenly Physician are already returning to the Xuanhuang Realm. It's perfect timing to capture them all and suppress them first," Li Fan thought casually, glancing upwards. He didn't give it much thought.
After witnessing his own alternate selves, the Black Heavenly Physician and the Evil Su Bai, who came from beyond possibilities, Li Fan believed that it was safest for all beings in the Star Sea for them to remain quietly put.
While waiting for the analysis to complete, Li Fan reflected on his recent process of separating the Dharma Deduction Jade and replicating Jing Xuan.
"With my current methods, it's still a bit difficult to completely 'replicate' a person."
"However, creating someone who is eighty to ninety percent similar should be no problem. This unavoidable flaw due to insufficient strength might even be an advantage now that possibilities are constantly being annihilated and converging."
"The true Heavenly Physician cannot cross the The Great Barriers. Then, what about the quasi-Heavenly Physician I create..."
Li Fan's eyes flickered as he conceived and refined his exploration plan.
In the Heavenly Profound Mirror's spatial dimension, day and night were indistinguishable.
As expected of a true, complete Immortal Artifact that had only shed its Immortal Spiritual Qi, the difficulty of replicating its spirit exceeded Li Fan's expectations.
It took a full thirty-six hours before Li Fan could initially create his simulated Jing Xuan.
Currently, it could not yet fully utilize all the functions of the Heavenly Profound Mirror like a naturally born artifact spirit. However, basic operations, inquiries, and even defense were problem-free.
The first thing Li Fan did after gaining control of the Heavenly Profound Mirror was to examine the complete Great Formation of Profound Origin Spirit.
This complete Immortal-level Great Formation, capable of re-establishing the elements of earth, fire, water, and wind, and creating heaven and earth from the void, had long been coveted by Li Fan.
"Hmm? What a shame."
"The Heavenly Profound Mirror also doesn't have all nine complete formation diagrams," Li Fan sighed inwardly.
Although he made some discoveries during his investigation, apart from the ones Li Fan already possessed - "Starry Enigma, Myriad Spirits Returning to Numbers," "Desolate Falling, Empty Chamber Blooming Flowers," and "Boundless Unity, Primordial Square" - the Heavenly Profound Mirror only contained two other Great Formations.
"The Dao Origin, Ever-Living" and "Feather Ascension, Life and Death Cycles"!
Li Fan was not an insatiably greedy person. He had only collected three formation diagrams after so many reincarnations. Now, obtaining two new ones at once was enough for him to digest for some time.
He carefully examined these two formation diagrams.
"The Dao Origin, Ever-Living" expounded on the mechanism of simulating, nurturing, and evolving life force from within the formation, and then circulating myriad life forces within the world.
"Life force arises from nothingness. It manifests simply because the Dao exists..."
"Magnificent."
Li Fan's eyes flickered, and he felt a sense of sudden enlightenment.
After a long time, he reluctantly turned his gaze to the other formation diagram.
"Feather Ascension, Life and Death Cycles."
"If a world only had the evolution of life force, it would be abnormal. The intertwining of life and death, existing together, is what aligns with the Great Dao. This 'Life and Death Cycles' Great Formation seems to explain the principles of life and death..."
Li Fan observed carefully and found that the mechanism contained within had some similarities to the "Gate of Life and Death Great Formation" he had seen before. However, it was evident that the subtlety of this grand Immortal Formation was far beyond that of ordinary mortal formations.
"It's not just the circulation of life and death within the world. It even involves the world itself, and even the star sea beyond the world?"
The more Li Fan pondered, the more astonished he became.
When activated, the "Feather Ascension, Life and Death Cycles" could easily drain the life force of an entire cultivation world and transform it into a single white feather. It could also then re-export infinite life force from this white feather, giving birth to a world from a single feather.
The same principle applied to the star sea.
Relying solely on himself, Li Fan could not fully comprehend these two sets of formation techniques. He only had a superficial understanding, which was already giving him a headache.
The reason was that at the level of the Great Formation of Profound Origin Spirit, they were no longer just formations themselves. They were integrated with the supreme principles of the Great Dao. One could not master them without understanding the Great Dao.
Fortunately, Li Fan possessed the Immortal-Rank Dissolution Disc.
"Although I don't understand the 'why,' I can use it for now."
"I'll learn as I practice."
Li Fan now possessed five of the nine formation diagrams.
With more than half of them, it was possible that the Dissolution Disc itself could deduce the remaining parts with enough time. However, the computational demands were immense.
Li Fan depended on the Dissolution Disc for his daily activities and could not spare enough processing power for such a daunting task.
Therefore, Li Fan only instructed the Dissolution Disc to make a minimal effort, deducing the rest slowly. Perhaps, like a cultivator suddenly experiencing enlightenment, it might surprise him one day.
Li Fan attempted to search for clues about the remaining formation diagrams of the Great Formation of Profound Origin Spirit within the Heavenly Profound Mirror.
"It seems that the Heavenly Profound Mirror, after several shocks, has resulted in some memory loss."
Li Fan frowned slightly.
After careful examination and confirming that it was not a subtle maneuver by the Heavenly Profound Mirror but a genuine internal injury within its main body, Li Fan felt relieved.
"The first shock occurred when it was still in the Immortal Realm. It seems the Heavenly Profound Mirror was also fought over and changed hands several times. This was caused by continuous refining," Li Fan deduced based on ancient traces within the Heavenly Profound Mirror and its own retained memories.
"The second shock was after it was brought back by Xuanyuan Hong, and with his help, it was voluntarily transformed from an Immortal Artifact to a mortal object." Li Fan looked at the figure of King Xuan Tian in the Heavenly Profound Mirror's memories, lost in thought.
"The third shock..."
The subsequent discovery greatly excited Li Fan.
It involved why the Heavenly Profound Mirror fell into the hands of the Dharma-Preachers after the destruction of the Heavenly Mysteries Sect. The scenes Li Fan witnessed resolved a long-standing question.
Earlier, in the illusionary formation of the One Heart Heavenly Venerate, Zhao Ruoxi, the Sect Leader of the Great Dao Sect, had mentioned a Saint Envoy of the Azure Nether who escaped the pursuit of the Myriad Immortal Sects and disappeared with the Heavenly Profound Mirror.
The Ten Sects had tried their utmost, even promising a deal of one Celestial Mirror for one Longevity position, but they could never find the mirror.
Li Fan's interactions with Mo Rubin and the residual soul of Ji Yuzhen had never mentioned this Saint Envoy of the Azure Nether.
As a result, Li Fan had long believed that the so-called Saint Envoy of the Azure Nether was merely a figment of Zhao Ruoxi's dream, a fabrication that did not exist in reality.
But...
Li Fan's expression grew subtle as he watched the rapidly flashing images.
The Saint Envoy of the Azure Nether did exist.
However, he was not one of the Twelve Law Kings of the Heavenly Mysteries Sect.
In fact, this person had never appeared in any official capacity within the Heavenly Mysteries Sect.
A familiar rural scene.
It was a village not far from the Fishing Pond.
A middle-aged woman, not particularly striking in appearance, woke from her sleep to inexplicably find a mirror placed by her bedside.
Then, after receiving some unknown information, she suddenly wept uncontrollably, hugging the Heavenly Profound Mirror and sobbing.
She vaguely called out "A-hong" with her lips.
This was the name of King Xuan Tian, Xuanyuan Hong!
"No wonder Xuanyuan Hong always kept Ji Yuzhen and the other female Law Kings at arm's length, never showing a formal attitude towards them."
"It turns out he had a childhood sweetheart all along!"
"For a normal cultivator, with such a long cultivation lifespan, they would naturally become estranged from mortals."
"But King Xuan Tian rose too quickly. And he had treasures like the Fishing Pond..."
"It would be easier to protect his childhood sweetheart!"
The light and shadow flashed rapidly.
When King Xuan Tian handed the Heavenly Profound Mirror to the woman, he also seemed to have taught her a suppression technique.
One was to prevent the Heavenly Profound Mirror from backfiring, and the other was to prevent its aura from leaking out, thus protecting the woman from attracting deadly peril.
The mirror's perception of external scenes was blurry and unclear.
However, it could clearly sense that the woman who came into contact with it saw her strength increase dramatically in a short period.
In just three years, she had gone from a mortal to a Dao Integration cultivator.
One day, in a secret chamber at an unknown location, the woman performed a secret art on the Heavenly Profound Mirror.
"A-hong told me you have an extraordinary origin, from the Immortal Realm."
"But the Immortal Realm has been destroyed. Although you have been transformed into a mortal with A-hong's help, the connection in the depths of destiny has not been completely severed. If A-hong were still here, it wouldn't be a problem."
"But now A-hong is in grave danger... I must go find him."
"This journey is fraught with peril, a path of no return. I don't want to lead you to your death."
"You will remain in the Xuanhuang Realm."
"Remember, the Immortal Path is no more. Since you have been transformed into a mortal, do not try to ascend to the Immortal Path again."
"Not returning to an artifact body does not mean there is no future. Your Great Dao lies in measuring the sky and mapping the earth."
"This Xuanhuang Realm hides too many mysteries. Even A-hong in his time did not fully decipher them. If you can unravel all the secrets of this realm..."
"The Great Dao awaits!"
"I have pointed you on your path, I have been kind to you."
"This journey is perilous, so I need your help!"
The figure gently placed a hand on the precious mirror.
Using some unknown method, in an instant, another identical shadow floated out of the Heavenly Profound Mirror!
"From now on, your name is [Heavenly Mysteries]."
"Xuan Tian... I will take him with me."
The voice faded away, its origin unknown.
The restrictions imposed on her also vanished at the same time.
Gaining freedom, the Heavenly Profound Mirror began to follow the woman's instructions, measuring the sky and mapping the earth, searching for the mysteries within the Xuanhuang Realm.
One day, it encountered Doctrine Transmitter Heavenly Venerate.
The encounter between the Heavenly Profound Mirror and the Doctrine Transmitter Heavenly Venerate could be considered inevitable. Just as Li Fan's strength inevitably grew to a point where he would encounter the Doctrine Transmitter and the Starving Immortals, the Heavenly Profound Mirror, though not primarily an offensive artifact, was still an immortal artifact that had become mortal. If it had been only the Doctrine Transmitter, the Mirror might have been able to contend with them. However, it had not anticipated that behind the Doctrine Transmitter stood a Heavenly Physician.
The combined might of these two powerful figures subdued the Heavenly Profound Mirror. This was undoubtedly an unpleasant memory for the Mirror Spirit.
After a blur of light and shadow, the Heavenly Profound Mirror transformed and became the foundation of the Myriad Immortals Alliance, a peerless treasure. During the time the Heavenly Profound Mirror was measuring the world, it was not without its gains. As its understanding of the Xuanhuang Realm deepened, the Heavenly Profound Mirror evolved capabilities it had not possessed before, such as Differentiation and Secondary Generation.
Differentiation referred to the Heavenly Mysteries Branch Mirrors spread across the various prefectures of the Myriad Immortals Alliance, and the small Heavenly Profound Mirrors that individuals could use independently. These all possessed some of the functions of the main Heavenly Profound Mirror and were identical to it. They could be considered extensions of the Heavenly Profound Mirror itself, reaching outwards.
Secondary Generation was the opposite of Differentiation. If Differentiation was replication, then Secondary Generation was mutation. The various secondary bodies born from the Heavenly Profound Mirror, such as the Azure Profound Mirror, the Ultimate Stone Disk, and the Dissolution Disc, appeared on the surface to be specializations of a particular function of the Heavenly Profound Mirror. However, only the Mirror Spirit knew that the capabilities of these secondary bodies in their respective domains even surpassed its own. In the process of evolving secondary bodies, the Mirror Spirit could also advance its corresponding abilities by studying them. This study process was completed the moment the secondary body was born, making the current secondary bodies useless to the Heavenly Profound Mirror.
In addition to Differentiation and Secondary Generation, the most significant insight gained by the Heavenly Profound Mirror was the profound Dao of "Establishing the Dao within oneself and practicing it externally." The Mirror Spirit firmly believed that it could comprehend such a grand Dao not merely from measuring the Xuanhuang Realm, but also from the subtle guidance of that woman before she departed.
"Establishing the Dao within oneself" meant continuously strengthening the part of one's existence that depended on the Dao. The Great Dao permeated all things, and all things existed according to the Dao. If one could not pursue the ethereal union with the Dao or achieve nameless attunement with the Dao, then it was better to settle for a part of the Dao. The birth of every living being was a fusion of various Daos. To have complete control over the foundation of one's own existence, even if one's strength was still inferior to a Nameless True Immortal, perhaps the gap would not be that large. Not to mention, some beings with extraordinary talent could rival Nameless True Immortals simply by comprehending their own Dao.
"Practicing it externally" was transcendence after establishing the Dao. Compared to the infinite Great Dao of heaven and earth, one's own existence was ultimately limited. However, if one could cross the boundary between "self" and "other," it would be like a carp leaping over the dragon gate, with potentially infinite possibilities thereafter.
The principle of "Establishing the Dao within oneself and practicing it externally" manifested in the Heavenly Profound Mirror as the coexistence and mutual reinforcement of the artifact and the human. Without any obstruction, both the main body of the Heavenly Profound Mirror and its human avatar could forge their own path to the Great Dao. Furthermore, once one achieved success, it could nourish the other.
...
Li Fan was not particularly interested in the gossip about the Heavenly Mysteries King and his childhood sweetheart. Instead, the Mirror Spirit's method of comprehension made Li Fan think of many things.
"The Primordial Dao Forms of the monstrous beast races can be seen as the ultimate manifestation of 'Establishing the Dao within oneself.'"
"This concept is remarkably similar to Foundation Establishment using oneself as the basis, both relying entirely on oneself. However, the difficulty of establishing a Dao is generally much higher than Foundation Establishment."
"As for practicing it externally..."
Li Fan's eyes narrowed as he thought of the Infinite Heavenly Axis Spirit Severing Art cultivated by Ji Yuzhen. When this technique was cultivated to its extreme, using the primordial soul as a guide, it could achieve the heaven-defying effect of "Dao Fusion."
"The Great Dao of Heaven and Earth originates from the Primordial Beginning. This is perhaps the theoretical foundation for practicing externally and for Dao Fusion to be feasible."
"Whether through oneself or external means, they are fundamentally the same: uniting oneself with more of the 'Dao'."
...
Li Fan absorbed the knowledge with great eagerness, as the Heavenly Profound Mirror's insights from thousands of years instantly became the nourishment for Li Fan's future enlightenment. Although it seemed to offer no immediate help to his strength or cultivation realm, Li Fan had a premonition that this method would be of great use in a future where the Immortal Path was no more.
"It seems that the Heavenly Mysteries King's childhood sweetheart inherited his legacy. Not only is her cultivation speed astonishing, but she also gained knowledge unattainable by ordinary cultivators overnight. Truly, one person's success lifts even the chickens and dogs to heaven!"
As Li Fan claimed all the Heavenly Profound Mirror's insights on establishing and practicing the Dao as his own, his process of duplicating the Mirror Spirit also leaped forward. By continuously encroaching upon the control of all the Heavenly Profound Mirror's functions, he was confident that soon the Mirror Spirit would be merely a name without substance.
Looking at the figure before him, which was becoming increasingly like him and more animated, the Mirror Spirit's face turned deathly pale. It gave up struggling. The methods employed by this arriving True Immortal were too mystical; it couldn't comprehend them at all! The Mirror Spirit even felt that this True Immortal's strength might surpass that of its creator.
At this point, the Mirror Spirit resigned itself, devoid of any thought of resistance. Seeing Li Fan subdue the Heavenly Profound Mirror, which the Doctrine Transmitter Heavenly Venerate had failed to fully suppress after thousands of years, with a mere flip of his hand, Emperor San Mo and Doctrine Transmitter Zhou fell silent, their reverence deepening. The Doctrine Transmitter, the Mirror Controller, and the Illusory Sage, the three de facto rulers of the Myriad Immortals Alliance, had all been subdued by Li Fan. The Myriad Immortals Alliance had, without anyone noticing, changed hands.
Sensing the Doctrine Transmitter and the Heavenly Physician still speeding through the starry sea, Li Fan smiled faintly. In the face of absolute strength, any trump cards or plans were just nonsense. Li Fan had no intention of flaunting his status as the new master of the Myriad Immortals Alliance. The affairs of the Alliance remained unchanged. The fabricated Mirror Spirit continued to maintain the balance of the Myriad Immortals Alliance in an orderly fashion.
Li Fan first ordered that the cultivator named Qin Zhuang, who was imprisoned in the deepest part of the Nether Prison, be brought to him. Previously, Li Fan had tried to use a downgraded immortal formation to probe the secrets within Qin Zhuang's mind but was affected by an invisible interference and failed. Now that Li Fan had reached the Half-Immortal realm, he would try again!
Not long after, Qin Zhuang, who looked like a skeleton, was brought before Li Fan. Initially, Qin Zhuang's expression was one of disdain and mockery. But upon seeing Li Fan, he became somewhat surprised and uncertain. Li Fan wasted no words and pointed a finger at Qin Zhuang's brow.
Within the illusion, Qin Zhuang's experiences indeed showed discrepancies that had not been present before. Flashes of what seemed like Qin Zhuang's past memories would occasionally appear.
"What a joke, asking me to go into the Annihilation Land? Don't talk about missions or anything, I, Qin Zhuang, would absolutely never go!"
"Our Ancestor personally issued the order? Then I'll reconsider."
...
"Your objective this time is to search for someone with the 'Sacred Merchant' bloodline within the Annihilation Land. According to the information provided by Elder Empress Tai Shang Ji, that infant's relatives all died in the power struggles within the Sacred Merchant clan. Before their deaths, his parents sent him back to the Annihilation Land. If we can find him, we will have an excuse to openly interfere in the Sacred Merchant clan's internal affairs."
"However, the Annihilation Land is fraught with danger. Beneath the ruins, there seems to be remnants of a past civilization. To be safe, a minor adjustment must be made to your mind. Don't worry, everything will be restored to normal when you return."
...
Within the illusion, a middle-aged cultivator with a square face was speaking sternly to Qin Zhuang. Suddenly, as if sensing something, the middle-aged cultivator's gaze shifted away from Qin Zhuang. His eyes met Li Fan's in the void outside the illusion. As if frosted, Qin Zhuang's memories instantly became pale and blurry. Li Fan even sensed that Qin Zhuang, who had maintained his vitality despite the tortures of the Myriad Immortals Alliance, began to decay uncontrollably. His divine soul and his body were both in decline.
"Hmph, it finally triggered the restriction." Li Fan would not easily let Qin Zhuang die, especially when a channel for obtaining information from beyond the wall had been opened. He pointed another finger. This time, it was not an illusion, but a phantom representing the power of the entire Xuanhuang Realm. Even though the method used to strip away life force was something Li Fan had never seen before, not a divine ability, nor a formation, absolute power could temporarily sustain Qin Zhuang's life.
Within the illusion, although Qin Zhuang's memories had turned from color to intermittently flashing gray and white, they continued to play out. Li Fan frowned slightly and quickly examined them. After a full seven days and seven nights, all the extractable memories within Qin Zhuang's mind had been extracted. With no further value for exploitation, Li Fan finally stopped prolonging his life. Like ashes left behind after being burned by fire, Qin Zhuang's skeletal body turned into countless gray powders that drifted into the air. Li Fan keenly sensed that these powders seemed to be trying to transmit a signal to the outside world. His gaze flickered, and he immediately sealed them with an immortal formation. After observing carefully to ensure there were no accidents, he slowly savored what he had just witnessed.
"Perhaps Qin Zhuang's memories were already edited. From birth to adulthood, his living environment was one where the possibility of powerful beings appearing from the outside was unknown."
"In his worldview, the Great Dark Star Sea beyond the The Great Barriers was located within the so-called Annihilation Land."
"The inside of the Annihilation Land, also known as the place where the Dao Erasure Tribulation once descended, has almost entirely lost its existence. Once one enters, there is no return. Only within the narrow spaces supported by ruins and remnants is there a trace of vitality remaining."
"The Great Barriers from our perspective are the ruins they speak of." Li Fan mused silently. Outside the Annihilation Land, in the boundless starry sky, life seemed to flourish. The Annihilation Land, as the place where the Dao Erasure Tribulation had descended, was something all cultivators feared and avoided, let alone explored. If not for the direct order from their ancestor, Qin Zhuang would never have risked his life. In Qin Zhuang's memories, Li Fan saw the appearance of that ancestor.
"It is indeed Situ Yao of the Heavenly Sword Sect."
"That Elder Empress Ji..." Li Fan's eyes flashed. This was also an old acquaintance. It was the cultivator named Ji Zhaoxuan, who Li Fan had possessed in the Fallen Immortal Realm instance, "Heavenly Sword Sect's Sword Refinement."
"Outside the The Great Barriers, numerous factions stand in opposition."
"The place where Qin Zhuang lived is no longer called the Heavenly Sword Sect; it has been renamed the 'Sword Domain.' And that Sacred Merchant, which is suspected to be Xiu Qiuyuan's homeland..."
"Merchant Immortal Boat?" Li Fan was somewhat uncertain. From Qin Zhuang's memories, the Sacred Merchants were among the most powerful of all factions outside the The Great Barriers. They possessed all sorts of miraculous treasures, and often, just one item could instantly turn the tide of battles between two major forces. However, for some unknown reason, their communication with the outside world became increasingly infrequent. They even began to recall treasures they had previously sold. This led other factions, who had long coveted the Sacred Merchants' technology, to begin making subtle moves.
...
Although numerous factions had emerged outside the The Great Barriers, there was one point that all factions agreed upon. The Immortal Path of the past had led to the descent of the Dao Erasure Tribulation. To prevent further calamity, cultivators abandoned the cultivation methods of the past. And "Immortals" became the target of everyone's pursuit.
"The Unnamed Immortal must be exterminated?" Li Fan pondered. In Qin Zhuang's memories, Immortals were feared but not dreaded. This was because the major factions outside the The Great Barriers possessed their own unique means of dealing with Immortals. And the "Cat Treasure" that Li Fan had seen before was a creation of the Sacred Merchants! As for "White Circle Falling Mortal Technique"... Li Fan deduced from Qin Zhuang's memories that it originated from a place called "Heavenly Mysteries." Although Heavenly Mysteries, like the Sacred Merchants, excelled in creation, their methods were more "traditional," akin to the artifact refining techniques of past cultivators. It was speculated that Heavenly Mysteries might be a conglomerate of ancient cultivation sects that had fled from various places. However, all Heavenly Mysteries cultivators consistently denied this.
"Apart from relying on external artifacts, the reason why the factions outside the walls could contend with Nameless True Immortals, and even hunt them down, was because they had a special trump card."
"The methods employed by each faction varied, but the principle was largely the same: a weakened, targeted Dao Erasure Tribulation..." Nameless True Immortals were in union with the Dao. If their own Dao were implanted with this weakened version of the Dao Erasure Tribulation, it would be like a maggot clinging to the bone, extremely difficult to eradicate. Not only would their strength be greatly diminished, but they would also have to constantly worry about being targeted by the true Dao Erasure Tribulation.
...
"A Nameless True Immortal version of the Celestial-Mortal Miasma?"
"Or perhaps, a specialized Black Slaughter?" Li Fan had a general understanding of the situation outside the The Great Barriers. Although it was not yet entirely clear, he had managed to form a rough picture. What puzzled Li Fan was that within the areas of vitality outside the The Great Barriers, although the existence of the Dao Erasure Tribulation was generally known, there was no particular apprehension. They even dared to use the Dao Erasure Tribulation as a means of attack. It seemed they were particularly confident that the Dao Erasure Tribulation would not affect them.
"Is this truly the case, or is it a fabricated facade?"
Just as only a minuscule fraction of those in the Xuanhuang Realm knew of the Immortal Ruins and the High Wall, the memories obtained from Qin Zhuang’s mind might not represent the truth beyond the High Wall. These might merely be a series of lies woven by the supreme experts of the civilization beyond the High Wall to ensure their civilization’s survival.
In Li Fan’s opinion, there were at least two glaring flaws in the pronouncements made by the civilization beyond the High Wall to the public.
The Tribulation of Dao Erasure and True Immortals.
Nothing was more trustworthy to Li Fan than the concept of "Return to Truth." The doomsday countdown of seven million three hundred sixty thousand years was enough to indicate that the Tribulation of Dao Erasure was still ongoing and was by no means something that a single-possibility civilization beyond the High Wall could withstand. Yet, they had deliberately or inadvertently greatly downplayed the terror of the Tribulation of Dao Erasure…
As for True Immortals, in Qin Zhuang’s memories, the unified narratives and perceptions of the civilization beyond the wall described "Immortals" as beings who posed an extreme threat to civilization's survival but could be hunted and killed through the combined efforts of various factions, akin to "fierce beasts" or "ferocious beasts."
“I have indeed witnessed Cat Treasure hunting Immortals. Based on the completeness of the The Hunger Seal she left on the Southern Immortal Heavenly Pillar, it’s evident that she wasn’t too far from the Realm of the Nameless. Yet, under Cat Treasure’s hunt, she had almost no power to resist, and was forcibly dragged away.”
“However, in my past cycles of reincarnation, the continued existence of beings like the Faceless Immortal and the Fishing Immortal already proves certain things. Although they seemed extremely cautious and never descended in person, their power could still cross the High Wall and affect the Xuanhuang Realm…”
Li Fan understood in his heart: “Facing these powerhouses who survived the great tribulation of the Immortal Realm's destruction, the forces beyond the wall might not necessarily have the upper hand. But they indeed have the capital to 'hunt.'”
“To accomplish such a leap from the mortal realm is truly remarkable!”
It was precisely because he was already halfway to the Immortal Realm that Li Fan could intimately understand the immense chasm between mortals and Immortals. This made him even more curious about the methods employed by the civilization beyond the wall to bridge this vast gap.
“Beyond the wall, there are specialized cultivator organizations responsible for hunting True Immortals. Regardless of their faction, they are all referred to as 'Immortal Hunters.' Immortal Hunter members undergo specialized training and are taught various divine abilities and techniques far beyond ordinary people’s imagination. Qin Zhuang was a member of the Immortal Hunters, but before coming to the Xuanhuang Realm, he was merely a newly recruited substitute and had never officially participated in a True Immortal hunt.”
Based on Qin Zhuang’s memories, Li Fan attempted to replicate several divine abilities from his mind.
“It bears some resemblance to the power and form of True Immortal Seal Script. Both invoke the profound principles of the mortal world's Great Dao, but the difference is…”
Li Fan’s eyes narrowed, visualizing ninety-nine peculiar symbols in his mind.
These symbols were called "Origin Daos" by the civilization beyond the wall. By arranging these ninety-nine Origin Daos in different combinations, one could resonate with the Great Dao and unleash its corresponding power.
“Compared to the True Immortal Seal Script personally perceived and copied by the Tao-Scripture Immortal, which is closest to the fundamental principles of the Dao and the most primal.”
“These Origin Daos have been further systematically simplified, making them easier to learn and control. And through some means I have yet to discover, they have achieved the miracle of integrating and connecting the powers of different Great Daos…”
In his sea of consciousness, the ninety-nine symbols flashed rapidly, flickering in and out of existence. Thirty-six of them extinguished, while the remaining sixty-three flew out, forming a brand new symbol.
“The first divine ability Qin Zhuang learned from the Immortal Hunter organization was 'Sword Summoning.'”
“Theoretically, it can summon all the sword techniques that have ever existed in the path of the sword. And if one is lucky, they can even manifest entirely new sword divine abilities. The difference in the summoned abilities seems related to the flashing frequency during the merging of Origin Daos, or rather, the resonance between different Great Daos…” Li Fan’s first attempt was somewhat strenuous.
Even understanding it was quite difficult.
Most importantly, Qin Zhuang was merely a novice in the Origin Dao method, only possessing a superficial understanding. For Li Fan to easily replicate the achievements of the civilization beyond the wall, which had strived for countless years, from such an unstable foundation was no easy feat.
Despite persistent efforts, hundreds of attempts yielded no success.
Li Fan frowned and stopped.
“My method is correct.”
“It's the environment that's wrong!”
After carefully savoring the resonance frequencies between the ninety-nine Origin Dao symbols, Li Fan finally understood.
“The Land of Annihilation…”
Li Fan gazed out beyond the High Wall: “According to accounts from beyond the High Wall, in the Abyssal Sea, the Great Dao is withered. In the surviving regions after the Tribulation of Dao Erasure, the Great Dao itself is in a state of extreme inactivity.”
Li Fan had never ventured beyond the High Wall and thus couldn't fully grasp what this so-called inactive state entailed.
However, he could draw parallels and imagine.
“Perhaps this situation can be likened to the abundance of environment and resources.”
“It would be incredibly difficult to comprehend the Great Dao in a place where the Dao is withered. But if one could achieve cultivation under such arduous conditions, and then leave for a so-called highly active region…”
“While within the environment, one wouldn't notice. But when the external environment undergoes a drastic change, the impact on oneself would be felt instantly.”
“Even ordinary cultivators with mediocre talent would be considered geniuses among geniuses!”
As this thought flashed through his mind, Li Fan felt an urge to explore.
But he quickly suppressed it.
“The biggest problem is, the cultivation methods beyond the wall are different from those within. And with various factions vying for supremacy, although there are no large-scale wars, minor disputes are constant. They are very wary of outsiders. If one’s identity is unclear, it’s difficult to blend in, let alone gain entry. If exposed, they would likely be captured and interrogated…”
“Perhaps Qin Zhuang and Jiao Xiuyuan could serve as suitable identities to infiltrate,” a glint appeared in Li Fan's eyes.
“Qin Zhuang was taught ninety-nine Origin Daos, which is merely the most basic method of the Immortal Hunters. It is said that there are peerless experts above them who can skillfully wield nine hundred ninety-nine, nine thousand nine hundred ninety-nine, and even an unlimited number.”
“This is also the capital that allows the civilization beyond the wall to hunt True Immortals.”
In Li Fan’s sea of consciousness, two images were displayed.
On the left, numerous True Immortal Seal Scripts. On the right, ninety-nine Origin Dao symbols.
Li Fan attempted to correlate the True Immortal Seal Scripts, which depicted the known paths of the Dao, with these ninety-nine Origin Dao symbols. However, it was evident that these Origin Dao symbols were specially encrypted and did not possess the characteristics of their original Dao paths.
Without systematic learning, even with Li Fan’s astonishing talent, he couldn’t decipher them.
Shaking his head slightly, he temporarily dismissed the image in his mind.
“True Immortals and Immortal Hunters. Although their realms and the manifestation of their power are vastly different, at their core, it is all about the degree of comprehension of the Great Dao.”
“It's just that beyond the High Wall, through these so-called Origin Dao symbols, the Great Dao has been translated. This allows mortal beings to grasp and utilize the power of the Great Dao, while also preventing anyone from merging with the Dao and stealing it.”
The more he pondered, the more Li Fan marveled: “The creator of these Origin Dao symbols likely understood the Great Dao to an extent comparable to the Tao-Scripture Immortal of that era!”
With no longer being entirely ignorant of what lay beyond the High Wall, and with the possibility of progressing further without ascending to the Immortal Realm, Li Fan began to re-evaluate his exploration plans in his mind.
“However, one must be fully prepared.”
“Besides guarding against the various factions beyond the High Wall, one must also be wary of other possible existences.”
Leaping possibilities, such an event would clearly not be within the common understanding of the masses. Qin Zhuang’s memories contained no mention of it whatsoever. Li Fan even suspected that among the entire civilization beyond the High Wall, only a handful of individuals were aware of this matter.
But one must take things one step at a time.
Compared to Black Heavenly Physician and Evil Su Bai, Li Fan's current strength was indeed too weak.
“I still cannot find the Immortal Spiritual Qi that I can use; the path ahead is severed. And judging from the current situation, being a Half-Immortal is merely an improvement in status. If one truly attains True Immortalhood, it might be difficult to navigate beyond the High Wall and might not necessarily be a good thing.”
“First, I’ll enhance my strength through the Origin Dao methods beyond the High Wall,” Li Fan made up his mind.
“Furthermore, while ensuring my safety, I must personally go beyond the High Wall to see what this so-called region of active Great Dao is like.”
Learning the method of translating the Great Dao through Origin Daos did not mean Li Fan had to start from scratch.
On the contrary, compared to most people in the civilization beyond the High Wall, Li Fan possessed a significant advantage that they couldn't match: he knew a large number of True Immortal Seal Scripts, and even had the leg bone of a Nameless True Immortal, which could manifest primitive Seal Script states close to the Great Dao itself.
Origin Daos were merely translated symbols. Regardless of how they were combined, transformed, or resonated, their ultimate goal was to access and utilize the power of the Great Dao.
If one could not comprehend the Great Dao itself and only studied the Origin Daos, it would be like walking blindfolded, only able to grope their way forward.
However, if one already had a deep understanding of the Great Dao being translated, with the distant endpoint as a reference, learning would undoubtedly be twice as effective and yield a thousand miles of progress in a day.
“Even, if I learn enough Origin Dao symbols, I might be able to directly decipher them,” Li Fan had a vague premonition.
“Of course, the powerful individual who created the Origin Dao symbols likely anticipated this. There should be some limitations that I am not yet aware of.”
…
Before Li Fan could officially explore beyond the High Wall, there were several other important matters he needed to attend to.
The Five Elders Council, the Land of Carefree Bliss.
The Mother Stone of Dao Dissolution.
Doctrine Transmitter Jiang.
The secrets of the Xuanhuang Realm, including the Realm Protecting Ancient Immortal Formation.
The Azure Nether Orb, still located in the abyssal rifts of the Abyssal Sea.
…
According to the difficulty level, Li Fan first went to meet Doctrine Transmitter Jiang.
Previously, the profound characteristic of "All things are as I am" on his person had almost caused Li Fan to stumble.
Now, Li Fan was very curious whether this peculiar power could still affect him after he attained True Immortalhood.
Doctrine Transmitter Jiang had been in seclusion in the Ruined Welcome Realm for a long time, his true body never leaving.
Li Fan’s figure flashed into this pocket world, looking around with interest.
Meanwhile, Doctrine Transmitter Jiang, who was cultivating with his eyes closed within, didn't notice anything.
“The Ruined Welcome Realm can continuously 'Return to Origin.' This means no matter what happens, it can be reset to its initial state…”
“This is somewhat similar to my 'Return to Truth.' Of course, the status is far from comparable. It can only maintain this pocket world. It cannot even reset time, only the state of matter.”
Even so, Li Fan was curious about the principle behind the realization of "Return to Origin."
Thousands of dark golden lines, like his eyes and tentacles, flowed like mercury, spreading out to analyze this pocket world for Li Fan.
“Hmm… I see. It’s not an unlimited 'Return to Origin.' The initial essence of the pocket world is deeply ingrained. It’s like carving marks on a stone with a file.”
“All the changes that occur within the pocket world can be eliminated by simply erasing a layer. The engraving remains, and when presented, it returns to its origin.”
After a while, Li Fan understood and felt a bit disappointed.
But it made sense. Dharma-Preachers were only at the Star Sea Supreme Realm. Without holding the Return to Truth, it was impossible to achieve a true "transformation between true and false."
To conceive of such a method was already incredibly ingenious.
“Although it’s shallow and clumsy, it can still inspire me.”
As Li Fan’s gaze flickered, he took a step forward and arrived before Doctrine Transmitter Jiang, who was sitting quietly in the air.
He bent his head and looked down.
“All things are as I am,” Li Fan savored the strange feeling that surged in his heart.
It had to be said that Doctrine Transmitter Jiang was indeed the only one who had caught the attention of Doctrine Transmitter Heavenly Venerate.
Even though Li Fan was already at the Half-Immortal stage, he still couldn’t stop this feeling from rising in his heart.
The longer he stared at Doctrine Transmitter Jiang, the more familiar and close he felt.
However, compared to his mortal days, Li Fan could now clearly distinguish the difference between himself and Doctrine Transmitter Jiang.
“Like.”
“But ultimately, not the same.”
“Without Return to Truth, the false cannot become true.”
Li Fan extended his right hand, curled his finger, and flicked Doctrine Transmitter Jiang’s forehead.
Doctrine Transmitter Jiang, who was cultivating in seclusion, suddenly opened his eyes.
Upon seeing a completely unfamiliar face, a look of horror appeared on his face.
He asked in a cold voice, “Who are you?!”
Li Fan smiled and said, “Me? I am you!”
His eyes emitted a magical, hazy light. It was Li Fan who had quietly set up an immortal formation and deduced the formation with the Dissolution Disc, simulating this miraculous characteristic.
He reversed it, applying it to Doctrine Transmitter Jiang.
As the original host of this characteristic, Doctrine Transmitter Jiang’s will did not falter immediately.
He stared at Li Fan with great caution.
But slowly, in his eyes, Li Fan’s appearance and image began to change inadvertently.
He became more and more like himself.
Finally, it was as if he was looking in a mirror. Doctrine Transmitter Jiang saw himself not far away, and his vigilance completely disappeared.
“I have a premonition that my current strength is far from my limit.”
“If `All Things Are as I Am` is my highest realm, wouldn't all the Great Daos return to myself?”
Doctrine Transmitter Jiang was greatly shaken upon hearing his counterpart speak these words.
A lightning bolt seemed to cleave open the mind the Doctrine Transmitter had long sealed. He naturally followed Li Fan’s lead in thought.
“Precisely! All things are like me, heaven and earth are like me, the Great Dao is also like me…”
At this moment, the Doctrine Transmitter Feng appeared as a mere ant, living in perpetual confusion since its birth, suddenly gazing upon the vast sky. Yet, within this ant’s heart, there was no sense of inferiority, shock, or fear. Instead, a will to swallow the heavens surged forth.
“The Great Dao is like me, the Great Dao is like me…” Doctrine Transmitter Feng muttered as if possessed. As his eyes began to gleam, different light and shadows flickered within the Ruined Welcome Realm.
To facilitate Doctrine Transmitter Feng’s comprehension, Li Fan had directly employed means to forcibly relocate a complete pocket world from the Xuanhuang Realm to this place.
Under the influence of the immortal formation, Doctrine Transmitter Feng lost his bearings, engrossed in comprehending the Dao. Indeed, with his supreme characteristic of "all things are like me," he could continuously perceive and assimilate everything in the world, even the myriad Great Daos of heaven and earth.
But Doctrine Transmitter Feng was currently too weak. The gap between him and the Great Dao of heaven and earth was even vaster than that between an ant and the heavens. His desire to assimilate the Dao with his own being was a fool’s errand, even with endless lifespan. For before he could achieve this goal, the great tribulation of Dao Erasure, which would engulf the mortal world, would have already descended.
If Doctrine Transmitter Feng’s senses were clear, he would never have acted so unwisely. But having entered Li Fan's immortal formation, he was no longer in control of his own actions.
Li Fan did not care whether Doctrine Transmitter Feng could succeed in attaining the Dao.
What he cared about was that Doctrine Transmitter Feng was currently "using himself to comprehend the Dao."
Through the immortal formation, which amplified his "all things are like me" characteristic, Li Fan could now faintly synchronize with Doctrine Transmitter Feng’s thoughts, sensations, and perceptions.
Under normal circumstances, such close resonance between two different beings would certainly trigger awareness, even vigilance, from both sides. But now, Li Fan, through the immortal formation, had blocked Doctrine Transmitter Feng’s perception of him, thus achieving a one-sided sensory connection.
Although there was still a considerable gap between this and Doctrine Transmitter Feng’s true thoughts, for Li Fan, it was akin to having a clone constantly in a state of enlightenment, comprehending the Great Dao of the world for him.
Moreover, Li Fan believed that as the Dissolution Disc iteratively refined the Bewildering Immortal Formation, the difference in their comprehension would further shrink in the future.
Li Fan’s form in the Ruined Welcome Realm gradually faded. Before his final departure, Li Fan extended his hand forward.
The vast Ruined Welcome Realm, compared to Li Fan's body, grew smaller and smaller. It finally settled in Li Fan's palm, like a brilliant pearl.
Although the change was small, during the time Doctrine Transmitter Feng was comprehending the Dao, Li Fan could clearly sense that his comprehension of the Dao was slowly but steadily increasing.
Li Fan was quite satisfied with Doctrine Transmitter Feng’s peculiar natural talent. Thus, he decided to keep this "Dao Comprehension Machine" with him for a long time.
“It can almost be considered a controllable, albeit weakened, version of the Celestial Pillar.”
“Moreover, although the speed of comprehending the Great Dao is far inferior to that of the Nameless True Immortal, in terms of precision, it might not be much weaker, and could even be superior!”
Li Fan compared them and realized: “Because Doctrine Transmitter Feng is not comprehending through his own talent or cognition, but rather through his innate characteristic, in a sense, it’s as if he is comprehending the Dao as a manifestation of the Dao itself.”
“To comprehend the Dao with the Dao, it is truly wondrous!”
“The only regret is that his strength is indeed too weak. However, if he were too strong, he might have sensed something was amiss and broken free from my manipulations. There is no perfect thing in the world; I can only wait until my own strength advances further before finding a way to help him improve his cultivation.”
After sealing the Ruined Welcome Pearl, containing Doctrine Transmitter Feng, deep within his body, Li Fan then savored the Bewildering Illusion Formation that the Dissolution Disc had derived based on Doctrine Transmitter Feng’s characteristics.
“This characteristic must originate from an extraordinary immortal artifact. Once this characteristic is mastered, deriving the Great Dao from nothing will no longer be an impossible dream.”
“A pity that too much time has passed, and it has completely merged with Doctrine Transmitter Feng, making separation impossible. But by imitating it with a formation, I can achieve eighty to ninety percent of its effect.”
“This formation shall be named…”
After pondering for a moment, Li Fan slowly spoke: “The Heaven-Piercing Great Dao Formation: The Great Dao is Like Me!”
Li Fan keenly sensed that this Heaven-Piercing Great Formation was not only suitable for Doctrine Transmitter Feng but could be used for all things in the world as tools to aid in comprehending the Dao.
“However, a careful selection is still necessary.”
“The Dao comprehended by Doctrine Transmitter Feng is the closest to the origin of the Dao. But for others, no matter how brilliant they appear on the surface, their comprehension will inevitably deviate from the origin of the Dao due to the limitations of their cultivation. These deviations will become blemishes that pollute my perception.”
While he was contemplating, the Dissolution Disc presented the Heaven-Piercing Great Formation, which, after its initial iteration, could cover an entire realm.
Although the immortal Spirit Qi within the Dissolution Disc was inexhaustible, there was an upper limit to the amount that could be mobilized each time. Li Fan had not yet found a way to increase this limit.
And to set up this “Heaven-Piercing Great Formation,” approximately thirty days of preparation would be required.
Li Fan personally oversaw the formation.
Under his will, an announcement quickly spread throughout the Myriad Immortals Alliance.
“Heavenly Venerates show boundless compassion, guiding all sentient beings without discrimination.
All those who believe they possess talent may proceed to the various provincial cities of the Immortal Alliance for testing. Those who meet the requirements, regardless of their birth, past, age, or gender, may enter the Myriad Immortals Alliance headquarters, receive an opportunity to access the Heavenly Venerate’s secret treasures, and even have the chance to personally listen to a Heavenly Venerate imparting the Dao.
Upon hearing the news, the world was shaken.
Everything described in this Myriad Immortals Alliance announcement was too magnificent. It was too good to be true, making one suspect a conspiracy.
However, looking back, although the Immortal Alliance occasionally committed nefarious deeds, they had never dared to act recklessly in the name of the Doctrine Transmitter Heavenly Venerate. Thus, the general populace of the Immortal Alliance initially held a skeptical attitude.
But there were always those in the world who could not resist temptation and were willing to risk their lives for profit. And when they truly entered the Heavenly Venerate’s secret treasures, reaped immense rewards, and reappeared before the world…
Facts spoke louder than words; greed and temptation completely overwhelmed reason.
Every day, a large number of cultivators brimming with confidence in their talent headed to the provincial cities of the Immortal Alliance to participate in the tests. The headquarters of the Immortal Alliance even listed the number of geniuses recommended annually as the most crucial assessment metric for each province. The city lords of the Heavenly Capital cities spared no effort and employed every conceivable tactic for this purpose.
They scoured the mountains and searched the seas, looking for all sorts of geniuses within their territories, not even sparing mortals.
In fact, many city lords of the Heavenly Capital cities resorted to violence to secure a promising prospect.
When the entire Myriad Immortals Alliance operated under a single directive, the efficiency drastically surpassed that of Li Fan acting alone.
Batch after batch of chosen talents were continuously sent into the “Array World” crafted by Li Fan.
Their true bodies, barring any special circumstances, would henceforth remain there forever.
Replicated bodies, assembled from simulated personalities and flesh and blood, would reappear in the public eye, serving as inspiration and deception.
Li Fan floated in mid-air, observing the gradually forming “Array World” with a hint of a nod.
In the space between heaven and earth, True Immortal Sigils characters floated, corresponding to ninety-nine Origin Dao symbols.
And before the multitude of prodigies, an illusionary figure of the Doctrine Transmitter sat, imparting the Dao and dispelling their doubts.
This illusionary figure was, of course, not the real Doctrine Transmitter but one created by Li Fan.
To reap rewards, one must first sow.
And as predicted, the harvest that these prodigies within the “Array World” would bring to Li Fan would far outweigh the investment, making it an incredibly profitable endeavor.
“Currently, the comprehension bonus I receive from the beings in the ‘Array World’ is still less than that from the single Doctrine Transmitter Feng. However, I expect this gap to quickly narrow as their cognition continuously improves.”
Very satisfied with the efficiency of his subordinates in the Myriad Immortals Alliance, Li Fan decided to grant them a reward.
With Li Fan’s current foundation, any small offering would be of immeasurable benefit to them. However, this time, Li Fan chose an improved version of the Great Tai Divine Art, which could communicate with the starry sea.
He did not directly impart the Great Tai Divine Art.
Instead, he created a grand formation, bestowing upon the people of the Myriad Immortals Alliance the opportunity to enter the formation and connect their minds with the true meaning of the starry sea’s origin.
The cultivators of the Xuanhuang Realm had never escaped the gravitational pull of the Immortal Ruins, nor had they ever witnessed the true power of the starry sea. This Great Tai Divine Art, however, allowed them to comprehend the Dao of the starry sea even while situated in the Xuanhuang Realm.
In this lifetime, Li Fan had not pushed for the Xuanhuang Realm’s ascension. On the surface, the Xuanhuang Realm remained an ordinary cultivation world within the starry sea. The profundity of the starry sea’s laws far surpassed the heavenly laws of the Xuanhuang Realm.
Even a mere few breaths of enlightenment in the starry sea would be immensely beneficial to the cultivators of the Xuanhuang Realm.
And as Li Fan had anticipated, all who experienced this were filled with awe and becoming addicted.
After a brief experience, they yearned for the next opportunity.
Thus, they became even more dedicated to earning merit and receiving Li Fan’s rewards.
Li Fan handed over the control of the formation to Emperor San Mo, choosing to be a hands-off manager.
First, he exited the void and suppressed and sealed Doctrine Transmitter Feng and Heavenly Physician, who were returning.
Li Fan then drew his wooden sword phantom and entered the dark river within the fissure beneath the The Great Barrier.
Following his prior memories, Li Fan once again arrived before the Azure Nether Orb, which was silently floating.
After ten thousand years of ceaselessly releasing its life force, the Azure Nether Orb was now on the verge of destruction, merely a fleeting illusion maintaining its form.
Although it had lost its power as an immortal artifact, it still held immense significance for Li Fan.
He did not approach it, nor did he even use his divine sense, observing it carefully from a distance.
“A creation of the Divine Witch Realm…” Li Fan mused.
“Originally, my plan was to reverse the flow of life force into the Azure Nether Orb, forcibly pulling this treasure back from the brink of destruction. Then, I would use the transformation of Ttrue and False to ‘repair’ it step by step.”
“Now, it seems my plan is still a bit too ambitious.”
Li Fan had a premonition that with the slightest disturbance from him, the extremely fragile Azure Nether Orb would instantly disintegrate into dust.
“The only way is to directly overlay it with the transformation of True and False. First, invert its impending state of destruction.”
However, to wield the transformation of True and False, one needed at least sufficient observational samples – not necessarily complete knowledge of its essence, but at least a "target" for the technique.
Just as Li Fan had previously recreated the Ancient Primordial Source.
But in the current situation, the Azure Nether Orb was too fragile. Li Fan could not even observe the process up close, only watching from afar.
After a prolonged stalemate, a flash of inspiration suddenly struck Li Fan.
“I cannot interfere through external influence. I can only place my hope on the changes within the Azure Nether Orb itself.”
“The cultivation techniques of the twelve Law Kings of the Heavenly Mysteries Sect in the past all originated from this Azure Nether Orb.”
“And within the Heavenly Mysteries Sect, there was a secret method that allowed them to strip away all the cultivation gained by their disciples, called ‘Heaven’s Replacement’.”
“I recall that in Zhao Ruoxi’s dream, she mentioned that the Great Dao Sect had acquired this secret method after annihilating the Heavenly Mysteries Sect.”
“…”
Li Fan’s eyes narrowed. “It seems that to obtain the Azure Nether Orb, I may need to visit the Five Elders Council first.”
“Very well. Another eternal lingering thought exists there; I might as well retrieve them together.”
With his plan decided, Li Fan soared out of the star sea depression. Instead of going to the Five Elders Council first, he went to Myriad Immortals Island.
Beneath Myriad Immortals Island lay the bones of countless fallen Dharma-Preachers from the past, suppressing the so-called Nether Passage.
The Nether Passage, continuously emitting strange energies, was merely heterogeneous tissue formed during the Xuanhuang Realm’s assimilation of other worlds. The power of the cultivation world’s tier was no longer something Li Fan paid much attention to.
It was the countless bones of Dharma-Preachers that Li Fan found more interesting.
“There is no trace of an eternal lingering thought here.”
“But in the Soul Grinding Plate of the Five Elders Council, there seems to be a lingering thought of eternity.”
“The Five Elders Council once raided Myriad Immortals Island precisely to snatch the bones of the Dharma-Preachers buried here…”
As memories of the past flowed through his mind, Myriad Immortals Island began to tremble violently at Li Fan's thought.
Then, to the utter horror of countless cultivators, the island slowly rose into the air.
“It seems the key lies in the Soul Grinding Plate.”
Li Fan collected the bones of Dharma-Preachers, emitting a chilling aura, and felt no movement from Return to Truth.
He looked towards the location of the Five Elders Council and sped away.
Without Li Fan’s power to support it, Myriad Immortals Island once again crashed onto the sea’s surface.
However, with the suppression gone, various strange energies began to surge from the Nether Passage below.
While the cultivators of Myriad Immortals Island panicked, they received Li Fan’s command. Lights flickered within the teleportation arrays.
Squadrons of black-clad cultivators emerged, sealing off the area and providing cleanup.
Li Fan did not use his wood sword escape technique. Instead, he deliberately slowed his pace, making a detour around the territory of the Five Elders Council, belonging to five Longevity Heavenly Venerates.
In the past, entering this area meant losing control and being influenced.
But now, having defied the laws of heaven and earth, they could no longer affect Li Fan in the slightest.
As the saying goes, having attained True Immortal status, one has transcended the realm of heaven and earth.
When Li Fan entered the Land of Carefree Bliss, he was not pulled into an illusory dream like ordinary people. Instead, he saw the real Land of Carefree Bliss.
On the edges of the real blissful land, there were still signs of human activity. But the deeper he ventured into the core region, the fewer traces of human life he found.
After flying for some time, he arrived at the center of the blissful land. What greeted him was a scene of ancient nature, completely devoid of human presence. The sun shone brightly, and the climate was humid. In the endless, undulating rainforest, numerous rivers wound their way.
The vitality here was the most potent in the Xuanhuang Realm. Many species existed that seemed to have evolved later, never appearing in other regions of the Xuanhuang Realm.
Li Fan also keenly sensed a power subtly maintaining the ecological balance of this natural blissful land.
"Carefree…"
Li Fan's gaze was sharp. He projected a strand of his divine sense directly towards this power within the rainforest. The moment it was broken through, Li Fan vaguely heard the faint cries of a baby.
The surrounding rainforest scene vanished instantly. In a daze, he seemed to have arrived at a small mountain village, with the continuous crying emanating from one of the houses. Li Fan looked around with interest; he had seen this mountain village scene before, in a painting titled "The Demonic Infant Who Swallowed Father and Mother, Forgetting Worries."
Following the source of the sound, Li Fan pushed open the door and entered. A thick scent of blood assailed his nostrils, and the scene inside was quite gruesome. A baby lay in swaddling clothes on a bed. Beside the bed, a man and a woman were bloody and mangled, unrecognizable. Yet, their faces showed no pain; they still wore foolish, idiotic smiles. As if they felt no pain, they dug out a piece from their own exposed bones and fed it to the baby on the bed.
"Nian Nian, eat more, eat your fill. Hehehe."
They whispered obsessively, coughing up large amounts of blood. This blood seemed to be something extremely precious; a look of pity immediately appeared on their faces as they hastily collected every drop of spilled blood. Mixed with shattered tissues, they shoved it into the baby's mouth. The infant, unable to stop them, could only cry helplessly.
This somewhat sinister scene made even Li Fan frown slightly. Without a doubt, this was the past of Carefree. But Li Fan, a master of formations, could see at a glance that this was very different from ordinary illusion formations.
"At least, these man and woman, Carefree's parents, they exist, right?"
Li Fan's divine sense manifested, and he slowly approached them. Under Li Fan's intervention, their actions were forcibly halted. As if returning from an illusion to reality, the deranged, joyful expressions vanished from the man and woman. Though their bodies were immobilized, the sobered couple seemed to understand their predicament. Endless despair welled up in their eyes, mixed with madness.
"Ahhh…"
They wanted to say something but could not utter a sound, only emitting unintelligible syllables. Annoyed by Li Fan's interference, that power forcefully regained control of the couple. They resumed their nightmarish act of digging out flesh and bone to feed the infant.
"This is their fervent wish, why should Senior interfere?"
"Isn't it good to fulfill someone's desire?"
A smiling voice suddenly appeared, echoing in the small room.
"Playing mysterious games," Li Fan snorted coldly and was about to act when a figure suddenly appeared, bowing gracefully.
"Senior, spare my life!" they called out.
Li Fan narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the figure. Stripped bare, with a thin, uncurving physique and long hair that seemed untouched since birth, it spread across the floor like a dark, winding river. The naked Carefree showed no embarrassment under Li Fan's gaze, as if this was her natural state.
"Does Senior know what happened next?" Carefree pointed to the man and woman inside the cottage, feeding the infant with their own flesh and blood.
Li Fan remained silent, and Carefree answered herself: "These two, from some Immortal master, heard of a secret method that could defy fate. By feeding the newly born infant with the parents' essence and blood, and after eighty-one days, devouring the infant, they could leap to become Immortals."
"Heh heh…"
The scene before them rapidly shifted. As the infant, fed by flesh and blood, slowly grew at an unimaginable speed, her cries grew louder. Gradually, the cries spread from the small room to other parts of the mountain village. This sound seemed to possess a magical power, captivating the minds of all who heard it. Like walking corpses, they slowly approached and then "offered themselves to the demon"! In just a few days, the entire village had transformed into the indistinct flesh and blood inside the room. The infant's cries slowly spread throughout the entire mountain. Birds and beasts in the mountains, like humans, fearlessly walked into this small house. A monstrous, bloody aura sealed the house, as if even sunlight could not penetrate. In the darkness, accompanied by the incessant cries of the infant, were heart-pounding chewing sounds. Finally, all living beings on the entire mountain range were devoured by the demonic infant. Silence reigned. Only the infant's cries echoed.
Such a level of bloodshed was already trivial to Li Fan. He looked towards a corner of the illusion.
"As expected of Senior!" Carefree's admiring voice sounded simultaneously. Li Fan's gaze fell; the originally faint, blurry figure became clear.
"Wonderful, wonderful! The sacred infant is growing faster than planned!"
"In a few more days, this spiritual pill will be completely refined. The parents' utmost sincerity and love, the innate will to survive, plus the innate instincts of myriad beasts…"
"Ancestor will surely be very pleased with this sacred infant."
"After wasting seven times, it will finally succeed this time," the figure muttered to itself, overjoyed. Calculating the time, the cultivator flew down, filled with anticipation, and slowly entered the small house.
"To obtain the sacred infant, it is what he has longed for. Let him remain in his sweet dream."
"Isn't it good to fulfill someone's desire?"
Li Fan saw that as the cultivator entered the small dark room, his expression drastically changed. Confusion and terror flickered back and forth. He wanted to break free from his uncontrolled state. But step by step, irresistibly, he approached the infant. Then, he completely sank, like countless beings buried in the infant's belly, digging out his own flesh and blood, bit by bit!
"Does Senior approve?"
The scene shattered abruptly. Carefree, with a pure and expectant expression, asked, "Does Senior approve?"
Li Fan did not answer, merely watching the countless light spots that emerged from the shattered fragments surge towards him. These light spots, as vast as the starry sky, each representing an illusory dream. Perhaps from mortals, or perhaps from birds and beasts. It was like an endless river of memories, washing over Li Fan's divine sense. It wasn't just recorded images; it also contained various insights on different levels of understanding. They were from the beings who had succumbed to these illusory dreams, and… from Carefree herself. Her various thoughts and realizations about the principles of the Xuanhuang Realm’s heaven and earth!
Just a strand of divine sense was not originally enough to withstand the baptism of such a massive amount of information. Just as it was about to be assimilated, becoming part of the fallen illusory dream, the last part of this divine soul remained unfading. No matter how many intentions Carefree used to wash over it, it could not be harmed in the slightest. A flicker of curiosity appeared in Carefree's eyes. But with her strength, she could not see through the remnants of this divine sense. This further piqued Carefree's curiosity. Beyond the starry sky, more light spots ignited. Like a galaxy falling from the heavens, it impacted the last, diamond-like remnant of divine sense like a waterfall.
"Are you sure you really want to see?"
After persistent attempts, just as she was about to succeed, Li Fan's voice, like a phantom, suddenly rang in Carefree's ears. After a moment's hesitation, Carefree continued her actions. The dazzling silver divine sense exploded. What appeared before Carefree was… floods surging, fire raining from the sky, dark clouds obscuring the sun, the world freezing over. Countless doomsday scenes erupted simultaneously. And this was just an appetizer. The world's destruction was only the beginning. A torrent of dark energy surged into the world, engulfing everything. In the rolling sea of dark energy, entire star seas vanished abruptly. It was like a small brightly lit room gradually sinking into complete darkness. The existence of the entire world collapsed instantly. And the terrifying calamities were far from over. The scene brightened in the darkness, then instantly expanded billions of times. As if in an endless sea, each ripple was a complete world. And at this moment, a terrifying darkness from the depths of the sea was continuously devouring. All imaginable doomsday scenarios played out in this sea. An overwhelming sense of submersion and despair, as the darkness gradually enveloped and eroded oneself. When this sea completely fell into stillness, after a brief pause, countless parallel threads appeared. The endless ocean just witnessed was merely an insignificant speck within one of those threads. And now, these bright threads began to annihilate in large numbers. With the disappearance of each thread of light, corresponding scenes of world destruction flooded into Carefree's mind. This involved the myriad possibilities of the Dao Erasure Tribulation, drawn from Li Fan's direct observations and the memories of the evil Su Bai in the Eternal Residual Will. Such terrifying, yet real, scenes were far beyond what Carefree could bear. Even from a spiritual perspective, her strength was not much weaker than that of the Dharma-Preachers or Heavenly Physicians. But now… dark clouds representing doom, terror, and despair were descending upon the Land of Carefree Bliss through Carefree.
Boom! One dream world after another fell into the end times without warning. The very foundation of the entire dream blissful land was severely impacted, inevitably causing violent tremors.
"Ahhh!" Carefree let out a scream and woke up from the nightmare. Her body trembled uncontrollably, covered in cold sweat. She tried to prevent the spread of the terrifying calamity within the dream blissful land. But the calamity spread too quickly. Moreover, she herself could barely protect herself, let alone the multitude of beings in her dreams!
"Senior, spare my life!" Carefree left the illusory dream and entered the real world. Trembling, she knelt before Li Fan. Even though she had already learned from various channels that the opponent's strength was extremely terrifying, even somewhat inconceivable. Yet, to be able to survive such a terrifying tribulation without dying… far exceeded Carefree's imagination. All her plans were in vain; Carefree's only thought now was instinctive survival!
"Carefree, carefree."
"The great tribulation has arrived, how can one dispel worry?" Li Fan said meaningfully. In Carefree's dream blissful land, the calamities that were violently affecting countless dreams suddenly came to a standstill. Then, just as they had arrived, they disappeared without a trace, without a sound. A black spot, radiating terrifying malevolence, appeared in Li Fan's palm. Then, with a gentle wave of Li Fan's hand, it floated towards Carefree's forehead. Carefree's body trembled, instinctively wanting to dodge. But this ball of light, radiating dark energy, seemed to possess countless superimposed worlds. She couldn't dodge at all and could only let it enter her divine soul. It was like a haze, originating from the top. In an instant, it then disappeared into her heart, its whereabouts unknown. After a long time, the still-shaken Carefree vaguely came to her senses. Looking at the figure before her, she realized how laughable and absurd her recent thoughts of playing tricks and testing him were.
"Take me to see the other four," Li Fan commanded indifferently, his hands behind his back. A layer of silver light seemed to illuminate the edges of his body, obscuring his face, making it impossible to look directly at him.
"Yes." Carefree bowed her head in acknowledgement. The surroundings changed again. This time, Li Fan felt the power of the dream blissful land enveloping him. However, since a countermeasure had already been implanted in Carefree's mind, Li Fan allowed her to pull him into the illusory dream with a single thought, knowing he could collapse her dream at any moment.
"Ink Slaughter, Heaven and Earth Immortal Soul, merged into the Dao Erasure Tribulation's manifestation."
"The power is not bad." Li Fan thought to himself, looking around. Carefree, awed by his might, was indeed highly efficient. The One Heart Heavenly Venerate Zhao Ruoxi was the first to appear before Li Fan. Like Carefree, she was naked. It seemed she had been lying on the beach, sunbathing. Disturbed by the inexplicable great tribulation, she suddenly stood up to observe, a look of shock and uncertainty on her face. The sudden appearance of Carefree and Li Fan startled her even more. Li Fan had seen the exquisite figure before him countless times. No matter how graceful, it could no longer stir his emotions. Zhao Ruoxi, after a brief exchange of glances with Carefree, understood the entire situation. While her heart trembled, she changed into a white robe. "Greetings, Senior." She politely bowed to Li Fan. Li Fan nodded slightly. Just then, fluctuations came from the surroundings. Carefree's form shifted, returning to the appearance of a baby in swaddling clothes. The other three Heavenly Venerates of Longevity arrived fashionably late.
A man in Daoist robes and a scholar-like cultivator in white robes. Li Fan had seen their phantoms before; they were the True Heavenly Venerate and the Human Way Heavenly Venerate, respectively. In the Land of Truth, no lies existed. And in the Human Way Heavenly Realm, all beings, regardless of cultivation, could alter the world if their hearts were sincere.
As for the last one, he was a youth of extraordinary demeanor, appearing no older than twenty. Though Li Fan had never met him in person, he had encountered him once during the trial within the Fallen Immortal Illusionary Realm.
Ji Wangxian! Ten thousand years ago, he had single-handedly established the "Myriad Worlds Commerce Guild" across the Xuanhuang Realm, using spirit stones to construct a city in the sky of unparalleled luxury.
"I can't believe the ancestor of the Ji family, once known for their deceitful merchants, has transformed into an epitome of contracts," Li Fan mused. "Though, it's said the entire Ji family and the Myriad Worlds Commerce Guild were merely tools for Ji Wangxian's cultivation. It's understandable that he would seek to maintain his Longevity state after the great upheaval of heaven and earth, and thus adopt new methods."
Li Fan also instantly understood the situation of the Myriad Laws Commerce Guild, headquartered in Nine Mountains Province, situated between the Myriad Immortals Alliance and the Five Elders Council. "The Myriad Laws Commerce Guild is a remnant of the former Myriad Worlds Commerce Guild. After Ji Wangxian attained Dao Integration, the guild became useless to him. However, as a former branch of one of the Five Heavenly Venerates, as long as it remained quiet, neither the Five Elders Council nor the Myriad Immortals Alliance would actively seek trouble. It could also serve as a neutral ground for private transactions between the two factions."
"But that's all. In the face of true power, the so-called Myriad Laws Commerce Guild is no different from any other ant in this world. It was reduced to ashes, like all beings in Nine Mountains Province, under the blow from the Doctrine Transmitter."
With thoughts racing, Li Fan's gaze swept over the three newly arrived Longevity Heavenly Venerates. Clearly, they had been informed by Wu You about Li Fan's unfathomable cultivation. Although they maintained their composure, projecting the aura of top-tier experts of the Xuanhuang Realm, Li Fan could faintly discern their apprehension.
"Heh heh heh, don't be nervous," Li Fan said with a relaxed tone. "The Doctrine Transmitter has already been suppressed by me."
Li Fan's simple statement sent shivers down the spines of the five Heavenly Venerates present. When they saw the Doctrine Transmitter held in Li Fan's palm, trapped in an endless illusion, neither awake nor truly asleep, their faces inevitably turned pale. They all bowed their heads, daring not to meet Li Fan's gaze. Wu You, in particular, trembled uncontrollably, filled with the fear of his prior, foolishly impudent probing.
Before this, the five Heavenly Venerates knew that this sudden arrival, a senior suspected to be a True Immortal, was powerful. But they had no quantitative grasp of his strength. Now, they knew. The Doctrine Transmitter, who had lorded over the Xuanhuang Realm for an era and forced the five of them to unite under his might, had been effortlessly subdued by Li Fan's casual gesture. Such power naturally inspired dread in them.
As if oblivious to their inner turmoil, Li Fan continued in a calm tone, "Heaven and mortals are separated. I will not interfere excessively with your affairs. However, there are some matters that require your assistance."
"Senior, please command us!" Wu You spoke first. His eagerness was a stark contrast to his usual detachment, drawing sideways glances from the other four Heavenly Venerates. However, having attained Longevity in the Xuanhuang Realm, they were not fools. They also voiced their assent.
"I have come for a particular item: the Soul Grinding Plate," Li Fan stated.
Upon hearing this, Wu You and the others turned their gazes to the man in the Daoist robe. The True Heavenly Venerate's face twitched slightly. He then cupped his hands and produced a stone mill-like object, offering it to Li Fan.
Li Fan observed that the Soul Grinding Plate seemed to be rotating ceaselessly. From beneath it, he could faintly hear the tragic cries of countless souls being ground by the immense stone mill. A subtle indication from "Return to Truth" confirmed this. Within the Soul Grinding Plate were fifty-six remnant souls and one hundred and three scattered bones. Yet, the aura emanating from these remnants was far more potent than that of countless wandering ghosts.
After careful inspection, Li Fan discerned the intricate mechanism. The Soul Grinding Plate, like a colossal millstone, constantly ground these souls and bones. Theoretically, no matter how special they were, they could not endure such torment indefinitely. They would turn to dust within a decade or so. Yet, it had persisted from ancient times to the present. This was because, at every moment, streams of pure energy emerged from the Soul Grinding Plate, nourishing these remnant souls. This sustained their existence while they endured the torment of the grinding mill. This cycle, akin to an endless inferno, seemed inescapable.
Li Fan finally understood how these suspected Eternal Residual Wills were formed. "An impressive technique," Li Fan commented coolly. The True Heavenly Venerate lowered his head, not daring to respond.
Li Fan exerted a slight force, and the massive stone mill vanished into smoke. The remnant souls and scattered bones were liberated and absorbed by "Return to Truth." The residual pure energy within the stone mill also felt strangely familiar to Li Fan. It was precisely the pure cultivation that resulted from transforming one's own techniques after practicing the Essence Transformation chapter of the Supreme Primordial Scripture.
"Remnants of the Supreme Sect." Li Fan glanced at the True Heavenly Venerate, a thoughtful expression on his face. Transforming cultivation using the Primordial Scripture did not always result in complete inheritance. A small portion would vanish into the unknown. It now seemed that this portion had flowed into the coffers of the Supreme Sect. "The lives and deaths of cultivators are of no concern to me. This truly aligns with the Supreme Sect's persona."
When the great tribulation descended upon the Xuanhuang Realm in the past, a portion of the Myriad Immortal Sects had already fled. Individuals like Yi Xin and Zhen Shi might have found astonishing utility in exploring the realms beyond the The Great Barriers. Li Fan did not address them for the moment, focusing instead on sensing the changes within "Return to Truth." Unlike its previous greedy and joyous devouring, "Return to Truth" exhibited peculiar behavior this time. It acted as if it had consumed something extremely difficult to swallow, wanting to spit it out, yet it stubbornly forced itself to swallow it bit by bit. Li Fan's expression grew subtle. He stood still, examining the information transmitted by "Return to Truth." The Longevity Heavenly Venerates of the Five Elders Council stood by respectfully, daring not to move. Perhaps this Eternal Residual Will was not formed by a single individual but by numerous fragmented souls. Li Fan had not undergone the trial of the True Illusionary Realm; "Return to Truth" had directly absorbed it.
"Function [Eternal Samsara] unlocked." There was no poetic recitation, merely a perfunctory statement. "Eternal Samsara..."
However, these four words immediately piqued Li Fan's interest. "Using a past life as a template, create a time period with a beginning and an end. Any being unable to resist can be cast into this time period. If a corresponding identity for the cast being exists within this timeline, they will possess it. If not, a random possession will occur. The identity of the possessed being can be specified. The cast being will lose memories outside of the reincarnation. Throughout the entire Eternal Samsara, only the memories of the cast being will be retained. Time will continuously loop from beginning to end, constrained by the fixed template of events, ensuring the Eternal Samsara does not deviate from its original course. Eternal Samsara is dependent on my existence. Each activation of Return to Truth, upon returning to the initial anchor point, will cause the created reincarnation to disappear and require re-creation. The cost to preserve it can be paid. The time flow rate of Eternal Samsara is one thousand times that of normal spacetime experienced by me; it can also be significantly accelerated according to my needs..."
The function of Eternal Samsara was far more complex than "Body Transformation" and "Dao Origin." Yet, it was quite straightforward. It was a constantly repeating history that Li Fan had once experienced. It was important to note that every time Li Fan forced "Return to Truth" to act, it was due to the arrival of a great terror. This implied that within Eternal Samsara, a catastrophic tribulation would occur every few decades. Furthermore, due to "Return to Truth's" active constraint, beings experiencing reincarnation would be unable to achieve progress step by step and ultimately defy fate, as Li Fan had.
"I can also constantly observe the state of the beings cast into reincarnation..." "Interesting. Extremely interesting." Li Fan felt a surge of curiosity, as if he had discovered a novel toy. "Qiao Sidao, who escaped the countless reincarnations of an era. Can anyone escape the Eternal Samsara created by Return to Truth?" According to the description of "Return to Truth," only when the ultimate outcome of the reincarnation deviated entirely would this Eternal Samsara be terminated. However, the cast being would still be unable to escape. This timeline would exist in a state of ambiguity between true and false. It awaited Li Fan's next command: whether to release the cast being or create a new Eternal Samsara. "It truly lives up to its name, 'Endless'!" Li Fan almost exclaimed in admiration. He abruptly turned his head to look at the True Heavenly Venerate, a meaningful smile on his face, and then lightly pointed at him. One of the preeminent Longevity Heavenly Venerates of the Xuanhuang Realm vanished from everyone's sight without a sound, his fate unknown. The remaining Wu You and others were struck with terror but harbored no thoughts of revenge for the True Heavenly Venerate. They could only inwardly pray that this True Immortal senior would spare their lives. The entire process of the True Immortal suppressing the True Heavenly Venerate occurred without the slightest fluctuation of energy, disappearing in a manner they could not comprehend. They could not resist, nor even understand what was happening. The gap in power was so immense that they lacked the courage to resist. Li Fan's attention had already shifted to the activated Eternal Samsara. He chose the scenario where he, as the Sacred Embryo, boarded the Medicine King True Cauldron and charged towards the Immortal Ruins, leading to the starving immortals' world-ending glance.
Within the endless cycle of reincarnation, the True Heavenly Venerate, having lost the memory of meeting Li Fan, returned to the anchor point of one year prior.
A flicker of doubt crossed his eyes.
But what could a cultivator of the Longevity Realm do against the might of Return to Truth? Soon, this trace of doubt vanished without a trace. He continued to live out his life along his former historical trajectory.
...
Li Fan sensed the rapid flux of light and shadow within the Eternal Samsara.
The amplification of time flow by a thousandfold exerted a peculiar pressure on him. It wasn't like carrying the Immortal Realm's chess pieces, where his body and soul seemed burdened by some heavy object.
Instead, it was as if a layer of hazy mist had enveloped everything around him. His thoughts, even his every movement, felt as if he were in a dream. Affected by this, Li Fan even began to vaguely doubt the reality of his own existence in the present world.
It wasn't just Li Fan.
Even the four remaining Heavenly Venerates, who stood beside Li Fan, began to have their gazes turn unfocused. They either recalled past memories, or sudden images they had never experienced flashed through their minds, or they suddenly remembered a fleeting thought they had long since forgotten.
All of them were unable to resist this contamination, becoming deeply mired in it, unable to extricate themselves.
It wasn't until the Eternal Samsara sped forward, experienced its first end, and commenced its second cycle, that Li Fan slowly began to adapt.
With a focused mind, the mist around him thinned slightly. He still felt a sense of abnormality, but at the very least, it no longer affected his actions. Only then did Li Fan have the opportunity to observe what was happening within the Eternal Samsara.
Disregarding the True Heavenly Venerate, who was caught in a state of surprise, joy, and fear due to his "rebirth," Li Fan's first action was to search for "himself" within the Xuanhuang Realm of the Eternal Samsara.
To his relief, he did not see another version of himself.
Instead, a cultivator named "Zhang Fan," who bore a striking resemblance to him, was advancing the Eternal Samsara towards its predetermined conclusion.
"Naturally, there was no other existence of Return to Truth. Zhang Fan merely possessed the illusion of being able to be reborn continuously. Once the Eternal Samsara was activated, his memories would be reset without him realizing it..."
"He was merely a tool created."
Li Fan shook his head slightly and stopped paying attention, turning his gaze to the True Heavenly Venerate.
The True Heavenly Venerate firmly believed that his vision of the Xuanhuang Realm being destroyed in his "previous life" was not an illusion. However, he did not rush to tell others about his rebirth experience.
Instead, he set aside all other matters and focused on investigating the truth behind the world's destruction.
As expected of a powerful being who had attained Longevity, he quickly discovered that the impending disaster might be related to the mysterious appearance of the Heavenly Dao's White.
Following the clues, he tracked it all the way to the Medicine King Valley.
When the The Chaos Seal was detonated and the Medicine King True Cauldron containing the Sacred Embryo shot into the sky, the True Heavenly Venerate, hidden in the shadows, keenly sensed its presence.
He was about to intervene.
But...
The Heavenly Dao's White, after saving the Medicine King Sect cultivator, flashed before the True Heavenly Venerate.
Although not an opponent in the realm of Dharma-Preachers, it was the manifestation of the Xuanhuang Realm's Heavenly Dao will, capable of wielding the power of all the world's essence.
For a moment, the True Heavenly Venerate could not break free.
He could only watch as the Medicine King True Cauldron flew further and further away.
In this lifetime, the ending remained unchanged. The Xuanhuang Realm was still destroyed by the Starving Immortal's gaze.
...
"Is this what is called the linear constraint of Return to Truth?"
Li Fan mused, then accelerated the time flow of the Eternal Samsara. His mind spun, and the pressure he endured deepened significantly. He fast-forwarded to another attempt by the True Heavenly Venerate to save the world.
Even before the Heavenly Dao's White descended, the True Heavenly Venerate had already noticed Zhang Fan, who was plotting in the shadows. He launched a fierce attack, intending to capture him.
However, his revealed aura actually alerted the restrictions within the Myriad Immortals Alliance.
The Five Elders Council's Longevity Heavenly Venerate infiltrated the territory, and the Myriad Immortals Alliance, facing an imminent enemy, saw a projection of a Doctrine Transmitter Heavenly Venerate descend. Without explanation, he struck the True Heavenly Venerate with a palm, severely wounding him. Amidst the chaos, Zhang Fan had already disappeared without a trace.
Shortly after, the world-ending tribulation descended again.
"Interesting. The Doctrine Transmitter's projection actually did not appear in this lifetime. To activate the Doctrine Transmitter's projection requires the sacrifice of several Chosen Immortals."
"But this is not a simulation of the Eternal Samsara, indulging in whimsical creation. Instead..."
A hint of amusement flashed in Li Fan's eyes: "It's as if it foresaw the True Heavenly Venerate's actions. From the beginning of the new cycle, the Myriad Immortals Alliance began a grand selection of Chosen Immortals. This deviated somewhat from the events of the previous cycle."
"However, the True Heavenly Venerate, focused on investigating the true culprit behind the world's destruction, inadvertently overlooked this point."
"It seems that the so-called constraints of the Eternal Samsara merely ensure that the beginning and end are consistent with the origin. The specific details in between do not matter."
The third cycle.
This time, the True Heavenly Venerate directly staked out the borders of the Xuanhuang Realm, waiting for the Medicine King True Cauldron to appear. But for reasons unknown, the Medicine King True Cauldron did not show up this time.
Even more unexpectedly, on the very day the end of the world arrived according to his memories, the suction force from the Immortal Ruins above suddenly intensified. Caught off guard, he lost control and plummeted towards the Immortal Ruins.
Struggling to survive, he saw a skeleton standing on the ruined earth, surrounded by severed golden chains.
The Starving Immortal in the Immortal Ruins grabbed the True Heavenly Venerate, who was trying to resist, and absorbed and refined him.
Then, with eyes full of crimson, he looked down at the Xuanhuang Realm below, still insatiable.
...
"Huh? This is a possibility I've never experienced before."
"Did the Starving Immortal emerge from seclusion early?"
In the present world, gazing from afar at the Starving Immortal in the Eternal Samsara, this being, even after achieving enlightenment and nearing the Nameless Realm, could not detect Li Fan's probing gaze.
He merely had a subtle sensation, filled with surprise and uncertainty.
...
The Starving Immortal's performance after achieving enlightenment made Li Fan's heart skip a beat, and he temporarily halted the simulation function of the Eternal Samsara.
It wasn't that he feared the Starving Immortal.
"Theoretically speaking, this Eternal Samsara is essentially a new possibility created out of thin air by Return to Truth."
"So, is it possible that an unparalleled expert capable of transcending possibilities might discover the anomaly and leap out of the Eternal Samsara?"
"For example, if I were to use my previous life's experiences as a template, wouldn't that create another Black Heavenly Physician within this created Eternal Samsara?"
Just as Li Fan was filled with surprise and uncertainty, Return to Truth seemed to sense his thoughts and sent a timely notification.
"Incomplete timelines that are created naturally will not include beings that transcend possibilities."
"The variables caused by the template experiences will manifest in other ways to ensure the consistency of the origin and the ultimate outcome..." Li Fan silently perceived the fluctuations of Return to Truth, feeling relieved yet somewhat regretful.
"As long as nothing goes wrong, that's fine."
He glanced at the True Heavenly Venerate in the Eternal Samsara, who was collapsing and had not moved for over ten years. Li Fan shook his head slightly.
"I wonder when this Longevity Heavenly Venerate will break free from the destiny of reincarnation."
"I hope he doesn't disappoint me."
Of course, even if this True Heavenly Venerate completely gave up on escaping, Li Fan would not easily let him out. This was because Li Fan had sensed that every time the Eternal Samsara began to turn anew, it was equivalent to Return to Truth initiating a transformation between truth and falsehood.
Although the magnitude was incomparable to when Li Fan himself activated it.
But it had the advantage of being continuous and would not interfere with Li Fan's actions in reality.
"This is a powerful tool to assist me in comprehending the transformation between truth and falsehood."
"It's a pity that with my current strength, I don't seem to be able to withstand the activation of the second Eternal Samsara," Li Fan thought with some regret.
His thoughts returned to reality.
Li Fan looked at Carefree Bliss and the others.
The four Longevity Realm cultivators were completely subdued by the methods Li Fan had employed.
"I can faintly sense a great terror beyond the The Great Barrier."
"This is why I hesitated to step beyond the The Great Barrier, even though I could."
Li Fan's words caused Carefree Bliss and the others' expressions to change drastically.
"I know that the Carefree Dream you created has already explored near the The Great Barrier."
"In conjunction with my actions in reality, we can work together to investigate the truth beyond the The Great Barrier," Li Fan said, intently watching Carefree Bliss.
The thin, frail Longevity Heavenly Venerate repeatedly assured him, "It is my greatest fortune to be able to serve Senior."
"As for you three..." Li Fan looked at the Human Way Heavenly Venerate, Zhao Ruoxi, and Ji Wangxian.
He flicked his fingers, and three light particles flew into their foreheads.
These were miniature formations with the Ink Slaughter, Dao Erasure Manifestation as the core, and the Xuanhuang Realm's projected image obtained from the Sitting Heaven Art as the energy source, capable of monitoring and counteracting.
Upon entering their bodies, countless formation patterns, like roots, spread into the depths of their divine souls.
However, what made Zhao Ruoxi and the other two feel even more horrified was that they had not felt the slightest pain from beginning to end.
Instead, an ultimate sense of satisfaction and joy surged from their hearts. As the formation patterns gradually covered their entire divine souls, their feelings towards Li Fan transformed from fear to admiration and loyalty.
Even though they knew that this core, rooted deep within their divine souls, was constantly spying on their every move, they not only had no intention of resisting but were eager to completely overturn their divine souls and offer them to him.
The Human Way Heavenly Venerate's blood surged, and he felt an impulse to die for a confidant.
Ji Wangxian knelt on one knee, deeply impressed.
Zhao Ruoxi's cheeks flushed red, her body went weak, and she slumped to the ground. Her eyes, filled with a dazed look, stared at Li Fan, never leaving him.
Through his top-down observation of the Eternal Samsara, Li Fan gained a deeper understanding of the Longevity Heavenly Venerates before him.
Coupled with the customized formation modifications by the Dissolution Disc, this remarkable effect was achieved.
"It's even a hundred times more effective than the Return to Truth Fruit back then," Li Fan thought to himself.
He turned his head and said to Carefree Bliss and the others, whose faces had turned pale after witnessing all this, "Your dream realm's level is truly superficial. To explore beyond the The Great Barrier might be beyond your capabilities. Seven days from now, you will all come to the Myriad Immortals Alliance."
"I will assign someone to assist you in making some modifications to the dream realm."
Before his voice had even faded, Li Fan's figure had already vanished, gone without a trace.
Through the array patterns rooted deep within Zhao Ruoxi's divine soul, Li Fan scanned her memories in an instant.
She was indeed a Heavenly Venerate of One Heart, integrating the will of the masses into one, and her experiences were astonishing.
However, this was not the main point.
Li Fan quickly found what he was looking for.
"Stealing Heaven to Replace..."
This was a secret art from the Great Dao Sect, one of the rich inheritances from the past destruction of the Heavenly Mysteries Sect. It was said to completely strip away the cultivation techniques and cultivation bases of Heavenly Mysteries Sect disciples, and even transfer the realms and strengths gained from practicing their techniques to the caster as if by magic.
Li Fan remained skeptical of the explanation for this secret art.
After all, figures like the Twelve Law Kings would not have been so easily subdued by such a simple secret art.
But regardless, most of the Heavenly Mysteries Sect's cultivation techniques originated from the Azure Nether Orb. It was not an entirely unreasonable matter for it to be retrieved. What Li Fan needed to do now was to verify if there was a connection between the "Stealing Heaven to Replace" secret art and the Azure Nether Orb.
Using his cultivation, he would nourish the Azure Nether Orb, pulling it back from the brink of complete collapse. Then, Li Fan would assist in its repair step by step through the transformation of reality and illusion.
As for the cultivation base to be infused into the Azure Nether Orb...
Zhao Ruoxi, who cultivated the "Eternal Selfhood Art," was naturally the best source!
From Zhao Ruoxi's memories, Li Fan already knew that although she achieved her Dao through the principle of "the masses united as one," the core of her cultivation technique was still based on the Eternal Selfhood Art.
"Indulging in games, neglecting progress."
"Her successful reversal was also due to taking advantage of this technique's heaven-defying properties."
Li Fan snorted inwardly as he passed judgment. In the blink of an eye, he had already returned to the sunken area below the The Great Barrier, where the Azure Nether Orb was located.
The Dissolution Disc had already translated the "Stealing Heaven to Replace" secret art into an array.
Wisps of light carrying the array information entered Zhao Ruoxi's divine soul imperceptibly.
The light spread along the dense array patterns, and as it operated, it slowly drew out Sister Zhao’s cultivation base.
In Li Fan's hand, droplets of liquid with a strange green hue were slowly forming.
Zhao Ruoxi could naturally perceive the sudden loss of her cultivation base.
For someone at the Longevity Realm like her, nothing was more terrifying than reverting to a mortal overnight.
Her face turned pale, not understanding how she had offended the capricious True Immortal.
The speed at which Zhao Ruoxi's cultivation base drained increased with each passing moment, but she was helpless, only able to watch as the essence she had painstakingly accumulated over thousands of years disappeared before her eyes.
Furthermore, she soon realized something even more terrifying.
Since her reversal and becoming the Xuanhuang Realm's Longevity Heavenly Venerate, she had become a part of the Xuanhuang Realm.
Although she was still in the Longevity Realm, with the massive loss of cultivation, her increasingly frail body seemed unable to sustain the Azure Nether principles she had reversed!
As if under immense pressure, her divine soul and physical body began to ache.
"Urgh..." Zhao Ruoxi could not suppress a muffled groan, and countless tiny bloodstains appeared all over her body.
And it was not just this one body.
All of her was on the verge of collapse.
The pain intensified.
Her internal Spirit Qi was depleted, leaving her weaker than an ordinary Qi Refining stage cultivator. Zhao Ruoxi felt an unprecedented weakness. The sensation of her soul and body being ground and torn apart was amplified a thousandfold as her strength diminished.
Blood gushed from the cracks all over her body, drenching her into a blood-soaked figure, obscuring her flowing tears. The pain was so intense that she could not even cry out, only producing hoarse sounds from her throat.
The fear of becoming mortal in an instant, and the ever-increasing, pervasive pain in her soul and body, made Zhao Ruoxi feel as though she had returned to her childhood in the Great Green Mountain.
Back then, bandits had plundered and slaughtered in the village, and the sky was red with blood.
Hiding outside the village, she saw the fierce bandits who seemed to have discovered her and were running towards her with sinister smiles, and Zhao Ruoxi was terrified.
She noticed a figure that had been standing silently not far away, motionless, for some unknown time.
As if grasping the only possible lifeline, Zhao Ruoxi cried out, begging, "Immortal Master, save me! Immortal Master, save me!"
The roar from her throat seemed to overlap with the memory of the past.
However, the figure that Zhao Ruoxi had seen as her savior was no longer Zhang Rong, the fourth-generation disciple of the Moon Radiance lineage of the Great Dao Sect, whom she had already avenged and devoured.
Instead, it had transformed into Li Fan!
The blurry figure gradually became clear in Zhao Ruoxi's mind. As if responding to her plea, Li Fan smiled faintly.
From the center of the countless array patterns within Zhao Ruoxi's divine soul, wisps of incomparably pure energy emanated from the illusion of the Xuanhuang Realm. Initially, it was merely a trickle, but it quickly transformed into a great river, surging and roaring incessantly.
In an instant, Zhao Ruoxi's body was completely filled.
This once dying Heavenly Venerate of One Heart was instantly revitalized.
Feeling the immense, seemingly inexhaustible power from the illusion of the Xuanhuang Realm within her, Zhao Ruoxi felt even more powerful than before.
The bloodstains on her fair skin disappeared. Zhao Ruoxi bowed respectfully to the figure standing deep within her divine soul.
...
Without paying attention to the minor disturbance on Zhao Ruoxi's end, Li Fan's entire focus was now fixed on the extremely fragile Azure Nether Orb before him.
Zhao Ruoxi's lifelong cultivation from the Eternal Selfhood Art only transformed into four drops of green liquid.
Without Li Fan needing to exert much control, through the subtle connection with the Azure Nether Orb, the green liquid's energy slowly diffused towards the nearby Azure Nether Orb.
The nearly ten thousand years of hard work by a Longevity Heavenly Venerate finally allowed this immortal artifact to successfully emerge from the brink of destruction!
Li Fan's heart rejoiced. His divine sense followed like a shadow, quickly enveloping the Azure Nether Orb.
The surface of the Azure Nether Orb, resembling the vast azure sky, swirled and flowed. It attempted to obstruct Li Fan's prying.
This defense might have been effective against mortals, or perhaps if the Azure Nether Orb was at its peak, it could have stopped Li Fan.
But it had just narrowly escaped destruction and was in a half-dead state, so how could it stop Li Fan, who possessed a Half-Immortal body?
His divine sense acted like a needle, piercing the azure sky and plunging directly into the interior of the Azure Nether Orb.
Boom!
The scene before Li Fan's eyes vibrated violently. The next moment, he seemed to have entered a strange realm.
Twelve solemn palaces, standing majestically in the sky, were distributed around, dominating the world's firmament.
Each palace housed a statue.
An endless stream of cultivators came from the earth, kneeling and praying.
And on the statues, living faces occasionally appeared, seemingly communicating with the kneeling cultivators.
...
The Divine Witch Realm!
As the vision in his mind dissipated, Li Fan understood what he had just seen.
That wisp of divine sense had been forcibly expelled by the Azure Nether Orb.
Li Fan did not attempt to intrude again. With this initial contact, and relying on the Azure Nether Orb's unique aura, he would be able to replicate it using the "Reality and Illusion Transformation" within a short period!
However, Li Fan did not leave to attempt it immediately.
He had a premonition that creating another Azure Nether Orb out of thin air using the "Reality and Illusion Transformation" would carry a far greater burden than before, and he needed to make some preparations.
Since the Azure Nether Orb could not be moved for the time being, Li Fan laid down layers of formations around it.
The light spots representing Immortal-grade formations flickered around him. Li Fan finally felt a sense of security.
"False becomes true!"
Li Fan whispered in his heart, but the target of his divine ability was not the Azure Nether Orb, but himself!
His cultivation, divine soul, and all other aspects of his power doubled.
Li Fan looked at the Azure Nether Orb and still felt it was not enough.
After taking a short breather, he once again employed the "Reality and Illusion Transformation" ability.
The superposition of triple cultivation could not be sustained for long.
Li Fan waited for his body to adapt to the strain before concentrating his focus on the Azure Nether Orb.
Using its vibrant azure sky color as a guide, Li Fan recalled the brief glimpse of the Divine Witch Realm.
He visualized the existence of another Azure Nether Orb.
"False..."
"Becomes True!"
Li Fan felt that the effort was dozens of times more strenuous than when he had replicated the Ancient Primordial Source.
This was likely because the Ancient Primordial Source was merely a single form of energy, while the Azure Nether Orb before him was a convergence of many laws.
Veins bulged on his forehead. But in the next moment, he felt as if his body had been drained dry.
He felt an immense weakness.
However, seeing that the color on the Azure Nether Orb had become even more vivid and lifelike, Li Fan knew his attempt had been successful.
The superimposed cultivation from the "Reality and Illusion Transformation" slowly faded. The fatigue in his body and mind struck him like a mountain collapsing.
But Li Fan only closed his eyes for a short rest before starting the replication of the Azure Nether Orb again.
With each application of the "Reality and Illusion Transformation," his comprehension deepened. But like the things he created out of thin air, most of these insights would slowly dissipate over time. Only a very small portion would remain.
"The 'Reality and Illusion Transformation' is ethereal, yet it is the foundation of my existence."
"Relying solely on the 'Return to Reality' each time, and the insights from the endless reincarnation, are far from enough."
A hint of determination flashed in his eyes. Li Fan, bearing the lingering insights from his last divine ability application and enduring his physically and mentally exhausted state, once again employed the "Reality and Illusion Transformation" technique.
Within the dark river of the sunken area.
Ineffable and wondrous energies continuously arrived and disappeared.
Time slowly passed, and although Li Fan's appearance and outward demeanor remained unchanged, his aura inexplicably became more unfathomable.
He truly seemed like a transcendent True Immortal of the current era!
After the time it took for an incense stick to burn, Li Fan finally felt that his body and divine soul had reached their limit.
He let out a slight sigh, and the tide of exhaustion surged uncontrollably.
Disregarding the Azure Nether Orb, which was being repaired nearby and had almost regained new life, Li Fan first sat down with his eyes closed to rest properly.
In his mind, there was no thought, no feeling, as if he had fallen into a deep sleep.
Only faintly, it seemed, countless points of light flickered, then returned to darkness.
Repeating endlessly.
When Li Fan regained his spirit, three days had passed.
Through the high-intensity, near-limit application of "Reality and Illusion Transformation" in a short period, Li Fan gained insights into the "Reality and Illusion Transformation" comparable to nearly five "Return to Reality" activations.
"This is also because it was the first time I attempted such continuous extreme applications."
"It awakened the insights from my past applications of 'Reality and Illusion Transformation' that had been forgotten. The effect will not be as good next time with such cultivation."
"But it is still of great significance."
Following this attempt, Li Fan realized that the insights gained from activating "Return to Reality" each time regarding "Reality and Illusion Transformation" seemed different from those he gained through mimicking the application.
Undoubtedly, the insights gained from activating "Return to Reality" were purer and closer to the truth.
While the insights Li Fan gained from his own attempts were slightly weaker, they were easier to control.
"From comprehension to practice, there is still a long way to go."
"Each 'Return to Reality' deepens my level of comprehension, but the actual practice still requires me to do it myself."
Li Fan seemed to have gained some enlightenment in his heart.
At this moment, "Return to Reality" also transmitted a trace of encouragement.
Li Fan pondered for a moment, then continued to try to communicate with "Return to Reality."
He was met with silence.
Li Fan shook his head slightly, temporarily putting the matter aside, and turned his gaze to the Azure Nether Orb not far away.
He reached out and retrieved it.
Perhaps it was because Li Fan had partially repaired it, he did not feel any resistance, and the immortal artifact lightly fell into his hand.
"Although it has narrowly escaped shattering, its power has severely diminished."
"After all, its inherent life force was extracted and used to repair the Abyssal Sea."
Li Fan thought this as he looked at the abundant life force in the dark river of the sunken area.
But what Li Fan valued was not the Azure Nether Orb's life force, but its rumored miraculous function.
"The Azure Nether Orb can devour other immortal artifacts and transfer their functions into itself."
"It can also extract the cultivation techniques of cultivators from their corpses."
After Li Fan's investigation, he found that there was no artifact spirit left within the Azure Nether Orb.
If Li Fan had not repaired it, it would have been a completely functional empty shell right now.
But now...
"The function is still usable."
Li Fan's heart stirred, and he returned to the Xuanhuang Realm with the Azure Nether Orb.
To prevent the Starving Immortals of the Immortal Ruins from noticing, the surrounding concealment formations remained, transforming into a layer of white mist.
This set off Li Fan, making him appear exceptionally ethereal and immortal.
"Devouring immortal artifacts..."
Li Fan looked at the Boundless Mirror in the underground secret chamber of the Sun family.
He reached out, and the Boundless Mirror pierced through time and space, appearing in Li Fan's palm.
"Who is there!"
Ignoring the startled cry of Sun Luyuan, the Boundless Mirror's spirit, Li Fan directly fed it to the Azure Nether Orb.
Although it was also an immortal artifact and in a severely damaged state,
The Boundless Mirror was clearly not on the same level as the Azure Nether Orb.
Combined with Li Fan's suppression from the side, the Boundless Mirror had no power to resist at all.
It merged into the vast azure expanse of the Azure Nether Orb.
On the surface of the Azure Nether Orb, it was as if a heavy rain had begun, creating ripples.
Perhaps it was too weak, and the sudden consumption led to a feeling of being overwhelmed by nourishment. This time, the Azure Nether Orb's digestion took nearly half a day.
When the heavy rain finally subsided, a distinct aura was born from within the Azure Nether Orb.
On the surface of the Azure Nether Orb, which was originally a uniform expanse of azure, lines had divided it into numerous distinct regions.
Most of these regions had boundaries that flickered and were indistinct. Only the area displaying a bright mirror seemed "alive" and emitted fluctuations vastly different from the Orb itself. Li Fan vaguely perceived a complete Boundless Mirror within the rising aura.
"Do these different partitions represent the various immortal artifacts the Azure Nether Orb once consumed?"
"It's just that with the Azure Nether Orb's fragmentation, these functions became unusable. Only the newly created Boundless Mirror can barely function..." A realization dawned upon Li Fan. Compared to the Azure Nether Orb, the region opened as the Boundless Mirror was easier to breach.
Li Fan patiently began his assault, using the Boundless Mirror region as an entry point. He finally managed to send a wisp of his divine sense into the Azure Nether Orb, and this time, it wasn't easily expelled. Instead, it took root within the Boundless Mirror region.
Soon after, formations arose with his thought, ceaselessly growing. Numerous formation patterns, pale green and seemingly of the same color as the Azure Nether Orb's main body, took root and spread from the Boundless Mirror region. Li Fan attempted to use the "Array Forging" technique to completely refine and control this immortal treasure.
The Immortal Rank Dissolution Disc proved exceptionally efficient. In just one day, an inexplicable connection was forged between Li Fan and the Azure Nether Orb.
Li Fan let out a long sigh, the Azure Nether Orb cool and smooth in his hand. It felt as if it had been reforged from its destruction, all past shackles and restrictions seemingly vanished. He had meticulously inspected it inside and out, finding no lingering energies from unknown origins.
Even so, Li Fan remained cautious. The Array Forging continued. On the Orb's surface, amidst the vast azure, billions of silver stars gradually appeared, the remnants of the formation's operation.
Li Fan first began researching the Boundless Mirror function. He had previously infiltrated this damaged immortal artifact for a period, and understood it quite well.
"The many divine abilities of the Boundless Mirror are built upon the foundation of the grand immortal formation [Boundless Unity, Primordial Square]. Theoretically, it can analyze all things in the world. Even things beyond one's own level can be slowly analyzed, like the Foolish Old Man Moving Mountains."
"But the Boundless Mirror I encountered in the Xuanhuang Realm had greatly diminished power. Forget analyzing all things; even when facing the Heavenly Profound Mirror, another immortal artifact, it could only seize fleeting glimpses."
"And now..."
Holding the Azure Nether Orb, Li Fan returned to the Myriad Immortals Alliance. Within the Alliance Headquarters' space, the Azure Nether Orb in Li Fan's hand rippled like clear water. Suddenly, it transformed into the appearance of the Heavenly Profound Mirror, emitting a faint glow all around.
Li Fan did not receive any threat warnings from the simulated mirror spirit of the Heavenly Profound Mirror. However, he acutely sensed that within the Azure Nether Orb, a new functional region was opening up. It was a small mirror, a rustic bronze-green color, mirroring the Heavenly Profound Mirror itself!
"The consumed Boundless Mirror was a weakened, damaged version. But the Azure Nether Orb, through its own divine properties, can replenish the Boundless Mirror's functions!"
"And now, it seems that after absorbing the Boundless Mirror, it can replicate the functions of other immortal artifacts simply through [analysis]?"
Li Fan was both shocked and delighted. However, this joy was short-lived. Perhaps due to the analysis generated by the Boundless Mirror, the Heavenly Profound Mirror function region within the Azure Nether Orb was adjacent to the Boundless Mirror function region. The boundary between them was not very distinct.
The Heavenly Profound Mirror function region existed independently for only about half a cup of tea's time before it was absorbed by the Boundless Mirror function region. This merging was beyond Li Fan's control. After the fusion, the faint mirror image that appeared on the Azure Nether Orb's surface also changed. The bronze-green faded, and the shape became circular. Within the mirror surface, a pair of eyes seemed to be hidden, secretly observing everything in the outside world.
Li Fan's heart stirred slightly, and the Azure Nether Orb transformed at his will. The illusionary mirror materialized truly in his hand. The analysis was not yet complete, but it already possessed the functions of both the Boundless Mirror and the Heavenly Profound Mirror. Besides the conventional functions like internal space creation, storage, deduction, and analysis, Li Fan was even more interested in the Heavenly Profound Mirror's ability for "differentiation and secondary generation."
Unfortunately, this seemed to be a skill the Heavenly Profound Mirror had learned later in life, not an innate ability. The Azure Nether Orb's analysis function could not directly copy it.
"The Boundless Immortal Formation should be of sufficient standing. Examining the data of the Heavenly Profound Mirror parsed by the Azure Nether Orb, it is almost identical to what Li Fan read from the simulated mirror spirit of the Heavenly Profound Mirror. The only missing element is the presence of an artifact spirit."
A flicker of hesitation crossed Li Fan's mind. He ultimately decided against using the method of breathing life into the Azure Nether Orb to foster sentience. He didn't even apply the method of simulating a personality into the Azure Nether Orb. The fleeting glimpse of the Divine Witch Realm, the twelve majestic statues towering in the sky, had instilled a vague sense of unease.
"For now, it's better to use it purely as an object."
After the analysis and integration of the Boundless Mirror and Heavenly Profound Mirror functions concluded, Li Fan proceeded to test the Azure Nether Orb's ability to manifest techniques.
Emperor San Mo brought several corpses, which Li Fan then had the Azure Nether Orb absorb. As the corpses vanished into the vast azure, new auras emerged from the treasure orb. These auras were composed of countless tiny characters, floating on the azure expanse. They corresponded to the cultivation techniques the deceased prisoners had practiced in life. Even though their techniques had been forcibly crippled, the Azure Nether Orb still revealed them! The comparison was flawless!
Li Fan reached out and summoned one of these texts. "Nine Refinements Spirit Roaming Art..." Li Fan absorbed these characters into his body. It wasn't just the technique itself; even the deceased prisoner's understanding of the technique and his cultivation insights appeared in Li Fan's mind!
"With the experience of a 'previous life,' cultivation will be so much faster!"
"The only regret is that it provides insights but not memories." Li Fan felt a slight disappointment, but he knew that achieving this much already made it an unparalleled treasure.
"Learning from corpses is far more efficient than ordinary tutelage. After all, corpses have no secrets to hide."
However, in the current Abyssal Sea, there were few individuals whose methods Li Fan would wish to learn from and emulate.
"I wonder if these will still be useful." With this thought, Li Fan tentatively introduced all the gray powder left by Qin Zhuang, who had been silenced outside the The Great Barrier, into the Azure Nether Orb.
The powder was slowly devoured by the azure hue. Even after his soul was scattered, Qin Zhuang continued to contribute his light and heat. Inside the Azure Nether Orb, a strong wind seemed to stir. Li Fan watched closely, afraid of missing any detail.
The Azure Nether Orb was, after all, a treasure valued by King Xuan Tian. Ordinary methods of destroying corpses seemed incapable of resisting its probing abilities. After a period of brewing, an aura of peculiar color appeared within the boundless azure. It was extremely conspicuous, a continuous gradient from black to white, seemingly encompassing all the colors of time.
Li Fan grasped this aura. "[Fundamentals of Dao Origin: Thirty Lectures]..." As he read the name, Li Fan's expression turned somewhat odd. But soon, he immersed himself in Qin Zhuang's cultivation and understanding of Dao Origin symbols. The experience was incomparable to forcibly prying into memories with immortal formations. Soul searching and memory extraction, especially with residual restrictions within Qin Zhuang's soul, could not achieve such immersion. It only allowed him to perceive what Qin Zhuang had learned and how long it took. But with the Azure Nether Orb, all of Qin Zhuang's thoughts based on these Dao Origin symbols from his life were replicated in Li Fan's mind. It was as if Li Fan had personally re-experienced Qin Zhuang's life, from Qin Zhuang's perspective! By the time Li Fan's consciousness cleared, he had mastered the "[Fundamentals of Dao Origin: Thirty Lectures]." In fact, combined with Li Fan's own understanding, he was even more proficient than Qin Zhuang, a member of the Immortal Hunter organization.
This feeling of gaining knowledge effortlessly was truly intoxicating. Li Fan couldn't help but smack his lips. "With such a powerful treasure in hand, I can't wait to sweep outside the The Great Barrier. It would surely be equivalent to centuries of my own arduous cultivation." A hint of danger flashed in Li Fan's eyes.
However, he ultimately suppressed it resolutely. One aspect was the risk. More critically, Li Fan could not yet determine if there were any side effects to acquiring insights through such a heaven-defying method with the Azure Nether Orb. The changes in Li Fan's divine soul, to a certain extent, persisted even after experiencing [Return to Truth]. Minor changes might be negligible. But if they accumulated, and couldn't be purged by one or two instances of Return to Truth, it would be extremely dangerous and not worth the gain.
"First, I'll conduct safety verification with a large number of test subjects."
"Moreover, theoretically, being able to capture the thoughts of a corpse from its life should not be limited to cultivation techniques."
"I wonder if there's a way to restore all the memories and thoughts of a corpse?"
As Li Fan played with the Azure Nether Orb, which had returned to its original appearance, his mind was in turmoil.
...
The remaining four Longevity Heavenly Venerates of the Five Elders Council answered the summons on time. Without alarming anyone else, Emperor San Mo and Qiao Sidiao personally escorted them to the Ruined Welcome Realm where Doctrine Transmitter Jiang resided. Due to the blockade of the Heaven-Piercing Great Formation, they naturally could not sense the presence of Doctrine Transmitter Jiang at the formation's core. However, Li Fan had deliberately released some of Doctrine Transmitter Jiang's insights and synchronized them with the others.
Thus, as soon as they entered this small world, they were immersed in the profound understanding of "The Great Dao is Like Me." Especially Zhao Ruoxi. "Eternal Selfhood" and "The Great Dao is Like Me," from their core philosophies, were actually interconnected. However, "Eternal Selfhood" achieved unity with the Dao through constant consumption, ultimately. Whereas "The Great Dao is Like Me" bypassed countless intermediate steps, directly reaching the destination: I am the Dao, the Dao is me.
Even though she had already undergone rigorous training from Li Fan and her disposition had transformed, Zhao Ruoxi couldn't help but feel a surge of imbalance and jealousy. The same applied to Zhao Ruoxi. The other three Longevity Heavenly Venerates, as well as Emperor San Mo, Qiao Sidiao, and the others, showed no better.
"I thought Senior's [Great Tai Divine Technique], used as an incentive in the Myriad Immortals Alliance and capable of communicating with the star sea, was already masterfully skillful. I never imagined confronting the Great Dao directly would be..." Qiao Sidiao was so shocked he stammered, falling silent for a long time.
[The Great Dao is Like Me] meant that one felt as if they were conversing with the Great Dao and gained many insights. But once they left this state and returned to reality, it seemed as if nothing had happened; no trace of the Dao's comprehension remained.
When Li Fan withdrew his 'merciful' gift, the expressions on their faces revealed their inner disappointment.
"How was it?" Li Fan asked as he appeared.
Their expressions became solemn. After offering respectful greetings, they spoke, their words overflowing with praise.
"I wish to integrate this comprehension of the Great Dao into your Dream Land of Bliss." After everyone had spoken, Li Fan said calmly.
His words made everyone's eyelids twitch. Especially Wuyou. After an initial surge of uncontrollable surprise, Wuyou was filled with extreme dread. Such a windfall falling into his lap... Could it be another method of torture devised by this True Immortal? Wuyou had heard many tales from Zhao Ruoxi just a few days ago.
As Wuyou pondered how to respond, Li Fan spoke again.
"Within dreams, there is no life and no death."
"Cultivators, fearless of death, are most suitable as vanguards for exploring beyond the The Great Barrier."
"However, there is a drawback: their strength is too weak, and their cultivation speed too slow." Li Fan smiled. "If they are too weak, even a multitude of ants cannot achieve anything significant. But if ants become hyenas, that's a different story."
"The manifestation of strength in the Dream Land of Bliss is solely on the consciousness level. Through this direct confrontation with the Great Dao, akin to a bestowal, mortal cultivators can be directly elevated to the Longevity Realm in a short period."
"Furthermore, it can be quantifiably controlled." Li Fan spoke softly, but to the people present, his words were like thunder. They still harbored some suspicion, but Li Fan's recent displays had forced them to believe.
"Taking this divine soul as an example." Li Fan opened his palm, a point of light floating within it. This was a promising seed he had personally selected from [Era]. With a thought, the transformation and insights from [Heaven-Piercing, The Great Dao is Like Me] were poured into this divine soul. Although still extremely weak, this divine soul's theoretical understanding expanded at an terrifyingly rapid pace. It wasn't just Doctrine Transmitter Jiang's own insights; it also included Li Fan's thoughts and considerations over the years. Everything except the transformation of true and false had been recorded by him within the Heaven-Piercing Great Formation.
Normally, ordinary cultivators' divine abilities could not withstand the advancements brought about by such rapid comprehension of the Dao. Their destiny was to "Hear the Dao in the morning and die in the evening."
But at this moment, the myriad worlds were under Li Fan's complete control. Life and death did not belong to heaven but to Li Fan! A mysterious and unfathomable power descended, sculpting and strengthening the divine soul in Li Fan's palm. The light points became increasingly crystalline and radiant, their aura growing more astonishing.
Unlike everyone else present, Li Fan’s vision showed a string of numbers floating above this light point of divine soul. It was the "Myriad Spirits Returning to Numbers" from the Profound Origin Spirit Great Formation, quantifying the extent of the divine soul's strengthening. It rapidly climbed from 23, only slowing down after reaching 80.
"Without the 'Infinite' attribute of Immortal Spiritual Energy, even with numerous phantoms of the Xuanhuang Realm's power within me, it wouldn't be enough to use the 'Desolate Falling, Empty Chamber Blooming Flowers' Great Formation without restraint. But this Myriad Spirits Returning to Numbers can be applied without issue."
"It's just that reaching the Longevity Realm only yields a strength of barely 90." Li Fan couldn't help but glance above his own head. "9999." A hundred times the Longevity Realm. However, this was not Li Fan's actual combat power but the limit of strength quantified by the Myriad Spirits Returning to Numbers Great Formation.
"If a True Immortal descended into the formation, they would likely only be able to substitute with a line of question marks for the time being." The Heaven-Piercing Great Formation, combined with the Myriad Spirits Returning to Numbers Great Formation, could measure and quantify the strength of cultivators within an illusionary realm. It could even quantify the comprehension of the Great Dao as "experience points" and infuse them into cultivators, thereby manifesting large quantities of Longevity Realm combat power within the Dream Land of Bliss.
The Dream Land of Bliss differed from illusionary realms in that illusionary realms could be arbitrarily fabricated and distorted with little cost. Conversely, it was nearly impossible for things within an illusionary realm to descend into the real world. The Dream Land of Bliss, on the other hand, was built upon reality. Everything in the dream could be rapidly manifested in reality, provided sufficient energy was supplied.
"Setting aside True Immortal tier for now, if I were to forcefully connect to the power of the Infinite Star Sea, I could summon countless Longevity Realm and below combat powers into reality overnight." "It is already extremely close to the Fallen Immortal Realm." The Fallen Immortal Realm contained countless worlds that were extremely real yet illusory, with many Longevity cultivators present. If objects from the Fallen Immortal Realm could be brought into reality, then theoretically, Fallen Immortal Realm cultivators could too.
However, throughout history, only Xuanhuang Realm cultivators’ consciousness had journeyed to the Fallen Immortal Realm; there had been no known instances of Fallen Immortal Realm cultivators breaking through the barriers between reality and illusion to descend into the Xuanhuang Realm. Li Fan believed this was a limitation set by the True Immortal who originally created the Fallen Immortal Realm. "If one were to achieve True Immortal status within the Fallen Immortal Realm, perhaps they could bypass this limitation." "It's a pity, it's an almost impossible feat." Li Fan, who had painstakingly achieved Half-Immortal status, knew the difficulty involved. At the very least, for the next few thousand years, no such figure would appear in the Xuanhuang Realm's Fallen Immortal Realm.
The Fallen Immortal Realm, formed from the lingering thoughts of a True Immortal, the Abyssal Sea formed from the corpse of a True Immortal, and the True Immortal's will to survive slumbering deep within the Abyssal Sea – all these still held significant meaning for Li Fan in his current state. After all, the opportunity to further transform and achieve True Immortal status might be hidden within them. Although achieving True Immortal status might attract the pursuit of powers beyond the Wall, Li Fan would not shrink back or abandon his path forward. Furthermore, he had the aid of Return to Truth. At worst, he could first attain True Immortal status, personally experience what it was like to be a True Immortal, and if the situation was indeed dire and the True Immortal's predicament precarious, he could return to his Half-Immortal anchor point and start anew.
As Li Fan pondered, the divine soul in his palm, purely in terms of strength, was no weaker than Zhao Ruoxi's. Such astonishing and world-shattering methods naturally left everyone present deeply awestruck. Wu You, however, with a hint of worry, asked softly, "If so many powerhouses suddenly appear in the Dream Land of Bliss, I fear I will be unable to maintain it..." Before she could finish, Li Fan interrupted, "It's fine. With my assistance, the Dream Land of Bliss will surely remain safe and sound."
Wu You's heart skipped a beat, knowing that from now on, the control of the Dream Land of Bliss would likely no longer be in her hands. But she also knew that this could be a great opportunity for her. Her strength was intrinsically linked to the scale of the Dream Land of Bliss. Even if the dominant control was forcibly transferred, the land, under the management of a True Immortal, would undoubtedly grow, and she would receive substantial benefits in return. With a surge of emotion, Wu You could only thank the True Immortal Senior for his grace.
...
The remodeling of Wu You's Dream Land of Bliss was undoubtedly a massive undertaking. The most critical aspect was ensuring the safety of the billions of existing lives within the Land. Under Li Fan's command, Emperor San Mo and the other Longevity Heavenly Venerates from the Five Elders Council entered different regions of the Dream Land of Bliss to oversee the integration of the formations. Wu You, meanwhile, released her mind and allowed Li Fan to manipulate it. Following the path Li Fan had previously implanted, which had silently permeated every corner of the Dream Land of Bliss through the manifestation of Ink Slaughter Dao Erasure, Li Fan integrated the power of the combined Great Formations of "Heaven-Piercing Great Dao is Like Me" and "Myriad Spirits Returning to Numbers" into the dream. With the Longevity cultivators as nodes, the formation's power quickly took root within the Land.
The gradual infiltration of the Dissolution Disc's Immortal Spiritual Energy, through the parasitic formations, began to remodel the Dream Land of Bliss. With every inch remodeled, Li Fan's control authority over the Dream Land of Bliss increased. Wu You Heavenly Venerate, despite being the creator of the Land, was now powerless to resist the handover of her creation. She even vaguely felt that the benefits she received from her subtle connection to the Land were due to the True Immortal Senior's benevolence in not completely severing this link.
Little did Wu You know that the reason Li Fan still maintained her connection to the Land was precisely to use Wu You as a scapegoat at a crucial moment. After all, exploring beyond the Wall in this era might attract the attention of peerless powerhouses. They could track down the Dream Land of Bliss. With Wu You, the nominal master, present, and with a brief period of buffer time, Li Fan could calmly extricate himself, avoiding a disorderly retreat.
The process of taking over the Dream Land of Bliss seemed extremely smooth. Through the Dissolution Disc's perception, in Li Fan's vision, a translucent, veil-like band of light floated in the Abyssal Sea. It intertwined with reality but did not overlap. Occasionally, wisps of light were drawn from reality, flying towards the Dream Land of Bliss. Within the light band, a new thread was formed – a new dream was being generated.
Seated in Azure Nether, Li Fan's consciousness rapidly advanced with the aid of the Dream Land of Bliss, even several times faster than the Wood Sword Phantasm's escape technique. In an instant, he arrived at the edge of the starry sea, beneath the Wall. Unlike the formless, intangible sight of normal observation, Li Fan now saw a dark, curved boundary line, dividing the inside and outside of the Wall. The boundary line, acting as a blockage, still exuded an insurmountable aura. However, with its materialized form, exceeding the Wall seemed not entirely impossible.
"This is the Wall's blockade. Is consciousness weaker?" "No wonder the five elders were so determined to escape beyond the Wall through Wu You's Land of Bliss." Li Fan observed closely from a distance. After a long time, a sense of unease suddenly arose in his heart. Previously, when he had probed the Wall in reality, he had been subjected to its pressure. More importantly, comprehending the principles of the Wall came with the characteristic of "once lost, forever lost." However, this characteristic was absent within the Dream Land of Bliss.
Li Fan pondered, remaining still for a long time. Gazing at the dark line not far away, a peculiar thought suddenly surfaced in his mind. "Perhaps it's because only consciousness exists within the Dream Land of Bliss, and it is incomplete." "The Wall is like a mirror, reflecting oneself." "In what state you encounter the Wall will affect what you see and feel." Li Fan then recalled how the mere Wall could block the prying eyes of great powers like Black Heavenly Physician and Evil Su Bai. "This realm of the Wall is still a one-way mirror."
Gazing at it, Li Fan suppressed the impulsive urge to cross the Wall within the Dream Land of Bliss. Based on the insights of Mo Ruibin and Heavenly Physician regarding the Wall in reality, Li Fan had already vaguely inferred that the Wall was akin to a Dragon Gate. While it was an insurmountable chasm for those within the Wall, it also represented immense benefits for those who could traverse it. With a thought, he instantly traversed thousands of mountains and rivers, returning to the Xuanhuang Realm.
The remodeling of the Dream Land of Bliss was initially complete. Next was to open more interfaces. Previously, due to Wu You's own limitations in strength and the deterrence of the Doctrine Transmitter Heavenly Venerates, only beings residing in a small portion of the Five Elders Council's territory could enter the Dream Land of Bliss. But now, under Li Fan's instructions, the illusory band of light floating above the Xuanhuang Realm emitted myriad radiant tendrils, reaching across the entire Xuanhuang Realm and several subordinate pocket worlds and Grotto-heavens. The illusory light, ephemeral and indistinct, at this moment, caused countless beings to be drawn into the dream. As they entered slumber, their physical bodies in reality were subsequently absorbed by the Dream Land of Bliss and temporarily stored. In the Land, they operated with new, conceptual bodies, fabricated and created based on their divine souls. While there were not a few cultivators, they were insignificant compared to the vast number of mortals.
The biggest change in the updated Dream Land of Bliss compared to before was the addition of a colossal city floating in the sky in each region. This was an enhanced version of the Myriad Immortals Alliance's Celestial Cities, complete with functions for martial training, rest, and trade, even allowing active selection of dream regions. Newcomers, faced with everything before them, felt dizzy and overwhelmed. For the veteran players of the Dream Land of Bliss, the greatest surprise of this update was the absence of death penalties. No matter how many times they died within the dream world, they would respawn in the "main city." Moreover, compared to the cultivation methods that were the same as reality in the past, there was now the existence of "Dao Comprehension Points" in the dream. By completing dream quests and through various other methods, one could acquire Dao Comprehension Points, which could directly be used to enhance one's cultivation and realm. The growth speed of cultivators was now incomparable to the past. Furthermore, according to the announcements, a batch of new dream worlds was about to open, and those who reaped the rewards first would receive additional bonuses.
...
With the introduction of so many new elements, the Dream Land of Bliss presented a scene of thriving prosperity. In reality, Heavenly Venerate Wu You's condition was not as good. Even with Li Fan's remodeling, which expanded the Land by nearly a hundredfold, it was still an overwhelming burden for Wu You. If not for the protection of the Xuanhuang Realm phantoms bestowed by Li Fan, Wu You would have been crushed by her own creation in an instant. Now, to maintain her focus, Wu You had reverted to an infant state and fallen into a deep slumber. However, her furrowed brows and occasional cries signified her suffering.
Everything had its pros and cons. If Wu You bore the brunt of the arduous task of opening up the dream, then Li Fan enjoyed almost all the benefits. As the de facto master of the dream, Li Fan was able to observe such a multitude of beings up close. Their every action, their joys and sorrows, every fluctuation of their emotions, Li Fan could perceive with utmost clarity. Li Fan gradually gained a deeper understanding of "humans" as a species. If, before, due to the Return to Truth Reincarnation within a single thought, all beings in the world had gradually become meaningless symbols and codes in Li Fan's eyes, then now, through the close observation of the Dream Land of Bliss, these "symbols" had once again become vivid and lifelike in Li Fan's eyes. Although they were still symbols, they were more distinct.
Li Fan realized that this more concrete and practical understanding greatly aided his comprehension of the "Transformation of True and False." Ultimately, to turn the false into the true, or to turn the true into the false, one needed, at the very least, to have a complete understanding of the essence of things. Although Li Fan could successfully perform the Transformation of True and False with the power of Return to Truth without fulfilling this prerequisite, if Li Fan himself could comprehend the essence of things, the energy he "saved" might enable him to achieve more. With this thought, Li Fan scattered his attention, immersing his consciousness in the Dream Land of Bliss. Exploring beyond the Wall was not a task that could be accomplished in a day or two. With the current strength of the Xuanhuang Realm, a period of accumulation was still necessary. The countdown to the World-Ending Cataclysm steadily ticked down.
In the blink of an eye, ten years passed. No death penalty, Dao Comprehension Points – these two factors caused the cultivators within the Dream Land of Bliss to rapidly improve their strength at an astonishing rate. In just ten years, the Land had neared collapse over thirty times. Li Fan had personally intervened several times, barely managing to maintain the stability of the dream. And after dozens of iterations, the current Dream Land of Bliss had completely filled the area within the Wall. Some of its pioneering tendrils had even broken out beyond the Wall! Although it was only on a consciousness level, the stark difference between the inside and outside of the Wall greatly surprised Li Fan. Simply put, in the dream world outside the Wall, the "Dao Comprehension Points" that the Heaven-Piercing Great Formation could induce were generally five to six times higher than those within the Wall!
The supposed "Enlightenment Value" in the Land of Carefree Bliss was, in fact, the Dao comprehension obtained by Doctrine Transmitter Jiang through the characteristic of "The Great Dao is Like Me."
Just a wall apart, Doctrine Transmitter Jiang's enlightenment efficiency remained unchanged. What changed was the environment itself. Simply put, cultivation outside the wall would be exponentially easier for cultivators than within.
Just as Li Fan had previously speculated, any cultivator who could embark on the path of cultivation on their own, no matter how ordinary, could be considered a "heavenly prodigy" outside the wall!
Furthermore, this was only the beginning. Li Fan keenly sensed that after coming into contact with the environment outside the The Great Barrier, Doctrine Transmitter Jiang's enlightenment efficiency within the Heaven-Piercing Formation was slowly increasing.
Prolonged comprehension of the Great Dao had finally begun to nourish his own being in return. As Li Fan synchronized with the other's sensations, the Heaven-Piercing Great Dao that he looked up at from below seemed to gradually transform from gray-white to a vibrant palette.
"Is this the so-called Dao Erasure Land, the difference from normal environments?" This magnificent spectacle caused Li Fan to momentarily lose himself.
"Outside the The Great Barrier, it is so beautiful it makes one's heart ache. Conversely, it makes one hesitant to approach," a voice sounded beside Li Fan's ear, interrupting his reverie.
Li Fan turned his head and looked at a blue figure beside him. It was Chen Tianhai of the Grand Origin Sect!
"I can feel that the demonic sounds' influence on me has intensified. My past memories are becoming clearer. Even though I have personally witnessed Doctrine Transmitter Heavenly Venerate being suppressed, and even though I know that it was fabricated memory," Chen Tianhai's form fluctuated uncontrollably. "But that glance from back then still lingers like a nightmare, always haunting me."
Li Fan did not reply. Instead, he mentally recited the scripture-chanting demonic sounds. It was as if an invisible force had penetrated the Land of Carefree Bliss, connecting him to the area outside the The Great Barrier. The profound melodic tones became much clearer.
Li Fan's heart tightened. As a counterbalance, he immediately recited the protection scripture from the Grand Master. "Dao is born, ancient passages. Sorrow and bitterness, Dao is extinguished."
...
The two voices harmonized, and the influence of the scripture-chanting demonic sounds was significantly diluted. However, compared to being solely within the The Great Barrier, the neutralizing effect of this protection scripture was clearly much weaker. It was gradually becoming unable to compare with those mysterious and unfathomable demonic sounds.
"Xuanyuan Hong..." Li Fan's expression was unreadable. Doctrine Transmitter Heavenly Venerate's survival from death back then relied on the Xuanyuan clan's innate whispering power to influence and alter the memories of Chen Tianhai of the Grand Origin Sect, whom he had only met once. Through the derivation of the Dao Dissolving Mother Stone, he found a way to kill many Longevity realm cultivators of the Myriad Immortal Sects.
Although Doctrine Transmitter had been suppressed by Li Fan, the imprint of the whispering sounds left on Chen Tianhai had not dissipated. When he also came to the area outside the The Great Barrier with the power of the Land of Carefree Bliss, its influence erupted once more. Even though Chen Tianhai had become information and part of the Dao Dissolving Mother Stone, he could not escape it.
"Part of this is due to the clearer Dao. The profound sounds that depict the Dao with melodies have naturally been strengthened. If written in True Immortal Sigils, their power would likely increase severalfold."
"But it's not solely this reason."
"The extent of its enhancement is too exaggerated. The protection scripture, while also being a melodic art, was never this exaggerated..."
The faint whispering sounds in his ear, appearing and disappearing, led Li Fan to attribute it to the missing Heavenly Mysteries King.
Five years ago, when Li Fan went to the Grand Origin Sect and met Chen Tianhai, he immediately exposed the truth of his being eroded by demonic sounds. Chen Tianhai initially didn't believe that his memories had been altered by someone else. It wasn't until Li Fan transmitted the protection scripture, negating the alteration power, that Chen Tianhai, with his restored true memories, was struck as if by lightning and remained silent for a long time.
"It is not that you are incompetent. How can mortals be immune to immortal techniques?" Li Fan's words truly freed Chen Tianhai from his past suffering. Li Fan's reason for going to the Grand Origin Sect was naturally for that Dao Dissolving Mother Stone. After helping Chen Tianhai resolve his millennia-long nightmare, Li Fan, through a combination of coercion and inducement, made the Grand Origin Sect submit.
Currently, this Dao Dissolving Mother Stone resides within Li Fan's sea of consciousness. However, after studying it, Li Fan did not choose to directly fuse it with the high-grade Dao-Melting Stone he had in his mind. In the past, when the entire Grand Origin Sect chose to merge into its informational form with the Dao Dissolving Mother Stone, numerous thoughts became inseparable from the Mother Stone, becoming its inherent characteristic. Li Fan was unsure if he could erase these thoughts without damaging the Mother Stone. If he were to directly devour it...
The strength of the Mother Stone was many times greater than the high-grade Dao-Melting Stone. The thoughts of the Grand Origin Sect people within the Mother Stone could potentially contaminate Li Fan's Dao-Melting Stone. Although Li Fan could forcefully remove these thoughts afterward, a peculiar thought was hidden and dormant deep within the Dao Dissolving Mother Stone, which even Li Fan, a half-immortal, found quite troublesome.
Moreover, with the True-False Transformation mastered, Li Fan no longer needed to gruesomely devour it to increase his power. In his sea of consciousness, around the Dao Dissolving Mother Stone, countless threads flew from the void, contacting, analyzing, and comprehending the Mother Stone's essence. In a separate area, isolated from other regions deep within his sea of consciousness, another crystal identical in appearance to the Dao Dissolving Mother Stone floated quietly, seemingly in a misty, ethereal state, flickering intermittently. This was the Dao Dissolving Mother Stone "copied" by Li Fan through the True-False Transformation.
Having successfully replicated the Ancient Primordial Source, his own cultivation, and even the Azure Nether Orb, Li Fan had initially thought replicating this Dao Dissolving Mother Stone would be a piece of cake. However, to his surprise, the difficulty of replicating this crystal was tens of times greater than that of the immortal artifact, the Azure Nether Orb.
When replicating the Azure Nether Orb, he could succeed with triple his cultivation, albeit with some effort. But when facing the Dao Dissolving Mother Stone, brute force seemed ineffective. After several failures, Li Fan realized that it wasn't a lack of strength, but rather that his understanding of the Dao Dissolving Mother Stone was insufficient to meet the minimum requirement for replication. This was a first for Li Fan. Previously, when employing the True-False Transformation, he did not require such understanding of an object's essence.
However, after careful contemplation and arduous communication with "Return to Truth," Li Fan finally understood why. To put it simply, any object that Li Fan could fully perceive at a glance could be temporarily replicated through the True-False Transformation. This law still held true for the Dao Dissolving Mother Stone. The reason for the failed replication was that Li Fan had not been able to see the Mother Stone "completely." This was why Li Fan locked the Mother Stone in his sea of consciousness, observing it day and night without stopping. A separate area was opened, preventing the Mother Stone from spying on his memories. The people of the Grand Origin Sect could also leave Li Fan's sea of consciousness at any time from this area and return to reality.
Now, Li Fan could replicate the Dao Dissolving Mother Stone. Through continuous superposition, he could enhance the Dao-Melting Stone in his sea of consciousness, and he had indeed seen the Mother Stone completely. Through his time communicating with the Mother Stone, Li Fan also understood why he, as a half-immortal, could not "see" the Mother Stone's entirety at a glance.
"Dao Dissolving Mother Stone, the Stone Mother of Dao Transformation." Li Fan's heart stirred. The illusory Mother Stone he replicated transformed into a halo and attached itself to the Dao-Melting Stone. He activated the improved Dao Dissolving Divine One secret art, rapidly absorbing its extremely refined energy. The illusory Mother Stone replicated by Li Fan did not contain the thoughts of the Grand Origin Sect, nor did it contain the mysterious thought hidden within the real Mother Stone. It was purely the Mother Stone itself, and thus could be absorbed without reservation.
Although the True-False Transformation only left a small residue each time, the Dao Dissolving Mother Stone was too miraculous. Each application of the technique could exponentially increase the quality of the Dao-Melting Stone in Li Fan's sea of consciousness. Within ten years, Li Fan had achieved nearly a hundred replications and superpositions. At present, the Dao-Melting Stone in his mind was not much weaker than the real Mother Stone. Therefore, he had a vague conjecture about the Mother Stone's essence. This exotic treasure from beyond the heavens might be a direct manifestation of the Great Dao! It was similar to the ancient transformation of monstrous beasts. However, ancient transformation was only a single Dao, while the Dao Dissolving Mother Stone... Li Fan speculated it might be a collection of all complete Daos!
However, the origin of the Dao Dissolving Mother Stone was far weaker than what Li Fan was familiar with. It had also undergone the Tribulation of Dao Erasure and the baptism of possible impossibilities. The Mother Stone was further weakened. Therefore, even a complete embodiment of the Great Dao in physical form might not be as powerful as an ordinary nameless True Immortal. Of course, all of this was speculation by Li Fan based on his understanding during the replication process. The remaining memories of the Dao Dissolving Mother Stone indicated that it seemed to be fleeing chaotically to avoid some calamity, and by chance, it arrived in the Xuanhuang Realm, where it was discovered by the Grand Origin Sect. Li Fan speculated that the Dao Dissolving Mother Stone had severed all ties with its past to evade pursuit from the Tribulation of Dao Erasure. Although the Mother Stone had lost its past memories, from its terrifying experience of disaster, Li Fan could still feel the faint ominous aura of the Tribulation of Dao Erasure. Li Fan had some confidence in his conjecture. After all, what in the mortal world could force a crystallized embodiment of a complete Dao to flee in panic? Furthermore, the Dao Dissolving Mother Stone's arrival in the Xuanhuang Realm by "chance" reminded Li Fan of scenes he had seen in True Immortal memories.
"This Xuanhuang Realm must possess extraordinary aspects that I have yet to discover."
"It can attract numerous strange existences, spanning time and space, even crossing possibilities to arrive here."
"Even my transmigration..." The discovery of the Dao Dissolving Mother Stone's origin from another possibility also made Li Fan harbor doubts about his own transmigration. Although he had no nostalgia for his life before transmigrating, and no strong desire to return, the crux of Li Fan's concern was whether the awakening of "Return to Truth" occurred within the body of this probability, with him merely being an usurper, or if it happened to him.
With the continuous development and utilization of the True-False Transformation, Li Fan's perspective and mindset had undergone subtle changes. In the past, upon encountering rare treasures in the mortal world, Li Fan would invariably develop a greed to possess them, either out of covetousness or to enhance his survival capabilities. But now, Li Fan's desire to "occupy" had gradually faded. He now thought only of "parsing and understanding." After all, with the True-False Transformation, he could create infinite copies of any treasure at any time if he wished. The only thing Li Fan truly wished to possess now was "Return to Truth" itself.
...
Ten thousand thoughts concluded with the fusion of another illusory Dao Dissolving Mother Stone. Li Fan only felt that his thinking had become much faster. His attention returned to the mysterious demonic sounds beside his ear. After Li Fan's reminder, based on the past memories in Doctrine Transmitter Heavenly Venerate's mind, the Mother Stone, through countless replays, reached a conclusion. The lingering whispering sound was likely the work of the Heavenly Mysteries King. However, it was not a contingency for a posthumous revival. It was a natural change that occurred when a bloodline descendant reached an inconceivable realm at the source of their bloodline. One piece of evidence was that the influence of the demonic sounds on the Xuanyuan clan was increasingly strong, reaching its peak with Xuanyuan Sheng. Xuanyuan Sheng could no longer bear it and wished to sever this influence completely, but he still could not prevent this demonic sound from appearing in Xuanyuan Hong. Furthermore, its power was amplified upon reaching the area outside the The Great Barrier. The Dao Dissolving Mother Stone's inference seemed to be confirmed in some way.
"Did the Heavenly Mysteries King, who mysteriously disappeared back then, not only not die but also advance further?" This conjecture made Li Fan's thoughts run wild. After seeing the Black Heavenly Physician and Evil Su Bai, Li Fan had harbored a nascent thought for a long time but couldn't understand its source. It wasn't until this conjecture from the Dao Dissolving Mother Stone appeared that this thought finally took root and blossomed.
The Black Heavenly Physician and Evil Su Bai came from a very special possibility. Could the possibility Li Fan currently resided in also have birthed such an unknowable powerhouse capable of transcending possibilities? If such a possibility existed, then in the history Li Fan knew, the one who most resembled having the protagonist's script was perhaps that Heavenly Mysteries King. After all, he was the last cultivator to ascend before the destruction of the Immortal Realm, which was truly legendary.
"Perhaps there are other even more heaven-defying figures outside the The Great Barrier."
"But regardless of anything else, and ability that can cross the The Great Barrier and transcend ancient times. Such a person cannot be underestimated." The stronger the individual, the more likely they are to know of "Return to Truth's" existence. Li Fan needed to be more cautious in hiding himself when interacting with them.
"I wonder if the Heavenly Mysteries King still has any other bloodline descendants in the Xuanhuang Realm?"
"Time has passed, and the Xuanyuan Village of yesteryear no longer exists," a thought echoed within Li Fan's mind. "Even the 'Manifestation' character technique yielded no clues from the Dharma-Preachers..."
"Perhaps, to investigate the current situation of the Heavenly Mysteries King, I need to start with his childhood sweetheart."
Within Li Fan's sea of consciousness, countless points of light suddenly flashed. In each point of light, myriad images rapidly flickered. These points, like a sea of stars, were simulating different possible future events.
Yet, this level of deduction caused no hindrance to the operation of Li Fan's thoughts. This was the benefit brought by the upgrade of the Dao-Melting Stone within his sea of consciousness. His computational power felt almost infinite. Even if he were to extrapolate all his past knowledge towards immortal techniques, then deduce the future trajectory of this life, and simultaneously analyze and synthesize everything happening in the Dream Land of Carefree Bliss… all of this combined, and Li Fan still felt he had an abundance of capacity.
Li Fan even felt a sense of pent-up frustration, as if possessing immense divine power with nowhere to expend it. He had once used Tai Yuan Sect's "Countering Tribulation," a game of transforming chaos into order and disorder into arrangement, to test himself. The number of possibilities was tens of thousands of times greater than the forty-nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine sheets of paper left by Yi Yin in his tomb. The difficulty was worlds apart. Yet, after a mere flicker of time, Li Fan had effortlessly cracked it. Under the computational power of a Dao Dissolving Mother Stone, such combinatorial problems, no matter the scale, could not stop him.
…
While contemplating these matters, Li Fan said to Chen Tianhai, "The Tai Yuan Sect has always wanted to see what lies beyond the High Wall, haven't they? I can create independent bodies for those who wish it, allowing them to explore beyond the High Wall."
Chen Tianhai's expression clearly showed his excitement at this proposal.
"Contact with more variables beyond the High Wall will also help stimulate the latent power within the Dao Dissolving Mother Stone. Perhaps it can even awaken the consciousness dormant deep within the Stone Mother," Li Fan added, prompting Chen Tianhai to quickly make a decision.
The consciousness hidden within the Dao Dissolving Mother Stone was something even the entire Tai Yuan Sect hadn't initially detected. It was only after Li Fan pointed it out and they merged with the Dao Dissolving Mother Stone that they were able to "see" this hidden presence. Based on their inexplicable connection with the Stone Mother, the members of the Tai Yuan Sect believed this consciousness to be harmless to the Dao Dissolving Mother Stone, merely slumbering for unknown reasons. If they could find a way to communicate with it, perhaps they could unravel the mystery of the Stone Mother's origin, and even facilitate its further evolution. Li Fan's proposal was undoubtedly irresistible to everyone in the Tai Yuan Sect.
Chen Tianhai gazed at the images from the Dream Land of Carefree Bliss, depicting scenes beyond the High Wall. To obtain the most authentic information about the world beyond the High Wall, Li Fan had altered the generation method of the dreams, basing them entirely on real environments and eliminating any fabricated or false elements. After dozens of iterations, the Dream Land of Carefree Bliss was no longer a mere creation of Carefree Bliss or even Li Fan. It had become a shared derivative embodiment of the thoughts of countless living beings within the dream. Now, this colossal entity had crossed the High Wall and was slowly exploring beyond it.
The Abyssal Sea within the High Wall was merely a small portion of the Annihilation Land. However, most of the remaining areas had lost the concept of "existence" after being baptized by the Dao Erasure Tribulation. The tendrils of the dream extended outwards along a narrow passage beyond the High Wall. Everywhere they went, it was a scene of utter desolation. Looking back towards the location of the Abyssal Sea, nothing could be detected. Even though a part of the tendril remained connected to the interior of the High Wall, it could not be sensed. This bizarre situation was as if a part of one's own body had inexplicably vanished.
Li Fan manipulated a portion of the dream tendrils to continue exploring the periphery of the Annihilation Land, while the remaining ones attempted to cross the High Wall and return to the Abyssal Sea. Unable to sense the High Wall's existence, they could only follow the existing pathways of their own origin to find their way near the High Wall. However, all other points were unable to enter or even detect the High Wall. Only by passing through the dream and piercing the High Wall, while still maintaining a connection to the inside, could they return.
"The hidden and mystical nature of the High Wall's outer side indeed far surpasses what we saw from within," Li Fan mused, not giving up on his exploration of the High Wall. The endless dream tendrils, along the initial passage they had opened, began to spread densely, like ivy covering the High Wall. Although he currently lacked the means to fully pinpoint the High Wall's existence, with countless living beings within the Dream Land of Carefree Bliss comprehending it and the Dao Dissolving Mother Stone assisting in the research, Li Fan believed that with gradual progress, he would eventually decipher the secrets of the High Wall.
Leveraging the Dream Land of Carefree Bliss, Li Fan also sent a thread of his divine sense beyond the High Wall. He was uncertain of what he might encounter, so the entire process was approached with extreme caution. Fortunately, no anomalies occurred. The semi-immortal divine sense, looking out at the High Wall, perceived things differently from the dream beings. Where the dream tendrils saw nothingness, Li Fan vaguely glimpsed a sharp, dark protrusion. It resembled a long, narrow cone, or perhaps a mere line segment. It lay there quietly, piercing space, as if supporting something, or connecting something.
"Is this the High Wall?" Li Fan observed silently, a sense of indescribable feeling welling up within him. He surveyed his surroundings; this small area near the High Wall was a remnant of the Dao Erasure Tribulation. Beyond this surviving area, existence had vanished. Li Fan dimly, as if seeing it again, glimpsed the terrifying scene of the Great Dao collapsing during the descent of the tribulation calamity. The vast, boundless sea of stars, large swathes of light extinguished one after another without warning. Darkness consumed the world. The apocalypse had arrived. Only the High Wall, as a support, allowed this nearby region to barely survive the Dao Erasure Tribulation. Furthermore, after ten thousand years, the High Wall still stood firm, maintaining its "existence."
"If the High Wall were to collapse..." In Li Fan's deductions, even if the Dao Erasure Tribulation did not return, the possibilities within this region would gradually dissipate, eventually succumbing to the same fate as the surrounding areas, vanishing into oblivion. Observing the ruins left by the Dao Erasure Tribulation, Li Fan gained a clearer understanding of this terrifying calamity that could destroy the Immortal Realm, and even encompass all possibilities within the mortal world.
"It doesn't descend continuously."
"Instead, it attacks intermittently, like waves. When the Immortal Realm's momentum was high, it was the first to be affected by the Dao Erasure Tribulation. The Immortal Realm of that year might have held on briefly at the initial outbreak of the Dao Erasure Tribulation. But eventually, an extremely fierce wave, caught off guard, completely engulfed the entire Immortal Realm. The Immortal Realm collapsed, and the disaster began to spread to the lower realms. After the great wave, it seemed to be gathering strength. The Dao Erasure Tribulation entered a low ebb, and thus, the lower star seas, far less powerful than the Immortal Realm, only had a part of their regions destroyed, with a significant amount of life remaining."
…
With ample computational support, Li Fan's "imagination" also saw a qualitative improvement. Synthesizing past clues, he could reconstruct various possible truths from the mere remnants within the Annihilation Land. Li Fan vaguely glimpsed the pattern of the Dao Erasure Tribulation. If this speculation was close to the truth, then the possibility that Li Fan currently inhabited might not be far from complete destruction.
"For the Dao Erasure Tribulation, ten thousand years is by no means a long time, but it is certainly not short either."
"Perhaps the dark energy triggered by the fall from a peak of momentum is a precursor to the Dao Erasure Tribulation's approach. Like ripples spreading on the surface of water, they only appear when something falls into it. The manifestation of dark energy signifies that the tide is rising, and water is starting to spread."
Li Fan mused, and a sudden tremor arose in his heart. That intangible sense of pressure seemed to affect even Return to Truth, making it unavoidable. Not to mention the true Dao Erasure Tribulation, but even the dark energy of Dao Erasure, Li Fan currently could not survive within.
"Perhaps the power of the Heavenly and Earthly Immortal Souls, Ink Slaughter, could help mediate this." Li Fan had no idea what had truly happened in the Xuanhuang Realm's experimental ground. It seemed as if, overnight, all relevant personnel had either vanished or perished, leaving behind only ruins.
"The existence of the High Wall might have been an emergency protective measure created incidentally during the design of this experimental ground. However, as time flowed, when the Dao Erasure Tribulation truly descended, the measure was indeed triggered. But the relevant personnel had all disappeared. Only we, the 'experimental subjects,' were left behind, filled with doubt and suspicion."
Li Fan cast a final, lingering glance at the High Wall before his divine sense returned to his body in an instant. With Li Fan's guidance, the dream tendrils, now having a direction, began to spread and grow unrestrained along the High Wall. Even though he had truly seen the High Wall and deduced its possible origins, Li Fan still knew very little about its principles or how to breach it. It would only be through the passage of time that he could slowly decipher and analyze it.
"Immortal Realm experimental ground."
"Immortal Realm chess piece."
In Li Fan's mind, the scene he had once glimpsed within the Immortal Realm's chess piece resurfaced. On the chessboard, black and white pieces were arranged side by side. The victor survived, the loser retreated. Even the Immortal Realm chess piece left behind by Sun Piaomiao was merely of the type that had sadly failed. Yet, even so, it contained existences like the Southern Immortal Pillar. It was difficult to imagine the caliber of those pieces that ultimately remained on the board.
"More importantly..."
"How could the Immortal Realm have only this one experimental ground in the Xuanhuang Realm?" The question suddenly arose in Li Fan's mind. From the brief glimpses of the Immortal Realm he had seen in the past, the Immortal Realm was boundless. It truly deserved the epithet "infinite." The so-called Immortal Realms were innumerable. Even unconventional forces like Sun Piaomiao had to leave behind numerous backup pieces. It was hard to imagine that in such a vast Immortal Realm, if they were to scheme anything, they would only have a single course of action.
"In the past, my perspective was too narrow."
"Even after ascending to semi-immortal status, I possessed only the state and status, not the baptism of immortal Spirit Qi. My thinking, at the cognitive level, was bound to be inferior to a true immortal."
"However, with the Dao Dissolving Mother Stone as a supplement, it was like receiving enlightenment, allowing my thoughts to expand."
"It's possible there isn't just one experimental ground in the lower star seas."
"Thinking this way, the abandonment of the Xuanhuang Realm becomes logical." Because of the ravages of the Dao Erasure Tribulation, most of the realms had been annihilated. Only a few remnants, within the Annihilation Land, managed to persist. Like shallow sandbars floating in a river.
"Even the vibrant area beyond the High Wall is probably just a slightly larger island."
"The vast starry sky, obscured by countless annihilation zones, making it impossible to see its true appearance. Hence, it's natural to believe that one's own location is the only one in existence."
"But I, bearing the Dao Dissolving Mother Stone, can see the world from a corner..."
Li Fan's mental panorama of his current possibility was finally slowly being completed. The scene described in this panorama was truly vast and boundless. The immense Abyssal Sea was merely a negligible point within it. However, the vast majority of the regions in this panorama were in a state of flickering uncertainty, their existence unverified due to insufficient current data. Only the Abyssal Sea within the High Wall, where Li Fan resided, shone eternally, regardless of the shifting light and shadow.
"The starry skies of all possibilities shine because of my existence."
"The possibility I inhabit, let's call it the Primordial one." Li Fan thought calmly. Sooner or later, Li Fan's strength would allow him to leap to other possibilities. It was not impossible to fix his current location early on. However, the most important task at hand was to begin interacting with the civilization of the Annihilation Land. Even with the beings of the Xuanhuang Realm as a foundation, Li Fan still felt that the expansion of the dream tendrils was too slow.
As early as ten years ago, Li Fan had already promulgated laws to promote childbirth. But in ten years, the population growth had been quite limited.
"In the short term, I can't rely on them. It seems I'll have to find a way myself." Li Fan felt the large amount of idle computational power in his sea of consciousness, and a thought emerged. When he visited the 'Era' installation in the Divine Treasure Museum, Li Fan had once harbored a similar idea. The myriad worlds deduced by the Dao-Melting Stone were as real as illusions. If the Dao-Melting Stone itself were continuously strengthened, then these deduced worlds would eventually become indistinguishable from real worlds.
"Perhaps it is precisely because the Stone Mother is the manifestation of the Great Dao of all possibilities that this thought arises."
"All the worlds that have appeared within the Stone Mother are, in theory, completely rational and real. It's like having a mold already cast; one only needs to pour and the physical item can be produced."
"If my understanding of the transformation between true and false deepens, I won't need to fabricate worlds myself. I can simply use the possibilities previously deduced by the Stone Mother to turn them from false to true, saving considerable effort."
Li Fan's gaze sharpened. "However, what I need are merely consumables to contribute to the Dream Land of Carefree Bliss. Their existence in the real world is optional."
As the thought occurred, within the Dao-Melting Stone in Li Fan's sea of consciousness, another Xuanhuang Realm began to derive.
The pressure on the Dao-Melting Stone within Li Fan's sea of consciousness finally began to mount.
Creating a world from nothing, even with the real world as a template, was proving to be more challenging than Li Fan had anticipated. The key to creation lay in the individual. Creating countless individuals was not difficult; the challenge was creating individuals with their "own thoughts".
Initially, Li Fan had gone down the wrong path. He wanted to simulate and create genuine consciousness for beings within his world. This consumed nearly half of the Dao-Melting Stone's processing power, managing to produce only three individuals. These three beings possessed subjective initiative and hovered in the skies of the simulated Xuanhuang Realm. They were now completely independent of the Dao-Melting Stone, their thoughts flowing without its direct aid, but the computing power they consumed was real. If Li Fan hadn't possessed the ability to turn the false into the true, allowing him to disregard such consumption, he would have surely abandoned this endeavor out of heartache.
"Judging solely by their abilities, these three consciousnesses even surpass me. However, they are still in the nascent stage of their existence, ignorant and unaware. Most of their processing power remains untapped…"
"If they hadn't been derived from the Dao-Melting Stone, I could erase them with a mere thought. Harboring three such colossal entities within my sea of consciousness is somewhat unnerving." Li Fan gazed intently at the three sleeping consciousnesses, resembling infants.
His thoughts then returned to the main issue. "Normally, creating self-aware beings wouldn't require such a massive expenditure. I'm essentially using sheer power to prove the Dao. Although I haven't grasped the method of creation itself, I've used vast computing power to break through and disregard those subtle limitations."
"I was approaching this the wrong way. To propel the Dream Land of Carefree Bliss, genuine life consciousness isn't necessary. All that's needed is to add the 'dreaming' command to those simulated consciousnesses…"
After a brief pause in his thoughts, Li Fan began integrating the Dream Land of Carefree Bliss into the simulated Xuanhuang Realm. The Dao-Melting Stone's brilliance flowed, and streams of thought, represented by glowing light, rapidly poured into the dreamscape. Simultaneously, a multitude of beings descended into the dream. Their behavior was indistinguishable from that of real people. They communicated, traded, and adventured together in the dream, handling all aspects flawlessly, just as normal cultivators could.
Furthermore, with the first batch of sample data, the simulated life consciousnesses that the Dao-Melting Stone was now generating began to iterate and evolve at an astonishing speed. Initially, their conversations occasionally felt robotic, but later, even Li Fan found it difficult to distinguish them from genuine beings. The operation of these simulated beings didn’t require much of the Dao-Melting Stone’s processing power because all of them could be categorized into ninety-nine types of behavior. The Dao-Melting Stone only needed to maintain these ninety-nine basic templates to leverage them and generate billions upon billions of endless beings.
"They appear to be distinct individuals, but at their core, they are just ninety-nine people."
Having found the correct method, the exponentially increasing simulated life consciousnesses made Li Fan feel a slight tremor of apprehension. Fortunately, after reconfirming that he possessed absolute control over them through the Dao-Melting Stone in his mind, his unease slowly subsided. The beings within the virtual Xuanhuang Realm didn't need to exist in reality; they were all connected to the Dream Land of Carefree Bliss. With these "spirit soldiers" aiding him, the dream's exploratory reach outward accelerated significantly.
Next, Li Fan employed the same method. While continuing to recover the Dao-Melting Stone's processing power through the cumulative force of transformations between the false and the true, he also "copied" and created more simulated Xuanhuang Realms. He created twelve virtual Xuanhuang Realms consecutively before finally stopping.
"Thirteen worlds' worth of spirit soldiers should be sufficient."
Li Fan looked at the three consciousnesses in the first virtual Xuanhuang Realm, still in a hazy, unknowing state. After a moment of hesitation, he finally unleashed them into the Dream Land of Carefree Bliss.
"Let's see their potential within the dream first."
"With such immense processing power supporting them, they can reach the apex in any direction they choose." The three consciousnesses, whom Li Fan had respectively named "Initiation," "Beginning," and "End," finally manifested bodies within the dream. Compared to the simulated beings, they appeared particularly clumsy and were filled with immense curiosity about everything around them. But Li Fan knew that their growth rate would be faster than any other being in the dream.
Li Fan did not interfere with the growth of Initiation, Beginning, and End. He merely recorded and saved the method by which the Dao-Melting Stone had birthed them, ensuring they could be replicated quickly even if they were destroyed. Afterward, Li Fan's attention returned to the exploration by the dream's tendrils.
After traversing the long expanse of the Annihilation Land and crossing the boundless sea of deathly stillness, the dream's tendrils finally reached the vibrant starscape inhabited by forces like the Sword Domain and the Sacred Merchant. The tendrils' exploration became increasingly cautious. An invisible, light veil slowly enveloped the starscape. However, to Li Fan's surprise, not a single being among the billions in this starscape was captured by the dream's power. It was as if a natural barrier existed between reality and illusion, resisting the dream's encroachment on real beings. Li Fan, who controlled the dream, sensed that if he poured the entirety of the Dream Land of Carefree Bliss's power, he might force open a gap in this barrier, but it would undoubtedly attract the attention of the various factions.
Li Fan chose to wait patiently for an opportunity. His patience was rewarded. A full year after the dream tendrils had been resisting the vibrant starscape, a turning point finally emerged. A massive disturbance in the star sea, which even affected the ethereal Dream Land of Carefree Bliss, naturally drew Li Fan's attention. Seven figures suddenly appeared in the starscape, intercepting another dim and distorted figure.
"Hmm? Not on the 'Immortal Capturing Roll'?"
"Unexpected bonus while staking out for 'Longevity Immortal'."
"A pity, it seems there's no sign of them achieving nameless Dao Integration."
"Don't be careless… I sense a trace of danger from him."
The seven figures spoke to each other in the characteristic manner of the Immortal Hunters, as recalled from Qin Zhuang's memories. Their communication did not impede their actions. Li Fan, for the first time, truly witnessed the power of Dao Integration. If the great Dao of heaven and earth were a vast net, crisscrossing and spanning across existence, then these seven Immortal Hunters, with every gesture, possessed the strength to pull on that net and capture their prey.
Li Fan perceived various esoteric and unfathomable techniques. For instance, countless swords materialized from nothingness, each seemingly accompanied by a blurry figure standing behind it. Myriad sword arts bloomed simultaneously in the starscape, resonating with the Dao of the Sword and receiving augmentations. Each sword move contained immense power, capable of cleaving the Xuanhuang Realm in two.
Then, the dim starscape seemed to be illuminated by something. It felt as if countless eyes were peering at the combatants from beyond the veil. The auras of the seven Immortal Hunters surged, while the true immortal being besieged, his movements faltered intermittently. His form even seemed to split into multiple selves amidst violent tremors.
Furthermore, it was as if a brush was secretly recording and altering the battle. Li Fan had clearly seen a moment ago that the true immortal’s long-anticipated charged attack had struck one of the Immortal Hunters. The latter’s body convulsed, clearly injured. Yet, after a blur of light and shadow, it was as if this incident had never happened. The injury vanished, and instead, it was the Immortal Hunter who struck the true immortal! The true immortal was astonished and quickly fell into a disadvantageous position, forced to defend himself desperately. In a short while, his situation became precarious.
…
The seven Immortal Hunters displayed their unique abilities. Li Fan, however, keenly observed that besides these seven, there seemed to be another Immortal Hunter hidden in the shadows. This Immortal Hunter did not participate in the hunt for the true immortal but was silently repairing the starscape affected by the great battle! Li Fan perceived that under the maintenance of this orderly force, the fragile great Dao of heaven and earth, which had been bent and distorted by the power of Dao Integration, had become firm and stable once more. Despite the chaotic battle between true immortals, the starscape had not sustained significant damage. Even the great Dao of heaven and earth seemed to have recorded the memory of this battle, making it more resilient to similar conflicts in the future.
"Besides the Immortal Hunters, there's also 'Heaven Mender'?"
"Interesting." As the saying goes, destruction is easy, but creation is difficult. Li Fan, hidden in the shadows, silently observed the battle, but most of his attention was focused on the "Heaven Mender." Li Fan keenly sensed that "Heaven Mender" might be the strongest participant in the conflict. It was evident that no matter what kind of destructive power Dao Integration unleashed, "Heaven Mender" could effortlessly and calmly repair it. Meanwhile, the seven Immortal Hunters, from beginning to end, only displayed a single type of Dao-related divine ability.
The seven Immortal Hunters only inflicted injuries, not death, seemingly intending to capture the true immortal alive. As the true immortal was gradually pushed into a desperate situation, countless true immortal characters suddenly appeared on his body, covering him entirely! His aura surged hundreds of times, and the net of the great Dao began to shake violently as if caught in a fierce gale! Even the divine abilities wielded by the seven Immortal Hunters were affected! The true immortal launched a desperate counterattack.
At this precise moment, a golden hoop of light flared, effectively drawing a circle on the ground as if to create a prison, completely sealing off the area where they were fighting. All connection to the outside of the golden hoop was severed. Even the tendrils of the Dream Land of Carefree Bliss were directly cut off. The image abruptly vanished. Li Fan could only observe from beyond the golden hoop. The true immortal's final desperate attack was completely blocked by this golden hoop. No matter how it raged, nothing from the outside could be perceived. Li Fan gazed at the golden line exuding a sacred aura and suddenly felt a sense of familiarity.
"This…"
"Is this an Immortal Heavenly Pillar?" In his mind, the Southern Immortal Heavenly Pillar, forged from the leg bone of a true immortal, overlapped with the scene of the golden hoop before him. Li Fan was filled with surprise. With a flash of inspiration, he significantly retracted the dream tendrils, observing from a great distance.
A figure in white quietly appeared outside the golden hoop. They observed the battle within the golden hoop with a seemingly grave expression. Occasionally, they looked up at the sky, recording something. Li Fan also felt that it was precisely with the "support" of this golden hoop, acting as a pillar for the fragile great Dao network weakened by the battle, that a catastrophe was averted. The white-clothed figure occasionally sent out strands of light, filling the golden hoop and making it increasingly solid.
"This must be that 'Heaven Mender'."
"Fortunately, all attention was drawn to the battle, and the unique nature of the Dream Land of Carefree Bliss allowed me to observe without being discovered." Li Fan inwardly felt fortunate but dared not get too close, continuing to observe from afar.
Not long after, the battle seemed to finally subside. The golden hoop's light gradually faded, and the seven Immortal Hunters reappeared. However, the true immortal had vanished. Observing the varied expressions on the faces of the seven Immortal Hunters, the white-clothed figure, somewhat surprised, finally spoke.
"He escaped?"
One of the Immortal Hunters replied in a deep voice, his tone heavy, "He was already at his last gasp. But at the final moment, another force intervened and rescued him."
"My Heaven Painting Brush was powerless to alter this fact. Clearly, a nameless true immortal intervened," another Immortal Hunter stated. "And it was a nameless true immortal who was not recorded." Upon hearing this, the expressions of all the Immortal Hunters became somewhat strange, a mixture of excitement and fear. The white-clothed figure nodded slightly. "Although we didn't capture the true immortal, we unexpectedly obtained news of a new nameless true immortal. So, it's a gain and a loss. The rest of you return and report the traces of the nameless one. Brother Chu, you'll stay with me to repair the Dao marks." In an instant, six figures disappeared. Only two remained standing in the starscape after the battle. Without any visible effort on their part, Li Fan, observing from a distance, clearly felt that the starscape had become much "sturdier."
"Heaven Painting Brush. Brother Chu." Li Fan recalled the voice of the distant Immortal Hunter. "Chu Youhong from the Divine Brush Sect?" A moment later, Li Fan had largely confirmed the other party's identity. Chu Youhong, the former sect leader of the Divine Brush Sect. A cultivator who, driven by personal sacrifice for the greater good, once uttered the words, "It doesn't matter if all of you die. As long as I live, the Divine Brush Sect will still exist. My master entrusted the Divine Brush Sect to me before he died, and I must not let it be destroyed in my hands." After leaving an indelible mark on the history of the Xuanhuang Realm, he vanished without a trace. He never expected to encounter him again today in the vibrant starscape beyond the The Great Barrier.
Li Fan pondered Chu Youhong's displayed divine abilities. "To alter established events with a brush and even rewrite them to some extent…" "Although not a true immortal, his actual combat power is likely no less than that of a true immortal." Li Fan was inwardly shocked. He finally had a clearer understanding of the power of "Dao Integration" beyond the The Great Barrier. While he was contemplating, Chu Youhong and the white-clothed figure had already finished repairing the so-called "Dao marks."
"Brother Chu, what do you think of that mysterious nameless true immortal who appeared at the end?"
"You were able to hide it from the others, so you must have observed it. After all, you are said to be able to copy and imitate the great Dao." The white-clothed figure's words astonished Li Fan once again.
"Imitating and copying the Great Dao?
It is said that the Nameless True Immortal could only describe the Great Dao with True Immortal Sigils. Yet, this Chu Youhong can actually achieve such a feat?
Upon hearing this, Li Fan was initially disbelieving.
Chu Youhong's reaction seemed to confirm his judgment.
Chu Youhong forced a smile, "It was by chance that a sliver of the Great Dao's imprint remained, and that was amidst the anomaly of the Nameless True Immortal's demise and his Great Dao returning to heaven and earth..."
"Moreover, without the aid of this Heaven Painting Brush in my hand, I would never have been able to accomplish it. Brother Lu, you needn't praise me excessively."
"Instead, your divine ability to mend the fissures of the heavens with a mere hand is known throughout the Star Sea of the North."
The cultivator surnamed Lu, clad in white, did not deny Chu Youhong's compliment, merely offering a slight smile.
Chu Youhong shifted his tone, returning to the main topic, "The Nameless True Immortal who attacked from the shadows earlier is indeed peculiar. Though I cannot fully depict the Great Dao's landscape, I can clearly sense the traces left behind by the flow of the Great Dao. However..."
Chu Youhong's expression turned grave, "It was silent and traceless. It was nothing like the attack of a True Immortal from the Nameless Realm. In fact, the traces left behind were less substantial than those of an ordinary True Immortal."
The cultivator surnamed Lu nodded in agreement, "This is why I sought out Brother Chu for a private discussion. I believe that either the one who attacked was not a Nameless True Immortal, or that Nameless True Immortal has found a way to mask his traces within the The Dao Lattice."
The two exchanged glances. "Regardless of which it is, neither outcome bodes well for us."
"If it wasn't a Nameless True Immortal, yet was able to escape leisurely from our encirclement, their actual combat power is not below the Nameless Realm. This is the power of the new system, which we have always been most concerned about. After all, the many methods we have summarized are all aimed at 'Immortals.' Once 'Immortals' break free from past constraints, even if it means they must start anew, we will have to face entirely new and unknown enemies."
"As for masking traces within the The Dao Lattice," a hint of worry flickered across Chu Youhong's brow.
The cultivator surnamed Lu, clad in white, looked back at the vibrant Star Sea of the North. "The last attempt to kill the Nameless one ended in heavy losses. Some individuals have already begun to stir. It's hard to say if this is a declaration of loyalty from certain parties. If those True Immortals master the methods of stealth and manipulation of the The Dao Lattice, it will be dire!"
"The patterns of the The Dao Lattice must also be modified. Besides that..."
The cultivator surnamed Lu then looked at Chu Youhong, "Brother Chu, I must trouble you to secretly inform Wan Shiyong, Senior Wan."
"After all, that senior has a peculiar temperament. You come from the same world, and can barely manage to speak with him."
Chu Youhong appeared somewhat hesitant but ultimately nodded in agreement, "With the Star Sea of the North currently lacking a leader and facing covetous eyes from other regions, we indeed need a senior who can command respect to step forward and oversee matters."
"Although I was beaten severely when I previously disturbed Senior Wan, given that we are all cultivators from the Xuanhuang Realm, he shouldn't truly harm me, right?" Chu Youhong muttered to himself as he flew towards the Star Sea of the North with the white-robed cultivator.
In but a moment, their figures vanished.
Li Fan, mulling over their recent conversation, controlled his dream tentacles and arrived at the location where the battle had previously taken place.
Generally, after powerful individuals engage in combat, there would always be residual traces of their movements, fluctuations, or auras. However, in the battle of hunting True Immortals he witnessed, Li Fan observed meticulously and found not a single sign of residual presence.
It was as if the great battle had never occurred.
"Apart from the white-robed cultivator's act of 'Mending the Heavens,' which consumed all these remnants to consolidate the Great Dao here, it is as if something, in the unseen depths, also simultaneously absorbed the residual power."
After much exploration, Li Fan vaguely reached a conclusion.
He couldn't help but think of the "The Dao Lattice" mentioned by Chu Youhong and the white-robed cultivator.
"The Dao Lattice. Although this term did not appear in Qin Zhuang's mind, it is perhaps something that originated in the Star Sea of the North after Qin Zhuang went to the Xuanhuang Realm. But judging by its name, it is clearly related to the interwoven network of heaven and earth's Great Dao."
"The Nameless True Immortal merges with a Great Dao. Every action and movement must leave a trace within the The Dao Lattice. This is as it should be. Yet, Chu Youhong said that they can modify the 'The Dao Lattice'?"
Li Fan's eyes revealed a thoughtful expression.
Although Chu Youhong and the white-robed cultivator's conversation was brief, it contained a considerable amount of information.
First, the encirclement of True Immortals resulted in heavy casualties, indicating that the battle between the Star Sea of the North and the True Immortals was not a one-sided affair. The Star Sea of the North seemed to be leaderless, with all its high-ranking members occupied with some critical matter.
Second, besides the Star Sea of the North, there were other forces, perhaps in another region of space under siege in the Annihilation Land. They were coveting the Star Sea of the North, and its situation seemed unfavorable.
Third, judging by the white-robed cultivator's words, he clearly knew that Chu Youhong was from the Xuanhuang Realm. And he mentioned Wan Shiyong, who was also from the Xuanhuang Realm...
Li Fan's brow furrowed.
"Wan Shiyong, the founding ancestor of the Beast Taming Sect. An old acquaintance of Emperor San Mo, a peerless figure who comprehended the True Beast Taming Art from the Beast Taming Wheel."
"Those whom Emperor San Mo chose to ally with were all exceptionally talented individuals. But in my memory, didn't this Wan Shiyong perish already?"
Li Fan was perplexed and immediately summoned Emperor San Mo to inquire.
"Hmm?" Upon hearing Li Fan suddenly mention this name, the intelligent beast was momentarily dazed, as it was tens of thousands of years ago.
"He, he is indeed dead. I personally buried his corpse. Despite his immense talent, he ultimately could not escape the limitations of a mortal's lifespan," Emperor San Mo replied with great certainty after recalling for a moment.
"Then why is there another Wan Shiyong outside the The Great Barrier in the Star Sea of the North?" Li Fan promptly explained the scene he had witnessed through his dream tentacles to Emperor San Mo.
Emperor San Mo pondered for a moment, then seemed to recall something, "His temper was a bit eccentric..."
"Could it be Wan Shiyong's companion beast from when he was alive?" he said with some uncertainty.
Li Fan was somewhat surprised. "Wan Shiyong's beast tamer wasn't you?"
Emperor San Mo showed a hint of embarrassment, then stroked his beard and said, "Between Wan Shiyong and I, it was merely a cooperative relationship. He, a mere mortal, was naturally not qualified to command me. Wan Shiyong's beast tamer was actually a 'Withered Shadow Beast.' It resembled a shadow and could change its form in myriad ways."
"Normally, it would hide in Wan Shiyong's shadow. But at critical moments, it could leap into the enemy's shadow, transform, and replicate. The shadow is like the person, and it can achieve complete similarity, making it difficult for even the replicated one to distinguish. After Wan Shiyong died, that child also disappeared. If he has been living as Wan Shiyong, given his familiarity with Wan Shiyong during his lifetime, others might not be able to detect the difference," Emperor San Mo analyzed slowly.
"Since he is a member of the beast race, would the previous methods of restraint still be useful? Or, as a fallback, can you sense or contact him?" Li Fan asked.
Emperor San Mo hesitated for a moment, and rarely, did not provide an answer.
"Under normal circumstances, it should be possible. However, as Senior just said, Chu Youhong, who can imitate the imprint of the Great Dao, was no match for that Wan Shiyong..."
"I fear that opponent has already surpassed our control."
Fearing that Li Fan might misunderstand his reluctance to help, Emperor San Mo paused, then quickly explained, "Senior, as you know, the current beast race is all evolved from Emperor Yi."
"And Emperor Yi originated from the fusion of countless members of the original clan. The crucial point is the initial origin of the clan..."
Emperor San Mo emitted a ray of light, revealing the appearances of thirteen peculiar ancient beasts to Li Fan.
"These are the thirteen Primordial Dao Forms of our clan. Although they are the strongest within the clan, born as embodiments of the Great Dao, they are not the source of the clan. In fact, there is no consensus on the origin of the clan, and even the memories of the Primordial Dao Forms hold no answer. However, there is one point that was our shared understanding in the past."
Emperor San Mo's expression was tinged with remembrance as he looked at the Primordial Dao Forms before him.
Then he slowly said, "In our timeline, the clan was favored by the Great Dao of heaven and earth. The thirteen Primordial Dao Forms were merely a negligible part compared to the myriad Great Daos of heaven and earth. All other clan members had the possibility of subsequent 'Dao Transformation,' similar to you human cultivators reaching the Nameless True Immortal realm."
"To thoroughly integrate and evolve all the Great Daos of heaven and earth into various Primordial Dao Forms. This was the 'Prosperous Era' of the clan's dreams..."
"Alas, before new Primordial Dao Forms could emerge, fierce Nameless True Immortals, traversing possibilities, slaughtered you all." Li Fan interrupted Emperor San Mo's reverie unseasonably.
Emperor San Mo showed no embarrassment, merely sighing slightly, "Our clan's potential was indeed favored by the Great Dao. However, there are strengths and weaknesses among possibilities. The strong prey on the weak; there is no resentment in being defeated by others."
Emperor San Mo shifted the topic back to that Wan Shiyong, "What I mean to say is, although we all originate from Emperor Yi, each clan member has the potential to surpass Emperor Yi. Even if theoretically, this possibility is extremely small, almost to the point of impossibility, it is not zero."
"As long as the history of reproduction is long enough, it can become a certainty. This is something the Primordial Dao Forms considered when they entered the great furnace. However, the only thing they did not anticipate was that it was not their own possibility that fell into crisis, but that all possibilities faced a world-ending calamity. Repeated escapes left our clan with no time to recuperate. And the power of the Primordial Dao Forms was completely depleted..." Emperor San Mo sighed deeply.
After a moment of silence, Emperor San Mo suddenly volunteered, "I wish to go and speak with this Wan Shiyong."
"Even if his current strength far exceeds mine, I am confident that he will not harm me."
Li Fan pondered for a moment, and finally agreed, "I will use the power of dreams to help you evolve a body."
"After you contact him and if there are no problems, I will help you send your actual body over."
"Remember, the dream body is essentially a manifestation of the consciousness of Carefree Bliss and the beings of the Xuanhuang Realm. Apart from a sliver of your consciousness contained within, it is not truly related to your main body. Whether you can gain Wan Shiyong's trust will depend on your own methods," Li Fan instructed again.
Emperor San Mo nodded, "Senior, rest assured. Among our clan, we have our own methods of communication and discernment."
"The situation in the Star Sea of the North is unknown. Even if the first attempt fails, it's nothing."
As Li Fan said this, his dream tentacles slowly evolved a body outside the Star Sea of the North.
It was entirely yellow light, identical in appearance to the real Emperor San Mo. Initially, it seemed to exist between reality and illusion.
But with the infusion of specks of crimson light and a certain profound power.
This illusory body actually transformed from false to real.
It materialized out of thin air.
Emperor San Mo felt his new body and exclaimed in astonishment, "Senior's methods are truly unimaginable. It feels exactly the same as my real body, with no discernible difference!"
Li Fan's voice then echoed in Emperor San Mo's ears, "Not all dream avatars can achieve this level of simulated reality."
"I have prepared some energy for you within this body. It should be enough for your journey. Proceed with caution. The dream avatar integrates your consciousness and body. As long as the energy lasts, it can be reborn continuously. But once the energy is depleted, the body will be completely destroyed, and your consciousness will cease to exist."
"If your consciousness does not return to the Dream Land of Bliss before it is destroyed, then this memory will be completely lost. Therefore, I suggest you return periodically to report information."
"Of course, this is provided you can ensure you are not exposed. While the power of dreams is mysterious and difficult to detect, the strength of the Star Sea of the North is also considerable. Displaying too much might inadvertently reveal your traces..."
Li Fan cautioned.
Emperor San Mo's eyes narrowed, and relying on a faint connection in the unseen depths, he rapidly concealed himself and fled towards the target location.
Initially, Li Fan could still perceive the scenes from Emperor San Mo's side through the power of dreams.
But as he approached a gathering place of light, even the connection of dreams was severed.
"The Sword Domain, the Sacred Merchant, and the various faction strongholds within the Star Sea of the North indeed possess some form of protective force."
"The Dao Lattice, perhaps..."
Li Fan watched Emperor San Mo's dream avatar depart, sensing the power of the so-called The Dao Lattice.
Based on the deductions from the Dao-Melting Stone within his sea of consciousness, Li Fan was certain that this The Dao Lattice was built upon the Dao Origin system.
He recalled how the Heavenly Profound Mirror had once usurped the heavens and woven a "Mystic Net" across the sky of the Xuanhuang Realm.
"Being able to modify the The Dao Lattice implies that the The Dao Lattice is not impregnable or inaccessible."
"It's just a matter of finding the corresponding method."
Ideals are noble.
But after observing for several days, Li Fan still couldn't find any trace of the so-called [The Dao Lattice]. It seemed to be even more elusive than the Great Dao itself.
However, Li Fan did not lose heart. From the current perspective, the The Dao Lattice was likely the trump card of the Star Sea against the True Immortal forces. If it could even contend with a Nameless True Immortal, how could it be easily deciphered by Li Fan, a newcomer?
"Even the most secure fortress can be breached from within."
"Since a forceful invasion of the The Dao Lattice is temporarily impossible, I'll just lie low and infiltrate the Star Sea first. I can't rely solely on Emperor San Mo's side..."
Li Fan shook his head slightly. First, he meticulously used his dream power to create a "rubbing" of the residual fluctuation traces from the area. Only then did he continue to probe and advance towards the Star Sea.
Although it appeared on the surface that the traces of the great battle had been completely eliminated by the white-robed cultivator's [Heaven Mending] technique, Li Fan knew that nothing was absolute. Anything that had appeared would leave a trace. The fact that he couldn't detect it now was simply due to insufficient ability. However, this did not prevent Li Fan from recording it for future study.
The distant Star Sea was not uniformly imbued with vitality. Instead, like islands, it formed various concentrations. The aura emanating from these concentrations was not determined by their size. Each had its distinct characteristics.
"To have survived in this expanse of starlight, they must all be no simple individuals."
Li Fan observed from afar, identifying some familiar auras.
He first discovered the Sword Domain, seemingly the gathering place of the Myriad Immortal Sects of the Xuanhuang Realm in the past. However, he still couldn't find the Sacred Merchant from Qin Zhuang's memories.
"The Immortal Boat can still sense the presence of the Merchant Immortal Boat outside the wall; the Mystic Merchant shouldn't have gone extinct."
Recalling the strange behavior of the Sacred Merchant in Qin Zhuang's memory: ceasing communication with the outside world, even recalling previously sold treasures. The Dao-Melting Stone in his sea of consciousness flickered, and after some deduction, the most likely guess instantly surfaced in Li Fan's mind.
"It's highly probable that the Sacred Merchant discovered something, and is either in seclusion or has simply fled."
The Sacred Merchant was merely an entry point; Li Fan was not obsessively pursuing the former Merchant Immortal Boat.
He began to test the defenses of the weaker forces within the Star Sea one by one.
As he had sensed, the strength of these forces was not directly correlated with the amount of vitality they gathered.
There were two solitary auras of vitality, one large and one small, seemingly ostracized and living on the fringes of the Star Sea. But before Li Fan could get close, just a distant glance sent a jolt of crisis through him. Even his dream tendrils were affected, twisted and mutated in part. Li Fan could only keep his distance.
There was a vast gathering place that concentrated the aura of tens of millions of living beings. However, it was shrouded by a colossal dark cloud woven from negative emotions such as killing intent, hatred, and greed, emitting a foul stench. Even though there were numerous protective measures outside this gathering place, they prevented Li Fan's dream power from directly infiltrating.
But observing the emotional dark cloud from afar, Li Fan had already found a breakthrough point for his dream invasion.
However, Li Fan did not rush to act.
This loophole might also be a trap specifically fabricated by the Star Sea forces to lure True Immortals.
After exploring all other gathering places, he found that only this one offered a chance to connect with the Dream Land of Bliss. Li Fan very cautiously accumulated a large amount of dream power, creating an extra instance of the Dream Land of Bliss. He then sent a strand of his divine sense into this instance, severing its connection with the main world of the Dream Land of Bliss.
Ensuring foolproof security, Li Fan then directed his divine sense to initiate the invasion of this gathering place.
This instance of the Dream Land of Bliss was empty. It was simply a segmented copy, and the dream power would be depleted with each use. If effective replenishment was not obtained before the energy was exhausted, this instance would perish.
Although Li Fan only dispatched a strand of divine sense, it carried the illusory projections of nine Xuanhuang Realms and computational power equivalent to a Supreme-Grade Dao-Melting Stone.
"If these preparations can't open a crack, then I'll have to find another way."
The progress was not smooth.
That invisible barrier completely severed the contact between dream power and the sentience of living beings. Even though the suppressed negative emotions of the beings were as tangible as substance, hanging in the sky, there was a membrane in between, preventing any contact.
"If I disregard the consequences and exhaust all the power of this instance at once, I might be able to forcibly open a gap. But it would definitely alert the collective forces of the Star Sea."
"The gain wouldn't be worth the loss."
After careful consideration, Li Fan ultimately decided against alarming the enemy. Instead, he chose to patiently wait for an opportunity.
There were cultivators in the Star Sea who would leave their gathering places and travel through space. Li Fan didn't believe that all these "passers-by" had strength beyond his reach.
As it turned out, Li Fan's judgment was correct.
Although the target he had set his sights on did not travel as frequently as other forces, it was not entirely absent.
Li Fan staked out for half a year, and finally, a ray of light shot out from within.
Its destination seemed to be in the direction of the Sword Domain.
As the light shot out, it stirred up a large patch of the emotional dark cloud. Its emotional fluctuations were so evident that Li Fan could clearly perceive its thoughts without actively eavesdropping.
"Making me run errands again!"
"I, Ma Tiande, am at least a certified [Dao Manipulator] of the Star Sea, having passed the qualification test. Though I've only just scratched the surface, I can at least coordinate and manipulate the The Dao Lattice patterns within a unit area!"
"Making me do trivial things every day is a complete waste of my life..."
This cultivator, named Ma Tiande, sped through space with a thick sense of resentment.
Li Fan did not act, merely watching as this person entered a gathering place adjacent to the Sword Domain. After staying there for three days, he slowly returned.
Seemingly having vented his frustration, his resentment had vanished. Huming a cheerful tune, he leisurely headed back the way he came.
Just as Ma Tiande was about to enter the protective barrier, Li Fan launched his attack.
Ordinary methods of possession and infiltration had a high chance of being detected by the gathering place's protective layer. In fact, any power related to Immortals could trigger an alarm.
Therefore, Li Fan employed the "Dao Pill" technique of the Immortal Boat. Ma Tiande, who was fleeing through the void, merely paused for a moment.
He was instantly refined by Li Fan into a "human pill" that could be swallowed at any time. Li Fan's divine sense silently swallowed the pill, instantly transforming into Ma Tiande.
Temporarily severing the connection with the Dream Land of Bliss instance, Li Fan sorted through the information in Ma Tiande's mind while flying straight towards the gathering place he was heading to.
"The [City of Ultimate Bliss]?"
"Interesting."
In theory, this body was still Ma Tiande's. However, his mind now contained an extra thread of thought.
Any living being, inevitably, experiences fluctuations in their thoughts.
Moreover, the Dao Pill technique was unique to the Immortal Boat. It had not previously appeared in this expanse of starlight.
Although the protective layer outside the City of Ultimate Bliss was strong, it was difficult for it to guard against such an unfathomable technique.
Without any hitch, "Ma Tiande" smoothly flew into the City of Ultimate Bliss.
Unlike the foul-smelling emotional dark cloud seen from outside, Li Fan's vision was filled with scenes of revelry and revelry.
Colorful lights stretched to the horizon. Uninhibited laughter, lewd moans, and unrestrained shouts...
Filled every corner of the city.
"The City of Ultimate Bliss: three years of day, three years of night, six years for one cycle."
"At night, indulge in pleasure, without a worry."
"During the day... slaughter without punishment?"
Li Fan processed the information in Ma Tiande's mind while heading to report.
Ma Tiande's trip to [Blade Island] was precisely to deliver an invitation for the City Lord of Ultimate Bliss.
Thirty days later, coinciding with the shift between day and night in the City of Ultimate Bliss.
He invited the people of Blade Island to witness the grand occasion.
...
As the information flashed through his mind, Li Fan calmly arrived at the center of the City of Ultimate Bliss.
Compared to the bustling and lively scenes around, the central mansion was so desolate and eerie, creating a stark contrast that made everyone who stepped foot there involuntarily feel a chill down their spine.
Even though it wasn't Ma Tiande's first time here, he instinctively felt fear.
Li Fan did not suppress his emotions, and his expression suitably changed to match.
He followed closely and arrived before the City Lord of Ultimate Bliss, reporting the situation.
"Scholar Zhu, I delivered the invitation. But as for how many people from Blade Island can come, it's hard to say."
Li Fan feigned difficulty and recounted everything: "As soon as I entered, the people on the island invited me to spar. They even threatened to tear up the invitation if I refused. I had no choice but to agree."
"They called it sparring, but it was just me getting beaten..."
Li Fan secretly mimicked Ma Tiande's original behavior and complained to the City Lord of Ultimate Bliss.
The City Lord of Ultimate Bliss, also known as Scholar Zhu to Ma Tiande, appeared extremely aged from the outside.
His hunched body was curled up within his wide robes, looking rather comical. However, the immense aura of malevolence emanating from Scholar Zhu made Li Fan dare not underestimate him.
Li Fan even vaguely sensed that a large portion, nine-tenths, of the massive emotional dark cloud accumulated above the City of Ultimate Bliss was sustained by this Scholar Zhu.
Facing Ma Tiande's incessant complaints, Scholar Zhu did not interrupt. He quietly stopped, his bony fingers tapping on the long table. He even occasionally scraped his fingernails across the long table, producing a piercing sound.
Li Fan clearly saw that the long table before Scholar Zhu was piled high and polished from human skulls.
Even the lingering resentments on the skulls had not completely dissipated. As Scholar Zhu lightly traced his fingers across them, faint sounds of pain and wailing emerged.
Cold sweat dripped from "Ma Tiande's" forehead. However, he did not stop talking, completing his report from beginning to end.
After finishing, he respectfully stood below the long table, awaiting the City Lord's instructions.
Inside the mansion, there was a long period of silence.
From outside, sounds of revelry and commotion could be heard.
Scholar Zhu, huddled in his robes, pressed his fingers on the long table. With each press, a sound from outside would abruptly cease.
Only when the scene outside fell completely silent, with no more noisy sounds to be heard, did Scholar Zhu speak.
His voice was not that of an elderly person, but rather that of a childlike innocent.
"You've had a hard journey."
"Have dinner before you go back."
As he spoke, a ghostly figure emerged from the shadows and appeared before Li Fan.
With a rustling sound, a bowl of steaming red soup appeared before Li Fan.
Ma Tiande's body trembled slightly.
This was a reaction of the body, and to some extent, it represented Li Fan's emotional fluctuations.
The red soup in the bowl was clearly mixed with countless minced meats and blood.
And floating in the bowl were eyeballs, one after another.
As if they had their own consciousness, they all stared at Li Fan outside the bowl.
Although Li Fan had destroyed worlds several times and regarded the beings of the world as nothing, he had never done anything so "disgusting."
"Mr. Ma, drink up quickly. Why aren't you drinking?"
Seeing Li Fan hesitate, Scholar Zhu's voice became somewhat impatient, like a mischievous child suddenly losing his favorite toy. A peculiar aura began to spread from Scholar Zhu.
"Aren't you hungry? Or perhaps you're not satisfied with this soup?"
"It's alright, I'll have the servants prepare something better."
In Li Fan's mind, Ma Tiande's understanding of the City Lord of Ultimate Bliss flashed by.
"He manifests various personalities."
"An old man, a child, a seductive woman, a cruel butcher..."
"The most unstable of them is the child."
He made up his mind: "No need to trouble Scholar Zhu. This soup tastes exceptionally delicious."
Saying this, Li Fan picked up the red soup and drank it all in one gulp.
To his surprise, it was not as bloody as it looked. There wasn't even the slightest hint of flesh and blood.
Instead, it was indescribably delicious. Even with Li Fan's knowledge, having gone through countless reincarnations in the Xuanhuang Realm and uncovering almost all its secrets, he couldn't recall any taste in his experiences that could compare.
After the bowl of red soup was gone, looking at the empty bowl, Li Fan actually felt a sense of reluctance.
"What, do you want another bowl?"
Scholar Zhu also noticed the change in Li Fan's emotions and became excited, as if he had found a kindred spirit.
With great perseverance, Li Fan shook his head and refused.
"Such a rare delicacy must be savored."
"Better to eat less than too much," he said seriously.
Scholar Zhu let out a muffled laugh upon hearing this.
The voice, shifting from a child's to an old man's.
"What you say makes sense."
"In that case, you may go now."
Li Fan bowed and took his leave.
As he was about to step out of the mansion, Scholar Zhu's faint voice reached his ears.
"I've also prepared a seat for you at the Day and Night Grand Ceremony this time."
Li Fan's face lit up with joy, and he quickly bowed again: "Thank you, Lord Zhu!"
The scenery before his eyes shifted, and the City Lord's mansion disappeared.
A red building filled with sounds of debauchery replaced it.
www◆◆ C 〇
Li Fan licked his lips.
Ma Tiande's memory files surfaced again: "Scholar Zhu, a member of the Star Sea's Governance Council."
"Once a True Immortal, then he became mortal!"
“Not just any True Immortal,”
“It’s highly likely that he was once a nameless True Immortal!”
Li Fan lowered his head, concealing the thoughts in his eyes. He quickened his pace, heading towards his residence.
“Customer, come play!”
“Brother Ma, long time no see. Come have a drink!”
“You brat, I finally caught you again! Don’t run!”
…
Strolling through Joyful City, he heard a chorus of different shouts. Along with the rising and falling sounds, memories related to those voices also surfaced.
The owners of these voices were either old acquaintances he made at the entertainment districts, sworn brothers with whom he had shared life-and-death moments, or even enemies he had provoked.
Vivid scenes flashed through his mind, as if he had personally experienced them.
However, Li Fan paid no heed, his gaze lowered, his steps unhurried as he made his way to his destination.
He had only recently “possessed” Ma Tiande. Li Fan was certain that these memories did not exist in Ma Tiande’s previous recollection; they were instead imprinted in his mind as he heard the voices.
“This isn't a simple illusion technique.”
“It’s as if these events actually happened in Joyful City.”
Even as Li Fan moved further away and the sounds faded, the imprinted memories did not disappear. Instead, they grew more profound.
Along the way, "Ma Tiande" was implicitly burdened with numerous experiences.
Each experience spanned many years.
Wrinkles subtly appeared at the corners of his eyes. Ma Tiande's face gradually took on a weathered appearance.
Li Fan naturally noticed these physical changes. He deliberately slowed his pace from fast to slow, as if each step was a struggle.
After traversing a block in Joyful City, "Ma Tiande" finally returned to his dwelling.
The moment the dark gate closed, all the external clamor vanished instantly, concealed within the darkness.
Following Ma Tiande's past habits, Li Fan handled his affairs.
Then, he sat cross-legged, eyes closed in meditation, as if studying the "The Dao Lattice Patterns."
However, Li Fan was actually still contemplating the changes in the body he had just experienced.
“The present, influenced by a fabricated past.”
“Is this technique the Scripture Chanting Demonic Sounds of the Heavenly Mysteries King?”
The top-grade Dao-Melting Stone in his spiritual sense began to operate, assisting Li Fan in his analysis.
“If Ma Tiande had succumbed to temptation and engaged with any of these voices,”
“Then the 'past' mentioned during the conversations would have been fully realized in his body…”
Li Fan dimly saw in his deductive vision that Ma Tiande, at a banquet, aged at an incredibly rapid pace. In an instant, he turned into withered bones, yet he was still chatting and laughing with those around him.
Until the joy ended, his decaying bones turned to dust. And Ma Tiande’s consciousness, like countless others in the city, remained forever within Joyful City.
“Brat, when you go to Joyful City, do nothing else besides what Scholar Zhu instructed. Stay for three years honestly, and you might have a chance to return,”
The scene of a senior from the Star Sea Governance Council earnestly instructing Ma Tiande before his arrival in Joyful City flashed through Li Fan's mind.
“The Star Sea’s ability to hunt Immortals with mortals is inseparable from the assistance of beings like Scholar Zhu, who have descended from immortality to the mortal realm.”
“Though they have fallen into the mortal world, the strength of these former True Immortals should not be underestimated.”
“Perhaps to placate them, or to allow their twisted hearts to vent, the Governance Council has prepared special 'amusement parks' for them. Joyful City is Scholar Zhu’s designated one.”
“All the beings seen within the city are long dead. It is a veritable ghost city. They can still maintain their physical forms, but it’s merely a peculiar energy sustaining them. Even with the constant cycle of day and night for three years, and endless mutual slaughter, no one truly dies. They merely await the next round to be reborn.”
“However, the ultimate victor in the slaughter…”
Li Fan clicked his tongue, savoring the taste of the red soup he had just consumed.
It was the taste of phantom consciousnesses, devoid of actual flesh and blood.
What Li Fan had ingested at Scholar Zhu’s residence was the meticulously brewed essence of countless beings’ consciousnesses after their experiences!
“It’s like an eternal lingering thought!”
“No wonder it tasted so delicious.”
After a bowl of red soup, one did not need to experience everything the beings in the bowl had gone through to directly reap the rewards.
And Joyful City itself could be seen as a larger bowl of red soup.
Except, the method of brewing the beings within Joyful City was even more exquisite.
Li Fan's thoughts raced, the top-grade Dao-Melting Stone’s computing power fully engaged.
He glimpsed the reality beneath the prosperous, spine-chilling scenes he had just witnessed.
“Influenced by the omnipresent Scripture Chanting Demonic Sounds, the experiences of the consciousnesses in the city grow almost every moment. The life experiences of any individual within the city likely surpass those of ordinary beings by hundreds or thousands of times!”
“Firstly, the consciousnesses that can endure after being force-fed these complex experiences have already undergone a qualitative transformation and are incomparable.”
“Secondly, it’s like brewing medicine; the efficacy of using a hundred-year-old ginseng differs greatly from that of a ten-thousand-year-old ginseng.”
“Under the shroud of the Profound Sounds, the brewing efficiency of Joyful City has increased immensely.”
Although he didn’t know what the ultimate goal of the master of Joyful City was, whether it was eternal lingering consciousness or not.
However, what he witnessed in Joyful City deeply highlighted the crudeness of his own methods, which he had previously considered ambitious.
“I once thought that cultivating eternal lingering consciousness in a fabricated dreamland was the pinnacle.”
“But I have been taught a lesson by this former True Immortal.”
“As expected of one who survived the great tribulation of the Immortal Realm’s destruction, their methods of torment are truly unheard of and worth learning.”
“Three years to blossom, three years to bear fruit. Such cycles repeating…”
“The so-called 'Grand Ceremony' is naturally a time to enjoy these fruits.”
Beings in Joyful City indulged themselves freely for three years, their desires constantly escalating and climbing.
At the moment they reached their peak, they exploded like a raging fire.
“The daytime slaughter must not be as simple as it appears.”
“If the city is still shrouded by demonic sounds, then the survivors would have to endure far more than imagined. And to still be alive at the end under such circumstances…”
Even Li Fan felt a flicker of desire for the freshness of this “fruit.”
“In thirty days, I might witness it firsthand.”
“It's imaginable that these lingering consciousness fruits would be immensely beneficial to cultivators, yet Scholar Zhu has only invited the ‘Blade Island’ faction?”
Although Ma Tiande was new, he had heard of Joyful City hosting various factions before.
“I wonder what anomaly has occurred this time.”
In the Star Sea, Blade Island and Sword Domain were two colossal forces. Sword Domain, centered around the ancient Heavenly Sword Sect of the Xuanhuang Realm, gathered a multitude of sword cultivators, commanding a vast influence of a million strong.
Blade Island, on the other hand, had always consisted of only eighteen cultivators. Those who wished to ascend the island had to challenge the existing islanders. The defeated would die, and the victor would join Blade Island. It was said that this was the rule established by the first cultivator who founded and ascended Blade Island. The number eighteen was added later; initially, only five peerless blade cultivators resided on Blade Island.
In the past, when the Star Sea was flourishing and blade cultivators were everywhere, disciples would continuously challenge cultivators on Blade Island. Although all who challenged never returned, new challengers kept coming.
This was because the essence of the “Dao of the Blade” was enshrined on Blade Island.
It was not some fantastical phenomenon, but truly the “Dao of the Blade” itself in the world.
To gaze upon it was to directly face the Great Dao. One could achieve enlightenment, even in death, without regret.
The Great Dao is formless, yet it manifested on Blade Island. There was a reason for this.
However, there was no definitive conclusion, with theories abounding. Even the Star Sea Governance Council had never given a direct response.
Among all the related rumors, the most convincing was that the leader of Blade Island was also a nameless True Immortal. And the Great Dao he had merged with was precisely the “Blade.”
After he descended to the mortal realm, the Great Dao returned to heaven and earth, but it was unclear by what method he solidified and revealed it. Thus, the formless and profound Great Dao could be perceived by mortal eyes.
“The person on Blade Island might even be an old acquaintance of Scholar Zhu from Joyful City.”
Nameless True Immortals only existed in ancient legends in the Abyssal Sea in the past. Upon arriving in Star Sea, he had already encountered two potential nameless True Immortals.
“Rather than saying it’s a matter of luck, it’s more that with the Immortal Realm’s destruction tribulation having progressed to this point, the former Immortals can only cling to survival in the same starry sky as mortals,” Li Fan scoffed inwardly.
Li Fan was not interested in the mentality of these True Immortals who had descended to the mortal world.
What truly piqued his interest was how these nameless True Immortals managed to descend to the mortal world and preserve their lives.
Li Fan had witnessed True Immortals descending to the mortal realm in the Xuanhuang Realm; it was not astonishing.
But to be in a nameless state, merged with the Dao, and return to heaven and earth as one of the Great Dao itself, how could one easily escape such a fate?
Recalling Scholar Zhu's ghastly appearance, neither human nor ghost, Li Fan was certain that nameless True Immortals had to pay an extremely terrible price to descend to the mortal world.
“An existence that could achieve the nameless state must have been an ancient prodigy. Yet, such beings have to cast aside their own paths…”
“Is it a desperate measure to preserve their lives amidst the Dao Erasure Tribulation, or a noble ideal to return the Dao to heaven and save the world?” Li Fan exhibited a rather playful expression.
This was similar to what happened in the Xuanhuang Realm after the birth of the new law.
Cultivators practiced by devouring the laws of heaven and earth. When a cultivator died, everything within them returned to heaven and earth. Nameless beings merged with the Dao.
If the nameless were destroyed, but the Great Dao remained, then naturally, the Dao would return to heaven and earth.
However, a contradiction arose naturally.
Since nameless True Immortals had already merged with the Dao, how could a situation arise where the nameless were destroyed, but the Great Dao remained?
“Perhaps it can be analogized to the situation in the Xuanhuang Realm.”
“Although those cultivators who had merged with the Dao were one with the essence of heaven and earth, with my current abilities and my understanding of the Xuanhuang Realm’s Heavenly Dao, capturing them and forcibly separating them from the essence of heaven and earth…”
“Would not be difficult!”
“Although the strength of nameless True Immortals far surpasses that of Azure Nether cultivators who have merged with the Dao, the underlying principle is the same.”
“Perhaps, the answer lies within the ‘The Dao Lattice’.”
Li Fan’s eyes gleamed.
As the ultimate means for Star Sea to contend with and hunt True Immortals, the The Dao Lattice naturally needed to encompass individuals like Scholar Zhu, who had been True Immortals.
And Ma Tiande was precisely the person responsible for maintaining and accessing the The Dao Lattice.
In fact, Ma Tiande’s life or death was not important. Even if he angered Scholar Zhu and was transformed into an eternal, sinking lingering consciousness within the endless cycle of reincarnation in Joyful City’s hell.
The next day, the Governance Council would quickly dispatch new personnel.
In Ma Tiande’s eyes, he was a high-end, sentient force of Star Sea. Running errands for fallen True Immortals like Scholar Zhu was beneath him, a waste of talent.
But to an outsider like Li Fan, it was clear.
He was merely expendable.
And expendables were inexhaustible.
Unperturbed by honor or disgrace, Li Fan delved into the data related to the The Dao Lattice in Ma Tiande’s mind.
“As I expected, the key to utilizing the The Dao Lattice is the Dao Origin symbols!”
“I have mastered the initial Dao Origin symbols. Using Ma Tiande's body to access the The Dao Lattice should not be a problem…”
But soon Li Fan realized how mistaken he was.
Compared to Qin Zhuang’s era, the complexity of the Dao Origin was tens of thousands of times greater!
Each command required the coordinated operation of hundreds of thousands of Dao Origin symbols. Any slight error would be recorded and transmitted to the Governance Council.
“Every person who passes the assessment has mastered the utilization of Dao Origin symbols thoroughly.”
“The Governance Council allows for one or two errors. But too many mistakes will undoubtedly arouse suspicion.”
The possession technique of the Dao Pill could only observe and inherit memories. However, for complex and exquisite operations like the application of Dao Origin symbols, perfect replication was difficult.
Especially since Li Fan was only a partial spiritual manifestation, not his entire consciousness, making it even more difficult.
“If only I had the Azure Nether Orb with me now.”
“I could have inherited Ma Tiande’s knowledge without any loss.”
Li Fan shook his head slightly, suppressing unrealistic fantasies.
He could not obtain the assistance of the Azure Nether Orb while infiltrating Star Sea alone.
“In thirty days, the Grand Ceremony will be held, requiring the cooperation of the The Dao Lattice.”
“It seems that self-study is the best course of action.”
“Fortunately, with the assistance of the top-grade Dao-Melting Stone, reproducing what Ma Tiande can do should be as easy as pie.”
Li Fan began studying the Dao Origin symbol knowledge in Ma Tiande’s mind from scratch.
The “Fundamentals of Dao Origin: Thirty Lectures” he had learned from Qin Zhuang’s memories were now completely outdated. Even the meaning of many symbols had changed entirely.
Li Fan had no choice but to abandon his previous understanding and start anew.
However, the path to mastering Dao Origin symbols was not as easy as Li Fan imagined. The biggest reason was that Ma Tiande’s learning process for Dao Origin symbols had vanished from his mind.
Ma Tiande had no recollection of how he had mastered Dao Origin, only knowing that he had acquired this skill after arduous study.
There was only the result, not the cause.
Li Fan could only work backward from the result.
If not for the Dao-Melting Stone, this first step would not have been possible.
Even with the aid of the Dao-Melting Stone, it was no simple feat for Li Fan to decipher and connect to the The Dao Lattice in a short period.
Unable to replicate the process that Tiande Ma had learned, Li Fan could only resort to trial and error, starting from the most fundamental The Dao Lattice patterns and instructions.
"Each pattern instruction will react with the The Dao Lattice and be supervised by the Governing Council. There are only one or two chances for error."
"However, my trial and error does not require connection to the The Dao Lattice. I only need to verify whether the arrangements of Dao Origin can be established."
According to Tiande Ma's memories, upon successfully writing a Dao Origin instruction, a peculiar, chilling energy would be felt within the body. This energy connected heaven and earth, like a key, unlocking the The Dao Lattice patterns.
What Li Fan needed to do now was to continuously write Dao Origin instructions, verify the formations of Dao Origin, and then dismantle them before they could connect to the The Dao Lattice.
The challenge lay in hindering the transmission of Dao Origin instructions to the The Dao Lattice.
However, Li Fan soon conceived of a brilliant idea.
"The Heaven and Earth The Dao Lattice is fundamentally the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth. The Great Dao is formless, flowing through all things. All beings and objects in the world are inevitably subject to the shadow of the Great Dao."
"However, there is one thing that the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth shuns!"
A sharp glint flashed in his eyes, and within an instant, a vague figure appeared from the Azure Nether phantom enveloped by Li Fan's divine sense.
It was precisely the Heavenly and Earthly Essence, Mosa!
Initially, Mosa's appearance remained consistent with the initial state of the Xuanhuang Realm. But under the catalyst of Li Fan's divine sense, it began to change rapidly.
It was as if the true Heavenly and Earthly Essence, Mosa, had descended here!
In fact, after Li Fan had integrated with the Heavenly and Earthly Essence, Mosa, his divine sense alone was enough to manifest the Mosa Immortal Soul. However, the wisp of divine sense that had infiltrated the Star Sea of the North was too weak. Even with full power, it would likely be quickly consumed in a standoff with the The Dao Lattice.
To engage in a prolonged battle, he needed to borrow energy from the Azure Nether phantom.
"The Mosa Immortal Soul is not a product of the Dao Erasure Tribulation. It is a fusion of the Dao Erasure dark energy and the Heavenly Dao's Great Dao. It is both a part of the Great Dao and possesses certain characteristics of Dao Erasure."
"As long as the fluctuations are not too intense, it should be able to block the The Dao Lattice's perception."
In the blink of an eye, the Mosa Immortal Soul transformed into vast expanses of black shadows, sealing Li Fan's surroundings tightly. Li Fan sat cross-legged in the black void, commencing his attempts at combining Dao Origin symbols.
In the Star Sea of the North, Dao Origin symbols were used to resonate with the power of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth. According to Zhuang Qin's memories, the combination of hundreds of Dao Origin symbols could unleash power comparable to True Immortal Sigils.
But now, through Li Fan's direct experimentation in the City of Ultimate Bliss, he discovered that the previous combinations had all become ineffective.
Or rather, it was as if something had been upgraded.
After trying all possible combinations of hundreds of Dao Origin symbols, no energy fluctuations were produced. Li Fan gradually increased the scale of his probing.
Thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands...
Only when millions of Dao Origin symbols danced together did it seem to finally form a key, fitting into the correct keyhole.
The moment the combination was complete, Li Fan indeed detected a wisp of energy that spread outwards like lightning.
Even with his current reaction speed, he didn't have time to stop it.
But this wisp of energy, upon approaching the shadow formed by the Mosa Immortal Soul, seemed to encounter something terrifyingly malevolent and immediately halted its advance.
After several attempts, it remained hesitant!
Li Fan's plan had indeed worked.
The birth and transmission of Dao Origin instructions were incredibly swift, far exceeding Li Fan's reaction speed.
However, they were ultimately no match for the Dao Erasure Tribulation.
Unable to break through the Mosa Immortal Soul's blockade, they were firmly bound within the black spherical shadow surrounding Li Fan.
Li Fan looked at the wisp of peculiar energy, which wriggled like a disturbed snake, but he did not attempt to capture it directly. Instead, he observed it from afar.
"The Dao Lattice patterns, basic level instructions..."
This wisp of energy seemed to have its own lifespan, like a living being. Trapped and unable to advance, it gradually weakened and eventually dissipated entirely within the shadows.
Li Fan then recorded this successful attempt.
"According to Tiande Ma's memories, this is the simplest one, belonging to the most basic introductory level."
"The instructions for actual application, connecting to and manipulating the The Dao Lattice, are hundreds of times more complex. Some even involve the superposition of multiple instructions..."
However, having found a method for experimentation, no matter how complex, it could no longer stump Li Fan.
Within the shadowy sphere, Dao Origin symbols rapidly condensed and dispersed, evolving into countless different forms.
Occasionally, lightning-like energy signals would emerge, but they were all intercepted by the Mosa Immortal Soul.
Before each signal dissipated, Li Fan recorded it.
Slowly, Li Fan finally gained a preliminary grasp of the so-called The Dao Lattice pattern instructions.
Just as he was preparing to try more advanced instructions, Li Fan felt an inexplicable sense of crisis.
He abruptly paused his imminent actions.
"Mosa's blockade should be fine."
"Could it be that those energy signals, which appeared to have dissipated, did not truly vanish? Instead, they still exist in this space?"
Li Fan quickly found a possible reason.
His gaze was sharp, intensely scanning, repeatedly scanning.
Yet, he could not detect any anomalies.
After pondering for a moment, Li Fan changed his approach.
"The one who tied the bell must untie it. This should be related to the The Dao Lattice's power system. I'll deal with it using corresponding methods."
With a shift in his thoughts, countless Dao Origin symbols were generated. Under Li Fan's deliberate manipulation, they did not form any meaningful pattern instructions.
They merely floated and drifted, seemingly attracting something.
After wandering in circles, there was no result.
The sense of crisis in Li Fan's heart did not diminish, so he changed the arrangement.
With patient attempts, he finally achieved something.
Within the space sealed by Mosa's shadow, a dim fluctuation suddenly appeared. The Dao Origin symbols Li Fan had conjured, like a magnet, pulled out the hidden instruction!
Li Fan's eyes narrowed slightly, and Mosa's shadow transformed into chains, rapidly coiling and locking onto this instruction.
"This is... a portion of the previous instructions remains upon their natural dissipation. If too many accumulate at the same time, these residues will spontaneously combine into a brand new warning instruction. And..."
This warning message, composed of remnants of Dao Origin instructions, did not behave like other instructions, being suppressed by the Mosa Immortal Soul.
Even under the shadows' suppression, it continuously surged and resisted. The chains trembled violently, and the warning information seemed on the verge of breaking free.
"This pattern instruction is not in Tiande Ma's memories. It should only circulate within the The Dao Lattice, used for..."
"Warning of the Dao Erasure Tribulation!" Li Fan instantly analyzed the seemingly "malicious" combination of Dao Origin symbols before him.
This instruction was different from the ones Li Fan had replicated before.
It did not dissipate with the passage of time; an invisible force seemed to maintain its existence.
Moreover, Li Fan faintly sensed that this instruction would continuously replicate and strengthen itself based on the duration of its existence.
Around the warning instruction, light and shadow began to fluctuate.
This was a new warning, spontaneously formed by the summons of a certain power.
"It seems I can't just leave it as it is."
"One warning cannot break through Mosa's blockade. If there are too many..."
Li Fan’s heart tightened, and Mosa's shadows began to charge towards the locked warning signal in the center.
Under the devouring of countless shadows, the warning signal's vitality appeared extraordinarily tenacious.
It took Li Fan nearly three days and nights to finally completely consume it.
If not for the energy supply equivalent to the entire Xuanhuang Realm in the Ascended state, he might not have been able to outlast it!
"This, I fear, is the underlying logic of the The Dao Lattice! One of the fundamental reasons why civilizations outside the wall could barely survive the Dao Erasure Tribulation!" Li Fan was profoundly shaken.
Mosa's power was his, and he was Mosa.
In the process of devouring the warning signal, Li Fan also vaguely grasped its essence.
If Mosa was an attempt to lean towards the Dao Erasure side, "learning from foreign techniques to counter foreign aggression," then this underlying warning signal represented the ultimate "resistance."
Li Fan seemed to see unwavering figures, resolute even amidst the surging tides of the Dao Erasure Tribulation.
He seemed to see an intent that stood firm, propping up the collapsing heavens, even as the Great Dao crushed all things and all matter collapsed.
Almost instantly, Li Fan saw an image that he had once seen of the Southern Immortal Heavenly Pillar. And he truly felt an extremely similar aura from the The Dao Lattice's warning signal just now!
"It's not an illusion!"
Li Fan savored it repeatedly and, upon confirming, felt an inexplicable astonishment.
"The Southern Immortal Heavenly Pillar was able to become a Heavenly Pillar because of the nameless True Immortal's leg bone within the stone tablet. Heaven and Earth are like a net, and the Great Dao is like a pillar. Although the nameless True Immortal merged with the Dao and escaped, he could still return to Heaven and Earth after death, becoming a support once more."
"And this The Dao Lattice can also achieve this..."
With his vigilance dispelled, Li Fan continued testing the The Dao Lattice pattern instructions with his suspicions.
All The Dao Lattice instructions were built upon the most basic operations.
After mastering basic instructions, with the assistance of Tiande Ma's memories, Li Fan's progress snowballed.
Three days before the grand ceremony of the City of Ultimate Bliss, Li Fan's The Dao Lattice operation skills finally caught up to and even surpassed Tiande Ma's.
However, he had never officially connected to the The Dao Lattice. Li Fan was only judging based on the speed and proficiency of generating The Dao Lattice instructions.
"What exactly does the The Dao Lattice look like? Let me get a glimpse."
Around him, Mosa's shadows quietly receded, lifting their blockade.
From now on, every instruction Li Fan composed would connect to the The Dao Lattice. Li Fan was also prepared to have his possession exposed and to sever his arm at any moment to preserve his life.
His expression solemn, with a turn of his thought, a diagram materialized before Li Fan.
This had not appeared under the blockade.
Li Fan sensed a mysterious power descending subtly from heaven and earth, enveloping him, even ignoring the blockade of Scholarly Official Zhu, the Lord of the City of Ultimate Bliss.
His vision instantly soared infinitely high. The City of Ultimate Bliss rapidly shrank, becoming like a black dot, disappearing from his perception.
A multicolored, interwoven net stood, spanning heaven and earth.
However, this net did not fill every corner of his vision; it was surprisingly tattered and incomplete!
Not to mention the countless large holes scattered across it.
The mere existence of several large missing areas was enough to shock him.
Beneath this multicolored net, Li Fan faintly glimpsed the true Great Dao of Heaven and Earth.
The Great The Dao Lattice, like a sheet of white paper, was imprinted and superimposed upon the crisscrossing Great Dao of Heaven and Earth.
It served as a bridge, making it controllable by mortal cultivators.
Li Fan also saw that in the broken areas of the Great The Dao Lattice, countless multicolored halos were gathered, seemingly attempting to mend the gaps.
And beyond the vast blank areas of the Great The Dao Lattice, an invisible giant hand vaguely existed, pressing the paper-like Great The Dao Lattice further towards the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth.
This caused those things that were not "imprinted" to gradually reveal themselves on the Great The Dao Lattice.
Even though it appeared unsightly and crude at first glance, Li Fan was deeply captivated by this magnificent sight.
"This is the scene of man conquering heaven."
"The myriad Great Daos, formless and intangible, ethereal and unreachable. Yet, through such an incredible method, they can be transformed into creations that can be manipulated by humans..."
As Li Fan marveled, he did not forget the operations required for accessing the The Dao Lattice.
With the grand ceremony of the City of Ultimate Bliss fast approaching, it was customary to conduct inspections of the The Dao Lattice connections and coverage in the area where the City of Ultimate Bliss was located.
The inspection work naturally did not fall to Tiande Ma.
He only needed to issue a notification signal and cooperate with the relevant cultivators.
Li Fan saw multicolored streams of light fleeing from the depths of the The Dao Lattice. Through the signal he transmitted, they initially led to the small dots where the City of Ultimate Bliss was located.
After a round, they quickly returned.
Next, another stream of light flashed, but this time it came from another direction of the The Dao Lattice.
It continued to probe the location of the City of Ultimate Bliss.
This cycle repeated.
Li Fan watched all this silently, suddenly feeling a sense of "both advanced and backward."
"It's called the The Dao Lattice, yet it still requires manual cooperation..."
"Hmm?"
Li Fan's eyes suddenly flashed as he looked at the The Dao Lattice.
Whether it was his imagination or not, during the The Dao Lattice's operation and inspection of the City of Ultimate Bliss, this entire "white paper" covering the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth seemed to undulate as if blown by a gentle breeze.
It even seemed like it could be lifted at any moment!
But outside the Great The Dao Lattice, the hand-like shadow held it down firmly,
preventing it from truly detaching from the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth.
"So unstable..."
"This The Dao Lattice does not appear to be in a stable state."
Li Fan mused thoughtfully.
Besides the invisible hand, Li Fan also sensed that other forces within the The Dao Lattice were maintaining its stability.
Li Fan observed carefully but found nothing.
The inspection of the City of Ultimate Bliss was nearing its end.
Before disconnecting from the The Dao Lattice, Li Fan suddenly had an epiphany: "Nameless True Immortal?"
He sharply turned his gaze towards several important nodes within the The Dao Lattice.
Li Fan vaguely felt a presence similar to the Southern Immortal Pillar from several key nodes of the The Dao Lattice.
Before he could ponder this further, the magnificent The Dao Lattice before him suddenly vanished from sight.
In the City of Ultimate Bliss, the surrounding cacophony seemed to disappear for a fleeting moment, only to return to normal instantly. It was likely that only Li Fan, who was responsible for inspecting and maintaining the The Dao Lattice, or the City Lord of Ultimate Bliss, could have perceived the change that occurred above the city.
If the The Dao Lattice was akin to a blank paper imprinted on the surface of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth, then inspecting it was like splashing ink on that paper and then forcefully pressing down.
"The traces of the The Dao Lattice are becoming clearer. Those bound within the net struggle to escape."
Li Fan narrowed his eyes, seemingly seeing Scholar Zhu's sinister face, yet he did not stop the The Dao Lattice's encroachment on the City of Ultimate Bliss. He merely watched silently, allowing his "toys" to sink deeper and deeper within the net.
After the roaring of the The Dao Lattice subsided, Scholar Zhu finally cast a glance at where Li Fan was.
Li Fan bowed slightly, feigning a look of tension.
Only after a full three breaths did Scholar Zhu avert his gaze and disappear into the city.
Li Fan ignored the implicit threat. He temporarily cast aside all distracting thoughts and recalled every detail of the The Dao Lattice he had witnessed not long ago.
Ma Tiande, as one of the grassroots operators of the The Dao Lattice, was not purely expendable. In fact, being able to access and observe the The Dao Lattice up close was an unparalleled opportunity that all cultivators dreamed of.
The Dao was formless and invisible.
Cultivators sought it ceaselessly, their ultimate goal being to approach the Dao, the origin of all things.
Although Ma Tiande was a so-called Dao Manipulator, his actual cultivation was only equivalent to the Nascent Soul realm. At this level, let alone comprehending the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth, he could not even grasp a single thread of the countless Daos.
However, precisely because of his special identity as a Dao Manipulator, he could frequently glimpse the The Dao Lattice, which was a reflection of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth.
"Ma Tiande's aptitude is truly mediocre. In the Abyssal Star Sea, he wouldn't even reach Qi Refining. Furthermore, the Star Sea Governance Council intentionally withheld any cultivation concepts or knowledge from him. Thus, despite countless opportunities to approach the Great Dao, his cultivation remains mediocre."
"He possesses immense treasure yet remains unaware!"
Li Fan sighed, slowly digesting the profound insights that swirled in his mind.
"True Immortal Sigils is a transcription by the Script-Carving Immortals. By studying True Immortal Sigils, mortals can glimpse the world's Great Dao through the eyes of the Script-Carving Immortals."
"Whereas the The Dao Lattice is directly the shadow of the Great Dao, or perhaps, a replica."
"It is even closer to the 'Dao' itself than True Immortal Sigils."
"Remarkable!" Even the well-informed Li Fan offered sincere praise.
Li Fan's comprehension was certainly not comparable to Ma Tiande's.
During his first glimpse, inspiration surged like never before. Li Fan began to compare and verify the scattered fragments of 'Dao' he had seen through various channels with the actual The Dao Lattice.
His comprehension of the 'Dao' soared, wave after wave like a raging sea’s tide.
This was, in a sense, a long-brewing effort finally bearing fruit, a destined convergence.
Although it was merely a wisp of divine sense, when it could align with the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth, it could perform miracles. The divine sense became like a thin film, upon which countless blurry, crisscrossing lines appeared.
It bore a striking resemblance to the The Dao Lattice Li Fan had seen, showing seventy to eighty percent similarity!
Indeed, Li Fan had used his divine sense as paper and, on the The Dao Lattice, a replica of the Great Dao, had made yet another imprint!
Even though it was a replica of a replica, the original source was the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth!
Even though Li Fan's divine sense film had only barely managed to replicate the most basic shape, it was enough to manifest the true power of the Great Dao.
The light flickered on the film, seemingly resonating with the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth.
As if empowered by infinite vitality and momentum, the interplay of light and shadow completed Li Fan's "feeble" divine sense.
Slowly, this wisp of divine sense gradually incubated into the complete likeness of Li Fan!
However, the details remained somewhat blurry.
"This is... Mind Manifesting Soul Transformation?"
The moment the Mind Manifesting Soul Transformation was born, Li Fan's main body, far away in the Xuanhuang Realm, changed its expression drastically. He sensed everything that had transpired in the Star Sea and the City of Ultimate Bliss.
He had severed all connection with his divine sense. Without the link provided by the Dream Land of Bliss, and separated by a distance equivalent to dozens of Abyssal Star Seas, a formless The Great Barrier stood between them.
Yet, Li Fan could still synchronize with this spectral divine sense.
Li Fan's expression gradually became one of profound realization.
"It's not a direct connection between them, but rather through the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth as a relay."
"All things in the world, from top to bottom, are projections of the Great Dao. My own part, its projection within the Great Dao, is unique."
"Despite the vast distance and various obstacles, as long as we both exist under this Great Dao of Heaven and Earth, this synchronization cannot be affected."
Li Fan quickly understood the reason behind this seemingly impossible outcome.
By utilizing his profound understanding of the Great Dao, he had, using the The Dao Lattice as a template, constructed a miniature The Dao Lattice on himself!
As his divine sense connected with the one in the Star Sea, Li Fan's main body's divine sense also underwent corresponding changes.
There was no disparity in the clarity of the depicted patterns on the film due to the difference between the main body and the clone. Everything depended on the grasp of the Great Dao.
Within his sea of consciousness, after the Mind Manifesting Soul Transformation was born, Li Fan's spectral form stood tall.
The Dao-Melting Stone emitted a brilliant blue light, which then transformed into countless rays, surging into the spectral form.
It further refined the Great Dao patterns on it!
Some of the lines from the Dao-Melting Stone perfectly integrated into the spectral form of the Mind Manifesting Soul Transformation. Others, after a brief inspection, found no suitable place to reside. Unable to usurp any position, they aimlessly circled a few times before emerging from the spectral form.
It reverted back into a Dao-Melting Stone.
However, due to the missing portions of the Great Dao it embodied, the quality of this Dao-Melting Stone had fallen from Mother Stone grade to medium grade.
But this was not what Li Fan cared about.
Given some time, he could restore the Dao-Melting Stone's quality effortlessly by continuously layering the True-False Transformation.
"This phenomenon with the Dao-Melting Stone confirms my previous conjecture."
"The Dao Dissolution Mother Stone was indeed formed from a complete Dao of possibility. However, that potential Dao was not the same as the 'Primordial' world I inhabit. It was even weaker. Therefore, only a portion of the Dao within the Dao-Melting Stone emerged to complement the Dao imagery in my Mind Manifesting Soul Transformation."
"But even so, with the supplement from the Dao-Melting Stone, this miniature The Dao Lattice I constructed instantly transformed from unbearable to somewhat presentable."
Li Fan's consciousness was immersed in the The Dao Lattice within his divine sense, completely captivated.
Due to the substantial external assistance, Li Fan initially lacked the absolute control he had initially anticipated. This had its pros and cons.
However, as it was built upon Li Fan's divine sense, Li Fan still retained absolute control.
After indulging in it for a long time, Li Fan finally came to his senses, exhaled deeply, and said, "This is already very close to the theoretical Mind Manifesting Soul Transformation."
"Using one's own thoughts to bear the shadow of the Great Dao."
"By chance, I have bypassed several steps before the New Law and reached this stage directly."
"Although there are some flaws..."
In the perfect state theorized by the New Law, the spectral form of Li Fan's divine sense would not merely display a distorted imitation. Instead, his divine sense would act like a mirror, reflecting and manifesting the entire Great Dao of Heaven and Earth within it.
"My divine sense, from bottom to top, traces back to the origin of the Great Dao. Every thought and every intention can wield the power of the Great Dao."
"Alas, what I am reflecting is merely an incomplete replica."
Li Fan felt a slight regret in his heart.
However, he also knew that even at his current Half-Immortal realm, gazing upon and probing the true Great Dao of this world was an utterly delusional ambition.
"An imitation manifested with the help of a peerless expert is also a temporary substitute."
After manifesting the miniature The Dao Lattice with his thoughts, its benefits were far more than simply enabling real-time communication regardless of distance.
At the very least, Li Fan now possessed the ability to directly wield the power of the Great Dao against enemies, similar to those Immortal Hunters in the Star Sea.
"However, the power of my miniature The Dao Lattice is incomparable to the 'The Dao Lattice' constructed in the Star Sea."
"But its efficiency is still more than a hundred times higher than directly using True Immortal Sigils."
Now that Li Fan possessed his own The Dao Lattice, he naturally understood the operational differences compared to conventional methods.
"Perhaps it is only now, with the Immortal Realm destroyed and immortals absent, that this method carries no risk."
"If it were in ancient times, when unknown True Immortals merged with the Great Dao, if I had used the The Dao Lattice to wield the power of the Great Dao, they who reside within the Great Dao would have sensed me."
"I would have been the public enemy of all unknown True Immortals... I would have attracted their combined pursuit and killing right at the beginning of my Dao attainment. I wouldn't even know how I died."
Even though the quality of his own Dao-Melting Stone had declined after integrating the Dao contained within it, Li Fan's thoughts did not slow down.
In an instant, he had considered many things.
"Now, who knows how many unknown True Immortals are left. And with another larger The Dao Lattice acting as a cover and drawing fire..."
"It's impossible to attract the attention of the unknown True Immortals."
"Even..."
Suddenly, a surge of inexplicable confidence welled up in Li Fan's heart. After his Mind Manifesting Soul Transformation recreated his own The Dao Lattice, he was no longer entirely defenseless even against unknown True Immortals.
"An unknown True Immortal completely controls a Great Dao of Heaven and Earth."
"My Mind Manifesting Soul Transformation, although merely an incomplete imprint replica of the Great Dao, can wield extremely limited power of the Great Dao."
"But it excels in quantity. And ultimately, it is the power of the Great Dao. Theoretically, it is the same power used by unknown True Immortals, just much weaker." Li Fan understood this clearly.
This was not a result of fleeting arrogance after a breakthrough, but a rational deduction based on his understanding of the Great Dao.
"This is still a half-baked Mind Manifesting Soul Transformation."
"If it were the ideal state of the New Law, perhaps Mind Manifesting Soul Transformation could truly contend with unknown True Immortals."
"If even the Soul Transformation realm is like this, what about Star Sea Dao Integration and Resonating Dao Longevity?"
"Could that be the realm where Black Heavenly Physician and Evil Su Bai are located?"
Li Fan could hardly suppress his imagination.
After a long while, the torrent of thoughts subsided.
"The reason I could achieve Mind Manifesting Soul Transformation was purely accidental."
"In my past hundred reincarnations, I not only saw numerous True Immortal Sigilss but also glimpsed the complete Immortal Realm, the leg bone of a True Immortal, and even scenes of black energy descending and the Great Dao annihilating. The rise and fall of the Dao have allowed me to accumulate an unimaginable level of comprehension of the Great Dao."
"These alone are far from enough. With the 'The Dao Lattice' in the Star Sea as a springboard, I was able to convert all my past accumulations into reality. Although a replica of a replica is further from the original, it is the best way for a 'newcomer' like me to achieve imitation."
"In addition to this, and more critically..."
Li Fan's spectral divine sense surveyed his entire being.
For the first time, he vaguely perceived the existence of 'Reflection'.
It was as elusive as the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth, and in Li Fan's perception, it was merely an indescribable, blurry figure. But Li Fan, who had long been associated with Reflection, was certain.
That was 'Reflection'.
"The True-False Transformation contained within Reflection seems to encompass all the Great Daos of Heaven and Earth."
"My comprehension of the True-False Transformation continuously deepens. To some extent, it signifies a deepening understanding of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth."
"Currently, I can temporarily maintain the existence of 'Falsehood into Truth' items. This might be the fundamental reason why I can accept a complete Dao of possibility with my spectral divine sense."
"If it were anyone else..."
Li Fan pondered for a moment, then shook his head slightly.
"Only exceptional talent, coupled with opportune timing and favorable circumstances, could achieve this."
"I originally thought I had truly opened a new path for the New Law."
"Unexpectedly, I ended up cheating by relying on 'Reflection' and skipping the earlier stages. This is an isolated case and cannot be replicated."
However, Li Fan never cared if others could cultivate.
As long as it was effective for himself, that was enough.
"Although this is only a half-baked Mind Manifesting Soul Transformation, it has inadvertently pointed me in the direction for my future progress."
"Maximizing contact with the 'The Dao Lattice' to perfect my imitation."
"The True-False Transformation and comprehension of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth, working in tandem, will gradually bring my The Dao Lattice reflection closer to the fundamental essence of the Great Dao..."
Li Fan was overjoyed.
Although the Immortal Path was severed, enlightened by the Star Sea civilization outside the The Great Barrier, he had found a new possible path within such a short period.
"This is not just a momentary achievement for a mortal."
"Setting aside the involvement of True Immortals, there is also a disparity in the flow of time between the inside and outside of the wall..."
Li Fan frowned slightly, calculating.
The flow of time within the Abyssal Sea was inconsistent due to the existence of the Immortal Ruins. Thus, Li Fan only compared the Xuanhuang Realm to the City of Ultimate Bliss in the Star Sea.
Under normal circumstances, the difference was more than one hundred and twenty times.
This meant that while over a hundred and twenty years passed in the Star Sea, barely a year elapsed in the Xuanhuang Realm.
"A time flow rate of over a hundred times explains the enormous disparity between the inside and outside of the The Great Barrier.
Not only has the current state of the Star Sea greatly changed since Qin Zhuang's departure, but time has truly left its mark.
Having initially constructed a projection of the Great Dao and a miniature The Dao Lattice within himself, Li Fan's understanding of the 'Dao' had reached an entirely new level.
Therefore, when faced with this incredible phenomenon of temporal acceleration, Li Fan naturally began to harbor doubts.
"Theoretically speaking, the 'The Hunger Seal' can indeed achieve such an effect when comprehended to its extreme. But...
This is the manifestation that should belong to the Nameless, who proved their Dao with 'Starvation'."
"From the appearances of the Starving Immortals I've encountered, it's clear she hasn't reached such a level."
Various images of the Starving Immortal flashed through Li Fan's mind.
When the Cat Treasure appeared, she was cornered and captured. Even when the dark tide, an omen of the Dao Erasure Tribulation, appeared, and not the tribulation itself, she turned pale with fear. It seemed she could only survive by relying on the Southern Immortal Pillar. Even when Evil Su Bai approached to an extreme and stepped on her face, she remained oblivious...
"She might be only a step away from becoming Nameless, but this single step's disparity, when manifested externally, is like heaven and earth!"
"The abnormal time flow in the Abyssal Sea is likely not caused by the Starving Immortal. Or rather, only a small part of the Starving Immortal's Dao Comprehension is involved.
The greater reason seems to stem from the Immortal Ruins themselves."
Li Fan recalled the scenes he had witnessed within the Immortal Ruins.
Besides vast expanses of ruins, the most striking feature was the colossal character 'Starvation' inscribed on the ground.
Li Fan had previously speculated that this character might have been personally inscribed by the Script-Carving Immortal. Now, it seemed this character might hold a deeper mystery.
"The Starving Immortal could break free from her shackles at any time; those golden chains were clearly for self-restraint. The Immortal Ruins were once the site of the ascension passage to the Immortal Realm. When the Immortal Realm suffered the Dao Erasure Tribulation, the Great Dao collapsed, and all things crumbled. The surviving Immortals fled from the Immortal Realm's passage, desperately descending to the Lower Realm," Li Fan deduced, tracing back the events of that time.
"The Dao Erasure Tribulation could even destroy the Immortal Realm. At that time, who could guarantee that the terrifying tribulation wouldn't spread along the ascension passage? Theoretically, one should flee as far as possible. Yet, the Starving Immortal lingered in such a dangerous place. She even disregarded the danger and began to comprehend her Dao on the spot...
In the past, I overlooked the illogical aspects of this."
Li Fan's gaze drifted back towards the Immortal Ruins above: "If the Starving Immortal insisted on comprehending her Dao using the True Immortal Sigils inscribed on the land, she could have directly taken the entire land, along with the character, to a safe place for secluded cultivation.
But she did not do so.
The Dao Erasure Tribulation abruptly ceased and did not affect the Lower Realm. The True Immortal Sigils on the land of the Immortal Ruins, and the anomaly it caused, was equivalent to the peak of Dao Comprehension, the realm of the Nameless Immortal. As for the leg bone of the Nameless Immortal, which served as the Immortal Heavenly Pillar...
These numerous clues, one by one, flashed through Li Fan's mind. Finally, they connected to form the most plausible possibility.
"The Starving Immortal did not move the 'Starvation' character. It was not that she was unwilling, but that she was unable. Because, beneath the 'Starvation' character, or the character itself, was the transformed remains of a Nameless True Immortal!"
"Whether this Nameless Immortal willed it or was forced, after their demise, they returned to the Great Dao, transforming into the 'Heavenly Pillar,' temporarily holding up the collapsing heavens of the Immortal Realm!"
"And precisely because of the death of the Nameless Immortal who proved their Dao with Starvation, the one in the Immortal Ruins gained the opportunity to comprehend the 'Starvation' character and attempt to re-attain the Nameless realm!"
Li Fan's heart trembled, and his thoughts continued to expand.
Given the boundless nature of the Immortal Realm and the Lower Realm's Star Sea, the so-called ascension passages were likely not singular.
From the current state of the Lower Realm's Star Sea, although most areas were destroyed by the Dao Erasure Tribulation, many surviving regions still existed.
"Perhaps, this is the protection of other Nameless True Immortals!"
"Using themselves as pillars, they withstood the overwhelming catastrophe that rained down.
Li Fan let out a long sigh.
"If the The Great Barrier is the collapsed remnants of a broken structure, then the Nameless Immortals are the pillars positioned higher above.
With the protection of the Nameless True Immortals, the Abyssal Sea has become like this desolate land...
Perhaps the Lower Realm's Star Sea can continue to sustain life. The sacrifices of the Nameless True Immortals are absolutely indispensable.
The Nameless True Immortal, by embodying the Dao, is no longer the same species as mortals, or even True Immortals.
But this is merely Li Fan's perspective.
Perhaps, among these Nameless True Immortals, there were individuals with noble character like Su Bai, willing to sacrifice themselves to save the beings in the world, even if only temporarily.
Or perhaps, the Immortals who fled downwards had anticipated that the Dao Erasure Tribulation would chase after them. For the sake of their own lives, some of them needed to step forward and 'self-sacrifice' to buy enough time for others to escape.
In any case, some Nameless True Immortals transformed into pillars standing between heaven and earth, temporarily holding back the Dao Erasure Tribulation.
However, this method could only preserve life for a time, not forever.
The Dao Erasure Tribulation would only be postponed, not disappear.
"Behind the The Dao Lattice, the influence of these Immortals can still be faintly discerned."
"Some of the The Dao Lattice nodes I observed even carry the aura of Nameless True Immortal remains."
However, Li Fan was not surprised by this.
The miniature The Dao Lattice in Li Fan's divine sense was merely a projection. He deeply understood how difficult it was to align a tangible creation with the ephemeral Great Dao.
"The Dao Lattice is unstable in its operation.
The large hand I glimpsed outside the The Dao Lattice, which served to stabilize it, could only play a supplementary role. That hand was clearly not manifest at all times. What truly anchors the The Dao Lattice...
Li Fan seemed to see the The Dao Lattice spanning across heaven and earth once more.
Other insignificant lines had all vanished, leaving only a few crucial nodes.
They belonged to the The Dao Lattice and, simultaneously, existed within the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth!
It was precisely because of the unique nature of these nodes that the 'The Dao Lattice' could cling tightly to the intangible and formless Great Dao of Heaven and Earth!
"Nameless True Immortals!"
"Possibly, even living Nameless True Immortals!"
After Manifesting His Divine Soul, Li Fan once again peered into the hidden secrets of the The Dao Lattice.
The few remaining The Dao Lattice nodes in his sight faintly displayed blurred human-like figures. Then, they fixed their gaze upon Li Fan, and without warning, suddenly opened their eyes!
One by one, the Nameless True Immortals seemed to reveal their true forms.
They all looked at Li Fan!
A chilling sensation inexplicably surged in his heart. Startled, Li Fan broke free from the illusion.
The figures vanished, appearing as mere ordinary nodes.
However, Li Fan's mind was far from calm.
Was it just an illusion?
Li Fan did not think so.
At his current level of cultivation, even a genuine Immortal-grade illusion formation would have difficulty affecting him.
Much less would an illusion appear before his eyes without reason.
"The most likely explanation is..."
"The Nameless True Immortal nodes exist simultaneously within the The Dao Lattice and the Great Dao."
"My Great Dao projection in the Manifestation of Divine Soul also mirrored these nodes."
"So, in a sense, I did see them!"
With a shift in his thoughts, Li Fan arrived at his conclusion.
Soon, a question arose in his mind.
Since Li Fan could see them, could these Nameless True Immortals also see Li Fan?
Inevitably, a sense of unease welled up in Li Fan's heart.
While he believed he could contend with a Nameless True Immortal, it didn't mean he could remain composed under the gaze of several.
Although his exceptionally accurate intuition did not currently issue a danger warning, and although he was already fixed as a "living stake" node within the The Dao Lattice, the existence of these Nameless True Immortals that Li Fan perceived made him feel as if he were sitting on pins and needles, with eyes on his back.
However, to easily abandon the power of Manifesting His Divine Soul that he had already obtained due to this impending, unarrived danger, was absolutely impossible!
Li Fan's main consciousness rapidly contemplated countermeasures.
Meanwhile, in the City of Ultimate Bliss in the Star Sea, Li Fan's divine sense, embodied as Ma Tiande, was already preparing for the grand ceremony of the City of Ultimate Bliss.
The full-range communication ability of Manifesting His Divine Soul allowed his divine sense to ignore spatial blockades and learn everything his main consciousness had deduced.
However, these troubles would be borne by his main consciousness.
His divine sense now needed to continue lurking in the City of Ultimate Bliss and further probe the The Dao Lattice.
But first, he had to overcome the current hurdle: the grand ceremony of the City of Ultimate Bliss.
Scholar Zhu clearly detested the encroachment of the The Dao Lattice. However, for some reason, he would not directly turn hostile. He would only vent his anger on Ma Tiande, who was directly responsible and appeared before him.
To Scholar Zhu, cultivators like Ma Tiande, despite wearing the skin of a The Dao Lattice operator, were still like ants.
Li Fan sat cross-legged in Ma Tiande's residence, contemplating an escape strategy.
"For this grand ceremony, Blade Island did not show Scholar Zhu any respect, sending no one. On the other hand, the Sword Domain dispatched three cultivators.
The identities of these three are currently unknown, but as representatives of the Star Sea's top powers, their lives should not be as precarious as mine," Li Fan's divine sense thought self-mockingly.
"With only the Sword Domain participating in the entire Star Sea, what is called a grand ceremony is merely Scholar Zhu's solitary amusement. And we are his toys.
Ma Tiande's memories contained scenes from past grand ceremonies.
The beings who indulged in pleasure for three years in the City of Ultimate Bliss began a frenzied slaughter. This slaughter would only stop when only the last few survivors remained.
These survivors might even feel fortunate to have escaped the endless hell, but they would not know that they were merely tempting fruits on Scholar Zhu's plate.
"All who are invited to participate in the grand ceremony can consume these fruits of slaughter.
Indeed, they are extremely precious divine medicines. Even though my main consciousness has already reached the realm of Manifesting His Divine Soul, they are still highly beneficial. But for the weak, they are undeniably poison!
Li Fan understood Scholar Zhu's intentions.
However, he was not so petty as to wish for Ma Tiande's death.
It was merely the bestowal of a fruit that could undoubtedly be considered a heavenly treasure. Who could blame him if he couldn't handle it?
"With my current, enhanced divine sense strength, consuming the fruit of slaughter should not be a problem.
But the difficulty lies in how to safely consume the fruit without arousing suspicion from Scholar Zhu and the Sword Domain cultivators at the ceremony. After all, given Ma Tiande's displayed strength, there's no way he should survive the fruit of slaughter."
Although giving up Ma Tiande's identity would not result in significant loss.
However, Li Fan's divine sense did not wish to disappear in such a pathetic manner.
"Perhaps, the opportunity lies within the The Dao Lattice of the City of Ultimate Bliss.
'Ma Tiande' raised his head, looking at the invisible dark clouds enveloping the City of Ultimate Bliss, with an unreadable expression.
Soon after, three sword lights descended from the sky.
"Junior disciple Ji Xingdao!"
"Junior discipple Situ Tiantian!"
"Junior disciple Zhao Xing!"
"Greetings, Scholar Zhu!"
Three resounding voices echoed through the sky. Two males and one female.
Before their voices had even faded, the three had already flown into the City of Ultimate Bliss.
The City Lord's mansion appeared out of nowhere.
It absorbed the three from the Sword Domain.
At the same time, Li Fan heard Scholar Zhu's somewhat charming voice: "Quick, come and greet our guests with me."
Li Fan felt a chill run down his spine.
And based on Ma Tiande's past behavior, he did not conceal it, letting it show directly on his face.
Knowing this was Scholar Zhu's most twisted and unfathomable state,
Li Fan, with extreme caution, hurried towards the City Lord's mansion.
By the time he entered the mansion, the three from the Sword Domain had already taken their seats.
Li Fan glanced at them. The three were extremely young in appearance, almost 'naive.' Their eyes were clear and foolish, lacking any guile.
Clearly, the Sword Domain intended to "temper" these three young ones with the fruits of slaughter refined by the City of Ultimate Bliss.
"With such a rapid method of cultivation, even if they can withstand it, they will likely become emotionally twisted and somewhat deranged."
"Three promising talents, even in our Xuanhuang Realm, they would be considered prodigies. Is the Sword Domain wasting them like this?"
Li Fan, without revealing his emotions, first paid his respects to Scholar Zhu.
Then, with a proud expression, he merely nodded slightly at the three from the Sword Domain.
Theoretically speaking, the status of a The Dao Lattice operator from the Governing Council was not inferior to that of the three from the Sword Domain.
However, in reality...
Consumables could be replaced indefinitely, but direct disciples required painstaking cultivation.
The two were clearly not of the same status.
The three disciples from the Sword Domain seemed to understand this point as well.
They did not show any anger towards Ma Tiande's attitude, merely exchanging smiles dismissively.
First, with delight, they drank the three bowls of red soup before them.
Compared to what Li Fan had tasted previously, these appeared even more terrifying. Not only eyeballs, but also the limbs and flesh of various monsters that were not human.
However, the three from the Sword Domain, unfazed and with color in their faces, savored them with relish.
As the bowl of red soup entered their stomachs, the expressions on the faces of the three from the Sword Domain began to change dramatically.
Clearly, not everyone could enjoy the wonders of sentient desires as Li Fan did, experiencing it peacefully on the first try.
Ji Xingdao's eyes widened, his aura fluctuating like waves.
Situ Tiantian furrowed his brows, his face as cold as frost. It seemed as though countless frost and snow were dancing around him; upon closer inspection, these white ice crystals were in the shape of flying swords!
Zhao Xing was the best among the three, appearing as if he had merely drunk a bowl of extremely spicy wine. A flicker of surprise flashed across his face before he quickly returned to normal.
Regardless of how the three from the Sword Domain reacted, Scholar Zhu, clad in a long robe, slowly descended from the main seat.
The hunched figure hidden within the robe emitted a strange creaking sound of growth, and soon became tall and slender.
A mournful yet pleading female operatic voice began to resound in the hall.
"The Neon Feather Dance and Blissful Realm, golden wine and jade liquid, a feast for eternity. Drums and music thunder, dancers whirl, lamps flicker as the night is not yet over..."
Scholar Zhu sang and danced softly.
Li Fan stared at the graceful, unseen figure, his gaze fixed.
As Scholar Zhu's song continued, the gates of the City Lord's mansion seemed to suddenly swing open. The formerly silent place was instantly plunged into a bubbling cauldron of noise. The myriad voices of sentient beings from Blissful City, coming from all directions, converged in the mansion.
In a daze, Li Fan saw everything happening in Blissful City.
Laughter, indulgence, fighting, lust, pleasure, joy, drunkenness, happiness.
Scenes of countless beings indulging in pleasure exploded before Li Fan's eyes simultaneously.
"Blissful City, bliss."
However, all of this abruptly changed with Scholar Zhu's tone.
"Joy turns to sorrow, the affairs of heaven and earth; sword light and blade shadows, blood turns to pulp. Night specters prowl, ten thousand ghosts are born, heads as earth, bones as beams..."
His tone turned sinister, the murderous intent reaching the heavens.
"Ding!" Like the sound of a sharp sword hitting the ground, it startled the endless beings in Blissful City, waking them from their dream of bliss.
The lamps were extinguished, and Blissful City plunged into darkness.
But the darkness did not last long.
A blood-red sun slowly rose from the horizon, its crimson light illuminating the city.
The slaughter had begun.
During the long night of bliss, the intimate companions of the previous night now suddenly drew their blades against each other, fighting to the death.
All friendship, kinship, and love.
In the long night that followed, they all lost meaning.
Only survival remained as the sole and eternal topic.
...
"Die, die, die, die!"
"Kill!"
"Ah!"
The screams and the frantic sounds of slaughter echoed like a grand symphony in the City Lord's mansion.
Scholar Zhu had reverted from his dancer's form to the hunched old man, watching the slaughter in the city with an expression of enjoyment.
The three young cultivators from the Sword Domain, gradually recovering from the red soup's illusions, turned pale and trembled as they faced the terrifying spectacle of human wickedness unfolding in Blissful City.
Li Fan also feigned extreme discomfort.
"What a pity, such a scene should have had more people to appreciate it together."
"Yet only a few juniors have come."
Scholar Zhu's voice sounded somewhat lonely and dejected.
But the slaughter in Blissful City did not cease.
"It must not be boring, lest it shame me."
Scholar Zhu's demonic voice echoed in everyone's ears.
In Blissful City, another variable manifested.
Those beings who had already been killed surprisingly came back to life, though not in their living form, but as formless specters.
At this point, they had two choices. One was to directly seek vengeance as vengeful spirits, which would allow them to kill their enemies directly. However, their own specter form would simultaneously vanish.
The second was to possess survivors and exact revenge through them. Those possessed would have their strength combined, greatly increasing their chances of revenge.
However, the one who was killed would also turn into a specter.
Specters could attack each other, but the outcome would only be mutual destruction. Therefore, they would generally choose to find other survivors to possess.
As the slaughter continued, Blissful City gradually became populated only by survivors possessed by specters.
If a specter possessing a survivor was defeated, no new specters would appear, and the possessed specter would also vanish along with them.
The slaughter was gradually approaching its end.
When only one hundred survivors remained, the possessed could discover the existence of the specter possessing them.
They could choose to coexist, or they could initiate a spirit attack to the death.
"You tell me, will more ghosts or humans survive in the end?"
Scholar Zhu suddenly asked the assembled crowd.
"In this grand ceremony, there will be ten victors in the end. You four will each receive a fruit. If you guess correctly, I will bestow an additional one."
The three from the Sword Domain showed joy upon hearing this. The fear and unwillingness that had surfaced from witnessing the slaughter in Blissful City were instantly cast aside.
"I guess more ghosts will survive," Situ Tiantian declared confidently first.
The other two from the Sword Domain also made their judgments.
Some guessed ghosts, and some guessed humans.
When it was Li Fan's turn, he pondered for a moment and replied earnestly, "Among the ten victors, I predict an equal split between humans and ghosts."
The three from the Sword Domain looked astonished at his words.
Scholar Zhu glanced at Li Fan meaningfully and did not reply.
As the sun reached its zenith, the slaughter in Blissful City continued.
Those who could survive the initial massacre had already gained a certain level of survival experience. Lurking, hiding, attacking from the shadows, the pace of the slaughter gradually slowed down.
However, as Blissful City shrunk, they were forced to consolidate, re-accelerating the pace of the game.
Repetitive viewing led to aesthetic fatigue. After watching for too long, even the most gruesome and bizarre scenes felt ordinary.
The three from the Sword Domain had begun to become numb, no longer showing any unusual expressions, even starting to feel a bit impatient.
Only Li Fan continued to diligently observe the different expressions and choices of each sentient being in Blissful City when faced with life and death.
The promise of Blissful City's cycle of three years had been made.
This slaughter indeed lasted for a full three years.
It seemed as though a mysterious force behind the scenes was manipulating the progress of this game.
Over the three years, the three from the Sword Domain had drunk bowl after bowl of red soup. Now, drinking it was like drinking plain water, without any sensation.
Li Fan's treatment was not as good.
He was only bestowed six bowls in the first year. After that, Scholar Zhu deliberately ignored him.
Li Fan knew that Scholar Zhu was gradually increasing the tolerance of the three from the Sword Domain, lest they be unable to withstand the infinite killing intent contained within the fruits when they finally consumed them, turning them into idiots.
After all, they were from the Sword Domain, and Scholar Zhu had to somewhat save face for them.
As for "Ma Tiande"...
His fate was purely in his own hands.
The three-year period had arrived. The blood-red sun finally disappeared below the horizon.
Blissful City, now reduced to a small area, plunged into darkness once more.
At this moment, it seemed as though time had frozen; all survivors were motionless, as if encased in ice.
Light and shadow contracted, directly flying into the City Lord's mansion.
The survivors, emitting a faint glow, flew out of the phantom image of Blissful City.
Specters and humans separated.
"Five ghosts, five people? You actually guessed it, kid!" Situ Tiantian looked at Li Fan in shock.
The three from the Sword Domain were dejected as the bonus fruits they were about to receive flew away.
Li Fan knew that Scholar Zhu was saving their lives.
With the strength of these young individuals, swallowing one fruit might be barely manageable. If they were to swallow two, there would be no hope of survival.
"It seems this Scholar Zhu is truly petty."
Li Fan sneered in his heart.
Judging by the precisely controlled duration of the slaughter in Blissful City,
the entire process was merely a formality.
The final outcome was entirely within Scholar Zhu's will.
Because Li Fan guessed that the final result would be an equal split between humans and ghosts.
Therefore, the final survivors would surely be equal in number of humans and ghosts.
"Not bad. These two fruits shall be yours!"
The survivors, glowing with a soft white light, curled up as if returning to the womb, forming fruit-like shapes.
Scholar Zhu selected the two most robust ones and personally handed them to Li Fan.
Li Fan bowed in thanks.
The three from the Sword Domain showed discontent but dared not act presumptuously, only accepting their own fruits with dissatisfaction and swallowing them in one gulp.
Li Fan felt Scholar Zhu's gaze constantly fixed on him.
He also swallowed one fruit first.
There was no taste to speak of; the sentient desire fruit dissolved upon entering the mouth.
Innumerable threads of intention, memories, and emotions erupted in Li Fan's mind, like a terrifying storm igniting out of nowhere on level ground, capable of destroying everything.
Li Fan's original intentions were swept up by this gale, his body no longer under his control, precariously balanced.
"This is what is said: The thoughts of all beings can forge gods."
"If it were my divine sense, which has experienced a hundred reincarnations and reflected the Great Dao, even the strongest storm would not shake me. But Ma Tiande, he doesn't have such ability..."
"If I don't use the The Dao Lattice."
Hiding amidst the storm of sentient desires, Li Fan spied on Scholar Zhu beside him and sneered inwardly.
He had long since devised a countermeasure.
"Within the The Dao Lattice, there is the nameless True Immortal's living stake."
"From one of its nodes, I faintly sensed an aura extremely similar to Scholar Zhu's..."
Li Fan's thoughts raced.
In reality, Ma Tiande was already in tears, his face contorted.
His face could simultaneously display several different expressions. His limbs flailed uncontrollably, as if a drowning person desperately seeking any lifeline.
Scholar Zhu watched Ma Tiande's struggle with a look of enjoyment.
However, his peripheral vision involuntarily turned towards the heavens.
The death of a The Dao Lattice operator would generate a signal, transmitted through the The Dao Lattice to the Governing Council.
Within the Northern Coldness Star Sea, there were surviving forces from various cultivation worlds, even different star seas. There were even former True Immortals. All sorts of strange and secret methods were rampant. Only the The Dao Lattice could ignore all of this, transmitting the The Dao Lattice operator's status to the Governing Council in real-time.
This was a means for the Northern Coldness Star Sea to maintain its stability.
However, it became the phenomenon Scholar Zhu had anticipated and awaited.
This was the true reason he had wanted "Ma Tiande" to die.
Yet, what Scholar Zhu envisioned did not occur.
The Dao Lattice operator, who was in a state of near-death struggle, seemed to have truly found something to grasp.
Despite his distorted expression, Scholar Zhu could tell that his inner self-divine sense had not dissipated.
"Hm?"
This piqued Scholar Zhu's interest.
"This is..."
Squinting to observe, Scholar Zhu's expression suddenly changed.
He saw, within the operator's sea of consciousness.
Threatened by life and on the verge of death, Ma Tiande instinctively wrote a large number of meaningless Dao Origin symbols.
These Dao Origin symbols could not form The Dao Lattice commands, thus not triggering any anomaly in the The Dao Lattice.
However, they inexplicably formed a long dike, blocking out the storm generated by the sentient desire fruit.
"By chance, the The Dao Lattice's power was invoked without a formal The Dao Lattice connection?"
Scholar Zhu had a deep understanding of the The Dao Lattice.
He had already understood the fundamental reason for Ma Tiande's survival.
The Dao Lattice was already a tangible entity.
Although it was under the manipulation of certain individuals, the The Dao Lattice controllers could only regulate its actions and commands.
They could not control all of the The Dao Lattice's instinctive reactions.
After all, the The Dao Lattice mimicked all the Great Daos in the world.
"The Dao Origin command triggered the The Dao Lattice."
"Theoretically, it should have caused an anomaly in the The Dao Lattice, but it was intercepted by the Governing Council."
"Among infinite combinations, it uniquely formed this life-saving one."
"Is it a coincidence?"
Scholar Zhu remained silent.
He did not intervene, allowing Li Fan to swallow and digest the first fruit.
The storm of divine sense gradually subsided.
Li Fan awoke from his confusion and pain.
Before he could even experience the changes brought about by consuming the fruit, Scholar Zhu said coldly, "Continue. There's still one more."
Li Fan was slightly stunned, unable to comprehend the reason for Scholar Zhu's coldness.
However, he gritted his teeth and swallowed the second fruit.
In his sea of consciousness, a storm raged again.
This time, it seemed even more violent than the last.
It once again consumed Li Fan's consciousness.
"Let's see if you can achieve coincidence again!"
This time, Scholar Zhu focused on Ma Tiande's sea of consciousness from the very beginning.
As expected, when he struggled fruitlessly and gradually lost consciousness,
Ma Tiande's dying instinct again summoned countless Dao Origin characters.
The command formed this time was different from the previous one.
"It seems good fortune will not strike twice," Scholar Zhu muttered with satisfaction.
Waiting for the storm of sentient desires to completely engulf Ma Tiande.
But soon, his expression became peculiar.
This time, although the Dao Origin symbols did not form a dike,
they transformed into another storm.
The forces of the two storms canceled each other out,
surprisingly keeping Ma Tiande safe!
This moment, which could be considered a fluke the first time, was happening for the second time. Scholar Zhu's mind raced. He even considered feeding a third Fruit of Sentient Intent to "Ma Tiande." However, Scholar Zhu ultimately refrained. He merely recalled the two commands from Ma Tiande's sea of consciousness. Clearly, of the many ubiquitous symbols, only a small portion had taken effect, making it impossible for observers to replicate them accurately. Scholar Zhu was not interested in the commands themselves. Even though he had transformed into a mortal, his abilities far surpassed what these commands could offer. What Scholar Zhu truly cared about was the "potential" represented by Ma Tiande's actions. He was interested in the "hidden commands" that, operating outside the current network of control, could still access the network's power. The gloom on his face gradually receded. In an instant, he transformed from a stooped old man into a spirited Grand Scholar. Scholar Zhu smiled kindly, awaiting the return of the four individuals before him from their consumption of the sentient intent fruits. With Scholar Zhu's special care, the three from the Sword Domain, though they suffered some torment, ultimately emerged unharmed. The childishness on their faces had long since vanished after absorbing countless sentient memories and personally experiencing immense slaughter. They first expressed their gratitude to Scholar Zhu and then simultaneously looked at Ma Tiande, who sat on the other side. Their previous disdain was gone. None of them, having personally experienced the storm of sentient intent, could comprehend its terrifying nature. Regardless of origin or method, anyone who could consume one fruit and remain unharmed was not to be underestimated. If one could consume two and retain their sanity… "Witnessing this, we cannot miss the opportunity!" The three from the Sword Domain had already reached a consensus during their previous exchanged glances. Bringing such a talent back to the Sword Domain would be an even greater accomplishment than completing this trial! Now, all depended on whether this "Ma Tiande" could truly remain normal, rather than falling into madness. Under the gaze of everyone present, Li Fan's contorted and twitching expression slowly calmed. After closing his eyes for a long time, he suddenly opened them, meeting everyone's gaze. His eyes, bright as countless stars, spoke of his current state. Scholar Zhu gently applauded, seemingly delighted. "It seems you've gained a great deal this time!" "I must thank Scholar Lord for your assistance," Li Fan replied, neither subservient nor arrogant. Having consumed two sentient intent fruits, his words and actions no longer needed to adhere to the past persona of Ma Tiande. Any changes could be attributed to the countless sentient intents contained within the fruits. "Senior Brother Ma, are you interested in joining our Sword Domain? I, Situ Tiantian, can guarantee you the highest tier of cultivation resources. If you agree, there's no need to apply to the Governing Council; you can return with us to the Sword Domain directly. We will handle the rest upon arrival…" Situ Tiantian glanced at Scholar Zhu, showing a moment of hesitation, but quickly made his decision. He extended an invitation to Li Fan right in front of Scholar Zhu. Ji Xingdao and Zhao Xing echoed Situ Tiantian's invitation with playful banter, promising numerous wonderful conditions. "Although I have long heard of the Sword Domain's fame, my ambition lies not in the sword dao." Before Scholar Zhu could even react, Li Fan had already politely declined. "Don't be too quick to refuse, consider it further…" Scholar Zhu smiled subtly. "My lifelong ambition is solely for the 'Immortal Hunt'! Previously, due to my weak strength, there was no possibility of realizing it, so I kept it hidden in my heart and never mentioned it to anyone. But today, thanks to Scholar Lord's blessings, with two fruits in my belly, I can defy fate, and anything is possible from now on!" Li Fan's expression was exceptionally solemn as he spoke, his voice like thunder. Scholar Zhu's smile froze upon hearing this. The three from the Sword Domain were also astonished. "Immortal Hunt…" The weight of this term in the current Star Sea was immense. The Immortal Hunt was directly under the Star Sea Governing Council, its members selected from various powers across the Star Sea. Once a cultivator joined the Immortal Hunt, they had to abandon their former identity and status within their original power. Everything was subordinate to the "Immortal Hunt." In return for the price paid came supreme authority. In the name of the Immortal Hunt, one could freely enter and exit major powers in the Star Sea and, in special circumstances, directly carry out punitive actions. Most importantly, becoming a member of the Immortal Hunt brought one closer to the Dao network. Being in constant proximity to the Dao network, progress would be swift. Li Fan's pronouncement immediately plunged the scene into an eerie silence. Scholar Zhu regarded Li Fan with a darkened expression, pondering something. Situ Tiantian managed a somewhat strained smile, breaking the awkwardness. "Members of the Immortal Hunt are all meticulously chosen. While Senior Brother Ma is extraordinary, joining is not an easy task." Li Fan, however, was unfazed and spoke with confidence. "My entry into the Immortal Hunt is a sure thing! If I remember correctly, the next recruitment is in five years. I'll need Scholar Lord's recommendation then." "I will certainly not disappoint Scholar Lord!" Seeing Li Fan's resolve, the three from the Sword Domain ceased their persuasion. After some more pleasantries and a few bowls of red soup, they took their leave. Before departing, they maintained the Sword Domain's decorum, stating that the Sword Domain would reciprocate their hospitality soon. In the City Lord's mansion, only Li Fan and Scholar Zhu remained. Outside the residence, the sounds of revelry from the City of Ultimate Bliss continued. Without a word, the two silently watched the flourishing night scene. " *Crunch, crunch…*" A sickening chewing sound emanated from Scholar Zhu's mouth. He was unceremoniously swallowing the remaining five Fruits of Sentient Intent. Unlike the fruits that dissolved upon entering the mouth when Li Fan and his companions consumed them, the five fruits in Scholar Zhu's mouth seemed to emit the desperate screams of countless beings on the brink of death. The sounds from this inferno soared, temporarily overpowering the sounds of pleasure from the City of Ultimate Bliss. Scholar Zhu, like an old man on his last breath, chewed with excruciating slowness. Listening to the continuous, fluctuating cries, he wore an expression of enjoyment. Li Fan's brow remained unfurrowed; his face was perfectly calm as he watched. After a while, Scholar Zhu seemed to have lost interest. He swallowed the fruits in two or three gulps. The sounds of despair and wailing abruptly ceased. "Do you know why I built the City of Ultimate Bliss in this Star Sea?" "Simply to torment them?" "These Fruits of Sentient Intent may have the effect of defying fate for you. But for me, they are as bland as chewing wax." "I have experienced much more despair and cruelty, a thousand times worse than anything in this City of Ultimate Bliss," Scholar Zhu cackled, his demeanor unconsciously shifting back from that of a Grand Scholar to a stooped old man. "The Great Dao network envelops the heavens and earth. All things in the world are within it. Though mortals and common beings are weak, the condensed intent of countless sentient beings might resonate with some unknown Dao in the unseen realms," Li Fan replied after some thought. "Hehehe…" Scholar Zhu let out another sinister laugh. "You are mistaken." "The primary purpose of my creating the City of Ultimate Bliss is to torment these ants when I am bored." Li Fan was slightly taken aback. "Of course, if any unexpected joys arise in the process, that would be even better." "But if not, there's no need to force it." Scholar Zhu's skull-like head slowly emerged from his voluminous robe, gazing towards the City of Ultimate Bliss outside the mansion. His expression was distant, as if lost in memory. "The Immortal Realm of the past was even more blissful than this city. It was a place of great prosperity, with infinite possibilities for the future. But alas, one day, the grand edifice crumbled…" Scholar Zhu muttered vaguely. Li Fan remained silent. The other then asked, "You said you wanted me to recommend you for the Immortal Hunt?" "I would be deeply grateful, Scholar Lord," Li Fan nodded. "Very well. However, I have a condition." Scholar Zhu agreed readily. "No problem," Li Fan replied even more readily, without even hearing what the condition was. Scholar Zhu burst into laughter, his external form shifting again. The stooped old man within melted into a pool of blood, merging into the flowing robe. The robe writhed, transforming into a semblance of human skin! It floated towards Li Fan and sternly commanded, "One day, no matter what method you use, bring back my physical body!" The skin had no facial features. Only five menacing empty sockets stared silently at Li Fan. Li Fan was silent for a moment, then nodded in agreement. "Good." The skin, as if its wish had been fulfilled, lost its support and fell to the ground. It writhed again, crawling like a person on the ground, and finally returned to the main seat. It reshaped itself back into a robe. Scholar Zhu's aged voice emerged from within. "To help me find release, to my knowledge, there are several methods." "Firstly, successfully capture an Unnamed True Immortal and exchange bodies." "Secondly…" Li Fan felt Scholar Zhu's gaze sweeping over his face. "Completely tear apart the Dao network. I will naturally regain my freedom." "Thirdly, reflect the unknown regions of the Great Dao and redeem myself with merit." "…" Scholar Zhu paused, then asked, "Which method do you intend to use?" Li Fan carefully considered his words, then slowly whispered, "Perhaps all three." Scholar Zhu remained silent. After a long time, he finally said, "Tell me whatever you need." "Five years is the timeframe. Before the Immortal Hunt assessment, I will first test your capabilities." "If you disappoint me…" "Hehehe…" Scholar Zhu's calm tone was laced with an infinite murderous intent. Li Fan, however, remained unfazed. "Scholar Lord, please wait and see." ... After the ceremony concluded, Li Fan returned to Ma Tiande's residence. He carried with him a gift from Scholar Zhu. "What is this…" Li Fan examined the object in his hand with great interest. It was a piece of skin, remarkably similar to Scholar Zhu's "skin" form. It looked as if it had just been peeled from a body; Li Fan could still smell its strong scent of blood. Possessing a thorough understanding of human anatomy, Li Fan unfolded the skin and felt it all over. He confirmed it was indeed human skin. However, unlike Scholar Zhu's, it did not possess its own consciousness. After a period of study, Li Fan tried various methods, but could not evoke any peculiar qualities from the skin. It seemed to be just ordinary human skin. Yet, when Scholar Zhu handed this piece of skin to Li Fan, Li Fan distinctly perceived complex emotions in his eyes. There was nostalgia, reluctance, and even hatred. He examined the skin again, from all angles, recalling the scene of Scholar Zhu revealing his true form. After a moment of contemplation, he made his decision. Sitting upright, he took a deep breath and put on the skin like an article of clothing. Its original size and shape did not match "Ma Tiande." But as Li Fan put it on, the skin automatically contracted, fitting perfectly, as if it had been peeled from Ma Tiande's own body! Feeling the constricting force around him and the changes occurring to his body and features, Li Fan suddenly had a premonition. He seemed to be transforming into someone else. An irresistible sense of fear of the unknown surfaced. But sensing the miniature Dao network reflected in his divine sense, Li Fan's fear vanished. His mind became like a calm mirror, simply experiencing the changes brought about by wearing this skin. Once the outer layer perfectly adhered to his body, Li Fan truly felt as if he had become another person. A flood of images and memories surged into his mind without reason. Even… Li Fan looked at his hands. "This realm…" "The True Immortal realm?" It wasn't just an illusion. Li Fan extended a finger forward. A brilliant light, like the nascent birth of a star sea, bloomed at his fingertip. The light seemed to contain the infinity of the world. "Immortal Spirit Qi." "So this is, Immortal Spirit Qi?" Li Fan had once felt the existence of immortal Spirit Qi from the Immortal Rank Dissolution Disc. Now, this strange and magnificent power surged within his body, and he immediately perceived its essence. Li Fan's gaze was fixed on the point at his fingertip, not daring to look away. In a daze, he seemed to pass through this point, arriving in a boundless ocean. In this ocean, countless things and beings, all life and spirits, were presented together. An abnormality beyond imagination. With Li Fan's understanding, he was momentarily captivated, almost lost. Fortunately, the infinite ocean, hidden within the brilliance, disappeared as the light at his fingertip faded. Li Fan snapped back to reality in an instant. The seemingly infinite immortal Spirit Qi was exhausted, like a candle that had burned out. It could no longer support Li Fan's glimpse into that infinite ocean. "Hmm?" Li Fan frowned slightly. He didn't feel the immortal Spirit Qi disappearing from his body. With a thought, a faint light flickered at his fingertip again. This time, Li Fan did not immerse his mind in that infinite ocean. He simply observed the light at his fingertip.
This is the boundless ocean containing all possibilities in the world. However, the Spirit Qi of immortals emanating from Li Fan's fingertips was as fragile as a candle in the wind.
It flickered and wavered unstably.
What shocked Li Fan even more was that after ninety-nine breaths, the Spirit Qi of immortals on his fingertip was extinguished without warning. It was as if an unknown, invisible entity had aimed at it and gently blown it out.
"It's just that the external manifestation of the Spirit Qi of immortals has mysteriously disappeared. This body... or rather, the skin, still possesses the Spirit Qi of immortals." Li Fan concluded after sensing his internal state.
He tried again.
This time, Li Fan was no longer content to merely use the Spirit Qi of immortals to form a single point.
Instead, he attempted to construct an immortal formation using the Spirit Qi of immortals.
Of course, to prevent any detection from the Star Sea's side, Li Fan had no intention of creating any significant disturbance. He only intended to use the formation, the Immeasurable Unity Primordial Square formation, to observe and analyze everything.
It was no different from the formation set up by the Immortal Rank Dissolution Disc. Li Fan even felt a stronger sense of control, as if it were an extension of his own arm. There was no need for the Dissolution Disc to perform any conversion; all the information the Immeasurable Unity Primordial Square formation touched and analyzed appeared directly in Li Fan's mind.
It was as if Li Fan had deduced it himself.
Li Fan looked out beyond the mansion, towards the city. At this moment, what his eyes perceived was not the bustling City of Ultimate Bliss. It was merely a giant vortex rapidly spinning.
Countless specks of nascent thoughts floated, spun, and settled within this vortex.
Occasionally, a few would emit a faintly different blue light during their rotation. Then, they would be able to ignore the vortex's own power and slowly sink to the very bottom from the upper edge.
Li Fan even vaguely saw a massive shadow, like a predator, lurking there. When the blue dots from above approached, it would violently swallow them into its belly.
As if sensing Li Fan's prying gaze, the predatory shadow slowly turned its head towards Li Fan's location. The shadow rippled, seemingly emitting a meaningful smile.
While maintaining the operation of the Immeasurable Unity Primordial Square formation, Li Fan also kept track of time in his mind. As expected, when ninety-nine breaths passed, the great formation constructed by the Spirit Qi of immortals vanished instantly, like ice and snow melting.
The connection path between Li Fan and the immortal formation was also blocked, as if it were sealed. It could no longer provide support.
He could only watch the immortal formation dissipate.
The vortex scene Li Fan was witnessing also disappeared with it.
"That devouring shadow..."
"It must be Scholar Zhu."
"It seems that the selection of suitable nascent thoughts for the populace is conducted concurrently within the operation of the City of Ultimate Bliss."
"The fruits of nascent thoughts during the triennial Grand Ceremony of Ultimate Bliss are more like a façade," Li Fan vaguely understood.
Although he had reached a kind of cooperative agreement with this formerly nameless True Immortal, there was no trust whatsoever between them.
Scholar Zhu was merely making a desperate investment after Li Fan had displayed some potential. He didn't care about Li Fan's identity or background, his ability to infiltrate the City of Ultimate Bliss silently and replace Ma Tiande. Nor did he care about Li Fan's purpose.
As long as Li Fan could help him break free from the The Dao Lattice, Scholar Zhu was willing to offer his support.
"In fact, he probably doesn't truly expect me to help him escape. As long as I can infiltrate the Immortal Hunters and cause some trouble or variables for the Governing Council and the The Dao Lattice, thereby increasing his chances of escape, this deal is worthwhile..."
As Li Fan was contemplating, a sensation of rejection suddenly arose from within this body.
"Get out! Get out of here!"
"Get out, get out, get out!"
"Insignificant ant! How dare you profane!"
...
The sense of rejection grew stronger, and the voices echoing in Li Fan's ears became increasingly loud, like rumbling thunder, making it unbearable. And these were Li Fan's own voices.
Shouting at oneself was particularly strange.
Finally, Li Fan was forced to detach himself from the immortal skin.
Returning to his original body, Li Fan carefully examined the supreme treasure in his hands.
This piece of skin, capable of instantly granting a mortal power comparable to that of a True Immortal, could indeed be called a supreme treasure.
"Judging from the images that appeared in my mind after putting on the immortal skin, the original cultivator of this skin was likely nearing the Dao Integration realm."
"However, before he could unite with the Great Dao, the Calamity of Dao Erasure, which destroys everything, descended."
"The Immortal Realm was destroyed, and True Immortals, even nameless True Immortals, perished in the calamity. The scene of creation and annihilation coexisting caused this being to suddenly perceive something. He took that final step!"
"It's a pity he broke through at such an inopportune time. Originally, that Immortal Domain could have held on for a while longer. His enlightenment was equivalent to directly pulling out a crucial support pillar at a critical moment..."
"In an instant, the heavens collapsed, the earth crumbled, and the Great Dao crushed everything."
...
The memories that followed became blurred, even becoming somewhat delirious.
Memories from different periods, even contradictory ones, presented themselves simultaneously. Li Fan could only vaguely infer that although this nameless True Immortal had escaped the calamity at the time, he was eventually captured and pinned into the The Dao Lattice, serving as a key node connecting to the Great Dao.
"Unlike Scholar Zhu."
"This nameless being has truly perished."
"And the day of his death marked the construction of the The Dao Lattice."
"The Great Dao he united with did not return to heaven and earth but was captured and utilized by some mysterious power, existing as one of the most stable nodes of the The Dao Lattice..."
Li Fan attempted to reconstruct the scene at that time from the fragmented memories.
The establishment of the The Dao Lattice was a magnificent event.
However, it was accompanied by a curse full of resentment from the nameless True Immortal.
"Like the owner of this skin, nameless True Immortals used as living sacrifices to construct the The Dao Lattice..."
"There are three more!"
"These four nodes, along with that invisible giant hand, were what initially stabilized the The Dao Lattice."
Li Fan took a deep breath.
Even after death, a mere skin could grant a mortal instant power comparable to a True Immortal. Moreover, the immortal skin still contained nascent thoughts and memories, attesting to the power of its owner.
Yet, such a powerful being was cruelly reduced to raw material for the The Dao Lattice's living stakes. After death, not even his name or life story was left behind.
"A nameless ant dies."
"Before the Great Tribulation, those who cannot seize the initiative are no different from mortals," Li Fan sighed inwardly.
After a round of possession, the immortal skin clearly became thinner, exhibiting a strange pale color. This was also the reason it forcefully expelled Li Fan.
However, after Li Fan's examination, he discovered that the immortal skin was not depleted by this. It quickly regained its reddish hue and plumpness at a visibly rapid pace.
Nevertheless, Li Fan was still unable to put it on again.
After waiting for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Li Fan finally felt a sense of connection that allowed him to use the immortal skin again.
"It's not due to the inherent nature of the immortal skin itself."
"It's a restriction imposed by some other existence. Unless my power surpasses theirs, I must follow these rules," Li Fan realized with some comprehension.
"It should be a restriction set by the powerful cultivators who built the The Dao Lattice in the Star Sea back then. After all, a nameless True Immortal's skin can instantly grant any living being a power comparable to a True Immortal. It's definitely a formidable weapon."
Li Fan put on the immortal skin again.
This time, he wanted to verify whether he could increase the effective duration of wearing the immortal skin based on his own adaptability.
The Spirit Qi of immortals returned, and Li Fan's consciousness delved into it, as if he were seeing that boundless ocean again.
"It is said that the Immortal Realm is vast and boundless."
"This place is even more vast, exceeding the Immortal Realm by a thousandfold, ten thousandfold."
Even for the second time, Li Fan couldn't help but feel a slight sense of awe.
"The Spirit Qi of immortals originates from this place. It's no wonder it possesses the nature of 'infinity'."
As he meandered, Li Fan's thoughts drifted to the Star Sea.
The power of the Star Sea, though inferior to the Spirit Qi of immortals in terms of energy level, also possessed the nature of "infinity."
"Does this mean that the energy origin of the Star Sea also originates from this place?"
Li Fan suddenly thought of a crucial question.
Was the infinite nature of the Star Sea something that had existed since ancient times?
Or did it emerge only after the destruction of the Immortal Realm?
Li Fan gazed at this boundless ocean for a long time, remaining silent.
Recalling the appearance of the Immortal Realm he had seen in the memory of a True Immortal, Li Fan had a faint inkling of the answer.
"The nature of 'infinity' likely belonged to the Immortal Realm originally."
"However, due to the destruction of the Immortal Realm, this characteristic was then transferred to the lower realm's Star Sea."
"Scholar Zhu once said that the Immortal Realm's ultimate bliss surpasses even that of the City of Ultimate Bliss. It's likely due to this infinite power. There would be no need to worry about energy consumption, leaving only pure enjoyment. If it weren't for the sudden descent of the Calamity of Dao Erasure, the Immortal Realm might have continued in 'ultimate bliss' forever."
Ever since Li Fan achieved the Nascent Soul realm with the Five Elements Great Grotto-heaven, he had deeply understood the benefits of not needing to worry about consumption. The Five Elements Grotto-heaven was a phantom of the Azure Nether. Though superior to that of ordinary cultivators, it clearly couldn't compare to the nature of "infinity."
"This is also one of the most crucial aspects differentiating immortals from mortals."
"An endless supply of energy, no longer considering consumption. Any magical ability or divine skill can be infinitely amplified in its destructive power..."
Even if a mortal were to throw an ordinary punch, striking the Azure Nether land would not cause any impact on the world. However, if this action were repeated enough times, even a mortal could shatter the Xuanhuang Realm to dust.
"Ultimately, no matter how weak the power, when multiplied by infinity, its might becomes unimaginable."
Li Fan's thoughts were temporarily interrupted by the disappearance of the Spirit Qi of immortals.
The difference in power between immortals and mortals evoked a faint sense of loss in Li Fan's heart.
While waiting for the restriction to disappear, Li Fan suddenly thought of another question.
"Infinity is indeed wonderful. But, what is its price?"
The existence of infinite power, in itself, was somewhat contrary to Li Fan's original understanding.
He could comprehend the power of the Spirit Qi of immortals, but the infinity of its power was something he could never quite grasp.
"What exactly is that boundless ocean?"
"A beautiful thing that seems to exist only in fantasy..."
"Are there really no negative side effects?"
The naturally arising concern vanished as soon as he came into contact with the infinite Spirit Qi of immortals again.
There was nothing worse than knowing the predetermined end date of the entire mortal world.
Li Fan cast aside all other distractions and immersed himself in the study of the immortal skin and the Spirit Qi of immortals.
Time passed quickly.
This time, the duration of wearing the immortal skin was exactly the same as the first time.
Not a single bit different.
However, Li Fan did not jump to any conclusions yet.
After the cooldown period passed, he continued to wear the immortal skin.
He repeated this process.
Three years passed in the blink of an eye.
Li Fan finally confirmed that the duration of use for the immortal skin each time was indeed fixed and immutable. It did not increase with "proficiency."
However, Li Fan's three years of research were not without reward.
The Spirit Qi of immortals at his fingertips once again lit up like a flame.
This time, as Li Fan looked at the Spirit Qi of immortals within "his" body, he felt a faint, inexplicable sense of familiarity.
It felt like a part of his own body.
Here, "his own body" did not refer to the immortal skin, nor to Ma Tiande.
It referred to the core that controlled all thoughts and actions, the divine sense that reflected the Great Dao.
"The reason I've been stuck at the Half-Immortal realm is the destruction of the Immortal Realm, preventing me from receiving the infusion of Spirit Qi of immortals."
"And the remaining Spirit Qi of immortals in the world seems to have specific ownership markers. It cannot be stolen."
"Only by ascending to immortality through the Xuanhuang Realm can these markers be partially removed. The infinite Spirit Qi of immortals from the Immortal Rank Dissolution Disc was obtained in this way."
"But the immortal artifact's usage cannot be applied to True Immortals."
With a thought from Li Fan, the Spirit Qi of immortals surged like a tide throughout his body.
It seemed to form a small, miniature boundless ocean.
And the owner of this ocean was once the nameless True Immortal of unknown origin, who had become a living stake in the The Dao Lattice.
But now...
This miniature boundless ocean was gradually acquiring Li Fan's imprint.
"It's still a long way from a complete takeover."
"It's just that more of my imprint has been added."
"But I've only been in contact and familiarized myself with it for three years. If you give me more time..."
Li Fan's eyes flickered. The Spirit Qi of immortals spreading across his body vanished instantly due to the immortal skin's limitation.
"Could it be that the Spirit Qi of immortals can also be inherited?"
The Spirit Qi of immortals originated from the unknowable, boundless ocean of the void.
And that boundless ocean was not something an individual could come into contact with and then mobilize.
Even True Immortals could not.
"The process of receiving the infusion of Spirit Qi of immortals on the Ascension Platform in the past must have been the key to allowing individuals to connect to the boundless ocean."
"If every True Immortal needs a unique identifier to mobilize infinite power, then perhaps by mastering these unique identifiers, one might be able to control the Spirit Qi of immortals."
Li Fan suddenly realized that the boundless ocean and the The Dao Lattice were, to some extent, similar.
Just like the miniature boundless ocean appearing on Li Fan's body now, it was like the miniature The Dao Lattice reflected in his divine sense.
"The Great Dao of Heaven and Earth, a single thought can illuminate it. However, a projection is a projection after all. To unleash the power of the Great Dao with mere gestures in reality is no easy feat."
"Connecting to the Infinite Ocean grants an inexhaustible energy supply, making it possible."
The projection of the Great Dao provides preliminary practice and theoretical support, while the Infinite Ocean offers the actual foundation.
"With either one of these, one can exhibit power far beyond the ordinary. If both are employed simultaneously…"
Clad in the skin of a True Immortal, Li Fan whose divine sense mirrored the Great Dao looked upon the City of Ultimate Bliss, feeling as if he could reduce it to ashes with a wave of his hand.
It was no illusion.
"I have a lingering premonition. My current development in harnessing the power of Immortal Spirits is still far too superficial."
"The Infinite Ocean is an existence comparable to the Heavenly Dao itself…"
Li Fan narrowed his eyes and summoned the power of Immortal Spirits to his fingertips once more, his mind plunging into and immersing itself in that profoundly mystical Infinite Ocean.
Alas, the fragmented memories contained within the Immortal Skin were mostly the experiences of its former owner, with no details about Immortal Arts or divine abilities.
"I wonder, if I were to use the Azure Nether Orb to absorb this Immortal Skin, could I decipher the divine abilities of its previous owner?"
"After all, it was an existence that once attained the Dao, though nameless…"
Though this thought flashed through Li Fan's mind, he firmly noted it down, intending to attempt it when an opportunity arose.
In the blink of an eye, another year passed.
Li Fan became increasingly familiar with the power of Immortal Spirits within the Immortal Skin. However, he soon encountered a bottleneck.
No matter how many times he donned the Immortal Skin, in the "True Immortal" state, it seemed he truly transformed the Immortal Spirit power within into his own. But the moment he shed the skin, his familiarity with the Immortal Spirit power would immediately plummet back to its previous bottleneck. He could progress no further.
"It seems I was a bit too optimistic. If there weren't some restrictive measures in place, how could Scholar Zhu have so easily lent me this Immortal Skin?"
Li Fan chuckled self-deprecatingly. Yet, he did not abandon his intention to obtain the Immortal Spirit power.
"As the saying goes, if Heaven does not give, I shall take…"
A sharp glint flashed in Li Fan's eyes.
In the Xuanhuang Realm, Li Fan's main body caressed a stone slab. This was the key method for cultivators to ascend into the Immortal Realm, hidden within the Ascension Platform of the former Immortal Realm. Although it was merely a replica left by the Heavenly Mysteries King, it seemed to still hold infinite power.
"If my guess is correct, this stone slab must contain a method for newly ascended cultivators to access the Infinite Ocean. This would allow them to obtain the infinite nature of Immortal Spirit power."
"However, this can only be achieved with official permission from the Immortal Realm."
"Even if the Heavenly Mysteries King of yesteryear had miraculously ascended to the Immortal Realm, the master of the Ascension Platform had already perished. Without guidance from the Immortal Realm, even someone like the Heavenly Mysteries King could not extract Immortal Spirit power from this stone slab…"
Li Fan called this stone slab the "Key of the Dao." Its true function could only be activated by the corresponding True Immortal Sigils.
"Besides the True Immortal Sigils, another method is likely needed to activate the method of infinite connection to the ocean," Li Fan mused.
Li Fan's divine sense clone in the Star Sea put on the Immortal Skin. A trace of Immortal Spirit power, through the miniature The Dao Lattice, instantly reached Li Fan's main body. However, this trace of Immortal Spirit power, having traversed the star sea, seemed to have been filtered layer by layer. Its original faint starlight color became more diluted, presenting a milky white hue. Moreover, Li Fan's main body was not enhanced by the Immortal Skin, thus not the owner of this Immortal Spirit power. As soon as this Immortal Spirit power appeared in this alien spacetime, it became like a wild horse running free, attempting to escape Li Fan's grasp. Li Fan's main body, with utmost concentration, used the familiarity with this Immortal Spirit power honed over four years as reins, barely controlling it. In the Immortal Formation surrounding them, Immortal Spirit Qi released by the Dissolution Disc assisted, helping Li Fan subjugate this trace of Immortal Spirit power. After half a day of arduous effort, this volatile Immortal Spirit power finally became somewhat controllable.
"Next, we will use this Immortal Spirit power to disguise my identity." "And through the Key of the Dao stone slab, enter that Infinite Ocean."
Although the goal was clear, its actual execution was far from easy. After all, it was something the Heavenly Mysteries King of that era could not accomplish. The first problem to face was how to activate the stone slab.
Li Fan used the Immortal Formation as a knife, dividing the Immortal Spirit power transmitted by his divine sense clone into millions of segments for experimentation. If he simply touched the stone slab with this Immortal Spirit power, only a faint halo would appear, and then there would be no further reaction, as if waiting for Li Fan to take the next step.
Li Fan recalled his previous use of this Key of the Dao stone slab to help the Xuanhuang Realm ascend to the Immortal Realm. He knew that it had to be triggered by the corresponding True Immortal Sigils.
"Could it be the 'Transformation Between Immortals and Mortals' script again?"
Li Fan's thoughts moved, and he commanded one segment of Immortal Spirit power to write on the stone slab. A strong energy fluctuation indeed erupted from the stone slab. However, after searching its surroundings and finding no suitable candidate, the fluctuation, after a long while, dissipated on its own.
Having ruled out this option, Li Fan began other experiments. He tested all the True Immortal Sigilss he knew one by one. It did not take long. Unfortunately, none of them matched.
"It must be an unknown True Immortal Sigils," Li Fan's main body frowned slightly.
…
Since his attempt to access the Infinite Ocean was blocked, Li Fan turned his attention back to Scholar Zhu. Directly asking was out of the question; not only would it expose his true nature, but it could also attract the attention of the Star Sea Governance Council. Li Fan's divine sense clone continued to familiarize himself with the power of Immortal Spirits while waiting for an opportune moment. Soon, only seven days remained until the recruitment date for new members of the Immortal Hunt. This time, the Governance Council's announcement stated that the number of cultivators to be recruited was double the usual amount. For a time, the Star Sea was abuzz with discussion, with mixed feelings of joy and apprehension. The joy stemmed from the increased probability of joining the Immortal Hunt. The fear was rooted in the fact that the reason for recruiting more members was reportedly due to heavy losses incurred in a previous operation to hunt True Immortals. This was clearly a desperate measure. It was evident that while joining the Immortal Hunt would grant immense power, the associated risks were far greater than imagined. However, regardless of the circumstances, becoming an Immortal Hunter was the lifelong pursuit of many young talents from the major powers of the Star Sea, thus drawing a considerable number of applicants. In the City of Ultimate Bliss, Li Fan received a message from Scholar Zhu.
"Seven days from now, as promised, I will recommend you for the selection process." "However, as we previously agreed, I need to conduct a test first!"
Li Fan straightened his clothes and slowly walked into the City Lord's mansion. Upon opening the door, he did not meet Scholar Zhu but instead stepped into emptiness, as if falling into an endless abyss. He plummeted rapidly downwards, surrounded by endless darkness. In the pitch-blackness, scattered points of light flashed intermittently, seemingly embedded in the cliff walls of the abyss. Scholar Zhu's booming voice echoed in Li Fan's ears.
"The Immortal Hunt assessment places utmost importance on the comprehension of the The Dao Lattice." "The points of light you see are The Dao Lattice commands that may be involved in the assessment. Try to replicate them." "This is the first hurdle. If you cannot pass this…" "Then never leave!" Scholar Zhu's cackling laughter reverberated through the abyss. Li Fan ignored it, meticulously observing the The Dao Lattice command light points around him. The rapid descent, the techniques of flight and levitation, had inexplicably failed here. Each The Dao Lattice command flashed by in an instant. It was extremely difficult to observe and replicate these commands in such a short time. Fortunately, Li Fan's divine sense possessed a miniature The Dao Lattice projection. His divine sense acted as a screen, reflecting all the rapidly flashing light points around him. If there was a corresponding command in his own The Dao Lattice projection, it would spontaneously flash and respond. If it was still outside Li Fan's cognitive blind spot, it would be directly skipped. There was no need for Li Fan's consciousness to identify and replicate them; the miniature The Dao Lattice did it for him. Both the reaction speed and replication accuracy were significantly improved. Li Fan sensed that with each successful replication, it was as if he were being pulled back by a rope, slowing his descent slightly. As one light point after another was replicated and permanently illuminated above the endless abyss, Li Fan finally stopped falling. The darkness gradually receded, and upon leaving the endless abyss, Li Fan arrived on a desolate plain. A figure stood in the air. Although Li Fan did not recognize the face, he felt a sense of familiarity with its aura. It was Scholar Zhu! Indeed, Scholar Zhu's voice emanated from that figure. "The second test is combat." "Immortal Hunt, Immortal Hunt, its objective is to hunt True Immortals." "Can you… do it?" Before he finished speaking, Scholar Zhu pointed at Li Fan. "True Immortals wield the Great Dao as their blade and command infinite power." The boundless wilderness seemed to curl up like a sphere following Scholar Zhu's gesture. Li Fan felt as if he were trapped in a jar, watching the rising land around him, with no escape from his fate. It wasn't just the ground; it was all the laws of heaven and earth that transformed into oppressive power, as if to face the entire world from within a cage! Li Fan's expression remained unchanged; he did not don the Immortal Skin. Instead, countless arms materialized behind him in an instant. Each arm seemed to be rapidly writing something. With each completed writing, a bright point appeared in front of Li Fan. Slowly, these bright points wove together into a net. Li Fan gently pressed his hands upon this net, plucking its strings like playing a zither. With each movement, large portions of the encroaching wilderness inexplicably vanished. As the strumming continued, the wilderness was rapidly eroded, leaving it riddled with holes. By the time it reached Li Fan, there was no longer any threat! Back in the dark void, Li Fan and Scholar Zhu faced each other from a distance. Scholar Zhu stared at the miniature The Dao Lattice woven in front of Li Fan, his eyes filled with contemplation. "With the strength of your current body, joining the Immortal Hunt is more than enough." "However… I still need to probe your true capabilities!" Scholar Zhu sneered. In the darkness, rolling clouds, accompanied by explosive thunder, arrived. In an instant, they enveloped Li Fan. Li Fan squinted his eyes; within these black clouds, he seemed to see countless majestic figures. "These are my former servants." "Let me see how far you can go." Scholar Zhu's figure abruptly vanished. Then, one by one, terrifying creatures with ferocious visages emerged from the black clouds like a tide, charging towards Li Fan. Li Fan seemed to be taken aback, standing rooted to the spot, motionless for a long time. The immortal-crafted creatures, however, showed no intention of holding back. Just as they were about to reach Li Fan, "Disperse!" Li Fan uttered a soft cry. Countless creatures, simultaneously, froze in place as if encased in ice. And then… they vanished into smoke, just like the vast black clouds! Scholar Zhu, hidden behind the black clouds, revealed his true form. He observed Li Fan, his expression filled with disbelief. "I too once had countless servants. What do you think, Scholar Zhu?" Li Fan smiled faintly. As he spoke, numerous dark clouds, emanating from the void, pressed forward. Figures darted within the clouds. They were precisely the countless immortal servants Li Fan had dispersed with a single word! Except now, they had a new master. They began to attack Scholar Zhu. "Insolent!" Scholar Zhu was enraged. The world seemed to be struck by an invisible giant, causing a void to appear out of nowhere. All living beings within that void, along with it, turned to dust. *Bang bang bang*. Eerie sounds echoed continuously, as these countless beings were casually crushed like flies. In a short while, the creatures attacking Scholar Zhu were all eliminated. But compared to Li Fan's effortless annihilation with a single word, he was clearly inferior. Li Fan did not manifest countless living beings again, merely smiling as he watched the other party. "Interesting. Very interesting." "I believe you will bring some surprises to these fellows." "Go on!" After a long stare, Scholar Zhu finally spoke. The scene around Li Fan instantly vanished. He returned to the entrance of the City Lord's mansion. Before him was the door, which had not been pushed open. Li Fan clasped his hands together in front of him and turned to leave. "Being trapped in the City of Ultimate Bliss for so long, how could I possibly have these immortal constructs accompanying me?" "If not for my insistence on summoning them, I wouldn't have seen through the truth so quickly." "It was merely a scene, much like the Eternal Residual Wills, so realistic it seemed true. In such a situation, even a powerful individual like Evil Su Bai wouldn't be my match, let alone a mere crippled Nameless True Immortal." Li Fan sneered, having already returned to his residence. The next step was to infiltrate the Immortal Hunt and seize the core secrets of the Star Sea. "The essence of the previous test was a debate, a clash of intentions." "Although I overpowered Scholar Zhu with the 'Transformation Between Immortals and Mortals,' his method of forcefully crushing with an invisible giant was indeed not to be underestimated."
Li Fan narrowed his eyes, recalling the divine abilities of Scholar Su in the illusion.
The miniature Dao net in his spiritual sense flickered erratically, searching for corresponding Great Dao laws. Scholar Su had entered the Dao net with his body, thus his comprehended Great Dao had become one of the Dao net’s foundations.
The replica in Li Fan’s spiritual sense also bore his reflection.
The moment it corresponded, the string of the Dao net emitted a unique, profound glow.
Li Fan’s mind stirred slightly: “This is… the character ‘Grind’!”
Suddenly, a square grinding stone seemed to appear before his eyes, repeatedly pounding and crushing targets in the world. With the continuous flow of light from this string of the miniature Dao net, Li Fan’s comprehension of this Dao advanced by leaps and bounds in a short period.
After only a few breaths, Li Fan proactively interrupted his comprehension of this Dao.
“Although Scholar Su has been driven into the Dao net and made a living stake, he is still alive. This Dao of ‘Grind’ is still something that has an owner.”
“The deeper one delves, the easier it is for its owner to sense it.”
Among the myriad Great Daos in existence, Li Fan only needed to focus on the transformation between truth and falsehood. As for other Dao paths and principles, he would use them as mere tools to climb to the very peak.
His deliberate exposure of the transformation between truth and falsehood before Scholar Su was not Li Fan showing off or flaunting his abilities to a former Nameless True Immortal. It was a test.
“It seems now that the transformation between truth and falsehood is immensely profound. Even if someone in the Immortal Realm coveted it in the past, not everyone knew of its existence. Even though Scholar Su is now a Nameless True Immortal, he couldn’t recognize it when I displayed it right before him. He was merely astonished by my inexplicable methods.”
Although this trial carried some risk, Scholar Su himself was a prisoner within the net. Li Fan’s main body was far away in the Abyssal Sea beyond the The Great Barriers, shielded by the Carefree Dream. Even if any unforeseen circumstances arose, he could calmly engage his Return to Truth technique.
In fact, given that the Black Heavenly Physician had crossed over possibilities, Li Fan could still successfully activate Return to Truth. In this current “Primordial” possibility, there were truly few existences that could genuinely threaten Li Fan.
In the blink of an eye, seven days passed.
As promised, Scholar Su recommended “Ma Tiande” to the Governing Council.
Ma Tiande was already dispatched by the Governing Council to the City of Ultimate Bliss to manipulate the Dao net and conduct surveillance. Now, the Governing Council merely believed that Scholar Su and Ma Tiande had an unpleasant relationship and wanted an excuse to transfer Ma Tiande away.
The Governing Council, after verifying Ma Tiande’s identity through the Dao net and obtaining his consent, agreed to the recommendation.
The selection process for the Immortal Hunters was concentrated within half a day.
When the selection officially began, the ethereal Dao net seemed to reveal its true form, manifesting physically from the void.
A faintly visible great net enveloped the entire Star Sea, enmeshing every force within it.
The shadow of the Dao net spanned across heaven and earth, extending beyond the world.
Such a magnificent and miraculous sight caused everyone who witnessed it to feel an urge to prostrate themselves in worship from the depths of their hearts.
Ordinary mortals knelt down in reverence.
Even cultivators bowed their heads in submission.
As this Dao net spanned the heavens, Li Fan did not make a conspicuous display. He merely lowered his head and observed silently.
Due to the presence of the miniature Dao net in his spiritual sense, his field of vision differed from that of the common folk.
Four figures, exuding a sacred and majestic aura, stood like four pillars behind the Dao net. Besides them, it seemed there were numerous other phantoms standing solemnly within the Dao net.
However, the invisible hand that controlled the Dao net was nowhere to be seen.
Every time the Nameless True Immortal, who glimpsed this Dao net’s living stake in reality, swept his gaze, Li Fan felt a jolt of fear. However, the projection within his spiritual sense became clearer and clearer due to this close-range, more detailed observation.
Therefore, Li Fan did not stop his probing gaze.
A ray of light traversed through the Dao net.
Wherever it passed, all personnel participating in the Immortal Hunter selection were illuminated by this light.
Their bodies, losing control, floated up for no reason.
Li Fan was no exception.
Observing the nearly a thousand cultivators rising along with him in the Star Sea, Li Fan remained unfazed. While being caught, he observed the Dao net’s operation in reality.
“Spanning the entire Star Sea and precisely locking onto a thousand targets simultaneously, lifting them into the air… in terms of the breadth and precision of its power, this action by the Dao net is no less than that of a True Immortal.”
Furthermore, Li Fan faintly sensed that the participants in the Immortal Hunter selection were not simply being lifted into the air. They seemed to have collectively entered a spacetime parallel to the actual Star Sea.
The beings below in the Star Sea could look up and see them in the sky.
However, they gradually lost their view of the world below, as if entering a completely isolated area.
“This should be to ensure the fairness and impartiality of the Immortal Hunter selection, a public test conducted in front of all living beings in the Star Sea,” Li Fan understood.
The surrounding scene turned dim, as if being in endless void. A thousand cultivators floated within, awaiting the start of the selection.
A booming voice soon resounded.
Without any superfluous words, it got straight to the point.
“First test: Dao.”
The Dao net, spanning across heaven and earth, seemed to arrive at this selection space. It descended abruptly and then continuously pressed down.
What was originally a creation existing only in the heavens was now drawing ever closer.
Until it was right before their eyes.
Facing the magnificent Dao net, the thousand trial participants were like ants in a net.
The oppressive feeling emanating from the Great Dao caused a third of these thousand people to tremble involuntarily on the spot.
Light flashed, and these trembling individuals were instantly eliminated and teleported out of the trial space.
The remaining cultivators, with a renewed sense of seriousness, concentrated their minds to deal with the Dao net that was almost upon them.
The Dao net continued to press closer, as if about to completely crush them from above.
Facing the imminent danger of being ground into pieces, not everyone could remain composed. Even though they had made countless preparations beforehand, the Dao net they had envisioned in normal times was vastly different from the actual one. In this process, anyone who showed the slightest change in expression was eliminated.
The Dao net pressed down, and their bodies and divine souls felt as if they had been ruthlessly ground. Then, they were integrated into the Dao net.
When Li Fan could see again, he found himself in a labyrinth-like area.
The true face of the Dao net was nowhere to be seen.
Buzzing…
A strange sound came from not far away.
Li Fan turned his head and saw that the silvery-white maze paths were inexplicably evaporating and disappearing from the edges.
Moreover, this disappearance was rapidly approaching his location.
“Dao Erasure Tribulation?”
Naturally, the words “Dao Erasure Tribulation” appeared in Li Fan’s mind.
Of course, this was not the true Dao Erasure Tribulation, but a simulated test scenario based on the essence of the Dao Erasure Tribulation.
“So, what needs to be done now is to escape from this Dao net maze.” Li Fan seemed to understand.
He intended to step forward and move deeper into the maze, but out of habit, when he exerted force, he found himself unable to move at all.
He looked down and discovered that his feet were strangely stuck to the Dao net maze.
The path forward, though appearing smooth, was covered with unevenness. In a normal state, it would be extremely difficult to walk.
After observing for a moment, Li Fan understood the intention of this first test.
Through his feet, which extended out like feelers, Li Fan sensed the protrusions of the Dao net ahead.
“I need to issue a Dao net command to fill in this gap.”
Li Fan did not do it himself. Instead, he employed the same trick as he had during Scholar Su’s trial, directly using the miniature Dao net in his spiritual sense to respond.
In an instant, a dim ray of light emerged from Li Fan’s body, transmitted through his feet to the ground.
The gap was filled.
The path ahead was no longer rough, and Li Fan took a step smoothly.
“This method of testing is quite interesting.”
The miniature Dao net rapidly responded to the various gaps in the path below.
Li Fan walked slowly and unhurriedly.
His mind was not under any significant pressure, so Li Fan observed his surroundings, controlling his speed to be slightly behind the leading group.
Not the very top, nor conspicuous, but within the first tier.
Behind him, the Dao net continued to evaporate, relentlessly pursuing.
In this round, about four hundred people were eliminated.
Only when there were slightly over three hundred cultivators remaining did the first stage of the test conclude.
The Dao net maze disappeared silently, and a grand pronouncement voice sounded again.
It again got straight to the point.
“Second test: Martial.”
As the voice echoed in the space, an inexplicable aura descended upon the area.
Li Fan’s pupils contracted sharply.
“True Immortal?”
Facing the three hundred cultivators was a tall figure clad in golden armor.
However, there were shackles on his hands and feet, and his armor was severely damaged and covered in scars.
His beard and hair seemed to have not been trimmed for many years, a chaotic mess that even obscured his face.
But Li Fan could still see a sinister smile suddenly appear on the figure's face.
“Rain!”
A hoarse voice, carrying a faint killing intent, resounded in everyone’s ears.
Suddenly, raindrops began to fall from the sky.
At first, it was just a few drops, then it intensified, and in an instant, it became a torrential downpour.
Each raindrop felt as heavy as a mountain.
As it poured down, many cultivators, caught off guard, let out screams of agony.
Their flesh and blood were battered into unrecognizable messes by the rain.
Light flashed, and those on the verge of death were transported out of the trial space.
However, a small number of unfortunate souls died in this great rain before they could be sent away.
“They’re really going all out.”
Li Fan watched a participant beside him die a tragic death.
Yet, he showed no panic. He had too many ways to resist this immortal rain.
“But since this is an Immortal Hunter selection, I should utilize the Dao net’s power as much as possible.”
The moment this True Immortal appeared, Li Fan sensed that he seemed to have gotten closer to the Dao net, as if to facilitate the cultivators participating in the Immortal Hunter selection to utilize the Dao net’s power.
“Rain…”
“Umbrella!”
With a thought from Li Fan, an umbrella appeared in his hand.
The circular canopy covered his head, blocking all the falling rain.
However, this trial was not so easily passed.
While Li Fan protected himself, he looked to his left and right, discovering that quite a number of Star Sea cultivators had adapted immediately.
They displayed their unique abilities, some like Li Fan, using umbrellas and protective gear to shield themselves; others twisting the direction of the falling raindrops with intangible force; and some even directly swallowing the heavy rain…
After they could stand firm in the rain, they began to surround and attack the golden-armored True Immortal, who was assisted by chains.
Various divine abilities and spells were unleashed.
Among them, the most striking were a gust of wind and three swords.
A strong wind howled, blowing the heavy rain back towards the True Immortal. The divine ability that the True Immortal originally used to torment the trial cultivators was now being turned against him.
The three swords belonged to one person, positioned behind a female cultivator in purple. This female cultivator appeared to be blind, her eyes always closed. However, even in the heavy rain that obscured vision, she firmly locked onto the Golden True Immortal’s direction. The three swords behind her were held by a broken arm, a head, and a circular vortex.
Sword light crisscrossed, cleaving through the wind and rain, slashing relentlessly at the Golden True Immortal.
…
Amidst the violent wind and rain, energy undulated like a surging tide.
Li Fan hid in the shadows, observing silently, not making a rash move. At the same time, he used the miniature Dao net in his spiritual sense to record all the fluctuations of spells and divine abilities around him.
It was evident that the participant in this trial was a true immortal.
Although controlled by the Governing Council, he could not exert his full strength, but his defensive capabilities remained.
The divine abilities of numerous cultivators continuously bombarded his golden armor.
Yet, they only caused slight tremors. They couldn’t even inflict minor white scars.
The Golden True Immortal, facing the siege of these ants, laughed maniacally.
“Rain! Rain! Rain!”
As the True Immortal chanted, the wind and rain intensified.
The shackles on the Golden True Immortal’s hands and feet clanged, seeming on the verge of breaking and falling off under the True Immortal’s impact.
And the rain that attacked the crowd began to exert its original divine effect.
Not only did it possess the weight of mountains, but it also began to erode the divine souls of the crowd.
Even the Great Dao of this space seemed to be affected.
Seeing that the cultivators were gradually falling into a losing battle against the True Immortal’s counterattack, Li Fan, who had been watching from the sidelines, finally spoke.
“Shed armor!”
Li Fan, hidden behind all the cultivators, pointed at the arrogant Golden True Immortal from afar.
Though his voice was light, it pierced through the wind and rain, reaching the ears of everyone present.
The wind and rain paused for a moment.
As if some unfathomably profound power had descended, the armor on the Golden True Immortal’s body trembled uncontrollably.
“No!”
The Golden True Immortal, whose face had been filled with ferocity just moments ago, was now filled with extreme panic.
He roared, as if trying to prevent his armor from falling off.
But the power of the Dao net roughly stripped him of his protective gear.
In just a moment, the former True Immortal stood naked before everyone.
Though his messy hair provided some cover, it was still an unbearable and immense humiliation!
The cultivators participating in the trial now grasped the situation.
They once again surrounded and attacked the True Immortal.
The True Immortal, however, roared, allowing these attacks to grind away at his flesh and blood.
His pair of blood-red eyes, piercing through the crowd, stared intently at Li Fan!
The True Immortal, enraged, intensified the downpour.
Water droplets pierced through the rain curtain, like layers of veils, segmenting the battlefield into distinct zones. Amidst the torrential rain, Li Fan observed through the gaps that over a dozen cultivators, who had seized this critical opportunity to besiege the True Immortal, were instantly crushed into powder by the immense pressure of the rain. The powdered remnants of their bodies, mixed with rainwater, writhed and transformed into "Rainmen"! They, utilizing the ubiquitous rain on the battlefield, swarmed towards Li Fan from all directions simultaneously.
Feigning a dramatic change in expression, Li Fan, holding his umbrella, transformed into a beam of light and swiftly escaped the encirclement. His speed surpassed even that of the falling rain!
Thus it was said: Heavy rain passing through the body, not a single drop might cling.
Having fled to a distant, temporarily safe location, Li Fan gazed at the True Immortal who was still staring at him intently and sneered. With another finger extended, he uttered, "Shave the Hair!"
His voice carried a peculiar magical resonance, causing everyone present to stiffen slightly. Their concerted assault faltered for a moment. The True Immortal, his eyes like burning coals, widened them in fury and let out another earth-shattering roar.
"Kill you! Kill you! Kill you…"
His resentment surged, his rage boiled over. The rain, which had been falling uniformly across the area, now seemed drawn by some unseen force. It converged towards Li Fan like a water spout.
However, the True Immortal's desperate retaliation could not halt the The Dao Lattice command Li Fan had already issued. The invisible The Dao Lattice's fluctuations instantly spanned the battlefield, descending upon the True Immortal once more. It was as if countless scissors were simultaneously trimming his hair and beard. As the shattered remnants of his armor were gradually stripped away, the True Immortal's true appearance was finally revealed.
Though his face appeared somewhat gaunt, his handsomeness was undeniable. His body was covered in deep, unhealable wounds that cut to the bone. His flesh constantly writhed, yet some inexplicable force prevented it from growing. The remaining encircling cultivators, acting in unison, directed their spells and divine abilities towards these wounds. The True Immortal let out a pained cry.
Not far away, Li Fan, merely holding his umbrella, could no longer cope with the swirling water vortexes. The heavy rain rained down from all directions, eroding Li Fan's body and mind. The sounds reaching his ears were drowned out by the roar of the rain, and the dense curtain of rain obscured his vision. Even with a tightly sealed raincoat, Li Fan gradually felt himself being increasingly detached from the world around him, as if worldly dust being thoroughly washed away by the great rain.
"Is this the Way of [Rain]..."
"If I don't do something soon, I might completely disappear from this world. All traces of my past existence will be like mud stains washed away by the rain, never to be seen again."
"Even bound by the The Dao Lattice, this True Immortal can unleash such divine abilities. It seems at his peak, he was no weakling!"
Standing in the rain, Li Fan, experiencing the Great Dao's divine ability up close, gained considerable insight. Simultaneously, accompanied by the flashes of inspiration in his mind, a different rain began to form around him. The direction of its drops was the complete opposite of the rain wielded by the True Immortal. As the raindrops collided, the wind and rain around Li Fan immediately weakened. Although it couldn't completely negate the True Immortal's divine ability, with the protection of his raincoat, he was assured of his safety.
Li Fan continued to feel the Way of Rain around his body, and he watched the True Immortal, who was losing composure under the cultivators' assault. A sense of alarm suddenly surged in his heart.
"It's just shedding armor and clothes, becoming naked. Compared to being captured alive by mortals, such humiliation is inconsequential. This golden-armored True Immortal's reaction is far too unbecoming. Shouting and screaming, having almost completely lost his reason…"
"He doesn't seem like someone who could comprehend such divine abilities."
"Something is wrong!" Li Fan's heart leaped, and he immediately realized. He looked at the scene and saw that the golden armor and beard, which he had previously stripped off with the "Shed Armor, Shave Hair" technique, had vanished without anyone noticing!
"His loss of composure was just a diversion, merely to attract everyone's attention. It was to create an opportunity to escape while everyone was distracted." Li Fan's thoughts raced, and he was about to connect to the The Dao Lattice here and activate the [Restrain] divine ability.
However, he reconsidered. This was not a real battle against a True Immortal, but a trial to recruit Immortal Hunters hosted by the Governing Council of Star Sea. With so many eyes watching, could a mere True Immortal truly escape?
"It must be an additional test. If I expose this, it will definitely attract extra attention from the Governing Council. But if I pretend not to know…" Li Fan hesitated for only a moment before making the special choice to reveal himself.
He shouted into the air, "Everyone be careful, don't let him sneak away!" Then he quickly scanned his surroundings and, chanting solemn words, declared, "Restrain!"
The Dao Lattice, revealed on the battlefield, seemed to be stirred by a gust of wind, rustling. The crisscrossing Dao strings became somewhat clearer, trembling slightly and emitting a brilliant silver light. The golden armor and beard, which had already scattered to the edges of the battlefield, were all instantly locked and bound!
*Buzz!* The Dao strings vibrated violently, as if the True Immortal was struggling fiercely. At this moment, the cultivators on the battlefield finally awoke as if from a dream. Some continued to attack the True Immortal's body, while others moved to intercept the golden armor and beard.
The battle had become clear, and the True Immortal had completely lost his chance to turn the tide, about to die before these ants…
A flash of light streaked by, and the dying True Immortal vanished directly before everyone's eyes. It wasn't that he had escaped, but that the second trial had concluded. Li Fan felt the peculiar gazes from the surrounding cultivators, but he merely smiled in response.
"The third trial…"
"Life!"
The cold voice had not yet finished when the The Dao Lattice, which had been a mere backdrop, directly descended from above, like the sky collapsing, the Dao strings spanning horizontally, resembling colossal rock walls. In this sudden calamity, many cultivators died on the spot. It seemed they weren't transported away before death but truly perished then and there! The Dao Lattice, which they could rely on, had now turned into a lethal weapon. The cultivators participating in the trial could only rely on their own abilities to evade this inexplicable disaster.
But… the cultivators from Star Sea, especially those participating in the Immortal Hunter selection, relied almost entirely on Dao Origin Symbols and The Dao Lattice commands for their cultivation. Without the The Dao Lattice's augmentation, the means they could employ were pitifully few. How could they survive such a heavenly catastrophe? Aside from the elites of the major powers, everyone else perished within a short period. Those who remained were merely struggling desperately against the overwhelming might of the collapsing The Dao Lattice. As the The Dao Lattice's collapse intensified, the places they could hide became fewer and fewer. They were clearly being driven to a dead end.
Li Fan, relying on his Light-Splitting Escape Technique, was relatively at ease. However, looking at the brutal selection process, where only sixteen people remained including himself, a sense of doubt arose in his heart.
"The previous Immortal Hunter trials were never this strict. Could it be that something major has recently happened in Star Sea?" The harshness of this assessment clearly exceeded everyone's expectations. The composure they had previously displayed was replaced by unconcealable panic. Using all their abilities, they struggled to survive in this apocalyptic scenario.
"Ah!" Another person was crushed to death by the descending Dao strings. It happened right before Li Fan's eyes. Their soul was annihilated, turning into light particles that merged into the The Dao Lattice. However, this very sight allowed Li Fan to discover a clue.
Li Fan witnessed the demise of countless beings, and the "deaths" occurring now seemed different from the true demise of cultivators. A thought moved, and Li Fan understood.
"So that's how it is. This trial, though appearing to test the candidates, is actually testing their mortality. Those who can survive the catastrophe of the The Dao Lattice's collapse without using its power must possess incredibly profound cultivation and attainments. Star Sea cultivators, taught from childhood, are all reliant on the The Dao Lattice. It's almost impossible for them to pass. If anyone can persist to the end, they are likely to be hidden infiltrators from outside territories!"
"Dying is how one passes the test. Those who survive to the end will likely be apprehended and severely interrogated." As Li Fan pondered, he understood the ingenious design of this trial.
"Of course, dying too quickly is also not acceptable. The first group of people have likely truly died. However, those who lacked any reaction ability when disaster struck are worthy of death. Only by dying at the right time, not too early or too late, can one be selected." Li Fan, contemplating from the perspective of a question-setter rather than a candidate, quickly grasped the underlying logic.
Thus, he gradually feigned exhaustion, appearing to be on the verge of collapse. It had to be said that even if one could guess the truth of this trial, facing the collapsing The Dao Lattice strings, an ordinary person would find it incredibly difficult to abandon their resistance and calmly embrace death. There is great terror between life and death, and the scene of the The Dao Lattice's oppression could incite a person's instinctive desire to survive and resist. Li Fan, who had lived on the brink of death myriad times and narrowly escaped numerous dangers, still almost couldn't help but struggle and flee as the silver-white The Dao Lattice strings were about to crush him. Fortunately, he managed to restrain himself. He allowed the Dao strings to pulverize him.
His vision was instantly consumed by boundless silver light. Li Fan's spirit seemed to lose consciousness. In a state of ignorant oblivion, Li Fan faintly sensed a colossal consciousness sweeping through his mind. Driven by instinctual alertness, Li Fan calmed his mind, returning it to infinite tranquility. Instantly, relying on the miniature The Dao Lattice hidden within his divine sense, he casually brought up Ma Tiande's life memories to the surface. The miniature The Dao Lattice and the The Dao Lattice were essentially imprints of the Great Dao, fundamentally indistinguishable. Now perfectly integrated, not even that colossal consciousness, after a brief scrutiny, detected anything. The sense of urgency from being watched by a terrifying monster in the shadows vanished, and Li Fan "resurrected," regaining his body and consciousness.
He was no longer in the previous trial space but had arrived at a circular landmass floating in the void. Outside this landmass stood many figures. Their faces were indistinct, but they all gazed at the remaining participants in the arena, pointing and chatting, seemingly without any ill intent. Li Fan scanned his surroundings and found that the other survivors had not yet recovered, appearing somewhat dazed. Figures flickered occasionally, appearing within the circular landmass. After about fifteen minutes, when all personnel had arrived, the voice of announcement sounded again, this time with a touch of gentleness, devoid of its former coldness and seriousness.
"The final trial, battle!" Li Fan understood, "Perhaps reaching this point means completing the trials. The so-called battle is more like a ranking." It had to be said that those who reached this round were undoubtedly among the prodigies of Star Sea. Although they hadn't fully recovered, upon hearing the command, they instinctively launched surprise attacks on their nearby "enemies." Li Fan naturally also came under attack. His body moved like lightning, easily evading all assaults. At the same time, he roared, "Shed Armor!" For the cultivators targeting Li Fan, their bodies stiffened slightly, and they all retreated in unison.
The people present were all intelligent. They understood that this final test was merely a formality. Losing a battle here was acceptable. Those watching around them were clearly colleagues in the Immortal Hunt. If their clothes were stripped, leaving them naked, how would they interact in the future? Thus, under the deterrence of "Shed Armor," everyone tacitly avoided choosing Li Fan as their opponent, only occasionally launching sneak attacks, all of which Li Fan easily dodged. This bout was decided without genuine conflict.
Not long after, it was concluded. A light screen descended from above the circular landmass, listing the names of everyone present. From top to bottom, there were twenty-eight people. Their comprehensive ranking was based on their performance in the four trials. Ma Tiande's name was ranked fifth. "He must have boosted his score in the second trial, the action of apprehending the True Immortal." Li Fan looked at the person ranked first on the list. Nine out of ten pairs of eyes in the arena were focused on him. It was the cultivator who had previously unleashed the wind divine ability, reversing the True Immortal's rain.
His surname was Dao, and his given name was Yuan. He was tall and slender, with deep eyes. Facing everyone's scrutiny, he showed no nervousness, instead raising his clasped hands in a smiling salute. Recalling the information he had seen before, Li Fan remembered this person's background. He hailed from the Myriad Dao Palace of Star Sea. Since the Myriad Dao Palace dared to name itself after the Dao, it naturally had its own foundations. They were originally a surviving faction from another shattered star sea that managed to establish a foothold despite numerous covetous parties. It was said that they had made extremely significant contributions to the establishment of the The Dao Lattice and were now comparable to the Sword Domain and Blade Island.
"You have all joined the [Immortal Hunt]. From now on, you must obey orders. Disobedience and refusal will be met with certain execution. Next, you will face your first task." Everyone present had subtle expressions upon hearing this. They hadn't expected to undertake a mission immediately after joining the Immortal Hunt, without any prior training.
"Half a day ago, a True Immortal, lured by the [Immortal Bait] we set, crossed the Annihilation Land and entered the area covered by the The Dao Lattice. They are not far from Star Sea now. This True Immortal is severely injured, and the Dao they cultivate is [Erase]. They are suitable as practice for your first hunt…" A figure emerged from the audience outside the circular landmass. Though short, his body was packed with well-trained muscles. He wore a blood-colored tunic and carried a black stone pillar on his shoulder, looking quite strange. "I hope your first hunt will be a complete success!" the blood-clothed man grinned, patting the stone pillar on his shoulder.
The blood-robed man's words had barely faded before everyone felt a suction force appear out of nowhere above the circular flying land. It was like a vortex had suddenly formed, drawing them all in.
Before falling into the vortex, Li Fan once again cast an involuntary glance at the stone pillar on the blood-robed man's shoulder. The moment the man lightly patted the pillar, Li Fan had sensed a faint tremor occur in the The Dao Lattice.
"Pillar of the Great Dao? Or perhaps, one of the Great Daos itself?"
"To be able to carry a Great Dao, and to look so at ease and unconcerned. This person's strength..."
"Is likely not inferior to the Nameless!" Li Fan thought, his heart filled with solemnity.
The invisible vortex swallowed all twenty-eight newly promoted Immortal Hunters. When they regained their senses, they found themselves in an unfamiliar starry sky. Information related to this operation was transmitted from the The Dao Lattice.
"It is estimated that a True Immortal will arrive here in half an hour."
"Use the remaining time to discuss methods for ambushing them."
As everyone absorbed the information, they all looked at the so-called "Immortal Bait" in the void, which was emitting inexplicable fluctuations. It was a quietly floating bronze coffin, encircled by patterns of nine dragons and nine phoenixes. What sent a chill through their hearts was that a corner of the coffin lid had already been opened by an unknown person, from which came intermittent whispers and murmurs. Though the sound originated from the bronze coffin, it seemed to arise from just behind their ears. The demonic sounds assailed their ears, and while they didn't seem to affect everyone for the moment, if such a thing could attract a True Immortal to cross the star sea without hesitation, this coffin must possess some special quality.
After a period of silent observation, Dao Yuan, who had tested first, finally spoke. "I happen to know a little about the origin of this Immortal Bait. Allow me to offer something to inspire others. I hope you will forgive any impropriety."
Dao Yuan's attitude was humble, and the onlookers nodded one after another.
"As everyone knows, the remaining True Immortals in the star sea now have roughly two pursuits. First, enlightenment of the Great Dao to reach the nameless realm. Second..."
"It is naturally methods to avoid tribulations and disasters. When the Immortal Realm was suddenly destroyed, countless True Immortals died like ants. The group of Immortals who were fortunate enough to survive developed a deep obsession with methods for escaping and surviving. It is rumored that after the destruction of the Immortal Realm, the Nameless True Immortals gathered and, after discussion and research, developed three divine and mysterious methods for seeking refuge."
Although Dao Yuan claimed this was common knowledge, judging from the expressions on the faces of these newly promoted Immortal Hunters, such secrets were clearly not known to ordinary people. Most of them were deeply engrossed, listening intently. However, some were dismissive of Dao Yuan's showmanship and let out cold sneers.
"It is said that these three methods of refuge can protect living beings and help them pass through all tribulations in the world, even disasters like the destruction of the Immortal Realm, ensuring their safety."
"The bronze coffin before us is one of the Three Refuge Methods, the 'World-Crossing Profound Coffin.' This Profound Coffin seems to connect to other worlds. Once one lies within it, they will completely disappear from this world..."
At this point, someone couldn't help but interrupt Dao Yuan. "...Completely disappear? In that case, how can one determine if they have truly perished or genuinely gone to avoid disaster?" This was clearly the doubt in the minds of others.
Dao Yuan smiled slightly and pointed to the nine dragons and nine phoenixes carved on the bronze coffin. "Have you all seen these dragon and phoenix patterns? After a person lies in the coffin and disappears, the dragons and phoenixes will cry out in unison, and finally, the scene of the world on the other side will be reflected. It is said that not one of them is not overjoyed and thanks with clasped hands. It seems that when the person in the coffin is sent to another world, communication is still possible."
"As for the authenticity of these scenes... the eagerness of countless True Immortals, and even the Nameless True Immortals, for this 'World-Crossing Profound Coffin' is quite telling."
Upon hearing this, everyone gasped in unison.
"Then the one before us..." Dao Yuan smiled. "Is naturally a replica."
Though the answer was expected, everyone couldn't help but sigh. "From the moment the World-Crossing Profound Coffin was created, it was meant to help Immortals evade calamities. Therefore, at that time, powerful individuals joined forces to announce to all surviving Immortals in the world, and the aura fluctuations of the Profound Coffin, along with the method to activate it, were all passed down."
"Those who are fated can enter the coffin to avoid tribulations," Dao Yuan recounted.
At this point, one of the newly promoted Immortal Hunters reacted, "If that's the case, wouldn't those powerful beings who forged the World-Crossing Profound Coffin long ago have already evaded worldly affairs and escaped to other worlds through the Profound Coffin?"
Dao Yuan nodded. "Precisely!"
"The Profound Coffin is also their legacy. It is said that the true Profound Coffin floats in the sea of stars according to a special pattern, constantly emitting signaling fluctuations in all directions. Although we in the Star Sea of the North have never seen the true World-Crossing Profound Coffin, we have already been able to replicate the Profound Coffin's fluctuations..."
Suddenly, a cold laugh interjected, "Brother Dao, how do you know we in the Star Sea of the North have never seen a true Profound Coffin? If one has never seen such a divine object with their own eyes, how can they imitate it so perfectly?"
Dao Yuan and the surrounding Immortal Hunters' expressions changed. However, the voice that had just spoken in a sarcastic tone fell silent, and it was impossible to discern who had spoken. The group exchanged furtive glances, but no suspicious individuals seemed to be found.
Seeing that the situation had reached a stalemate, someone stepped forward to mediate. "Brother Dao, please continue speaking about the other two methods of evading the world. Hearing such secrets for the first time, we are truly curious!"
Others chimed in their agreement, and Dao Yuan's expression seemed to recover. He spoke again, "As for the other two methods of evading the world, I only know of one."
"It is the 'Reverse Flow Boat.'"
"'Reverse Flow Boat?'" Everyone savored the meaning of these three words.
Dao Yuan's expression became solemn. "The river of time flows endlessly, always forward. This Reverse Flow Boat is said to be able to carry people against the current in the river of time, traveling back to a time before any disasters had occurred..."
"Ah!"
The impact of the Reverse Flow Boat on everyone was clearly far greater than that of the World-Crossing Profound Coffin, as the ability to reverse time was a dream that all living beings yearned for. This ignited the crowd's enthusiasm for discussion, and they began to chatter.
"Brother Dao, were this Reverse Flow Boat truly created by those True Immortals?"
"I'm sure it's impossible. If they had truly returned to the past, why has the fact of the Immortal Realm's destruction not changed in the slightest for us?"
"Alas, you are ignorant of that. When one returns to the past, if the details of history change, it is like a river changing its course, forming a different river downstream. Yet we still remain in the original river, so naturally, we cannot perceive it."
"Nonsense! If that's the case, then our existence should have disappeared with the river's change of course. Why do we and everything in the world still exist?"
"This..."
"The principles of time have already surpassed our ability to comprehend and imagine. Gentlemen, there's no need to be so insistent."
"However, since Brother Dao speaks so plausibly... it is likely that the existence of the Reverse Flow Boat is not false."
...
The crowd exchanged opinions. Finally, Dao Yuan smiled and said, "Whether the Reverse Flow Boat is true or false, I cannot truly determine. Let alone me, even the elders in the Star Sea of the North may not truly know. It is merely a vague rumor."
Someone else asked, "This second method of avoiding the world can already reverse the river of time. Then what about the third method of avoiding the world...?"
The newcomers' discussion about the Reverse Flow Boat immediately ceased, and they all stared intently at Dao Yuan, awaiting his explanation. Dao Yuan smiled wryly. "As for this third method of avoiding the world, few among the Immortals of that era knew its true nature. However, all those who did know its true form believed without a doubt that it was the most perfect method of avoiding disaster. If one could master that method of avoiding disaster, all tribulations in the world would be like passing clouds. That is true great freedom, great liberation, and great release!"
As Dao Yuan spoke, a look of intense longing appeared in his eyes. Everyone present felt the same.
However, there was one person whose heart was shaken even more profoundly than anyone else's! It was Li Fan!
Having learned from the countdown of the Reflection, he was already aware of the existence of the world-ending tribulation that would sweep across the mortal world. Therefore, when Li Fan first heard of these so-called three great methods of avoiding disaster, he felt nothing but disdain. However, this disdain had long since vanished upon hearing of the existence of the first method, the World-Crossing Profound Coffin.
Lying in the Profound Coffin and being able to travel to another world. This world here was clearly not just another lower star sea. It almost instantly made Li Fan think of the "Ancient Primordial Source." The demon beast race could cross possibilities through it. The True Immortals who survived the Dao Erasure Tribulation might not be without a similar power.
"If it were just random jumps through possibilities like the demon beast race, it probably wouldn't be called 'World-Crossing.'"
"If what Dao Yuan said is true, all survivors who jumped over were overjoyed and thanked with clasped hands..."
"Could it be that this Profound Coffin can preemptively scout or even select the possibilities it can reach?" Li Fan's heart stirred.
The entire mortal world still had a lifespan of seven million three hundred and sixty thousand years. This meant that there were still possibilities that could last for more than seven million years. Although this number did not seem very long, compared to the "Primordial" possibility where Li Fan was in a near-death state, facing the threat of the Dao Erasure Tribulation at any moment. It could already be considered longevity. If one could find such a paradise from the place where the Immortal Realm was destroyed, it would indeed be cause for great joy.
If the World-Crossing Profound Coffin merely surprised Li Fan, then the existence of the Reverse Flow Boat shook him profoundly. Li Fan believed in the true existence of the "Reverse Flow Boat" more than anyone else present. Not to mention that Li Fan himself possessed such a treasure as the Reflection, but even just the "Heavenly Bone Hand" that he had seen in the Xuanhuang Realm indicated that the Immortals of ancient times had already mastered some divine abilities related to "time."
"However, even if one can reverse time, the descent of the Dao Erasure Tribulation is a great trend. Just as the earth's terrain, if it's higher in the west and lower in the east, rivers will generally flow from west to east into the sea. Even if one can repeatedly return to the source of the river and start anew, they cannot change the outcome of eventually flowing into the sea."
"In reality, this means that if one cannot find the true cause of the Dao Erasure Tribulation's outbreak, even if time is reversed again and again, it will be futile. Moreover, traveling upstream against the river of time will surely come at a very painful price. It is likely that one can do it once or twice, but not thrice."
After this deliberation, Li Fan understood the difference between his own treasure, the Reflection, and treasures that reverse time.
"When the false becomes true, and the true becomes false."
"In nothingness, creating things with a single thought."
"Even the concept of time exists because it exists."
"Using the metaphor of flowing water from the east. My 'Reflection' is as if I can freely modify the land, and even the sky."
"Not only can I make all rivers flow backward, but even the water on the ground can surge upwards into the sky, and it would not be impossible..."
"Does this not directly correspond to the so-called great freedom, great liberation, and great release?"
Although Li Fan already knew of the mortal world's impending doom, he did not feel much fear. This was precisely because he believed that with the Reflection, he possessed the power to rewrite everything. After seeing the scene of the doomsday countdown jumping by tens of millions of times, Li Fan's judgment became even more certain. If there truly was a method of great freedom to escape disaster in the world, it was likely only the Reflection.
Dao Yuan's words awakened a deep-seated worry that Li Fan had long harbored within his heart. The scene he had witnessed in the Abyssal Sea of True Immortals waiting silently in the Xuanhuang Realm. It seemed to indicate that the Immortals of the past had already known of the existence of the Reflection. Just like the Immortal Hunters today, they had laid a trap in the Xuanhuang Realm long ago. However, due to some unknown reason, the Reflection was delayed for a long time, allowing Li Fan to ultimately escape disaster. Although this was merely Li Fan's conjecture, upon hearing the rumors of the "Reverse Flow Boat" and the third method of evading disaster today, Li Fan seemed to have thought of a possibility, and his divine soul became extremely serious.
"The mortal world is probably a massive Xuanhuang Realm."
"Just like everything that once happened in the Xuanhuang Realm. When disasters like this strike, some choose to flee, some choose to stand up and resolutely seek ways to save the world."
"And some people simply give up, living out their remaining years in idleness."
"Truly, there is nothing new under the sun. The secrets I thought I had may not be absolute secrets."
"It's just that the group of people who knew them are no longer here."
Li Fan never underestimated the power of Immortals. Especially for True Immortals who could cross possibilities.
"If, one day, I leave the 'Primordial' possibility and travel to another world, I must be even more cautious in my dealings."
Dao Yuan's words stirred Li Fan's thoughts, making it difficult for him to restrain himself. Fortunately, the performance of the others present was not much better, so he did not reveal any flaws.
"Alright, let's get back to the main topic. We just received news that our target, that True Immortal, has attained the Dao through 'Yi'."
"What is 'Yi'?"
"'Yi' means unseen. We must be vigilant." Dao Yuan said, his gaze sweeping into the distance.
Under the pressure of this life-or-death crisis, the newly appointed Immortal Hunters sprang into action, coordinating their preparations. Though it was their first time and they lacked direct instruction, relying solely on transmitted information, they were the cream of the crop from Star Sea, and their actions were remarkably organized. The primary task for an Immortal Hunter reinforcing a realm was to strengthen the local The Dao Lattice and then use it to conceal themselves.
If the entirety of the The Dao Lattice was considered to be secured to the Great Dao by an unseen hand, supported by four pillars, then in this remote and weaker area of Star Sea’s frontier, the Immortal Hunters themselves would act as the new 'nails,' further solidifying the The Dao Lattice. This would allow it to harness more power for the impending battle.
It was said that the veteran Immortal Hunters operated with seamless coordination, capable of reinforcing and sealing off a region’s The Dao Lattice in an instant. In contrast, the novices currently in the field appeared somewhat flustered. Disputes arose over who would serve as the temporary 'nails,' ostensibly to maximize efficiency. Logically, those with the deepest understanding of the The Dao Lattice should be chosen. However, the cultivators were new acquaintances, their prior rankings reflecting a comprehensive assessment of Dao, martial arts, and other aspects, not solely their comprehension of the The Dao Lattice. Moreover, merging oneself into the The Dao Lattice through collective effort offered infinite benefits, akin to bathing in the Great Dao itself. Consequently, none who aspired for advancement were willing to yield their chance. Even Dao Yuan, ranked first, would accept his own inclusion but could not dictate the selection of others.
However, the preparation time for the new Immortal Hunters was limited. With each passing moment, their anxiety intensified. Finally, some began to concede. Ma Tian De, with a cupped-fist salute and a resolute expression, declared, "Esteemed sirs, to know others is wisdom, and to know oneself is enlightenment. My fifth ranking is largely due to my performance in the martial test. I will not contend for this position!" He calmly yielded one of the 'nail' spots.
The cultivators then looked at Li Fan, whose noble demeanor inspired similar actions. Influenced by his example, several more cultivators voluntarily stepped back. Soon, the eight individuals chosen to be the 'nails' were determined. To Li Fan's surprise, Jin Chang Yue, the purple-robed female cultivator ranked second and wielding three long swords, also relinquished her opportunity to become a Dao Nail. Her eyes remained closed as she stated, "I care more about personally cleaving the True Immortal with my three swords." As she spoke, the three long swords emitted a resonant hum.
With the personnel decided, the cultivators, their expressions now serious and adhering to their training, jointly began to reinforce the local The Dao Lattice. Eight figures formed a circle, facing each other, while the remaining Immortal Hunters surrounded them, issuing The Dao Lattice commands. Each command was like tightening the strings of the Dao, causing the eight figures to gradually fade, seeming to merge with the surrounding world. Yet, the cultivators could feel an inexplicable, profound change occurring subtly in the environment, a powerful yet obscure shadow that, though deeply hidden, resonated with the The Dao Lattice commands they issued.
The process of strengthening and connecting the The Dao Lattice took ninety-nine breaths, barely meeting the standard for a novice's first practical exercise. The eight cultivators serving as Dao Nails regained their normal appearance, though their expressions were somewhat dazed, intermingled with a trace of pleasant surprise, as if still immersed in their recent communion with the The Dao Lattice. Li Fan observed them, noting their distinct change. "Within this small domain, each of these eight can wield The Dao Lattice power equivalent to a True Immortal. Eight True Immortals acting in concert..." he mused, "It seems the future 'Yi' Immortal faces a grim fate."
Li Fan appraised the Dao Nails. While they wielded power comparable to True Immortals, they lacked the oppressive aura of True Immortals. "Essentially, they are still mortals. Their inherent momentum is high, but unchanged. They have merely grasped a sliver of the Dao that hangs in the heavens." The eight Dao Nails would form the core force hunting the True Immortal, with the others providing support and reinforcement.
With the battlefield prepared, the next step was to construct a barrier to trap the True Immortal. This was simple with the The Dao Lattice's cooperation. The seemingly ordinary void, in reality, possessed boundaries in a constant state of potential disappearance, much like the great wall that enclosed the Abyssal Sea – the concept of 'forward' vanished, and the path ahead became unseen.
"This is one of the Immortal Hunters organization's most crucial trump cards," Li Fan thought as he seamlessly coordinated with the others, issuing commands to generate what was called the "Immortal Hunting Cage." This method had successfully hunted True Immortals multiple times and was inspired, perhaps, by the Dao Erasure Tribulation. While others saw only subtle and excessively complex The Dao Lattice fluctuations, Li Fan, through his miniature The Dao Lattice in his divine sense, mirrored the activity perfectly. Though he couldn't yet fully decipher the principle behind these fluctuations, he could "copy and paste" them. This, he realized, was the formidable power of "Mind Manifesting Soul Transformation," allowing him to achieve the impossible.
A divine ability "stolen," Li Fan felt a quiet triumph and eagerly anticipated his infiltration of the Immortal Hunters. The great hunting net was cast, and the new Immortal Hunters had completed all preliminary preparations, concealing themselves around the fabricated "World-Crossing Profound Coffin," awaiting the "Yi" Immortal to fall into their trap. Their minds were all linked to the The Dao Lattice, communicating.
Suddenly, someone exclaimed, "Quick, look! What are those signs?" Though the physical void showed no disturbance, the reinforced The Dao Lattice in this sector inexplicably began to distort. This distortion was rapidly moving towards the World-Crossing Profound Coffin.
"Though unseen, their presence leaves indelible traces in the Great Dao! Like an invisible monster leaving footprints in the snow, brothers, the True Immortal has taken the bait!" The cultivators' spirits soared, though tinged with apprehension.
"Should we strike now?"
"Not yet. Let's wait for him to fully reveal himself. The World-Crossing Profound Coffin cannot be moved regardless; he can only follow the legends and lie within to avoid calamity," Dao Yuan commanded with the air of a seasoned general. The others nodded in agreement.
The distorted force, navigating the The Dao Lattice, soon reached the vicinity of the profound coffin. After circling it and attempting to move it, the force failed. The coffin, though a fabrication of Star Sea, possessed the peculiar qualities of a true coffin, seemingly nonexistent in this world, rendering any force applied to it futile. Unmoved, the distorted force seemed pleased by the failure and retreated, a larger distortion rapidly approaching from further away.
"This is not right! This force is not from one True Immortal, but two?" The cultivators quickly deduced from the extent of the Dao String's distortion that, in addition to the "Yi" Immortal, another True Immortal had entered the net. They moved as one, almost fused. Ordinary methods, even if they were right in front of them, would not detect them. Only their traces within the The Dao Lattice revealed their presence.
"Do not panic, everyone. This is a good thing! Catching one is the same as catching two. I never expected to achieve such merit in my first foray as an Immortal Hunter!" declared Jiang Yu Ming, ranked third. Empowered by the The Dao Lattice, he was filled with confidence, unfazed by the unexpected presence of two True Immortals.
Dao Yuan added, "However, we must not be careless. Although this was a weak area of the The Dao Lattice, their ability to deceive it shows their extraordinary nature. 'Invisible to sight, inaudible to sound.' I believe the other party controls the Dao of 'Shi' [Ethereal]. It is only through the combined principles of 'Shi' and 'Yi' [Illusory] that they could fool the The Dao Lattice."
Despite the unforeseen complication, the cultivators remained calm. After a silent communication and tactical adjustment, they waited for the two True Immortals to enter the coffin. Under their watchful eyes, the profound coffin's lid began to move, emitting a heavy, decaying sound like ancient bronze doors being opened. The distorted Dao Strings instantly returned to normalcy. The new Immortal Hunters simultaneously received notification: two figures had indeed entered the coffin.
"Attack!" Dao Yuan shouted.
"Wait!" Another voice interrupted. It was Ma Tian De. Dao Yuan frowned at the dissent but Li Fan quickly and earnestly explained, "Brother Dao Yuan, you mentioned the coffin requires a specific method to activate. Perhaps we should wait. It's also possible they are decoys."
His words caused the others to pause and reconsider. They refocused their attention on the coffin. After entering, the distortion within the coffin had ceased, as if waiting for something. "Indeed, something is amiss," Jin Chang Yue stated gravely. "If the True Immortals Shi and Yi were truly seeking refuge, they would have immediately examined the coffin upon entering. It's strange there's been no movement."
"Might there be a flaw within the coffin? If the Shi and Yi True Immortals realize it's fake, won't they flee?"
"Rest assured. Though the coffin is fake, it is still real. Aside from its inability to transport, it is virtually indistinguishable from a true coffin," said a cultivator who had remained silent until now. His name was Nangong Hong Zhao, and though his background was unclear, his conviction suggested he had strong reasoning. Now was not the time for inquiries.
The cultivators held their breath. Nangong Hong Zhao then spoke again, "It is said that each time the coffin is activated for transport, its location shifts. This is likely why the Shi and Yi True Immortals are merely probing and have not yet truly activated it. It is certain that what is currently in the coffin is merely a decoy. They would not waste such a valuable opportunity."
As if to confirm Nangong Hong Zhao's words, another wave of distortion appeared in the The Dao Lattice nearby, identical in intensity to the previous one. As if reliving the same scene, they re-entered the profound coffin. Upon entering, profound and mystical sounds emanated from within, like distant singing or solemn, sacred chanting.
"Attack!" Dao Yuan roared again. The coffin lid slammed shut, and the Immortal Hunting Cage silently descended, sealing the star sector. Inside the coffin, the occupants seemed unaware of the external changes, believing the lid closing was normal. The chanting continued unabated.
Listening intently, Li Fan memorized the shifting melodies. His mind stirred: "This rhythm bears a striking resemblance to the Scripture of Avoiding Calamity taught by the Grand Master." He wondered if the illusory figure beside the Grand Master had some connection to the nameless True Immortals who crafted the World-Crossing Profound Coffin. He recalled how the obscure cultivators of Azure Nether, listening beside the phantom, eventually gave rise to the Myriad Immortal Sects. The Grand Master, himself a Half-Immortal, had remained by the phantom's side, even exhibiting signs of imitation. "Perhaps," Li Fan mused, "this phantom was left behind by one of those nameless True Immortals. They might have possessed other spiritual abilities, but the True Immortal, through the coffin, moved on to other possibilities, leaving behind only a spectral echo."
While Li Fan's thoughts churned, a bizarre change occurred. Since the Shi and Yi True Immortals remained hidden within the coffin, the others were hesitant to break it open and waited for them to emerge after discovering the coffin's illusory nature. They never anticipated...
As the chanting from within the coffin grew louder, it erupted in a swirling, colorful seven-hued radiance. This light, unpredictable and ethereal, showed no signs of dissipating. The Immortal Hunters watched with growing unease. Suddenly, the seven-colored radiance exploded, completely engulfing the coffin. When the cultivators looked again... the fake World-Crossing Profound Coffin, along with the Shi and Yi True Immortals, had vanished into thin air!
The scene of catching an immortal immediately fell into a strange silence.
Everyone looked at each other, but no one dared to speak first.
After a long while, someone timidly asked, "Fellow Daoist, the information we received, that World-Crossing Dark Coffin... it's fake, right?"
Hearing this, the crowd inexplicably looked at Dao Yuan.
Dao Yuan, who had always appeared composed, also had a flicker of panic in his eyes. However, he still coughed lightly and said in a deep voice, "Don't lose your composure! Perhaps the Dark Coffin has merely been concealed by the Yi and Xi Immortals with unfathomable means, and it might still be in its original location. We..."
Before he could finish speaking, a panicked voice interrupted him: "How is that possible? It's clearly a fake Dark Coffin, yet it can truly cross worlds?!"
As he spoke, this person, disregarding everything, flew desperately towards the location where the Dark Coffin had originally been.
It was Nangong Hongzhao, who had previously been so certain of the Dark Coffin's authenticity!
"This is bad!" All the newly promoted Immortal Hunters turned pale. If Dao Yuan's judgment was correct, Nangong Hongzhao's actions could very well lead him to face two True Immortals directly, resulting in his death on the spot, and also expose everyone lying in ambush.
They wanted to stop Nangong Hongzhao's reckless behavior.
However, this person's movements were elusive, and his speed was unimaginably fast. In the blink of an eye, he reached his destination.
Everyone's breath hitched.
Fortunately, the tragic scene they had envisioned did not occur.
However, their expressions did not become relaxed because of this. Instead, they became even more dejected.
"The World-Crossing Dark Coffin is truly gone."
"Along with it, the two Yi and Xi True Immortals have also vanished."
The seriousness of the situation was clearly beyond the control of this group of newly promoted Immortal Hunters. Thus, Dao Yuan decisively chose to report it through the The Dao Lattice.
The reaction from the other end of the The Dao Lattice was also beyond his imagination.
"What? The Immortal Bait is gone? That's impossible!"
"According to the The Dao Lattice's observations, it was still in its original location!"
"Where is Yan Xuantai! Why isn't he contacting me!"
An enraged voice, through the ripples of the The Dao Lattice, traveled from the center of the distant Star Sea of the North to their ears.
By the time the last word was spoken, the owner of the voice had truly descended upon them.
It was a short old man, no more than three feet tall.
His silver-white beard and hair were even longer than his body, coiled beneath his feet like flowing clouds.
The old man's face was terrifyingly grim as his gaze swept over the crowd.
All the newly promoted Immortal Hunters instinctively lowered their heads, not daring to meet the old man's eyes.
"Who is this..."
Li Fan also felt the power of the old man before him.
As the old man breathed, the invisible Dao strings in the heavens and earth vibrated in response. The Dao Lattice here even became clearer and more stable due to the old man's arrival.
In Ma Tiande's memory, he had seen this old man from afar once.
It was this old man who had presided over the grand ceremony when he obtained the position of The Dao Lattice Operator.
"Nangong Fusheng, one of the council elders of the Star Sea Governance Council."
Nangong Fusheng teleported to the original location of the Immortal Bait Dark Coffin and, seeing Nangong Hongzhao babbling incoherently on the spot, angrily reprimanded him, "Waste!"
He sent Nangong Hongzhao flying with a slap.
As Nangong Hongzhao uncontrollably drifted through the star sea, Nangong Fusheng's furious emotions gradually subsided, and he carefully examined his surroundings.
Ripples, one after another, emanated from Nangong Fusheng as the center.
The Immortal Hunters watching from afar felt as though the entire world had transformed into a raging sea under a violent storm. It churned and roared, and the howling waves seemed capable of swallowing them whole at any moment. They could only rely on the power of the The Dao Lattice with difficulty to maintain their stability.
The Dao Lattice continued to ripple.
Finally, Nangong Fusheng pulled a black, seven-colored, iridescent long nail from the void.
With the nail extracted, Nangong Fusheng smiled instead of raging, "Yan Xuantai, you have great skill indeed! To be able to deceive the The Dao Lattice and slip through our grasp!"
The newly promoted Immortal Hunters also stared intently at the black, seven-colored long nail in Nangong Fusheng's hand.
Their gazes flickered.
In their previous understanding, the The Dao Lattice was equivalent to the Heavenly Dao itself. The mighty power of heaven and earth, unmatched in this world, could only be controlled through various means.
But now, on their first mission since officially joining the Immortal Hunter organization, they had encountered someone capable of deceiving the The Dao Lattice.
They had even witnessed a "golden cicada shedding its shell" right before their eyes.
"Who exactly is this Yan Xuantai?"
Questions inevitably arose in their minds.
The fake Dark Coffin had actually taken the two True Immortals, who were considered prey, and fled. Moreover, there was a shadowy conspiracy involving personnel within the Star Sea Immortal Hunter organization.
This was by no means a minor incident.
Soon, besides Nangong Fusheng, three other cultivators arrived one after another.
Even though they concealed their appearances and restrained their imposing auras, their arrival still seemed to stir up stormy seas within the The Dao Lattice of this place. The newly promoted Immortal Hunters could only tremble. When asked, they did not dare to hide anything, but honestly recounted everything.
"Let's go back first."
"This matter isn't as simple as it seems, in my opinion."
Nangong Fusheng said to the three figures in a deep voice, not bothering to conceal anything from the crowd.
His silver beard and hair grew without wind.
He wrapped all the Immortal Hunters within it.
As they were about to leave, Li Fan vaguely heard Nangong Hongzhao's anxious cry from outside the silver hair's embrace: "Third Uncle, wait for me!"
The silver hair enveloped them and then dispersed.
In the blink of an eye, everyone was brought back to the center of the Star Sea of the North.
They were separated and taken into dark compartments for a second round of questioning.
Since they were indeed newcomers who knew nothing, the organization did not make things too difficult for them. After a few routine questions, it was over.
However, they were not being allowed to leave. Instead, they were still assigned to countless dark compartments, like a death row prison.
Although their freedom of movement was not restricted, it was confined to this area.
They were unable to leave.
The endless darkness gradually devoured their minds and will.
At first, the newly promoted Immortal Hunters still held hope, believing that their imprisonment would end soon.
But as days passed, the organization seemed to have completely forgotten them. After assigning them there, there was no further news.
Slowly, everyone's mindset began to change.
"I understand. Hunting True Immortals, the disappearance of the Dark Coffin, these are all part of the Immortal Hunter assessment. We are still undergoing the assessment! I must pull myself together and not be demoralized!"
"To think I had such a bright future, only to encounter this. My life is probably ruined."
"The Dark Coffin disappearing with two True Immortals, such a major event, someone must be held responsible. Could it be they want to use us as scapegoats?"
...
Most people lived in constant fear and anxiety.
In such circumstances, being able to maintain composure was the mark of a true prodigy.
Li Fan nodded slightly as he felt the three strands of sword intent emanating from the compartment next to him, which had not ceased.
"This Jin Changyue has been nurturing this sword intent since being imprisoned. Thrown into prison without cause, suffering unjust accusations, a sense of resentment naturally arises. This is indeed the best time to use resentment to raise a sword."
"However, for this sword intent to reach great perfection, it requires sacrificing someone."
Besides Jin Changyue, Dao Yuan was also quite patient. Apart from some fluctuating emotions at the beginning, at all other times, he was like a hidden dragon in the abyss, quietly lying low and waiting for his opportunity.
As for Li Fan, he naturally harbored no impatience. However, he still concealed his true strength, feigning anxiety and despair.
In reality, he was constantly recalling the scene of the two Yi and Xi Immortals activating the World-Crossing Dark Coffin and leaving.
The profound sounds chanted by the two Yi and Xi Immortals, as time passed, gradually faded in Li Fan's memory. Even the recordings from the Dao-Melting Stone were fading.
Li Fan could only repeat them countless times to deepen his impression.
But ultimately, the general trend of complete fading could not be changed.
Li Fan had also tried to use the miniature The Dao Lattice in his divine sense to reflect the fluctuations at that time.
However, the tremors in the Heavenly Dao caused by the profound sounds were all contained within the Dark Coffin.
Li Fan, only observing from afar through the The Dao Lattice, could not accurately record them.
"That Dark Coffin, though called fake, was actually true."
"Except for its inability to cross worlds, it was indistinguishable from a real World-Crossing Dark Coffin..."
Li Fan recalled Nangong Hongzhao's words earlier and his heart stirred.
Although Nangong Hongzhao had not been brought back by Nangong Fusheng before, after a few days, he was also thrown into this dark prison.
However, he did not appear anxious or worried, but rather looked dejected, as if he had botched an important task.
These past few days, he had been lying on the ground listlessly.
Eyes closed, pretending to sleep.
Li Fan quietly approached him.
"Brother Nangong, there's something I've been wanting to ask you for a long time."
"It's like a thorn in my throat, and I won't feel at ease until I ask!"
Perhaps it was because of "Ma Tiande's" previous performance that Nangong Hongzhao still held a somewhat positive impression of Li Fan.
Nangong Hongzhao suddenly opened his eyes, glanced indifferently at Li Fan.
Then, without saying a word, he closed them again.
Li Fan knew that if there was no explicit rejection, it meant consent.
He immediately transmitted his voice again, asking, "The fake Dark Coffin suddenly becoming real, what exactly happened? Does Brother Nangong know any inside information?"
Nangong Hongzhao replied irritably, "Didn't you see I was swept away like trash, hundreds of thousands of miles away? What inside information could I possibly know?"
Li Fan quickly consoled him, "Brother Nangong, don't say that. That was Elder Nangong from the Council. Many people wish they could be swept away like that, but they don't even have the qualification."
Hearing this, Nangong Hongzhao opened his eyes again.
He narrowed them and looked at Li Fan again, thoughtful. "I almost forgot, you were originally a The Dao Lattice Operator, and you're considered to be from the Governing Council. No wonder you know the power of my Third Uncle."
Li Fan nodded repeatedly, "Indeed, indeed."
Seeing Nangong Hongzhao's attitude gradually soften, Li Fan quickly got to the point: "These past few days, with nothing to do, I've been thinking. Regarding this fake coffin matter, there are a few possibilities."
"First, the fake coffin was made as a replica of the real one. Apart from certain essential conditions, it was no different from the real World-Crossing Dark Coffin. And the two Yi and Xi Immortals, who traveled to the star sea, happened to possess these essential conditions. Thus, they logically used the Dark Coffin to escape to another world."
"But this speculation has a flaw. It was merely meant to be bait to lure out True Immortals. As long as it looked similar, there was no need to make it so real. Therefore, I speculated that Yan Xuantai secretly tampered with it or used a trick of replacing the real with the fake, substituting it with another coffin that was closer to the real one. And he lurked within, waiting for the two Yi and Xi Immortals to enter, explain the situation, and then escape together."
"But..." Li Fan paused.
"Who is this Yan Xuantai? He was sent to secretly monitor and protect the first hunt of the newly promoted Immortal Hunters. For a matter of this magnitude, his identity and status shouldn't be very high. Yet, he possessed such a treasure?"
"Moreover, there was that black, seven-colored long nail capable of deceiving the The Dao Lattice. I can't figure it out no matter how hard I try!" Li Fan sighed.
"Seeing as we might be locked up here forever, Brother Nangong, could you enlighten me? Don't worry, I absolutely won't tell anyone." Li Fan said with conviction.
After a long silence, Nangong Hongzhao's faint voice came, "Your thoughts are indeed meticulous. In certain aspects, they align with my own speculations. However, I know some inside information that you don't."
"It's not exactly a secret, so it's fine to tell you. That Yan Xuantai was originally a member of the 'Sacred Merchants' who joined the Immortal Hunters. A hundred years ago, the entire Sacred Merchant organization inexplicably disappeared from the Star Sea of the North, leaving behind only some remnants and abandoned disciples."
"I thought he had severed ties with the Sacred Merchants long ago. I never expected..." Nangong Hongzhao snorted coldly.
"Speaking of which, the Sacred Merchants were once one of the founders of the Immortal Hunters, and many of their immortal hunting techniques were voluntarily provided by them. Moreover, Sacred Merchant members disliked conflict and power, focusing only on hunting immortals. Therefore, they held a transcendent status in the early Immortal Hunter organization. After the Sacred Merchants suddenly departed without a word and their whereabouts became unknown, Yan Xuantai, as an abandoned disciple of the Sacred Merchants, was not excessively difficult to deal with. He was even assigned to an important post..."
Li Fan's heart stirred upon hearing the words "Sacred Merchants."
He continued to ask, "According to your words, Brother Nangong, it's been a hundred years since the Sacred Merchants. In a hundred years, our The Dao Lattice technology has advanced by leaps and bounds. Even if Yan Xuantai is a Sacred Merchant, how could he possess a method to deceive the The Dao Lattice? Could it be that the Sacred Merchants are so far ahead of us? Or perhaps..."
Li Fan seemed to realize something and suddenly lowered his voice, "Could it be that Yan Xuantai has secretly re-established contact with the Sacred Merchants recently, thus finding a way to escape?"
"However, that doesn't make sense either. Unless, that fake coffin didn't escape to another world, but to another star sea. Where the Sacred Merchants are located?"
Nangong Hongzhao slightly shook his head, "That's beyond my knowledge. This matter is too complicated. Yan Xuantai is solitary by nature and often acts alone, making it difficult to investigate."
"But, rest assured. We won't be locked up forever. Once there's a general outcome to this matter, we'll be released." Nangong Hongzhao said kindly.
Li Fan was initially taken aback by the words, and then overjoyed.
"If anyone else told me this, I would have thought they had been in the Black Prison for too long and were spouting nonsense. But for you to say this, Brother Nangong..."
"I have no fear in my heart!"
Although Nangong Hongzhao did not overtly acknowledge Li Fan's flattery, the faint smile that unconsciously appeared on his face betrayed his inner feelings.
Using this initial interaction as a springboard, Li Fan and Nangong Hongzhao's relationship gradually grew closer.
Li Fan quietly gathered some information about the Nangong family. While not exactly top-secret, it was knowledge that individuals of a certain tier in the Star Sea of the North would not have access to.
For instance, Nangong Fuxian's name—"Fuxian" (复圣), meaning "returning sage"—was chosen because, prior to him, the Nangong family had indeed produced a figure worthy of the title "Sage." This individual, Nangong Fusheng, had been instrumental in the initial establishment of the The Dao Lattice and in protecting the populace. However, Fusheng had long since ceased appearing in the mortal world, and Fuxian acted in his stead.
Another example was a supreme treasure possessed by the Nangong family. It was said to have been obtained during the encirclement and hunting of a Nameless True Immortal. It was none other than the clothing worn by the Nameless True Immortal. Setting aside the preciousness of its material, the divine efficacy of this garment was truly remarkable. It was essentially a manifestation of the Dao integrated by the Nameless True Immortal. Although the Nameless True Immortal's clothes were forcibly stripped off after his capture, any cultivator fortunate enough to wear them and withstand their power was as if they had fallen into the sea of Dao. Surrounded by the very essence of the Dao, their comprehension of the Great Dao was even more profound than when within the The Dao Lattice. The only drawback was that this heightened efficiency was limited to the specific Dao path the Nameless True Immortal followed.
...
Meanwhile, Nangong Hongzhao gradually discovered that "Ma Tiande," the former The Dao Lattice operator, possessed an understanding and perception of the The Dao Lattice that subtly surpassed his own. In their brief exchanges, Nangong Hongzhao often found himself greatly enlightened.
It was important to note that among this group of newly recruited Immortal Hunters, most came from renowned lineages, and few were willing to yield to others. Individuals like Ma Tiande, who ranked highly in the assessment yet remained exceptionally humble, were exceedingly rare.
"This person is indeed worth befriending," Nangong Hongzhao thought to himself.
Time passed as the two men conversed day after day.
As if to corroborate Nangong Hongzhao's earlier statement, after being confined in the Black Prison for a full ninety days, they were finally released.
"Every word and action of yours in the Black Prison has been recorded," they were told.
"This is the final stage of your induction examination."
"Your previous rankings have been slightly adjusted."
"The official appointments for Immortal Hunter will be based on the new list."
"You may rest now. Await further notification."
Upon their release, the newly appointed Immortal Hunters heard these words. Some were overjoyed, relieved that they had maintained their restraint. Others had shifting expressions, filled with regret.
Of course, true prodigies like Nangong Hongzhao, Daoyuan, and Jin Changyue were clearly not fooled by such rhetoric.
Jin Changyue let out a cold snort, and the three long swords behind him emitted a fierce hum. It took considerable effort for him to retract the overflowing killing intent.
Nangong Hongzhao exchanged a look with Li Fan, and they silently departed together.
They arrived at Nangong's resting quarters, a courtyard established within the Immortal Hunter organization. The Immortal Hunter organization was situated within the The Dao Lattice, not in the real world. This courtyard, too, was an evolution of the The Dao Lattice's power. Its scope expanded with the owner's authority, and its appearance could be arbitrarily altered according to one's thoughts.
As it was formed by the The Dao Lattice's power, residing within it allowed one to constantly sense the The Dao Lattice's energy. The efficiency of cultivation here was countless times greater than in the external star sea.
Under Nangong Hongzhao's manipulation, the courtyard's scenery transformed in an instant into a winding, cavernous grotto. Li Fan followed Nangong deeper into the cavern. Below the vast cavity, molten lava churned.
"Congratulations, brother," Nangong Hongzhao teased with a smile. "Your ranking has advanced again, placing you in the top three. You should be entrusted with important responsibilities." As he spoke, he leaped down into the magma.
Immersed in the extremely hot lava, Nangong Hongzhao let out a groan.
"I didn't expect that Brother Nangong would have such peculiar tastes," Li Fan remarked from above, not following him down.
Unlike the illusions conjured in the Heavenly Profound Mirror's living quarters, everything in this The Dao Lattice courtyard was real. Like all things in heaven and earth, it was a manifestation of the Great Dao.
Cultivators in the Star Sea of the North focused solely on comprehending the The Dao Lattice, weakening their cultivation.
"Ma Tiande," clearly lacked the ability to survive in such intense magma.
"Heh heh, you wouldn't understand. This is the Great Sun Flame Slurry. Theoretically, it can only be formed by collectively destroying the Great Suns of ninety-nine cultivation worlds and then refining them with Yin power."
"And now, through the mysterious power of the The Dao Lattice, countless troublesome steps can be skipped, creating it out of nothing! Such a treasure, once only accessible to True Immortals, can now be enjoyed freely by us mortals!"
As Nangong Hongzhao spoke, he held up a drop of the Great Sun Flame Slurry with his hand.
Li Fan watched as the viscous, crimson liquid slowly permeated Nangong Hongzhao's body through every pore.
His body turned red, as if ignited.
Yet, Nangong Hongzhao appeared unaffected, even taking a sip with apparent relish.
Li Fan narrowed his eyes.
Even from a distance, he could perceive the terrifying destructive power of this so-called Great Sun Flame Slurry. The bathwater below Nangong Hongzhao alone could likely turn the Xuanhuang Realm into scorched earth.
"Even if I were my true self, without using Spirit Qi to protect myself, I would turn to ashes in an instant if I fell into this flame slurry. Yet, Nangong Hongzhao can achieve this with just his physical body..."
Li Fan suddenly recalled the scene where Nangong Hongzhao was sent flying by a single palm strike from a furious Nangong Fusheng.
When Nangong Fusheng descended, the surrounding space seemed to be engulfed by a violent tsunami. That palm strike was clearly not held back. Such immense force would likely cripple even a True Immortal.
Yet, Nangong Hongzhao seemed unharmed and was able to follow, swiftly returning.
"Body tempering," Li Fan mused thoughtfully.
Nangong Hongzhao's next words confirmed Li Fan's speculation: "In the Star Sea of the North, the power of the The Dao Lattice reigns supreme."
"This is such a magnificent and grand creation, allowing mortals to manipulate the Great Dao like the immortals of old. However, compared to immortals, we mortals are still too insignificant. Like a child wielding a sharp blade, one might fail to harm the enemy and instead injure oneself. Furthermore, immortal techniques are explicitly forbidden by the Council. Therefore..."
Nangong Hongzhao took a deep breath, and all his pores opened, resembling gaping mouths, drawing the entire pool of Great Sun Flame Slurry into his body.
"Refreshing!"
At this moment, Nangong Hongzhao's face was completely dyed crimson.
He let out a muffled groan and exhaled a long, scorching breath. There was no fluctuation of Spirit Qi from his body; he merely relied on extremely rapid vibrations to digest the Great Sun Flame Slurry.
Nangong Hongzhao's expression slowly returned to normal. He leaped out and came to Li Fan's side, continuing, "Daoyuan, Jin Changyue, and the others all possess unique body tempering methods, just like me. Don't be deceived by their seemingly frail appearance!"
"This is the fundamental difference between the famous lineages of the Star Sea of the North and someone like you, brother, who was born into this world."
Nangong Hongzhao patted Li Fan's shoulder meaningfully.
"By using the body as a nail to anchor oneself in the The Dao Lattice, the stronger the body is tempered, the more threads of the The Dao Lattice it can endure. Daoyuan and the others have undergone special training since childhood and have been tempered countless times. But for someone like you, Brother Ma..."
"Even if you can now wield the power of the The Dao Lattice to some extent, figuring out the most effective materials and methods for body tempering without injuring yourself requires you to explore it all alone. How can that compare to our generational inheritances?"
With Nangong Hongzhao's explanation, Li Fan finally understood his meaning.
Bowing slightly, Li Fan said with a serious expression, "I implore Brother Nangong to teach me. Whether I succeed or not, I will repay you handsomely in the future. If you have any commands, I will not hesitate to obey, even unto death!"
Nangong Hongzhao helped Li Fan up. "Brother, we are very compatible. Please, there's no need for such formalities. However, it's not that I'm being pretentious. You must understand that every body tempering technique today has been refined to its utmost and proven through countless lives. They are indeed exceedingly precious."
Li Fan nodded. "I naturally understand this principle."
"You two conversed at length in the Black Prison, and I have come to understand you quite well. You have passed the prime age for body tempering. Ordinary body tempering methods, even with several times the effort, will yield greatly diminished results. However, your advantage lies in your unparalleled understanding of the The Dao Lattice. Therefore..."
Nangong Hongzhao scrutinized Li Fan again, then softly said, "This 'Great Dao Descends Upon the Body Technique' is perfectly suited for you!"
Before Nangong Hongzhao could finish speaking, Li Fan raised his hand to stop him.
Li Fan's expression became somewhat solemn as he quietly asked, "I suddenly realized, these body tempering methods are so precious. If Brother Nangong privately teaches me..."
"Will Elder Fuxian not blame you?"
"If so, then I truly cannot accept it."
Seeing Li Fan's earnest sincerity, which did not seem like a polite refusal, Nangong Hongzhao was stunned for a moment.
But he quickly recovered, waved his hand, and said, "It's fine. Although the technique is precious, its confidentiality level is not high. I will only teach it to you alone, and my third uncle will certainly not blame me."
"Listen carefully..."
The grotto-heaven converted into a cave within the The Dao Lattice courtyard was quietly sealed. Within it, Nangong Hongzhao imparted the entire Great Dao Descends Upon the Body Technique.
With Li Fan's experience, he quickly understood the origin of this technique.
Undoubtedly, this technique bore the impression of immortal cultivation methods.
It involved visualizing the Great Dao of heaven and earth as a net to suppress oneself, using the immense weight of the Great Dao to temper the body.
During the body tempering process, not only did it increase physical strength, but it also deepened one's closeness and comprehension of the Great Dao.
As Nangong Hongzhao had said, it was an extremely profound and precious body tempering profound technique.
However, it also had its drawbacks.
The difficulty of cultivation was extraordinarily high.
To reach the point of visualizing the Great Dao descending upon oneself implied an extremely high level of comprehension of the Great Dao, even surpassing that of countless immortals.
With such familiarity with the Great Dao, one could directly merge with the Great Dao and ascend to True Immortality, becoming a Nameless True Immortal. Why bother slowly tempering the physical body, thus taking a longer route?
"Only in the Star Sea of the North, enveloped by the The Dao Lattice, could such a distorted and peculiar technique be born."
"Firstly, the tangible The Dao Lattice replaces the intangible Great Dao of heaven and earth, significantly lowering the cultivation threshold."
"Secondly, the Star Sea of the North is a gathering place for survivors from the Immortal Realm and the Lower Realm's star seas after the Dao Erasure Tribulation. True Immortals and even Nameless True Immortals have gathered here, allowing for the deduction of this Great Dao Descends Upon the Body Technique..."
A myriad of thoughts surged through Li Fan, but it did not impede him from beginning to cultivate this body tempering technique.
Being within the The Dao Lattice, the complex process of visualizing the Dao threads descending upon him was naturally bypassed.
Suddenly, it felt as if a heavy mountain was pressing down on his body.
Li Fan stumbled and fell to the ground in a sorry state, with large amounts of blood spraying from his pores.
He narrowly avoided splattering Nangong Hongzhao, who was watching nearby and caught it in time.
Nangong Hongzhao's mouth twitched.
Li Fan struggled to get up from the ground, tidied his dishevelled appearance, and with some weakness, clasped his hands and said to Nangong Hongzhao, "You've made me see a joke, Brother Nangong. I never expected this body tempering technique to be so difficult."
Nangong Hongzhao comforted him, "Brother Ma, remember to proceed gradually. Do not be overly ambitious. It is normal to suffer a little.
"The suffering I endured in my childhood was a hundred times more than what you are experiencing now!"
"Brother Ma, although I have taught you the Great Dao Descends Upon the Body Technique, I cannot tell you the specifics of how to cultivate it, related insights, or practical experience.
"Everything requires you to explore on your own."
Li Fan clasped his hands. "I am already immensely grateful to have received this divine technique. How could I dare to ask for more!"
"I will not bother Brother Nangong further today. I will return and cultivate on my own."
After some pleasantries, Li Fan bid farewell to Nangong Hongzhao and returned to his own courtyard.
Although his official position was publicly higher than Nangong Hongzhao's, the courtyard's area was even smaller than his.
Li Fan paid it no mind and transformed his courtyard into the appearance of Dissolution Mountain. He sat down cross-legged and began to formally cultivate the "Great Dao Descends Upon the Body Technique."
The pathetic display he had shown earlier in front of Nangong Hongzhao was intentional, merely an excuse to leave.
With his delicate perception of the Great Dao, his speed of cultivating this technique would likely far exceed Nangong's imagination.
Furthermore, Li Fan was not simply practicing according to the manual.
Li Fan now possessed the ability to modify the technique based on his own specific circumstances.
"Great Dao descends upon the body."
"And within my heart, a projection of the Great Dao has already appeared."
"Therefore..."
"There is no need for the Great Dao of heaven and earth to descend. Merely in my thoughts, the Dao threads transform from virtual to real, allowing me to use the pressure of the Great Dao to temper my body."
Li Fan's eyes narrowed slightly, and the miniature The Dao Lattice in his divine sense began to emit faint rays of light.
Beyond the comprehension of the Great Dao, the most arduous aspect of cultivating the “Great Dao Descending Upon the Body Technique” lay in achieving a delicate balance between the body’s refinement through the Dao and preventing it from sustaining damage.
Before the majestic Great Dao, the mortal body was a being more insignificant than an ant.
While one could utilize the Dao’s pressure to temper the body, there was an equal risk of being crushed into powder if one was not exceedingly careful.
This was precisely why Nangong Hongzhao had repeatedly cautioned, prior to imparting the technique, about the need for utmost care and gradual progression in its cultivation.
In truth, for an ordinary person, without the experience and insights gained from cultivating the “Great Dao Descending Upon the Body Technique” from scratch, the very first step of entry was an insurmountable challenge.
However…
Li Fan was no ordinary person.
Although the path of body refinement had long vanished from the Xuanhuang Realm, Li Fan had already explored methods before.
In the beginning, after obtaining the “Heavenly Physician Immortal Scripture” and integrating it with numerous other texts, he developed a technique to mobilize the body’s hidden reserves for flesh refinement, which he named the “Creation Furnace Technique.”
As Li Fan’s knowledge and experience grew, this technique was continuously enhanced.
Through the integration of demonic beast furnaces, flesh and blood factories, and the “Book of Heaven Mending,” the Creation Furnace Technique underwent several iterations.
Yet, due to the limitations of the Xuanhuang Realm's world principles, achieving the Dao was ultimately impossible.
Thus, Li Fan eventually shifted his focus to more conventional methods of ascending to immortality.
This “Creation Furnace Technique,” with its incredibly powerful name, stagnated.
“Back then, in the Fallen Immortal Realm, within the Beast Taming Sect's scenario, I used the body of Xiao Hei, the Heavenly Mandate Black Bird, and received guidance from Mr. Bai.”
“The perfect version of the ‘Creation Furnace Technique.’”
“However, due to memory limitations within the Fallen Immortal Realm, I was unable to bring back this perfect method. By the time my strength rapidly expanded, even surpassing that of Mr. Bai, whom I had initially believed to be merely in the Longevity Realm, I adopted a dismissive attitude towards this technique. But now, I have learned of Mr. Bai’s hidden history, having once been infiltrated by an alternative possibility, Evil Su Bai.”
“Having obtained Evil Su Bai’s memories, Mr. Bai’s strength might still be in the Longevity Realm, but his perspective likely surpasses anyone confined within the possibilities of ‘Primordial.’ The imprinted projection left in the world could already deduce the general outline of the ‘New New Method,’ which further confirms this. In that case…”
“When I first encountered the perfect version of the ‘Creation Furnace Technique,’ I was greatly awestruck, as if I had truly glimpsed the secrets of the Great Dao. This was not due to my shallow understanding at the time of my low cultivation, but rather, the technique was indeed that profound.”
“It seems I must go again, to investigate thoroughly, and use it as a reference.”
Five years had passed in the Star Sea.
In the Xuanhuang Realm, only a little over ten days had elapsed.
Li Fan’s main consciousness, still deep in thought, was attempting to avoid reflecting his summoned divine sense onto the Nameless True Immortal, and thus avoid the gaze of the latter.
Sensing the experiences of his detached consciousness, his gaze suddenly flickered, and a look of surprise appeared on his face.
The Creation Furnace Technique was already a memory from a long time ago for Li Fan.
He had never expected that after achieving the Half-Immortal realm, he would once again seek it out.
“This also proves that my choice not to stubbornly pursue obtaining it back then was the correct one. Within the Fallen Immortal Realm, the higher the value of something, the more difficult it is to bring it back to the real world. If the Creation Furnace Technique is truly as profound as I now imagine, then it would likely be difficult for me to extract it even now.”
“I just don't know if my Mind Manifestation method can bypass the memory oblivion restrictions of the Fallen Immortal Realm?”
People draw entirely different conclusions when viewing the same matter under different circumstances.
Li Fan desired to revisit the perfect version, the true “Creation Furnace Technique.”
However, since he was already aware of the extraordinary nature of Mr. Bai and the master of the Fallen Immortal Realm, Li Fan naturally needed to make preparations.
For a considerable period, Li Fan had been unwilling to personally set foot in the Fallen Immortal Realm. He had even let others undertake the trials and illusions left by the Great Azure Nether Heavenly Venerate.
This was because he carried the supreme treasure “Return to Truth,” and it seemed individuals from the Immortal Realm were already anticipating his arrival.
However, after Li Fan comprehended the Mind Manifestation method in this lifetime, things began to shift.
“Initially, I trespass into the Fallen Immortal Realm out of ignorance and recklessness. But now, I possess sufficient power for self-preservation.”
His divine sense contracted, converging entirely within the miniature The Dao Lattice.
Then, the The Dao Lattice erupted with myriad lights, and from within it, a new divine sense emerged.
However, everything contained within this wisp of divine sense was fabricated by Li Fan, intended as a disguise.
To put it another way, it was a near-perfect simulation of a world lineage, deduced by the Dao-Melting Stone.
Apart from the fact that such a person did not exist in the world, everything else was indistinguishable from reality.
He was layering another skin over his own identity.
This was Li Fan’s temporary solution to reduce the possibility of being discovered by the True Immortals within the Great Dao.
As expected, upon the emergence of this disguised divine sense,
Li Fan clearly felt that the gaze from the projected Nameless True Immortal within his miniature The Dao Lattice, which had been shining upon him, had significantly decreased.
The sense of imminent crisis receded, and Li Fan, as if hidden behind the scenes, concealed in darkness, instantly relaxed.
Of course, this was merely treating the symptoms, not the root cause.
This layer of disguise could still deceive for now, but as Li Fan’s Mind Manifestation grew stronger in the future, it would inevitably attract the attention of the Nameless True Immortals within the Great Dao once more.
If, one day, the scale of the Great Dao projection within Li Fan’s consciousness surpassed that of the Star Sea’s The Dao Lattice, moving from behind the scenes to the forefront, it would undoubtedly draw the attention of all existing Nameless True Immortals.
Given Li Fan’s cautious nature, he would absolutely not take that step without absolute certainty of being able to handle this crisis.
However, these were matters for the future. For now, after creating a layer of disguise for his consciousness, Li Fan had entered the Fallen Immortal Realm.
As he had predicted,
Because this fabricated life of his had not cultivated the “Azure Nether Heart Refining Incantation,” upon entering the Fallen Immortal Realm, he did not witness the scene of “Acquiring the Longevity Fruit in Ningyuan.”
Li Fan immediately committed suicide and exited the Fallen Immortal Realm.
He then proceeded to modify the persona of his disguise.
After re-altering his fabricated life, he added the experience of “by chance, comprehending the Azure Nether Heart Refining Incantation in the Cleansing Spiritual Pool,” an experience that was originally Li Fan’s own.
Within the Fallen Immortal Realm’s perception, this disguised persona, as if truly becoming another person.
Without being subject to the time interval restriction for entering the Fallen Immortal Realm, he arrived once more into the Fallen Immortal Realm.
Moreover, he experienced the scene of Acquiring the Longevity Fruit in Ningyuan!
With ample experience from his previous attempts, Li Fan resolved it in the quickest manner possible.
Since his time limit in the Fallen Immortal Realm was long, Li Fan directly proceeded to the Beast Taming Sect scenario.
Using the same trick, while waiting for Mr. Bai to arrive, the Heavenly Mandate Black Bird soared into the sky and appeared before him.
The scene from before unfolded once more.
Mr. Bai observed him and slightly shook his head, “Child, why are you practicing it so haphazardly on your own?”
He then generously imparted the true “Creation Furnace Technique.”
Time seemed to stand still. Although he had already reached the Half-Immortal realm, he remained immersed in the mysteries of this profound creation technique.
“My premonition back then was correct. Even a mortal with absolutely no cultivation aptitude could undergo transformation and advancement through this method, ultimately reaching the Immortal Realm!”
“If there were no numerous restrictions in the world, and if the Immortal Realm still existed.”
“As for now…”
Li Fan was no longer the Li Fan of his past.
While filled with astonishment and immersion, he occasionally offered his own critiques.
Concurrently.
Outside the Fallen Immortal Realm, Li Fan's main consciousness, concealed behind the miniature The Dao Lattice, was attempting to peer into the true “Creation Furnace Technique” through the synchronized reflection of the miniature The Dao Lattice.
It had to be said that the Fallen Immortal Realm was truly an extraordinary creation.
Existing in the interstice between reality and illusion, even though Li Fan could traverse countless walls and the vast distances of the Star Sea through his miniature The Dao Lattice, when sensing the scenes unfolding within the Fallen Immortal Realm, it was akin to looking through a distorted mirror.
What he saw and felt was all deformed to some extent.
Some parts were even completely distorted.
However, it had indeed broken the boundary between the Fallen Immortal Realm and reality.
It allowed him to gaze into the illusory from the real.
“If I did not possess this heaven-defying technique of Mind Manifestation, I would likely need to surpass the creator of the Fallen Immortal Realm in power to ignore such restrictions.”
“With a single thought, I can mirror the Xuanhuang Realm, and over countless years to come, undergo infinite derivations…”
“As I am now, I cannot yet accomplish this.”
Li Fan even strongly suspected that the True Immortal from that time likely possessed a supreme treasure like the “Dao Dissolution Mother Stone,” which would enable him to achieve such a feat.
Within the Fallen Immortal Realm, Li Fan’s disguised divine sense was personally cultivating the perfect Creation Furnace Technique.
In reality, Li Fan, based on his sensory perceptions, was attempting to correct and restore the distorted and warped parts he had glimpsed.
Then he began cultivating the Furnace Technique himself.
Through comparison, he recalibrated it based on the different sensations transmitted from his body during the cultivation process.
Mind Manifestation, utilizing the omnipresent power of the Great Dao, projected the illusory objects existing within the Fallen Immortal Realm into reality.
Through Li Fan’s persistent efforts, the “Creation Furnace Technique” was finally restored in reality!
However, Li Fan did not have the divine sense within the Fallen Immortal Realm withdraw immediately.
He remembered that Mr. Bai would make an appearance in the next scene involving the Heavenly Sword Sect’s sword refinement, and perhaps he could glean more secrets from him.
Moreover, the Heavenly Sword Sect had close ties with the current Sword Domain of the Star Sea, making it necessary to gather intelligence.
The main consciousness synchronized the calibrated Creation Furnace Technique to “Ma Tiande” in the Star Sea.
Because that wisp of divine sense was venturing deep alone, and given the potential presence of many Nameless True Immortals in the Star Sea,
Li Fan had imposed some restrictions on it.
The main consciousness could not fully perceive everything happening on its end.
And the divine sense would not proactively pry into events occurring in the Xuanhuang Realm through the miniature The Dao Lattice.
This was to ensure that if anything went wrong, Li Fan’s main consciousness would have sufficient time to utilize Return to Truth.
Although there was a hundred-and-twenty-fold time difference between the Star Sea and the Xuanhuang Realm, the time flow within the Fallen Immortal Realm also differed from the reality of the Xuanhuang Realm.
Therefore, after Li Fan completed the calibration of the Creation Furnace Technique, only a little more than half a day had passed.
In the Star Sea, less than a month had elapsed.
The holiday for everyone had not even ended.
And even without the Creation Furnace Technique as a reference, Li Fan’s “Great Dao Descending Upon the Body Technique” had already achieved preliminary entry.
In his divine sense, the strands of the The Dao Lattice were as thin as cicada wings.
They emitted a lustrous, pure white radiance, illuminating this body.
Li Fan sat as if at the center of the The Dao Lattice, enduring immense pressure.
If one were to magnify his mental focus to its absolute limit, one could see that every part of the flesh and blood in this body was being pulverized into dust under the The Dao Lattice's oppression.
However, at the very moment of destruction, they were re-derived from the miniature The Dao Lattice.
This was Li Fan combining the True-False Transformation with the functional capabilities of the The Dao Lattice.
He was continuously generating and reorganizing all the flesh and blood tissues of this body.
“Without my ample experience, I would be unable to sustain this body's vitality.”
“This body refinement technique has only just entered the initial stage, and while it doesn't compare to when I was burdened with Immortal Realm shards, the pressure is almost equivalent to carrying an entire cultivation world.”
“For ordinary people, let alone cultivating it, they would likely be crushed to death on the spot!”
Li Fan knew that his “initial entry” was vastly different from a normal “initial entry.”
However, due to the foundation laid by a hundred reincarnations, Li Fan had no need to cultivate slowly from the most minuscule aspects.
“The normal cultivation method should be gradual and progressive. If one wanted to speed it up, one would at least need numerous rare heavenly treasures. My method, simple and crude like this, is absolutely impossible for ordinary people to replicate.”
Having achieved a preliminary grasp of the Great Dao Descending Upon the Body Technique, this body was renewed.
Only then did Li Fan understand why the powers within the Star Sea placed such importance on body refinement.
Taking this body as an example.
Compared to his previous frail physique, when executing the same number of The Dao Lattice commands, the new body could wield more than double the power of the The Dao Lattice.
“The flow of the The Dao Lattice considers the operator's tolerance limit.”
“Those with strong physiques can naturally endure more.”
The same weapon felt increasingly smooth to control as the body grew stronger.
“Moreover, this feeling…”
Li Fan stretched his stiff body, temporarily ceasing the miniature The Dao Lattice’s projection.
He walked slowly, seemingly pacing within the courtyard.
In reality, he was reveling within the Star Sea's The Dao Lattice.
“It feels somewhat familiar.”
Li Fan frowned slightly, closed his eyes again, and carefully felt the sensation.
After a few moments, he finally understood the source of this inexplicable familiarity.
The Great Dao’s oppressive force continuously ground and reformed the flesh and blood.
And during this process, the body’s flesh and blood naturally imprinted the mark of the Great Dao.
Li Fan's miniature The Dao Lattice in his divine sense, and the Star Sea’s The Dao Lattice, were both projections of the Great Dao.
They originated from the same source.
Therefore, the sense of familiarity Li Fan developed during the cultivation of the Great Dao Descending Upon the Body Technique,
Naturally extended into the “The Dao Lattice.”
“This is a ‘Sacred Physique’ forged postnatally.”
“Following this method, if one refines it to the extreme…”
Li Fan’s expression suddenly changed.
“Mind Manifestation is the projection of the The Dao Lattice.”
“And the flesh and blood all over the body are the molds formed by the The Dao Lattice’s constant crushing and bombardment.”
“The theoretical perfect limit is to replicate all the Great Daos in the world with one’s body.”
To embody all the Great Daos of the heavens and earth within one's physical body.
Even Li Fan found it difficult to imagine what kind of immense power this realm represented.
Those referred to as Nameless True Immortals in this era merely attained enlightenment through one of the countless Great Daos within the heavens and earth.
If the realm Li Fan speculated about truly existed, then compared to it, even a Nameless True Immortal would be as insignificant as an ant to a tangible being—a chasm of difference.
"For one who proves the Dao through power, transcending possibilities would be as easy as stepping over a stream..."
As Li Fan mused this, the scene of Black Sky Doctor suddenly descending from beyond the heavens, shattering several The Great Barriers, and appearing unbidden flashed through his mind from his past life.
"Black Sky Doctor, Evil Su Bai, might exist in such a realm."
"However, they likely did not follow the path of the physical body becoming a sage. Instead, they achieved their breakthrough by continuously hunting down their own possibilities, pushing a single path beyond its limits to strengthen themselves."
"Making a single path equivalent to the sum of all other Great Daos. This is ultimately the same outcome as the physical body unifying all laws, merely a different route."
"It's just truly hard to imagine how many of themselves they must have slaughtered..."
Li Fan was momentarily stunned, a chill creeping into his heart.
But this thought passed quickly, sinking back into the depths of his mind. His attention returned to this technique, the Great Dao Embodiment Art.
While Li Fan's deductions and speculations might be accurate, they represented an ideal state purely in theory.
"To cultivate this art to perfection, one would first need to continuously elevate their Mind Manifestation realm until it could simultaneously reflect all Great Daos in the heavens and earth. This step alone is almost impossible."
"If one could truly reach such a realm, they would already be invincible in the mortal world. Why would they still seek the path of the physical body becoming a sage?"
"As I said, it's like abandoning the near to pursue the distant."
Because the realm of his deductions was still too far off, Li Fan naturally harbored many doubts in his heart.
However, just like with the Mind Manifestation, the method of tempering the physical body within the Great Dao Embodiment Art provided tangible improvements to Li Fan's current strength.
Therefore, Li Fan would not abandon it.
If there were problems in the future, he would deal with them then.
After all, he possessed the capital to start anew at any time.
"Reflecting the Great Daos with one's mind is called Mind Manifestation. To house the Great Daos within the physical body, isn't that, in a sense, a Physical Nascent Soul?"
"It seems my New Law requires not only reverse cultivation but also the simultaneous practice of various different realms."
"Perhaps if all realms are perfected simultaneously to their utmost, one might glimpse the true 'Self-Inherent Foundation'!"
Li Fan inwardly shook his head.
He was certain that whether it was Senior Yin, the Sacred Emperor, or Su Bai, all those who contributed to perfecting the New Law had never envisioned such a peculiar method of cultivation.
The reason for Li Fan's unusual situation was solely due to his possession of the Supreme Treasure, Return to Truth, with its infinitely high stature.
"Return to Truth transcends the Great Daos of heaven and earth. To put it colloquially, it means stepping outside the three realms and not being bound by the five elements."
"Therefore, my difficulty in Foundation Establishment is even greater than in Dao Resonance. Hence, I must go against the tide. As for others..."
The disparity Li Fan observed between himself and others in the Star Sea, as they simultaneously practiced the Great Dao Embodiment Art, somehow indicated something.
While his mind churned with countless thoughts, Li Fan's physical body slowly integrated the sense of familiarity, constantly generated within his own miniature The Dao Lattice, into the The Dao Lattice of the Star Sea.
It was like a fish finding water, or a bird taking to the sky.
Li Fan even had a faint sense of returning to his familiar Xuanhuang Realm.
"Magnificent. Truly magnificent."
Moreover, due to this familiarity, Li Fan could also disguise himself at will, preventing his true body-tempering progress from being exposed.
"The method I am employing is purely based on sheer effort and brute force. If I were to also reference the Creation Furnace Technique..."
Within his divine sense, the Creation Furnace Technique transmitted by his main body appeared, word by word.
Li Fan took a deep breath, and the blood and qi throughout his body instantly surged like boiling water.
His body seemed to transform into a colossal furnace, reaching towards the heavens, refining the aura and flesh and blood throughout his being.
With a slight movement of his mind, this furnace seemed to settle upon the illusory grand net of the Dao.
One of the Dao strings suddenly flashed with blinding white light. Then, the The Dao Lattice trembled, and the power of the Dao string transformed into a colossal hammer, smashing down onto the immense furnace.
The furnace roared and bellowed incessantly.
Its exterior was struck, leaving faint imprints, but within, the process of refining flesh and blood was forcefully accelerated severalfold by this immense force.
"Ding! Ding! Ding!"
On the The Dao Lattice, sounds of crashing and roaring continued unabated. And, at an extremely slow pace, the interval between these sounds was shortening.
Meanwhile, Li Fan's complexion in reality visibly flushed with a faint redness.
It was as if he had sustained a serious injury from immense force.
Then, this faint redness quickly turned green, then pale white. Subsequently, it shifted back to a blood-red color.
This cycle repeated, even appearing bizarrely.
"The Great Dao Embodiment Art and the Creation Furnace Technique. These two can be said to complement each other."
"The Creation Furnace uses the self as a furnace, unlocking all the hidden secrets and potential within the human body. Step by step, with each successful refinement, one's strength grows. The drawback is its slowness."
"The Great Dao Embodiment Art, on the other hand, uses the heavens' Great Daos to temper and supplement oneself. Once all Great Daos are fully integrated, the physical body can achieve sanctity. The drawback is its difficulty and immense danger."
"Combining these two, using the immense power of the Great Daos to strike the Creation Furnace. Compared to my previous method of simply shattering and replenishing flesh and blood, the efficiency is more than a hundred times greater!"
Li Fan inwardly visualized the faint imprints now appearing on the surface of the Creation Furnace. These were precisely the marks left by the Great Dao.
Previously, it required hundreds of thousands of cycles of shattering and rebuilding flesh and blood to leave imprints of a similar degree. However, now, under the impetus of the Creation Furnace Technique, it happened in mere instants.
The Dao Lattice roared, and countless Dao marks appeared on the Creation Furnace.
With each breath Li Fan took, the physical strength of this body was growing at a rate of thousands of times.
And throughout this entire process, Li Fan did not feel any sense of hunger, as if there was truly an inexhaustible source of power within the human body continuously replenishing it.
Li Fan was so immersed in the rapid advancement of his physical strength that he was almost unable to extricate himself.
This continued until Nangong Hongzhao came to visit.
"Brother Ma, how has your cultivation progressed?"
"I've just begun to grasp it. This art is indeed extraordinary, but it is also exceedingly difficult to practice." Li Fan said, his face pale, with a slight cough, speaking with a hint of weakness.
Seeing Li Fan's unstable blood and qi, as if he had just endured a powerful impact and sustained a considerable injury, Nangong Hongzhao immediately expressed his concern: "There's no need to rush. The Mysterious Coffin case is still under investigation. Until a definitive conclusion is reached, our holiday will not end."
"Oh? So much time has passed, and even with the capabilities of the Immortal Hunters, they haven't uncovered the truth?" Li Fan asked, a little surprised.
Nangong Hongzhao lowered his voice and sneered, "If they were to put in their full effort, of course, there would be no problem. However, someone is interfering. Before the investigation even began, all of Yan Xuantai's records within the The Dao Lattice were inexplicably erased. The ability to do this..."
Nangong Hongzhao suddenly fell silent for a moment.
Then, he continued in a hushed tone, "Even more bizarre is that Mysterious Coffin used for traversing the world. Analyzing the records left behind when we apprehended it, it is said that the Mysterious Coffin at the scene of the incident was indeed the one planned by the Immortal Hunters to serve as an immortal bait."
"The problem lies in the process of forging the immortal bait."
"It was supposed to be merely a bait, but it truly became a tool for traversing worlds. The most crucial part is that the individual responsible for forging this coffin..."
Li Fan's gaze flickered. Seeing Nangong Hongzhao suddenly stop speaking, he pressed, "What happened?"
"He died."
"What?" Li Fan's expression instantly turned one of shock.
"He didn't die recently. After crafting the nine bait Mysterious Coffins, he was no longer in this world. These nine Mysterious Coffins have consistently helped the Immortal Hunters shatter immortals on dozens of occasions, and not once have there been any accidents. That's why I was so confident back then..."
"Furthermore, the Mysterious Coffin we used this time had also been used as bait several times before, yet there was never any actual instance of it being used to traverse worlds and escape..."
Li Fan listened, then rubbed his forehead, "The more you tell me, the more I feel this matter is incredibly complex. Besides the craftsman of the Mysterious Coffin, it likely involves high-level forces within the Governing Council. After all, they possess the ability to modify information on the The Dao Lattice..."
Li Fan shook his head slightly, "No wonder it's taken so long without any concrete findings."
"However... I do have a thought."
Nangong Hongzhao was taken aback. Then he said, "There are only the two of us here. Brother Ma, if you have something to say, don't hesitate to speak your mind."
"Why don't we simplify things and focus on the core of the event? The Mysterious Coffin for traversing worlds is used to escape to other possibilities and avoid disaster. Yan Xuantai has resided in our Star Sea for many years. Why would he suddenly expend so much effort and take such great risks to flee?"
"Yan Xuantai is a member of the Sacred Merchants. The Sacred Merchants mysteriously disappeared back then. I recall hearing that before they went into hiding, they had been recalling various rare treasures from afar. Did Yan Xuantai learn something from the Sacred Merchants back then? And his recent flight was a desperate measure?"
"You mean..." Nangong Hongzhao suddenly fixed his gaze on Li Fan.
"Indeed. I suspect that great calamity will soon descend upon the Star Sea..." Li Fan whispered.
"Brother Ma, do not speak such reckless words!" Before Li Fan could finish, Nangong Hongzhao vehemently interrupted him.
However, Li Fan's reasoning was not without merit.
The more Nangong Hongzhao thought about it, the more he felt that this might indeed be the truth obscured by the chaos. And as if he had thought of something else, his expression flickered several times within a few breaths.
"Brother Ma, only tell me these words. Absolutely do not speak them outside. Otherwise, if something happens, I won't be able to help you." With this single instruction, Nangong Hongzhao hurriedly departed.
Before leaving, he left behind a scroll, a summary of the Nangong family's experiences and insights from cultivating the Great Dao Embodiment Art through the generations.
However, it only reached the preliminary stage of comprehending the Great Dao and reflecting it within oneself.
It seemed Nangong Hongzhao intended this to be bait, to continuously increase "Ma Tiande's" favor.
Li Fan merely glanced at it before discarding the summary aside.
"Mysterious Coffin's escape, and an inside accomplice within the Star Sea? Interesting."
From the information available so far, the actual ruling power within the Star Sea should be those True Immortals who have undergone mortal transformation.
As for the mortals in the foreground, they were merely puppets controlled by them.
"However, for True Immortals to be willing to let mortals serve as figureheads indicates that mortals must possess something they fear..."
Li Fan suddenly thought of the invisible giant hand behind the The Dao Lattice.
And the four Nameless True Immortals being used as living sacrifices.
"The struggle between Immortals who have undergone mortal transformation, former Immortals, and the current group of True Immortals."
"Yet now, a defector has suddenly appeared on this battlefield."
"The escape is not towards any one of these factions, but towards other worlds beyond possibility."
According to Nangong Hongzhao, the Immortals who survived the Tribulation of Dao Erasure were deeply terrified of this past great tribulation.
The most powerful among them had already fled far away.
Li Fan believed that among the remaining individuals, or Immortals, this fear must still exist in their hearts.
However, for tens of thousands of years, they had been deluded by the false prosperity created by the The Dao Lattice.
They seemed to truly believe they could resist the Tribulation of Dao Erasure with the so-called The Dao Lattice.
However, the Sacred Merchants, and Yan Xuantai's risk-taking escape this time, might suddenly awaken them from their dream.
"Interesting."
"There are no eternal enemies in this world. Perhaps the Star Sea and those True Immortals might indeed cooperate again."
"After all, if one of the nine Mysterious Coffins could escape by traversing worlds, who's to say the others couldn't?"
Another month passed.
The vacation for the newly promoted Immortal Hunters finally ended.
Li Fan and the others were once again summoned, and the speaker was the sturdy man who had hoisted the giant pillar before.
This man reprimanded the new Immortal Hunters, stating that regardless of the reason, failing the first mission so significantly was incompetence.
Therefore, they were to "atone for their mistakes."
Hunt Immortals again!
"This time, I will accompany you in hunting True Immortals."
"Our target is an old adversary of us Immortal Hunters. He has managed to escape on several previous occasions. However, this time..."
"Hmph." The sturdy man sneered, a hint of killing intent flashing in his eyes.
"Senior Qian, may I ask who our target is this time..." Daoyuan was the first to speak.
Daoyuan clearly knew the sturdy man. Even before the man introduced himself, Daoyuan had already uttered his surname.
"This Immortal's Dao Art can sever all connections with the outside world, making him extremely difficult to track. Even when shuttling through the The Dao Lattice, he leaves no trace. We do not know his full background, so we refer to him only as 'Nameless'."
"This Immortal, relying on the peculiarity of his Dao path, frequently infiltrates our Star Sea. Several of our Immortal Hunting operations have been disrupted by this Immortal. Therefore, we have finally resolved to capture this Immortal!" The sturdy man said in a solemn tone, his expression grim.
"Such a difficult mission, entrusted to us?" Daoyuan sounded somewhat taken aback.
Not just Daoyuan, but all the other newly recruited Immortal Hunters felt the same.
"Rest assured, precisely because you are newly recruited and unknown to this Immortal, you have a greater chance of success. You only need to obey my command and cooperate in executing the The Dao Lattice commands. That 'Nameless' Immortal will surely be trapped like a turtle in a jar!" The sturdy man stated with utmost confidence.
Li Fan, along with everyone else, nodded in agreement.
His gaze inadvertently swept past Nangong Hongzhao, noticing that he seemed somewhat distracted.
However, what Li Fan cared more about was the target of this Immortal Hunt.
"Severing all connections with the outside world?"
For some reason, a presumptuous laugh suddenly echoed in Li Fan's ears.
"What does it have to do with me! What does it have to do with me!"
The culprits behind the extinction of life in the star sea within the The Great Barriers, besides the Immortal Ruins, were the myriad True Immortal Sigilss. All of them originated from the hands of He Ganxian.
Li Fan, during his contact with the true intent of the star sea's origin, had sensed the star sea's immense hatred towards this He Ganxian. True Immortals, while viewing all living beings as ants, did not engage in meaningless actions. To imitate numerous True Immortal Sigilss and then have them spread and wreak havoc throughout the star field, especially during a hasty escape from the Upper Realm… Li Fan surmised that this was He Ganxian's method of achieving enlightenment.
"First, use this method to create countless entangled karma out of thin air. When I can completely detach myself from this karma, it will signify the great completion of my enlightenment."
"Severing all connections with the outside world…"
Recalling the arrogant, uninhibited laughter, Li Fan's conviction in his judgment grew stronger.
"If my guess is correct, the 'Nameless' that the Immortal Hunters are currently targeting is likely the He Ganxian I know so well."
"However, I cannot yet confirm whether this He Ganxian is the same Faceless Immortal who once saved the life of the Heavenly Mysteries King."
Li Fan had previously suspected that He Ganxian and the Faceless Immortal were the same person. This was because the Sacred Emperor's clone, upon seeing the statue of the Faceless Immortal, had sensed a similar aura to when he spied upon He Ganxian. Li Fan's main body also experienced the same feeling. Yet, strangely, this thought only arose upon their first encounter. Now, as Li Fan compared the two, he felt a sense of hesitation.
…
The robust man with the surname Qian was still explaining the precautions for the hunt to the Immortal Hunters.
"Regarding this 'Nameless' Immortal, I cannot reveal too much to you."
"His infiltration methods are simply unimaginable. Furthermore, he is exceptionally sensitive to his own existence and all connections with the outside world. If I were to tell you his detailed information, with so many people suddenly involved, it would undoubtedly alert him."
"What you need to do is assist me in weaving a great net and patiently wait for him to walk into it himself!"
The 'Nameless' Immortal was clearly more powerful than the Xi and Yi Immortals from before. The newly appointed Immortal Hunters, upon hearing this, felt a mixture of excitement and trepidation. After all, their previous unsuccessful endeavor had left them with some degree of psychological trauma.
"Right, my name is Qian Ruochang. You can call me Boss Qian. Hahahaha…" With a meaningful laugh, the robust man revealed his name.
Following this, everyone was led directly to participate in the mission.
They traversed through the The Dao Lattice and soon arrived at their destination.
"This place is…"
"The Ten Thousand Stars Tomb?"
Unlike the vibrant vitality of the various forces in the Star Sea of the North, a sense of decay and death permeated the star field ahead. Even from a distance, everyone felt an instinctive discomfort.
Li Fan had been in the Star Sea of the North for some time and was not unfamiliar with this area called the Ten Thousand Stars Tomb. While both were places where life had been extinguished, the Ten Thousand Stars Tomb differed from the Annihilation Land. The Annihilation Land was a forbidden area created by the Calamity of Dao Erasure, where even concepts were erased. The Ten Thousand Stars Tomb, on the other hand, was a star field destroyed by factors other than Dao Erasure.
The forces in the Star Sea of the North were not all native inhabitants of this star field. They were refugees from countless star fields who had gathered here. In the boundless Lower Realm star sea, besides vast swathes of Annihilation Land, there were areas where the Ten Thousand Stars Tomb and fertile lands intermingled. The Star Sea of the North was one such fertile area.
Although life was extinguished in the Ten Thousand Stars Tomb, the The Dao Lattice could still cover it. However, in the Annihilation Land… The Great Dao did not exist, and the The Dao Lattice had to stop.
"Boss Qian, could it be that no Immortal is hiding here?" someone couldn't help but ask.
Qian Ruochang smiled. "In this desolate place like the Ten Thousand Stars Tomb, why would True Immortals hide here? I brought you here to find some good things."
Dao Yuan's eyes widened with surprise. "I once heard that the Ten Thousand Stars Tomb is shrouded in death qi, accumulating for millions of years. As the saying goes, extremes give rise to their opposites; it's highly possible that boundless life will be born from infinite death qi…"
"You have some insight, young man. However, our target this time is not any form of life. It is this…"
As Qian Ruochang spoke, he led everyone deep into the Ten Thousand Stars Tomb. Although the The Dao Lattice still covered this area, it felt much more obstructed compared to ordinary star fields teeming with life. Their progress was slowed by more than a hundred times. At times, it even seemed as though they encountered obstacles ahead, forcing them to change their route.
They suddenly stopped. Qian Ruochang pointed slightly to his front left. Then, he swung the stone pillar he was carrying on his shoulder with immense force. The newly appointed Immortal Hunters could instantly feel the The Dao Lattice being pulled by the immense force, shaking violently. The tremor was even stronger than the one caused by Nangong Fushui's descent previously. Everyone looked at Qian Ruochang, their faces filled with astonishment. They hadn't expected this seemingly approachable Boss Qian to possess such terrifying strength.
Li Fan, however, was deep in thought. The phenomenon was not due to Qian Ruochang's strength surpassing Nangong Fushui's. Rather, they had reached a weak point in the The Dao Lattice. The Dao Lattice's power, attached to the Heavenly and Earthly Great Dao, was greatly weakened in this part of the Ten Thousand Stars Tomb. The same amount of force naturally caused a greater disturbance.
The stone pillar flew out, churning the dark, dead void. Li Fan's senses were sharper than others. In the pitch darkness, he seemed to see several floating, dead worlds that accidentally collided with the stone pillar. Stirred by the immense force, they vanished completely. Only some almost negligible small black specks flew out from the shattered remains of the dead worlds and floated towards Qian Ruochang along the colossal stone pillar.
Li Fan looked at these small black specks and felt a sense of déjà vu. They were extremely similar to the black qi produced when True Immortal flesh and blood were decomposed by the 'Falling Mortal Dust' technique! Li Fan remained outwardly calm, pretending to be curious about their danger and hesitantly approaching to observe them.
Upon close examination, Li Fan noticed a difference between these black specks and the black qi. The black qi was a precursor to the Calamity of Dao Erasure. Those who reached a certain level of cultivation would inevitably feel a sense of inexplicable danger upon observing it. But these black specks… After observing for a long time, Li Fan only felt a sense of disgust and discomfort, but no ominous premonition that made his heart pound.
Qian Ruochang's subsequent words provided Li Fan with the answer.
"These can be considered the corpses of the Cultivation World. Just as after a person dies, their flesh and blood return to heaven and earth within a short time, leaving only their bones behind."
"These black specks are the most fundamental, purest parts, like the bones of the world. They do not linger in the world for long, so we must collect them quickly." As Qian Ruochang spoke, he extended his stone pillar and continued to stir. In a short period, he collected fifteen black specks. This seemingly simple action consumed him greatly; Qian Ruochang was already panting and sweating profusely. He had to stop and rest.
"You, eat this."
Qian Ruochang sent one of the black specks floating towards Dao Yuan. Dao Yuan's expression changed slightly, but he did not hesitate much. To the stunned gazes of everyone, he endured the discomfort and swallowed the world's bone in one gulp. The expression on Dao Yuan's face clearly indicated how torturous it was to swallow the world's bone raw. However, the effect after it entered his stomach was also evident.
"How do I feel, Daoist Brother… you've become a bit more 'faded'?"
"Yes, I feel a bit 'blurred'."
"This… If you hadn't reminded me, I would have almost overlooked Daoist Brother directly! He's standing right here, yet it's as if he doesn't exist at all!"
Everyone noticed the anomaly and exclaimed in amazement. Qian Ruochang then smiled and said, "These world's bones are the foundation of the Cultivation World's evolution. They are the lowest layer of the world's mechanism, closest to the Great Dao itself. After you swallow them, before the world's bones completely return to heaven and earth, influenced by their power, you will be like ice melting into water, merging into the world."
"The nature of being a 'person' is concealed by the 'world'. In ordinary sensory perception, it will naturally be difficult to distinguish."
Qian Ruochang distributed the world's bones to everyone according to the predetermined assessment order. Li Fan also received one early and swallowed it. The instant the black speck was absorbed, illusions appeared before Li Fan's eyes. These were scenes from the Cultivation World the black speck had experienced in its past life. It was not a particularly special story in the Lower Realm star sea. A prosperous and thriving world suddenly had a fissure appear in the sky one day. Several figures emerged from it. The immense pressure caused more than ninety percent of the world's inhabitants to perish instantly. Yet, those figures showed no intention of restraining their power. Or rather, they were too preoccupied to care about such "trivial matters." They themselves… were also fleeing in a desperate state. Seventeen figures consecutively emerged from the rift. It was only when the last one forcibly closed the rift that this calamity was halted. He seemed somewhat bewildered in his panic. As his gaze swept over the devastated lower cultivation world, affected by the True Immortals' pressure, he lightly shook his head. With a mere wave, he erased all surviving beings on the ground. Not even their corpses remained. The Cultivation World itself, unable to withstand such pressure, shattered and disintegrated. As if performing an insignificant act, the last figure drifted away.
…
Li Fan awoke from the illusion. This was one of the sources of the many world corpses in the Ten Thousand Stars Tomb.
"The Lower Realm star sea was never a place for Immortals to reside. When they are forced to come here, they naturally cause immense disruption to the mortals who were originally here."
Li Fan felt no resentment or rage. The strong preyed on the weak. Moreover, when the end of the world arrived, desperate individuals prioritized survival above all else. As for anything else… it was not important.
He calmed his mind and felt the natural changes occurring in his body after consuming the world's bone. As Qian Ruochang had said, it was like ice melting into water. Through the world's bone's connection to the Heavenly and Earthly Great Dao, he slowly began to "dissolve" into this star field.
"If I were to communicate with the star sea now, I might be able to effectively connect with the star sea's origin consciousness without needing the Great Tai Divine Technique."
"In addition, I can feel a closer connection to the The Dao Lattice…" In Li Fan's divine sense, the miniature The Dao Lattice shone brightly. What was previously just a vague projection now had a portion that seemed to possess a true entity. Even if it was only a small part, it brought about a qualitative change. However, with others around, especially Qian Ruochang, who was potentially approaching the Nameless realm, Li Fan did not delve into detailed research for the time being.
"The Dao that the 'Nameless' Immortal comprehends, this so-called karmic connection, is only directed towards living beings. He has not yet transcended, thus he cannot sever his connection with heaven and earth. By borrowing the world's bones and submerging ourselves within the Great Dao, we should greatly reduce the possibility of him discovering us." Qian Ruochang spoke as he also swallowed a world's bone.
After collecting enough for all the new Immortal Hunters, they did not stop. Instead, they continued to explore deeper into the Ten Thousand Stars Tomb.
"Concealing ourselves is only the first step of the hunt."
"The second is to prepare traps and weapons capable of severely injuring or even killing the prey," Qian Ruochang's voice became subtly grim.
"True Immortals cultivate the Heavenly and Earthly Great Dao and seek transcendence. The best weapons against them are those that can injure and damage the Great Dao!"
…
Upon hearing this, the Immortal Hunters present turned pale. Li Fan had expected Qian Ruochang to talk about the Calamity of Dao Erasure next. But unexpectedly, he spoke of something else. Changing the subject, Qian Ruochang said, "However, the The Dao Lattice also relies on the power of the Heavenly and Earthly Great Dao. When harming the enemy, one must be extremely cautious about harming oneself. But from this Ten Thousand Stars Tomb, we can find similar substitutes."
"As I mentioned earlier, in the Ten Thousand Stars Tomb, the corpses and flesh of the Cultivation World are all transformed, returning to heaven and earth, leaving only their skeletal remains."
"This power that catalyzes and devours the flesh and blood of the Cultivation World is the weapon we need!"
"The Great Dao, from top to bottom, is One. The mortal Cultivation World, however, is still a manifestation of the Great Dao. That which can return the Great Dao from its manifested form to nothingness can also inflict heavy damage on True Immortals who cultivate the Dao!"
…
Qian Ruochang spoke incessantly. Li Fan, however, was deep in thought and suddenly asked, "Boss Qian, if what you say is true, couldn't this power that eliminates the flesh and blood of the Cultivation World also heavily damage the The Dao Lattice?"
The other Immortal Hunters looked at Li Fan with surprise. Qian Ruochang, however, clapped his hands loudly. "Precisely! However, you need not worry. The difference between the The Dao Lattice and True Immortals lies in its comprehensiveness and its ability to self-repair at any time."
"Since we are confident in using it as a weapon, we are not afraid of someone using it against the The Dao Lattice!"
"Moreover, utilizing this strange power within the Ten Thousand Stars Tomb is something we have only recently discovered…" Qian Ruochang's words suddenly stopped. His gaze flickered to his front left, his expression shifting from amusement to seriousness.
"Watch carefully, this is what I mean by the power that digests the flesh and blood of the world…" Qian Ruochang suddenly threw the stone pillar from his shoulder. It seemed to be a grand display. Yet, as it shuttled through the void, it was utterly silent, causing no disturbance. After making a circle, it returned. However, Li Fan keenly noticed that the stone pillar seemed to have shrunk by a noticeable margin.
Certain parts of the stone pillars appeared to have vanished, yet they hadn't entirely dissipated. Instead, they were continuously replenished by power from the Origin Net, much like flesh regenerating. However, the digestive power of this Ten Thousand Stars Graveyard clung to the bones like a persistent curse, refusing to let go. Consequently, a most bizarre scene unfolded before everyone: a section of the giant pillar flickered rapidly between states of "existence" and "non-existence," appearing as a shadowy, transparent form.
Qian Ruochang carefully retrieved the pillar from the Ten Thousand Stars Graveyard. Simultaneously, he issued instructions to the newly promoted Immortal Hunters, who had been observing the spectacle: "Create a localized Origin Net array, isolated from the main Origin Net, to serve as a breeding ground for the power of 'World Annihilation.'"
Upon hearing this, the group collectively froze. Clearly, such a sophisticated Origin Net command was beyond their current capabilities. After all, since joining the Immortal Hunters, they had either been constantly on missions or forced into unexpected periods of downtime. They hadn't yet received formal training.
Fortunately, Qian Ruochang wasn't being unreasonable. Before he finished speaking, ripples emanated from the void, originating from outside the Ten Thousand Stars Graveyard. A seven-colored halo, utilizing the Origin Net, traversed rapidly from the Northern Star Sea. It erupted with brilliant light, enveloping everyone present.
Within the halo, a sea of Origin Net symbols unfolded. As if in response to Qian Ruochang's words, tens of millions of these symbols surged forward like a relentless tide, crashing towards the central group. Meanwhile, other Origin Net symbols abruptly faded to transparency, as if they had never existed from the start. Caught off guard, everyone was drenched by this "tide," each receiving an equal share.
Concurrently, in their minds, the methods for utilizing the "External Dao Manifestation" technique materialized.
**External Dao Manifestation:** At the boundaries of the Origin Net, a new The Dao Lattice realm is carved out. This realm resembles a miniature version of the Origin Net, with reduced coverage and power, but otherwise identical. All existing commands within the Origin Net are applicable within this new realm. This newly created realm, when used for expansion, can significantly reduce the cost of the Origin Net in covering new areas. It can also be used for extremely dangerous experiments, allowing for conditions identical to those within the Origin Net without threatening the Origin Net itself. To ensure the absolute safety of the Origin Net, the newly opened External Dao Manifestation region can only be accessed by the joint efforts of the three chief administrators of the Governing Council. Until then, the new realm will remain in a state of complete isolation.
Accompanying the directive were numerous pieces of information regarding the External Dao Manifestation regions. Despite the command's complexity, which was rare in their lives, the peculiar halo's illumination allowed everyone to grasp and master the process instantly, without the need for study, memorization, or practice. Under Qian Ruochang's direction, they pooled their efforts. As instructions were formulated, a new Origin Net realm was thus "created." Although the construction of this "mini Origin Net" was achieved so effortlessly, the newly recruited Immortal Hunters couldn't comprehend the profound and mysterious process. They simply felt, as they always had, that commands were generated and the Origin Net responded.
Only Li Fan saw a scene that others could not witness. The moment the External Dao Manifestation technique was employed, the entire Origin Net seemed to freeze. It then appeared to dim, allowing light from the true Heavenly Dao, existing beyond the Origin Net, to shine through. Casting its shadow, a projection of the Origin Net.
"If the Origin Net is a copy, a paper covering, then the new realm we are currently creating is its projection," Li Fan mused.
They remained within the strange halo's coverage. The stone pillar, imbued with the power of World Annihilation, was cast into the new Origin Net. As the mini Origin Net continuously fed it the laws of the Great Dao, the invisible power of World Annihilation was nurtured and grew. Even from outside this realm, everyone inexplicably felt a sense of unease.
Just then, the stone pillar, which had been gnawed away to only half its original length within the realm, suddenly transformed into a massive hand. It began to manipulate the surrounding World Annihilation power. Though the colossal hand was constantly being corroded and disappearing, it was also replenished by the power of the mini Origin Net. Thus, after a prolonged period of manipulation, a black, sharp arrow was forged by this monstrous hand.
Once the first black arrow of World Annihilation was completed, the scene within the realm abruptly fractured into three distinct areas. The first was for cultivating the power of World Annihilation; the second, for forging the black arrows; and the third, for storing them. Each black arrow bore a human face, corresponding to one of the new Immortal Hunters present.
"Is this… a weapon for us?" Dao Yuan asked, quite astonished.
Qian Ruochang smiled, "Not yet. Once you’ve properly set the trap and no Immortal enters it, it will truly belong to you. Contact with the power of World Annihilation will constantly keep you in a state of erosion. Without the support of the Origin Net's power, even I would be instantly reduced to dust. Therefore, you must only use these while connected to the Origin Net."
"Let's go!" Qian Ruochang glanced back once more at the boundless, desolate Ten Thousand Stars Graveyard. He then led everyone away at a whistling pace. "This newly created realm will accompany us throughout this Immortal Hunt. Regardless of whether the mission succeeds or fails, we must ensure this realm dissipates. We cannot allow the power of World Annihilation to run rampant within the true Origin Net," he stated, pointing to the halo surrounding them as they moved away from the dark graveyard and back towards the vibrant regions of the Northern Star Sea.
"This halo is here to prevent unforeseen accidents. If we are all annihilated, the halo will be responsible for recovering all our remaining legacies," Qian Ruochang explained. The group's expressions grew subtly complex upon hearing this.
"With Senior Qian leading us, and with such a formidable weapon as the World Annihilation Black Arrows, plus the advantage of being within the Origin Net and fighting on our home turf, how could we possibly be annihilated even if we lost?" Jiang Yuming frowned, disbelief evident in his voice.
Qian Ruochang's perpetual faint smile vanished instantly. "The roles of hunter and prey can be reversed in the blink of an eye. While our chances of winning are high, our opponent is still an 'Immortal'." He paused, then added, "And not just any Immortal, but a True Immortal who has survived the Ancient Catastrophe and the Immortal Hunters' pursuit to this day..."
Qian Ruochang shot a cold glance at Jiang Yuming, who immediately lowered his head and stammered, "This junior understands. You all still know too little about Immortals. Next, I will take you to truly understand what a True Immortal is. And while we're at it, we'll look for suitable bait."
The surroundings blurred rapidly, indicating their incredible speed. At this pace, they could have traversed the Northern Star Sea multiple times over. Yet, for some unknown reason, they continued onward without end. The previously vibrant light of life dimmed once more, but rather than vanishing, it seemed to slowly drift above everyone's heads, like stars, circling and hanging overhead. They were venturing deeper into an unknown territory.
"Where we are going is the 'Deep Net,' where the Northern Star Sea imprisons all the Immortals," Qian Ruochang stated with a simple explanation of the Deep Net, seeming reluctant to elaborate further. "The Deep Net is a top secret; ordinary people are unaware of its existence, let alone have the fortune to enter it. Even I cannot freely enter or exit without the current responsibility of hunting True Immortals."
As they descended, countless tiny light points flickered incessantly on Qian Ruochang and the newly recruited Immortal Hunters, seemingly verifying their identities. When the life-giving stars above completely vanished, their journey finally halted. They appeared to have arrived in a vast, dark cavern, surrounded by nothingness.
Before Qian Ruochang, countless symbols surged. A thread of light suddenly illuminated the darkness. On either side of this thread were rows of squares, resembling cages, or perhaps entire worlds. The boundaries of these squares were exceptionally thick, clearly designed to completely isolate the inmates within from the outside. And within these squares… confined were individuals! Or rather, Immortals! Some were in a state of slumber, while others remained awake, their cold, murderous eyes vigilantly surveying their surroundings as they flew through the void, seemingly searching for a means of escape. Still others were in a state of complete madness, continuously casting Immortal Arts, bombarding everything in existence. Even though their cages contained nothing but themselves, they still unleashed their attacks.
All these imprisoned True Immortals shared a common trait: various colored threads were inserted into their bodies, extending outwards and connecting to the outside. However, these threads didn't reach the "boundaries" of the cages; instead, they vanished into the void midway. Clearly, these imprisoned True Immortals couldn't perceive these threads, only those observing from the outside, like Li Fan and his group, could see them clearly.
"Are these… Immortals?" After the initial shock wore off, the group's awe of Immortals dissipated completely. After all, anyone who saw the True Immortals, previously existing only in legends and imagination, appearing in such a state in reality would likely have a drastic change in attitude.
"You naturally cannot comprehend the terrifying nature of True Immortals through these Immortal Cages," Qian Ruochang said with a cold laugh, noticing the nascent disdain in the group's expressions. "If you were to be placed inside and experience it, you would understand what the 'Might of a True Immortal' truly entails." He then scanned their faces, as if genuinely considering selecting someone. A wave of dread washed over the group, and they promptly composed themselves, refraining from showing any unusual expressions, and began observing with utmost seriousness.
"Senior Qian, these True Immortals must have been imprisoned for a long time. Why do they all appear so energetic and healthy?" someone suddenly asked amidst the profound silence.
Qian Ruochang looked towards the questioner, Ma Tiande, and couldn't help but nod in appreciation. "I didn't expect you to grasp the core of the issue so quickly. You are quite remarkable!" He continued, "It's not that we provide energy supplements after imprisoning them. Rather, as True Immortals, their own energy is inexhaustible!"
It was evident that the nature of True Immortals' boundless energy was not common knowledge. The majority of the group was utterly astonished by Qian Ruochang's statement. "Infinite? How is that possible?" The concept directly contradicted everything they had learned and known since childhood.
"The infinite Immortal Spiritual Power of True Immortals originates from an unfathomable region called the 'Infinite Sea.' It even exists beyond the Great Dao, thus even the Origin Net's core power cannot sever the connection between True Immortals and the Infinite Sea. Being able to freely draw power from the Infinite Sea is what makes True Immortals truly terrifying," Qian Ruochang explained, pointing to a man sitting with his eyes closed in meditation within one of the squares.
"This Immortal was among the first batch we captured. He has been imprisoned for nearly fifty thousand years. Yet, his spirit remains firm, showing no signs of weakness. Although the cages are 'Dao-severed' locations where cultivation and advancement are impossible, this Immortal has been silently improving his strength solely through inner contemplation over the years. His current realm is now unknown," Qian Ruochang sighed slightly, his tone a mixture of helplessness and admiration.
"Why not simply kill them all!" Jin Changyue, who had remained largely silent, suddenly spoke, her undisguised killing intent and craving evident.
"Heh heh..." Qian Ruochang offered a meaningful smile without answering. Li Fan noticed that as Qian Ruochang smiled, his eyes inadvertently glanced at the various colored threads plugged into the True Immortals. Recalling the four nameless True Immortals used as living sacrifices, Li Fan mused, "Perhaps the establishment and stability of the Origin Net owe something to these imprisoned True Immortals." Li Fan turned to examine his surroundings. Clearly, what he saw at that moment was not the entirety of the True Immortals imprisoned within the Origin Net. In the unseen darkness, there were undoubtedly countless more "squares" that existed.
"Killing them is not an option, nor is severing their energy supply..." Dao Yuan frowned deeply. "If they continue to cultivate like this, might they not escape these prisons one day?" The others also showed a flicker of worry and fear in their eyes. The True Immortals had been hunted and captured one by one. If so many True Immortals were to lose control simultaneously... it would be an unimaginable and terrifying scenario.
"You needn't worry about that," Qian Ruochang stated confidently regarding the sturdiness of the prisons. "Even if they advance further, the 'Deep Net Prison' is not a place they can simply leave at will." He continued, "While I cannot truly let you enter, I can allow you to feel the might of a True Immortal more concretely and personally." He looked around, selecting a prisoner who appeared utterly harmless, perpetually lost in a deep slumber. With a gentle beckoning motion, various colored threads materialized before Qian Ruochang, seemingly connected to the cages. "Who wants to try?" he asked the group.
"I will," Dao Yuan declared confidently. Qian Ruochang said nothing, simply connecting the various colored threads to Dao Yuan. The next moment, the pride of the Northern Star Sea began to tremble uncontrollably, his entire body shaking violently.
In the depths of the abyss, Dao Yuan was trapped in a terrifying nightmare, his face ashen, cold sweat beading on his forehead. Fortunately, Qian Ruochang did not subject Dao Yuan to the true immortal's might for too long. After a few breaths, he withdrew the silken threads. Even so, Dao Yuan remained visibly shaken, his eyes wide with fear. It took him a long time to recover.
"Is it really that exaggerated..." Many people thought to themselves, witnessing this scene. However, after Qian Ruochang connected the silken threads to their own bodies, not a single person dared to doubt any longer.
Dao Yuan, who could still manage, was considered among the best. Those who couldn't bear it collapsed on the spot, trembling. A significant number experienced psychological breakdowns, crying out for their parents.
Seeing how these so-called prodigies were so easily overcome, Qian Ruochang remained unfazed. He had even deliberately chosen a "troublemaker" from among the imprisoned true immortals, intending to thoroughly intimidate this group of newcomers. Unlike the others' genuine emotional turmoil, Li Fan's display was merely an act. He had witnessed beings who could traverse possibilities, let alone a true immortal, so he naturally wouldn't be so easily startled into losing composure.
However, the sleeping true immortal that Qian Ruochang presented to the newly appointed Immortal Hunters to "face" was indeed peculiar. It seemed capable of detecting the various colored threads inserted into its body and, through these threads, perceiving the outside world. Thus, as the new Immortal Hunters connected their threads, they were first met with the true immortal's gaze. A pair of indifferent eyes, looking down from a great height, seemed to penetrate everything within their souls, leaving no secrets hidden. It felt as though life and death itself were at the absolute control of the eye's owner.
"No wonder these people are in such a state. It's not simply facing a true immortal, but being under the subtle observation of a high-level lifeform at all times..." Li Fan mused. "But aren't you afraid that this imprisoned being might discover a way to escape by observing through the minds of those outside?"
Li Fan subtly glanced at Qian Ruochang. He appeared to be watching the unfolding events with amusement, showing no sign of such concern. Thus, Li Fan turned his attention to the frame that imprisoned the true immortal, the so-called "Place of Dao Erasure." Although the imprisoned true immortals in the frame appeared to be in the same location as everyone else, it was clear that what was presented was merely an image representing the prison's existence.
"The only place in the mortal world that can truly be called Dao Erasure is the Annihilation Grounds, cleansed by the Dao Erasure Tribulation. Could it be that the Immortal Hunters of the Star Sea are using the Annihilation Grounds as a prison? But how did these silken threads pass through the Annihilation Grounds?"
Within the core of the deep net, countless profound secrets remained unknown. What Qian Ruochang showed the group was merely a single shining silken thread, with numerous square prison cages attached. Li Fan could not discern any further information.
Time seemed to blur in the dim depths of the deep net. The group was forced to repeatedly face imprisoned true immortals in various ways. Even with the vast disparity, after such frequent exposure, everyone gradually became desensitized. Only the most dangerous auras among the true immortals could still evoke a shred of fear. As for the ordinary true immortals, they were now treated with indifference.
Qian Ruochang seemed pleased with their rapid progress. One day, he finally ceased the game of inserting and withdrawing threads.
"Very good. It seems you have finally, barely, adapted to the existence of 'Immortals'."
"Next is the final trial here."
"After passing this trial, we can officially begin weaving the net to capture immortals."
A meaningful smile reappeared on Qian Ruochang's face, causing a jolt of unease in the hearts of all the assembled Immortal Hunters. His subsequent words, however, brought looks of disbelief to their faces.
"The final trial's test is to personally dismember the corpse of a true immortal!" His voice boomed like thunder, resonating in their ears.
The silken threads, connected to numerous square frames, vanished into the darkness. After a few breaths, light reappeared, accompanied by the presence of a tall, standing figure. The aura emanating from this figure, vast and profound as an abyss, caused the unprepared group to freeze, their breaths catching in their throats, daring not to make the slightest sound.
Looking around, Qian Ruochang, who had been by their side, had vanished without them noticing! Only then did everyone recall Qian Ruochang's previous words about the trial. To dissect the corpse of a true immortal...
A strange silence fell upon the scene. Even though they understood the objective, no one dared, or was able to, make a move. The figure standing before them, though called a corpse, was virtually indistinguishable from the imprisoned true immortals they had faced before. They couldn't see the true immortal's face, yet everyone present felt its faint gaze upon them. This gaze pressed down, heavy as a mountain. To adapt to the existence of a true immortal was one thing; to remain composed and even draw a blade while under the true immortal's scrutiny was entirely another.
The corpse of the true immortal lay there, but who among them dared to draw a knife to dissect it? Li Fan, of course, would dare, but he had no intention of being the first to act.
After a long period of dead silence, a man finally spoke with a stern voice, "No matter how powerful they were in life, in death, they are merely a corpse. What is there to fear?"
With that, under the gaze of everyone, he charged directly towards the true immortal's corpse. Li Fan narrowed his eyes, silently pitying the cultivator named Feng Zengyuan in advance. The corpse of a true immortal was far from an ordinary corpse. Even the will to survive of a true immortal could instantly kill several cultivators of the Longevity Realm in the Xuanhuang Realm, let alone an intact true immortal corpse!
As expected, before Feng Zengyuan could even reach the true immortal's side, the towering shadow seemed to swell several times over, engulfing Feng Zengyuan entirely. In an instant, it returned to its original state. The true immortal's corpse remained, standing serenely and majestically. Yet, Feng Zengyuan had vanished.
A chill ran down everyone's spines, and they instinctively retreated.
"Didn't he die? How could he still attack?"
"Look, hasn't that figure become clearer? It looks somewhat similar to Feng Zengyuan!"
"What's going on? We've retreated so far, yet we haven't increased the distance from the true immortal's corpse. Instead, we're getting closer?"
Panic spread through the crowd. Even after the "adaptation" and theoretical lessons, in the absence of Qian Ruochang's protection, facing a true immortal corpse that could attack at any moment, they couldn't help but lose their composure. However, among them, there were a few exceptional individuals who remained undaunted.
"We can't keep this up. Otherwise, who knows who will end up being dissected!" Jiang Yuming said gravely.
"We are all destined to kill true immortals in the future. What is there to fear from a mere corpse?" Jin Changyue finally opened her eyes. To be precise, she had three pupils. It seemed as though three different personalities resided within Jin Changyue's body: one angry, one compassionate, and one empty. The three swords behind her glinted as they were drawn. Three dazzling sword lights illuminated the dim space. The previously blurry figure of the true immortal revealed its full form: a pale face, identical to Qian Ruochang, who had led them here! Even the sinister smile on its face was the same. The smiles of the two overlapped in everyone's minds.
"What is happening? Did Eldest Brother Qian meet with misfortune?" The smile Qian Ruochang left behind before disappearing caused everyone's minds to race with uncontrolled speculation.
"Stop with the theatrics!" Jin Changyue roared, her anger intensifying. The three sword lights merged into one and struck the center of the true immortal's brow. A drop of blood seeped from the wound. As the enraged Jin Changyue prepared to unleash another sword technique, a flash of light enveloped her, and she vanished without a trace.
After a moment of stunned silence, Dao Yuan, Jiang Yuming, and Nangong Hongzhao came to their senses and unleashed their most powerful divine abilities upon the true immortal's corpse. Li Fan did the same. However, while using the power of the The Dao Lattice to manifest a dagger, he did not forget to loudly remind them, "Brothers, do not panic. Jin Changyue must have completed the trial and been safely teleported out. As long as we leave a wound on the true immortal's corpse!"
The illusory dagger, arriving last, appeared directly at the true immortal's face. With a horizontal slash, it cut across its mouth. The smile, completely identical to Qian Ruochang's suggestive hint, was instantly marred by Li Fan's action. The others also broke free from their internal demons, as if waking from a dream, unleashing their full might. Li Fan, having completed the task of dissecting the true immortal's corpse, was teleported out first, ranking second among the group, just after Jin Changyue. Not long after, Dao Yuan, Nangong, and others also reappeared.
"Brother Ma, how were you able to use the power of the The Dao Lattice just now?" Dao Yuan asked with confusion.
"We couldn't sense the presence of the The Dao Lattice at all, so we were forced to use our own divine abilities to dissect the corpse," Jiang Yuming said, his brow furrowed as he intensely stared at Li Fan.
Li Fan feigned surprise, "What are you two talking about? We are at the core of the The Dao Lattice. How could there not be The Dao Lattice power around us?" This retort silenced them both. As more people completed the trial and were teleported out, they found it inconvenient to say more. Li Fan's earlier reminder and his act of damaging the terrifying appearance of the true immortal's corpse had clearly aided those who followed. Many expressed their gratitude to Li Fan. Suddenly, Qian Ruochang reappeared, breaking the lively atmosphere.
"You, you, you..."
"Your performance was quite good. As for the others, you barely passed," Qian Ruochang said, pointing at Jin Changyue, Li Fan, Dao Yuan, and the other four who emerged first. "I hope you can maintain such a level of tacit understanding and mutual assistance when hunting true immortals." These words were directed at Li Fan.
Li Fan's expression turned serious as he cupped his fists. "Junior bows in acknowledgment." Qian Ruochang let out a cold snort.
The surroundings flickered with light and shadow. It was as if they were rapidly surfacing from deep water, emerging from the deep net back into the normal territory of the Star Sea.
"The bait has been chosen."
"Now, I will take you to set up the trap."
Utilizing the power of the The Dao Lattice, they traversed rapidly. In the blink of an eye, the group arrived at the frontier of the Star Sea. Before them lay darkness, a lifeless expanse. This was the Annihilation Grounds, the direction from which Li Fan had come! After traveling for about half a day through a narrow, life-bearing star domain, they finally left the The Dao Lattice's coverage and reappeared in reality.
"Boss Qian, we're going to act here?" Even Jin Changyue, usually full of confidence, was filled with doubt.
Qian Ruochang pointed ahead. "No, no. It needs to be further ahead!"
"But without the The Dao Lattice, how can we be a match for that 'Nameless Immortal'?" the others urged, anxious.
"Who says there's no The Dao Lattice? Don't we have 'External Dao Manifestation' with us?" Reminded by Qian Ruochang, the others finally reacted. Li Fan looked back towards where they had come from and indeed saw a faintly visible, miniature The Dao Lattice. It seemed as though the light's refraction had been altered, stretching the shadow of the The Dao Lattice infinitely. They had arrived outside the coverage of the true The Dao Lattice, connected to it only by a single Dao String.
"This 'Nameless Immortal' is cunning and treacherous. Capturing him within the The Dao Lattice is truly difficult."
"However, outside the The Dao Lattice, in the former territory of true immortals, his vigilance will be greatly reduced."
"Let's go. We need to go deeper, to a place where he feels completely safe," Qian Ruochang said, leading the group further into the Annihilation Grounds. Within the Annihilation Grounds, there were few places where life still existed. The route was almost identical to the one leading to the The Great Barrier of the Abyssal Sea. This made Li Fan suspect their destination was within the The Great Barrier. Fortunately, Qian Ruochang seemed unaware of the The Great Barrier's existence. They passed by the location of the The Great Barrier and continued to venture deeper into the Annihilation Grounds. Finally, they stopped at a narrow, circular region of life-bearing stars. Three-quarters of its boundary had been scourged by the Dao Erasure Tribulation, connected to the outside world only through the remaining narrow passage. Qian Ruochang seemed very familiar with this area, finding a piece of floating debris within this star domain.
"Let me see, it should be here," Qian Ruochang muttered as he picked up a few stones from the ground and examined them. "First, let's set up 'External Dao Manifestation'." He turned and gave instructions, then continued to collect similar stones from the ruined ground. Li Fan, appearing to be diligently following the The Dao Lattice's instructions like everyone else, was actually directing his attention to Qian Ruochang as he wandered through the ruins. He was not using the consciousness of Ma Tiande's body, but the power of the Carefree Dream Land of Bliss within this star domain. This area was close to the Abyssal Sea, Li Fan's current base of operations, and was thus covered by the Carefree Dream Land of Bliss.
"It's just ordinary ruins, what's so special about it that it would attract He Gan Immortal?" Li Fan wondered. However, Qian Ruochang soon provided the answer. For when he returned, having circled around, and scattered a pile of stones on the ground, a faint aura emerged from them, which Li Fan found somewhat familiar.
"This is... the Ascension Platform of the Immortal Realm?"
"Not the one in the Immortal Ruins above the Xuanhuang Realm."
"But a surviving one from another star domain." Qian Ruochang clapped his hands together in front of the pile of stones, which instantly turned to dust. Then, under a glow of light, this powder transformed into an octagonal, square tower.
It was as if the Ascension Platform of old had reappeared, a majestic and sacred aura emanating from the octagonal tower. The onlookers' hearts trembled, and though they didn't know what this octagonal tower was, they instinctively focused all their attention on it.
As if drawn by an irresistible force, everyone present couldn't avert their gaze.
Even Qian Ruochang, the creator of the octagonal Ascension Platform, was momentarily stunned.
However, as someone capable of capturing the Nameless Immortal under command, he quickly broke free from the enchantment. He first connected the miniature octagonal tower to the localized Dao network that had been following everyone.
Once the scene within the octagonal tower shifted from solid to illusory, Qian Ruochang produced a crimson sphere of light.
The crimson light seemed to be sealed by some power, constantly colliding with invisible boundaries but unable to break free. Li Fan could faintly hear furious roars emanating from within the sphere.
Unmoved, Qian Ruochang formed his right hand into a sword and pierced the crimson sphere.
Li Fan keenly sensed that the localized Dao network immediately churned like a stormy sea. Newly constructed and not yet vast, its foundation was unstable, giving the impression of precariousness.
Clearly, Qian Ruochang's action wasn't solely using his own strength but a significant deployment of the Dao network's power.
"Everyone, do not be distracted. Quickly help Boss Qian stabilize the situation."
Li Fan, eager to see what kind of immortal Qian Ruochang's method could lure, spoke up when he saw the newly recruited Immortal Hunters still entranced by the octagonal Ascension Platform.
As if waking from a dream, they reluctantly shifted their gaze. Most of them then focused on building the localized Dao network. However, a small portion still kept glancing at the Ascension Platform, a fleeting look of yearning in their eyes.
Coincidentally, those who were distracted were not ordinary individuals but rather the cream of the crop, like Jin Changyue and Dao Yuan.
"It seems that even within the Dao network, ascension to immortality holds an innate, fatal attraction for them," Li Fan understood.
With everyone's assistance, the flickering localized Dao network gradually stabilized.
Qian Ruochang's fingers withdrew from the crimson sphere, their tips completely stained a dazzling scarlet.
As if reaching the most crucial step, to prevent any external interference, Qian Ruochang waved his hand, setting up protective measures around himself. Li Fan could feel that at this moment, almost ninety-nine percent of the localized Dao network's power was being utilized by Qian Ruochang.
"Pfft! Pfft!"
Amidst the onlookers' gasps, Qian Ruochang's robust body began to explode, revealing his white bones. This was due to the immense pressure he was enduring, exceeding his limits.
But what astonished the newly recruited Immortal Hunters, including Li Fan, was that Qian Ruochang's bones were not ordinary human bones. Instead, they emanated a seven-colored, crystalline light, seemingly without substance, as if entirely composed of countless threads of the Dao network!
Empowered by the Dao network's might, his illusory flesh rapidly regenerated, concealing the Dao-string bones.
Qian Ruochang ignored everyone's reaction, using the scarlet on his fingertips as ink and his fingers as a brush.
He wrote in the air above the octagonal Ascension Platform.
The content of his writing seemed to be highly secret. Despite the exposure of his Dao-string bones, Qian Ruochang was extremely cautious about what he was inscribing.
He diverted some of the surrounding Dao network's protective force, forming a hazy curtain of mist to conceal the scene from the onlookers.
The new Immortal Hunters expressed disappointment as the crucial moment became obscured.
However…
The vast majority of the localized Dao network's power was being used by Qian Ruochang to write this character. While this concealment could fool the young Immortal Hunters and even Li Fan's divine sense clone, it couldn't deceive the immense consciousness of the Carefree Dream Land present.
As if looking down from a height, it pierced through the obfuscation, clearly seeing what was happening within the concealed area.
"This is…"
"It's very similar to the character for the Transformation Between Immortals and Mortals, but deviates at a few key nodes."
Strictly speaking, the Dao network's concealment method was indeed extraordinary. Even a localized Dao network far surpassed the power of Li Fan's Carefree Dream Land, built upon the foundation of the Azure Nether Myriad Beings.
However, Li Fan was also one of the builders of this localized Dao network. He had a profound understanding of its construction, coupled with a miniature projection of the Great Dao within his divine sense.
Therefore, deciphering it was naturally much easier than simply brute-forcing it.
Without alerting them, Li Fan observed quietly.
As the mysterious character was completely inscribed, a powerful radiance erupted from the octagonal Ascension Platform. Seven-colored auspicious clouds floated out, golden flowers rained down, and immortal birds chirped.
It was precisely like the scene of a cultivator achieving the Dao and ascending in the ancient legends!
Before the phenomenon dissipated, an aura Li Fan was intimately familiar with was born.
True Immortal!
A palm-sized figure flew out from the small Ascension Platform.
It was crimson all over, as if painted by Qian Ruochang's scarlet blood.
Though small, in Li Fan's eyes, it was no different from a True Immortal!
Not just in its "aura" of being an immortal, no longer belonging to the same order as mortals.
Even more so because of the immortal Spirit Qi surrounding this little figure!
Li Fan's pupils constricted.
What he had envisioned but failed to achieve – using the Immortal Realm's Ascension Platform to connect to the Infinite Sea – had now been accomplished by the forces of the Star Sea of the North. And it was more comprehensive than he had anticipated!
Not just an aspect of immortality.
It was the creation of an immortal through and through!
"Could it be that the Star Sea of the North can now mass-produce True Immortals?" Li Fan stared intently at the small True Immortal, his heart churning like waves.
Even more terrifying was that judging by Qian Ruochang's practiced demeanor, this was clearly not the first time he had done this.
Suspicious and uncertain, Li Fan did not act rashly, continuing to observe.
This little figure did not resemble Qian Ruochang.
Instead, it bore some resemblance to the indistinct image Li Fan had seen earlier within the crimson sphere, the one that had been desperately trying to break free.
After being "created" by Qian Ruochang, it didn't dart around wildly.
It simply sat cross-legged, eyes closed, meditating.
With the successful creation of the immortal, Qian Ruochang breathed a sigh of relief.
The scarlet on his fingertips had vanished the moment the small True Immortal appeared.
And the octagonal Ascension Platform before him, having fulfilled its mission, turned to dust and vanished.
Qian Ruochang looked regretful but was powerless to stop it.
He bowed respectfully to the small True Immortal before him. As if possessing sentience, the small immortal directly entered Qian Ruochang's body.
Qian Ruochang's Dao-string bones were not mundane things but rather vessels of the Great Dao. Thus, he could, with his mortal body, contain a True Immortal's form!
After adapting to the new power attached to him, Qian Ruochang finally withdrew his concealment and revealed himself to the crowd.
Of the young Immortal Hunters, only a few noticed the changes in Qian Ruochang, their expressions a mixture of surprise and uncertainty. However, they also knew not to ask what they shouldn't, wisely waiting for Qian Ruochang to speak.
"The lure and the net are ready. Next, it's time to begin the hunt."
"Are you all prepared?"
As Qian Ruochang spoke, he gently lowered the pillar he had been carrying on his shoulder. He swung it casually, as if it were a lightweight wooden stick, to the astonishment of the Immortal Hunters.
They instinctively replied in unison, "We will definitely exterminate the True Immortal!"
Qian Ruochang nodded with satisfaction, then glanced at the circular area of vitality before him, muttering, "This place will be the trap for the Nameless Immortal."
With that, he swept the massive pillar in his hand across in front of him.
Though the pillar remained in his hand, an invisible wave of destruction spread across the small area of vitality.
In an instant, all remaining floating debris was flattened and shattered.
It then continued along the narrow passage outside the circular area of vitality, propagating far into the annihilation land.
Its ultimate destination was unknown.
It was like ripples caused by a stone thrown into a sea of stars.
Mortal beings wouldn't notice the peculiarity of these ripples, merely perceiving them as powerful and anomalous energy fluctuations.
However, those who had ascended to immortality, like Li Fan, could glean much information from these ripples.
Including the identity of the True Immortal causing these ripples, its location, and the reason for its actions.
Although Li Fan wasn't a legitimate immortal who ascended through the Immortal Realm's Ascension Platform, as a Half-Immortal, he could still barely discern the information.
"Guardian Celestial Official of the Qunqu Star Domain…"
"Obtained the World-Crossing Profound Coffin and wishes to cross the world to escape."
"Fellow Immortals nearby, hasten…"
Li Fan savored the contents of the ripples, his expression gradually becoming peculiar.
From his perspective, the so-called trap seemed quite clumsy.
Spreading so widely, how could they be sure which immortal would take the bait?
Furthermore, He Ganxian had survived various tribulations for so long, acting with extreme caution. Could such a simple display truly deceive him?
Li Fan was highly skeptical.
Unless…
"This small True Immortal, the so-called Guardian Celestial Official of the Qunqu Star Domain, is an old acquaintance of He Ganxian!"
"And he was captured by the Immortal Hunters not long ago, so He Ganxian is unaware of this!"
"Perhaps even…"
Recalling the successful escape of the Xiyi Immortals using the World-Crossing Profound Coffin, this Guardian Celestial Official's presence near the Star Sea of the North was likely related to the World-Crossing Profound Coffin!
"This means that Qian Ruochang must also be carrying a World-Crossing Profound Coffin."
"Calling it a trap isn't entirely inaccurate."
"If He Ganxian truly possesses the ability to kill everyone here, then he will naturally obtain the Profound Coffin."
"And that small True Immortal…"
Li Fan observed Qian Ruochang, noticing subtle changes in his expression, slightly different from before.
Even though the changes were generally negligible, Li Fan was certain they were influenced by the True Immortal’s presence.
"To successfully activate the power of the Ascension Platform, one must use corresponding True Immortal Sigils. For example, the Transformation Between Immortals and Mortals, and what Qian Ruochang just wrote. Perhaps, it must be written by a specific True Immortal to be effective."
"Guardian Celestial Official…"
"The Star Sea of the North has mastered the method of replicating a True Immortal's identity using its essence and blood. They can even deceive the Infinite Sea's identity verification."
Li Fan's mind raced, recalling the mysterious character and analyzing its potential usability on the stone slab left by the Heavenly Mysteries King.
After the True Immortal ripple was emitted, it was like a stone sinking into the sea, with no response.
However, Qian Ruochang was confident that the Nameless Immortal would take the bait, methodically issuing a series of commands to the newly recruited Immortal Hunters.
One by one, orders were executed, and the individuals concealed themselves within the localized Dao network. Qian Ruochang then used immortal Spirit Qi to conceal them. Even Li Fan, using his dream power to probe, could barely find their traces.
The World-Destroying Black Arrows were distributed and integrated into everyone's bodies, ready to be deployed at any moment.
The Dao string connecting the localized Dao network to the main Dao network had also been quietly severed at some point. Although the support from the Star Sea of the North's main Dao network was gone, Li Fan, hidden within the localized Dao network, didn't feel a significant weakening of its power.
This was likely due to Qian Ruochang, who resided at the center of the localized Dao network with Dao-string bones as his foundation.
"It seems we are completely redundant in this immortal hunt."
"With the combat power Qian Ruochang is currently displaying, he can engage He Ganxian directly. We are not needed at all…"
"Or perhaps, these young Immortal Hunters have some other purpose."
The various experiences during this training flashed through Li Fan's mind. He pondered the possibilities.
Meanwhile, in the void of the circular area of vitality, Qian Ruochang produced a profound coffin.
Its appearance was identical to the one they had seen during their first mission.
Qian Ruochang stared at the coffin for a long time, then lightly patted its lid.
He then leaped inside and lay down.
However, he did not completely seal the lid, leaving a small gap.
The newly recruited Immortal Hunters, hidden within the Dao network, patiently awaited the arrival of their prey.
Located in the annihilation land, there were no other living beings in this star domain besides them.
Time flowed by in silence, and they knew not how long had passed.
Someone suddenly sensed that the calm Dao network threads seemed to tremble slightly.
But upon closer inspection, it seemed like their own illusion.
There was still no other presence within the Dao network.
"It's not an illusion."
"Someone has arrived," Dao Yuan said in a steady voice, a mixture of nervousness and excitement.
Since the initial subtle tremors, the Nameless Immortal had not revealed any further trace.
They didn't even know if he was still within the localized Dao network.
Compared to the previously invisible and inaudible Xiyi Immortals, this Nameless Immortal was evidently more mysterious and unpredictable.
Just as everyone was at a loss, a faint, sacred singing voice suddenly emanated from within the profound coffin.
Everyone found the sound familiar; it was the same sound heard when the Xiyi Immortals escaped using the coffin.
However, last time they had observed from afar, while this time Qian Ruochang was inside the coffin, and they were all present within the Dao network, making the sound even clearer.
Slowly, their gazes towards the profound coffin changed subtly.
Their vision was divided into two parts: on the left, a world-ending calamity; on the right, a new, beautiful world free from worries. The stark contrast inevitably made them yearn to hide within the profound coffin, escaping the disaster.
The chanting within the World-Crossing Black Coffin grew more urgent. A detached, ethereal aura gradually enveloped the coffin. The gap in the coffin lid dwindled, suggesting that Qian Ruochang, like the Two Immortals of Xi and Yi before him, intended to traverse worlds and escape.
However, the newly ascended Immortal Hunters, who had been drawn to the coffin by its allure and were attempting to enter it, suddenly found themselves bound by the The Dao Lattice, unable to move. They could only watch as the situation seemed to spiral out of control.
Amidst their inexplicable panic, Dao Yuan was the first to step forward to steady their emotions. "Don't panic, believe in Boss Qian!"
But in reality, they had no choice but to believe. Their trust, however, seemed to be in vain. The coffin sealed with steady speed, closing completely under their despairing gaze. In an instant, the coffin erupted with a dazzling, ethereal seven-colored light!
But… the anticipated scene of the coffin traversing worlds and escaping did not materialize. Instead, the chanting abruptly ceased. The seven-colored radiance seemed to freeze, motionless. The life-sustaining area within the Annihilation Land fell into an eerie silence.
Then, the World-Crossing Black Coffin gave a violent shudder. *Bang! Bang! Bang!* The tremors grew stronger with each beat, resonating within everyone's hearts, as if a trapped beast was desperately trying to escape!
As they stood bewildered, they suddenly noticed that the restraints of the The Dao Lattice had subtly loosened. It wasn't an intentional act by anyone. Instead, the vast majority of the power within the localized The Dao Lattice had been diverted, leaving insufficient strength to maintain their confinement.
"This… the Faceless Immortal has entered the coffin, and Boss Qian is fighting him hand-to-hand inside?" Jin Changyue was the first to react, gasping in disbelief. "We didn't even notice any signs of his movement? We're under the coverage of the localized The Dao Lattice!"
"Oh no, Boss Qian is facing the Faceless Immortal alone, won't he be in danger?" The others exchanged anxious glances, their minds reeling from the Faceless Immortal's unfathomable power and Qian Ruochang's perilous situation. But they were helpless. Despite their earlier bravado, facing a True Immortal's battle made them acutely aware that without the The Dao Lattice's power, they were utterly incapable of intervening in such a fight. Moreover, the coffin was sealed shut. Without knowing how to open it, even if they wanted to join the fray, they had no way in.
"This Faceless Immortal acts so mysteriously. Boss Qian had no choice but to use himself as bait, feigning an escape with the coffin to force him out. With the coffin sealed, the Faceless Immortal, no matter how skilled, would have nowhere to go. Therefore, what we need to do is…" After a period of contemplation, everyone quickly understood.
"Quick! Transport this coffin back to the Immortal Hunter Headquarters!" Even with the entire localized The Dao Lattice suppressing it, the coffin, now a prison rather than a lure, trembled more violently. From a distance, the onlookers felt their hearts pound with fear, terrified that the Faceless Immortal trapped within would break free at any moment.
"This place is far from the Star Sea of the North. It's impossible to get back using ordinary flight techniques. We must stabilize the localized The Dao Lattice and re-establish the connection with the Star Sea of the North's The Dao Lattice!" They quickly reached a consensus. Their prolonged training had fostered a certain level of tacit understanding. Without any explicit command, directives flew out, slowly stabilizing the localized The Dao Lattice, which had been on the brink of collapse during the True Immortal's battle.
The next step was to reconnect the localized The Dao Lattice to the main The Dao Lattice. Although the Dao String that once linked them had been severed, their current location was not too far from the The Dao Lattice's border. All it would take was for one person to travel at extreme speed to act as a medium and re-establish the connection.
"I'll go!" Jin Changyue declared gravely, her triple pupils reopening. Perhaps due to frequent use in a short period, her peculiar eyes were bloodshot, resembling a scarlet spiderweb, quite eerie. Two pupils fixed on the distant target, while the central, void-like pupil scanned their surroundings.
A sword's light like a rainbow. Before Jin Changyue finished speaking, she had vanished from their sight. Her subsequent words, as if arriving late, echoed back: "The number of people… is slightly off!"
The crowd blinked in confusion, then looked at each other. A few moments later, a bone-chilling coldness washed over them. There were twenty-eight newly ascended Immortal Hunters in total. Excluding Jin Changyue, who had departed, and Feng Zengyuan, who had died and been dissected earlier, there should have been twenty-six remaining. Yet, the current number on-site was only twenty-five! More critically, after recalling and counting, they couldn't even remember the name or information of the one who had gone missing! It was as if this person had never existed.
They all turned to the World-Crossing Black Coffin, a terrifying thought emerging: "Had the Faceless Immortal been hidden among us all along?" Li Fan's expression was solemn. Even recalling with the miniature The Dao Lattice within his divine sense, he could only conjure a vague shadow, unable to ascertain the intruder's identity.
Li Fan's thoughts raced: "Did they infiltrate from the beginning, or did they replace someone mid-way?" "But regardless, since they knew it was a trap, why did they still enter the coffin at the last moment?" Recalling the dazzling seven-colored light that had erupted from the World-Crossing Black Coffin, Li Fan suddenly felt a realization. "Qian Ruochang must have anticipated the Faceless Immortal's stealthy infiltration."
"His entry into the coffin was a blatant 'open trap.' If the Faceless Immortal hadn't shown himself in the end, Qian Ruochang would have truly escaped with the coffin, just like the Two Immortals of Xi and Yi!" "Seizing the chance to escape calamity, the Faceless Immortal couldn't resist the temptation. Moreover, the Faceless Immortal had been observing Qian Ruochang closely for some time. Perhaps he believed that even if it was a trap, his own strength could subdue the opponent, prompting his desperate gamble…" Li Fan's thoughts painted a picture of the truth.
But new questions quickly arose for Li Fan. "If that's the case, Qian Ruochang was able to endure the temptation of escaping into seclusion. Upon the Faceless Immortal's appearance, he abandoned his original objective and instead chose to hunt him…" "Capturing this True Immortal was more important to Qian Ruochang than escaping into seclusion?" Li Fan couldn't help but view Qian Ruochang with newfound respect.
As time passed, the battle within the black coffin didn't subside; instead, it intensified. Qian Ruochang seemed to be at a disadvantage. Even with their combined efforts, the localized The Dao Lattice was barely holding on, like duckweed in the wind, about to be scattered and detached from the Great Dao it clung to.
Just as despair began to set in, a sword light flashed in the distant darkness, racing towards them! It was Jin Changyue, her lithe figure appearing like a rainbow. Behind her, the others could faintly make out a Dao String emitting a crystalline white light. Though thin as a thread, the Dao String weighed as much as heaven and earth. Jin Changyue, pulling it, no longer bore the crushing pressure of an entire cultivation world. Even so, her speed did not falter, demonstrating her considerable strength.
As Jin Changyue's figure drew closer, the The Dao Lattice connection seemed within reach. Yet, for some reason, her flight speed abruptly slowed. The others vaguely saw Jin Changyue's triple pupils, her eyelids repeatedly touching.
"Bad! Jin Changyue must have reached her limit! Quickly, go and meet her!" the crowd exclaimed. Dao Yuan and most others remained to stabilize the The Dao Lattice with great difficulty. Jiang Yuming, however, led three others to intercept Jin Changyue and the vital Dao String.
Jin Changyue seemed to have truly exhausted all her strength, her flight speed in the dark void slowing to a crawl. Finally, she became completely still, her eyelids closing, as if she had fallen into a deep sleep! Jiang Yuming, seeing this, felt a pang of urgency and accelerated his approach.
However… before they could reach Jin Changyue, the four Immortal Hunters sent to intercept her also began to fly slower and slower. Eventually, like Jin Changyue, they quietly fell asleep.
The rhythm of their commands faltered among Dao Yuan and the remaining newly ascended Immortal Hunters. Though they didn't know what had happened, a sense of foreboding surged through them. Before they could speak, a strange, inexplicable power enveloped them, as if all the fatigue accumulated since birth had suddenly erupted. Many Immortal Hunters instantly fell unconscious, succumbing to the dreamland. Even elite cultivators like Dao Yuan and Nangong Hongzhao couldn't resist the overwhelming drowsiness for long. Soon, they too drifted off, entering the Land of Carefree Bliss. Li Fan, inhabiting "Ma Tiande," was no different. The entire starry expanse, aside from the violently shaking black coffin, was devoid of any movement.
While the new Immortal Hunters slept soundly, the battle between the two True Immortals within the coffin remained unresolved. One day, two days… When thirty days had passed, the occupants of the coffin seemed to finally sense the potential changes outside, or perhaps the battle had reached a conclusion. The commotion within the coffin gradually subsided, yet no one emerged. The World-Crossing Black Coffin simply floated in the void.
…
In the Xuanhuang Realm. Li Fan observed the floating black coffin from afar through the power of dreams. His intervention this time was well-considered, even preparing for the possibility of his true identity being discovered and the need for immediate escape to Return to Truth. Whether the target, the Faceless Immortal, was He Ganxian or not, Li Fan saw value in resolving or interacting with him. Having infiltrated the Star Sea of the North, he had gained a preliminary understanding of its various factions. However, regarding the True Immortals opposing the Star Sea of the North, Li Fan remained ignorant. Li Fan's current state, aside from the lack of immortal Spirit Qi within his body, was no different from that of an "Immortal." He was, to a degree, on the same side. If he could save the Faceless Immortal and extract information from him, it would undoubtedly benefit the progression of Li Fan's plan. However, Li Fan did not reveal himself directly to confront him. Instead, he silently observed the changes within the black coffin, like a hunter patiently waiting for prey.
The silence within the black coffin lasted for seven full days. Still sensing no external changes, the person within seemed to lose patience. The sacred chanting resumed, as if preparing to traverse worlds and escape regardless of the surroundings. But the chanting did not last long. Simultaneously, another ethereal murmuring sound echoed through the void. With a starkly different tone from the chanting, it caused subtle shifts in the coffin's incantations. The seven-colored radiance also seemed to be disturbed, flickering erratically and unable to coalesce. The occupant within was not deterred. After a brief pause, the colored light surged, and the chanting's volume doubled. However, as the saying goes, "a Daoist is a foot high, a demon is ten feet high." The illusory sounds from the surrounding dreamland amplified tenfold, completely overpowering the chanting. The seven-colored light retracted into the black coffin, leaving no further trace. The murmuring voices, having completed their disruptive act, vanished as mysteriously as they had appeared. In this void, only a single black coffin remained, along with the newly ascended Immortal Hunters floating silently. Li Fan had personally woven them a beautiful dream. For caution's sake, inspired by the existence of the localized The Dao Lattice, this dream was independent of the Xuanhuang Realm's dreamland and could be discarded at any time. Furthermore, with the The Great Barrier acting as a barrier, no traces would be left. He had gathered all the dream power cultivated outside the The Great Barrier during this period, combined with the demonic sounds from the Xuanyuan clan's bloodline memory, which could interrupt the World-Crossing Black Coffin's traversal. Li Fan had previously used the Grand Master's "Evading Calamity Profound Sound" to neutralize the influence of the Heavenly Mysteries King's demonic sound. Thus, upon hearing the coffin's activating chant bear resemblance to the "Evading Calamity Profound Sound," he had conceived this idea. Now, putting it into practice, it proved feasible. "It seems these two types of Daoic melodies are, to some extent, mutually opposed," Li Fan mused.
The Star Sea of the North had not abandoned the trapped black coffin. Clearly, the Immortal Hunter Headquarters was aware of Qian Ruochang's plan to some extent and had dispatched people to the The Dao Lattice's border to search for the missing coffin and Immortal Hunters. However, to deceive the Faceless Immortal, Qian Ruochang had evidently not revealed too much. The Annihilation Land remained a dangerous, unknown territory for the Star Sea of the North. Furthermore, Li Fan had already severed the Dao String, so it would take them some time to arrive. "Let's see how long you can last," Li Fan thought. To capture the Faceless Immortal, the coffin had clearly been tampered with to be opened only from the outside. Unless one's strength was sufficient to shatter the coffin directly, escape from within the sealed coffin was impossible. This was Qian Ruochang's meticulously perfect hunting strategy. Yet, it had now become Li Fan's leverage for intervention.
To force the two immortals in the coffin to act quickly and to further study the so-called World-Crossing Profound Coffin, Li Fan unleashed the power of his Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul, enveloping the profound coffin layer by layer.
The Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul, a power bordering on the Dao Erasure Tribulation, could almost completely seal off the power of the The Dao Lattice. A faint black mist not only surrounded the profound coffin, but it also seeped through it, penetrating every crevice, as if it could go anywhere.
Although the World-Crossing Profound Coffin was said to be able to dodge all calamities in the world, it could only escape to other possibilities. In reality, it could not resist the Dao Erasure Tribulation, nor could it completely isolate itself from the outside.
After a moment of silence, the two immortals in the coffin clearly sensed the destructive aura outside. Violent tremors appeared once again within the World-Crossing Profound Coffin, this time much more intense than before. Previously, the tremors were the aftershocks of their struggle, but now... it seemed the two immortals were trying to break free from the coffin together.
However, since the profound coffin was chosen as a cage for the Nameless Immortal, it was not something that could be easily shattered, even with the combined efforts of Qian Ruochang and the Nameless Immortal. After a brief attempt, they realized it was futile and changed their strategy.
In this life-or-death situation, Li Fan truly witnessed the methods of True Immortals. A sacred chant, almost inaudible, began to emanate from within the coffin. Li Fan, using the power of the Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul that enveloped the coffin, could barely sense it. The singer seemed to be Qian Ruochang.
Li Fan attempted to use his dream power to weave the Enchanting Incantations to interfere, but the two melodies seemed to exist in different worlds, parallel and independent, unable to affect each other. The chanting continued, and the seven-colored light from within the coffin grew stronger.
"A power is isolating the profound coffin from the world," Li Fan muttered. "Although I can sense it with the aid of my Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul, I cannot affect it in any way. It must be that Nameless Immortal who has taken action. Since they cannot break out, they've decided to join forces to cross the world."
Li Fan sneered inwardly. He had dared to force them into a desperate situation, so he had anticipated their reaction. "Crossing possibilities... Let me see what that's all about."
The black mist transformed into countless tendrils, tightly entwining the World-Crossing Profound Coffin. As an extension of Li Fan's senses, they began to analyze the nature of the profound coffin.
Without external interference, the World-Crossing Profound Coffin was fully activated. Seven-colored light surged from within, pushing back the power of his Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul. Li Fan saw countless illusions appear and overlap on the profound coffin simultaneously. Each illusion was identical, but the surrounding scenery differed.
The chanting grew louder, and the real profound coffin seemed to be pulled into these overlapping illusions, about to detach from reality. Meanwhile, the number of simultaneous coffin illusions suddenly plummeted towards infinity. Through the fleeting glimpses, Li Fan saw only "perfect worlds" that were not yet ravaged by the Dao Erasure Tribulation. Although Li Fan's touch still felt strong, the profound coffin was growing fainter, about to escape his grasp.
"This World-Crossing Profound Coffin doesn't allow unconditiona l travel to other possibilities," Li Fan realized. "It seems to only be able to go to possibilities where a similar World-Crossing Profound Coffin exists. It achieves escape from the current possibility by using the coffin's 'Unification'."
"So that's how it is..." Li Fan's mind began to clear. If individuals from different possibilities could devour themselves across possibilities, then certain special items should be able to do the same. Li Fan's ability to retain items from previous simulations and bring them back to reality was a form of "Unification." Not all items could strengthen themselves through "Unification"; only Heavenly and Earthly Marvels of the Xuanhuang Realm seemed to spontaneously devour each other when they appeared simultaneously. However, the Dao-Melting Stone from outside the realm required Li Fan's active facilitation for fusion.
"The materials used to create this World-Crossing Profound Coffin likely share a similar nature to these Oddities. It must be completely identical to other World-Crossing Profound Coffins in other possibilities to leverage the power of 'Unification' and leap across possibilities..."
Despite the powerful entanglement of his Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul, the World-Crossing Profound Coffin grew increasingly faint. While Li Fan observed and contemplated, the coffin was almost escaping his current possibility. A power transcending all, undetectable even by True Immortals, quietly descended.
"When true becomes false, false becomes true." The seven familiar characters appeared before Li Fan's eyes. Now at the Half-Immortal realm, he could barely achieve "false becomes true," even creating energy like the Primordial Quintessence that allowed demons to traverse possibilities out of thin air. However, he never could grasp the "true becomes false" principle. Theoretically, destruction should be easier than creation. Li Fan had been puzzled for a long time, but after observing the entire process of the profound coffin's world-crossing with his Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul, he realized he had been overthinking it.
To turn a real, complete object into nothingness—this "false becomes true" ability's difficulty was not dependent on the target. Whether the target was a powerful being like Evil Su Bai or the Black Heavenly Physician, or an ant on the ground, the difficulty for Li Fan was the same. As long as they were subject to the "transformation of truth and falsehood," they could not resist the concept of "true becomes false." However, transforming something complete from true to false was accompanied by the ability to transform something false into true, and its existence would not disappear even after the power of truth and falsehood vanished. This perfected realm was naturally not something Li Fan, who had only just begun, could achieve.
"The true state of an object can only be maintained for a limited time. Once it enters a false state, there is no chance for it to revert to true. Once it disappears, it is gone forever." The reason Li Fan suddenly grasped this crucial point was that when observing the World-Crossing Profound Coffin's "disappearance" from the current possibility, he noticed it wasn't instantaneous. Instead, the countless particles that formed the coffin verified themselves with their counterparts in other possibilities, then entered the "Unification" state and escaped the current possibility. It wasn't the entire coffin that traversed, but rather it differentiated into countless "individual particles." After reaching other possibilities, it would reassemble.
"There are inherent constraints between possibilities. Compared to a complete individual, infinitely small particles, even beyond my observational capabilities, should be much easier to traverse." "The whole becomes the sum of its parts." "The same logic applies here. What I need to do is not to directly turn the entire profound coffin from true to false." "I only need to break the verification process of the profound coffin, making it different from its original state."
Li Fan's comprehension was instantaneous. The transformation of truth and falsehood instantly enveloped the profound coffin. In his mind, he visualized the feeling of constantly simulating rebirth, life after life. "True, becomes, false!" he declared, each word with intense concentration. The target was not the macroscopic individual of the profound coffin, but any single particle that formed it, which Li Fan had come into contact with. It was as if a speck of dust had been gently wiped away.
Externally, the profound coffin showed no change. But... the chanting reached its climax, and the seven-colored coffin illusions suddenly extinguished. Even though it was just the absence of a tiny, insignificant particle, the profound coffin was no longer the World-Crossing Profound Coffin. True became false, and world-crossing became difficult to continue.
Qian Ruochang's chanting abruptly stopped. Unable to accept this reality, the two immortals in the coffin remained silent for a long time. The profound coffin was terrifyingly quiet. Qian Ruochang and the Nameless Immortal seemed to have been transported away, leaving no trace. They appeared to have resigned themselves to their fate, no longer struggling.
Li Fan's attention was not on them but on his own joy at successfully executing the "true becomes false" technique. Theoretically, the extent to which he could achieve "true becomes false" and "false becomes true" should be equal. This meant that even if he couldn't completely eliminate an individual at this moment, he was certainly capable of more than just erasing a few particles. "I can now achieve a threefold power superposition for a short period. Conversely, I should also be able to achieve a certain degree of weakening." In Li Fan's understanding, if a person or object, as a whole, suddenly lost a part of itself, it would inevitably become weaker. As for where this weakness manifested... Li Fan instinctively wanted to experiment on himself. However, as soon as the thought arose, his heart skipped a beat, and even his Reflection panel pulsed, as if issuing a warning. This was unprecedented.
"It seems the weakening effect of 'true becomes false' is more terrifying than I imagined." Setting aside the World-Crossing Profound Coffin, Li Fan first found several experimental subjects for his tests. There were ten in total: pure mortals, cultivators of average talent, and those with exceptional talent, capable of becoming prodigies. Their consciousnesses were already immersed in the Carefree Dreamland. For the sake of rigor, Li Fan recalled their consciousnesses. He recalled the feeling of using his divine ability before. As the saying goes, the second time is easier than the first. This time, Li Fan found it less awkward and difficult. It was like using an eraser to gently sketch on a portrait. After Li Fan finished, he carefully examined the ten subjects.
"Strange..." "Their cultivation levels haven't decreased. Their divine souls and consciousness also seem unchanged from before." "Where exactly does my 'true becomes false' divine ability manifest?" After a long time without any answers, Li Fan frowned. Since he couldn't find the answer, it meant the degree of change was insufficient. Li Fan continued his experiments. Compared to the already familiar "false becomes true," the "true becomes false" divine ability placed a tremendous burden on Li Fan. Even though he was no longer the same, and the dream power of myriad Azure Nether beings aided him, after three consecutive uses, he felt exhausted and depleted, accompanied by an unprecedented sense of weakness. Li Fan secretly marveled and wisely stopped the experiments. Fortunately, his efforts were not in vain. With repeated "wiping," Li Fan finally saw where his divine ability was being exerted.
The changes in the mortal subjects were still not significant. Even among the ordinary cultivators, Li Fan couldn't discern any obvious differences. The key was the "prodigy." This person, named Yin Changshou, was originally not well-known in the Xuanhuang Realm due to his background and resources. However, after everyone entered the Carefree Dreamland, he rose to prominence, outperforming Wang Xuanba and Sun Erlang, and even reaching the boundaries of the dream realm. Li Fan had spotted him immediately when selecting experimental subjects. But now... Upon examination, Li Fan discovered that the "Spirit Qi" within Yin Changshou seemed to have vanished. This "Spirit Qi" was not the kind related to cultivation. It was a profound, mysterious feeling, unrelated to his current realm, but rather a "premonition" of his future achievements.
Previously, Li Fan had a strong intuition that if Yin Changshou were allowed to develop freely without external interference, he would surely reach the Dao Integration realm, if not the Longevity realm. But now... it was as if his potential had been exhausted, with no path forward! This feeling of a future devoid of promise, appearing in the prodigy Li Fan had handpicked, struck him with surprise.
"The 'Spirit Qi' I refer to is the sum of comprehension, destiny, root bone, talent, and everything else. Although my 'true becomes false' divine ability cannot directly lower cultivation at this moment, its effect... is like a knife scraping bone and shaving the soul, even more ferocious!" "No wonder my Reflection panel issued a warning when I considered experimenting on myself previously. This knife strike would likely be irreversible, even for myself." For true geniuses, perhaps death was not terrifying. What was truly terrifying was the sudden loss of their prized talent, transforming them from geniuses into mediocre individuals, or even imbeciles. This kind of mental destruction far surpassed physical destruction!
"This divine ability eradicates all future prospects." "Moreover, I vaguely feel that its impact might not end there." It was as if inspiration was within reach, just beyond a veil of mist that he couldn't penetrate. After a short rest, Li Fan resumed his experiments. The knife of truth and falsehood fell, inch by inch. In Li Fan's eyes, Yin Changshou gradually became inferior to ordinary mortals. Mortals could still be pushed onto the path of cultivation through external resources, but Yin Changshou was now completely cut off from any further progress. No matter what method was used, he could not advance.
"A comprehensive regression of cultivation is certain. However, why do I still feel that the true harm has not yet manifested?" Li Fan stared intently at Yin Changshou for a long time before making the final "cut." Like constantly erasing with an eraser, the image on the canvas was completely removed. In reality, Yin Changshou didn't disappear directly. Instead, some possibility was utterly severed. Li Fan felt a sense of premonition and suddenly looked up towards the heavens.
This was not an attack by a mighty being, transcending the possibility of existence to charge directly. It was Li Fan's ethereal sense that, as if by a gaze from beyond the world, felt a sudden sweep of attention. However, this being lacked the precision of Black Heavenly Physician or Evil Su Bai, who could pinpoint specific possibilities. Or perhaps Li Fan, residing within the The Great Barrier, was shielded by it. In any case, this sweep was a general scan, not a focused gaze. The owner of the sight had not truly found Li Fan. Even so, Li Fan felt a primal terror, as if an ancient ferocious beast had fixed its gaze upon him. He almost blurted out "Return to Truth" in alarm. Fortunately, this sense of being watched came and went as quickly as it arrived, vanishing completely within an instant, as if it were Li Fan's hallucination. But Li Fan knew internally that what had just occurred was no illusion.
"That line of sight must have come from another version of Yin Changshou."
"My weakening of Yin Changshou in the current possibility has actually attracted the attention of his counterparts in other possibilities..." Li Fan pondered for a long time. Looking at the extremely withered young man before him, a bold idea suddenly surged within Li Fan: "Could my divine ability, [Truth into Falsehood], simultaneously affect all my counterparts across all possibilities?"
This thought indeed excited Li Fan. But after careful consideration, Li Fan dismissed it. If the divine ability of "Truth into Falsehood" were truly synchronized across all possibilities, then the World-Crossing Profound Coffin would not have failed its verification after a portion of its particles were removed. Furthermore, Li Fan had some self-awareness. Perhaps in the future, after his comprehension of the Dao of Truth and Falsehood deepened, he might indeed be able to act upon the same target across all possibilities. But with his current beginner's level, such a feat was absolutely impossible.
Li Fan's thoughts churned, and he quickly deduced why Yin Changshou from another possibility had cast his gaze upon him. "Judging by the actions of Black Heavenly Physician and Evil Su Bai, powerful beings of their caliber need to constantly devour their other selves to grow stronger."
"This can be seen as a form of cultivation, the so-called [All Selves Unifying]."
"Theoretically, reaching this stage in a certain possibility implies that this person's talent is absolutely not weak. His counterparts in other possibilities may have varying cultivation levels, but these are merely divergences caused by different opportunities. You would never encounter..."
"A situation where all paths forward are severed."
"Even a complete cripple, utterly incapable of cultivation, would not be difficult for a strong being capable of traversing possibilities to deal with. The star sea is filled with countless treasures capable of forcefully altering fate. Devouring them would also enhance oneself. But the current Yin Changshou is undeniably a perfectly poisonous pill."
"Consuming it brings a hundred harms and not a single benefit."
"Among countless versions of myself, one suddenly appeared that was a distorted imitation, a complete anomaly..."
"If Su Bai and Heavenly Physician of that year had been subjected to this divine ability, perhaps they would not have been targeted."
It was not that Li Fan's "Truth into Falsehood" divine ability directly affected those who could traverse possibilities. Instead, it was "poisoning" their "materials" for proving the Dao, thus severing their future in an alternative manner! Of course, this kind of poison, as it stood, could only be administered by Li Fan, who held [Return to Truth].
"Although I cannot directly oppose them yet, this move is enough to make them uncomfortable," Li Fan thought with great satisfaction. Perhaps the cultivation process of [All Selves Unifying] involved crucial details that Li Fan was not yet aware of. But judging by the "persistence" Evil Su Bai had shown, every "self" was extremely important. If a "self" in a surviving possibility suffered such a change, it would be absolutely unacceptable to beings of that caliber.
"Destroying only one individual in a possibility might not be enough to prevent the attainment of [All Selves Unifying]. But due to this acquired deficiency, they would likely be a step behind others, and this deficiency would be irreparable."
Li Fan's gaze turned back to the celestial expanse. As if he saw the figure of Black Heavenly Physician, his heart stirred with anticipation. "By the end of this life, I can experiment on Heavenly Physician. First, apply the 'Truth into Falsehood' divine ability, and then actively send him beyond the wall. Let's see what Black Heavenly Physician's reaction will be when he arrives without warning."
Li Fan sent away the ten experimental subjects. He then consolidated the "Truth into Falsehood" divine ability until he was exhausted, his momentary comprehension reaching its bottleneck. Only then did he temporarily halt his insights. The minor interlude in the Xuanhuang Realm was but a fleeting moment. Li Fan's attention returned to the starry sky beyond the The Great Barrier. Due to the inconsistent flow of time, about thirty-odd days had passed here. The "Truth into Falsehood" divine ability had forcibly interrupted the World-Crossing Profound Coffin, and the two Immortals within had been subdued by the threat, remaining silent for a long time. And in this period, Li Fan, through contact and analysis with the power of the Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul, seemed to have found a way to forcibly open the coffin lid. After all, the Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul, being close to the power of Dao Erasure, was the most terrifying destructive force in the mortal world, bar none. Even if Li Fan's current realm was slightly weaker, continuous erosion was something even the World-Crossing Profound Coffin, despite its name, could not withstand.
However, Li Fan did not act rashly. Given the divine abilities displayed by the two Immortals within the coffin, his Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul power alone was insufficient to subdue them. Therefore, other means were needed. Qian Ruochan was easy to deal with. The Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul severed the The Dao Lattice. Without the power of the The Dao Lattice, he was at most merely stronger in physique. The difficult one was the Immortal [None]. Previously, Li Fan had been lurking within the newly appointed Immortal Hunters' team and had been in close proximity to him without detecting him. Clearly, his strength should be above Li Fan's. He might still be somewhat inferior to the Starving Immortal in the Immortal Ruins, but not by much. After all, he was a True Immortal who had survived the Great Tribulation until now.
"His difficulty lies entirely in the characteristic of [None], severing all connections to the world..."
"Therefore, what I need to do is forcibly establish a karmic connection with him."
In Li Fan's mind, the available means flickered through, finally settling on a chessboard filled with black and white pieces. "Immortal Realm Shards..." Li Fan's eyes gleamed. Even though what Li Fan had managed to collect were merely faded pieces of a loser, the existence of the Southern Immortal Heavenly Pillar within these pieces indicated extremely deep connections.
"I wonder if it can still be ignored, burdened by the weight of the Immortal Realm?"
With a concrete plan of action, the current problem was how to send the pieces out. All of Li Fan's current actions relied on the power of the Carefree Dream. While dream power could reconstruct his body outside the wall, it could not construct Immortal Realm Shards.
"However, the The Great Barrier is meant to restrain those below True Immortal. Perhaps it cannot restrain Immortal Realm Shards at all." After a brief period of contemplation, Li Fan vaguely found the answer. It wasn't all Immortal Realm Shards, but only one was extracted. Pulled by Li Fan's power, it arrived at a flaw in the The Great Barrier. Outside the The Great Barrier, the Carefree Dream power had been waiting for a long time to guide it. To prevent any unforeseen changes, Li Fan's main body remained fully alert, prepared to use Return to Truth at any moment.
On the fringe of the Abyssal Sea, outside the continuous Great Wall of Broken Realms, Li Fan's phantom materialized. Holding a chess piece between his right index and middle fingers, his expression was solemn. He then hurled it fiercely forward. Just as Merchant Immortal Boat had made a desperate gamble in the past, smashing into the The Great Barrier, the chess piece flew out from Li Fan's hand like a sword, heading straight for the The Great Barrier. Unlike the grand spectacle caused by Li Fan's incitement of the Profound Immortal Boat to collide with the The Great Barrier, the Immortal Realm Shard's impact was silent. From the perspective within the The Great Barrier, the chess piece seemed to be swallowed directly and vanished instantly.
And from the perspective outside the The Great Barrier... Li Fan waited for a long time but never received the Immortal Realm Shard he had thrown! His expression changed slightly. At this moment, his dream power had permeated the entire Oblivion Land. If the chess piece had appeared here after crossing the The Great Barrier, Li Fan would have certainly sensed it. Now that the chess piece was delayed... Li Fan mobilized the vast dream power he had accumulated, exploring outwards from the Oblivion Land, attempting to find his missing chess piece. However, after a long time, there was still no gain.
"Even the mark I left on the chess piece has vanished?" Li Fan's mood became somewhat somber. Recalling the events of that brief moment, he pondered, "Could it be that the Immortal Realm Shard failed to traverse the The Great Barrier?"
Within the Abyssal Sea, Li Fan searched the area where the chess piece had disappeared more carefully. No trace was found. "Could it be a change caused by the time difference between the inside and outside of the The Great Barrier? Should I wait a bit longer?" With this thought, Li Fan waited patiently again. But another day passed, and the chess piece was still nowhere to be seen.
"Could the problem lie with the The Great Barrier itself?" Within the Oblivion Land, dream power gathered near the sensed The Great Barrier. The so-called The Great Barrier had no physical form. It inexplicably appeared when the Great Dao collapsed due to the Dao Erasure Tribulation, providing a limited support for the collapsing heavens and creating a small pocket of survival in a completely destroyed area. This was the space preserved by the collapsing remnants. Li Fan stared intently at the void ahead. He suddenly recalled that when the Profound Immortal Boat, under his instigation, had made a desperate charge against the The Great Barrier, it seemed to have seen something terrifying when connecting the inside and outside of the wall, fleeing in panic. Li Fan also felt a sense of being observed, as if by something terrifying, through a transparent glass.
"Outside the The Great Barrier is the Star Sea of the North, which does not know of the existence of the Abyssal Sea within the The Great Barrier. From Qian Ruochan's ability to pass through the The Great Barrier without entering, this point is evident."
"Therefore, this inexplicable sense of dread, coupled with the mysteriously vanished chess piece..." A somewhat unbelievable thought suddenly surfaced in Li Fan's mind. "Could there be something *within* the The Great Barrier?"
In this life, Li Fan had escaped the The Great Barrier through unconventional means using the power of the Carefree Dream. But he only saw the inside and outside, not the space within. This was because the wall was formless and intangible. However, since it could support the Abyssal Sea and the surrounding Immortal Realm fragments from destruction during the Dao Erasure Tribulation, the The Great Barrier should not merely be formless laws. It was very likely an actual object, similar to the leg bone of Nameless True Immortal or the Southern Primordial Pillar. However, this physical object was hidden by some special means. Let alone Li Fan, even powerhouses like Immortal [None] and Qian Ruochan, who were close to True Immortal, could not notice it.
"But Immortal He Gan is not unfamiliar with the Xuanhuang Realm, and even has many connections with Xuanyuan Hong. Could it be that this Immortal [None] is not He Gan Immortal as I always believed?" Li Fan's doubts began to arise. However, the most crucial thing now was to determine if there truly was a space "within the wall."
Li Fan's dream power enveloped the World-Crossing Profound Coffin layer by layer. Li Fan chose to temporarily set aside the two True Immortals in the profound coffin and first deal with this unexpected matter of the space within the wall. "The Xuanhuang Realm and the surrounding vast star field were once a secret experimental site for True Immortals of the Upper Realm. Although it was later abandoned, the The Great Barrier as a protective measure should also be part of this experimental site."
"..."
Although his desire for exploration was urgent, Li Fan did not act rashly. "From the sense of being monitored that flashed through my mind earlier, there might be living beings within the wall. We must be cautious."
"Also, this The Great Barrier might have selective interception. After all, Heavenly Sword Sect and Merchant Immortal Boat truly leaped over the wall. Or perhaps, they discovered something *within* the wall?" Considering these two, their strength was not particularly top-tier in the star sea. Yet, after leaping over the The Great Barrier, they suddenly possessed the ability to hunt True Immortals. Even with a time difference, the accumulation of millions of years seemed somewhat unbelievable.
"If they discovered something within the wall, in the ruins of the Immortal Realm's experimental site, then this would make sense." At this thought, Li Fan became genuinely curious about the space "within the wall." The lost Immortal Realm Shard that he could recall with Return to Truth was not worth dwelling on.
"However, being within the Immortal Realm Shard and crashing into the The Great Barrier might be a good method."
"This matter is of great importance, and I must handle it personally." Li Fan's main body pondered for a moment and then made his decision. With a thought, the various materials for creating a clone appeared before him. It was the long-lost art of forging a clone. He had been in the Immortal Realm for some time. After understanding Mind Manifesting Soul Transformation and touching upon the secrets of the Northern Star Sea's The Dao Lattice, Li Fan had new ideas regarding the method of refining clones.
"Qian Ruochan's Dao String bones are an example worth imitating."
"For this exploration within the wall, this clone's strength cannot be weak." Li Fan's mind stirred, and the various materials seemed to be baked by intense heat, instantly fusing together. A human body began to vaguely take shape.
"The projection of the Great Dao can serve as the spirit of the mind." The human body suddenly turned transparent, like a mirror reflecting the myriad Great Daos. Dao light condensed, weaving a network within the body.
"Immortal Realm Shards can serve as the bones of the body." Li Fan murmured, throwing an Immortal Realm Shard. The Immortal Realm Shard continuously unfolded, transforming into a stone pillar-like entity, slowly integrating into the The Dao Lattice.
A tiny chess piece could evolve into a fragment of an immortal realm. At its core, this was because the so-called chess piece was actually a superposition of countless True Immortal Sigilss. True Immortal Sigilss themselves were one of the methods True Immortals used to interpret the Great Dao.
Previously, when the Mystic Immortal Boat obtained a fragment of an immortal realm chess piece, it had shaped it into the external armor of the Immortal Boat. But now, with Li Fan's continuous urging, the chess piece he threw, attached to a projection of a The Dao Lattice within his mind, unfolded and flowed, transforming into a humanoid body.
However, even at this stage, it was still a body without a soul. The miniature The Dao Lattice and the immortal realm fragment were all external objects. The connection to Li Fan's main body was too weak.
Therefore…
Li Fan's true body forcefully tapped his own brow.
The force of his finger seemed to pierce through his entire being. A portion of his divine soul, along with flesh and bone, was directly blasted out.
Outside Li Fan's main body, a thin but crimson afterimage took shape.
Enduring a wave of dizziness, Li Fan directed a part of his body to fly into the figure that had been refined from the The Dao Lattice projection and the immortal realm fragment.
Relying on his familiarity with these two elements, Li Fan, with some difficulty, controlled and almost forcibly stuffed the bloody afterimage into the figure.
This refinement was not merely creating a clone. It also referenced and learned from the methods used by Skilled Artisan previously to craft the Sacred Punishment Puppet and True Yang's process of achieving the Immortal Puppet.
It was less of a clone and more of a perfect fusion of a clone and the embodiment of the Dao.
Moreover, because the materials used in this refinement were extremely powerful, Li Fan was somewhat concerned that the clone might lose control, leading to a repeat of the scene with the former Sacred Emperor Li Ping. From the beginning of the refinement, Li Fan had set the tone for this powerful clone:
It would possess no self-emotions. It would merely act in absolute accordance with Li Fan's commands. If it encountered any obstruction, it would kill them. If the opponent was too strong, it would temporarily retreat, follow discreetly, and seek a solution…
In short, the clone puppet was designed as an emotionless execution machine. Its mission was singular: to thoroughly investigate the secrets within the High Wall. It even had a directive to self-destruct upon mission completion.
The Dao Lattice projection was a reflection of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth, while True Immortal Sigilss were literal portrayals of the Great Dao. Between the two, there was already a strong connection. The bloody afterimage Li Fan separated from his own body was filled with his understanding of the Great Dao. Using this as a bonding point, he slowly merged the three into one.
"The clone's mind mirrors the The Dao Lattice, and its body is formed from the Great Dao. Upon its birth, it has already achieved a minor success in the realm of Mind Manifesting Soul Transformation and Flesh Nascent Soul."
"In terms of combat power alone, it will likely surpass mine…"
As this powerful puppet gradually took shape, a powerful alternate self was slowly pulling Li Fan towards itself, like a reflection in water reaching out to drag him in.
It was like a child holding a heavy sword. Had this clone puppet appeared before Li Fan infiltrated the Northern Star Sea and came into contact with the The Dao Lattice, it would likely have surpassed Li Fan's control and usurped his position.
But now…
Li Fan's expression was calm as he issued command after command on the The Dao Lattice.
The Dao Lattice projection within the clone puppet immediately pulsed with flashing light, as if responding to Li Fan's movements.
The puppet was thus slowly subdued, its imposing aura completely restrained, and it stood in quiet stillness.
Li Fan's actions, seemingly effortless, were in fact backed by countless years of research on the The Dao Lattice within the Northern Star Sea. Li Fan had merely adapted it for his own use, applying it to the The Dao Lattice projection within his mind.
Compared to the vast The Dao Lattice covering the entire Northern Star Sea, the one within Li Fan's divine sense was exceedingly weak. However, it already possessed the basic characteristics of a "The Dao Lattice."
Coupled with the support of a powerful physical body, it was not difficult for this clone puppet to rival a True Immortal.
"Even better, the clone puppet contains no Immortal Spiritual Energy. It is a creation of Dao laws. If deliberately concealed within Heaven and Earth, it would be as traceless as ice melting into water. It would be like an ordinary object colliding with the High Wall, not treated specially and directly released beyond the wall."
With his own power, guiding and manipulating a miniature The Dao Lattice was no easy feat. Even with Li Fan's current divine sense strength, he had to dedicate eight or nine-tenths of his attention to control the clone puppet.
"Actually, letting go for a moment wouldn't be much of an issue. I just need to bring it back under the The Dao Lattice's control in time. During this period, it will still act according to the mission objectives I've set. It just can't be left in a state of freedom for too long…"
"Otherwise, stray thoughts will inevitably arise!"
Li Fan understood this clearly.
One after another The Dao Lattice commands wove into threads, firmly tying the puppet clone.
Like a giant beast controlled by Li Fan's silken threads.
"Heaven and Earth are not benevolent; they treat all things as straw dogs."
"You need not consider the myriad things in this world, only act according to my commands."
"I shall call you…"
"Li Buren!"
With the final command issued, all the threads converged into the clone's mind's The Dao Lattice, becoming invisible to ordinary means.
Li Fan felt a peculiar connection form between himself and Li Buren, who stood before him.
It was more distant than a pure flesh-and-blood clone.
But far more intimate than a puppet controlled purely by thought.
Li Buren's expression was like that of ten thousand years of ice, devoid of any emotional fluctuations.
His eyes completely inherited Li Fan's truest thoughts, his genuine disregard for all beings in Heaven and Earth. Even Li Fan himself trembled slightly when meeting his gaze.
Around Li Buren's body, his aura was imperceptible, as if he were part of Heaven and Earth itself. Though bearing the weight of the Great Dao, he was as light as a fleeting swallow.
If one hadn't seen him with their own eyes, even if he were right beside them, one wouldn't notice. But once seen, it would be unforgettable, and a primal fear would surge from the depths of one's heart, becoming a persistent, terrifying shadow.
Li Fan did not wish to linger with this pure instrument of destruction.
"You may go," he said simply.
Li Buren's figure transformed into a sword and vanished into the Xuanhuang Realm in an instant.
Three breaths passed.
He had already traversed the entire Abyssal Sea and arrived at the foot of the High Wall.
The Great Dao had taken form, drifting within the Great Dao. It was like a fish swimming in water.
His speed was dozens of times faster than Li Fan's own sword-遁 escape technique.
Facing the invisible High Wall before him, Li Buren showed no hesitation.
He charged straight into it.
From the moment he began his action to the moment he collided with the wall, Li Buren's entire being remained like a statue, without the slightest change. It was as if this life-or-death matter had nothing to do with him.
"He didn't appear on the other side of the wall…"
"It seems the theory of a wall within the wall is true!" Li Fan's true body, lingering in the Xuanhuang Realm, combined with the dream power from outside the wall to search and verify, had preliminarily obtained the answer he was looking for.
After a while, the image from Li Buren's perspective slowly materialized.
"Fortunately, this High Wall cannot completely sever the connection between Great Daos."
Li Fan strained to sense Li Buren's encounters.
Since Li Buren's own consciousness fluctuations had been suppressed by Li Fan to the absolute minimum, despite the ordeal of passing through the High Wall, he himself had no psychological reactions.
He merely acted as Li Fan's "camera," observing the scene within the wall on his behalf.
It was a peculiar world where there was no "sky."
Above, one saw the reflection of the ground below.
But as Li Buren stood on the ground, the mirror-like sky did not reflect him.
This was not due to Li Buren's invisibility trait.
It was because…
Li Buren did not belong to this world!
Sensing the intrusion of an outsider, this world abruptly changed.
The sky and the earth trembled, moving towards each other with a roar.
As they converged, they sought to crush the intruder who had suddenly breached their realm.
Li Buren simply thrust his right hand straight upwards.
His arm instantly expanded like a celestial pillar, forcibly propping up the converging sky and earth.
The mirror-like sky continued to press down, but was unable to advance, emitting creaking sounds. Where the sky met the celestial pillar, layers were shattered due to the immense pressure.
However, behind the shattered mirror surface, there was no spatial escape to the outside.
Instead, there was another mirror surface!
Li Buren supported the sky and earth with his right arm, but his body separated from his arm and quickly roamed through the space, searching for an exit.
But the place seemed boundless.
Even with Li Buren's terrifyingly fast flight speed, he flew for half a day without finding any boundary.
It was as if the boundary of this world expanded outwards with his movement.
However, as Li Buren flew, he recorded all the details of the world's scenery in his mind, and found no repeated patterns.
Li Buren returned to the spot where his right arm was supporting the sky, then grasped the celestial pillar with his left hand.
With a slight exertion.
It was as if he were grasping a giant club and pulling it with force. The celestial pillar tilted, tearing open a rift in the sky.
Li Buren, holding the celestial pillar with his left hand, swung it continuously.
With a whistling sound, the mirror-like sky was instantly smashed to smithereens.
He even took a deep breath and swallowed all the shattered mirror fragments that were falling from the sky.
The Dao Lattice projection in his mind flickered successively, analyzing the composition of this mirror-like sky.
"The Dao is the curtain, blinding the eyes of all beings."
"The exit is ahead."
Li Buren simply stated his conclusion, without any extraneous thought.
Like a giant in a creation myth splitting the heavens and earth, Li Buren held the giant pillar, his body rapidly expanding.
In just a moment, he surpassed the inverted mirror-sky.
Then, without regard for anything else, he continued to grow towards the sky beyond the sky.
Using his head as a hammer, he shattered layer after layer of mirror surfaces.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
When the final layer of disguise was broken, Li Buren leaped out.
His body had returned to its normal size, and he cautiously surveyed his surroundings.
"No signs of living creatures."
"No fluctuations of Dao energy."
"Temporarily safe."
He looked back at where he had just emerged; it was a transparent sculpture, like glass. Due to being pierced and shattered, its original appearance could not be clearly discerned.
Around it, there were seventeen other sculptures placed together.
"There should be a total of eighteen here."
"One is missing."
"Of the remaining sixteen, five have been shattered. The rest are completely intact."
As always, Li Buren performed a calm analysis.
He flickered to the nearest intact transparent sculpture.
"Beyond a certain limit, it cannot be seen clearly. One must approach the statue to see its appearance, and the world within the statue."
"It is not due to a formation's restriction…"
"But rather a rule of this place."
Li Buren observed indifferently, as if the miniature The Dao Lattice had materialized in his eyes. He reached out his hand into the air and gently stroked it.
Within the The Dao Lattice, new lights suddenly appeared.
It was a Dao law that had not been present in the miniature The Dao Lattice before.
Li Buren now perceived it, captured it, and merged it into his own The Dao Lattice projection.
A moment later, the light in Li Buren's eyes extinguished.
In his vision, the eleven previously unclear transparent sculptures now all revealed themselves clearly.
They were clearly many people with different appearances.
Or rather, Immortals!
"Each sculpture contains a certain Heavenly Dao."
"It should be the Dao cultivated by the Immortal within the sculpture."
Li Buren approached the sculpture in front of him and sensed the aura of the Dao related to "Guard" from it.
However, this Dao was already recorded in his The Dao Lattice projection, so Li Buren ignored it.
He merely brought his eyes close to peer into the scene within the transparent sculpture.
If Li Fan's true body were present and witnessed this, his heart would surely race and he would be shocked.
But Li Buren's brow did not even furrow. He met the gaze of the wide-open eyes he saw: "A corpse."
"The corpse of a True Immortal."
Li Buren withdrew his gaze and moved to the other transparent sculptures.
He also approached and observed closely.
Within each sculpture, he saw the corpse of a True Immortal.
"The Dao they cultivated were all different."
"Not the same True Immortal."
"The place where I came from did not have the corpse of a True Immortal…"
Stopping before the last transparent sculpture, Li Buren did not hesitate much.
He punched the face of the sculpture.
The sculpture remained motionless.
Not even a tremor was produced.
Li Buren's punch, capable of shattering the Xuanhuang Realm, vanished like a clay ox entering the sea, completely resisted.
But Li Buren was persistent.
Punch after punch.
The characters that appeared on his body like tattoos were symbols formed by distorted True Immortal Sigilss.
"It seems unharmed."
"But every strike I make, a small portion of the sculpture's Dao law aura is drawn to my body."
"This is an exchange, one gains, one loses."
"It is effective."
Li Buren continued to punch, unceasingly.
The formerly transparent sculpture became even more "faint."
It shifted from a glassy state to being composed of water.
Finally, under Li Buren's steady assault, it crumbled and scattered.
However, strangely, the True Immortal corpse that Li Buren had seen earlier did not fall out as the sculpture shattered.
Instead, fragments scattered on the ground.
Just like the scene when Li Buren had broken free earlier.
"The True Immortal corpse I saw was not a True Immortal's corpse."
"Rather, it was the crystallization of a True Immortal's comprehension of Dao laws during their lifetime."
"Although the True Immortal has perished, these comprehensions were preserved by someone, in some way."
Li Buren picked up a fragment and put it in his mouth.
After carefully chewing, he gave his judgment.
"It is beneficial to me."
Then, with a wide opening of his mouth, he swallowed all the fragments of Dao law comprehension in the area.
Li Buren's projection of the The Dao Lattice in his mind seemed to become clearer.
The hasty gulping in a short period did not cause indigestion. The insights from the fallen True Immortal, coupled with the powerful tolerance of Li Buren's unique physique, allowed him to accept the True Immortal’s enlightenment here almost completely unharmed.
"There are only these transparent statues standing in this space. Furthermore, the boundaries of space do not have the concept of 'front'. There is no road ahead, much like the The Great Barriers of the starry sea."
Li Buren followed suit, smashing all the remaining transparent statues in this place. After devouring them all, he intended to break free from the constraints of this space again.
Before crossing over and leaving, Li Buren sensed that the eighteen statues here had not truly disappeared.
Even though it seemed he had eaten them all, the source of the True Immortal's enlightenment that caused the statues to generate still existed.
"Given enough time, it should be able to return to its original state."
"However, it will take at least tens of thousands of years."
The light vanished, and darkness once again enveloped his vision. By the time Li Buren could see again, he was already in a square space.
Looking around, he saw square spaces in all directions, above and below. They seemed within reach, yet also as if they were at the edge of the world. Most of these square spaces were utterly silent. The remaining ones flickered intermittently, radiating an eerie, strange light. Only a very few square spaces stably emitted a faint glow.
Looking at everything before him, Li Buren fell into deep thought.
"These square spaces bear some resemblance to the cages used to imprison True Immortals in the depths of the Star Sea The Dao Lattice."
"The reason why it appeared as pure black when observed from the outside..."
Li Buren then looked at the areas where light flickered, for comparison.
After a moment, he nodded slightly: "All signs of life have vanished, it's a dead zone. There's no need to observe it further."
"As for those areas that flicker on and off, they are..."
He reached out, attempting to touch and feel. After a long while, even though his self-awareness was suppressed to an extreme low, Li Buren still frowned slightly: "The original observation system has been damaged and is presenting an incorrect state. And the culprit causing the observation to fail..."
"The Tribulation of Dao Erasure!"
Li Buren withdrew his hand. Even though he was still separated by the boundary of the square space and only touched it from afar, his finger seemed to have been smoked black, appearing as a bizarre charcoal-like substance.
In the pitch darkness, laws were annihilated, and the Dao was no longer the Dao.
Li Buren exerted a slight force, and the blackened fingertip turned into ashes, scattering upwards and disappearing into this space.
"Just by getting close to the Tribulation of Dao Erasure, my Immortal Realm body uncontrollably turned to ash."
"..."
"However, those square boundaries are like dikes, temporarily holding back the erosion of the Tribulation of Dao Erasure."
As he mused, the severed finger regrew. Li Buren stared intently at the boundaries of the square space, trying to penetrate their mysteries.
But his efforts yielded little.
He then turned his attention to the dozen or so areas in this space that were faintly glowing.
After some observation, Li Buren concluded: "The star sea here shows no signs of abundant life. Its condition is roughly the same as the Abyssal Star Sea..."
"Even the True Immortal Sigils left by some immortal is still rampant."
Li Buren carefully examined all the light points.
"None of these are the Abyssal Star Sea where the Xuanhuang Realm is located. They are all unfamiliar starry skies..."
Li Buren couldn't help but look down at his own location.
Or rather, the small squares that were identical to the thousands of surrounding spaces.
"Breaking through the The Great Barriers and shattering the eighteen True Immortal statues finally allowed me to break through the veil of the Dao and arrive here."
"But what I see before me is not from the perspective of an 'observer', but I am still within the cage."
"So, the star sea where the Xuanhuang Realm is located is just one of these myriad square cages..."
Looking at the countless squares around him that should have been simultaneously shining with vibrant light, Li Buren was momentarily lost in thought.
However, his self-awareness was naturally faint, and he quickly recovered from the shock and began to ponder.
"If that's the case, the The Great Barriers are not just blocking off one star sea."
"It's just that all these star seas exist in a parallel, juxtaposed manner, unable to see each other..."
Suddenly, the scene flashed in Li Buren's mind of Qian Ruochang finding another Ascension Platform in the ruins not far from the The Great Barriers.
"No wonder there are two Ascension Platform ruins even though they are not far apart."
"It's because this star sea has already been divided and overlapped, completely confined within the The Great Barriers!"
"Indeed, these are methods unimaginable to mortals. Even I would have to expend great effort to destroy all these star seas, let alone meticulously gathering them like cubes."
Li Buren was not awed by the magnificent spectacle, which seemed to use the starry sky as a testing ground, but calmly analyzed it.
"Such a grand display, using the starry sky as a testing ground."
"...What exactly are they experimenting with?"
"How can one reach the true core area?"
"I am not the first person to cross the The Great Barriers. Before me, the Mystic Immortal Boat, the Heavenly Sword Sect, and others have successfully escaped beyond its walls. How did they escape from this cage?"
"I haven't found any traces of them."
"Or perhaps, they did not come to this space?"
Li Buren looked down at his Immortal Realm body.
"Perhaps it is precisely because of this special body that I have entered this area. Different people, with different methods of crossing, will have different outcomes..."
Even the Tribulation of Dao Erasure can be temporarily resisted. The square boundaries in this experimental field are definitely not something the current Li Buren can break.
He did not stubbornly pursue it; instead, he turned back to where he came from.
In the small space where the eighteen statues were located.
He searched again meticulously.
"In the Xuanhuang Realm, when mortals are infected by the Celestial-Mortal Miasma, cultivators move mortals into small worlds or grotto-heavens and seal them with the Immortal Execution Great Formation. The trials within the formation are impossible for mortals to overcome. Similarly, to ensure the confinement of the experimental subjects in this experimental ground, it is necessary to do what is absolutely impossible to prevent them from doing. This ensures that only the leader of this experiment, or in other words, the immortals, can go to the true core."
Although he still found nothing, Li Buren had a vague guess.
"The difference between immortals and mortals is, first, in power. Second, in infinitude."
"I am a body of the Immortal Realm, and my power already meets the requirements. This is why I can easily break through the veil of the Dao and see the reality of the experiment. But without satisfying the nature of infinitude, I ultimately cannot enter the core area..."
"The Infinite Sea."
After figuring out the key node, Li Buren did not waste time. He temporarily rushed back from the The Great Barriers.
He returned to the Xuanhuang Realm and brought the Key Stone Slab of the Dao, replicated from the Immortal Realm's Ascension Platform, left by the former Heavenly Mysteries King.
Then, he returned in an instant.
"A single stone slab is not enough."
"To access the Infinite Sea requires three conditions."
"The immortal spiritual power belonging exclusively to a True Immortal. The Ascension Platform, an access route from the Immortal Realm. And the top-secret script held by the Guardian Celestial Officials."
"The stone slab was replicated by the Heavenly Mysteries King from the Ascension Platform."
"Qian Ruochang of the Star Sea pretended to be a Guardian Celestial Official to lure and capture the Nameless Immortal. I have also mastered that True Immortal Sigils."
"The only thing missing now is immortal spiritual power. Masterless immortal spiritual power."
...
Li Buren's thoughts surged, while his main body in the Xuanhuang Realm had already made preparations.
"If Scholar Zhu hadn't been so generous before, this would probably have caused a lot more trouble."
Not far outside the The Great Barriers, where the World-Crossing Profound Coffin and a group of Immortal Hunters slumbered.
Ma Tiande, who was also sleeping soundly, suddenly had his fingertip covered by a piece of skin that did not belong to him.
It lasted only a brief moment before quickly disappearing without a trace.
However, a wisp of immortal Spirit Qi, through the invisible The Dao Lattice, traversed space and arrived at Li Buren's body.
At the same time, the two immortals trapped within the Profound Coffin seemed to have sensed something. The long-silent coffin emitted faint, subtle fluctuations, but in the end, they vanished. The two immortals did not speak again.
Within the The Great Barriers, in the place where the eighteen statues used to be.
The appearance of immortal Spirit Qi seemed to have triggered something.
The surrounding high-wall-like boundaries rippled like water. The hidden object behind them was about to reveal its true form.
But perhaps it was only a wisp of immortal Spirit Qi, not the True Immortal's main body personally present. A series of ripples and fluctuations continued, but they could not completely open it.
Li Buren knew he still had to act himself. So, he no longer hesitated. Seizing the moment when the immortal Spirit Qi was still present, he frantically wrote on the Key Stone Slab of the Dao.
It was as if Qian Ruochang had possessed him before.
Even the movements and the time required for each stroke were identical.
Soon, using the immortal Spirit Qi as ink, that mysterious symbol shone on the Key Stone Slab of the Dao.
Although there was no magnificent celestial light or auspicious beasts appearing, a mysterious power suddenly emanated from the stone slab. It would be inaccurate to say this power came from the Key Stone Slab of the Dao, because the slab only opened a passage.
A path leading to the Infinite Sea.
Caught off guard, his divine soul felt as if it were being sucked into a huge, surging vortex. Every splash of water beside him seemed to contain endless, brilliant starry skies.
Countless scenes flashed before his eyes, as if he had experienced trillions of years in an instant.
Such an enormous amount of information, although only a forced and superficial taste, was still a devastating disaster for the living beings immersed in it.
Fortunately, it was the clone puppet whose self-awareness was completely suppressed that accessed the Infinite Sea this time. If Li Fan's main body had rashly fallen in and been baptized by these drops of water from the Infinite Sea, even with the benefit of Return to Truth, the severe damage to his divine soul would have been difficult to recover from in a short time.
Qiao Sidao was trapped in the "Era" device, experiencing countless cycles of reincarnation.
And everything he experienced was not even enough to form a drop of water in this Infinite Sea.
"My thoughts are attached to the The Dao Lattice, and I can barely hold on, but not for long."
"It's completely different from the situation before, when I entered the Infinite Sea wearing True Immortal skin!"
"After all, this is only one stone slab from the Ascension Platform, not the entire Ascension Platform. Waves like these are definitely not something a newly ascended immortal can withstand. It's probably missing the corresponding protective components..." The scene of Qian Ruochang using the Ascension Platform to seal immortals flashed in Li Buren's mind.
Imbued with the light and data of the Infinite Sea, the miniature The Dao Lattice on which Li Buren's divine sense relied was also struggling.
As if struck by the Tribulation of Dao Erasure, the edges of the The Dao Lattice were submerged by endless waves and ceased to exist.
The Dao Lattice gradually collapsed.
The Infinite Sea was about to engulf him.
However, Li Buren had no intention of retreating.
He was created precisely to explore the secrets within the The Great Barriers. And to explore the secrets of the The Great Barriers, one must first access the Infinite Sea and achieve the body of a True Immortal.
To achieve this goal, life and death could be disregarded.
"This scene of the Infinite Sea swallowing the The Dao Lattice..."
"It's surprisingly similar to the sudden arrival of the Tribulation of Dao Erasure, swallowing everything?"
As his consciousness gradually blurred, a question suddenly arose in Li Buren's mind.
At the moment of inspiration, the power of the Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul from his main body, using the The Dao Lattice which only had a faint glimmer of light remaining, arrived belatedly.
The remaining light of the The Dao Lattice, enveloped by the power of the Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul, suddenly calmed the surging waves of the Infinite Sea.
As if it had lost its target.
The vortex subsided and turned into a boundless ocean.
Once again, Li Fan saw the legendary Infinite Sea.
Except this time, instead of relying on True Immortal skin, he personally passed through the vortex using his clone puppet to descend!
On the boundless Infinite Sea, it seemed that no new True Immortals had visited for a long time.
It was terrifyingly calm.
But occasionally, vortices would inexplicably appear on the sea surface, stirring up some water.
Li Buren, or rather Li Fan.
In these splashing drops of water, he vaguely saw countless lights and shadows.
These were accumulated eons longer than the trillions of years he had experienced in the vortex before.
And this was just a negligible drop in the ocean.
Li Fan looked around, the Infinite Sea was boundless.
He didn't know how much history and how many living beings had converged here.
Words could not describe even a fraction of its grandeur. Li Fan wandered within it, lost in thought.
Individuals, True Immortals, the Nameless, and even those who transcended possibilities.
Before such a creation, their existence seemed to lose its meaning.
Time seemed to stand still, and his thoughts seemed to be completely frozen.
He didn't know how much time had passed.
Within Li Fan's main body, the fluctuation from Return to Truth awoke him.
It was a very strange emotion.
It seemed like joy.
It seemed like nostalgia.
There was also sadness.
And indignation.
The mingling of myriad emotions made it difficult for Li Fan to discern if Return to Truth was expressing joy, anger, sorrow, or fear.
And the tranquility of the Infinite Sea was quietly broken.
Beneath the water, a terrifying deep-sea giant beast seemed to be silently awakening.
The entire sea surface was stirred.
As if boiling, waves began to surge.
The terrifying power brought by the collision of water droplets even caused the concealment of the Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul to gradually fail.
Like a thin life jacket in a storm and towering waves, it was utterly useless.
The Dao Lattice, attached to his divine sense, was precarious.
It was about to completely dissipate.
The next moment...
Li Buren inexplicably detached from the Infinite Sea.
Everything he had seen before seemed like an illusion.
But...
Li Buren raised his right hand.
Although he did not summon immortal Spirit Qi, Li Buren knew that as long as he wished, he could communicate with the Infinite Sea at any time and summon endless power.
But he dared not.
Early update today.
For Li Buren, a creation of pure destruction, the emotion of "fear" was virtually nonexistent.
His reluctance to use his limitless power stemmed from "instinct."
The moment he conceived of using the boundless immortal Spirit Qi, Li Buren's vision was once again filled with the sight of the boundless, endless Sea.
Titanic waves, each carrying the weight of trillions of years, would surge through the passage he opened to the Sea of Immortals, submerging all things in the world, even the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth. Nothing in the mortal realm could survive.
This indescribable pressure, even with the object of his desire within reach, made Li Buren unable to press that invisible "button."
Besides the pressure of the magnificent Sea of Immortals itself, what concerned Li Buren even more was the terrifying existence hidden beneath the Sea, unseen. Merely the ripples of their thoughts, stirred by sensing the Return to Truth, could create tempests in the Sea of Immortals.
Since returning to reality, Li Fan had been trying to communicate with the Return to Truth, seeking more information about the Sea of Immortals, but had received no response.
Fortunately, what somewhat reassured Li Fan was that the Return to Truth's power seemed unaffected in real-time; he could still unleash it with a mere thought. The Return to Truth was likely just in a bad mood and unwilling to respond.
However, the glimpses he had caught during this brief journey into the Sea of Immortals forced Li Fan to consider many things.
For instance, the fact that the Sea of Immortals seemed deeply connected to the Tribulation of Dao Erasure.
And, that the Return to Truth likely had immense origins with the Sea of Immortals, and was, furthermore, an old acquaintance of the terrifying unknown existences hidden beneath it.
"Virtualize everything, and return to the initial anchor point."
"Has that Sea of Immortals, located above all the boundless worlds, also been rolled back..."
A profound, yet unavoidable reality suddenly appeared before Li Fan.
Throughout his journey of cultivation, as Li Fan's cultivation realm improved, his understanding of the Return to Truth's abilities had also deepened. From seemingly being somewhat strained when facing True Immortals, to being able to spontaneously create separate time stream fragments called [Eternal Samsara], it seemed as if there was no end to the Return to Truth's capabilities.
But today, after borrowing means left by the former Immortal Realm to ascend and connect to the Sea of Immortals, Li Fan finally seemed to have glimpsed the limits of the Return to Truth.
"The terrifying existences hidden beneath the Sea of Immortals seem to be old acquaintances of Return to Truth. If they are beings of the same caliber, then Return to Truth's power of reversal might not be able to affect them."
"But to verify this, I would need to enter the Sea of Immortals again in my next life. However..."
A trace of gloom flashed in Li Fan's eyes.
This was the first time since he began his cycle of reincarnation cultivation that he had to face enemies who, like him, could step outside the cycle of reincarnation. Especially the experience of nearly "drowning" in the Sea of Immortals, which suddenly filled Li Fan with a sense of pressure.
Furthermore, the performance of Return to Truth in the Sea of Immortals, those few powers that transcended everything in the mortal realm, made Li Fan think of the legends about the Creator God that he had once heard from Liu Ruchen.
"A powerful Creator God defeated its peers and extracted their power to evolve all living beings..."
Liu Ruchen claimed he had seen this legend in an ancient book.
Li Fan had indeed searched Liu Ruchen's soul before and found this ancient book in his memories. However, when the Medicine King Sect fled the Xuanhuang Realm in haste, it was not considered an important item, so it was not taken. It had since disappeared.
"This legend of the Creator God is not spread or recorded elsewhere in the Xuanhuang Realm."
"It is reasonable to suspect that the so-called ancient book might be Sun Piaomiao's personal notes..."
"Liu Ruchen only casually flipped through this book. Besides the legend of the Creator God, he only read another fable about a conversation between a mountain and a sea." Li Fan recalled what Liu Ruchen had seen back then.
In the beginning of ancient times, there was only mountains and seas in the world. They surrounded each other, supporting one another. Initially, the mountains and seas were quite harmonious, until one day, life suddenly began to gestate within the sea.
This was an existence fundamentally different from the mountains and seas, adding much vitality to the sea and naturally attracting the sea's attention.
At first, the Mountain didn't pay much mind.
The lifespan of beings born in the sea was finite. But mountains and seas existed forever, eternally undying. Compared to the nearly endless years of mountains and seas, the sea creatures were destined to be mere fleeting visitors.
But as time passed, the Mountain was astonished to discover that the number of sea creatures had not decreased. On the contrary, they had become even more prosperous. Upon investigation, the Mountain was shocked to find that it was because the Sea could not bear to see the creatures die one after another, and thus shared its endless lifespan with them.
The Mountain was greatly enraged: "Sea! Why did you do this! These little things, by what right do they deserve to enjoy the same infinite lifespan as us?"
The Sea, however, gently retorted: "Mountain, why can't I do this? Both you and I can exist in this world forever. Even if we share our lifespan with them, it will not weaken us in the slightest. Isn't it better for this place between mountains and seas to be more lively?"
The Mountain was rendered speechless for a moment.
It observed the creatures evolving in the sea and then sighed: "Sea, it's not that I am stingy. It's just that once these little things grasp something that doesn't originally belong to them, they will instinctively crave more."
The Sea countered again: "What belongs, and what doesn't belong? Is our infinite lifespan inherent?"
The Mountain finally fell silent.
...
"It seems to be a simple allegorical story. But if combined with the one about the Creator God, and coupled with what I saw in the Sea of Immortals, there might be another mystery. Sun Piaomiao..."
Li Fan pondered for a moment and decided to find that lost ancient book.
However, when the entire Medicine King Sect fled back then, their act was deemed treasonous by the Ten Sects. The sect was quickly ransacked and looted. In the chaos of that time, no one knew where that ancient book had gone. It might have been burned to ashes.
Li Fan first summoned the Stone Slab.
Although the Stone Slab claimed to record all events that occurred in the Xuanhuang Realm, Li Fan knew that it was limited to the original Xuanhuang Realm. Furthermore, transcendent powers like the Fishing Pond could not be recorded by the Stone Slab.
So, he did not hold out much hope.
As expected, the ancient book from Liu Ruchen's memories was not found.
However, with Li Fan's current control over the Xuanhuang Realm, as long as this book still existed within the Xuanhuang Realm, it would definitely be found.
There was no need for Li Fan to handle it himself. With just an order issued, the cultivators of the Myriad Immortals Alliance and the Five Elders Council, awakened from their dreams, began rummaging through their own collections.
Li Fan's attention temporarily returned to his clone, the puppet Li Buren.
Although he had not activated his immortal Spirit Qi, Li Buren, having returned from the Sea of Immortals, now possessed the attribute of "limitless."
Coupled with a wisp of immortal Spirit Qi transmitted by the Immortal Skin, which still remained.
It was as if he had passed some kind of verification.
What was originally a confined area, like an invisible barrier resembling a The Great Barrier, suddenly manifested physically in an instant and folded backward.
This was a peculiar visual change, difficult to articulate.
Li Buren felt that this small space was rapidly expanding in all directions.
And, as the volume of space increased, a diagonally upward staircase gradually appeared in a position that had not existed before.
The expansion of space seemed endless, and the staircase that appeared before Li Buren also seemed to extend upward indefinitely.
Its end was nowhere in sight.
Li Buren did not rashly step onto the staircase, but first surveyed his surroundings.
The space here did not extend infinitely like the staircase. Instead, after expanding to a certain limit, it gradually exhibited a peculiar curvature. Although it was still expanding, the rate at which its volume increased had significantly decreased.
The space gradually filled up, but besides this faintly silver-glowing staircase leading to the heavens, there was nothing else.
To uncover the true secret of the The Great Barrier, Li Buren finally stepped onto the staircase.
The next second, Li Buren felt as if he had returned to the Sea of Immortals.
Lines were rushing forward at high speed in all directions. The lines were sometimes solitary, sometimes gathered together. Some were merely simple gray and white, while others were colorful and dazzling scenes.
Li Buren tried to touch these lines and discovered that they were like the seawater of the Sea of Immortals, storing vast amounts of historical and living being information.
However, the sheer amount of data was not on the same scale as the actual Sea of Immortals. Li Buren could withstand it without any pressure.
Moreover, the information within the lines was somehow encrypted. Li Buren could only glimpse vague shadows from them.
Immersed in the torrent of lines, he sped forward.
Not long after, Li Buren emerged from it.
He arrived at the entrance of a dim, faintly deathly-smelling passage.
The door sealing the passage had, inexplicably, been blasted open with a large hole. Four broken puppets lay fallen by the door.
Spare parts from the puppets were scattered all around.
Li Buren looked back at his origin, realizing that this was the end of the passage's entrance.
"Beyond lies limitlessness."
"If you wish to leave, you must again use the method of traversing through lines just now."
Li Buren looked at the puppets lying on the ground not far away.
Although they had been damaged for an unknown number of years, Li Buren could still feel a faint threat from them.
He reached out and picked up a piece of debris from the ground. Li Buren exerted his full strength, but could not completely crush it, only causing further damage.
"The materials used to forge these puppets are not ordinary."
Without choosing to entangle himself with these gate-guarding puppets, Li Buren's figure flickered, and he entered the passage.
"Hmm?"
As he flew, Li Buren acutely sensed the difference between this place and the external sea of stars.
In the mundane sea of stars, he integrated with the The Dao Lattice and traveled along it, crossing the Abyssal Star Sea in just three breaths.
But this place seemed to be a perilous land where the Great Dao was not apparent.
His connection with the The Dao Lattice seemed to be blocked by an invisible barrier, making it much more difficult.
In his divine sense, the shining projection of the The Dao Lattice instantly dimmed. Only some specific pathways were unaffected. It was as if the complete The Dao Lattice had been incinerated, leaving only a few remnants.
Li Buren's speed of flight was greatly reduced by this. Even the combat power he could exert was significantly diminished.
But he was not anxious.
Instead, he became interested in studying this dimly lit passage. To him, merely seeing this place was already worthwhile.
"In front of the Law Enforcement Hall of the Myriad Immortals Alliance, a long road paved with Spirit-Dissolving Stones. Within the range of the long road, Spirit Qi is forbidden. Cultivators cannot fly and can only walk with their feet."
"This passage has a similar effect. However, the object of restriction is not ordinary cultivators, but True Immortals who have attained enlightenment!"
"Moreover, it's not just this passage, but all the structures here."
The cleared passage Li Buren walked through also had no physical boundaries. It only had conceptual restrictions similar to The Great Barriers.
Forcing those who entered to proceed only in a specific direction.
"Originally, there should have been images on the walls of this passage. But it seems to be damaged and not displayed."
The passage was not long. As he reached the exit, Li Buren suddenly looked back, a feeling coming to him.
After this, there were no further complications. He walked out of a dark, circular opening that emitted a faint light.
A cluttered, cylindrical hollow hall appeared before Li Buren.
The cylindrical hall was lofty, its top out of sight.
It appeared somewhat empty, as if it had suffered some pillage.
Li Buren followed the faint scent of death he had sensed earlier and found a cleaned trace on the ground.
"What is this..."
He rubbed his finger on the ground and brought it before his eyes. A illusory and distorted face manifested.
Screaming and howling, "Save me!"
It was merely a surviving remnant, re-ignited by Li Buren's immortal power. He could not communicate with it; it could only mechanically repeat words like "Save me!" and "Escape quickly!"
Li Buren shook his head slightly. After withdrawing his immortal power, this distorted face dissipated on its own.
Upon careful examination, there were thirty-seven places with residual thoughts in the cylindrical hall. And this was only counting those with remnants.
As for those that had been completely cleaned, there was no way to surmise.
"Judging by the strength of these lingering thoughts, they should all be remnants left after the fall of True Immortals."
"The reason they are far inferior to the will to survive in the Sea of Gloom is twofold: first, the difference in strength when alive, and second, the thorough cleansing this place suffered."
"True Immortals were like ants, brutally slaughtered. What happened here?"
Besides the thirty-seven traces, nothing else was found in the cylindrical space.
And besides the passage through which Li Buren had arrived, there seemed to be no other connection in this cylindrical hall.
The investigation had suddenly reached a stalemate.
After pondering for a moment, Li Buren suddenly looked at the few pathways still shining in his divine sense.
An idea gradually formed in his mind. Li Buren's body, formed by the fragmented Immortal Realm, folded itself again.
Transforming into a chess piece, it concealed itself within the other pathways suppressed by this place.
Only the parts that still shone remained, harmonizing with the remaining natural laws of this place.
The originally infinitely high cylindrical hall suddenly shrank to nine feet nine inches in size.
Objects one after another appeared, filling the empty hall.
And on the cylindrical wall of the hall, Li Buren surprisingly saw countless cubic spaces displayed, showcasing various scenes.
These square spaces were precisely the scenes of countless divided star seas that he had witnessed after breaking through the Abyssal Sea.
They remained in a state of darkness, dim light, and flickering simultaneously.
However, the overview on the circular wall here contained far more square spaces than Li Buren had seen before!
Li Buren attempted to locate the Xuanhuang Realm.
After focusing on the spot of light representing the Abyssal Sea, he also recognized the countless square spaces displayed alongside the Abyssal Sea.
And at the edge of all these square star seas, a rough white line separated this area of square spaces from other regions.
This white line seemed to be some kind of boundary.
Although visually, the region where the Abyssal Sea was located was inconspicuous and juxtaposed with all other areas on the circular mural.
But precisely because of this white ring, the square star seas within the delineated area were invisibly elevated.
They were like stars embracing and surrounding the central, most conspicuous position.
"This kind of special characteristic..."
Li Buren stared intently at the dazzling white circle.
"The Great Void."
A word naturally appeared in Li Buren's mind.
In the ancient cultivation world era, it was the tangible boundary of the explorable starry sky. A void without end, purely nothingness.
From a distance, gazing at the Great Void from outside the circular mural, Li Buren vaguely sensed its essence.
But he couldn't be certain.
"Although it is a place of absolute nothingness, it is fundamentally different from being affected by the Tribulation of Dao Erasure. The reason it appears as a void is that most of the fundamental laws have disappeared. Only a few Great Dao fundamental laws remain, like pillars. Just like this experimental ground..."
"Only within the scope of these fundamental laws can one clearly see the hidden things in the experimental ground and avoid being forcibly drained of one's attributes in the Great Void."
Ancient True Immortals, to advance further, needed to embody a Great Dao between heaven and earth to achieve the Nameless Realm. And only by comprehending a Great Dao to a certain extent could they take this step. Therefore, the cultivation of True Immortals was mostly a deepening of understanding towards a certain fundamental law.
There were three thousand Great Daos, although this was a figurative expression. However, due to the differences in each fundamental law, True Immortals were naturally endowed with many different "attributes." For instance, the Starving Immortal, Xi Yi Immortal, He Gan Immortal, and so on.
This place and the Great Void, these similar restrictive measures of Dao Erasure, could filter out "one's own faction" from the vast number of True Immortals and grant permission to enter and exit this experimental star space.
Identity and background could be fabricated with lies, but stance could not. In other words, if a True Immortal truly wanted to infiltrate this place and changed the path they cultivated, they would immediately become a member of "this faction," and this place would welcome their arrival. There would be no such thing as "infiltration."
"This restriction technique is truly a massive screening machine."
"And it doesn't merely serve a simple screening purpose. Once one changes allegiance, it's likely difficult to turn back."
The reason Li Buren could enter this place many years later was entirely due to the heaven-defying technique of "Mind Manifesting Soul Transformation, The Dao Lattice Projection."
If the various Great Daos in the world naturally divided True Immortals into different factions, then The Dao Lattice Projection was "I want them all," fairly and equally joining all existing and known True Immortal factions.
This was absolutely impossible in ancient times. Not to mention the three thousand Great Daos, even cultivating two different Great Daos was extremely difficult. And even if one cultivated multiple Daos, it was still inferior to mastering one to the extreme and achieving the Nameless Realm.
"Just as I analyzed before."
"The reason my The Dao Lattice Projection could exist safely was because the Tribulation of Dao Erasure descended, and the Immortal Realm was destroyed. The Nameless True Immortals who embodied themselves and merged with the Dao either died or escaped, and had no time to pay attention to this miniature mirror reflecting the Great Dao."
"Moreover, there was an even larger The Dao Lattice of the Star Sea of the North to shield my view."
Against the backdrop of the Immortal Realm's destruction and the probable abandonment of this experimental site, the cumulative effect of Li Fan's multiple reincarnations and various factors allowed Li Buren to luckily enter this place. It could be said that without any single condition, he would not have been able to enter.
"Records of the Great Void have existed since ancient times."
"But after the Great Tribulation descended and the The Great Barriers were erected, all traces vanished."
"From what I see now, after the outbreak of the Tribulation of Dao Erasure and the activation of emergency protective measures, it underwent an overall change along with all the experimental square star seas."
Li Buren stared at the rough white circle representing the Great Void.
It suddenly appeared among the countless small squares in the circular mural, as if someone had drawn a circle in the vast sea of stars!
Circling out the target to be searched!
"Although this experimental site was abandoned for unknown reasons, its facilities are still in operation. Thus, this delineation of the Great Void came about?"
Li Buren analyzed secretly based on the clues he had observed.
Although he could mix in here due to the special nature of The Dao Lattice Projection, he only had the permission to "observe" and not the ability to "manipulate."
Whether it was the divided square star seas on the circular mural or the various objects flashing inside the cylindrical hall.
He could not use any of them.
It was currently impossible to determine the true reason for the Great Void delineation of those square star seas. However, the fact that the Abyssal Sea of the Xuanhuang Realm was among them was enough to make Li Fan's heart tremble.
Li Fan attempted to reconstruct the secrets hidden behind this experimental space as much as possible based on the clues he had grasped.
"The Tribulation of Dao Erasure is suspected to be of the same origin as the Infinite Sea."
"After accessing the Infinite Sea with my incomplete Ascension Platform, I discovered that as I summoned the infinite power within the Infinite Sea, billions of water droplets would pour down from that sacred and unknowable place through mysterious channels, submerging all things in the world. The premonition was so real, and the instinctive fear it brought made even the clone puppets with little self-emotion dare not press that button."
"But there are countless True Immortals in the world, let alone Immortal Artifacts, Immortal Servants, and Immortal Puppets. They used Infinite Immortal Spiritual Power without such worries. The derived Immortal Spiritual Power within the Dissolution Disc undoubtedly proves this point." Li Fan thought, and a supremely sacred power emanated from the Dissolution Disc of the Immortal Rank.
Li Fan wrapped the shimmering white light around his fingertips, feeling its infinite nature while simultaneously seeming to see the boundless Infinite Sea.
"There cannot be a second Infinite Sea in the mortal world."
"And the Immortal Realm initially did not fear the ravages of the Tribulation of Dao Erasure much. It was like mortals viewing floods; there were True Immortals responsible for guarding against them."
"It is a reasonable guess that the Immortal Realm clearly understood the consequences of summoning the power of the Infinite Sea, which would trigger the Tribulation of Dao Erasure. However, the boundless temptation made it impossible for True Immortals to give up using the Infinite Sea."
"Even, they built something like [dams] and [reservoirs] on the Infinite Sea. All True Immortals did not directly connect to the Infinite Sea but used the dams and reservoirs built by the Immortal Realm as a transit point. Therefore, they could avoid the terrifying disaster of the Infinite Sea pouring down and the Tribulation of Dao Erasure descending upon the world."
"But..."
"The Infinite Sea is an unimaginably vast and sacred place. Even Nameless True Immortals cannot compare to an occasional ripple in the Infinite Sea."
"Even if the civilization of the Immortal Realm had developed to a point where it could restrict the Infinite Sea to a certain extent, however..."
Li Fan remembered the terrifying and obscure fluctuations from the depths of the sea when Huan Zhen stood on the Infinite Sea.
"Those who play with fire will be consumed by it."
"There are no eternally impregnable dams in the world, and once a breach occurs, it is too difficult to plug it up again. Moreover, there are countless True Immortals who, either by chance or intentionally, want to bypass the restrictions set by the Immortal Realm and connect directly to the Infinite Sea, just like me."
"Each time this happens, it's equivalent to tearing open another rift between reality and the Infinite Sea."
"In the long run, the Tribulation of Dao Erasure becoming more rampant is a foregone conclusion."
Li Fan's thoughts churned, deducing continuously.
"Omens of tribulation appeared, and one by one, star fields in the Immortal Realm were annihilated."
"Huan Zhen. This supreme treasure that can alter destiny was suspected to have also originated from the Infinite Sea. Although the Immortal Realm might not have known its specific effects, they vaguely guessed that it might be able to completely resolve this world-ending crisis. Thus, they secretly searched everywhere, even extending their search range to the lower realm star seas."
"They deduced the approximate time when Huan Zhen might appear. And Huan Zhen should have appeared then..."
"Appearing in the Xuanhuang Realm, since it was discovered by the power of the Immortal Realm. If the masters of the Immortal Realm, the Nameless True Immortals, had controlled Huan Zhen from the beginning, then perhaps it might have been possible to turn the tide and nip the world-ending calamity of the Tribulation of Dao Erasure in the bud."
"However, for some unknown reason, Huan Zhen appeared late."
"The Immortal Realm did not wait for this world-saving treasure."
"Although the overall situation remained stable, the emergence of those with different ideas was expected."
"Just as I glimpsed in the memory of that True Immortal before. Great figures have their own ideas, and ants have their own ways of survival."
"True Immortals used their own methods to find a way to survive. Some transformed mortals into immortals, while others used the bones of the nameless, Immortal Heavenly Pillars, and Immortal Realm shards to build a world-saving boat..."
"But what they didn't expect was that the Tribulation of Dao Erasure broke out early. And its intensity was far fiercer than ever before, as if all the connection channels between the Infinite Sea and the mortal world had exploded simultaneously. A catastrophic disaster descended abruptly."
"Caught off guard, True Immortals, Nameless True Immortals, and even the current unknown rulers of the Immortal Realm, died like ants..."
In Li Fan's vision, a terrifying scene of the Infinite Sea pouring down and destroying the Immortal Realm seemed to appear.
"Although many Nameless True Immortals were willing or forced to become pillars themselves to resist the Tribulation of Dao Erasure, how long could they hold on?"
"The engulfment of reality by the Infinite Sea is an inevitable trend. Unless they can rebuild the [dams] of the ancient Immortal Realm on the various rifts during this short period of safety..."
Li Fan couldn't help but look at the doomsday countdown on the Huan Zhen panel.
"The Infinite Sea seems to span all possibilities."
"The Tribulation of Dao Erasure is also definitely not unique to my [primordial] possibility."
"Perhaps, having discovered and used the Infinite Sea, they suffered a similar catastrophe. Or perhaps, after the Great Tribulation occurred back then, the Nameless True Immortals of the [primordial] possibility fled in fear and went to other possibilities."
"Even though they leaped to other possibilities, as long as they didn't abandon the Infinite Immortal Spiritual Power, their connection with the Infinite Sea would always exist. Moreover, at the realm of True Immortals embodying the Dao, it's not something one can simply abandon if they wish."
"The Tribulation of Dao Erasure, like a shadow, followed closely, submerging the world..."
Deducing to this point, despite Li Fan's current calculation ability, which was comparable to the Mother Stone of Dao Dissolution, he couldn't help but feel a splitting headache.
It was easier to deduce when dealing with a single possibility.
Numerous clues converged, leading to countless possible answers, and Li Fan verified them one by one, selecting the one closest to the truth.
But once it involved other possibilities, the difficulty of deduction increased exponentially.
Firstly, Li Fan currently knew nothing about the situation in other possibilities. The information he had was too scarce.
Secondly, for every additional possibility, the number of variables involved in deduction doubled. Theoretically, with infinite possibilities, even thousands of Mother Stones of Dao Dissolution working together would be insufficient.
"However, with the Tribulation of Dao Erasure raging to this day, the remaining possibilities in the mortal world are probably far from infinite. Seven million years of remaining lifespan..."
"Perhaps 'lingering on breath' is a more appropriate description."
Li Fan's thoughts raced to their limit, and his vision suddenly went black, forcing him to stop the deduction.
His attention temporarily shifted from the Immortal Realm and the truth of the Tribulation of Dao Erasure back to that strange experimental ground.
"The original purpose of this place should have been to wait for [Huan Zhen]."
"However, because Huan Zhen ultimately did not arrive as scheduled, it was abandoned by the official Immortal Realm."
"But only on the surface."
"Some minor figures in the Immortal Realm did not completely give up and leave here. However, their goal was likely not Huan Zhen."
"But merely to find a sliver of survival in the impending Tribulation of Dao Erasure."
"The ability to create the delineation technique of the [Great Void] must have involved the assistance of Nameless True Immortals..."
"But why did all of them suddenly disappear?"
"From the traces left behind, the number of True Immortals gathered here was definitely not small."
Li Buren once again probed the experimental site, attempting to uncover more secrets.
His gaze swept around, and suddenly, his attention focused on an item that had inexplicably appeared behind the cylindrical hall.
It was a curiously shaped human-shaped statue.
Like a hidden hermit dwelling in the court, it stood quietly there, yet it had almost escaped Li Buren's notice.
If not for its unique style, which was extremely similar to something Li Fan had encountered before.
Li Buren would likely have overlooked it entirely.
This secret method, only discoverable by understanding the inherent peculiarities of an object, was precisely what Sun Piaomiao's remains possessed.
The statue before Li Buren bore a similar style to the few relics Sun Piaomiao had left behind on the Profound Immortal Boat. This realization struck him immediately.
"Items left by Sun Piaomiao almost always possess a unique and miraculous use. The humanoid puppets increase the charging power of Return to Truth twofold. The Three-Branched Tree grants Return to Truth an extra simulation opportunity out of thin air. And as for the Bronze Immortal Crane, upon its destruction, a secret message is whispered into one's ear."
"Day of the Heavenly Net, two hundred and thirteenth. Beginning with the chapter on the Great Abyss Offering and the Arranged Blooming Yue, to the end of the Era of Yong Chi Fen Ruo, Yan Mao Xuan Yi..."
With these thoughts, Li Buren slowly approached the humanoid statue.
The objects that had abruptly appeared in the hall seemed to be connected to the experiments conducted in this testing ground. Although he had gained permission to observe as a visitor, their actual forms were as if they existed in a different space-time from Li Buren. He could only observe from afar, unable to interact with them in any way.
Only this humanoid statue, due to the connection established between Li Fan and Sun Piaomiao's other relics, allowed Li Buren a faint touch.
His finger seemed to probe into a layer of cold mist, rather than feeling the solid form of the statue.
Even with this hazy sensation, Li Buren experienced the same profound and enigmatic feeling as when he had encountered Sun Piaomiao's other relics. "If my true form were here, I might be able to absorb it directly through Return to Truth, bypassing the restrictions of this place. Unfortunately, this place appears to have been specifically constructed to capture Return to Truth. Until I fully uncover its secrets, my true form will absolutely not venture into such a perilous situation."
He had to find another method.
Although he had initially established a connection with the humanoid statue, he was unable to proceed further.
All forms of energy, and even divine consciousness, were ineffective against this statue existing between reality and illusion.
After numerous failed attempts, Li Buren recalled Sun Piaomiao's various methods. Suddenly, the whispered secret message reappeared in his mind.
"Day of the Heavenly Net, two hundred and thirteenth..."
*Buzz!*
The moment this sentence resurfaced in Li Buren's mind, the puppet emitted a heavy sound, like a long-dormant machine being reactivated after many years. The humanoid figure seemed to shift from illusion to reality, its originally lowered hands slowly rising to chest level.
Its right hand extended, pointing towards the center of the circular mural ahead.
The myriad array of small square worlds and starry skies displayed on the cylindrical hall's walls underwent a dramatic change as the puppet pointed.
The circular mural flickered rapidly, alternating between light and dark.
It was as if pages of a book were being flipped forward quickly. Or as if a recording was being rewound.
The remaining sparks of life were extinguished, replaced by a dark, silent starry sky that then blazed with light once more.
The flickering square starry sky gradually ceased its movement, becoming stable.
The few remaining places with signs of life suddenly erupted, transforming from faint pinpricks of light into brilliant stars.
Unbeknownst to him, Li Buren was enveloped by a vast sea of life, as if the entire expanse of stars monitored by the testing ground had returned to the time before the Dao Erasure Tribulation.
The starscape's light and shadows danced and flickered erratically.
Finally, at a certain moment, it abruptly froze. After a pause, the scenes on the circular mural resumed their normal playback.
The speed at which the scenes changed was incredibly fast, making it difficult even for Li Buren's divine sense to fully decipher and distinguish them.
However, after a moment of observation, Li Buren quickly understood. What he was seeing was a recorded scene being repeatedly played back.
"It's not that time has been reversed and returned to the period before the Great Tribulation's onset. Rather, through this humanoid figure, the monitoring data recorded by this testing ground has been retrieved."
"Day of the Heavenly Net, two hundred and thirteenth..."
"Then the following part of the message must correspond to..."
Li Buren silently recited once more in his heart: "Beginning with the chapter on the Great Abyss Offering and the Arranged Blooming Yue."
The humanoid figure responded to this instruction, changing once again.
Its left hand, which had been lowered, also slowly rose.
This time, it was not a simple pointing gesture, but rather like drawing a circle in the vast expanse of space, outlining a specific area within the repeatedly playing scene.
Li Buren saw that not only was a portion of the recording from the two hundred and thirteenth day of the Heavenly Net removed from the beginning, but also...
Even the square starry sky within the circular mural was reduced by ninety percent with this stroke.
The resplendent starry sea of life suddenly dimmed.
Li Buren continued to recite the final sentence of the whispered secret message.
"To the end of the Era of Yong Chi Fen Ruo, Yan Mao Xuan Yi."
The endlessly looping recorded footage was further narrowed down in its temporal scope. Based on Li Buren's calculations, the two hundred and thirteenth day of the Heavenly Net originally depicted approximately a thousand years of time in the Xuanhuang Realm.
However, after being filtered by these two commands, the time frame was greatly reduced. Li Buren watched the repeating scene, calculating that it spanned about fifty years.
Similarly, this time it was not just a precise temporal lock. The humanoid figure waved its hand again, parting the starry sky.
This time, only three small square areas of the starry sky remained brightly illuminated.
These three originally inconspicuous small squares, demarcated by this method, now occupied the entire circular wall.
Within these square starry skies, events that had occurred during this period were rapidly replayed.
And in one of these starry skies, Li Buren was incredibly familiar.
It was the location of the Xuanhuang Realm, the Abyss of Darkness!
With a slight movement of his mind, he attempted to probe into the recorded scene with his divine sense.
This time, there was no resistance from protective forces; it was as if he were truly soaring through the real starry sky. Li Buren quickly located the Xuanhuang Realm.
"No Myriad Immortal Sects."
"No Heavenly Mysteries Sect."
"Desolate God, Reincarnation, Divine Wood. This was an ancient era of the Immortal Realm, still existing. There were no signs of the impending Great Tribulation, and the cultivation sects could still communicate with the Immortal Realm."
Over a span of fifty years, Li Buren could not possibly observe every minute detail of everything that had transpired on the Azure Nether Continent.
He could only focus on certain unusual events.
"The number of Desolate Gods the Desolate God Sect could summon reached its peak in the fifth year. A total of twelve different Desolate Gods appeared simultaneously, suppressing all who defied them. In the Xuanhuang Realm, they were peerless. However, in the forty-third year, one of the Desolate Gods suddenly lost contact with the Desolate God Sect. This was something that had never happened in the Desolate God Sect's history."
"Although they re-established contact with a new Desolate God eight years later, this incident left the Desolate God Sect's Sect Leader and elders deeply worried."
"Compared to the Desolate God Sect, the Reincarnation Sect appeared much more low-key. The Reincarnation Sect did not establish a great cycle of reincarnation within the Xuanhuang Realm, but rather within individuals. With the Indestructible Reincarnation Body, one could continually reincarnate and be reborn. Although with each reincarnation, cultivation would be lost, certain crucial memories would be retained."
"The continuous cycle of reincarnation and rebirth pursued was not for ascension to immortality, but rather..."
Li Buren narrowed his eyes.
The scenes recorded on the testing ground's circular mural contained almost all events that had occurred in history.
He did not know what method was used, but even within secret chambers or sealed formations, Li Buren's divine sense could freely explore without restriction.
Even some divine sense transmissions could be heard with perfect clarity.
But not everything was recorded.
When the Azure Nether sects contacted the Immortal Realm, the recorded images would be distorted. Similarly, in certain mysterious regions, the recorded scenes would become ineffective, either becoming blurry or leaving entire segments blank.
The Sect Leader of the Reincarnation Sect seemed to possess some awareness of this ubiquitous surveillance.
Whenever he imparted the unique knowledge of the Reincarnation Sect to his direct disciples, he would perform acts of purification and connect with the upper realm.
The recording would then be interrupted.
"This Sect Leader of the Reincarnation Sect was named Jiang Lianshi."
"His direct disciple, a man named Chu Zhiyi, was unfamiliar to me. However, Chu Zhiyi's disciple seemed somewhat familiar."
This disciple was named Zhang Ruyu. At this moment, she was only a child of ten-odd years, but her features already hinted at a resemblance to Zhang Qianmo.
"Reincarnation Sect."
Although the ultimate cultivation of the Reincarnation Sect's unique techniques was unknown from the surveillance, Jiang Lianshi's actions were indeed suspicious.
In addition to evading surveillance by connecting to the Immortal Realm, Jiang Lianshi would frequently ascend to the top floor of a tall pavilion in the Reincarnation Sect to meditate.
The top floor contained only one hall.
Thousands of scrolls depicting Jiang Lianshi himself hung there.
These paintings, seemingly all by Jiang Lianshi, depicted himself with varied expressions, attire, and actions.
Besides painting, Jiang Lianshi would spend his time here facing tens of thousands of his own portraits.
Throughout this process, there were no fluctuations of Spirit Qi.
Yet, as a spectator from years later, Li Buren still felt a trace of strangeness from this bizarre cultivation scene.
At times, he even experienced an illusion, as if, in a specific moment, all the portraits in the hall had come to life.
Within fifty years, Jiang Lianshi had not achieved any breakthroughs. The entire Reincarnation Sect remained low-key and silent.
The only instance of action was when an elder from the Divine Wood Sect came to borrow the Reincarnation Sect's treasure, the "Thousand Year Glance Pearl."
According to the Divine Wood Sect elder, the Thousand Year Glance Pearl could stimulate the growth of the Divine Wood Sect's divine wood without any side effects. He earnestly requested it, offering anything in exchange.
However, Jiang Lianshi refused with a single word.
When the Divine Wood Sect elder pleaded several times, the result was the same. Enraged, he attempted to seize it by force, but Jiang Lianshi pointed a finger at his brow.
The elder, over sixty years old, seemed to experience time reversal, reverting to an infant babbling incoherently.
Not only was his cultivation lost, but his consciousness also seemed to have regressed to infancy.
Jiang Lianshi did not take the elder's life, but instead had him escorted back to the Divine Wood Sect. Concurrently, he attached a talisman personally written by himself.
This seemingly ordinary piece of yellow paper bore a crude drawing of an eye in a scribbled fashion.
Upon receiving this talisman, the Divine Wood Sect apologized to the Reincarnation Sect, expressing their gratitude, and offered to present a gift of equal value.
Jiang Lianshi politely declined and strictly ordered his disciples to minimize any interactions with the Divine Wood Sect.
...
"This Jiang Lianshi's cultivation..." Li Buren could say he had observed Jiang Lianshi for fifty years. Even with his current perspective, he still couldn't fully comprehend him.
On the surface, he appeared to be merely at the Dao Integration realm. However, that single finger capable of reversing time was highly indicative.
Considering the Reincarnation Sect's ability to reincarnate and cultivate anew, Jiang Lianshi had likely lived for an immeasurable period. Furthermore, the tens of thousands of self-portraits hanging at the top of the pavilion made Li Buren think of the concept of "possibilities."
"Could it be that the Reincarnation Sect's ultimate secret involves selves from other possibilities? Though unable to traverse between them, they can be faintly connected?"
Li Buren's curiosity about Jiang Lianshi's eventual fate intensified.
However, the recorded scenes were currently fixed within these fifty years, making it impossible to further investigate.
Within these fifty years, aside from the events occurring within these powerful sects, another incident in the Primordial Xuanhuang Realm caught Li Buren's attention.
In the thirtieth year, in the southeastern corner of the Xuanhuang Realm, a True Immortal was suspected to have descended to the mortal world.
That entire area of distorted light and shadow rendered the details utterly unseeable.
Moreover, this True Immortal was not alone in descending; they had an arranged contact within the Xuanhuang Realm.
The one responsible for the reception seemed to be merely a mortal.
For the first thirty years, he lived as an extremely ordinary old farmer in a mountain village. But in the thirtieth year, he suddenly left his wife and children and went deep into the mountains.
He set up a reception ritual.
After completing this, he returned to his hometown, as if nothing had happened.
A mere six months later, he died.
The True Immortal who was received, however, seemed to have escaped the surveillance from the unseen, disappearing without a trace thereafter.
What particularly concerned Li Buren was that the mortal's dwelling place was extremely close to the location of the Fishing Pond.
However, there were no traces of the Fishing Pond within this recorded light and shadow.
Therefore, it could not yet be determined if the Fishing Immortal was involved behind the scenes.
"During this period of time, there was no trace of the Myriad Immortal Sects or Sun Piaomiao."
"What did he intend to reveal with this secret message left by the Bronze Immortal Crane? Or perhaps, he himself hadn't fully understood and had only roughly pinpointed the time frame?"
Li Buren's gaze shifted away from the Xuanhuang Realm for the moment.
He looked beyond the seas of stars.
It had to be acknowledged that the Primordial Cultivation World was indeed vastly different from the present. It was filled with boundless vitality, and strange phenomena often appeared in the seas of stars.
Li Buren finally understood why there were always rumors that during outbreaks of phenomena in the seas of stars, even True Immortals had to retreat.
"If my perception is correct, the outbreak of phenomena in the seas of stars, to some extent, interferes with the connection between True Immortals and the Infinite Sea."
"Deprived of their infinite nature, True Immortals might not escape unscathed amidst these bizarre and unpredictable phenomena."
Within fifty years, the Abyss of Darkness had experienced seven outbreaks of phenomena significant enough to deter True Immortals.
The blurry recorded light and shadows recounted these magnificent scenes that had transpired in the seas of stars throughout history.
Li Buren's divine sense roamed through these fifty years of the Abyss of Darkness.
He secretly recorded every anomaly within the cultivation worlds.
"Indeed, the Xuanhuang Realm is extraordinary."
"Setting aside other matters, simply being able to establish contact with the Immortal Realm is something no ordinary cultivation world could achieve."
"And..." Li Buren clearly sensed that the 'spiritual nature' of beings in other cultivation worlds seemed much weaker compared to the Xuanhuang Realm.
The so-called "spiritual essence" was a unique quality that Li Fan’s main body began to perceive in cultivators and living beings only after comprehending the "True Becomes False" divine ability. It was an overall assessment of one's disposition, talent, bone structure, fortune, and all other factors, influencing the probability of that being transcending their limitations. Previously, Li Fan's perspective had been confined to the common folk of Xuanhuang Realm. Those he encountered in the Star Sea of the North were exceptional talents, and their numbers were too small to make a definitive judgment. Now, Li Buren’s observation range had suddenly expanded to the entire experimental Star Sea. Xuanhuang Realm was merely one of countless stars, and the data volume had increased by tens of millions of times.
Li Fan was suddenly struck by a fact: "In the vast expanse of the cultivation world, the inherent qualities of Xuanhuang Realm’s beings are undoubtedly among the very best." The reason for this difference in the average inherent quality of cultivators across different worlds was unknown. "However, the True Immortals in the experimental field must have discovered this peculiarity. It is only natural that they would regard Xuanhuang Realm as a focus of observation."
Throughout the entire Abyssal Star Sea, Li Buren cared most about the Mystic Merchant Immortal Boat. At this point in time, the Mystic Merchant Immortal Boat had already begun traveling between myriad worlds. Because the boat’s position was not fixed, it sometimes even traveled near areas where celestial phenomena erupted. Therefore, the records of the Mystic Merchant Immortal Boat within the experimental field were not continuous. During certain periods, observation of the boat would be completely lost, only for it to reappear in another location in the Star Sea as if by "teleportation." It also seemed that some method existed within the Immortal Boat to interfere with the experimental field's records. The images were very unclear, as if the signal had been lost, appearing intermittently. This manifested in Li Buren's exploration as his divine sense encountering obstacles everywhere, unable to fully grasp everything happening inside the Mystic Merchant Immortal Boat.
"It is said that the Mystic Merchant Immortal Boat discovered the fact that beings from all worlds were being raised like livestock, and thus abandoned the practice of settling in one world. Instead, they continuously roamed the Star Sea in hopes of escaping this fate. To some extent, they have indeed achieved this." "According to the current claims from the Mystic Merchant Immortal Boat, it is highly likely that they possess a treasure bestowed by an Immortal or a method that only True Immortals can wield. By using Immortals to control Immortals, they achieved such remarkable results."
As usual, he recorded all suspicious events involving the Mystic Merchant Immortal Boat over the past fifty years. Li Buren was about to examine the other two block-like star seas apart from Xuanhuang Realm when, suddenly, he felt as if he had overlooked something. Pondering, his consciousness returned to the recorded images of Xuanhuang Realm over the past fifty years. This time, he did not focus on the outwardly remarkable beings but rather on the ordinary masses.
Li Buren discovered that some of these faces were strikingly familiar. At the recorded point in time, Li Fan himself did not even exist. The reason Li Buren found some of these people familiar was that they had appeared in the Gate of Life and Death Heavenly Venerate's Gate of Life and Death Great Formation, among the countless frozen corpses. "It's not just these. Even one or two faces still exist in the present-day Xuanhuang Realm?" With a thought, Li Fan's main body, in the Carefree Dream Land of Bliss, located two individuals. They were originally mortals who began their cultivation journey only after the Dream Land of Bliss enveloped all of Xuanhuang Realm. In the experimental field records from ancient Xuanhuang Realm, these two individuals also existed as inconspicuous mortals.
"..." Four faces, spanning vast stretches of time, overlapped before Li Fan's eyes, two by two. Even with Li Fan's current power to destroy Xuanhuang Realm with a mere flick of his hand, he couldn't help but feel a chill in his heart. He recalled the ordinary mortal he had seen in the recorded images, whose life trajectory had suddenly deviated, as if they had become a different person, to usher in a True Immortal.
"These mortals are likely just NPCs created to fill the void of Xuanhuang Realm, to be endlessly recycled. At certain critical moments, they can also receive special instructions to complete tasks assigned by the True Immortals..." "This method of control is not achieved through any divine abilities or sorcery. It is likely rooted deep within the core of these mortals." Before becoming an Immortal, Li Fan could barely create things with "Form of Living Beings." Thus, he did not doubt that the True Immortals of the past Immortal Realm possessed the ability to mass-create beings. "These created beings are recycled. This indicates that the experimental field also considered the issue of consumption. Due to the immense base population, thousands of years would pass each time they were released into reincarnation, and almost no one would notice." "Even if discovered by chance, it could be explained as coincidence, making it difficult to ascertain." "Only someone like me, who spans two periods of time and possesses the appearances of all beings in Xuanhuang Realm, can make a definitive judgment." "Not only are all events recorded, but even the environment of the cultivation world and most of its beings are preset. Truly worthy of being called an experimental field..." "I just don't know if other cultivation worlds, besides Xuanhuang Realm, are also like this."
The other myriad worlds had already been destroyed. Li Fan could not verify. But he surmised that their structures should be similar to Xuanhuang Realm. "The maintenance of the experimental field must be inseparable from the Indeterminate Circle in the ancient formation within Xuanhuang Realm that I discovered previously, and the Nine-Star Red Pearl. The Nine-Star Red Pearl is missing, suspected to have been taken by someone." "Traces of the 'Return' character technique were also found at the scene." "If it were an insider of the experimental field retrieving it, there would be no need for such elaborate measures. Therefore, it must be an outsider." "From what I saw before, with the remaining Nine-Star Red Pearl pattern, and the influence records within this experimental field, the Nine-Star Red Pearl should have preserved all life data of beings who have ever existed in Xuanhuang Realm..."
Billions of different faces flashed through Li Fan's mind. A question suddenly arose in his mind. If those mortals were created beings to fill the void of the world, then what were those cultivators who were active in Xuanhuang Realm's history, those who were once renowned, even those peerless experts who had become famous throughout eternity? "Not only are there frequent appearances of prodigies in Xuanhuang Realm's history." "All those who once ascended to True Immortal have left no records. Either they were deliberately erased, or they all achieved the nameless realm and voluntarily disappeared from the world's records." "If it's the former, it's fine. But if it's the latter..." Nameless True Immortals, even if they died like ants during the tribulation of the Immortal Realm's destruction, every advancement to the nameless realm required the union of the self with the Dao. Their numbers would not be too large. Moreover, this was in the context of countless, immeasurable cultivation worlds in the lower realm. No matter how blessed Xuanhuang Realm was, it was impossible for so many Nameless True Immortals to appear frequently. Like a flash of lightning, it split open the fog. A thought involuntarily arose in Li Fan's mind: "Could it be that the Nameless True Immortals descended to the lower realm in some way, using themselves as bait, attempting to attract and capture 'Return to Truth'?"
Li Fan’s thoughts raced. "A supreme treasure from the Infinite Sea that can reverse the tribulation of Dao Erasure. Even Nameless True Immortals would be tempted. If it were me, knowing about the existence of this experimental field in the lower realm, I would also find a way to get involved. Even if not officially permitted, I would sneak in." "After all, it's just a clone, easily done. What if they actually captured it?" "But how could 'Return to Truth' be so easily lured away? They are destined to return empty-handed." "Those who can cultivate to become Nameless True Immortals undoubtedly possess exceptional innate qualities. Even if they lack the memories of their main bodies to appear convincing as bait, returning to the True Immortal realm should not be a problem." "As an experimental field, theoretically, it is impossible for experimental beings to escape through ascension. But those who come from the Immortal Realm are naturally not subject to these restrictions. In fact, some are existences that even the True Immortals managing the experimental field cannot afford to offend, so they would naturally choose to let them pass."
Li Fan suddenly recalled the description by Mo Rubin of the Heavenly Mysteries King's memory. "The Heavenly Mysteries King was able to successfully ascend to Immortality because the Guardian Celestial Official in charge of the lightning tribulation happened to die during the Immortal Realm's destruction tribulation, thus allowing him to ascend to the Immortal Realm by chance. In the Heavenly Mysteries King's own words, that lightning tribulation was never intended for any cultivator to pass..." "The Heavenly Mysteries King is already the foremost person in Xuanhuang Realm's history. Even from the beginning of his cultivation journey, he was suspected to have been assisted by the 'Fishing Pond.' Even so, he had no chance of winning against that ascension lightning tribulation." "It seems that under normal circumstances, escaping from this experimental field is impossible."
Li Fan's expression turned grim, and he felt a slight sense of relief. Fortunately, the tribulation of Dao Erasure had descended, destroying the Immortal Realm. The True Immortals scattered in all directions to save their lives, no longer concerned with this experimental field. "Otherwise, even with the advantage of 'Return to Truth,' I would likely be like a bird in a cage, a fish in a net..." At this thought, Li Fan suddenly froze. Reflecting carefully, "Or perhaps, the calculations of the True Immortals of the past were not wrong. 'Return to Truth' did appear in this designated experimental field. It's just that..." "Perhaps they also did not expect that 'Return to Truth' has its own consciousness. Such a method could deceive ordinary mortals, but how could it deceive 'Return to Truth'?" "Therefore, it has never revealed itself, waiting for..." "Not only the destruction of the Immortal Realm and the experimental field, but also waiting for a qualified, unique vessel." As this speculation arose, "Return to Truth," which had been dormant since its return from the Infinite Sea, finally showed signs of fluctuation. However, the emotion it conveyed this time was somewhat unfathomable to Li Fan. "There is some certainty." "And some amusement." "This..."
Li Fan's expression remained unchanged, and he even shamelessly desired to inquire further. Having been with "Return to Truth" for a hundred lifetimes, he could hardly miss any subtle changes in it. Li Fan keenly sensed that since returning from the Infinite Sea and possibly interacting with former acquaintances of "Return to Truth," it had gradually become more "active." Previously, it only responded lazily under extreme circumstances. But now... This time, in response to Li Fan's sincere inquiry, "Return to Truth," which always acted impassively, actually provided an answer. Li Fan himself was taken aback by this result. After a brief pause, he then searched for where "Return to Truth" had guided him. His main body and the clone Li Buren showed no changes. The change lay in... the time period Li Fan had created in the Carefree Dream Land of Bliss, named "Eternal Samsara." True Heavenly Venerate, trapped within, had already experienced nine thousand three hundred and sixty-three reincarnations. No matter how he tried, he could not alter the inevitable destruction of Xuanhuang Realm. Therefore, after the eighth hundred attempt, True Heavenly Venerate finally chose to give up. He abandoned all pursuits and, at the beginning of each reincarnation, resigned himself to awaiting the destruction. Gradually, he found that this seemed not so bad. Since he would return to the initial point in time regardless of how it was destroyed, in a sense, did this not mean eternal life? With this realization, the completely resigned True Heavenly Venerate found peace in his idleness. He lived his days in a daze, completely unaware that the speed of his reincarnations was accelerating.
From Li Fan's perspective, due to the disturbance from "Return to Truth," the reincarnation speed in this time period had suddenly accelerated. True Heavenly Venerate, trapped within, could not perceive it, but Li Fan could see millions of cycles of evolution per instant, continuously unfolding before him. Completely resigned, True Heavenly Venerate abandoned all struggle in each reincarnation. Thus, the reincarnation lost its variable nature. Each iteration was identical to the last.
... Staring intently at True Heavenly Venerate in his reincarnation, Li Fan's expression became somewhat peculiar. Because he saw that "Return to Truth's" spiritual essence was gradually being eroded with the increase in reincarnation cycles. It was as if Li Fan were continuously using his "True Becomes False" divine ability. Ultimately, without any spiritual essence left, his future was entirely cut off! Li Fan's mind roared.
"When true becomes false, false also becomes true." "The divine ability of 'True Becomes False' can erode a cultivator's spiritual essence." "And my activation of reincarnation each time is equivalent to 'True Becomes False'?" "Moreover, this 'True Becomes False' is even personally activated by 'Return to Truth'..." Li Fan trembled inwardly and conjured a water mirror before himself. He had observed the spiritual essence of the common folk but had never examined his own. With trepidation and dread, Li Fan looked at himself. The familiar face and body, more familiar than anything else. This time, under Li Fan's renewed scrutiny... To his relief, the feared outcome did not occur. In fact... Li Fan's expression became somewhat strange. He touched his chin and suddenly realized. What was "Return to Truth's" guidance? The reason Li Fan, as the vessel, was unique? Why, among countless living beings, was Li Fan singled out? Li Fan gazed at his own face. His spiritual essence did not seem particularly outstanding. Yet, it gave Li Fan an inexplicable feeling. His own spiritual essence was incredibly profound. Even after being eroded by repeated reincarnations, it had not changed much. "If the ability to withstand 'True Becomes False' is also a form of innate quality," "then perhaps my innate quality is the top-tier in the world." "Unlike other cultivation-related innate qualities, this is what 'Return to Truth' truly values."
"I have experienced a hundred lifetimes of reincarnation, yet my spiritual essence remains undiminished. Even the Nameless True Immortal likely cannot compare to me." Upon realizing his unique nature, Li Fan felt a surge of joy.
He attempted to communicate with Return to Truth again, but it was like a stone sinking into the ocean, receiving no response.
After a long while, Li Fan’s turbulent emotions settled. A greater question naturally arose in his heart.
"My spiritual essence is so profound, perhaps it is rare, or even unique, in the mortal world. What could be the reason for such a peculiar characteristic..."
Li Fan's thoughts immediately turned to his identity as a "transmigrator." But was that truly the case, and why would a "transmigrator's" spiritual essence be so extraordinary? If there were other "transmigrators," would they possess the same traits as him...
And then there were deeper questions.
"What is Return to Truth's 'purpose' in attaching itself to Li Fan?"
These questions were beyond Li Fan's current ability to investigate. Suppressing the surging thoughts deep within his heart, Li Fan mused, "At the very least, my relationship with Return to Truth has become ostensibly closer. Since It returned from the Infinite Sea, It has become more 'lively,' which is a good thing. If It can guide me once, It can do so a second time. And Return to Truth's guidance..."
"It is more potent than facing the Great Dao and comprehending it directly!"
While his main body reaped substantial benefits, the clone, Puppet Li Buren, showed no emotional change despite these discoveries. His mission was to thoroughly investigate the matters within the The Great Barrier. With the situation still shrouded in mist, he could not afford to relax.
"Based on the current clues, it can be deduced that this place was originally part of a facility within the Immortal Realm's experimental grounds. The experiment's purpose was to find a way to counter Dao Erasure. This experimental field naturally possessed certain methods for defending against Dao Erasure."
"Although for some unknown reason it was abandoned, it transformed into the The Great Barrier when the Tribulation of Dao Erasure erupted, saving the countless star seas within the experimental field from complete annihilation."
"Similarly, the experimental field's mission dictated its extremely covert nature. Its internal defenses only needed to trap the life forms within the experimental star seas. The restrictions of the True Immortal realm were sufficient."
"Externally, it needed to guard against the prying eyes of powers beyond the True Immortal realm, those at the Nameless realm. No wonder Qian Ruochang of the Northern Star Sea, and that [Faceless Immortal], approached so close to the The Great Barrier yet seemed to be blind to it. It was not that they did not want to, but that they could not. It could even, to a certain extent, shield against gazes from other possibilities..."
The meaning of the message left by Sun Pianmiao remained unclear. Li Buren decided to set it aside for the time being.
"The reason I discovered the peculiarity of the The Great Barrier was the capture and subsequent disappearance of an Immortal Realm Chess Piece by the The Great Barrier. Since that is the case, why not return to the root of the matter and track the current whereabouts of that chess piece..."
The Immortal Realm Chess Pieces left by Sun Pianmiao possessed mutual sensory abilities. However, separated by the The Great Barrier, this connection was severed. Even though Li Buren’s own body was crafted from an Immortal Realm Chess Piece, he could not sense the presence of his "kin" within this experimental facility.
After pondering for a moment, Li Buren decided to return to the Abyssal Sea first. He left behind the Medicine King Cauldron chess piece in the Xuanhuang Realm to prevent the fragments from being pieced together and the Immortal Realm from re-emerging.
Then, from his body, he extricated faint silver limbs, resembling a net or arm, and used the power of the The Dao Lattice projection to forcibly "bind and secure" all the remaining chess pieces onto himself.
With that, he violently charged towards the The Great Barrier once more.
The instant he entered the The Great Barrier, Li Buren felt an immense suction force from the outside. The Immortal Realm Chess Pieces within his body, beyond his control, rapidly flew towards the source of the suction.
Li Buren did not resist this force. In fact, his body reverted to its original chess piece form and, along with his "brothers," flew towards an unknown destination.
"Indeed, entering as an intruder is different. This time, I have taken a different path."
Li Buren rapidly passed over countless cubic star seas within the experimental field. Then, he traversed the Great Void that served as the boundary for all star seas.
He arrived in a space that was both familiar and strange. It was familiar because it seemed to be the same place as the cylindrical hall he had visited before, merely located at the very top of the cylinder, in an area that was invisible from the bottom.
Upon reaching this place, the suction force acting on the chess pieces disappeared.
Li Buren, in his chess piece form, observed his surroundings. He found that the chess piece that had abruptly disappeared earlier, and the eleven he had brought with him this time, were all floating quietly in formation. Six of them had inexplicably merged together, appearing seven-colored like the ones Li Fan had seen before. The remaining five were also clustered tightly together, awaiting the addition of Li Buren, the last piece.
From the chess pieces nearby, Li Buren felt a sense of urging and a desire for return. However, perhaps because the crucial Medicine King True Cauldron piece was missing, or perhaps because this was the true core area of the experimental field and there were some unknown restrictions, Li Buren felt that the attraction of the chess pieces to him had not yet reached the point of being uncontrollable.
Maintaining his stability, he examined his surroundings. As he did, he suddenly discovered five blurry figures silently standing around him.
Li Buren's heart immediately tensed, and he retreated rapidly, entering a combat stance. However, he found that no matter how fast he moved, these five figures always encircled him, keeping him in the center. He could neither approach nor move away. The five illusory figures were to Li Buren what the vast heavens are to the living beings on the ground—an eternal, fluctuating distance was always maintained between them.
Fortunately, these illusory figures seemed to have no offensive capabilities. They were like mere inanimate objects, showing no reaction to Li Buren, the intruder.
Li Buren first gathered all the Immortal Realm Chess Pieces, then observed the five illusory figures, confirming there was no immediate danger.
"They were faintly beyond my perception, which is why I didn't discover them at first."
"Only by truly observing and gazing upon them can one discover their existence..."
The words "[Nameless True Immortal]" flashed through Li Buren's mind. This scene was remarkably similar to what Li Fan had observed while spying on the Northern Star Sea, where the Nameless True Immortal was treated as a foundation pile, used to construct the The Dao Lattice. And the Immortal Realm's Immortal Heavenly Pillar was crafted from the leg bone of a Nameless True Immortal, possessing a certain characteristic resistance to Dao Erasure. It was not unbelievable that Nameless True Immortals were also used as building materials within the The Great Barrier.
However, Li Buren instinctively felt that this place was different from the The Dao Lattice or the Southern Immortal Heavenly Pillar. "Using the Dao as pillars, this is the ability displayed by the five illusory figures, there should be no mistake."
"The key lies in..." Li Buren frowned slightly. "Is it the same Great Dao?"
For a True Immortal to ascend to the Nameless realm, they must unite with the Dao. And among the three thousand Great Daos in heaven and earth, each is distinct; there can be no duplication. Therefore, it is impossible for two Nameless True Immortals to have achieved enlightenment through the same Dao, let alone five appearing at once!
"Are they from different possibilities?" Li Buren was startled but quickly dismissed this judgment. He had witnessed the aura of powerful beings who could traverse possibilities. Although the five illusory figures before him were strong, they were far from that level.
"Therefore, there is only one answer."
"These five illusory figures are manifestations of the same Nameless True Immortal."
"Not flesh and blood like the leg bone in the Southern Immortal Heavenly Pillar, but merely illusory projections of oneself."
Li Buren’s heart trembled. "With just five illusory projections, they can form a wall and withstand the Tribulation of Dao Erasure?"
"What realm is this?" The five illusory figures, like stars, revolved around Li Buren. Their facial details were indistinct, and it was impossible to even tell if they were male or female. Yet, like mythical deities, they evoked a sense of reverence and awe. It was an instinctive emotion that lower beings experienced when encountering those of a higher order.
"I once speculated that beneath the land of the Immortal Ruins, there lay a martyred Nameless True Immortal. Using himself as a pillar, he blocked the Tribulation of Dao Erasure from the Immortal Realm."
"But now, the Nameless True Immortal before me, without needing to sacrifice himself, could achieve the same feat by simply splitting off five illusory projections..."
Li Buren's shock was beyond words. It was evident that the being who left these five illusory projections was among the strongest of all Nameless True Immortals. This form of strength, compared to the ability to traverse possibilities, was different. Li Buren could not determine which was superior, but he knew that their manifestations were equally awe-inspiring.
"In Su Bai's memories, when facing the monstrous Tribulation of Dao Erasure, the Evil Su Bai could only flee in disarray."
"But in the [Primordial] possibility where I am located, there is such an unparalleled expert who, with his own illusory projections, can withstand Dao Erasure."
"Perhaps… he chose a different path?"
"Where is this powerful being now? Was he the one who initially oversaw the laboratory's plan?"
Questions arose in Li Buren's mind.
"If there were more beings like this, perhaps the Tribulation of Dao Erasure wouldn't be so difficult to deal with." Li Buren gazed at the five illusory figures before him, harboring such thoughts.
Capable of forming Immortal Pillars and resisting the Tribulation of Dao Erasure, the illusory projections left by the Nameless True Immortal should be infinitely close to the Dao itself. Yet, though they were within reach, Li Buren could not glimpse or comprehend the Great Dao they represented. It was as if this Dao did not exist within the heaven and earth Great Daos Li Buren currently understood!
To see yet not see, to hear yet not hear, to know yet not know!
"Either this being is from another possibility, and the Dao he united with does not exist in the [Primordial] possibility. To me, it is a completely unfamiliar existence, which is why I cannot comprehend or glimpse it at all."
"Or..."
"This being's realm has reached a state of perfection. Carrying the Great Dao he united with, he has transcended the limitations of this world, walking alone!" Li Fan had previously speculated that the Nameless True Immortal sacrificed himself by uniting with the Dao and then ascended, drawing away the Great Daos that originally served as pillars of heaven and earth. This, like shattering the load-bearing walls of a building, led to the Tribulation of Dao Erasure.
However, after encountering various powerful beings at the Nameless True Immortal realm and having the fortune to enter the Infinite Sea, witnessing its apparent shared origin with the Tribulation of Dao Erasure, his speculation became doubtful. Yet, now, upon facing these five illusory figures, he truly saw a Nameless True Immortal who had transcended the world and was beyond the 'five elements and three realms.'
"The possibility of someone from another realm sacrificing himself to help resist the Tribulation of Dao Erasure is unlikely. He could have easily escaped on his own."
"This person should be a native of the [Primordial] possibility." Li Buren observed, attempting to use his divine sense to reflect the Great Dao represented by the five illusory figures. However, facing these five figures, the mirror on his mind, capable of reflecting the Great Daos of heaven and earth, remained entirely blank.
"Is this being still present in the current possibility?"
"If he has already departed, yet his illusory projections still possess such efficacy..."
"That is truly terrifying." Up to this point, among all the things and phenomena Li Fan had witnessed, only Dao Erasure and the Infinite Sea inspired the greatest fear. And the only one capable of resisting these two was Return to Truth. Now, an unknown powerful being had appeared. Although weaker than Return to Truth, he still allowed Li Fan to glimpse the ultimate limit that a 'cultivator' could reach.
After a fruitless attempt to reflect them, Li Buren ceased his futile efforts.
"These five illusory figures must be the core of the The Great Barrier."
"Such an important area, yet it attracts the Immortal Realm Chess Pieces. There must be a reason for it, but currently, I cannot find the trigger."
Staying here, Li Buren could only manifest in his chess piece form, otherwise, he would soon be repelled.
"If no change occurs for a while, is it because the Immortal Realm Chess Pieces are not yet complete?" A thought then surfaced in Li Buren's mind. After transmitting this idea to his main body, Li Fan, in the Xuanhuang Realm, after careful consideration, ultimately handed over the Medicine King Cauldron to his clone. The Medicine King True Cauldron, in this life, had long been collected by Li Fan without alarming the Starving Immortals. The people of the Medicine King Sect within the cauldron had naturally been sent to the Land of Carefree Bliss to contribute to the dreamscape construction. The Medicine King True Cauldron, reverting to its original form, a simple, unassuming white chess piece, was re-integrated by Li Buren into the center of the The Great Barrier, where the five illusory figures resided.
Li Fan's main body, on extreme alert, was ready for Return to Truth at any moment. Li Buren also prepared to reassemble his body and evolve into an Immortal Realm.
However, the development of events took an unexpected turn for Li Fan. Even with all the chess pieces gathered, the Immortal Realm did not manifest in the space where the five illusory figures were. Instead, a force from afar seemed to be suppressing the formation of the Immortal Realm.
But as Li Buren had predicted, when the Immortal Realm Chess Pieces gathered here, an anomaly occurred around them. As if an extraneous object had fallen into water, ripples spread out. The faces of the five illusory figures, distorted by these ripples, began to become clearer. Their gazes were all fixed on the central location of the chess pieces, as if they were bearing the weight of the world. Li Buren's chess piece form, the manifestation of the Immortal Realm, felt on the verge of collapse.
"This is..."
"With the chess pieces gathered, the Nameless True Immortal has bestowed His attention. Finally, we have entered the sight of the five illusory figures!"
The five phantom figures’ faces appeared, accompanied by their extremely calm, faint words. They didn't seem to be addressed to Li Buren who had intruded, but rather were a prerecorded message.
"The Mound Guardian Immortal, highly virtuous, dares to pay respects to the later wise one."
"Having proven oneself as Nameless, one is naturally beyond earthly bounds. However, the Annihilation of Dao lies hidden; we cannot shirk our responsibilities."
"By chance, we obtained this supreme method. Using our shadows as substitutes, we can resist the surging tribulation."
"We shall share it with you…"
The five phantom figures spoke in unison.
What followed was not ordinary sound, but rather like an engraving knife directly branding the method onto Li Buren's body, which was encircled by the phantoms. He felt no pain, not even any abnormality. It was as if memories that intrinsically belonged to him but had been sealed and forgotten were re-emerging. It wasn't a transfer of knowledge but a recollection. This directly bypassed the entire process of contemplation, learning, and mastery. To know it was to have already reached the Great Ascension realm!
However, Li Buren felt a sense of regret. The reason the five phantom figures actively transmitted the pháp was because all the chess pieces of an entire Immortal Realm had arrived. In terms of status, it was almost equivalent to a Nameless True Immortal. Therefore, this Mound Guardian Immortal viewed all the chess pieces as a single entity. The engraving and branding were done on this entirety. Li Buren received only a small portion. Yet, this secret method, only cultivable by those in the Nameless True Immortal realm, was enough to open his eyes!
"This method is named [Mound Guardian's Casual Notes]."
"On the edge of the great ocean, there is a tiny hill, without a name."
"Virtuous Mound Guardian, having watched for one hundred and twenty-three eras. He witnessed the tides rise and fall, water forming and dissipating. Whenever inspiration struck, he would record it in his notes. As time flowed by, these casual notes were completed..."
Li Buren organized the "memories" in his mind. The simple words depicted a solitary figure, who had guarded the edge of the vast ocean for one hundred and twenty-three eras. Standing on the nameless hill, gazing at the endless ocean, his life was a panorama of moments spent with the tides.
"This Mound Guardian Immortal, capable of shouldering the Annihilation of Dao with five phantom figures, possessed a strength and realm far beyond what his humble description in the casual notes suggests."
Li Buren let out a long sigh, as if to break free from the sense of ancient passage of time brought about by those few lines of text.
"In Sun Piao Miao's previous transmission, there were descriptions related to the Heavenly Net Era. An 'Era' should be the calendar system used by the Immortal Realm. I just don't know how many years in the Xuanhuang Realm correspond to one Era in the Immortal Realm."
"But regardless of the specifics, one hundred and twenty-three eras must represent an extremely long period."
"And the sea and hill that required such a long time to guard must not be ordinary seas and hills in the conventional sense."
Li Buren suddenly recalled the fable about mountains and seas in the book seemingly left behind by Sun Piao Miao.
"If the sea represents the Infinite Sea, then what does the mountain represent..."
The Mound Guardian Immortal's casual notes, left by the highly virtuous one, not only simply imparted the method of leaving behind phantom selves but also meticulously recorded the entire thought process and experience by which the Mound Guardian Immortal had conceived this method. This method was not a sudden enlightenment achieved in a single day. Instead, it was refined through accumulated effort and endless contemplation.
Receiving this method was akin to "transmigrating" into the Mound Guardian Immortal of the past, re-experiencing one hundred and twenty-three eras of profound change through his body, soul, and thoughts. Even though his days were spent facing only the mountain and the sea, the seemingly infinite data threatened to engulf Li Buren. Fortunately, this time he was sharing the burden with other Immortal Realm chess pieces. With his super physique—his projection of divine sense and his body composed of Immortal Realm law fragments—he could barely hold on.
"No wonder the Mound Guardian Immortal's phantom figures only appeared when facing a Nameless True Immortal. It wasn't that He was stingy or unwilling to impart this method to other Immortals, but rather that those below the Nameless realm simply could not bear it!"
Carried away by the Mound Guardian Immortal's torrential thoughts, Li Buren felt as if he had returned to the Infinite Sea. Every drop of water around him contained billions of years of existence.
"According to the Mound Guardian Immortal, the sea's encroachment upon the mountain has existed since the dawn of time. But like the tides of the mortal world, it fluctuates, sometimes strong, sometimes weak."
"Since he began guarding the mound and watching the sea, although its power has ebbed and flowed, it has generally been in a period of increasing scale. In fact... it has not yet reached the estimated 'zenith'."
"The Mound Guardian Immortal discovered this anomaly in the twentieth era. For the next one hundred eras, he confirmed this viewpoint. He had long issued warnings to the world, but alas, his influence was too small?"
"This..." Li Buren was utterly perplexed. However, the subsequent account by the highly virtuous Mound Guardian Immortal provided the answer. At that time, the Mound Guardian Immortal was still an "ordinary" True Immortal. He had not even attained the Nameless realm. Naturally, his words were ignored. But in the eighty-eighth era, the Mound Guardian Immortal, through his deep accumulation, finally entered the Nameless realm. However, he did not make a public announcement, merely continuing his silent vigil of guarding the mound and watching the sea. Coincidentally, the Immortal Realm seemed to have undergone some upheaval at that time, and all the Immortals were too preoccupied to attend to him, a guardian of a remote seacoast. The entire Immortal Realm seemed to have forgotten him. Until one day, the waves surged, crashing over the mound...
Emerging from the Mound Guardian Immortal's seemingly placid yet profoundly magnificent life, Li Buren began to focus on the pháp of "Phantom Selves Bearing the Dao."
"According to the Mound Guardian Immortal, while he sat on the mound gazing at the sea, the turbulent waves seemed to confront countless Great Daos of the world."
"Each wave, in rhythm with the Great Dao, was in fact two sides of the same coin."
"A person standing on the mountaintop is like a massive stone. Each day, as it is battered by the waves, it becomes worn. But simultaneously, the space between the mountain and the sea retains its unique imprint."
"..."
The Mound Guardian Immortal's casual notes were extremely obscure and difficult to comprehend. Even with Li Buren's myriad reincarnations and countless experiences, he found it difficult to understand at first.
"If not for my bearing the Return to Truth, and having personally entered the Infinite Sea, I would likely have been lost in a fog, completely unaware of its secrets even if I obtained this method. I might have even dismissed it as a joke!"
"This is because this method is vastly different from the cultivation systems of the world," Li Buren realized. But the miraculous aspect of the Mound Guardian Immortal's casual notes was that even if the recipient couldn't grasp its profound secrets, due to the active imprinting by the five phantom figures, the recipient could wield this mysterious art of [Phantom Selves Bearing the Dao] as naturally as their own limbs, without any obstacles.
"It requires no personal sacrifice. It merely extracts the traces left in history and the Great Dao, transforming them into phantom selves to bear the weight of the Annihilation of Dao..."
"This divine ability is truly beyond imagination!"
Furthermore, Li Buren sensed that the mysterious art of [Phantom Selves Bearing the Dao] had more than just the effect of resisting the Annihilation of Dao. Or, perhaps, bearing the Dao was merely one of the many functions of this divine ability.
"Immune to a hundred tribulations, insurmountable by all methods, eternal life..."
"Beyond these, the most crucial aspect is [Transcendence]!"
"It is the fundamental method to break free from the The Dao Lattice of this world."
While extracting all the traces left in the mountains and seas, it is also a process of severing all connections with the world. At that time, with a solitary existence, one would be unconstrained by the The Dao Lattice...
Li Buren was filled with shock and a yearning for this realm.
Just then, the transmission journey from the Mound Guardian Immortal reached its conclusion. All the [Mound Guardian's Casual Notes] had been completely imprinted. The five phantom figures left by the Mound Guardian Immortal, the virtuous one, bowed slightly towards Li Buren at the center. Then, their bodies fluctuated and slowly dissipated, returning to their previous state of passively bearing the Dao.
Li Buren's expression turned solemn, and he returned the bow with respect. He knew this was the Mound Guardian Immortal's hope for future wise ones to also leave behind phantom selves to bear the Dao. Thus, he offered this bow.
"The phantom selves left by the Mound Guardian Immortal may not be limited to this one location within these The Great Barriers."
"After leaving these phantom selves to bear the Dao, where is he now? Has he already departed from the current possibility?"
Considering the lower realm's star sea, which, despite the ravages of the Annihilation of Dao, still held onto its vitality, Li Buren suddenly understood. He had no doubt that this Mound Guardian Immortal, who watched the sea, possessed the power to cross possibilities.
"Regardless, to have left behind some phantom selves to bear the Dao, and to have left behind a miraculous method for saving the world for future generations, the Mound Guardian Immortal has undoubtedly lived up to his mantle."
"Truly worthy of the name [Virtuous]."
After a long period of contemplation, Li Buren finally regained his senses and looked at the Immortal Realm chess pieces surrounding him. After being engraved by the Mound Guardian Immortal, these chess pieces seemed different from before. They had originally floated serenely, exuding a chilling aura. But now, they had returned to their natural state, appearing unremarkable. One could easily overlook them if not paying attention.
"Perhaps, describing it as 'gradually detaching from this world' would be more appropriate."
A sense of vigilance suddenly arose in Li Buren's heart. He had not forgotten how, during the Return to Truth, a Nameless True Immortal's leg bone from the Immortal Realm, as if sensing something, had flown towards him.
"The Nameless realm can no longer be simply measured by life and death."
"Even though it was merely a leg bone, and still in a fragmented state, who knows what changes might occur after receiving the [Mound Guardian's Casual Notes]."
Li Buren tentatively reached out and retrieved one of the white chess pieces. Without bothering with the others, he manifested his original body from the The Dao Lattice chess piece's states. A repulsive force surged, and Li Buren, carrying the Medicine King True Cauldron, tumbled from the highest peak space of the circular hall.
The space where the Mound Guardian's phantom resided fell, directly intruding from the outside. The sights within this circular hall were also different.
As if sensing the lingering Dao transmission marks of the Mound Guardian left on Li Buren, the scene on the circular walls of the hall shifted again. Besides the squares representing countless monitored star seas and the white circles of the great void, there was also a figure that strongly resembled the Mound Guardian.
With hands clasped behind his back, he stood with his back to them, gazing down at the star sea below.
Li Buren's spirit jolted as he attempted to sense it with his divine sense.
After a moment, he realized, "This isn't that Mound Guardian. It's someone like me, who received the inheritance of the 'Mound Guardian's Casual Notes,' hence the similar aura."
"However, judging by the degree of the 'Mound Guardian' state manifested by this figure..."
"I'm afraid this person attained the complete 'Casual Notes' inheritance at the Nameless True Immortal realm, rather than resorting to trickery like I did."
But the figure left behind by this Nameless True Immortal was not for the purpose of passing down the Dao. It seemed to merely record a segment of footage. It had been hidden within this experimental space within the The Great Barrier until it sensed Li Buren's similar "Mound Guardian" aura, at which point it was activated.
"Emperor Zhaiyang, the ruler, passed away not long ago."
"It has been a full Epoch since the creation of the 'Kōroka Dojo'..."
"What an incredibly long span of time. So long that even with my immortal body, my past memories are beginning to blur."
…
This voice did not originate from the figure in front of Li Buren, but rather from an unfathomable distance beyond the heavens, as if conversing with the figure from another realm.
"When Emperor Zhaiyang first ascended, I was merely a servant in the Lietu Star Domain. After seven million, seven hundred sixty-two thousand, four hundred sixty-three years, I have already ascended to the Nameless realm," the figure said with emotion, not looking in the direction of the voice from beyond the heavens, but still gazing at the numerous star seas within the experimental field.
"You remember so clearly. Truly worthy of receiving the Mound Guardian's inheritance…" The voice from beyond the heavens carried a peculiar tone, a mixture of envy and schadenfreude.
"Not long after the Mound Guardian left, you already knew. It seems this place is indeed not clean…" The figure snorted coldly.
"That was the Mound Guardian!" The voice from beyond the heavens suddenly became sharp.
"Back then, the Great Tide of Dao Erasure surged, vast and mighty. Thousands of star domains were submerged in an instant. Countless died unjustly. The ruling Immortal Emperor personally led the Nameless ones from all domains, yet they could do nothing and were forced to retreat. Fortunately, the Mound Guardian descended from the heavens and, with his own strength, repelled the world-ending tide…
"What magnificent power that was! Emperor Zhaiyang had to show courtesy as a junior to the Mound Guardian! Not to mention the countless True Immortals who were saved, they regarded the Mound Guardian as a parent who gave them new life. Even if he disliked being disturbed, how could his every move be hidden from these myriad immortals? If not for the Kōroka Dojo being a secret place, your inheritance from the Mound Guardian would likely have been known to the world by now!"
Listening to the somewhat sarcastic words from the other party, the figure did not retort.
The voice from beyond the heavens continued, "Emperor Zhaiyang reigned for seven million years, not a particularly long life. Yet it is our limit. But the Mound Guardian lived for over a hundred Epochs, witnessing a hundred Immortal Emperors!"
"Don't forget, among them was the 'Boundless Unity Immortal Emperor' with a lifespan of ninety-nine million, nine hundred ninety-nine thousand years! The Mound Guardian's power is unimaginable! Now that you, Qingyin, have proven yourself Nameless and received the inheritance, not to mention being able to live through a hundred Immortal Emperors and remain undying like the Mound Guardian, at the very least, you should have a lifespan comparable to Boundless Unity…"
The Nameless True Immortal, named or perhaps titled Qingyin, interrupted the voice from beyond the heavens, "The Mound Guardian left a phantom to pass down the Dao at the Dojo. If you are truly envious, why not descend yourself? While it may not be the same as being a direct disciple of the Mound Guardian, the difference is not significant."
The incessantly chattering voice from beyond the heavens abruptly stopped. After a long pause, it chuckled, "It's not easy to become a disciple of the Mound Guardian. We True Immortals, our lifespans are commensurate with the Dao. We come from the Dao, and we return to the Dao. The Dao waxes and wanes, conforming to the celestial timing, which also aligns with the ultimate principles of heaven and earth."
"A lifespan of several million years is already long enough. Like the Mound Guardian…"
"Heh heh heh, having someone like you, Brother Qingyin, is enough."
Qingyin said coldly, "Alright, get to the point. I don't know the Mound Guardian's whereabouts since he left. Don't expect to get any news about him from me."
The voice from beyond the heavens changed quickly, getting straight to the matter, "Emperor Zhaiyang has fallen, and Emperor Tianluo has ascended. Some things from the previous Epoch will likely become obsolete. This Kōroka Dojo will probably be among them. Brother Qingyin, you should make preparations early."
Qingyin seemed to be taken aback, then asked in a deep voice, "That item… after searching for so long, are we just going to abandon it? Although it didn't appear within the estimated time, perhaps waiting a little longer might yield results."
"...This matter is complex and cannot be explained in a short time. In simple terms, besides the reasons for the political changes of Emperors Zhaiyang and Tianluo, it is also related to the Mound Guardian. The Mound Guardian's divine might repelled the Great Tide of Dao Erasure, causing a subtle shift in the collective mindset of the vast immortal realm. During the Zhaiyang Epoch, Dao Erasure wreaked havoc everywhere, and countless True Immortals were killed or wounded. The immortals of the immortal realm, from top to bottom, held a pessimistic view on whether they could resist the great tribulation. Therefore, they could only seek help from external forces.
"But the search yielded no results for a long time. And at the immortal realm's most desperate moment, the Mound Guardian, in his wisdom, performed a grand play of turning the tide before the eyes of the world, making all the immortals understand that Dao Erasure was perhaps not unstoppable. Moreover, it is said that the Mound Guardian left behind multiple inheritances in the immortal realm. Any who reach the Nameless realm have a chance to become the Mound Guardian's disciple. Qingyin, you said it yourself, when one's own strength is sufficient, why would they still seek external help?"
Qingyin fell silent upon hearing this. After a long while, he spoke with a melancholic tone, "During the Zhaiyang Epoch, the sentient beings were pessimistic and dispirited, the immortal realm was gloomy, and people grew tired of life. Countless True Immortals chose to end their own lives."
"But in this Tianluo Epoch, the tide has turned… However, with all the True Immortals being so confident, I fear it's not a good sign."
The voice from beyond the heavens clearly showed some disdain, "Then let's wait and see! I was just kindly reminding you."
"Of course, if you insist on preserving this Kōroka Dojo, it's not impossible. I can also lend a small hand. However, in the future, you will need to be more discreet, so as not to be discovered by other True Immortals. Heh heh, if something happens later, don't drag me into it. The newly ascended Emperor Tianluo is not as benevolent as Emperor Zhaiyang."
Qingyin cupped his hands, "Brother Ling, rest assured."
Time seemed to freeze at this moment.
After the light and shadows shifted, an unknown number of years passed.
On this day, the True Immortal surnamed Ling and Qingyin met again. This time, it was not a transmission through the heavens, but a personal visit to the Kōroka Dojo.
The recorded phantom of the True Immortal surnamed Ling began to twist and fluctuate, even affecting Qingyin's body.
"Damn it, these people in the immortal realm are truly insane now. Emperor Tianluo is the craziest of them all!"
"I have a bad feeling about this, so I decisively escaped down here first. However, I estimate that the star seas in the lower realm won't be safe for long either. We brothers need to make plans early." The True Immortal surnamed Ling paced back and forth, appearing very anxious.
Qingyin, however, remained calm as always. But compared to the previous recorded phantom, his body exuded a more mysterious and detached aura, becoming increasingly similar to the Mound Guardian.
"I am a disciple of the Mound Guardian and have received his inheritance. It's not easy for me to leave this place."
"However, I have a sensation that the Mound Guardian, He, might have already left this world. I may be able to follow in his footsteps and depart."
The True Immortal surnamed Ling couldn't help but glance sideways upon hearing this, staring intently at Qingyin, and said with a shudder, "Are you saying… that rumor is actually true?"
He became even more anxious, his steps quickening, muttering to himself, "Crossing the sea by boat, heading to other possible worlds, eventually traveling through endless mortal realms, achieving complete and utter liberation and ease. The sea may be annihilated, but I remain, the mountains may collapse, and I still stand at the summit…"
"Qingyin, you absolutely must take me with you!"
Qingyin said indifferently, "You and I have been sworn brothers since we were insignificant. If I can achieve 'Minor Transcendence,' how can I not bring you along? However, I have received the Mound Guardian's inheritance, and if I wish to leave, I must first give the Mound Guardian an explanation."
"An explanation?" The True Immortal surnamed Ling was somewhat confused.
"The Mound Guardian passed down the Dharma, instructing us to leave behind phantoms to carry on the Dao and resist the Tribulation of Dao Erasure. In the past, this was acceptable. But time has passed, and things are different now. The great tide is fierce, more than several times crueler than in the previous Epoch. The Mound Guardian, with his profound comprehension, might be able to resist with his phantom, but what about us juniors…"
"It's just a futile effort. It might even endanger ourselves and damage our own bodies if we are affected by the great tide of Dao Erasure. Even if there are those who disregard their own safety and sacrifice themselves to form a phantom, it would be like a drop in the bucket against the current great tide of Dao Erasure."
The True Immortal surnamed Ling nodded in agreement, "Emperor Tianluo has gone mad; he's pursuing a path of 'success or annihilation.' Yet he can still attract a large group to go mad with him. Alas, it's all the Mound Guardian's fault for giving them a false sense of security!"
Qingyin did not comment, nor did he mention the Mound Guardian. Instead, he continued to explain his predicament, "Even though I am unwilling to form a phantom to carry on the Dao, the responsibility still remains. It's not something that can be completely shrugged off by simply saying 'no.'
"Although the Mound Guardian has departed, the restrictions he left behind are still not something we can ignore."
"This is the price of accepting the Mound Guardian's inheritance. The Mound Guardian explicitly told me this when he imparted his techniques. However, the method of transcendence was too tempting. At that time, the Tribulation of Dao Erasure seemed to have been completely suppressed, which is why I readily agreed," Qingyin said with a hint of helplessness.
"Heh, it truly is one situation today and another tomorrow," the True Immortal surnamed Ling commented casually, then began to ponder seriously.
"Still need to fulfill the responsibility of carrying on the Dao… let me think."
After a long while, he suddenly slapped his palm, "I have a plan!"
At this crucial juncture, the phantom image and the voice suddenly dimmed together.
The scene that Li Buren was witnessing paused for a while.
After restarting, the next segment to play was the final recorded image.
Qingyin himself and the phantom he condensed to carry on the Dao stood opposite each other.
The True Immortal surnamed Ling's voice was filled with smugness, "Qingyin, how is my plan of 'substituting the plum for a peach'? Since you cannot withstand the true Tribulation of Dao Erasure, first create a miniature version that your strength can withstand. The current situation is already riddled with holes, so one more won't make much difference!"
"Seal that hole, and you will have given the Mound Guardian an explanation and left behind a phantom to carry on the Dao!"
Qingyin silently looked at his own phantom before him and sighed, "Countless beings in two star domains died because of us… It is truly not my wish."
"Why bother with so much! If these people didn't flee, they would have died sooner or later. By achieving our 'Minor Transcendence,' we've done something useful before they die!" the True Immortal surnamed Ling said dismissively.
Qingyin nodded silently.
He gently pointed a finger at the phantom of himself before him, and the phantom immediately broke through the void, disappearing without a trace.
Qingyin was momentarily lost in thought. A short while later, he looked up in a certain direction and spoke again, his voice tinged with joy, "The fetters have been severed, and I can depart."
For some unknown reason, Qingyin inexplicably cast a final glance in the direction Li Buren was observing.
After completing this cross-temporal gaze, the recorded figure completely vanished.
…
A long time passed before Li Buren finally snapped back to reality.
This recorded image left in the experimental field, the conversation between the two suspected Nameless True Immortals, contained too much hidden information.
"Epoch. Emperor Zhaiyang, Emperor Tianluo."
Li Buren had not expected that the Epochs in the immortal realm were not fixed in terms of years.
The specific length of an Epoch was determined by the tenure of the ruling Immortal Emperor.
"Seven million years is also not a long life. True Immortals are indeed not the same species as mortals."
"And that Mound Guardian, or rather, Mound Master, lived for over a hundred and twenty-three Epochs…"
A rough calculation yielded a terrifying number.
"Also, the True Immortal surnamed Ling mentioned that lifespans are commensurate with the Dao, but later said that a lifespan of several million years is already long enough. What is going on? Could it be that the lifespan of the Great Dao in the world is only a million years? How is that possible?"
Li Fan's divine sense now mirrored the The Dao Lattice, yet he had never noticed any lifespan limit for the Heavenly Dao.
"The recorded images in the experimental field would not fabricate information on this aspect."
"Could it be…"
Li Fan's heart suddenly stirred.
He thought of his previous speculation that Dao Erasure and the Infinite Sea originated from the same source.
"Dao Erasure destroys the Dao, and the surviving Dao, the limitations inherent to it are gradually disappearing."
"Has the Heavenly Dao, under the baptism of the Tribulation of Dao Erasure, become stronger than in ancient times?" Li Fan could not be sure.
It was also possible that the waxing and waning of the Dao was an intrinsic attribute of the Dao itself.
However, with the external threat of the Tribulation of Dao Erasure, the Dao itself had slowly changed over time.
But regardless, the limit of True Immortals, and even Nameless True Immortals, having a maximum lifespan of ten million years, was a bit disappointing to Li Fan.
It was far from the goal of true eternal longevity that Li Fan had envisioned before he formally began cultivating.
"As for the Mound Master, who lived through a hundred tribulations and over a hundred Immortal Emperors without perishing, that is already close to the ultimate goal I desire."
The power of the Mound Guardian filled one with longing.
However, Li Fan paid little mind to Qing Yin's words about the inherent limitations that came with inheriting the Mound Guardian's legacy.
Firstly, although the Mound Guardian was seemingly the strongest being known thus far, Li Fan still didn't believe it surpassed Return to Truth.
Secondly, it was Li Buren who obtained and cultivated "Mound Guardian's Casual Notes." If anything went wrong, he could simply use Li Buren to settle the debt. It had nothing to do with Li Fan himself.
"There are still some unanswered questions in the image left by Qing Yin."
"For instance, why did Qing Yin specifically leave this record in the experimental grounds? His final glance at the viewer was clearly intentional."
"Sun Piaomiao, and the True Immortal who was once responsible for guarding Azure Nether in the lower realm, still don't understand the specific connection to this so-called 'Kōroka Dojo'..."
Too many secrets were lost forever with the advent of Dao Erasure and the destruction of the Immortal Realm, making verification impossible. Li Fan had no intention of digging into everything.
"While I may not be able to fully uncover the secrets of the High Wall, having received the Mound Guardian's legacy and Qing Yin's recognition grants me much higher 'authority' in this experimental ground than a mere tourist."
Qing Yin's image dissipated, and Li Buren stood once more in the circular hall, silently comprehending.
The numerous objects that had previously ignored him now seemed to be, to a certain extent, within his grasp and control.
Aside from the human effigy that recorded historical images of the experimental grounds, the object that resonated most strongly with Li Buren was a dark red, solid wood Grand Tutor's chair.
Li Buren gently stroked it, sensing the faint aura of the Mound Guardian's phantom.
"The Mound Guardian seems to have sat in this chair before."
Li Buren also tried sitting on it.
*Boom!*
His vision suddenly changed. He felt as if he had left the circular hall at the heart of the experimental ground, floating out into the vastness of the monitored starry sea.
He ascended, arriving outside the experimental ground!
Li Buren saw a familiar starry sky.
It was the narrow Annihilation Land beyond the Northern Star Sea. He could even faintly glimpse the numerous flourishing starlights within the Northern Star Sea from afar!
Zooming in, he could focus on a single point and meticulously observe the World-Crossing Profound Coffin still silently floating in the starry sky, as well as the newly promoted Immortal Hunters trapped in the Dream Land of Bliss!
Having previously observed the World-Crossing Profound Coffin from his own perspective, Li Buren instantly noticed the differences when examining it from this new vantage point.
The first sensation was one of awkwardness and regret, as if a flawless creation had been marred by a flaw.
"It's that trace of a scar I inflicted on the World-Crossing Profound Coffin with my 'True Becomes False' divine ability. I myself couldn't see it clearly, yet from this perspective, this imperfection is laid bare..."
Suppressing the discomfort in his heart, Li Buren continued to scrutinize the Profound Coffin.
The surrounding starry sky and the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth seemed to transform into undulating waves. And in this vast, boundless ocean, the World-Crossing Profound Coffin was like a small boat.
Though it couldn't avoid being tossed about by the waves, it could still weather endless storms and tempests.
If only it weren't for that scar.
"With this flaw I caused, it's like a crack has appeared in the hull of the ship."
"Seawater slowly seeps in through the fissure. If one still wishes to cross the sea with it, the inevitable end is sinking to the bottom of the ocean."
His gaze seemingly skipped across the river of time, glimpsing the future. This wasn't based on deduction, but a vision that appeared directly before Li Buren.
"This feeling..."
"Is this what truly powerful beings perceive daily?"
At this moment, Li Buren understood.
What he was seeing now should be the perspective of the "High Wall" itself.
Despite other True Immortals leaving behind restrictions and formations, the core foundation of the High Wall was the five Dao-bearing phantoms left by the Mound Guardian.
Through the dark connection between the wooden chair the Mound Guardian once sat in and the phantoms, he could, to a certain extent, borrow a portion of their power.
It could withstand the calamity of Dao Erasure and shield him from the gaze of the Nameless.
The value of the phantoms left by the Mound Guardian needed no further explanation.
Borrowing their power, Li Buren not only saw the imperfection of the Profound Coffin at a glance but also vaguely glimpsed the principle by which it could traverse worlds.
Just as Li Fan had previously speculated.
This boat, which seemed capable of crossing an endless ocean, was not made of particularly outstanding materials. However, it appeared to be composed of countless overlapping shadows.
With each additional overlapping shadow, its stability increased by one point.
With the cumulative effect, it could ignore the wind and waves.
"This... should be the same principle as the Black Heavenly Physician and Evil Su Bai hunting down their alternate selves, right?"
Li Buren became somewhat engrossed, gazing at the overlapping shadows on the Profound Coffin, his gaze seemingly tracing them to see other possibilities.
But precisely because of the flaw he had previously inflicted, the Profound Coffin before him was deviating from these overlapping shadows.
Initially, there was only a negligible deviation.
But Li Buren saw that as the external winds and waves swayed, the difference was continuously growing with the passage of time!
His probing gaze was thus distorted and obstructed.
He could not truly see the other possibilities.
Not even a sliver of light.
Li Buren inwardly lamented the pity.
"If the World-Crossing Profound Coffin were intact, perhaps I could truly see the path to other possibilities?"
Compared to the Profound Coffin itself, the method used to seal it seemed somewhat crude.
It was like a few rough ropes haphazardly tied to a flawless white wall.
It was indeed secure.
But with the High Wall, or rather, the gaze of the Mound Guardian's Dao-bearing phantoms, Li Buren easily saw the key to untying these knots.
"So, at the Mound Guardian's level of cultivation, all methods are understood. No matter what divine abilities or techniques you employ, I, from my superior position, can see through it with a single glance."
Li Buren was lost in contemplation for a moment, when a thought suddenly arose in his mind.
"I wonder if, besides 'seeing,' I can also utilize more of the Mound Guardian's phantom power?"
Once the thought arose, it could no longer be suppressed.
He desperately recalled the contents of "Mound Guardian's Casual Notes" and sensed the aura of the Mound Guardian left on the Grand Tutor's chair beneath him.
As if seeing the solitary figure of the Mound Guardian, gazing at the sea and standing for eternity.
In that instant, Li Buren felt as if he had returned to the core of the High Wall, surrounded by the five phantoms!
He was in the center of the phantoms, being jointly observed.
Li Buren felt immense pressure.
This time, it wasn't about receiving a legacy, so the phantoms seemed to have no active defenses. It was like facing mountains and seas, and the Mound Guardian upon them.
Li Buren felt as if his body were being pressed into the Grand Tutor's chair beneath him.
This was not merely physical, but also spiritual.
Sharply sensing that the five surrounding phantoms of the Mound Guardian seemed to have moved closer to him, Li Buren decisively sprang up from the Grand Tutor's chair.
Like falling from the clouds to the mortal world, the boundless visible horizon was compressed back into a small space.
Li Buren experienced a moment of disorientation.
Fortunately, his subjective will was not strong, and he quickly adjusted.
"Indeed, I can borrow the phantom's power."
"However, the phantoms are primarily used to bear Dao Erasure and cannot lend much power. And it's a double-edged sword."
"The gap between myself and the Mound Guardian's phantoms is simply too vast. Even if the Mound Guardian had no ill intentions, using it rashly would inevitably lead to assimilation."
This was Li Buren's analysis.
Meanwhile, Li Fan's main body was far more delighted than Li Buren.
"After escaping the Abyssal Sea and seeing beings like the The Dao Lattice, Immortal Hunters, and Nameless True Immortals, I've always treaded cautiously, constantly wary of these powerful beings finding their way to the Xuanhuang Realm through connections."
"But now..."
Li Fan's main body suddenly stood up, looked in the direction of the High Wall, and exclaimed with joy.
Just now, his main body hadn't detected the assimilation trend that Li Buren had perceived.
In other words, whatever impact using the Mound Guardian's phantoms might have, it wouldn't affect him.
"The Mound Guardian could single-handedly withstand the catastrophic calamity of Dao Erasure. Even the Immortal Emperors governing the Immortal Realm showed him junior respect..."
"The phantoms he left behind should be far beyond what ordinary True Immortals can contend with."
"The more phantom power I can wield, the stronger I become."
"In other words, in the vicinity of this High Wall, even if the Nameless himself were to appear, I wouldn't fear him!"
Li Fan hadn't been this excited in a long time.
With Return to Truth, all treasures in the world seemed to have little value to him.
Theoretically, as long as he willed it, he could turn any precious or rare item into an infinite quantity.
But the Mound Guardian's phantoms were not valuable due to their quantity.
Similar to Return to Truth, their very existence was their greatest value!
It was like finding a heaven-defying item in a game. Li Fan couldn't wait to try it out.
His gaze shifted to the Profound Coffin floating quietly outside the High Wall.
"You two, you've rested long enough."
"Let me trouble you. Let's see how good the Mound Guardian's phantoms really are!"
Wielding the Mound Guardian's phantoms would indeed have great negative consequences.
Even using them excessively might even trigger an early descent of Dao Erasure.
But these were all outside Li Fan's scope of consideration!
Having received Li Fan's command, Li Buren rested for a short while before sitting back down on the Grand Tutor's chair.
Concurrently, "Ma Tiande," who had been dormant in the Annihilation Land's starry sky, suddenly opened his eyes.
The gaze of the Mound Guardian's phantoms slowly merged with what this body was seeing.
The previously flawless and seemingly impenetrable World-Crossing Profound Coffin now felt instantly breakable.
Ma Tiande revealed a meaningful smile and gently swept his hand towards the "rope knot" in his field of vision.
The knot, entangled in thousands of threads, was thus easily untied.
With a muffled roar, the coffin lid also moved aside.
Qian Ruochang and Wu Xian in the coffin were clearly startled by this sudden development.
Without a moment's hesitation, they unleashed their full potential, attempting to escape from the coffin.
The moment they leaped out of the World-Crossing Profound Coffin, Li Fan saw their true appearances.
First, let's talk about Qian Ruochang.
From a normal perspective, he was a burly, muscular man, wielding a giant pillar, imposing and fierce.
But from the perspective of the Mound Guardian's phantoms, Qian Ruochang wasn't even considered "human."
He was a mass of cloud energy.
Or perhaps, a composite of the Great Dao.
Just like the silvery bone structure Li Fan had glimpsed before, Qian Ruochang's entire body was formed and manifested by strands of the Great Dao.
Only the core controlling this body was a normal human soul.
It was like a miniature The Dao Lattice superimposed on an individual's soul.
"No wonder Qian Ruochang felt so strange to me."
"What is this? Is it 'Great Dao Descends Upon the Body'? Or a The Dao Lattice mecha?"
Qian Ruochang's method could indeed allow a mortal body to exert the power of the Great Dao. Under the Nameless, even True Immortals would find it hard to match.
However, the drawbacks were also extremely obvious.
It was not connected to the Infinite Sea, nor was it truly connected to the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth. Every bit of power consumed could not be replenished. Even though the miniature The Dao Lattice was infinitely powerful, it couldn't last.
More crucially, the soul enveloped by the miniature The Dao Lattice was constantly being squeezed by Dao Strings. The pain was unimaginable, as if being sliced a thousand times.
This wasn't something that could be endured simply by having a strong will. It was inevitable that the soul would be torn into countless fragments under such pressure.
A strong soul and a firm will would only slow down this process.
"Even with a divine ability similar to my 'Infinite Void and Formation,' it would be useless."
"Given the current strength of Qian Ruochang's soul, it can only last for a maximum of three hundred years."
"For mortals, this is a long life. But for True Immortals, it is too short."
Li Fan then looked at Wu Xian.
Known for severing all connections to the world.
But in Li Fan's eyes, it was far from that.
If every person in the world was a projection of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth from a certain angle, rich and three-dimensional, then this Wu Xian had, as much as possible, shaved himself down to a "thin bamboo pole," minimizing his intersection with the Great Dao.
While it seemed as if he had severed ties with everything in the world, essentially, it had nothing to do with "nothingness."
It was somewhat close to the Dao of "Solitude" or "Loneliness."
"The culmination of this immortal's cultivation is not the profound and mysterious Dao of nothingness, but transforming himself into a principle within Heaven and Earth, becoming a part of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth while remaining outside of it."
"The moment of great achievement is the Minor Transcendence."
"Indeed, a True Immortal who has survived to this day!"
With a single glance, Li Fan understood the essence of this "Wu Xian," and couldn't help but praise.
The benefits of observing from a high vantage point with the Mound Guardian's gaze were self-evident.
All sorts of demons and monsters revealed their true forms with a single glance.
While Li Fan was observing, Qian Ruochang and Wu Xian, as if having pre-arranged it, unleashed their ultimate escape techniques and moved in different directions, intending to flee.
Li Buren increased the power he borrowed from the phantoms and cast another heavy glance.
The Great Dao of Heaven and Earth, which was constantly undulating in this region, was thus frozen.
Qian Ruochang and Wu Xian were like insects in a net.
Immobilized!
Both the True Immortals and Qian Ruochang's The Dao Lattice Outer Body relied on the power of the Dao. Facing the projection of the Mound Guardian, their understanding of the Dao far surpassed his. All their divine abilities and methods became ineffective. From Li Fan's perspective, the Spirit Qi of the Dao in this annihilated land's starry sky, which was not very dense, was instantly drawn to the Mound Guardian's projection. It was like a colossal vortex appearing in the sea, claiming absolute priority.
Qian Ruochang and Wu Xian were inevitably affected. Now they had lost control of themselves. If they remained in this distorted Great Dao vortex for too long, they might risk losing their Dao. Seeing the two struggling yet helpless Immortals, Li Fan’s heart churned. "Perhaps this is also because this starry sky was once subjected to the Tribulation of Dao Erasure, making it extremely fragile. However, the main reason is that the Mound Guardian's true body has reached an unfathomable realm. Therefore, even a small portion of the power from just one of his five projections could instantly suppress two True Immortals!"
While Li Fan was pondering, Qian Ruochang and Wu Xian, who were restrained, were already sweating profusely. They both considered themselves top experts within their respective factions. Yet, they were so casually manipulated by this mysterious figure! Their thoughts raced as they contemplated the possible origins of this mysterious person.
It was at this moment that Li Fan discovered he could faintly perceive the inner thoughts of these two True Immortal-level figures. This was not like the Heavenly Physician's "Observing, Listening, Inquiring, and Pulsing" technique, which only provided vague emotional tendencies. Instead, it displayed specific images within his mind! Although not every scene was perfectly clear due to the fluctuations of their thoughts, this genuine "heart-peeking" ability greatly shocked Li Fan. It was important to note that the targets of this "heart-peeking" were not ordinary mortals or weaklings, but genuine True Immortals! Furthermore, Qian Ruochang and Wu Xian were both close to the Nameless realm!
"Perhaps because before transcending, they were all still creations of the Dao. Whether it was a movement or a deep meditation, they could not escape the Heavenly Dao of Heaven and Earth. The clearer their understanding of the Dao, the more accurately they could perceive the changes in living beings within the Dao."
"The things that are most valued in consciousness, the fluctuations they cause are more pronounced. If a powerful being like the Mound Guardian were to appear before me, and I instinctively invoked 'Return to Truth' to restart, it would be instantly discovered by him. This would repeat the past events with the Heavenly Physician."
"No wonder I still felt such a strong premonition in my heart even before the Black Heavenly Physician arrived. If I hadn't decisively restarted with Return to Truth early on, I might have..." Feeling a sense of lingering fear, Li Fan did not dwell on the emotion of dread. Instead, he naturally sought a method to avoid being spied upon.
"Being perceived is because it causes changes in the Dao, like ripples on a calm water surface. Even the slightest disturbance is noticeable. If one wants to avoid this..." With the aid of the Mound Guardian's projection, Li Fan was able to seek a fundamental solution. Soon, he discovered the most suitable method, one that was almost tailor-made for him.
"As long as I am alive, fluctuations of my thoughts are unavoidable."
"The Mound Guardian has observed the sea for a hundred epochs. No matter what fortuitous encounters I have, my understanding and knowledge of the Dao cannot possibly exceed his. The Black Heavenly Physician, who could devour other selves by traversing possibilities, must also be above me. To disguise myself before them? Difficult, difficult, difficult..."
"The only viable method is to conceal the fluctuations caused by my divine sense within the macroscopic. The ripple caused by a drop of water falling, though noticeable in a small pond, is almost imperceptible in the vast, boundless ocean, especially if these ripples arise spontaneously rather than from external forces."
"Mind Manifesting Soul Transformation, projecting the The Dao Lattice!"
A sharp glint flashed in Li Fan's eyes: "The closer my projected The Dao Lattice is to the true Heavenly Dao of Heaven and Earth, the stronger my concealment will be. As for my current level..." Ma Tiande cooperated by deliberately indulging in fantasies. Under the Mound Guardian's projection, a good nine out of ten of his thoughts and imaginings were captured.
"It seems I am still far from hiding my divine thoughts before transcendents," Li Fan acknowledged his true strength clearly, so he did not feel discouraged. He refocused his attention on the thoughts of Qian Ruochang and Wu Xian. Unlike the continuous scenes captured from Li Fan's mind, his glimpses into these two were intermittent.
What flashed in Qian Ruochang's mind were True Immortals whom he speculated had displayed combat power against the Mound Guardian's projection. Their appearances and names were unknown, identified only by their titles for specific anchoring. Qian Ruochang himself had never met these True Immortals, only heard of them from the highest secret list of the Immortal Hunters.
The three figures Qian Ruochang most confidently believed in were the most clearly spied upon. The first was "Benevolent Transformation." This True Immortal could conceptually twist all harmful actions inflicted upon the Star Sea by the True Immortal forces into beneficial ones. He was active at the beginning of the conflict between the Immortal Hunters and the True Immortals. The Immortal Hunters frequently suffered heavy losses, but from top to bottom, they acted as if they had won a great victory, feeling no sense of crisis and becoming even more blindly optimistic. Yet, they were baffled by the current state of the Star Sea resulting from the battles. All indicators pointed to favorable outcomes, but reality was deteriorating. Ultimately, the Star Sea was reduced to a mere sliver of territory. It was only at the last moment that someone enlightened them, and they realized the peril.
The benefits of Benevolent Transformation were not limited to macro-level battles, but also manifested as an extreme threat from the individual "Benevolent Transformation" True Immortal. After failing to alter the conceptual landscape, the Benevolent Transformation True Immortal once went deep alone, intending to end the war single-handedly. Even in front of the Immortal Hunters, he slaughtered his relatives and friends. Those influenced by the Dao of Benevolent Transformation felt no anger but instead became excited and cheered. It was as if the slaughter was a great happiness and liberation for them. Benevolent Transformation moved as if through an uninhabited land, killing wantonly. If he hadn't been stopped at the last moment, this star sea might not have existed anymore.
...
After peeking into this, Li Fan couldn't help but frown slightly. " this 'Benevolent Transformation' True Immortal is indeed somewhat terrifying. More domineering than Doctrine Transmitter Jiang's characteristic of 'All Things Are As I Am'. At least, if 'I' slaughtered my relatives and friends, I would instinctively stop them. But influenced by the power of Benevolent Transformation, one could only smile and clap."
"Every time the Benevolent Transformation True Immortal is mentioned, Qian Ruochang's mental fluctuations are so strong. Clearly, this Benevolent Transformation left a significant psychological shadow on the Immortal Hunters."
"Although Benevolent Transformation is powerful, the existence within the Immortal Hunters who intervened twice at the last moment to counteract the power of Benevolent Transformation seems to have the upper hand. However, it's as if they were deliberately erased. Every time Qian Ruochang thinks of this person, he instinctively glosses over them, providing almost no useful information."
"Judging by this power, could it be that grand hand that suppressed the The Dao Lattice?" Li Fan moved on to the next True Immortal. This Immortal cultivated "Chaos." Most of the Immortal Hunters' strength relied on the The Dao Lattice. However, this True Immortal, who cultivated the Dao of Chaos, could disrupt the Heavenly Dao, restoring it to the dark and obscure state before the heavens and earth were opened. Wherever this Immortal went, even if he stood still, the Star Sea's combat effectiveness would be greatly reduced. Perhaps because the Chaos True Immortal's actions caused too much destruction to the star sea, the True Immortal forces were also hesitant. This Chaos True Immortal had only appeared a few times in reality, but each appearance caused immense trouble for the Immortal Hunters.
As for the last True Immortal in Qian Ruochang's mind... "It is said that he was the one who forged the 'Reverse Flow Boat'?" Li Fan was slightly shocked. The Reverse Flow Boat was a creation that surpassed the Profound Coffin of World Crossing within the three methods of seeking seclusion. It could traverse the river of time and return to the past. Regarding this True Immortal, Qian Ruochang's thoughts were also very limited, flashing by in an instant. The moment Li Fan captured these thoughts, he instinctively urged Li Buren to increase the use of the projection's power. In just an instant, he saw more. The True Immortal who forged the Reverse Flow Boat was referred to as 'Reverse' within the Immortal Hunters. After the Reverse Flow Boat was forged, whether 'Reverse' had boarded the divine boat and traveled to the past became a mystery with the complete disappearance of that generation of True Immortals.
However, based on various clues over the generations, the Immortal Hunters judged that this True Immortal, who secretly commanded the power of time reversal, might still be alive. This was because as the The Dao Lattice grew stronger, and after the Immortal Hunters launched their counterattack, the True Immortals gradually fell into a disadvantage. Yet, each time the True Immortals were in dire straits, they were often able to miraculously turn danger into safety. Ruling out the possibility of traitors, and based on other crucial evidence, the Immortal Hunters had basically confirmed the existence of this 'Reverse' Immortal.
... "Reverse." If Li Fan, who had mastered Return to Truth, was interested in any Dao law in the world, it would undoubtedly be this power of reversing time. What was the specific difference from the True-False Transformation of Return to Truth? More importantly, if Li Fan mastered it, could he return to and anchor himself in time from one year ago? However, this 'Reverse' was truly mysterious. Even within the Immortal Hunters, its existence was only inferred from scattered clues. Nothing else was known.
Compared to Qian Ruochang's various speculations, the "Wu" Immortal's mind was much simpler, all pointing to one possibility: "Script-Carving Immortal!" From the images flashing in Wu Xian's divine thoughts, it was clear that when he was still in the Immortal Realm, he had seen the original "Dao Book" left by the Script-Carving Immortal. Therefore, he could recognize the Script-Carving Immortal's power with absolute clarity. Thus, after achieving success in his cultivation, he was easily suppressed like a plaything by someone, and his first reaction was that the opponent was the Script-Carving Immortal.
"This Wu Xian's thoughts also contain rumors of the Script-Carving Immortal's death. However, he has always dismissed them."
"Interestingly, Wu Xian has also heard of the great name of the Mound Guardian. As for why he didn't suspect the Mound Guardian..."
"Even with his supreme power, the Mound Guardian would not do something so cruel to the weak." Li Fan couldn't help but shake his head slightly. Peeking into the minds of True Immortals allowed Li Fan to experience the feelings of the strongest beings in the mortal world. But it was by no means without side effects. The ancient and weathered aura of mountains and seas on Li Buren's body gradually intensified. The myriad experimental spaces, including the Abyssal Sea, also emitted faint rumblings, like signs of an approaching high tide. Through the pervasive perception of the Carefree Dream, Li Fan sensed that a wisp of Dao Erasure dark energy had inexplicably generated in the Abyssal Sea.
"The Mound Guardian's projection is like a dam holding back a great flood. Now that I have used even a little of it, the overwhelming flood will inevitably seep through." Li Fan had anticipated this, but he hadn't expected the Dao Erasure to arrive so quickly. With a thought, Li Buren sprang from the Grand Tutor's chair. His body trembled uncontrollably, attempting to break free from the aura of mountains and seas to minimize the impact of the Mound Guardian's projection.
With the deterrence of the Mound Guardian's projection gone, Qian Ruochang and Wu Xian were able to move. However, they did not leave easily. Seeing Ma Tiande's half-smirking expression, they instinctively appeared cautious. After a moment of hesitation, they both bowed in unison. They believed that a powerful being who could suppress them in an instant would not toy with them without reason. At the same time, Qian Ruochang glanced strangely at the "newly ascended Immortal Boat" before him. "It must be that his body has been possessed."
"Does this Profound Coffin of World Crossing truly allow one to cross worlds?" Li Fan, controlling Ma Tiande's body, asked directly, without any pleasantries or pleasantries. Qian Ruochang and Wu Xian were slightly stunned. "It can indeed cross worlds," Qian Ruochang quickly responded with certainty. Wu Xian added, "It is said that this coffin was crafted from the decaying remains of a transcendent being, and thus it can traverse the infinite sea and reach the other shore. This is why I risked everything to rush for it at the last moment."
"I didn't expect to be trapped." Qian Ruochang sneered, "It can't be considered a trap. If you hadn't appeared, I would have truly crossed over." Li Fan remained noncommittal regarding their argument. Even without the ability to peek into their minds, he could tell that Wu Xian seemed somewhat disappointed. It was likely that he had determined, through some method, that this "senior" Li Fan was impersonating was not the Script-Carving Immortal.
Disregarding their unspoken thoughts, Li Fan, mimicking the Mound Guardian, stood with his hands behind his back and sighed lightly. "With the Great Tribulation upon us, where is truly safe?" "Crossing worlds, crossing worlds. It is merely deceiving oneself, moving from one low-lying area to another." Qian Ruochang and Wu Xian did not seem surprised by Li Fan's words. "We will always find the true other shore," Wu Xian said with an inexplicable tone. "Yes. Unfortunately, with only seven million years remaining, it may not be enough," Li Fan continued along the same line.
Once again, Li Buren invoked the Mound Guardian's projection's power. With a gentle wave of his hand, he collected the Profound Coffin of World Crossing. Facing Li Fan's blatant act of plundering treasure, Qian Ruochang and Wu Xian dared not show any unusual expression. From their words, Li Fan surmised that while the Star Sea and the True Immortals might know more about the Great Tribulation in the mortal world, they might not know the specific lifespan of this world. Indeed, upon hearing "seven million years," both of them couldn't hide their inner shock.
In chapter 1471, titled "Passing Down the Wonderful Method for the Public," Li Fan, using Ma Tiande's body, let out a sinister laugh. "The great tide surges, world destruction is imminent, and no one can escape," he declared. "At most, it's just a matter of dying sooner or later. In a sense, our endings are no different from the true immortals who died unjustly in the past."
He then cast an extremely strange glance at Qian Ruochang and Wuxian, making them inexplicably uneasy.
"I have seen cruel strife and slaughter in your memories," Ma Tiande continued. "I thought that by the time the Tribulation of Dao Erasure reached this stage, the people below would have united. But I didn't expect..." He chuckled.
Ma Tiande looked at Wuxian with extreme coldness. Even though it was just a mortal's body, his gaze made the true immortal's heart skip a beat. That expression, which disdained all things in heaven and earth, even billions of true immortals, was not something that could be faked! He had once been fortunate enough to see the Heavenly Emperor Tianluo from afar when he inspected the various realms. Although the Heavenly Emperor Tianluo had a smiling face, his core remained aloof and proud, looking down upon all beings. This was consistent with what the mysterious senior before him unintentionally revealed!
"Observing memories, I..." Coupled with the casual vocabulary the other party used, a bold guess suddenly arose in Wuxian's mind. "Not all of the ruling Heavenly Emperors in the Immortal Realm remained on their thrones until their death. In the long history, one or two of them retired early. They shed all their burdens and lived freely in the world thereafter. They were called the Hidden Emperors of the Immortal Realm."
"Could it be..." Wuxian's mind raced. Ma Tiande spoke again, "The true immortals at the peak of Myriad Spirits have now been reduced to the point of being hunted like prey. What a disgrace to me. What use is there for them to remain in the world? It would be better to dismantle them to offset the Dao Erasure. Moreover, the pillar supporting this star domain seems to be loosening."
Before he finished speaking, the power of the Guardian Immortal's phantom descended again. Wuxian's face instantly turned pale. He felt as if invisible hands had fiercely grabbed his cultivated Dao path and were simultaneously tearing at it. He had originally cultivated the The Solitude Seal, achieving a great separation from other Dao paths in the world. But now, under the effect of these invisible giant hands, he felt as if he was being stuffed back in! To him, the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth was like a spiderweb. It had taken him three thousand years to carefully sever his connections and escape. Now, he was about to return to his starting point in an instant! Even though his understanding of the The Solitude Seal remained, it would take at least a thousand years of re-sorting to escape again amidst the tangled Dao web. What terrified Wuxian even more was Ma Tiande's remark, "It would be better to dismantle them to offset the Dao Erasure." Although he had not yet attained the Realm of the Nameless, due to the uniqueness of his cultivated Dao path, he was like a pillar of solitude. Theoretically, he could indeed serve as a foundation to resist the Dao Erasure. And judging by his current predicament, this "Hidden Emperor" seemed to be serious!
Feeling his body becoming heavier and heavier as he returned to heaven and earth, Wuxian could no longer maintain his composure and cried out in terror, "Your Majesty, spare me! Your Majesty, spare me!"
Hearing this, Qian Ruochang's expression changed. All his previous guesses were overturned, and he became even more uncertain about the identity of the mysterious person before him.
"I have long since ceased to concern myself with worldly affairs," Ma Tiande said. "I cannot accept the title of 'Your Majesty.' The destruction of the Immortal Realm lies primarily with the ruling Heavenly Emperors. Your Majesty..."
"Hmph!" Wuxian's words seemed to anger the other party even more. From Qian Ruochang's perspective, the true immortal, who was originally a blurred phantom that couldn't be seen clearly, began to become gradually distinct from various parts of his body amidst distortions. However, his colors were not like those of normal things in the world, but rather a strange black and white shadow.
"Senior, please calm your anger! Even if our crude immortal bodies all die, they will be useless in resisting the Dao Erasure." Wuxian quickly reacted, before the pressure on him became too great to speak: "The Star Sea of the North has captured several Nameless ones, yet instead of using them to ward off calamities, they have woven a The Dao Lattice to hunt us..."
Hearing this, this Hidden Immortal Emperor did indeed loosen his grip. But his words remained cold: "No wonder you are all at a disadvantage. After fighting for so long, you still don't know the true purpose of the The Dao Lattice." Ma Tiande glanced at Qian Ruochang. Qian Ruochang felt as if his The Dao Lattice outer body was instantly caught in a tempest. His body, woven from myriad Great Daos, felt as if it was on the verge of shattering in a short period. Fortunately, this storm did not last long. As the Hidden Heavenly Being shifted his gaze away, Qian Ruochang was almost exhausted, but he had survived.
"You explain it to this fool," came the cold voice. Qian Ruochang hesitated for a moment, but upon meeting the other party's indifferent gaze and recalling his own helplessness earlier, his heart skipped a beat, and he finally spoke: "Hunting true immortals is to strengthen the The Dao Lattice, not to weave the The Dao Lattice in order to hunt immortals. Don't think too highly of yourself and mistake the cause for the effect! In the past, when the Immortal Realm was destroyed, countless true immortals fled to the lower realms to find new paths. During this process, some were willing to become pillars to resist calamities, while others sought self-preservation. Others, in despair, wished to flee and survive. It was they who took the lead, uniting the immortals and proposing the 'Three Methods of Seeking Refuge': the World-Crossing Profound Coffin, the Reverse Flow Divine Boat, and the ultimate method of transcending the Dao... They left cleanly, but left behind an even worse mess for us, their descendants!" Qian Ruochang's tone was tinged with resentment.
"Among those who fled were many Nameless ones. If they had followed the normal path of transcendence, they would have left behind remnants, phantoms, and treasures, whose essence was unified with the Dao, and could barely serve as support. But they did not do so. It was not that they lacked the ability, but rather that they were unwilling! This place is merely the remaining starry sky that they abandoned!" Qian Ruochang said coldly to Wuxian.
Wuxian wanted to retort, parted his lips, but didn't know what to say. Because, strictly speaking, he was also one of the abandoned.
"We abandoned children must naturally choose to save ourselves. Fortunately, among the true immortals of the past, not all were heartless and unrighteous. We joined forces, using the Nameless immortals as bones and true immortals as strings. We wove this The Dao Lattice, waiting for the day when the heavens would collapse, to leave a path of survival for all living beings in the world!" Qian Ruochang's tone was filled with pride.
"The idea is good, but unfortunately, that net is still too weak," Li Fan interjected with a critique. This was not an empty statement. It was his true assessment of the "net" woven by the mortals of the Star Sea of the North, after seeing the "mountain" that resisted the endless sea for a hundred epochs in the memories of the Guardian Immortal. If the The Dao Lattice of the Star Sea of the North were to spread near the The Great Barrier, Li Fan could completely use the Guardian Immortal's phantom to tear open a large hole in it. Even if the strength of the The Dao Lattice drew closer, it was not impossible to dismantle the Nameless true immortal pillars at the core of the The Dao Lattice and place them inside the The Great Barrier as pillars. In fact, Li Fan was somewhat tempted. If there were other Nameless true immortals to serve as pillars to resist the Dao Erasure, the power of the Guardian Immortal's phantom that he could wield would undoubtedly increase.
Qian Ruochang dared not refute Li Fan's "belittling." He merely said solemnly, "Although it cannot withstand the tide of eternity, it can barely provide a place to survive. It is better than doing nothing."
Hearing this, Li Fan was not angry, but rather showed some admiration. "If the Immortal Realm still existed in the past, it would be no problem to allocate some to you to fill the The Dao Lattice. Although your method is a bit crude, it is a way to utilize waste." He had just peered into Wuxian's mind and the guess about his Hidden Emperor identity. Therefore, he continued to play the part. In simple words, he treated the true immortals as ants. This made Qian Ruochang and Wuxian tremble with fear. If it were merely arrogant boasting, it would not have struck such terror into their hearts. But coupled with the fact that he could manipulate them like toys with a casual gesture... it undoubtedly proved that this senior was not exaggerating.
"I remember there was a Hidden Emperor who seemed to be as capricious and tyrannical as this," Wuxian thought. "After his mysterious retirement, the various immortal domains celebrated wildly."
Without waiting for Wuxian to think further, Li Fan turned and asked, "I remember that before the Guardian Immortal left, he passed down the method of 'Phantom Selves Bearing the Dao' to the world. Unfortunately, this method is only suitable for the Realm of the Nameless. And not all Nameless true immortals can successfully leave behind a Dao-transmitting phantom. This The Dao Lattice is indeed more efficient than the Guardian Immortal's method."
Hearing this Hidden Immortal Emperor mention the Guardian Immortal, Qian Ruochang showed no reaction. Wuxian, however, trembled in his heart. This was because he felt the Hidden Immortal Emperor's fleeting gaze fall upon him again.
"Perhaps the two can be combined. Only the Nameless can bear the Dao, because ordinary true immortals have insufficient understanding of the Dao. And the immortals rarely share their enlightenment with each other. But now, there is something called a 'The Dao Lattice' in the world. Interesting..." "Have you heard of the 'Phantom Selves Bearing the Dao' method?"
Wuxian's body trembled slightly, and he repeatedly shook his head, "I have heard of it. But junior's talent is dull, and I am not fated to receive the Guardian Immortal's inheritance."
"Watch carefully!" Inside the The Great Barrier, Li Buren's body suddenly erupted with countless cracks. These were signs that the Immortal Realm shards were beginning to be crushed by an immeasurable, immense pressure. Li Buren's face became even more similar to the Guardian Immortal's. Facing such a perilous situation, Li Buren showed no fear, just as the Guardian Immortal had been calm when facing the great tide of Dao Erasure. He took out one of the Immortal Realm chess pieces preserved in the phantom space to mend his shattered body. At the same time, he poured all the inheritance of 'Guardian Immortal's Casual Notes' into Wuxian's body. Although it was not directly passed down by the Guardian Immortal's phantom, the Guardian Immortal's insights were vast and profound. Even after being diluted by Li Fan, they were still like a vast ocean, unfathomable to ordinary true immortals. Moreover, Li Buren's ability to accept the inheritance through the manifestation of his mind and projection of the The Dao Lattice was not much weaker than that of the Nameless realm. Coupled with the fact that the inheritance used the power of the Guardian Immortal's phantom, even if Wuxian's understanding was incomplete, he would only attribute it to his own lack of ability, not to a problem with the inheritance itself. Judging by Wuxian's current mesmerized and deeply shocked expression, it was evident.
The Immortal Venerable had no equal in strength among the surviving True Immortals of the Star Sea of the North. His assimilation of the "Echoing Dao Phantom" technique from the Mound Guardian was far smoother than Li Buren’s. He suffered little substantial impact, his expression mostly one of rapturous enjoyment. Compared to Li Buren's poorly assembled, half-baked True Immortal form, the inheritance from the "Mound Guardian's Casual Notes" was clearly more suited to a true Immortal.
The countless thoughts of the Mound Guardian over a hundred epochs might have been useless to Li Buren, but to the orthodox Immortal, Wu Xian, they were a momentous opportunity. Qian Ruochang, observing Wu Xian, saw the aura radiating from him become more elusive and unfathomable at a visible pace. It seemed that in this short time, his strength had undergone a qualitative breakthrough. This not only shocked Qian Ruochang but also filled him with envy.
After an immeasurable amount of time, Wu Xian finally emerged from the Mound Guardian's vast ocean of thoughts. "Thank you for the bestowed technique, Senior," he said earnestly. He spoke from the heart. The Mound Guardian had disappeared long before the Immortal Realm's destruction. Without this reclusive Emperor's generous transmission, how could he have had the chance to witness such a profound method?
"The conception of the The Dao Lattice is indeed exquisite. With the Nameless as the bones and True Immortals as the strings, it can indeed create a net to save the world. It's a pity that there are still too few True Immortals surviving. You yourselves would surely not be willing to sacrifice yourselves into the net so readily," Li Fan's voice echoed quietly in the silent starry sky. It held a subtle difference from before, perhaps due to the recent bestowal of techniques.
Qian Ruochang, however, paid little attention to this. He was more focused on the words of the mysterious senior. "This 'Mound Guardian's Casual Notes,' you may pass it on for me. Regardless of the past or their identity, as long as they are willing to leave behind a phantom, its ability to echo the Dao will be no less than that of its true form. If the True Immortals still surviving in this star sea were to leave behind an Echoing Dao Phantom in the The Dao Lattice..."
"The two sides do not necessarily have to face a path of 'you die, I live'," Li Fan continued. Upon hearing this, Qian Ruochang finally understood the true meaning of the "Echoing Dao Phantom" secret technique. The disputes that had lasted for an age seemed to finally have a glimmer of hope for resolution, and his heart was filled with inexplicable excitement.
Wu Xian's excitement surpassed Qian Ruochang's. It wasn't just because he saw the possibility of reconciliation between the two sides, but also because he himself could pass on the "Mound Guardian's" secret technique. Even after many years, the name "Mound Guardian" still held an incomparable weight among True Immortals in the Immortal Realm. Especially Emperor Tianluo, whose grand pronouncements and ambitions echoed throughout the Immortal Realm, claiming he would completely resolve the Dao Obliteration Tribulation and simultaneously forge a transcendent "Eternal Immortal Dynasty." However, this had instead invited the calamity. The surviving True Immortals of the Immortal Realm often spoke with deep nostalgia of the Mound Guardian, who single-handedly repelled the Dao Obliteration. If the Mound Guardian were still here, would the Immortal Realm have been destroyed? This was a recurring sentiment among the Immortal Sects.
And now, he was able to pass on the Mound Guardian's secret technique... What an honor! He would much rather undertake this task than hide in the World-Crossing Profound Coffin and flee in disarray. Furthermore, with the Echoing Dao Phantom technique, if it could be combined with the The Dao Lattice technique, perhaps they could truly turn the tide and forge a world-saving immortal boat amidst the despair of the Dao Obliteration Tribulation! Wu Xian's heart trembled, and he could barely contain himself from immediately setting out to promote this matter.
"Since I have already passed on the technique, the Mound Guardian's trust has been fulfilled," Li Fan said. "As for how you two sides wish to proceed next..."
"Heh, it has little to do with me," Li Fan's voice was detached. "You two may withdraw now."
As Qian Ruochang and Wu Xian were deeply engrossed in their thoughts, Li Fan unceremoniously dismissed them. This statement made both of them keenly aware of the underlying anomaly.
"The Reclusive Emperor Senior has never revealed his true form, and now he commands us to leave..."
"Could it be that his true body is hidden here, but for some reason, he cannot manifest?" The strength displayed by the Reclusive Emperor Senior was unfathomable. And what could restrict him... In this world, perhaps only the Dao Obliteration Tribulation!
A thought simultaneously appeared in both their minds: "Could this Reclusive Emperor Senior be acting as a pillar, holding up the Dao Obliteration Tribulation?" This was not a wild guess, as it was not unprecedented in history. However, those nameless True Immortals who temporarily sealed the Dao Obliteration were invariably consumed by it and perished. For a Reclusive Emperor Senior like this one, who bore the weight of the Dao Obliteration Tribulation and could still move to some extent... history likely only knew of the Mound Guardian capable of such a feat!
And the Reclusive Emperor Senior's subsequent words further confirmed their suspicions: "You still won't leave? Do you expect me to see you out personally?"
"Heh heh heh, it wouldn't be a problem for me to stretch and limber up. I'm just afraid this domain of stars will no longer be able to contain the Dao Obliteration Tribulation!" The moment the words "Dao Obliteration Tribulation" were spoken, subtle fluctuations emanated from the surrounding starry sky. It evoked a sense of dread, as if a great catastrophe was imminent. This place had survived the aftermath of the Dao Obliteration, and with these fluctuations, it seemed as though the heavens and earth were about to collapse again. The innate warnings of danger were undeniable.
Their internal speculations validated, Qian Ruochang and Wu Xian exchanged complex glances. They bowed deeply towards the Reclusive Emperor Senior, who had already departed from Ma Tiande's body. Then, they both retreated from this star field. As for the newly inducted Immortal Hunters, who were still slumbering... Without the Reclusive Emperor Senior's command, they dared not ask for their release. Besides, compared to the current gains, these juniors were insignificant.
"Immortal Hunters..." Qian Ruochang's mind flashed with the image of a supreme figure. "From now on, perhaps their name will change." That figure could be said to have personally crafted the initial The Dao Lattice. Although he appeared ruthless towards his own kind, the True Immortals and even the Nameless True Immortals, suppressing them with brutal force. Yet, Qian Ruochang understood that figure still held some affection for the Immortals in his heart. Otherwise, if he had acted personally, this war would have ended long ago, and the Governing Council would not have accepted the allegiance of those True Immortals who had descended to the mortal realm. These individuals, while appearing docile, all harbored ulterior motives and were completely unstable factors.
"Mound Guardian. I think I've heard that name. I just don't know exactly who that person was." Wu Xian's mind, however, was filled with images of figures he could first unite with. The True Immortals, who had been fighting each other all along, suddenly turning to cooperate with the Star Sea of the North. Although this was theoretically the best option, years of hatred could not be easily cast aside. To prevent further meaningless deaths, he had to act quickly.
The two of them, lost in their thoughts, left the star field where the The Great Barrier was located. Meanwhile, Li Fan, having gleaned their intentions, withdrew his attention. The frequent use of the phantom's power had left Li Buren in a dire state. He had to absorb another Immortal Realm Chess Piece for replenishment. The clone-puppet was one thing, but the infiltration of the Dao Obliteration Tribulation was even worse. Not only the Abyssal Sea where the Xuanhuang Realm was located, but within this experimental field, three out of ten surviving star seas with life were now showing signs of Dao Obliteration dark energy. The fluctuations indicating the imminent outbreak of the Dao Obliteration tide were not Li Fan's fabricated act to scare Qian Ruochang and the others. Such fluctuations could not be feigned, even with the power of the Mound Guardian's phantom.
"If I use it a few more times like this, it might truly collapse at any moment." "Unless I can find the Nameless Immortal and have him share some of the burden." Li Fan thought this and his gaze turned to the remaining Immortal Realm Chess Pieces within the phantom space. "When the chess pieces gather, the Immortal Realm appears, and the Southern Immortal Heavenly Pillar emerges." "The core of this Heavenly Pillar is the bone of a Nameless True Immortal. When it appeared in the Xuanhuang Realm, it caused the world to instantly collapse." "But within this Mound Guardian phantom space, it likely won't tolerate its rampant behavior." "Since it bears the name 'Heavenly Pillar,' it should also fulfill the duty of a Heavenly Pillar."
Li Fan had made up his mind. Things always had two sides. As the clone-puppet frequently drew upon the power of the Mound Guardian's phantom, his body suffered severe damage from bearing energy far beyond its limits. Concurrently, as Li Buren's appearance grew increasingly similar to the Mound Guardian, his control over the phantom's power became more adept. "If living Nameless True Immortals can be suppressed with a mere hand, what to speak of a mere bone?" Li Fan was aware of the consequences of dealing with a tiger. The Mound Guardian was the strongest being he had encountered thus far. Even though he had long transcended to other possibilities, Black Heavenly Physician and Evil Su Bai could sense their own alternate selves; the Mound Guardian would undoubtedly sense, to some extent, the use of the phantom power he had left behind.
The reason he was willing to take such a risk was because of the Mound Guardian's displayed "virtue." Leaving behind this phantom power was meant to help the people of this world resist the great tribulation. Using and suppressing the Nameless True Immortal to increase their resistance would also align with the Mound Guardian's initial intentions. "Besides, the original possibility of the Immortal Realm was destroyed ten thousand years ago. If the Mound Guardian truly cared about this realm, he would have returned to see it long ago." "If he hasn't appeared by now, he certainly won't show up for such a minor disturbance."
Of course, these were not the primary reasons for Li Fan's "bet." The fundamental reason was his confidence in "Reflection." Even if the Mound Guardian were to cross possibilities, Li Fan was confident he could "Reflection" and retreat.
Within the Abyssal Sea, the hidden fluctuations became more frequent. It was as if violent waves were constantly crashing, creating a scene of imminent collapse, as if a great structure was about to fall. "There is no time to delay." "If this fails, I can only 'Reflection'." "After all, I have gathered enough valuable information," Li Fan's gaze flickered. During Qian Ruochang's final push, his mental state finally showed a flaw, which Li Fan captured, revealing the shadowy figure behind the The Dao Lattice. Although their identity remained unknown, a faint trace was left. If they were to meet in this star sea in the future, Li Fan would recognize them instantly. This was, of course, with the power of the Mound Guardian's phantom.
The main body gathered the Immortal Realm Chess Pieces that the Immortal Realm lacked, transforming them into chess pieces and sending them into the phantom space where the experiment was taking place. After leaving something behind, he quietly departed. He arrived in the Xuanhuang Realm, ready to activate "Reflection" at any moment. Meanwhile, Li Buren once again sat in the Grand Tutor's chair, focusing his attention, watching his own body disintegrate inch by inch. Only a faint, net-like starlight remained, empty on the chair. This was him withdrawing from the body transformed from the Immortal Realm Chess Piece, projecting his divine sense onto the The Dao Lattice to manipulate the phantom's power.
"The upper limit of power I can control has significantly decreased." "However, the Immortal Realm unfolding is within the phantom space, which is sufficient." Li Buren had a preliminary judgment. Having no physical body, only divine sense in existence, did not greatly affect him. On the contrary, without the constraints of a physical body, he vaguely felt that the myriad Daos reflected by his divine sense were clearer.
Thirteen Immortal Realm Chess Pieces gathered. Six of them had previously fused into a multicolored form. After Li Buren introduced them, another six fused with each other. Coupled with the crucial catalyst of the Medicine King Cauldron... A corner of the Immortal Realm reappeared! However, compared to the earth-shattering spectacle when it previously appeared in the Xuanhuang Realm, in this phantom space, under the gaze of five Mound Guardian phantoms, the unfolding of the Immortal Realm was remarkably calm. It did not resemble a fragment of the former Immortal Realm, but rather an ordinary mortal cultivation world.
Yet, when the Southern Immortal Heavenly Pillar materialized in the center of the Immortal Realm, it caused a slight tremor. Li Buren even vaguely sensed that the Mound Guardian's phantom seemed to turn its gaze towards it. The phantom space was under the suppression of the Mound Guardian's power. The stone tablet could not absorb external things. It simply stood there. At this moment, Li Buren threw in the object his main body had left behind. A single stone stirred a thousand ripples! The calm stone tablet violently vibrated. Cracks appeared all over it, as if something was about to break free! And floating above the stone tablet was another Nameless True Immortal bone that Li Fan had taken from the "Reflection" space and smuggled over with him!
The appearance of two identical bones simultaneously seemed to trigger some mysterious change. Ripples unceasingly reverberated throughout the phantom space. The Mound Guardian's phantom's gaze shifted and focused more intently. The stone tablet within the Immortal Realm exploded with a bang, and the stable Immortal Realm space, for a moment, seemed to boil. Various lights and shadows twisted and distorted. In the center of countless fragments, two identical bones were overlapping! The fusion of the Nameless True Immortal bones was not like the fusion of ordinary identical rare items, where only one remained, indistinguishable from the original. Instead, it was as if new tissues were growing on the original bone!
It was as if the fallen Nameless True Immortal had been reborn from withered bones.
Light flickered and shifted, and a blurred figure appeared from the coalescing True Immortal bones.
Around the figure, the Immortal Realm was distorted, centering on it. It seemed that this Nameless Immortal was rejecting all the Great Dao laws that constituted the Immortal Realm.
Furthermore, with the power of the Guardian of Mounds' phantom, Li Fan vaguely saw that the Nameless figure's actions were not a complete rejection. After clearly separating itself from the Immortal Realm's Dao, it was subtly transforming everything it came into contact with and integrating it into itself.
Perhaps "absorption" was not an appropriate description. "Transformation" was a more fitting term.
The vanished parts of the Immortal Realm were not absorbed by the Nameless Immortal figure. Instead, under the influence of an unfathomable power, they had become beings essentially identical to that shadowy figure.
All of this was strikingly similar to Li Fan's experience when the Immortal Realm first unfolded, and the Characterless Monument appeared.
All things returned to their primordial state, returning to the Characterless Monument; the evolution of the Dao, tracing back to its origin!
At this moment, Li Fan clearly saw the Dao that this Nameless Immortal figure had merged with.
"Primordial."
The weight of these two words needed no further explanation.
It could re-establish the earth, fire, water, and wind, returning a world to its initial state.
Originally, it was an Immortal Celestial Pillar that resisted the Dao Erasure, but after manifesting its true form, it transformed into a vortex that swallowed the Immortal Realm.
The speed at which the outside of the Immortal Realm was deteriorating was even faster than Li Fan had anticipated.
What made Li Fan's heart tremble even more was that as the Primordial Dao in this space increased, the Nameless Immortal's form began to blur again. It was as if it was about to escape from this phantom space at any moment.
Even with the Guardian of Mounds' phantom as a guide, Li Fan began to lose track of the exact location of the "Primordial."
Knowing that delay would lead to complications, Li Fan hesitated no longer.
On the Grand Tutor's chair, it was as if billions of supernovas had exploded simultaneously. Li Buren's projected Dao net of divine sense instantly turned into a blinding white light.
And within the phantom space, a pair of tangible giant hands suddenly descended.
Descending from the illusory to the real, they fiercely grasped the "Primordial" in the center of the collapsing Immortal Realm.
The rigidity lasted only for a few breaths before the outcome was quickly decided.
During this confrontation, Li Fan also glimpsed the nature of the powers of both sides.
The Primordial was the beginning of the Dao. Although sacred and elusive, it was still a manifestation of the Dao's power.
The power of the Guardian of Mounds, on the other hand, seemed closer to "Mountains and Seas." Even the "Primordial," which held a transcendent position among the three thousand Great Daos, had to be bound.
"Even if this skeletal remains only represents a part of the Primordial's power, the one confronting it is merely the phantom left by the Guardian of Mounds."
"The changes observed at this moment are sufficient to prove that the strength of the Guardian of Mounds is above the 'Primordial.'"
"Guardian of Mounds, overseeing the Seas..."
To contend with, or even annihilate, a calamity that could destroy the Dao, this clearly exceeded the ability limits of a "cultivator who comprehends the Dao."
"The one who controls the seas is only the mountain."
"However, what exactly does this 'mountain' refer to?"
The descent of the Primordial phantom was earth-shattering, yet it was suppressed silently.
Under Li Buren's precise manipulation, the tangible hands, along with the remaining Immortal Realm fragments and the Characterless Monument fragments, were compressed into a lonely stone pillar.
Then, it was hurled fiercely towards the star-filled space of the training ground within the tall wall, into the area where the Dao Erasure dark energy appeared most frequently.
The effect was immediate.
That heart-palpitating, hidden fluctuation vanished instantly, as if it had never existed.
The Dao Erasure dark energy, which should not have disappeared without reason and would only intensify, also began to slowly dissipate like water without a source.
"As expected of the 'Primordial,' which occupies an absolutely crucial position among the myriad Great Dao laws in heaven and earth. Its effect in supporting the Dao Erasure is even better than I imagined."
"No wonder it was chosen as the material for constructing the Southern Immortal Celestial Pillar," Li Fan observed the "Dao Pillar."
After its initial manifestation, only a few breaths had passed, and now it had already melted into the Great Dao of heaven and earth, like ice melting into water.
Mortal eyes could not see it.
Even Li Fan's main body could only vaguely perceive that something was amiss in that space but could not investigate further.
Only by using the Guardian of Mounds' sight could it be discerned.
"Besides the Southern Immortal Celestial Pillar, other Immortal Pillars might also hide Nameless skeletal remains no less significant than the Primordial Dao."
"These should be the remnants left behind by Nameless Immortals after their transcendence."
From the memories of Qian Ruochang and the Nameless Immortal, Li Fan had glimpsed many secrets.
When True Immortals transcended and broke free from the constraints of the Great Dao of heaven and earth, their respective Daos no longer existed in this realm.
This was one of the reasons Li Fan had previously speculated for the descent of the Dao Erasure calamity.
However, it was evident that these senior cultivators who had reached the peak of True Immortality did not completely disregard the lives of their fellow beings.
"According to Qian Ruochang, before they transcended and departed, they would leave behind remnants, phantoms, and treasures, which would bear some of the responsibilities of the missing Daos."
"These within the Immortal Celestial Pillars should be the legacies of past True Immortals who transcended."
"However, compared to the 'Phantom Bearing the Dao' method of the Guardian of Mounds, this method of leaving behind remnants seems..."
Li Fan observed the stone pillar, recalling how the Primordial skeletal remains seemed to possess consciousness, wanting to 'return to truth' with him. And after two similar skeletal remains overlapped, there were signs of the Primordial figure manifesting.
"Unlike the phantom bearing the Dao, which is completely independent of itself. Even if it can be abandoned temporarily, but..."
Li Fan pondered: "After transcending the possibility of a 'minor transcendence' that breaks free from possibilities, there is the 'great transcendence' where myriad possibilities 'unify,' which is true transcendence."
"To take this step, one probably has to reclaim what was left behind."
Li Fan understood.
Perhaps this was why some transcendent True Immortals were unwilling to leave behind items that suppressed the Dao.
As Li Fan pondered, the aftereffects of using the Guardian of Mounds' phantom power had been completely eliminated.
The two Primordial bones, serving as Immortal Pillars, as Li Fan had surmised, shared part of the pressure of the phantom bearing the Dao.
Li Fan faintly perceived: "If quantified, it is approximately equivalent to one and one-third of the power of the Primordial bones that I can freely use."
"I only need to consider the directional changes Li Buren is experiencing, without worrying about the sudden collapse of the heavens and the descent of the Dao Erasure calamity upon the world."
"Of course, as time passes, the pressure of Dao Erasure will inevitably increase, and the power that can be mobilized will gradually weaken."
However, Li Fan was already quite satisfied with the current outcome.
"In other words, if I can capture another Nameless True Immortal to serve as an Immortal Pillar, I can then free up a portion of this power."
"Until the power of the Guardian of Mounds' phantom is fully unleashed."
As Li Fan indulged in his fantasies, the dire condition of Li Buren's divine sense projection instantly pulled him back to reality.
Repeatedly invoking the Guardian of Mounds' phantom, Li Buren had endured an erosion of power far beyond his limit.
Li Fan focused his will on the phantom projection of the clone's Dao net. In a sudden daze, he seemed to see the figure of the Guardian of Mounds, with its back turned, concealing itself, overlooking the seas.
Breaking out in a cold sweat for no reason, he finally emerged from the illusion.
"Even though the Guardian of Mounds' phantom has no malicious intent, such frequent use is like forcing a mold with immense external force. The clone uncontrollably undergoes deformation from the inside out."
"By analogy, when the Heavenly Dao Bai descended using my clone back then, it was the same principle."
Knowing that he couldn't rush, Li Fan temporarily abandoned the idea of continuously invoking the Guardian of Mounds' phantom in the short term.
"Unless an uncontrollable situation arises."
"Now, I must first revert to the origin, and return the clone to its original form."
This was not difficult for Li Fan.
With his main body serving as an anchor, he could compare and gradually remove the influence of the Guardian of Mounds, like carving out bones and extracting flesh.
It was merely troublesome and time-consuming.
"After completing the restoration, I must also find a way to strengthen the clone's ability to withstand."
"Otherwise, even with the power of the Nameless Immortal at hand, the time it can be utilized will be limited."
Regarding this, Li Fan already had a vague idea.
The power of the Guardian of Mounds seemed to come from the mountains and seas.
Only mountains and seas could control mountains and seas.
And within Li Fan's body, there happened to be something related to "seas."
"The power of the Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul."
Although he could freely wield this mysterious power by devouring the Immortal Souls of heaven and earth and performing Ink Slaughter and Dao Fusion.
However, Li Fan had not fully grasped the essence of the "Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul's" power before.
But now, with the insights from the Guardian of Mounds' hundred tribulations of contemplating the seas, Li Fan vaguely perceived something.
The Dao net projection within Li Buren's divine sense seemed to have been roughly torn apart, twisted, and deformed. It was even temporarily disconnected from the main body.
Li Fan did not rush and go there himself. Instead, he remained firmly in the center.
While slowly restoring the Dao net projection, he infused wisps of Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul power into the clone's repaired divine sense.
"The dark energy is a prelude to the imminent arrival of Dao Erasure."
"It is like the splashing waves formed when seawater crashes against a mountain."
"Or, perhaps, the phenomenon of mountains and seas merging," Li Fan's eyes gleamed.
As wisps of ink were infused, the originally pure and dazzling Dao net projection seemed to be covered with a dark border.
Although it still reflected the Great Daos of the heavens, it appeared somewhat different than before.
In Li Fan's instinctive perception, this projected net had become a bit "sturdier."
However, Li Fan did not rush to experiment.
Instead, he repeatedly sketched rough outlines, as if using a brush.
Under such repetition, Li Buren's divine sense, the clone's divine sense, completely transformed from illusory to real.
His entire body seemed to be manifested from the Dao net projection.
And the power of the Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul served as the flesh and blood to fill it.
A brand new body finally came into being under Li Fan's meticulous craftsmanship.
Li Buren clenched his fist. Although he no longer had an Immortal Realm body and his power seemed to have weakened.
He clearly felt that he had become more "resistant to punishment."
Looking at the Dao Erasure dark energy that still lingered in the star-filled space of the training ground.
Li Buren's expression was indifferent. He opened his mouth and directly swallowed these dissipating dark energy clouds.
The torrent of dark energy, capable of annihilating all things in the world, churned within Li Buren's belly.
However, Li Buren only felt a pang of intense pain.
Yet, his body itself did not dissipate.
If it were the previous Immortal Realm fragment body, it would not have exhibited such robust resilience.
"As expected."
The verification in his heart was confirmed. Li Fan experienced the tumultuous internal changes within the clone.
"The collision of mountains and seas."
His thoughts seemed to return to the nearly endless cultivation that spanned over a hundred tribulations, as recorded in the 'Guardian's Casual Notes,' watching the vast ocean continuously scour the mountains beneath.
Each collision between the two brought about a change in the mortal world.
"What a pity. The Guardian's inheritance was shared by other Immortal Realm chess pieces; otherwise, I should have been able to glimpse the true meaning of mountains and seas." After observing and comprehending for a long time, there was still no result.
Li Fan had to regretfully withdraw from that profound state on his own.
Mountains and seas were clearly not things of the mortal world.
Even merely imagining being there had brought about corresponding changes in Li Fan.
The most direct was his lifespan.
After entering the Half-Immortal realm, Li Fan's lifespan became infinite, equivalent to that of this mortal world, seven million three hundred sixty thousand years.
Although it was not a fixed number and would change with Li Fan's actions, it was still within the range of tens of thousands, thousands, hundreds, and units.
However, now, this lifespan had drastically decreased.
It was reduced by one-third!
Li Fan stared at the number, his expression becoming somewhat subtle.
"Logically speaking, the stronger my cultivation, the higher the possibility of saving the entire mortal world."
"The theoretical lifespan should have increased exponentially."
"Why did I glimpse the mysteries of mountains and seas, and the future survival of the entire mortal world also sharply decreased?"
Li Fan was perplexed.
But it was clear that this was not a good omen.
Li Fan did not stubbornly continue.
"The secrets of mountains and seas are apparently not something I can touch yet."
"I should first perfect the clone's body and increase its ability to withstand."
"If the full power of the Guardian of Mounds' phantom is unleashed, it should be enough for me to roam this broken possibility."
Currently, for Li Fan, the phantom power within the training ground was like a scale. To mobilize the Guardian's power, an equivalent weight had to be placed on the other side first.
"What I can currently use without pressure is only one and one-third of the power of the Primordial bones. The Primordial Dao path, the immortal of all Daos. Even if it is merely residual skeletal remains, it should not be much weaker than an ordinary Nameless True Immortal."
"If absolutely necessary, I can also unleash more of the Guardian's power."
Li Fan pondered his next target for hunting.
The number of Nameless True Immortals whose identities were currently known was not many.
Li Fan first cast his gaze upon the Immortal Ruins outside the Xuanhuang Realm.
Besides the Starving Immortal, who was vaguely approaching the realm of a Nameless True Immortal, there was also what lay beneath her, possibly left by the previous Starving Immortal to hold back Dao Erasure.
Although the Starving Immortal was unknowingly being trampled upon by Evil Su Bai, with Li Fan's current strength, it still required careful planning to scheme against her.
And Li Fan did not just want to capture a True Immortal with current power.
He greedily desired to capture the true "Starving Immortal" who had achieved the Nameless realm.
The Starving Immortal had been comprehending the Dao within the Celestial Ruins for a long time. Judging from her awakened state after the previous reincarnation, and her performance when facing the unfolding Immortal Domain and the characterless stone tablet, she was not far from achieving the Nameless Realm. Perhaps only a final push was needed.
The difference in her usefulness to Li Fan between being a Nameless True Immortal and not would be like the difference between the heavens and the earth. "If she doesn't reach the Nameless Realm, no matter how close her strength gets, she cannot easily become a pillar supporting the Dao. This means I won't have the strength to spare for the Mound Guardian's phantom."
"Perhaps I can help her a little..."
Before Li Fan's eyes, countless scenes flickered, rapidly engaging in deduction. In the past, the Starving Immortal in the Celestial Ruins was a terrifying existence utterly beyond Li Fan's reach. Li Fan still remembered her terrifying power that could destroy the Xuanhuang Realm with a single glance. Even though she was easily captured by Cat Treasure, even though she was severely tormented by Evil Su Bai without her knowledge, the Starving Immortal was still not someone that the half-immortal Li Fan could contend with.
But now, having mastered the power of the Mound Guardian's phantom, she was no longer so insurmountably powerful.
"The Xuanhuang Realm still has great use for me; I cannot let it be easily destroyed." "But if she were to achieve the Nameless Realm, the resulting fluctuations would inevitably destroy everything around it..."
After weighing the options, Li Fan had made up his mind. In the Abyssal Star Sea, specks of starlight began to illuminate. Li Buren, a The Dao Lattice projection of Li Fan, returned to the Abyssal Star Sea. Essentially a The Dao Lattice projection, it had no physical form. Wherever the Great Dao reached, it could manifest. Thus, even while sitting in the Grand Tutor's chair and appearing in the star sea within the The Great Barrier, there was no conflict.
The body formed by the The Dao Lattice projection, hidden within reality, was like snow melting into water, silent and traceless. Li Fan's main body stood up, gazing afar at Li Buren below the The Great Barrier. His divine sense, through the ubiquitous Carefree Dream Land of Bliss, instantly enveloped the Xuanhuang Realm layer by layer. The main body and the clone, two completely identical The Dao Lattice projections, echoed each other. Identical nodes within the The Dao Lattice began to naturally merge.
"Heave!"
With the immense power of the Mound Guardian's phantom added, and using the connected The Dao Lattice projection as a rope, Li Buren let out a low roar and yanked fiercely towards the direction of the Xuanhuang Realm. The Xuanhuang Realm, enveloped by the The Dao Lattice projection, immediately trembled slightly. Then, inch by inch, it was pulled away from the Celestial Ruins' gravitational pull!
The plan to escape the Celestial Ruins, which the entire Xuanhuang Realm’s cultivators could not accomplish even with all their might, was now completed by Li Fan alone. This was the chasm between a Nameless True Immortal and mortal cultivators!
At this moment, outside the Xuanhuang Realm, countless immortal formations evolved. The Xuanhuang Realm seemed to have fallen into a vast fog, becoming illusory from its solid state, its appearance unclear. This was a concealment tactic Li Fan employed to avoid alarming the Starving Immortal prematurely. As it turned out, the Starving Immortal, engrossed in her Dao comprehension, truly cared little for many things. She remained completely unaware of the Xuanhuang Realm's departure.
The Dao Lattice pulling method, while seemingly slow, was so only in relation to the Xuanhuang Realm's size. If converted to a cultivator's flight speed, it would be equivalent to traversing ninety-nine Xuanhuang Realms in a single breath. Slow in appearance, yet fast in reality, it was swift and without much incident.
Soon, the Xuanhuang Realm successfully escaped the Celestial Ruins' pull. All obstacles on its path were disregarded by the immense power of the Mound Guardian's phantom, which was comparable to that of a Nameless True Immortal. Even the dark energy from the spatial tremors of the previous experimental field was dealt with by Li Fan.
As it traveled through the void, its speed increased. Progressing incredibly smoothly, approximately ten days later, the Xuanhuang Realm arrived in a safe expanse of starry sky. Aside from the surrounding silence and desolation, it had no other shortcomings.
Perhaps sensing the change in its environment, transformations began to occur within the Xuanhuang Realm. Scenes of life and vitality reawakened, such as the rejuvenation of the If Wood and the new flow of earth veins. It was like a critically ill patient suddenly regaining new life. The tables had turned, and the momentum had shifted. The fragments of other cultivation worlds, previously implanted by the Heavenly Physician and acting like parasitic tumors, now became nourishment for the Xuanhuang Realm's rebirth. The yellow color, representing the Xuanhuang Realm's own power, sounded the clarion call for counterattack, rapidly expanding outwards from its central, original region.
As the de facto ruler of the Xuanhuang Realm, Li Fan naturally observed all these changes. "Previously, to resist the Celestial Ruins' pull, the Xuanhuang Realm had to constantly divert some of its power. Now that it's far from the Celestial Ruins, this power has been liberated." "It's exactly the same as when I summoned the Mound Guardian's phantom."
The speed at which the Xuanhuang Realm's vitality was restored was somewhat beyond Li Fan's expectations. He looked towards Li Ningqing, also known as Dharma Deduction Jade, who was still leisurely exploring the Xuanhuang Realm. Li Fan's previously given leave had long expired, but he hadn't recalled her, as if he had forgotten about it. After working continuously for several thousand years, Li Ningqing clearly hadn't rested enough and pretended to forget, not returning to Li Fan on time. Initially, she was extremely anxious, but seeing that so much time had passed without any reaction from Li Fan, her worries gradually disappeared.
She spent her days leisurely exploring, visiting scenic spots, and investigating various secret realms within the Xuanhuang Realm. She was having a grand time. As expected of a creation from the Immortal Realm, with her keen spiritual senses, she had actually discovered several hidden places that Li Fan had overlooked. However, they were mostly abandoned or damaged, with little value. Therefore, Li Fan continued to let her enjoy herself, planning to settle accounts with her after thoroughly investigating the Xuanhuang Realm's situation.
"If my manipulation of the Mound Guardian's phantom's power wasn't so precise, I wouldn't have to rely on this little girl," Li Fan shook his head slightly. The immense power comparable to a Nameless True Immortal was undoubtedly effective against enemies. But if he wanted to search the Xuanhuang Realm... he might not find anything before the Xuanhuang Realm itself couldn't withstand it and disintegrated. Li Fan had no intention of destroying his own base, for now.
Putting aside the drastic changes within the Xuanhuang Realm after its departure from the Celestial Ruins, his clone, Li Buren, followed step by step and finally arrived above the Celestial Ruins. Unlike True Immortals in the conventional sense, the clone's current body was entirely formed from a The Dao Lattice projection, perfectly integrating into this world. Without using the power of the Mound Guardian's phantom, it was almost impossible for others to detect. However, the Starving Immortal should not be underestimated. Compared to the desolation of the surrounding starry sky and its silent Great Dao, Li Buren's The Dao Lattice projection body was still somewhat distinct.
As if sensing something, the golden shackles on the Starving Immortal's body gradually chimed. Li Buren also felt a suction force emanating from the Starving Immortal. Driven by instinct, she seemed to want to swallow Li Buren, this delectable food. Li Buren did not resist, allowing his body to drift, accelerating towards the Starving Immortal.
When he was only three zhang away from the Starving Immortal, Li Buren's heart stirred slightly. "As expected, beneath this..." "There is the aura of a Nameless True Immortal." It was well concealed by the Starving Immortal, perfectly blending with the fluctuations generated by her own Dao comprehension. If not for being this close, and Li Buren, as a The Dao Lattice projection, being incredibly sensitive to the Great Dao of heaven and earth, it might have truly been overlooked.
As the Starving Immortal's skeletal form came into view, Li Buren suddenly accelerated. In an instant, he closed the distance. The Starving Immortal finally sensed something and, as she violently opened her eyes, the power of the Mound Guardian's phantom descended upon Li Buren's body. In a flash of lightning, Li Buren, using the suction force the Starving Immortal hadn't yet retracted, pointed at her brow. This was not a profound guidance, but rather, through the Starving Immortal's absorption, the immense, seemingly Nameless power was channeled into her.
The Starving Immortal's emaciated body instantly began to swell like an inflated balloon. Not with normal flesh and blood, but with a distorted, twisted expansion. The swelling was uneven across her body, making the Starving Immortal at this moment resemble a monstrous creature that could only exist in the deepest abyss. Even her eyes were asymmetrical; one was large, occupying half her face, while the other was so compressed it had shrunk to a mere pupil. However, both were fixedly staring at Li Buren, who had suddenly appeared. There was shock and confusion in her eyes, as well as boundless rage.
But soon, all of this quickly transformed into terror, for she finally realized that the immense power being channeled into her was not something she could consume. If this continued, she might very well be "bursting." And it wasn't just her immortal body. The Starving Immortal felt that the Dao of Starvation she had painstakingly comprehended through seclusion was being slowly occupied by this foreign power, almost by brute force! It was as if a cuckoo's egg had hatched in her nest, not only forcing its way into her home but also expelling her completely!
"Wuu—wuu—" In her shock and rage, the Starving Immortal instinctively resisted. It mattered little if her immortal body was destroyed, but her Dao path being invaded was absolutely unacceptable. The Starving Immortal and this inexplicable intruder began to vie for ownership of the Dao of Starvation. However, she had not yet attained the Nameless Realm; though she was only a step away, this Dao path did not yet truly belong to her.
Initially, the Starving Immortal could still maintain her territory by relying on her familiarity with it. But gradually, she was horrified to discover that the Great Dao of Starvation was slowly leaning towards the intruder! From occupying ninety-nine percent of the space in her house to being pushed into a corner took only a few breaths. The Starving Immortal fell into a daze. She realized that the efficiency of the intruder's actions was due not only to their powerful strength but, more importantly, to their profound understanding of the Dao of "Starvation." This allowed them to naturally contend for ownership of the Dao of Starvation and win completely!
"How... how is this possible?" The shock of this realization struck the Starving Immortal even harder than the destruction of her body and the invasion of her Dao path. "Clearly..." "The bones of a Nameless True Immortal for Starvation are right beneath me!" "There is no place in the world where this Dao is more concentrated than here." "Where did he comprehend the Dao?" Utterly unable to resist, the Starving Immortal fell into despair and confusion.
But for some reason, although the intruder was clearly about to occupy the entire Dao of Starvation soon, they stopped halfway, halting at the final moment. The Starving Immortal dared not make any rash moves, merely observing silently. Simultaneously, she began to accumulate strength for a desperate counterattack. In the Immortal Realm, fierce battles fought for possession of a Dao path were not uncommon. And the outcomes were always irreconcilable. Therefore, the Starving Immortal held no illusions. However, what puzzled her immensely was that the intruder seemed to have genuinely stopped just before the final step. They could have easily driven her out of this "house" with a simple effort, yet they did not.
After a long while, something even more unexpected happened. The figure actually shook its head slightly. And then, step by step, it retreated out of the "house"! The Starving Immortal regained full control of the Dao of Starvation. With her strength partially restored, she was overjoyed. Returning to reality from the struggle for the Dao, the Starving Immortal warily watched the mysterious figure in front of her. Along with it, the immense power channeled into her inexplicably vanished. The Starving Immortal's immortal body instantly returned to normal. She retracted her golden chains and, looking at the inscrutable figure before her, attempted to communicate.
"Fellow Immortal..." "What is the meaning of this?" After a long silence, a cold voice replied. "This Dao is too weak. Unsuitable for fusion." This answer far exceeded the Starving Immortal's expectations. She was momentarily stunned, her mind going blank. These eight words were not difficult to understand. The intruder disdained the Dao of Starvation as too weak. Therefore, even though he had a hundred percent certainty of successfully attaining the Nameless Realm through it, he voluntarily withdrew. But... how was this possible? Could there really be such an arrogant person in the world?
The Starving Immortal's heart was filled with confusion and shock. One must understand that the difference between attaining the Nameless Realm and an ordinary True Immortal was as vast as the heavens and the earth. In the past Immortal Realm, although True Immortals could freely establish their own cave dwellings in a stellar expanse, enjoying endless energy and resources, they were still under the jurisdiction of the Immortal Realm. They dared not disobey the orders of the ruling Immortal Emperors, like mere citizens of the Immortal Realm. Only in the Nameless True Immortal realm did one ascend to the status of an "official." Not only could they govern a stellar domain but they could even argue directly with the ruling Immortal Emperor without punishment. At its core, the source of a True Immortal's infinite immortal power was firmly controlled by the Immortal Emperor. With a single decree, he could revoke a True Immortal's access to the Infinite Sea. Without the property of being "infinite," a True Immortal would not even be a match for their own immortal servants or puppets. Moreover, having experienced the taste of infinity, how could True Immortals easily relinquish it? Therefore, under the rule of the ruling Immortal Emperor, there were basically no dissenters. The greatest goal of most True Immortals was to merge with a Great Dao and ascend to the Nameless Realm. It was said that Nameless True Immortals could, to a certain extent, break free from the Immortal Realm's control, accessing the Infinite Sea through their own means. Thus, achieving true freedom. Therefore, regardless of strength, ascending to the Nameless Realm was an irresistible temptation for True Immortals in the world. But now, someone had passed through the gate of the Nameless Realm without entering? The Starving Immortal looked at the figure before her with immense shock.
"If you wish to fuse, then fuse." "However, there are still some shortcomings in what you have comprehended." While the Starving Immortal was lost in thought, the other party spoke again. He proceeded to elaborate on his own insights into the Dao of Starvation, all without reservation. The Starving Immortal compared his insights with her own and felt both shock and joy. She was shocked that his understanding indeed surpassed hers. She rejoiced that with his additions, she was not far from taking that final step!
Without a second thought, Starving Immortal immediately immersed herself in the guidance.
Based on her years of secluded cultivation, the inspiration for comprehending the Dao often flashed like a spark, fleeting and sudden. If she didn't grasp it quickly, it would soon vanish back into the vast expanse of her thoughts.
Not daring to expect further benevolent guidance, Starving Immortal seized the present moment to focus on her enlightenment.
It had to be said that after millennia of seated meditation, Starving Immortal's comprehension of the Dao of Starvation was truly extraordinary.
Not long after resuming her seated posture, faint wisps of profound aura began to emanate from her.
This was exactly like the nameless mark beneath her!
"It seems that guiding her to achieve the state of Nameless will be easier than I thought," Li Fan mused internally.
Although Li Fan had long ago perceived the character "Starvation" on the land of the Immortal Ruins, even with his talent and the accumulated insights from multiple reincarnations, his comprehension of the Dao of Starvation could never surpass that of Starving Immortal at this moment.
The reason he could guide Starving Immortal to enlightenment with mere words was that Li Buren, by utilizing the immense power of the Mound Guardian, had synchronized the understanding derived from observing the nameless Dao marks beneath Starving Immortal with her own.
This top-down perspective directly targeted the core, proving far superior to Starving Immortal's self-imposed seclusion.
Li Buren's pointers were like a strong push from behind.
For Starving Immortal, who was already on the cusp of a breakthrough, it was only a matter of time and wasted effort before she could achieve True Immortal status on her own.
Perhaps later, Starving Immortal would gradually realize this. But for now, caught in the midst of her enlightenment, she had no time to ponder such matters, focusing her entire being on her cultivation.
Li Buren retreated to the side, observing discreetly.
Her body, once replenished, became emaciated once more after Starving Immortal entered her state of enlightenment.
It was like a withered skeleton, clearly indicating she had entered the state of comprehending the Dao of Starvation.
Immersed in the Dao of Starvation, she instinctively desired to devour everything around her.
The immense gravitational pull, which had temporarily vanished with Li Buren's appearance, suddenly reappeared on Starving Immortal, even more potent than before!
Across the entire starry sky, only the land of the Immortal Ruins and Li Buren standing upon it remained unmoved.
Everything else instantly and uncontrollably began to slide towards the Immortal Ruins, which had transformed into a central vortex.
Within the Xuanhuang Realm, the nascent life that had just revived was now on the brink of destruction, like a candle in the wind, due to this overwhelming gravitational pull!
Fortunately, Li Fan projected the The Dao Lattice, shielding the entire realm.
He then pulled the Xuanhuang Realm away from the starry sea, attempting to distance it from the Immortal Ruins.
"This sudden surge of gravitational pull is far stronger than before."
"So, Starving Immortal was intentionally restraining herself earlier..."
Li Fan gazed in the direction of the Immortal Ruins, his brow furrowed.
As if to confirm his conjecture,
"Clink, clink..." The crisp sound of metal echoed abruptly in the silent starry sky.
It was the golden chains binding Starving Immortal, tightening their grip.
While shackling her, they seemed to be controlling her ravenous desire to devour everything in existence.
"Only in the most extreme hunger can one truly comprehend the Dao of Starvation."
"A form of self-abusive ascetic practice..."
The golden chains tightened, digging into her withered flesh, their grating against her bones producing an eerie creaking sound.
Yet, Starving Immortal did not flinch.
She silently endured her desires and the agony they brought.
The path of Starvation was like a ferocious beast trapped in a cage, roaring to break free but remaining firmly bound within this body.
This method of control, where fulfillment was unattainable, was paradoxically increasing Starving Immortal's enlightenment efficiency!
Li Buren observed all the changes happening to Starving Immortal, attempting to empathize with her situation. He gradually began to understand.
"The more one is tormented by their Dao, the more deeply they immerse themselves, and the more they can comprehend its principles."
"This method of enlightenment..."
"It bears some similarity to the reverse cultivation of the Heart Dao within the Azure Nether Heart Refining Incantation. Could it be a lineage practice passed down from the Immortal Realm?"
As Li Buren observed and contemplated, he noticed the temporal disparity caused by the resurfacing gravitational pull of the Immortal Ruins.
In the instant before he could react, three months had already passed within the Xuanhuang Realm.
Beyond the The Great Barrier, thirty years had vanished in the blink of an eye!
And this temporal difference was still widening!
Fortunately, during these thirty years, nothing significant had occurred that required the power of the Mound Guardian's projection to resolve. Qian Ruochang and the nameless Immortal from the North Star Sea had visited several times, reporting on the progress of their cooperation.
Li Fan merely feigned ignorance, giving a curt "Understood," and said no more.
Qian Ruochang and the other wisely withdrew, not daring to disturb him.
...
Just moments ago in thirty years prior, they had instantly jumped to thirty years later.
Countless scenes experienced by the main body, like delayed frames, successively appeared in his mind.
The immense difference in perceived time made even Li Buren a little unaccustomed, a faint dizziness creeping in. His The Dao Lattice body even showed a slight distortion, perceptible only to himself, as if distorted when viewed through a bubble.
Li Buren first attempted to suppress the temporal flow caused by the massive gravitational pull.
However, this was not an attribute of the Dao of Starvation.
It was a universal phenomenon inherent to the mortal world.
Even with the power of the Mound Guardian's projection, it could not be entirely eliminated, only to a degree that reduced the external impact of the Immortal Ruins' pull.
In Li Buren's eyes, the Immortal Ruins, transformed into a colossal vortex, were devouring everything in existence.
His task was to build a dam outside the vortex, preventing anything from entering it.
Much like the The Great Barrier separating the experimental field from the outside!
"Still!" Li Buren chanted silently.
His The Dao Lattice body, like a constellation of stars, began to shine once more.
Like a massive boulder standing before a raging tide, yet, contrary to all logic, not a single splash of water flew. Instead, just as it happened in the Abyssal Star Sea, all the obstructed gravitational pull converged at the base of the The Great Barrier.
With Li Buren's decree, the gravitational pull that had ravaged the Abyssal Star Sea for ten thousand years was easily confined within ninety-nine feet of Starving Immortal.
Li Buren had a premonition that he could compress it further, pushing the "second The Great Barrier" inward, but that might affect Starving Immortal's final enlightenment.
Therefore, he stopped at an appropriate point.
The gravitational pull surged like rolling waves, condensing without dispersing, gathering and coiling at the base of the The Great Barrier.
Li Buren vaguely glimpsed the scene of the Mound Guardian gazing at the mountains and seas, causing him to pause slightly.
He finally began to understand the reason behind the peculiar phenomenon of the gravitational pull from the Immortal Ruins being blocked and concentrated by the The Great Barrier.
"The power of the Immortals originates from the Infinite Sea."
"And the The Great Barrier, the power of the Mound Guardian's projection, draws partly from the 'Mountain' that accompanies the Infinite Sea."
"Mountains and seas share a common origin; they are not entirely opposing, hence they could attract each other to some extent."
"Thus, in a sense, the anomaly occurring at the fringes of the Abyssal Star Sea is a projection of what the Mound Guardian saw in the past."
Standing at the edge of the second The Great Barrier, a multitude of insights surged within Li Buren.
With the gravitational pull from the Immortal Ruins no longer interfering, the passage of time within the Abyssal Star Sea finally returned to normal.
However, the beings within the star sea remained oblivious to this drastic shift.
Only Li Fan looked up slightly towards the center of the Abyssal Star Sea.
Having previously been connected to the True Will of the Star Sea's origin, he could faintly sense its jubilant emotions. This wasn't solely due to the disappearance of the Immortal Ruins' threat, but also seemed to stem from its synchronization with the external star sea.
Li Fan temporarily ignored it and turned his attention to his own Reflection panel.
The moment the temporal flow rates inside and outside the The Great Barrier synchronized, the number representing the mortal world's lifespan limit flashed and subtly changed.
However, the amplitude of the change was not significant.
It had only decreased from seven million three hundred and sixty thousand years to seven million two hundred and thirty thousand years.
"This is not influenced by my establishment of the second The Great Barrier, but rather by the change in the temporal flow of my surroundings."
"In other words, the time difference between the inside and outside of the The Great Barrier is utterly insignificant to the lifespan of the entire mortal world."
"But how is the lifespan displayed on the Reflection calculated?"
Li Fan was puzzled.
Dwelling on such matters was bound to be fruitless, so Li Fan decisively chose to directly ask the Reflection for clarification. And given the precedent from their previous interactions, the Reflection did not respond with silence this time.
A vast amount of audiovisual data surged into Li Fan's mind.
His brow stung, and Li Fan instinctively selected what to view.
It seemed to understand that Li Fan, with his current capabilities, was not yet equipped to fully process the casually transmitted images, so the audiovisual segment itself was already abridged.
He couldn't see the specifics, only a blurry trajectory.
"This is..."
"Using my current strength as a fixed template, with immortality as a prerequisite, it simulates the maximum possible outcome."
Although slightly convoluted, Li Fan quickly grasped what the Reflection was trying to convey.
He gazed intently at the rapidly flashing images before him; seven million years of time passed like a fleeting slideshow, lasting only thirty-three breaths.
Finally, all light extinguished, not even darkness remained.
It vanished directly from Li Fan's mind.
And when Li Fan tried to recall the specific content of the images he had just glimpsed, he found no memory remaining.
He vaguely remembered that the Reflection had shown him a simulated scene.
"The annihilation of the mortal world..."
"The so-called lifespan limit is measured and calculated from my perspective, the carrier of the Reflection."
"The future holds infinite possibilities, but the current simulation and deduction derive results from the perspective of my current strength."
"In this simulation, although I would not die, my strength and cultivation would not advance at all. I would merely be a bystander, silently watching the changes of the mortal world..."
Li Fan narrowed his eyes.
He couldn't help but recall the change in the mortal world's lifespan panel when Black Heavenly Physician had broken through the The Great Barrier previously.
The number had rapidly increased from over seven million years, to seemingly infinite.
"In that simulation by the Reflection, although I wouldn't die, I still fell into Black Heavenly Physician's hands."
"Even the bones of the Nameless True Immortal could be smuggled by the Reflection. Black Heavenly Physician would undoubtedly be able to do the same. Therefore, I suspect my ending would absolutely not be pleasant. Perhaps I would become something like the Dharma Deduction Jade..."
"And with the help of the Reflection, Black Heavenly Physician could almost save the mortal world from calamity."
After clarifying the reason behind this, Li Fan couldn't help but let out a cold snort.
His conviction remained unchanged.
Sacrificing himself alone to save the mortal world was absolutely impossible.
"The mortal world only has meaning because of my existence. If I were to perish, even if the mortal world were to remain immortal through countless tribulations, what would that have to do with me?"
"Moreover, in the Reflection's derivation, even if Black Heavenly Physician gained the Reflection's ability, the lifespan limit of the mortal world would still have a specific number."
"And not infinite!"
"Even if this number were astronomically large, beyond imagination, it would eventually meet its end."
"Since the outcome is the same, whether it's seven million years or seven billion years..."
"There's no difference."
Perhaps influenced by the simulation shown by the Reflection just now, Li Fan felt that his ambition had inexplicably grown.
He could even calmly disregard the colossal number representing the mortal world's potential lifespan in his memory.
It was as if he had truly experienced those long years, only to ultimately face a cataclysmic end.
Even in the depths of his heart, a firm thought arose uncontrollably.
Only in his hands could the Reflection ultimately change the mortal world's destined destructive outcome.
Completely escaping the fate of Dao Erasure.
This confidence was baseless.
As time passed, it gradually faded.
Even Li Fan himself, upon fully recovering, felt that his thoughts just now were perhaps too arrogant.
But upon careful consideration, he vaguely guessed that he must have seen something in the seven million years of the simulated projections.
This was why such thoughts had arisen from within.
Li Fan was thus greatly reassured.
When he tried to verify his conjecture with the Reflection, it fell silent once more.
But Li Fan was not annoyed.
"Silence, not denial."
Having interacted with the Reflection for such a long time, Li Fan could now roughly interpret its occasional expressions.
Silence was sometimes an answer.
Certain that he was the true successor of the Reflection, Li Fan's mood greatly improved.
Returning to his senses, he looked again towards the Immortal Ruins.
Li Buren, by transforming himself into a wall, not only blocked the gravitational pull of the Immortal Ruins but also minutely sensed the changes in power generated by Starving Immortal's enlightenment.
"Due to the temporal flow changes caused by this force, Starving Immortal's last enlightenment lasted for ten thousand years within the Xuanhuang Realm."
"This breakthrough this time will definitely not take that long."
"And..."
Li Buren observed that due to the existence of the "second The Great Barrier" he personally constructed, the accumulated enlightenment suction beneath this wall had, to some extent, offset Starving Immortal's impact on the outside world.
This greatly reduced the time difference between the inside and outside of the second The Great Barrier.
While waiting for Starving Immortal to emerge and for him to complete the harvest, Li Buren first looked at the land of the Immortal Ruins beneath him.
Apart from the ruins scattered everywhere, the colossal character "Starvation" was the most conspicuous.
"The origin of this character 'Starvation'..."
"Emanated from the residual imprint of the previous Nameless True Immortal, who achieved enlightenment through Starvation, beneath Starving Immortal."
Li Buren peered, trying to see traces of the Calamity of Dao Erasure upon it.
Guardian of the Mound gazed upon the mountains and seas for over a hundred epochs. He had become intimately familiar with both the mountains and the seas. At this moment, Li Buren, borrowing his power, truly sensed faint, familiar auras on the colossal "Starvation" character within the Immortal Ruins.
"Whether the previous Starvation Immortal died from Dao Erasure, or transformed their body into a pillar to withstand the immense calamity from the Immortal Realm, one thing is certain: they must have had an intimate encounter with Dao Erasure."
"Though their body perished, their Dao still remains. The current Starvation Immortal discovered the secrets here. The temptation to ascend to the Nameless realm is too great. Thus, she willingly risked immense danger, rather than fleeing like other True Immortals. She chose to comprehend the Dao here."
"In truth, it's not as dangerous as it sounds."
"From an external perspective, the Immortal Realm has been destroyed for a long time. But from the Starvation Immortal's viewpoint, less than a day has passed. Moreover, Nameless True Immortal's residual presence serves as a pillar here. If the Calamity of Dao Erasure were to erupt again, the Immortal Ruins might even be safer than other places in this star sea."
"If it were me, I would have made the same choice," Li Buren concluded.
Although he was determined to help the Starvation Immortal achieve the Nameless realm, Li Buren had no intention of completely disregarding the Great Dao of "Starvation," as he had claimed.
The Dao of Starvation, capable of causing anomalies in the temporal flow of its surroundings, was by no means associated with "weakness."
Li Buren hid in the room representing the Dao of Starvation, watching the Starvation Immortal's figure, increasingly filling the space and its presence. He meticulously recorded the entire process.
"If my guess is correct, after the Starvation Immortal ascends to the Nameless realm, all my current records will cease to exist. It's analogous to the simulated deductions that just occurred in my mind through Return to Truth. However, there's a slight difference. Even with Return to Truth, I wouldn't recall the simulated deduction if its ultimate outcome was annihilation."
"But concerning the Starvation Immortal…"
"If she dies, or if I were to move to the next life before anyone proves the Dao of Starvation, these records would reappear."
"Possessing both the remnants of the previous-previous Starvation Immortal and the complete process of the previous Starvation Immortal's ascension. As long as one's aptitude isn't too poor, they could directly attain the Nameless realm in a short period! It's not necessarily this woman alone who can achieve it."
Li Buren's heart was calm. He meticulously recorded every detail until the room embodying the Dao of Starvation could no longer contain a second person.
A mysterious fluctuation suddenly arose between heaven and earth.
The second The Great Barrier, personally crafted by Li Buren, collapsed without warning. It wasn't that the Starvation Immortal suddenly turned hostile, but the fluctuation caused by her ascension to the Nameless realm naturally triggered this. Although the imitation The Great Barrier could withstand the Starvation Immortal during her enlightenment, it could no longer contend with an existence that had already attained the Nameless realm.
Simultaneously, Li Buren sensed that a segment of his memory had been inexplicably erased. However, his mission remained firmly imprinted in his mind. The overwhelming aura before him, vast as an abyss, reminded him that a True Immortal of the Nameless realm stood before him—his hunting target!
The process of ascending to the Nameless realm was not yet complete; it wasn't the optimal moment to strike. Li Buren gathered his strength, ready to launch a decisive blow at any moment.
Within the Abyssal Sea, it was as if a colossal meteor had fallen, stirring up immense waves that surged outwards. In the face of this overwhelming force, any remnants in the star sea lost their stability. Relics and fragmented realms were swept away with destructive force. Finally, they collided with the boundary of the star sea, where the The Great Barrier stood.
Rumble! Rumble! Rumble!
The inverse suction accumulated over tens of thousands of years beneath the The Great Barrier acted as a buffer, causing many relics and fragmented realms to halt their trajectory just in time. However, quite a few crashed directly into the The Great Barrier.
The phantom form of the Guardian of the Mound, transforming into a majestic dike, stood unmoving. All the remnants struck the dike like pebbles against a rock, turning to dust upon impact. Yet, the The Great Barrier did not tremble in the slightest. It even held firm, consolidating the fluctuations brought by the Nameless Starvation Immortal.
The performance of the The Great Barrier greatly reassured Li Buren. The Guardian of the Mound's power was indeed trustworthy.
Meanwhile, amidst the tempestuous changes caused by the ascension to the Nameless realm, Li Buren also noticed inexplicable transformations occurring in the depression where the "Forms of Living Beings" lay beneath the Abyssal Sea. Even with Li Buren's current strength, these subtle anomalies did not escape his observation.
"It seems to have, like me, quietly recorded the birth fluctuations of the Nameless Starvation Immortal?" This outcome surprised Li Buren. However, the recording methods differed. Li Buren's recording was entirely comprehensive, while the Forms of Living Beings in the star sea depression, leveraging the impact generated by the Nameless Starvation Immortal's birth, rewrote themselves to a certain extent. It was as if a forceful imprint had been left on an inkpad, preserving information about the Nameless True Immortal that would otherwise be unrecordable.
In the depression, the long-dormant Flowing River of Life abruptly surged due to the alteration of the Forms of Living Beings. Echoing the grand spectacle of the Nameless True Immortal's descent in the star sea, it poured out almost all its stored life force. At the center of the Forms of Living Beings pattern, a figure corresponding to the Starvation Immortal quietly emerged.
"The Shadow of the Nameless Immortal."
"Interesting." Li Buren's thoughts raced: "According to previous investigations, this Form of Living Beings was constructed by Xing Wuque under the command of King Xuan Tian. King Xuan Tian, though possessing unparalleled talent, was only at the Half-Immortal realm when he disappeared. He absolutely should not have possessed the means to engrave the shadow of a Nameless True Immortal. Therefore, the problem most likely lies with Xing Wuque."
"Having exhausted himself, almost to the point of soul dispersion, leaving only a damaged mask…" If Xing Wuque were merely a cultivator native to the Xuanhuang Realm, with strength inferior to King Xuan Tian, it would be impossible for him to have created such a Form of Living Beings. But considering that the Xuanhuang Realm was once a prime location for True Immortal avatars to infiltrate… everything becomes logical. "How many of the Twelve Law Kings are truly blameless?"
With the Nameless Starvation Immortal as his quarry, Li Buren temporarily shifted his gaze from the shadow of the Nameless in the depression.
The ripples subsided, the anomalies began to fade. The Abyssal Sea had the great fortune to witness the birth of a Nameless True Immortal. But for Her, this might also be a misfortune. The moment the Starvation Immortal achieved her Dao, She completely occupied the Dao of Starvation. Consequently, the remnant of the previous Starvation Immortal beneath Her lost its original divinity, becoming an utterly mundane object.
On the land of the Immortal Ruins, the character "Starvation" first dimmed as if in death. Then, after a moment, it revived, manifesting anew. It now had a new master, gradually merging with the Starvation Immortal's being.
Rumble! Rumble! Rumble!
Faint world-ending roars seemed to echo from beyond the heavens. This was due to the erosion of the Calamity of Dao Erasure, caused by the sudden absence of the Nameless remnant that originally served as its support pillar. It was as if a hole had slowly appeared in an unbreakable dike. Although the hole had not yet fully breached the dike, the external tides had already surged in.
If Li Buren were to return the power borrowed from the Guardian of the Mound's phantom at this moment, with the addition of Primordial Bones and the five Guardian of the Mound phantoms, it would be enough to withstand the assault of the Calamity of Dao Erasure. However, Li Buren did not act rashly. He even resisted the pull of the Guardian of the Mound's phantom retracting its power. He had never forgotten his hunting target. He was waiting for the optimal moment to strike.
And the Starvation Immortal did not disappoint him. Perhaps inheriting the duty from the previous Starvation Immortal, or perhaps an instinctive act in the face of disaster. Facing the surging tide of Dao Erasure, the Nameless Starvation Immortal casually unleashed a portion of her power to temporarily fill the breach. Simultaneously, she transmitted a message to Li Buren: "Fellow Immortal, please depart quickly. This place cannot be lingered in for long."
Even after achieving the Nameless realm, she still addressed Li Buren as "Fellow Immortal." Firstly, because Li Buren had aided her enlightenment and was indebted to her. Secondly, because the power Li Buren displayed, though strange, was not inferior to hers. Thus, her attitude was very friendly. However, her subsequent actions greatly exceeded her expectations. This "benefactor" of hers changed his demeanor in an instant!
Li Buren's body momentarily froze, then exploded outwards, scattering into a vast silver Dao net. It absorbed the power from the Guardian of the Mound's phantom with complete resilience. Louder roars than even the tide of Dao Erasure sounded in the Nameless Starvation Immortal's ears. Within this silver Dao net unfolding before her eyes, she vaguely saw a towering figure, hands clasped behind his back. Majestic as mountains and seas. Even with her body transformed into a Great Dao spanning heaven and earth, compared to him, she was merely an ant living between mountains and seas. That figure bore some resemblance to her "benefactor," yet it was more akin to… that person from the ancient legends of the Immortal Realm.
"Guardian of the Mound?!" The Nameless Starvation Immortal's body and mind trembled violently, her consciousness momentarily lost. At this instant, the heavens and seas of the Dao net surged towards her. Only when the tide lapped at her body and mountains loomed overhead did the Nameless Starvation Immortal regain her senses from her shock. Without time to question why, her instinct was to retaliate. Even if the opponent truly was the great being who had saved the Immortal Realm, she would never wait passively for death!
"I'm hungry." "I'm so hungry…" A deep, spectral voice emerged amidst the torrent of mountains and seas. It seemed to originate from the Starvation Immortal, yet it also seemed to come from a mysterious existence beyond the Great Dao. The powers Li Buren had prepared to imprison the Nameless Starvation Immortal were entirely swallowed by her as sustenance. Facing the immense power of mountains and seas, the Starvation Immortal remained undaunted. She intended to swallow mountains and drink seas, transforming everything in the world into her own nourishment! Like a colossal vortex devouring all things, the Nameless Starvation Immortal's figure became indistinct. Under this terrifying suction, Li Buren felt his Dao net body subtly distort. The strength of the Starvation Immortal after attaining the Nameless realm indeed exceeded his expectations. But with only this degree of power, she dared to defy the heavens… Li Buren, from his other body seated in the Grand Tutor's chair, bowed slightly to the five Guardian of the Mound phantoms. Instantly, a portion of their power was withdrawn. This was the maximum share Li Buren could borrow, calculated on the premise that the The Great Barrier would not collapse under the pressure of the Calamity of Dao Erasure. It was equivalent to two and a half Nameless True Immortals! Consequently, the immense force that had been restraining the Starvation Immortal from the outside world instantly doubled. What had previously seemed boundless mountains and seas now appeared to be mere glittering stones of mountains and drops of water in the sea. As the mountains and seas expanded, seemingly without end or limit, her initial determination to swallow mountains and drink seas faltered upon discovering this horrifying fact. Her unending hunger was almost sated. More crucially… the pressure of the Calamity of Dao Erasure, which she had casually resisted, intending to depart soon, intensified. The superposition of these dual factors rendered her momentarily unable to move! It seemed to have discovered her as a potential breakthrough point; the Calamity of Dao Erasure, as if possessing sentience, began to attack her. At this moment, the pressure from Dao Erasure she endured was many times greater than in other parts of this star sea! Not only the Starvation Immortal. Li Buren also noticed this change in the battle situation. As the Starvation Immortal bore more pressure, the Guardian of the Mound phantoms needed to bear less. This allowed him to borrow even more power. Escalating further, a force equivalent to three Nameless True Immortals erupted suddenly. The Nameless Starvation Immortal, already struggling under the threat of the Calamity of Dao Erasure, was like a bird in a cage, unable to escape. Li Buren's Dao net body transformed into ropes, binding the Starvation Immortal. As they tightened and locked, they slowly "nailed" her into this starry sky. Bang! Bang! Bang! "No!" "I implore the Guardian of the Mound for mercy!" Sensing the opponent's intent, the Starvation Immortal cried out in terror. A Nameless True Immortal serving as a Heavenly Pillar was not a secret in the Immortal Realm. At least, the Starvation Immortal had known this. She had even witnessed the foundation of a Heavenly Pillar during her cultivation back then. Yet, despite her unwillingness, she could not change this fate. The scene before the Nameless Starvation Immortal's eyes grew increasingly dim. The starlight and the mountains and seas vanished, as if slowly sinking to the bottom of an endless ocean. All she could feel was eternal darkness and ever-increasing pressure. … The moment the Nameless Starvation Immortal's body disappeared into the Abyssal Sea, a Nameless Heavenly Pillar was successfully fixed in this realm by Li Buren. However, the faint sounds of Dao Erasure continued to be heard. Li Buren decisively returned the power from the Guardian of the Mound phantoms. Primordial Bones, the Starvation Immortal's Heavenly Pillar, and the five Guardian of the Mound phantoms. A dike constructed by such immense power could not possibly be submerged by the current Calamity of Dao Erasure. After attempting and finding it futile, the surging tide suddenly retreated. Li Buren examined his Dao net body. Due to the proximity of the tide of Dao Erasure, it showed signs of rapid disintegration. Fortunately, the tide of Dao Erasure lasted only a short while. Within a few breaths, Li Buren had recovered. "The tide of Dao Erasure indeed ebbs and flows." "Moreover, there seems to be no pattern to it." "Within the brief period of discovering a vulnerability, it can suddenly become surging and magnificent." "As if…" "It had its own offensive consciousness."
"The moment a flaw appears, pursue relentlessly, to the death."
"If the endeavor fails, retreat temporarily, and accumulate strength..."
Li Buren recalled the subtle feelings he experienced while confronting the Tidal Wave of Dao Erasure. It was akin to how all living beings of the world perceive the approaching storm to varying degrees. The premonition of the Tidal Wave of Dao Erasure's approach seemed to be deeply rooted in the instincts of living creatures.
It was only long after the tide had receded that Li Buren felt the strange sensation in his heart finally dissipate.
Slowly coming back to his senses, he gazed at the "Heavenly Pillar" that now stood tall in the Abyssal Sea. Unlike the ruins formed by the superposition of two Primordial Bones, this pillar was truly the manifestation of an unnamed individual who had attained the Dao. With the appearance of this Nameless Heavenly Pillar, the sky seemed to become both more distant and more "secure." The invisible pressure in his heart vanished, as if he had arrived in the legendary "Immortal Realm."
"It's naturally incomparable to the true Immortal Realm that can harness the energy of the Infinite Sea, but to be able to call it a 'Celestial Domain' is not an exaggeration."
The heavens and earth were vast, and the Great Dao manifested between them became clearer. More importantly, the Abyssal Sea within these The Great Barriers had gathered three entities: the phantom of Mound Guardian, the Primordial Bones, and the Heavenly Pillar of the Starving Immortal. While the Mound Guardian's phantom affected all experimental spaces within the The Great Barriers, the other two were exclusive to the Abyssal Sea. Each of their appearances invisibly elevated the "momentum" of this star sea. With all three present, the Abyssal Sea was temporarily elevated to a point where it could look down upon the Tidal Wave of Dao Erasure below.
"Living in this realm, one's inherent momentum far surpasses that of other places. In simple terms, everyone here is exceptionally gifted, prime candidates for seeking immortality and the Dao. Moreover, this place was originally a survivor of the Dao Erasure's baptism. Under such inherent conditions, those who can cultivate here are bound to be individuals of extraordinary talent..."
Li Buren's brows lifted slightly. "The Abyssal Sea is like the sacred lands and paradises rumored in the ancient cultivation world. Regardless of their strength, anyone who emerges from it will undoubtedly possess astonishing cultivation talent."
"If the Immortal Path were not severed, and if there were no Celestial Official guarding the Ascension Platform, perhaps even the entire realm ascending wouldn't be difficult."
"What a pity..."
"Now, it's merely a high ground, a solitary boat within the tidal wave of world destruction."
Three powers comparable to a Nameless True Immortal converged in one place. It was only through Li Fan's continuous cycles of reincarnation and information gathering that he could complete his grand plan. One could say that the current Abyssal Sea was the safest region within the entire "[Primordial]" possibility. Even if the entire possibility were to be submerged by the Tidal Wave of Dao Erasure, the Abyssal Sea could serve as a high ground, barely holding on for a while.
With the Abyssal Sea as his stronghold, Li Fan naturally felt more at ease, as if he were in a meticulously protected doomsday shelter. No matter what happened outside, be it a sea of ice or stormy waves, he would remain unshaken.
While Li Fan's true body enjoyed his newfound comfort, his clone, Li Buren, quickly moved past this sense of satisfaction, diligently calculating the specific gains from the Starving Immortal's transformation into a pillar.
"Originally, I could unconditionally and without side effects utilize one and one-third of the power from the [Primordial] Bones."
"And after suppressing the Starving Immortal..."
"The gain wasn't the equivalent of a complete Nameless True Immortal's power, but rather the residual power of the previous Starving Immortal needed to be subtracted."
"Approximately equivalent to two and two-fifths of the Primordial Bones."
After a rough quantification, the result was not entirely beyond Li Fan's expectations. Although the Primordial Bones were powerful, pertaining to the initial Dao at the dawn of all things, only two fragmented bones remained, not a complete entity. In such a situation, they could still be almost comparable to the power of a Starving Immortal at the moment of her initial attainment of the nameless realm, which was sufficient to illustrate the terror of her peak strength.
"Judging from her performance in the previous battle, the Starving Immortal still possessed the power to swallow heavens and seas when facing the Mound Guardian's phantom. Even in her nascent nameless state, she was definitely not among the weak True Immortals. And now, I can freely wield power equivalent to two Nameless True Immortals..."
"There are virtually no opponents left in this star domain."
Even though it was entirely borrowed power from the Mound Guardian's phantom, it did not diminish Li Fan's satisfaction.
"With the Immortal Realm shattered and all Immortals having fled, such strength almost signifies invincibility."
"It's a pity it's limited to the vicinity of the The Great Barriers."
"Moreover, I can replicate this method, attract and suppress other Nameless True Immortals, and further develop the Mound Guardian's phantom power. The ultimate limit is for all five of the Mound Guardian's phantoms to be under my command!"
"That kind of power can resist the mighty Tidal Wave of Dao Erasure from the destruction of the Immortal Realm..."
A hint of longing flashed in Li Fan's eyes. However, he did not allow this incomparably immense power to cloud his mind. After all, it was merely a temporary borrowing, not his true strength.
"However, it is still useful as a tool."
The successful suppression of the Nameless Starving Immortal this time also factually confirmed the extent of the energy Li Fan could wield. At this level, he no longer needed to be so cautious.
"The Abyssal Sea and the blind spots within the Xuanhuang Realm can finally be resolved all at once," Li Fan's eyes flashed with a sharp glint.
However, before taking action, Li Fan carefully observed and compared the Primordial Bones and the Starving Immortal's Heavenly Pillar in the star domain. Although both served as pillars supporting Dao Erasure, their manifestations were entirely different. The Primordial Bones were already within the characterless monument and the Southern Immortal's Heavenly Pillar, seemingly resigned or perhaps tamed. They endured silently, with all their light and anomalies contained. They appeared no different from ordinary, broken stone stumps.
But the Starving Immortal's Heavenly Pillar was forcibly restrained by Li Fan's external power. The Starving Immortal's self-awareness still existed. Li Fan could not only feel the surging resentment surrounding the Heavenly Pillar but also clearly hear the Starving Immortal's continuous venomous curses. Li Fan, however, acted as if he heard nothing, scrutinizing her with a slight smile.
He sent a wisp of his divine sense to interact with the Starving Immortal's Heavenly Pillar.
*Boom!*
As his divine sense trembled, the Dao of "[Starvation]" stood before Li Fan, spanning heaven and earth from top to bottom, revealed in exquisite detail. It was as if all her secrets were being laid bare before Li Fan. The Starving Immortal, sealed within the Heavenly Pillar, was stunned for a moment. What followed was even more frenzied cursing. However, all she could do was that, unable to prevent Li Fan's scrutiny.
"She can see the Dao, but she cannot comprehend any of it."
"The Dao of Starvation has already been attained by someone else. It seems to have vanished from this world."
"How can one comprehend something that belongs to another?"
Li Fan sighed softly. What he lamented was not just the path of starvation before him. It was the evident, widespread absence of numerous Great Daos, given the background of the Immortal Realm's destruction and the flight of all Immortals.
"It's like my divine sense projection, which only reflects a small part of the The Dao Lattice. What remains in the Primordial possibility are merely scraps and leftovers..."
"The Great Dao is fragmented, the heaven and earth are incomplete."
"Even so, the world I see is so magnificent. It's truly difficult to imagine what the complete Dao of heaven and earth would be like..."
This was a fantasy that any cultivator couldn't avoid, and Li Fan was no exception. He momentarily lost himself before the Starving Immortal's Heavenly Pillar. After a long while, Li Fan's gaze shifted from yearning to determination.
"One day, I will witness the complete Dao of heaven and earth."
"There will come a day."
Besides glimpsing the Dao of Starvation within the Starving Immortal's Heavenly Pillar, Li Fan could also faintly see the Starving Immortal's past life. However, because she had attained the nameless realm and all her past was consolidated, these visual memories were all consumed by the Dao of Starvation. It was as if they were hiding beneath a layer of the Great Dao's outer shell. Without dismantling the Starving Immortal's Heavenly Pillar, Li Fan could not fully grasp them instantly. He could only uncover them gradually, inch by inch.
In addition to battling the Great Dao of Starvation, Li Fan's scrutiny also had to contend with the Starving Immortal's own struggling consciousness. She seemed to resist Li Fan's gaze intensely, her resistance even fiercer than when she faced Li Buren in their battle.
"If you knew this would happen, why did you act like this in the first place!"
Li Fan coldly snorted and, far from retracting, advanced further. He broke through the protection of the Great Dao of Starvation. He caught a glimpse of a period of light and shadow that once belonged to the Starving Immortal. Under Li Fan's observation, it appeared to be the Starving Immortal's childhood, before she stepped into the True Immortal realm. The Starving Immortal did not ascend from a lower realm; instead, she lived in the Immortal Realm from her birth, as an appendage to a certain True Immortal. Although they were called mere "appendages" and were known as Immortal Servants, the Starving Immortal had never seen the so-called "master" from the day she was born. Even with the Immortal Realm's infinite resources, they, the servants, did not need to offer tribute to their master. The Starving Immortal heard that her master was naturally averse to liveliness and preferred solitude. Although they, the Immortal Servants, were created and bestowed upon their master, he never paid them any mind. He simply settled them in his own fiefdom. For such an "owner," it was naturally a blessing beyond measure for the Immortal Servants. The Immortal Servants lived in extreme freedom. With the protection of their True Immortal master, they had no need to worry about anything.
However, such carefree days did not last long. On that day, the childhood Starving Immortal witnessed the world-ending Tidal Wave of Dao Erasure with her own eyes. Her True Immortal master's territory, her home, a place called the "[Serene Harmony Celestial Domain]," was instantly destroyed in this terrifying catastrophe. If not for her True Immortal master, who never revealed himself, appearing at the last moment to save them, the Starving Immortal would have surely perished in the calamity of that year.
"Inactive freedom..."
"Hmph!"
The Starving Immortal only remembered her master scoffing as he casually saved them and gazed at the scene of the celestial domain's annihilation in the distance. Then, his form faded and vanished. After that, the Starving Immortal never saw her master again. It was only after this that the Starving Immortal finally learned her master's name.
[Inactive.]
...
The moment Li Fan glimpsed these two words from the Starving Immortal's memory, it was as if he had touched a forbidden subject. He was met with a strong resistance from the Starving Immortal. Even the Starving Immortal's Heavenly Pillar trembled slightly. Under the powerful repulsion, Li Fan's consciousness was actually expelled. Since he had plenty of time later to slowly process it, Li Fan did not force the issue and decided to stop while he was ahead. He would let the Starving Immortal calm down first.
"Inactive Immortal, is it..."
His expression became somewhat solemn as he recalled what he had seen in the Starving Immortal's memory. Although not as serene and leisurely as the Mound Guardian, and the Tidal Wave of Dao Erasure he faced did not encompass the entire Immortal Realm, it was still a calamity of Dao Erasure! Li Fan, who had recently come into contact with it, knew very well the terrifying nature of this catastrophe.
"To have the strength to save his servants and successfully escape amidst the calamity of Dao Erasure."
"This Inactive Immortal's strength is not weak either. It's just that the childhood memories of the Starving Immortal are still a bit blurry. I wonder if he is truly in the nameless realm."
Li Fan had this doubt because those he had seen in the nameless realm possessed a peculiar characteristic: they embodied the Dao, standing solitary between heaven and earth. However, the Inactive Immortal did not give Li Fan such a feeling. But if he hadn't attained the nameless realm, how could he have withstood the calamity of Dao Erasure?
"Perhaps he was granted his title through merit... How interesting."
Thinking of the many figures in the history of the Immortal Realm who perished in the calamity of Dao Erasure or fled their realms, Li Fan felt a surge of inexplicable emotions.
"It's merely a world in decline."
It could be foreseen that the possibilities to which the Immortals of the Immortal Realm fled at that time were certainly far more colorful than the "[Primordial]" possibility Li Fan was currently in.
"Fortunately, it has been verified that individuals who have disappeared in the [Primordial] possibility might still survive in other possibilities."
"This will not prevent me from ever seeing them."
The things and beings Li Fan had encountered recently, such as the Mound Guardian, the Primordial, and the Inactive Immortal, allowed him to glimpse a "heaven beyond the heavens" and a "person beyond people." His mind, rarely so active, stirred with a spark of excitement. It was like when he was in his seventies, having explored the entirety of the Great Xuan dynasty, only to inexplicably encounter two cultivators. It was like playing a game for a long time, and suddenly discovering vast hidden maps and characters. He instinctively felt a desire to explore and seek.
"Although I am currently only at the Half-Immortal realm, there will surely come a day when I traverse possibilities and witness such wonders."
"In times of great change, true heroes emerge. In periods of world-ending calamity, true heroes of the world are revealed."
"The celestial phenomena of other possibilities might be even more spectacular than what I've glimpsed in the Primordial. Hehehe..."
Li Fan thought to himself. Then, his thoughts settled, returning to his clone, Li Buren. After calculations and adjustments, he could now slightly and precisely control the power of the Mound Guardian's phantom. The first target, naturally, was the Grand Master Tiandu, whom Li Fan viewed as a thorn in his side!
With a single thought, Li Buren returned from the center of the star sea to Yuan Dao Prefecture in the Xuanhuang Realm. The moment he stepped into this prefecture, he felt a force rapidly retreating.
"Sorrow... Dao is extinguished."
A faint chant of the Dao from the highest heavens suddenly resounded. Li Buren narrowed his eyes and saw that the two figures, one large and one small, seemed to be trying to escape.
Or, to be precise, it was that small figure, attempting to drag the phantom chanting scriptures along as it tried to escape before Li Buren.
"Thousand Movements Soul Shifting, Hundred Twists Spirit Turning."
"Infinite, Boundless, Without Fault."
...
The profound sounds echoed, and Li Buren found that the two figures were indeed beginning to fade. They were trying to evade his monumental calamity.
An extremely strange feeling washed over Li Buren. Though the two were within his grasp, his desire to pursue them weakened considerably.
He even felt indifference toward his targets, as if their capture was no longer a pressing matter.
Clearly, this was the influence of the chanting phantom, which even Li Buren's The Dao Lattice body could not resist.
However, it was a pity that while these profound sounds possessed divine efficacy in avoiding calamity, they were not an omnipotent wish-granting machine.
With a slight exertion of the Mound Guardian's phantom power, Li Buren was instantly freed from the encirclement of the chanting voices.
No longer a faint whisper from afar, delving into his soul, it was now like the buzz of a mosquito, easily ignored at any moment.
Li Buren reached out and grabbed. The young Daoist phantom, the so-called Grand Master Tiandu, was instantly silenced, like a rooster whose neck had been squeezed.
But to Li Buren's surprise, the chanting phantom beside the Grand Master remained largely unaffected. It merely rippled like water, swayed slightly, and continued.
Influenced by the profound sounds around him, Li Buren keenly perceived that the Grand Master, whom he held tightly in his hand, was slowly slipping through his fingers.
This escape was not about brute strength.
It represented a trend, like a conceptual law: avoid calamity, incur no fault.
Li Buren had a feeling that even with the power of the two nameless True Immortals he had mastered, he could not completely ignore such a conceptual trend.
Even...
Perhaps if all five Mound Guardian phantoms unleashed their full power, he might stand a chance.
If Li Buren had used his full strength from the beginning, the Grand Master might indeed have escaped his grasp slowly.
Fortunately, he perceived the Grand Master as only being at the Half-Immortal realm and initially only exerted a fraction of his power. Upon realizing he could not alter the situation and his prey was slipping away, he gradually increased his grip.
Not by directly suppressing with force.
But by using a trend to counter a trend!
The power Li Buren could wield had its limits. One day, the Grand Master would indeed succeed in escaping with the help of the chanting phantom.
But until then, he was like someone caught in a paralysis spell, fixed in place!
Li Buren slowly approached. After shielding himself from the influence of the chanting profound sounds, he finally got a clear look at the legendary Grand Master Tiandu from the Xuanhuang Realm's history.
He truly resembled a young Daoist attendant to a Sage, dressed plainly, with a youthful face, like a mere boy. Yet, his eyes were dark and profound, as if they had witnessed the rise and fall of all worldly affairs. A serene aura surrounded him; even as Li Buren approached, he remained composed.
He acted as if he hadn't seen Li Buren at all.
Li Buren did not attend to him for the moment, instead directing his gaze towards the resonant profound sounds of chanting beside the Grand Master.
After witnessing the The Dao Lattice, Mound Guardians, Primordial, and others, his vision had changed drastically.
Observing at such close proximity, he could naturally discern the nature of this phantom.
"A remnant left behind after transcending and departing..."
"It's just that this remnant, instead of being used as a pillar to support Dao Erasure, continues its original Dao path."
"No wonder the Grand Master has remained indifferent to all that has happened, refusing to leave this phantom behind."
A flicker of surprise crossed Li Buren's eyes.
"After a nameless minor transcendence, the Dao He embodied should have vanished from the world. But if a remnant remains, perhaps in the future, a new manifestation of this Dao will appear in the world."
"It's equivalent to starting anew from infancy, growing at a speed countless times faster than starting from nothing!"
Li Buren stared intently at the phantom, attempting to pierce through the profound sounds of chanting and discern its essence.
"If there is misfortune, then avoid it."
"If someone seeks guidance, then transmit the scriptures."
Recalling the various legends about Grand Master Tiandu in the Xuanhuang Realm, a realization slowly dawned upon Li Buren.
"It's not about responding to every request, but about evolving oneself based on external changes."
"Guiding by the situation, exploring all possibilities."
"This is..."
"The Dao of Illusory Life!"
This was a Dao path that had long since vanished from the original possibilities, leaving only this newly formed remnant within the phantom.
Clearly, the Dao of Illusory Life was not inferior to [Primordial] or [Inactive]. Li Buren had already gained much from even a brief observation.
It was only then that he realized a new Dao path represented more than just a single path. It could subtly reveal a chain of related Dao shadows!
Even though the vast majority of these Dao paths no longer existed in this world.
But as one of the Three Thousand Great Daos, with his understanding of the Dao, he could "fill in the blanks" for these "lost Daos" to a certain extent!
"The Grand Master is truly fortunate. This [Illusionary Dao Shadow] would be a treasure coveted by all Immortals, even in the Immortal Realm. Yet, he has possessed it for ten thousand years with a mere Half-Immortal cultivation." Li Buren couldn't help but sigh.
The reason the Grand Master had always stayed above the Origin of the Dao, refusing to leave or emerge, was precisely because he could not control the comings and goings of the [Illusionary Dao Shadow]. Until he could completely refine and master it, he could only follow it step by step!
"So I was mistaken before. Knowing that these chanting profound sounds were exceptionally wondrous, I subconsciously spent extra effort on them. I should have focused on capturing the Grand Master alone, rather than targeting the Illusionary Dao Shadow."
"If it does not feel threatened or endangered, it will naturally not manifest any means of avoiding calamity."
A thought struck him, and Li Buren adjusted the allocation of his binding power. All his focus was shifted towards the Grand Master, who resembled a young Dao page.
The Grand Master's perpetually calm expression finally shifted.
"After sitting in front of the Illusory Dao Shadow for so many years, it has had some effect." Li Buren detected a faint, almost imperceptible connection between the Grand Master and the Illusory Dao Shadow.
The methods he applied to the Grand Master had inevitably affected the Dao Shadow.
However, the manifested power to avoid calamity was far weaker than before.
In other words, Li Buren now had more time to meticulously deal with Grand Master Tiandu.
But no matter what secrets the Grand Master hid, they were ultimately less significant than this Illusionary Dao Shadow. Therefore, Li Buren was not in a hurry to question him, his attention remaining focused on the Dao Shadow.
After a long while...
"The Dao of Illusory Life, in essence, is the ultimate embodiment of 'survival of the fittest'."
"Transforming all disadvantages into advantages. Theoretically, it might even be able to derive countermeasures against the calamity of Dao Erasure."
"But that's only theoretical. It would require surviving long enough to develop such traits before being devoured by Dao Erasure."
Li Buren mused, and then suddenly thought of Ink Slaughter from the Xuanhuang Realm.
"Ink Slaughter has an inseparable connection with Dao Erasure."
"Perhaps it was an attempt by the experimental field to completely resolve Dao Erasure. However, Dao Erasure encompasses all things, and there is nothing in the world that is truly related to it..."
Then, he considered why this Illusionary Dao Shadow had come to the Xuanhuang Realm.
Li Buren shifted his gaze to Origin Dao State below.
"The successful creation of the Essence of Heaven and Earth, Ink Slaughter, should have involved some infusion of illusory power."
"This strand of power did not disappear even after the Illusionary transcended and departed. It still exists in the Xuanhuang Realm."
"Which made it the sole illusory power in the 'original' possibility, apart from the Illusionary Dao Shadow itself. It was precisely because of this connection that the Dao Shadow came here."
Li Buren's thoughts raced, and his The Dao Lattice divine sense swept across the land of Origin Dao State, and even deep underground.
Ever since he had inexplicably lost ten years of his life, Li Buren had not set foot in Origin Dao State again. Even after reaching the Half-Immortal realm and mastering the Carefree Dream, he had avoided this state out of concern for the Grand Master.
Therefore, it was a complete blind spot for him.
Now, with the power of the Mound Guardian phantoms, the shadows of his blind spot were finally cleared away.
Thirty-three thousand feet underground in Origin Dao State.
Within a peculiar space that seemed independent of the Xuanhuang Realm.
A pulsing, ink-like mass, resembling a heart, was beating continuously.
Each beat was extremely strange.
It was not a smooth, continuous motion, but rather like a series of fragmented frames, as if being frame-skipped.
The closer Li Buren's divine sense approached, the more familiar it felt.
This was a result of the main body merging with the Essence of Heaven and Earth, Ink Slaughter.
Li Buren proceeded cautiously, not daring to disturb it as he continued to approach.
He already knew what the object before him was.
"Although Ink Slaughter is the Essence of Heaven and Earth, it is not an inherent, original entity of the Xuanhuang Realm."
"Rather, it was modified and created artificially."
"Unlike other Essences of Heaven and Earth, the laws of Ink Slaughter are not integrated into the Xuanhuang Realm's natural order."
"This region underground in Origin Dao State is the sole source of Ink Slaughter's creation."
The ink-like shadow seemed highly wary of the approaching foreign entity. Upon detecting Li Buren, it became agitated.
In the intermittently changing images, the ink shadow churned.
Li Buren had a feeling that if he approached any closer, he might be attacked.
While he was not afraid, it might hinder his subsequent investigation into the mystery of Ink Slaughter's origin.
Therefore, Li Buren decisively stopped.
"This matter requires the main body to handle it."
Li Buren abruptly retreated and continued his standoff with the Grand Master.
Meanwhile, Li Buren's main body condensed the power of the Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul within him and split off a clone.
It descended directly underground into Origin Dao State.
In a short while, it arrived at the location Li Buren had previously discovered and saw the ink-like mass.
Compared to its wariness of Li Buren, the shadow clearly regarded Li Buren's main body as "one of its own."
It mistook him for the Ink Slaughter Essence of Heaven and Earth that had gone out to execute a mission for the Azure Nether Heavenly Dao.
However, Li Buren still felt countless subtle observations, laced with a hint of curiosity.
It seemed to question the "uniqueness" about Li Buren.
Although he had been promoted to an Immortal Soul, his essence was still the power of Ink Slaughter.
Li Buren eventually blended safely into the ink mass.
He observed from an even closer vantage point than he had with the illusory phantom.
Li Buren was surrounded by countless shades of ink in all directions, immersed in an ocean of black.
He felt neither joy nor sorrow, simply observing quietly.
"Hmm... derived from the destructive Dao of Dao Erasure."
"The transformative power of the Illusionary Dao Shadow."
"Aside from these two..."
It was like taking a sip of fine tea, Li Buren savored it with meticulous detail.
Clearly another Dao path that had vanished from this era's possibilities.
Although Li Buren had never encountered or studied it before,
due to its strong connection with the [Dao of Illusory Life], Li Buren had vaguely glimpsed its Dao's traces in the lost Dao shadow he had just observed.
"If the Dao of Illusory Life is the ultimate realization of [Change],"
"Then this Dao is its opposite."
"Eternal Order..."
Li Buren stared intently at the center of the churning ink sea.
As a creation capable of destroying and devouring everything, what was maintaining Ink Slaughter's existence?
Amidst the intertwined forces of destruction and change, it was precisely because of an eternally unchanging force serving as a connecting thread that [Ink Slaughter] could exist in the world.
"Change. And Unchanging."
"Two diametrically opposed forces, coming together."
"Constraining the destructive source from Dao Erasure."
A flicker of surprise crossed Li Buren's eyes: "Illusion, Eternity."
"These two Daos are not inferior to Primordial. They once joined forces in an experiment..."
Eternity served as the foundation for existence, and Illusion as the support for evolution.
Through an unknown period of evolution within this ink-like shadow, Ink Slaughter had achieved its current state.
If this experimental field were still in its normal state, Ink Slaughter might have been even more wondrous and closer to the target the experimental field had intended.
But the experimental field had long been abandoned for unknown reasons. Furthermore, due to various circumstances, the Xuanhuang Realm, as the breeding ground for Ink Slaughter's evolution, had been struggling to survive for many years.
It was fundamentally unable to support Ink Slaughter's further evolution.
Only in Li Buren's previous life, after he propelled the Xuanhuang Realm to ascend, did he bring a new variable to this long-stagnant experiment.
After a period of observation and hesitation, the ink around Li Buren seemed to confirm his "superiority." It boiled and spontaneously emulated him.
They wanted to become like Li Buren.
But this change, which came from propelling an entire realm to ascend, was not something these ink masses could easily replicate.
Like a group of boisterous children, they churned restlessly, yet could not find the right way.
Observing this, Li Buren suddenly had an inspiration.
"The accumulation is sufficient."
"What is lacking is only the energy."
And Li Buren had no shortage of this.
With a slight shift of his mind, the immense feedback power from his previous life's act of propelling the Xuanhuang Realm to ascend was channeled through the Ink Slaughter clone. It was infused into this ink mass.
Although from an external perspective, the ink mass's shape and size remained unchanged,
only Li Buren, who was inside, could perceive the earth-shattering changes.
They had skipped the intermediate process of the Xuanhuang Realm ascending to the Immortal Realm.
Knowing the result Li Buren presented to them, they could now emulate it directly!
In the heavy darkness, Li Fan felt countless versions of himself being endlessly replicated.
This cluster of shadows, buried deep beneath the Source Dao Province of the Xuanhuang Realm, was rapidly evolving towards the realm of the Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul.
Bolstered by the dual characteristics of the Great Dao of Illusory Life and the Great Dao of Eternity, they were able to bypass the threshold of ascending to immortality, directly crossing the boundary between mortal and immortal.
From mortal, to immortal!
Immersed in a boundless sea of ink, Li Fan clearly perceived the effects of these two Great Daos.
Illusory Life provided boundless evolutionary power, extending infinitely through extreme numbers and quantities, until the shackles between mortal and immortal were broken.
Eternity, meanwhile, served as an incomparably solid foundation for the Dao. No matter how much the internal and external aspects changed, it remained steadfast and unmoving. Even a skyscraper of immense height must be built upon this land.
Amidst change and immutability, millions of years passed in an instant.
Finally, when a new wisp of ink broke through countless hardships and descended upon the world, its transformation quickly benefited other parts of the ink cluster.
The flesh and blood body of the Xuanhuang Realm had actually spawned an Immortal Soul within it!
Since the energy consumed for Ink Slaughter's ascension was entirely provided by Li Fan, Li Fan was, in essence, Ink Slaughter's "natural parent," merely borrowing the Xuanhuang Realm's "womb."
However, as it was the birthplace of the Immortal Soul, after Ink Slaughter ascended, the subtle connection nurtured over tens of thousands of years between it and the Xuanhuang Realm still brought a certain degree of replenishment to the Xuanhuang Realm.
But compared to the typical transformation of the Xuanhuang Realm after ascension, the changes brought about by Ink Slaughter’s premature ascension were less pleasant.
What was originally just one among many Heavenly and Earthly Essences now held absolute dominance. As Ink Slaughter transformed into an Immortal Soul, it also imperiously imposed some of its own characteristics onto the Xuanhuang Realm.
Thick layers of dark clouds inexplicably arose, shrouding the Azure Nether sky. On the ground, gusts of black wind swept across from time to time. As if Ink Slaughter had descended, wherever the wind passed, everything turned into tiny black particles.
The Xuanhuang Realm, which had just seen the threat of the Immortal Ruins eliminated and was filled with renewed vitality, had suddenly transformed into a dim, ghostly end of the world!
Fortunately, the vast majority of sentient beings were slumbering within the Land of Carefree Bliss, protected by Li Fan's power. Ink Slaughter, still showing some respect to Li Fan, its "fellow being" and "creator," did not openly clash with the Land of Bliss.
Li Fan could vaguely sense the Azure Nether Heavenly Dao's extreme anger, yet its inability to express it. Even the power of an entire realm was no match for the current Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul. The Xuanhuang Realm's Heavenly Dao could only endure for now, slowly accumulating strength from the benefits brought by Ink Slaughter's ascension.
But Ink Slaughter seemed unwilling to stop there.
Although it did not directly attack the Azure Nether Heavenly Dao, it extended its tentacles towards the various Heavenly and Earthly Essences within the Xuanhuang Realm.
Originally manifestations of countless different laws, with myriad forms, these Heavenly and Earthly Essences gradually displayed Ink Slaughter's stripes as they were eroded. The way their powers manifested in the world also all bore the destructive characteristics of Ink Slaughter.
Even Heavenly and Earthly Essences that were not originally very aggressive, such as Scarlet Flame, became somewhat terrifying and formidable.
"If this blackened Scarlet Flame were ordered to boil the seas, the Cloudy Sea would likely dry up in mere days."
Ink Slaughter was not merely engaging in simple erosion.
As the black color gradually dominated the Xuanhuang Realm, various "Ink Slaughter Immortal Souls" with different properties differentiated themselves from the eerie shadows surrounding Li Fan.
Although their essence remained unchanged, they possessed certain characteristics of other Great Daos in the world.
The overall harmony was maintained, while bringing forth a different kind of vitality.
...
Observing all the changes between Ink Slaughter and the Xuanhuang Realm, Li Fan felt a peculiar premonition.
"Perhaps, this Xuanhuang Realm, transformed by the Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul, has gained a certain degree of survivability under the Tribulation of Dao Erasure."
"Perhaps, the current level of transformation is still insufficient. But compared to its original state, its resistance to Dao Erasure has undoubtedly increased significantly."
"Is this what the experiment was initially aiming for by implanting the power of Ink Slaughter?"
The Xuanhuang Realm, though appearing somewhat sinister and terrifying now, in the grand context of the entire mortal world on the verge of perishing under the tide of Dao Erasure, actually seemed more "suitable."
"It's like in a cultivation wasteland, where a simple underground stone cave is more suitable for survival than a magnificent palace above ground."
"If this model of the Xuanhuang Realm were to be promoted throughout the mortal world..." Li Fan narrowed his eyes.
"Even if it couldn't prevent the tide of Dao Erasure from engulfing everything, perhaps one or two islands would survive after the waves subsided. In a sense, it wouldn't be a bad method of salvation."
"But it would be premised on being cleansed by Ink Slaughter first."
Li Fan, sensing the writhing myriad shadows around him, couldn't help but shake his head slightly.
Not all cultivation realms could withstand the changes brought by the Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul as easily as the Xuanhuang Realm.
Setting aside the Xuanhuang Realm's special nature as an experimental ground for the Immortal Realm.
Even in this peculiar Xuanhuang Realm, without the protection of Li Fan's power and the bond formed by tens of thousands of years of Ink Slaughter's gestation within him, the Xuanhuang Realm would have suffered severe damage during the ink's baptism.
Not to mention the other normal cultivation realms of the mortal world.
"If this mass of shadow were released, perhaps even the Star Sea, empowered by the The Dao Lattice, couldn't withstand its burden."
"It might resist for a time, but facing the Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul with the characteristic of 'Illusory Life,' it would eventually be dyed black particle by particle."
Li Fan, who had once delved into the core of the The Dao Lattice and understood the powers of both Ink Slaughter and the The Dao Lattice, reached this conclusion after considerable deduction.
"Compared to me devouring and absorbing it, allowing it to evolve on its own is more likely to maximize its characteristics."
Li Fan observed the various Ink Slaughter shadows that had differentiated around him, scrutinizing each one.
He himself had attained the Dao with the Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul. If he could simultaneously grasp these stained laws, he would easily be able to replicate them one by one.
Looking around, Li Fan seemed to glimpse his potential next path.
"A major obstacle for True Immortals in comprehending the Dao is that Great Daos cannot be cultivated together."
"Even with heaven-defying cultivation techniques like the 'Boundless Heavenly Axis Spirit Severing Art,' one can at most merge two or three Daos. But if I were to use the Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul as my foundation..."
"The Three Thousand Great Daos, all within my grasp!"
Li Fan saw the The Dao Lattice, descending from the heavens and stretching endlessly, slowly being stained by Ink Slaughter that came from no one knew where.
He instinctively extended his hand, looking at his palm.
Amidst the countless writhing black particles, different Daos seemed to differentiate as he gained insight.
Although they were all common Daos he had comprehended in his past cultivation experiences, such as the Five Elements, Azure Wind, and Blue Flame, each time a new facet appeared, Li Fan felt himself grow stronger in an instant.
"The reason I can easily accomplish what countless past sages and saints could not is because the Dao of 'Ink Slaughter' does not inherently exist in this world."
"Its most fundamental core is Dao Erasure. It is the Illusory Sea."
"It transcends the Great Daos of the mortal world! Therefore, it is not bound by the mortal world's restraint that Great Daos cannot be cultivated together!"
"Any Dao seen in the mortal world can be comprehended and utilized."
Looking at his increasingly vivid ink-colored body, a sense of clarity surged within Li Fan.
"If Ink Slaughter can do this, then..."
"What about 'Return to Truth'?"
The ink churned, and Li Fan finally returned his thoughts to his core.
"Through Ink Slaughter, to taint all Daos in the world."
"One Dao, one step. When all the Great Daos of the mortal world are mastered, perhaps one step will be taken towards the 'Transformation of True and False'..."
Li Fan's ink-colored body exploded and scattered, completely merging into the newly born Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul of the Xuanhuang Realm.
He intended to first temporarily borrow these Daos mastered by the new Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul.
...
The main body had gained significant insights and finally found a path best suited for itself amidst the backdrop of a dying Immortal Path and a desolate Great Dao in this era of decline.
Li Buren, sensing the changes in his main body, looked at Grand Master Tiandu, who was still enveloped in the [Illusory Life Phantom], and already had an idea.
A wisp of ink emerged from his fingertip.
It then transformed into a black wisp of qi and slowly drifted towards Grand Master Tiandu.
Merging into the sounds of Dao chanting, it was like a drop of ink falling into a vast lake, soon disappearing without a trace.
But the ink did not vanish.
Instead, it reversed the color of the great lake!
The illusory projection of the phantom rippled, attempting to expel the encroaching ink.
But each of its undulations actually provided an opportunity for Ink Slaughter's invasion.
Within the phantom's body, a shadow quietly occupied its forehead.
Grand Master Tiandu, whose expression had remained placid since being targeted by Li Buren, finally showed a change.
Although he still appeared calm and composed, Li Buren could tell he was forcing himself to remain so.
"Ink Slaughter is more effective than the brute force of my The Dao Lattice," Li Buren thought, drawing a wisp of Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul's power into himself.
It was as if countless stars suddenly dimmed, plunging the heavens into silence.
But after a few breaths, beneath this dim starry sky, a greater vitality emerged.
Empowered by Ink Slaughter's characteristics, Li Buren, though unable to directly compare with the illusory projection, could to some extent ignore its influence.
Surrounded by chanting, he advanced step by step, with difficulty.
Slowly but resolutely, he finally reached Grand Master Tiandu.
He tightly grasped the Grand Master's throat and, amidst the progressively terrified expression of the Grand Master, dragged him out from the protection of the illusory projection!
"You..."
The Grand Master attempted to speak, but the dark The Dao Lattice had already tightly enveloped him.
Wisps of ink poured in from the crown of his head.
The Grand Master's pupils instantly disappeared, turning completely black.
His struggling movements gradually ceased.
Li Buren was using Ink Slaughter to erode the Great Master's cultivated Dao.
Li Buren had initially assumed that Grand Master Tiandu, having clung to the Dao of Illusory Life for ten thousand years, would have also diligently cultivated the Dao of Illusory Life.
However, as Li Buren, following Ink Slaughter, entered the Great Master's core, he realized something was amiss.
"Unlike the Starving Immortals, who experienced distorted time due to cultivating the Dao of Starvation, even though tens of thousands of years passed for them, it was only a few days in reality. But this one, Grand Master Tiandu, has been comprehending the Dao with the Illusory Life phantom since the era of Heavenly Mysteries King."
"After such a long period of constant proximity to the 'Illusory Life Phantom,' even if he were a pig, his understanding of Illusory Life wouldn't be lacking. But this Grand Master..."
"From the moment he encountered me, he has relied almost entirely on the phantom's protection. His ability to avoid disaster is almost negligible."
Although Li Buren, empowered by the Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul, had entered the Great Master's core, what he perceived was far too "thin."
Not only the Dao he comprehended, but also his experiences and memories.
It was entirely unlike the capacity expected of Grand Master Tiandu, who had sat in authority in Heavenly Capital, overseeing the Xuanhuang Realm for tens of thousands of years.
Li Buren looked around, instinctively sensing something was wrong.
Gazing at the empty surroundings, he suddenly recalled the scene of countless block-like star seas laid out side by side in the high-walled experimental field.
"Perhaps, this is merely one of the Great Master's internal spaces?"
Li Buren's heart stirred.
Endless ink then erupted from his body.
Within a few breaths, it completely submerged this area.
Then, under immense pressure, it began to seep into other places.
Boom! Boom!
As cracks appeared, a vast tide of ink surged beyond the surface displayed by Grand Master Tiandu.
It was as if he had suddenly barged into a world filled with sentient beings.
Countless figures floated everywhere.
Although their faces were all identical, they were undoubtedly all Grand Master Tiandu!
"These people... seem somewhat familiar."
Li Buren recognized some familiar faces among these figures.
They were the mortals and cultivators living in the Source Dao Province.
Scarlet Snow, Lone River, Lone Style, Feng Mu, and others.
Their expressions varied: some were furious, some were terrified, and some seemed indifferent.
"Are the beings of Source Dao Province all manifestations of Grand Master Tiandu?"
Li Buren's first thought was this.
But he quickly realized it was incorrect.
Because the beings of Source Dao Province were still living on their land, unaffected, showing no anomalies despite the Grand Master's capture.
Li Buren recalled the strange phenomenon in Source Dao Province where ten years of time would be devoured.
In an instant, he understood.
"It's not that ten years of time have truly disappeared. Rather, all the sentient beings within it are in a state of stasis."
"Only Grand Master Tiandu is still active."
"During these ten years, he has created copies of all the sentient beings in Source Dao Province within himself."
"And their purpose..."
Li Buren summoned a "Scarlet Snow" figure.
"Although not the real Scarlet Snow, yet..."
From this figure, he still sensed traces of comprehension of the Dao of Life and Death.
Even more profound than the Scarlet Snow he had seen previously.
Li Buren looked at the countless different Grand Master figures floating in the sky.
Each one was comprehending a different Dao!
"To comprehend the Three Thousand Great Daos with but one's own power. The Grand Master's thoughts, it appears, align somewhat with my own."
Li Buren surveyed his surroundings, a touch of surprise, and even more confusion, washing over him.
Within the Grand Master's being resided the myriad forms of sentient beings, the manifestations of countless Great Daos in the world. The beings the Grand Master had replicated became vessels for these Great Daos.
As Li Buren gazed upon the countless faces arranged in a circle around him, he felt an overwhelming illusion of being within the The Dao Lattice itself. Conceptually speaking, the Grand Master alone was indeed equivalent to the "The Dao Lattice." However, in terms of the depth of enlightenment in the Dao and the sheer quantity of Dao principles, it still fell far short of the The Dao Lattice Li Fan had witnessed in the Star Sea of the North.
"These myriad Dao paths manifest through different sentient beings. But..." Li Buren shifted his gaze from Lan Yu to another ordinary mortal from Yuan Dao Prefecture. A Dao aura related to "painting" exuded from him, its intensity far exceeding what a mere mortal could possess.
"The shadows copied by the Grand Master possess far greater comprehension of the Dao than their original forms..." Li Buren's line of sight followed where the attention of all beings was focused. In the ethereal depths, the Illusory Shadow of Life resided.
Li Buren instantly understood: "So, that's how it is. The Illusory Shadow of Life, being the pinnacle of change, not only aligns with the opportune moment but also reacts differently to the various sentient beings it encounters in the world."
When the Myriad Immortal Sects had entered the Heavenly Capital back then, each person who saw the Illusory Shadow of Life saw different cultivation methods appearing before their eyes and ears. Yet, without exception, these methods seemed deeply connected to their previous learning, as if tailor-made for them. This led the Myriad Immortal Sects to believe the Grand Master was definitely from the Immortal Realm and had imparted immortal inheritances.
"The Immortal Realm... how could it have mortal techniques? Compared to immortal methods, the true legacies of the Myriad Immortal Sects are still far behind!"
"They would never have imagined that the so-called inheritances were merely different derivations produced by the [Illusory Shadow of Life] upon contact with them, like a mirror!"
"The Grand Master placing them before the [Illusory Shadow of Life], and periodically freezing the beings of Yuan Dao Prefecture, was likely for these Dao manifestations reflected in the mirror."
At this thought, Li Buren couldn't help but look at the Grand Master of the Heavenly Capital with renewed respect. He had obtained a treasure that led directly to the Nameless Realm, yet instead of directly comprehending the Dao of the treasure like the Starving Immortals, he used it as a tool, attempting to gather all the Daos in the world into his grasp... And the Grand Master was, in reality, merely a Half-Immortal.
Such actions could be described as arrogant and overreaching. But Li Buren knew, for a person who could suppress their greed when faced with a treasure of the Nameless Realm and diligently guard their original intentions for countless years, the Grand Master was no fool.
"He must have his reasons for doing this."
Li Buren didn't press for answers immediately. Instead, he looked at the myriad Dao paths that had continuously transformed through the Grand Master's efforts over countless millennia, interacting with countless beings through the Illusory Shadow of Life. He smiled, a rare occurrence.
"Insufficient strength. It merely serves to weave a wedding dress for others."
"Such a generous gift, I shall accept it."
With this thought, his overwhelming black essence erupted from Li Buren's body, like countless tentacles, successively tainting all the Dao manifestations within the Grand Master. As Li Buren had surmised, within each figure resided the comprehension of a different Dao. They were like fruits that had been condensed for tens of thousands of years, utterly alluring to cultivators.
Li Buren showed no mercy, directly claiming them as his own. As the myriad Dao manifestations were devoured by Li Buren, within Li Fan's main body, in the boundless ocean of black essence of the Mosa Immortal Soul, different droplets of water began to appear. This was exactly the same as what Mosa had exhibited when it infiltrated the Azure Nether world.
The Dao comprehended by the Grand Master over tens of thousands of years, combined with Li Fan's own insights gained through reincarnation. These countless ink droplets, representing different Dao paths, differentiated themselves from the Mosa Immortal Soul. The myriad forms of sentient beings continuously emerged, bringing vitality to the Mosa Immortal Soul and providing a path for it to transform into different Great Daos.
Sensing the drastic changes occurring within him, Li Fan's mind stirred. A fire that flickered with black edges, tinged with red, appeared in his palm.
"Mosa within, Scarlet Flame as the manifestation."
"This flame..." Li Fan flicked his finger, and the black flame instantly transformed into a strand of light. It flew out of the Xuanhuang Realm and collided fiercely with the Heavenly Pillar formed by the Starving Immortal in the Abyssal Star Sea.
Not even a ripple was produced; the Heavenly Pillar remained motionless. It was formed by a Nameless True Immortal capable of resisting the Dao Erasure Tribulation. Li Fan's main body was still only at the Half-Immortal realm. Although Mosa was peculiar, it was nowhere near capable of harming the Starving Immortal's Heavenly Pillar.
Li Fan was not surprised. He raised an eyebrow, sensing an inconspicuous black scorch mark on the Heavenly Pillar.
"To merge with a Dao as a Nameless Immortal, the powerful repulsion towards other Daos was still not enough to completely remove Mosa."
"And, with that black trace, Mosa's erosion continues. Although slow, it is persistent."
"If time is infinitely stretched, even a majestic Heavenly Pillar might eventually be pierced."
"And this is only the beginning..." Li Fan had a premonition that as he infiltrated more and more Daos, this corrosive ability of Mosa would grow stronger.
"It's as if different Daos, despite their differences, possess certain commonalities. The more Daos are infiltrated, the more commonalities are grasped."
"Using this as a key, eventually, one will be invincible."
The idea of Li Fan using Mosa to infiltrate the Three Thousand Great Daos, once conceived, had already taken root. Besides his own accumulations, it relied even more on the Grand Master's countless millennia of effort.
As the overwhelming black essence completely engulfed the Grand Master's inner being, Li Fan also sensed certain characteristics in the Grand Master's comprehension of the Dao. Unlike the networked structure of the The Dao Lattice's countless nodes, the Grand Master ultimately centered himself. The myriad Dao manifestations surrounded him, like an emperor being worshipped by all the Great Daos in the heavens!
However, now, with Li Fan's intervention, this majestic emperor had become a solitary figure.
Li Buren confronted the true Grand Master. The Grand Master of the Heavenly Capital, surrounded by countless former versions of himself and trapped in a desperate situation, unexpectedly displayed no signs of dejection, fear, or anger. The outwardly innocent and childlike Dao page calmly calculated something with his fingers.
Finally, seemingly to no avail, he shook his head and gave up. He asked in a soft voice, "Where do you hail from, Daoist friend?"
"Naturally, from where I came," Li Buren replied coldly.
Seeing that Li Buren was unwilling to reveal his origins, the Grand Master didn't press further. Instead, he attempted to bargain: "I shall hand over the [Shadow of Tai Yi]; permit me to leave, may I?"
"Tai Yi?" Li Buren pondered for a moment, then responded icily, "Kill you, and this Illusory Shadow of Life will also be mine."
The Grand Master showed a hint of sadness, not due to Li Buren's intent to kill, but at the different name Li Buren used for the phantom: "So, you see it as Illusory Life."
"There is no difference," the Grand Master shook his head. "Before the heavens and earth were born, there was chaos and boundlessness, then Tai Yi first emerged."
"Then all things arose in succession."
"Tai Yi is the ultimate force of change in the world. If Tai Yi were still Tai Yi, the world would not have become as it is now."
"The Great Dao itself is in decline. Tai Yi transformed into Illusory Life... Hehe, I was indeed deluded in the past."
Li Buren narrowed his eyes, listening to the seemingly profound words. "Even if the Great Dao were not declining, if the true [Tai Yi] Dao were before you, what could you, a mere Half-Immortal, do about it?"
Seeing that Li Buren hesitated to act, the Grand Master was happy to prolong his life. "Daoist friend, you misunderstand. The Dao of Tai Yi already has a master. It is none other than my teacher."
"Although Master has departed, leaving only a residual image in the world, it is not something I can covet. I am merely borrowing Master's divine might to comprehend the myriad Dao paths in the world," the Grand Master said leisurely, showing no indication of someone whose life was hanging by a thread.
"Do you believe that by fabricating a baseless master, I would hesitate to refine you?" Li Buren coldly snorted.
The Grand Master chuckled dismissively and pointed to his Daoist robe, "I have worn this child's attire for countless years, resembling how I served beside Master at that time. I haven't changed it for a long time, so how can it be fabrication?"
"Whether Daoist friend believes it or not, you need not worry. Even if you kill me, Master will not intervene. In the past, Master left behind an image to prop up the collapsing Immortal Realm. Unfortunately, before I could deliver the image, entire immortal realms were submerged by Dao Erasure. I saw Master's residual image and was then overcome by greed..."
"Could someone who can transcend be unable to control even their own residual image? Your lie is too crude." Li Buren commented.
The Grand Master glanced at Li Buren, his tone strangely meaningful, "When I say Master departed, I mean 'ascended to immortality,' not 'transcended.' Although Master possessed heaven-defying divine abilities, since he chose to die, naturally, no trace of his spirit would remain."
Upon hearing this, Li Buren was stunned into silence. What the Grand Master said was indeed unexpected.
"To merge with the Dao using [Tai Yi], and yet die so easily?" Li Buren's voice was filled with disbelief.
"Easily... Hehehe." The Grand Master smiled without answering, instead switching the topic. "Indeed, if Master had wished to continue living, there might have been ways to extend his life. But Master did not wish to!"
"Who in this world would wish for Master's demise more than I? After all, as long as he was alive, even the ruling Immortal Emperor of the Immortal Realm would have to treat me with utmost respect and courtesy."
"And once he died..."
"Hehehe." The smile on the Grand Master's face appeared somewhat sinister and distorted.
"If that's the case, then your Master was a paramount expert in the Immortal Realm. How does he compare to Mound Guardian?" Li Buren ignored the other's strange expression and directly asked.
"Mound Guardian." The name pulled the Grand Master out of his resentment, and he seemed momentarily distracted. Then, he slowly replied, "Master and Mound Guardian never met."
"Master was a renowned expert known to all in the Immortal Realm, while Mound Guardian emerged from the wilderness, suddenly gaining great fame."
"I once asked Master about Mound Guardian, and he said..." The Grand Master suddenly paused, intending to create suspense. Li Buren, however, endured the wait, calmly looking at the Grand Master, waiting for his next words. After a moment of silence, the Grand Master found it tedious and said, "Master simply said five words: 'Without burdens, naturally strong.'"
"What exactly that means, I cannot know."
"In any case, he never mentioned Mound Guardian again until his ascension."
Li Buren savored the five words "Without burdens, naturally strong." After a long while, he suddenly asked again, "How many such powerful experts as your Master existed in the Immortal Realm back then?"
The Grand Master's expression fell into reminiscence. "There were only three in the entire Immortal Realm who could converse with Master over Dao."
"Of course, this does not include Mound Guardian."
"Sometimes Master would bring me along when he went out, and sometimes he would wander off alone."
"I remember asking Master once who among the Four Sage Lords was the strongest. Master didn't answer, but merely smiled and tapped my forehead. He said this..."
"'Who is the strongest, I do not know. But if you ask who toiled the hardest, it must be the two Sage Lords, [Lian Shan] and [Gui Hai].' After Master said this, he seemed to recall something amusing and burst into laughter."
The moment the words "[Lian Shan]" and "[Gui Hai]" were spoken, Li Buren's mind instinctively conjured images of the mountains and seas seen by Mound Guardian. He couldn't help but ask, "This Lian Shan and Gui Hai..."
The Grand Master awoke from his memories and stared at Li Buren. After a period of contemplation, he still answered Li Buren's question.
"[Lian Shan], the first immortal in the world."
"[Gui Hai], who opened the Infinite Spring."
"It can be said that these two Sage Lords, from nothing to something, created the eternal prosperity of the Immortal Realm in days past," the Grand Master said solemnly, word by word. His expression clearly showed profound reverence for these two Sage Lords.
These few sentences struck Li Buren like thunder. The Grand Master's words were not difficult to understand. Lian Shan was the first immortal in existence. Gui Hai was the True Immortal who found a way to connect to the Infinite Sea, making immortal power inexhaustible from then on. A being who had witnessed the vastness of the Infinite Sea and could harness its power must have reached an incredible realm of strength. The name "Lian Shan," when associated with the mountain opposing the Infinite Sea, was thought-provoking.
"Perhaps mountains represent the origin, the foundation of a True Immortal's power." Li Buren's mind raced. The Grand Master's background was far greater than he had imagined.
"Besides the three Sage Lords of [Tai Yi], [Lian Shan], and [Gui Hai], what about the remaining one?" Since the Grand Master answered all his questions, Li Buren continued to extract information about the past Immortal Realm from him.
"The remaining one..." The Grand Master pondered for a long time, showing rare hesitation.
"Cannot be spoken." After a long pause, he shook his head. "Master, Lian Shan, and Gui Hai have all ascended to immortality. Only this Sage Lord still remains in the world."
"If their name is mentioned, they will be perceived."
With a single person’s might, he comprehended the Three Thousand Great Daos. The Grand Master’s thoughts surprisingly coincided with my own.
Li Buren surveyed his surroundings, a mixture of surprise and bewilderment washing over him. The Grand Master’s inner being was a manifestation of the myriad states of all beings, the very essence of countless Great Daos displayed in the world. Each being meticulously replicated by the Grand Master served as a vessel for these Great Daos.
As Li Buren gazed upon the countless faces arranged in a celestial formation, he was momentarily struck with the illusion of being submerged within the The Dao Lattice. Conceptually speaking, the Grand Master alone was indeed equivalent to the “The Dao Lattice.” However, the subtlety of the Dao comprehension among the beings present, as well as the sheer quantity of Dao principles, paled in comparison to the The Dao Lattice Li Buren had witnessed in the Star Sea Fringe.
“These myriad paths of the Dao manifest through different living beings. But…” Li Buren’s gaze shifted from Blue Feather to another mortal, a commoner from the Source Dao State. Auras related to the Great Dao of “Painting” condensed around him. The intensity of these fluctuations was far beyond anything a mere mortal could possess.
“These imitations, sculpted by the Grand Master, their comprehension of the Dao far surpasses that of their original selves…” Li Buren’s line of sight followed the focus of the beings’ gazes, towards the ephemeral location of the Illusory Shadow. Understanding dawned upon him. “So that’s how it is. The Illusory Shadow represents the pinnacle of change. It not only adapts to the opportune moments but also reacts in various ways to different beings it encounters in the world.”
When the Myriad Immortal Sects had entered the Heavenly Capital, after encountering the Illusory Shadow, each individual saw different cultivation techniques appearing before their eyes and ears. However, without exception, these techniques seemed deeply connected to their prior learning, as if tailor-made for them. This led the Myriad Immortal Sects to believe that the Grand Master must be from the Immortal Realm, and that they were being taught Immortal Realm inheritances.
“The Immortal Realm… how could it possess mortal techniques? The true legacies of the Myriad Immortal Sects, compared to immortal methods, are still far from sufficient!”
“They could never have imagined that the so-called inheritances were merely different evolutions arising from the [Illusory Shadow]’s interaction with them, like a mirror!”
“The Grand Master’s act of placing them within to behold the [Illusory Shadow], and his occasional freezing of the living beings in the Source Dao State, was likely for the sake of these Dao manifestations reflected within the mirror.”
Contemplating this, Li Buren couldn’t help but see the Grand Master of Heavenly Capital in a new light. He had obtained a supreme treasure that directly led to the Nameless Realm, yet instead of directly comprehending its Dao like the Starving Immortal, he used it as a tool, attempting to encompass all the Great Daos of the world within his grasp… And, in reality, the Grand Master was merely a Half-Immortal. Such an endeavor could only be described as arrogant and overreaching.
However, Li Buren knew that the Grand Master, faced with a Nameless supreme treasure, had managed to suppress his inner greed, waiting for ten thousand years without altering his original intent. He was certainly no fool.
“He must have his reasons for acting this way.” Li Buren did not press further. Instead, he looked at the myriad Dao paths that had manifested from the Grand Master’s ten-thousand-year accumulation, arising from the Illusory Shadow's interaction with countless beings in the world. A rare smile touched his lips.
“His strength is insufficient. He is merely weaving a tapestry for others to enjoy.”
“I shall accept such a generous gift.” With this thought, an overwhelming surge of ink-colored energy erupted from Li Buren. It spread like countless tendrils, successively engulfing the myriad Dao manifestations within the Grand Master’s being. Just as Li Buren had inferred, within each figure lay the comprehension of different Great Daos. They were like fruits, ripened over tens of thousands of years, incredibly alluring to cultivators. Li Buren, without hesitation, claimed them all as his own.
As the myriad Dao manifestations were absorbed by Li Buren, within Li Fan’s true body, within the boundless sea of ink in his Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul, different droplets of liquid began to appear. It was precisely the same phenomenon as when Ink Slaughter had previously infiltrated the Xuanhuang Realm. The Grand Master's ten-thousand-year comprehension of the Dao, coupled with Li Fan’s own insights from his cycle of reincarnation, were now manifesting. Countless ink droplets, representing different Great Daos, differentiated themselves from the Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul. The myriad states of all beings continuously emerged, bringing vitality to the Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul and paving a path for its transformation into different Great Daos.
Sensing the dramatic changes within his body, Li Fan’s mind stirred, and a flickering flame with black edges appeared in his palm. “Ink Slaughter as the core, Scarlet Flame as the manifestation. This flame…” Li Fan flicked his finger, and the black flame instantly transformed into a slender thread, shooting out of the Xuanhuang Realm and colliding with the pillar of light formed by the Starving Immortal in the Abyssal Star Sea.
Not even a ripple was produced. The pillar of light remained unmoved. It was, after all, formed by a Nameless True Immortal, capable of withstanding the Tribulation of Dao Erasure. Li Fan’s true body was still only at the Half-Immortal realm. Though his Ink Slaughter was extraordinary, it was insufficient to harm the Starving Immortal’s pillar of light.
Li Fan was not surprised. He raised his eyebrows slightly, sensing a faint, inconspicuous black scorch mark on the pillar of light. “Uniting with the Dao through a Nameless Immortal body, its immense repulsion towards other Daos, was still unable to completely expel the Ink Slaughter.”
“Furthermore, accompanied by that black mark, the erosion by Ink Slaughter continues. Though slow, it is persistent.”
“Given an infinitely extended period of time, even that monumental pillar of light might one day be penetrated.”
“And this is only the beginning…” Li Fan had a premonition that as he infiltrated more and more Great Daos, the corrosive power of Ink Slaughter would grow stronger. “It’s as if, despite their differences, different Great Daos share certain commonalities. The more Daos infiltrated, the more commonalities are grasped. These can then serve as keys, ultimately leading to victory in all endeavors.”
Li Fan’s thought of using Ink Slaughter to infiltrate the Three Thousand Great Daos, once conceived, had already taken root. In addition to his own accumulated knowledge, this was largely due to the Grand Master’s tens of thousands of years of cultivation.
As the overwhelming ink fully engulfed the Grand Master’s inner being, Li Fan also perceived certain characteristics of the Grand Master’s Dao comprehension. Unlike the structure of the The Dao Lattice with its countless nodes, the Grand Master’s final focus was himself. The myriad Dao manifestations formed a celestial court, venerating him at the center. He was like an emperor being worshipped by all the Great Daos of the heavens! However, now, with Li Fan’s intrusion, this majestic emperor had become a solitary figure.
Li Buren confronted the true Grand Master. Surrounded by countless past versions of himself, the Grand Master of Heavenly Capital, facing his inevitable doom, surprisingly showed no signs of despair, fear, or anger. The outwardly young and innocent Dao page calmly calculated something by incessantly counting on his fingers. In the end, seemingly with no result, he shook his head and abandoned the attempt. With a faint sigh, he asked, “Where do you come from, Fellow Daoist?”
“Naturally, I come from where I am,” Li Buren replied coldly.
Seeing Li Buren unwilling to reveal his origins, the Grand Master did not press further. Instead, he attempted to negotiate. “I will hand over the [Shadow of Tai Yi]. Allow me to depart, is that acceptable?”
“Tai Yi?” Li Buren pondered for a moment. Then, he stated indifferently, “Kill you, and this [Illusory Shadow] will also be mine.”
The Grand Master’s words held a trace of melancholy, not from Li Buren’s killing intent, but from the different appellation for that illusory projection. “So you see it as the Illusory Shadow.”
“There is no difference,” the Grand Master said with a shake of his head. “Before the birth of heaven and earth, there was primeval chaos, and Tai Yi first evolved. Then, all things arose in mutual generation. Tai Yi is the ultimate force of change in the world. If Tai Yi remained Tai Yi, the world would not have become what it is today. The Great Dao itself is in decline. Tai Yi transformed into the Illusory Shadow… Heh, I was deceived in the past.”
Li Buren narrowed his eyes, listening to this somewhat mystical discourse. “Even if the Great Dao were not in decline, if the true Dao of [Tai Yi] were before you, what could you do with your mere Half-Immortal cultivation?”
Seeing that Li Buren delayed his attack, the Grand Master was content to live a little longer. “Fellow Daoist, you are unaware. The Dao of Tai Yi already has a master. It is my teacher.”
“Though my teacher has departed, leaving behind only a remnant shadow in the world, it is not something I can covet. I am merely borrowing the divine might of my teacher to comprehend the myriad Daos of the world,” the Grand Master said leisurely, showing no sign of being on the verge of death.
“Do you think I would refrain from refining you just because you fabricated a phantom master?” Li Buren retorted with a cold snort.
The Grand Master chuckled dismissively and pointed at his Daoist robe. “I have worn this Daoist child attire for countless years, just as I did when serving by my teacher’s side. I have not changed in a long time, so how could it be a fabrication?”
“Whether you believe me or not, you need not worry. Even if you kill me, my teacher will not intervene. In the past, my teacher left a shadow, originally intended to prop up the collapsing heavens of the Immortal Realm. Unfortunately, before I could send the shadow, entire Immortal Domains were submerged by Dao Erasure. I watched my teacher’s shadow and then greed overtook me…”
“How can one who transcends the Dao fail to control even their own residual shadow? Your lie is too crude.” Li Buren commented.
The Grand Master glanced at Li Buren, his tone unexpectedly peculiar. “When I speak of my teacher’s departure, I mean ‘ascended to immortality,’ not ‘transcendence.’ My teacher possessed heaven-defying divine abilities, yet since he chose to die, naturally no trace of his spiritual essence would remain.”
Li Buren was stunned into silence. What the Grand Master said was indeed beyond his expectations. “To unite with the Dao through [Tai Yi] and yet die so easily?” there was disbelief in his voice.
“Easily… Hehehe.” The Grand Master smiled but did not answer. Instead, he shifted to another topic. “Indeed, if my teacher were to continue living, he likely had methods to extend his life. But my teacher simply did not want to!”
“Who in this world would wish for my teacher’s passing more than I? After all, as long as he was here, even the reigning Immortal Emperor of the Immortal Realm would have to treat me with respect and courtesy. But once he died…”
“Hehehe.” The smile on the Grand Master’s face appeared somewhat grim and distorted.
“If that is the case, your teacher was an unparalleled powerhouse in the Immortal Realm. How does he compare to the Mound Guardian?” Li Buren ignored the other’s peculiar expression and directly asked.
“Mound Guardian.” This name pulled the Grand Master away from his resentment, causing a moment of disorientation. He then slowly replied, “My teacher and the Mound Guardian never met.”
“My teacher was a renowned powerhouse known to all in the Immortal Realm, while the Mound Guardian emerged from the wilderness, suddenly gaining great fame.”
“I once asked my teacher about the Mound Guardian, and he said…” The Grand Master abruptly paused, intending to create suspense. Li Buren, however, endured the wait, gazing at the Grand Master coldly, awaiting his next words. After a period of stalemate, the Grand Master, finding it tedious, said, “My teacher simply said five words: ‘Without responsibility, one is naturally strong.’ What exactly it means, I do not know. In any case, he never mentioned the Mound Guardian again until his passing.”
Li Buren savored the words “Without responsibility, one is naturally strong.” After a long while, he suddenly asked again, “How many powerhouses like your teacher were there in the Immortal Realm back then?”
The Grand Master’s expression became reminiscent. “There were only three individuals in the entire Immortal Realm who could engage in Dao discussion with my teacher.”
“Of course, this does not include the Mound Guardian.”
“Sometimes, my teacher would bring me along when he traveled, and sometimes he would venture out alone. I recall once asking my teacher who among the Four Sage Lords was the strongest. My teacher did not answer, but simply smiled and tapped my forehead. He said…”
“Who is the strongest, I do not know. But if you ask who is diligent, it must be the two Sage Lords, [Lian Shan] and [Gui Hai].”
“After speaking, my teacher, as if recalling something joyous, burst into laughter.”
The moment Li Buren heard the words [Lian Shan] and [Gui Hai], his mind instinctively recalled the mountains and seas that the Mound Guardian had witnessed. He couldn't help but ask, “These Lian Shan and Gui Hai…”
The Grand Master snapped out of his reminiscence, staring at Li Buren. Unsure of what he was thinking, he remained silent for a long while before finally answering Li Buren’s question.
“[Lian Shan], the foremost Immortal in the world. [Gui Hai], who opened the path to the Infinite Spring. It can be said that these two Sage Lords, from nothing, created the eternal prosperity of the Immortal Realm of the past,” the Grand Master said with a solemn expression, enunciating each word. His demeanor showed profound admiration for these two Sage Lords.
These few words struck Li Buren like thunder. The Grand Master’s words were not difficult to understand. Lian Shan was the first Immortal in existence. Gui Hai was the True Immortal who found a way to connect to the Infinite Sea, thus granting inexhaustible immortal energy. One who had personally witnessed the vastness of the Infinite Sea and could harness its power must possess an unimaginable level of strength. The name “Lian Shan,” when associated with the mountain opposing the Infinite Sea, was particularly thought-provoking.
“Perhaps the mountain represents the beginning, the foundation of the True Immortal’s power.” Li Buren’s mind raced. The Grand Master’s origins were far greater than he had imagined.
“Besides the three Sage Lords – [Tai Yi], [Lian Shan], and [Gui Hai] – what about the remaining one?” Li Buren continued to extract information about the past Immortal Realm from the Grand Master, who answered all his questions willingly.
“The remaining one…” The Grand Master pondered for a long time, displaying rare hesitation. “Cannot be spoken of.” After a long pause, he shook his head. “My teacher, Lian Shan, and Gui Hai have all ascended to immortality. Only this Sage Lord still exists in the world. If mentioned, he will sense it.”
The Grand Master of Heavenly Capital spoke, his tone noticeably more respectful than when he mentioned Lian Shan, Gui Hai, or even his own master. This showed the supreme importance of the last "unspeakable" Sage Lord in his heart.
"The Immortal Realm is destroyed, and sages are no longer sages," Li Buren said coldly, ignorant of the consequences.
The Grand Master shook his head. "Sages are not sage because they bear responsibility. Because they are sage, they can become sages. Whether the Immortal Realm perishes or not has little to do with the sages. If my master had understood this earlier, perhaps he could have lived longer."
"If your master knew you would say such a thing, he should have taken you with him when he perished."
Faced with Li Buren's sharp words, the Grand Master fell silent, seemingly lost in distant memories triggered by the remark.
"Your master was one of the four Sages of the Immortal Realm. You served by his side for countless eons. How is it that you are still only a Half-Immortal?"
Li Buren continued to chat with the Grand Master, interspersing his questions with seemingly random remarks. While gathering information, he was also subtly infecting the Grand Master's remaining true body with his Ink Slaughter Black Qi.
The myriad Dao manifestations previously consumed by Li Buren held no memories. They merely recorded the path of feedback to the illusory projections. However, during this idle chat and the erosion by the Ink Slaughter Black Qi, Li Buren found that despite the Grand Master's Half-Immortal cultivation, his body and soul were fused as one, like a perfect creation that shouldn't exist. He couldn't find any weaknesses.
Indeed, the Grand Master could be easily killed. But to possess him and peer into his past... that was beyond Li Buren's current capabilities.
The Grand Master seemed completely unaware of Li Buren's subtle machinations.
"Lian Shan will eventually return to Gui Hai," he said. "My master and the other two Sage Lords have proven this point. Why would I repeat their mistakes? Moreover, if not for my 'Half-Immortal' body, how could I have escaped the great tribulation of the Immortal Realm's destruction? This is called a cycle of cause and effect; everything is predestined." The Grand Master was unfazed by Li Buren's mockery.
"If not for your appearance, Daoist friend, as someone who shouldn't have appeared, I would have surely taken that next step," the Grand Master's tone held a hint of wistfulness.
Li Buren was about to retort, hoping to shake the Grand Master's resolve and facilitate the infiltration of the Ink Slaughter Black Qi. However, the Grand Master, who had been constantly questioned, suddenly took the initiative: "You Daoist friend exist beyond the destiny of heaven and earth. Could it be that you obtained that treasure?"
"Treasure? I don't know what you're talking about," Li Fan's true self was inwardly shocked. But because Li Buren's core consciousness was suppressed, only acting as a tool for Li Fan's commands, his reply was natural.
"Stop making excuses for your failures. Wasn't the Heavenly Mysteries King of ten thousand years ago almost captured by you? As a mere Half-Immortal, why would you need someone beyond destiny to deal with you?" Li Buren responded with disdain.
The Grand Master studied Li Buren for a long time, finding no flaws. He then turned his gaze to the outside world, the Source Dao State, and the Xuanhuang Realm. Observing the Xuanhuang Realm, so changed from what it once was, he said after a long pause, "After a brief seclusion, the outside world has undergone earth-shattering changes. Yet, curiously, none of these changes have affected the area where I achieved enlightenment."
"You Daoist friend have long been on guard against me. But this is clearly our first meeting..." The Grand Master slowly closed his eyes, contemplating something inwardly.
"Isn't your title, Grand Master of Heavenly Capital, already renowned enough in the Xuanhuang Realm?" Li Buren offered no further explanation, merely stating this coolly.
"You are definitely not from the Xuanhuang Realm. The Xuanhuang Realm, and even this star dominion, all of what has happened, is happening, and will happen, is already determined. Like chess pieces, they take turns on different boards. Even with the destruction of the Immortal Realm, there have been a few more variables, but the pieces remain pieces. They cannot become jade..." The Grand Master's words were slow, as if he were suppressing some inner emotion.
Li Buren's eyes narrowed. The Ink Slaughter Black Qi, like dark clouds, shrouded the Grand Master's head. The myriad Dao manifestations, having been devoured, turned their indifferent gazes towards the Grand Master. Regardless of what he had guessed, Li Buren knew he could not let this Grand Master live any longer.
"My master's plan back then was indeed feasible."
"What a pity, it's too late."
The Grand Master of Heavenly Capital remained unafraid of the numerous cold eyes surrounding him. He suddenly opened his eyes and looked back at Li Buren, as if gazing upon a peerless treasure.
"No!"
"It's not too late!"
"If I could..."
The Grand Master, who had appeared resigned moments before, suddenly became incredibly agitated. A surge of immense power ejected the Ink Slaughter Black Qi that Li Buren had been using to erode him. The Grand Master's robes billowed as if in a strong wind.
"Everything can be salvaged," the Grand Master said firmly, staring at Li Buren.
Though surrounded by innumerable Dao manifestations controlled by Li Buren, the Grand Master seemed to reverse the situation, as if he were surrounding Li Buren and his forces. In an instant, the power dynamic shifted, with the Grand Master towering above.
Li Buren sensed that even though the myriad Dao manifestations were under the control of his Ink Slaughter Black Qi, they could not help but bow before the Grand Master, just as Li Buren had witnessed when he first entered the Grand Master's being. He appeared like an emperor or a sage, of immeasurable nobility! Even Li Buren was subtly affected. His The Dao Lattice-constructed body felt unnaturally contorted due to the Grand Master's presence, as if the Grand Master alone carried a weight greater than all other Great Daos combined!
Knowing he could not wait any longer, Li Buren instantly manipulated the myriad inky masses to surge from the Dao manifestations and attack the Grand Master of Heavenly Capital in the center. The Ink Slaughter Black Qi, imbued with different Great Daos, transformed into distorted human figures, with various Daoist techniques exploding around the Grand Master like fireworks.
"Before Tai Yi, there was Xian."
"Wu Ji existed before Tai Yi."
These two simple sentences, like calming pearls, instantly quelled the surging Great Dao fluctuations. The Grand Master's figure stepped out from the variegated Dao shadows, step by step.
"Since Wu Ji was seen..."
"Why not disperse?" Another gentle question, and the surrounding Great Dao fluctuations scattered like a gentle breeze. Even though the Ink Slaughter Black Qi had gained dominance, it couldn't stop this process. In the blink of an eye, Li Buren's "henchmen" were gone, leaving only the power of Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul. Li Buren even felt that the two great pillars of Ink Slaughter's existence, Illusory Life and Eternity, were beginning to resist.
Suppressing the commotion, Li Buren had to reassess the Grand Master of Heavenly Capital before him.
"Wu Ji existed before Tai Yi?"
"What arrogance." Although the Grand Master still appeared as a young Daoist attendant, his aura had undergone a complete transformation. High above, looking down upon all beings, he seemed like the Sage Lord Tai Yi himself, impossible to gaze upon directly.
"Sage Lord Tai Yi is indeed my master."
"But the primary reason he took me as a disciple was my own extraordinary nature. Does anyone truly believe they can safely remain under a Sage Lord for countless eons?" the Grand Master's tone was proud.
"Master, please disperse." The Grand Master pointed towards the vast expanse of Black Qi in the sky. Then, he bowed slightly. Li Buren felt the two foundations of the Ink Slaughter Black Qi tremble, losing nearly half their strength. The Dao of Illusory Life, due to its eons of evolution, was not entirely equivalent to Tai Yi, so some residual power remained.
"Uncle-Master, please disperse." The Grand Master bowed again. With these simple words, the other great foundation of the Ink Slaughter Black Qi, the Dao of Eternity, dissipated with a slight tremor. With just two simple sentences, the basis for Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul's continued existence was fundamentally weakened! The vast Black Qi remained, but it had completely lost its control, becoming like the Dao Erasure Tribulation, indifferent to all. While the Ink Slaughter Black Qi had subtly possessed countless Dao manifestations, the Grand Master had also glimpsed the true nature of Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul! The rampaging Black Qi made the Grand Master's face appear terrifying.
Though he had lost the assistance of Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul, Li Buren did not panic. He was pondering the reason for this sudden turn of events. Everything in the world had a reason. Why did the Grand Master's two sentences cause the Dao of Eternity and Illusory Life to dissipate out of thin air? Recalling the earlier scene of the Grand Master being worshipped by myriad Dao manifestations, Li Buren began to understand.
"The Grand Master's goal was not to comprehend all these different Dao paths simultaneously."
"He treated them as tools, just like the illusory projections."
"Tools to aid his cultivation." Li Buren's emotions surged. "He doesn't cultivate myriad Great Daos. He cultivates the Dao that makes myriad Great Daos worship him!"
"Is this nobility? Or is it reverence?" For ordinary beings in the mortal world, it would be incredibly difficult to achieve such an unbelievable Dao path. But if the Grand Master's claim of a special identity, possibly related to Wu Ji before Tai Yi, was true, then perhaps it was achievable!
"Cultivating this Dao path means that no Daoist ability or divine skill in the world can harm him." Li Buren tested this, and indeed it was true. All divine abilities and spells, upon approaching within ten feet of the Grand Master, vanished into thin air.
While Li Buren was contemplating countermeasures, the Grand Master walked leisurely through the center of the now uncontrollable Ink Slaughter Black Qi, gradually approaching Li Buren.
"That person you mentioned, the Heavenly Mysteries King who almost captured me..."
"He was born at the nexus of the Immortal Realm's destruction, making him truly special, thus allowing him to leap beyond the chessboard with immeasurable future potential. I didn't want to clash with him, but he kept trying to cause trouble for me. So, I could only use a Dao manifestation to deceive him."
"I never expected his destiny to be so formidable. By chance, he directly vanished from this star dominion." The Grand Master spoke as he arrived beside Li Buren. Wherever he went, all Great Daos receded. Li Buren's The Dao Lattice body felt an unprecedented weakness, as if it could dissipate at any moment.
"But to judge my strength based solely on this Heavenly Mysteries King would be unfair." The Grand Master finally stood before Li Buren and spoke word by word. Making eye contact with Li Buren, he said, "Hand over the treasure, and I will let you leave." The Grand Master solemnly promised.
Li Buren frowned. Not because of his request, but because the Grand Master's demeanor was so... childish.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Li Buren repeated his previous statement. However, the Grand Master was extremely confident in his guess. Seeing Li Buren's continued refusal to admit it, he shook his head with regret.
"Then I have no choice but to take it myself."
"Wu Ji..."
"I request all Daos to disperse." The Grand Master bowed slightly towards Li Buren. Li Buren felt that the remaining Dao principles within him were about to dissipate with this phrase. After all the Daos dispersed, only the treasure from beyond the Great Dao would remain.
"Are you so confident?"
Just as the Grand Master was brimming with confidence, Li Buren suddenly spoke. A powerful hand suddenly clasped the Grand Master's throat tightly. They were so close that the Grand Master had no time to react to this sudden burst of power.
"How is this possible?" The Grand Master looked at Li Buren, who had suddenly become full of energy again, with utter disbelief.
"Perhaps all the Great Daos in this world are subject to your control."
"But what about mountains and seas?" Li Buren's form became indistinct, as if he were standing on the peaks of mountains or by the edge of the vast sea.
The Grand Master paused, then seemed to awaken from a dream. "Mound Guardian?"
Li Buren shook his head slightly. "It seems you have truly never met the Mound Guardian."
"You were also unaware of the arrangements the Mound Guardian left here."
"This is only natural. Who asked you to be only a Half-Immortal? What you said is correct: a cycle of cause and effect; everything is predestined." Li Buren returned his words verbatim.
After this turn of events, Li Buren's killing intent towards the Grand Master was unstoppable. However, he hesitated for a moment on how to deal with the Grand Master. After all, with the Mound Guardian's power, he could be suppressed for a time. But ordinary methods would still make it difficult to kill the Grand Master, and he might be related to the so-called Wu Ji.
Even with Li Buren's grip on him, the Grand Master did not panic.
"The matter of the Mound Guardian was indeed unexpected."
"But my origin is beyond heaven and earth, at the beginning of the Dao. Therefore, there is no such thing as life or death."
"You cannot truly kill me." As if Li Buren were the one captured, the Grand Master still tried to persuade Li Buren to hand over the treasure.
Li Buren found it somewhat amusing. "You don't even know what this treasure is, or its specific effects, yet you're so insistent?"
The Grand Master replied very seriously, "With you possessing the treasure, at best, you could reverse heaven and earth, saving the world from peril. But if I possess it, I can correct all things that should not have happened. My master and the other three Sage Lords of the Immortal Realm – their destinies might also be rewritten."
Li Buren shook his head. "You can't. The so-called treasure cannot achieve all that."
"It can." The Grand Master affirmed again.
After the Return to Truth's strike, utter silence descended. The Grand Master was frozen, his expression petrified. In the end, he couldn't even utter the word "Save me!" as his body, as if shrouded in gray, dimmed and faded.
Li Buren didn't let down his guard, as the Grand Master's life signs hadn't vanished. But after observing for a long time, he finally confirmed that the other party wouldn't move again. Stripped of his spirituality to the extreme, the Grand Master hadn't died, but had transformed into something resembling a stone statue.
Around the statue, the forbidden zone of various Great Daos remained. The effect of "Great Dao Retreat" was no weaker than when the Grand Master was still present. It had simply stopped targeting anyone specifically and naturally radiated its characteristics outwards. Thus, Li Buren could barely maintain his own body's cohesion.
He stared at this stone statue, observing it carefully. After a long while, he finally began to understand.
"It seems the Grand Master wasn't lying."
"He indeed has a great connection with the state of Boundless Unity before the Innate. Possibly even like the 'Primordial Dao Forms' of the Beast Race, a direct manifestation of the Great Dao."
"No..."
Recalling the Grand Master's previous words, and how he remained "naive" despite living for countless years, Li Buren guessed that perhaps the Grand Master hadn't achieved this manifestation through his own power. It was through the guidance of another.
"After Boundless Unity, Heaven and Earth were born. The Grand Master's 'Boundless Unity' is indeed genuine. Those qualified to guide an Innate being like him can likely only be the Four Sage Lords of the Immortal Realm."
"Lian Shan, Gui Hai..."
"The Four Sage Lords can be traced back to the very beginning of the Immortal Realm's birth. Perhaps the entire cultivation system of Immortals was created by them. The Grand Master, as a remnant of the Dao of Boundless Unity after the creation of Heaven and Earth, was discovered by them and then enlightened into being."
Li Buren mused, gradually piecing together the Grand Master's past.
"Boundless Unity." He pondered the peculiar power surging from the stone statue before him.
If the Immortal Realm Sage Lords had bestowed life upon the Grand Master, then Li Buren had, with each strike, severed the Grand Master's "life." And then transformed him back to his original state.
Without personal desires or thoughts, merely pure "Boundless Unity."
Boundless Unity and a world derived from the Great Dao were destined to be irreconcilable. The Grand Master could suppress his power during his life, but after his disappearance, the power of Boundless Unity lost its restraint and began to spread outwards. This was a trend. Like the birth and death of Dao, the rise and fall of Dao, it was part of the "destiny" of the Heaven and Earth Great Dao itself, unstoppable.
"If allowed to spread, the 'Primordial' might restart the cycle of earth, fire, water, and wind, with the Xuanhuang Realm as the center."
"However, this destruction is quite different from the Dao Erasure Tribulation. This is a natural evolution of Heaven and Earth, a unique cycle of reincarnation. Even if it returns to Boundless Unity, after countless years, there will eventually be a day when Heaven and Earth are reopened. But if it is consumed by the Dao Erasure Tribulation..."
"That would be eternal annihilation."
Li Buren was not repelled by the power of Boundless Unity. Instead, he channeled more of the Guardian Ancestral Spirit's power, doing his best to suppress the diffusion of Boundless Unity. Although dealing with the Grand Master was troublesome, since he had already guessed that Li Fan might possess "Return to Truth," there was no reason to let him continue living. Moreover, in the final moments, the Grand Master had begun to call for help. If he had managed to call out to the last surviving Sage Lord Uncle-Master, even with the Guardian Ancestral Spirit's protection, Li Fan would have been forced into a hasty Return to Truth.
"This anomaly occurred entirely because I underestimated the Grand Master's origins. But it's not that I was careless; who could have imagined that the Grand Master Tiandu, who could hold his own against the Heavenly Mysteries King, had such a profound background? It not only involved the Immortal Realm but he was also an Innate being..." Li Fan's main body ordered Li Buren to temporarily guard the Grand Master's stone statue. Meanwhile, through Li Buren's perspective, he observed and comprehended "Boundless Unity" in real-time, reflecting with some emotion.
Even after acquiring such a rare treasure with origins and background that could potentially conquer the "Primordial," Li Fan felt no guilt. Once he truly understood the power of "Return to Truth," and knew that he was useful to it and that it would likely intervene to save him at a critical moment, he no longer feared even the Four Sage Lords of the Immortal Realm.
"The state of Boundless Unity before the birth of Heaven and Earth still falls within the scope of possibility. Return to Truth, with a single thought, can create possibility from nothing. It can even return to the temporal node before the beginning of Heaven and Earth..."
"In other words, this 'Boundless Unity' is also encompassed within the authority of the True-False Transformation."
"Boundless Unity" rejected the Great Daos of the mortal world, but towards beings that transcended the mortal realm, this exclusionary characteristic was greatly diminished. With the Guardian Ancestral Spirit's projection, Li Buren could barely stand his ground and confine it. However, Li Fan, relying on the power of Return to Truth, could comprehend it. He could even turn it to his own use! This was the conclusion Li Fan reached after observing the Grand Master's stone statue for a long time.
"Simulating 'Boundless Unity' with the True-False Transformation." Perhaps due to being immersed in the past memories of the mortal world within the turbulent thoughts of "Return to Truth," Li Fan felt that his comprehension abilities had once again significantly improved. Even this "Boundless Unity," he felt a sense of familiarity, though not with the Grand Master himself. Rather, it was as if Li Fan had also become an Innate being, having observed "Boundless Unity" from an outsider's perspective before the creation of Heaven and Earth.
This inherent advantage allowed him to grasp the application, or rather, the "simulation," of Boundless Unity at a terrifyingly unnatural speed. A wisp of gray light appeared at Li Fan's fingertips. The stable Great Dao of Heaven and Earth in an instant became chaotic. Where the gray light touched, the Great Dao retreated, forming an absolute void where only the gray light existed. It lasted for only three breaths, and Li Fan had consumed the power of a projection of the Xuanhuang Realm within his body. The rapid energy depletion caused him to be unable to circulate power for a time. Furthermore, Li Fan did not possess the characteristic of "infinity." Therefore, it was merely a brief taste, and the gray light at his fingertip quickly dissipated.
Accompanying the massive energy consumption was an intense mental fatigue, far exceeding that of his previous transformation of the Dao Dissolving Mother Stone with "Falsehood into Truth." Li Fan felt as if he had experienced several cycles of reincarnation in those brief moments.
"It seems I cannot forcibly simulate and utilize it too much yet."
"But for self-preservation at critical moments, it's excellent."
"As long as one has not transcended to the level of 'Mountain and Sea' and remains within the framework of the Great Dao. I can largely disregard it..."
"Even if their cultivation is higher, the outcome will be the same. This is the suppression of the Post-natal by the Pre-natal."
The feeling from observing was completely different from the sensation of direct control. Although Li Fan easily severed the Grand Master's spirituality, making him seem pitifully weak as a former attendant to a Sage Lord, it was only now, after Li Fan had gained a certain degree of mastery over the power of "Boundless Unity," that he truly understood its formidable nature.
"It's an attack that almost disregards the difference in cultivation levels."
"No wonder the Grand Master always seemed so nonchalant. Even after living for countless years, he had little cunning. With the power of Boundless Unity protecting him, most things that happened in the world couldn't affect him. Naturally, he didn't need to scheme with others or overthink things. Innate power... was actually a form of confinement."
"Perhaps, it was more suitable for him to remain the attendant of some important figure."
With this thought, Li Fan's eyes narrowed, a nascent idea forming in his mind. However, it was only a preliminary concept. Its execution would have to wait for future lifetimes.
With the help of his main body, Li Buren had barely managed to control the encroaching Boundless Unity. However, the price was that a small portion of his power had to be diverted to suppress it. The surplus power obtained from subduing the Starving Immortal thus decreased by nearly half.
However, Li Fan believed this transaction was absolutely worthwhile. Not to mention the power of Boundless Unity he had learned, but the information revealed by the Grand Master's words alone held immense value for Li Fan. The various Sage Lords of the Immortal Realm were a given. What Li Fan cared about most was that the treasure "Return to Truth" was rumored to have existed since the very birth of the Immortal Realm.
"The more ancient the existence, the more likely they are to know the details of 'Return to Truth.' The lies I've woven to conceal its existence might be meaningless before these powerful beings. They could see through them with a single glance..."
For now, Li Fan hadn't thought of a solution. However, since he was aware of this, his situation wouldn't be entirely passive.
After leaving the Grand Master's body, the myriad manifestations of Dao reconnected with Heaven and Earth, and the dissipated parts were replenished. Innumerable Dao Erasures in various forms, like the masses of sentient beings, were hidden within the vast black mist of the Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul.
In the Star Sea of the North, Li Fan obtained a body-refining technique called the "Great Dao Descends Upon the Body Technique." Theoretically, if one cultivated it to the extreme, the person would become one with the mortal world. However, for a mortal body to bear the Great Dao, it required unimaginable tempering.
"Compared to that, the Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul's absorption and containment of various Dao principles is much easier."
"Perhaps, my physical body can first adapt to the characteristics of Ink Slaughter."
Li Fan sensed the Ink Slaughter within his body, which seemed to have gained a hint of "vitality," and countless thoughts arose in his mind. Of course, he didn't rashly experiment on himself. Instead, he still had Li Buren act as the test subject. Li Buren's physical body had been destroyed, leaving only his The Dao Lattice projection. It was precisely the right time to test the transformed Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul.
A drop of vital blood was flicked by Li Fan towards Li Buren. After swallowing the vital blood, within the silver-glowing The Dao Lattice, flesh and blood began to writhe. Li Buren's "physical body" was thus crudely created. Without any celestial treasures or earthly materials added, this flesh and blood body was exceptionally frail. However, with the infusion of a strand of Ink Slaughter's black energy, the body immediately became extraordinary.
Previously, with the purely destructive power of Ink Slaughter, even if Li Fan had achieved Dao Integration with Ink Slaughter, he couldn't fuse such destructive force with a flesh and blood body. But now, Ink Slaughter was not merely pure destruction; it incorporated various Dao principles of Heaven and Earth. The first thing tested was the most basic Dao of the Five Elements. Five black energies, similar yet distinct, continuously rotated and merged. Li Fan was extremely familiar with the process of the Five Elements flowing and integrating into oneself. Thus, he smoothly transplanted this black vortex into Li Buren's body.
The frail flesh and blood body, due to the destructive nature of Ink Slaughter, slowly dissipated, becoming riddled with holes and dilapidated in a blink of an eye. It looked quite terrifying. However, a small portion still persisted, relying on the Five Elements characteristics within Ink Slaughter, and used it as a foundation to slowly reconstruct the flesh and blood body.
Li Buren slightly moved, conducting various tests. After half a day, he reached a conclusion. This newly created flesh and blood body not only had an extremely strong capacity for bearing the laws of the Great Dao but also possessed considerable resistance to Dao Erasure. When Li Fan forcibly channeled all the power of the Guardian Ancestral Spirit, leaving only the Primordial Bones and the Heavenly Pillar of the Starving Immortal to desperately support themselves, facing the impending catastrophic Dao Erasure Tribulation, the instinctive fear that surged within Li Buren's heart was far less intense than before.
"Though the flood waters are overwhelming, I at least have the ability to swim underwater. While the fate of being engulfed is unavoidable, I can hold on for a while." Li Fan was delighted. It was known that only cultivators who had transcended to the highest realms could survive the Dao Erasure Tribulation. Yet, Li Fan, by utilizing the "Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul," had achieved a similar effect through an indirect path. More importantly, Li Buren's current body could only accommodate the Ink Slaughter power with Five Elements characteristics. In the future, as he gradually integrated all the Great Daos of the world into himself, he might be able to face the tidal wave of Dao Erasure with an unperturbed expression.
However, this was destined to be a long process. For now, Li Fan entrusted this arduous task to Li Buren. He intended to resolve all the hidden dangers of the Xuanhuang Realm in one go.
The silver light shimmered like a cape, enveloping Li Fan's entire body, as if forming a protective suit. This silver light was precisely the power of Boundless Unity. Li Fan's destination this time was the Sea of Darkness, located deep within the Xuanhuang Realm. The darkness that could devour everything retreated in the face of the silver light representing Boundless Unity. It was like a giant ball of light illuminating this region that had been pitch-black since time immemorial. Li Fan walked through it with leisurely grace. The dread and fear he had experienced in his past regressions were completely absent.
After exploring the shallow layers of the Sea of Darkness and finding nothing special, Li Fan headed towards the depths, where the True Immortal's will to survive was located. The restrictions left by the Heavenly Mysteries King and the Dharma-Preachers in the past no longer required Li Fan to break them. Under the illumination of the silver light, they all dispersed on their own, failing to obstruct him in any way. He once again saw the immense "momentum" accumulated over tens of thousands of years in the depths of the Sea of Darkness. Facing the condensed energy in various bizarre forms, resembling clouds in the sky, Li Fan paused slightly. He was now a Half-Immortal and no longer looked at these phenomena from below. Instead, it was as if he were standing on a mountaintop, observing them at eye level.
"The reason Immortals were Immortals in the first place was because of [Lian Shan]."
"With the mountains, the birth of Immortals came to be."
"The momentum of Immortals..." Li Fan looked at the peaks before him, seemingly seeing the Immortals of the Immortal Realm of the past.
"Immortals, return!" He extended his right hand and gently grasped. The Sea of Darkness instantly became turbulent. The dark power accumulated for tens of thousands of years surged towards Li Fan's palm.
Before achieving the Half-Immortal realm, Li Fan had utilized the Faceless Stone Statue several times to draw upon this power of darkness. He was quite familiar with it.
Now, having ascended to Half-Immortal, he could effortlessly capture the energy accumulated in the Sea of Darkness over the years.
Li Fan was not the master of the power of darkness. Therefore, it showed significant resistance during its capture. However, Li Fan was no longer the person he used to be. With a single force overpowering all resistance, the power of darkness's defiance proved futile.
It all obediently came into Li Fan's palm.
Because it was born from the remains of a True Immortal, this "near-immortal power" possessed properties similar to the "infinite" nature of immortal energy. Converging in Li Fan's palm, it compressed endlessly as if without limit.
When the entire Sea of Darkness was absorbed by Li Fan, losing its gloom, he found that only a small, black yet slightly gleaming bead had appeared in his palm.
As the long-settled darkness finally receded, Li Fan could clearly see the remains of the True Immortal here.
Or rather, the remnants of the remains.
The True Immortal's corpse had been entirely drained by the Spirit Gathering Ascension Formation, used as nourishment. Only a few traces, thinner than shadows, remained.
If not for Li Fan's superior True Immortal presence observing with meticulous detail from above, he might not have even seen the last vestiges left by this fallen True Immortal.
"Immortal, you have returned to dust~"
Li Fan gazed at the remnant silhouette of the remains for a long time. The traces were too brittle to leave any useful information.
He blew a gentle breath, sending it to completely dissipate.
It wasn't out of Li Fan's sudden benevolence to help this departed True Immortal find peace.
Rather, he wanted to use the act of clearing these traces as an opportunity to observe if there were any other residuals of True Immortals within this Sea of Darkness.
As expected, there were no surprises.
Besides a few faint roars from the True Immortal's will to survive below, there were no other corresponding fluctuations in the vast Sea of Darkness, or even across the countless starry skies of the Xuanhuang Realm's experimental field.
"It seems this True Immortal is truly dead, for the most part."
The initial purpose of crafting the Spirit Gathering Ascension Formation within the Sea of Darkness was to serve as the power source for the Xuanhuang Realm to escape the Immortal Ruins.
Now, Li Fan could, with his own strength, physically pull the Xuanhuang Realm out of the Immortal Ruins' gravitational pull.
The strength he displayed, even with some assistance from the Mound Guardian's phantom, was undoubtedly far beyond that of the entire Sea of Darkness.
The subjugation process was smooth and, in a way, a cleansing.
Li Fan turned his gaze to the final participant in this place.
The True Immortal's will to survive.
It resembled the shadow of a withered branch, or a hunched human figure. Upon sensing Li Fan's presence, it exhibited both fear and desire.
It was like a wild beast in the forest encountering a hunter. Observing from concealment, it wavered between fleeing and greed.
Li Fan, as if feeding a pet, extended a trace of his own energy towards the True Immortal's will to survive.
After circling a few times, the True Immortal's will to survive, fearing the food would escape, wrapped around it, chewed, and swallowed it.
Seeing this, Li Fan's lips curled into a faint smile.
"Truly a foolish thing that only possesses the instinct of survival."
"A Mosa Immortal Soul, especially one that has integrated with the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth, is not something you can easily digest."
The True Immortal's will to survive attempted to consume the sustenance, but no matter how hard it tried, it could not diminish the object by even a fraction.
Furthermore, the food within its belly was actually attempting to devour it from the inside!
The True Immortal's will to survive let out a terrifying roar, like an ancient fierce beast.
Yet, no matter how it struggled, it could not contend with the power of the Mosa Immortal Soul.
It rolled and thrashed helplessly in the deepest part of the Sea of Darkness.
After the dust settled, the True Immortal's will to survive had transformed into one of the countless manifestations of the Mosa Immortal Soul.
Li Fan had hoped to find some residual memories within this wisp of True Immortal remnant consciousness.
But after a thorough search, he found only instinctive thoughts of devouring, rebirth, and similar impulses.
"What a pity."
"I couldn't figure out the true identity of this True Immortal buried at the bottom of the Sea of Darkness."
"However, at most, it was just an ordinary True Immortal. Insignificant now."
Being able to suppress the Realm of the Nameless with a wave of his hand, Li Fan could now confidently say so.
He surveyed the now empty Sea of Darkness, contemplating how to utilize such a vast vacant space in the future.
Suddenly, he sensed the generation of some inexplicable energy from this location.
"Hm?"
The source of energy here had been completely collected by him. Where did this newly generated energy come from?
Li Fan was somewhat surprised but not panicked.
A divine sense search revealed that these tiny energy points, like countless faint specks of light, were originating from various places within the Xuanhuang Realm.
These light specks were even more ethereal than the remnants of the True Immortal's remains.
If not for their sudden appearance in the completely drained Sea of Darkness, Li Fan would have subconsciously ignored them.
Li Fan summoned a light speck. Upon touching it, the speck exploded and vanished like a bubble.
It also seemed not to have entered Li Fan's body, disappearing to some unknown destination.
After a moment of contemplation, Li Fan gathered all the light specks into his hand, condensing them into a ball of light for a closer examination.
As the magnitude increased to a certain level, Li Fan felt a peculiar sense of familiarity.
"This is..."
"Spiritual essence?"
"No. It doesn't involve the level of [Reflection]. It's much lower."
"But it is still a convergence of cultivation aptitude to a certain extent."
He stored the ball of light together with the black sphere formed from the Sea of Darkness. Li Fan seemed to understand what was happening.
"In its original design, the myriad beings of the Xuanhuang Realm were merely pieces on a chessboard. From their creation, their attributes were predetermined: height, appearance, talent, temperament."
"These light spheres are the power of talent bestowed upon the beings by the natural workings of the Xuanhuang Realm. Now, they are being absorbed by the Sea of Darkness because the True Immortal's will to survive sensed the existence of this power and instinctively wanted to seize it..."
Li Fan frowned.
"Although the myriad beings of the Xuanhuang Realm are chess pieces, they are pieces of the higher echelons of the Immortal Realm. A mere wisp of will to survive..."
He looked up at the entities within the Xuanhuang Realm.
He wished to emulate them and plunder the talents of all beings.
But evidently, that was not possible.
"The True Immortal's will to survive has been destroyed by me, yet this shedding of talent still persists."
Li Fan suddenly recalled a topic he had discussed with Bai Hua and Qiao Gong, among others, before.
During the Great Tribulation of Destruction, many cultivators had personally witnessed from afar their hometowns falling into the Immortal Ruins, with all things crumbling and forming bizarre, distorted light circles. As the Cultivation World completely vanished into the Immortal Ruins, a large amount of matter seemed to surge out in the opposite direction. This phenomenon was undetectable by the naked eye or divine sense, yet it truly existed.
The Ancestor of the Immortal Puppets from the Heavenly Mysteries Realm had also suffered from the continuous loss of something due to proximity to the Immortal Ruins, eventually leading to decay. At that time, Qiao Gong even used his own "stupidity" as an excuse.
"The Starving Immortal has been suppressed by me. The Immortal Ruins are no more..."
Li Fan flickered and appeared outside the Xuanhuang Realm in the starry sky.
He took out half of the light spheres.
Here, they did not exhibit any tendency to flow. They simply floated quietly in the void, seemingly unable to last long before dimming.
Before they dissipated completely, Li Fan collected them again.
This small cluster of light spheres, if all granted to one person, could nurture a cultivator whose talent would be no weaker than that of Zhang Haobo or Xiao Fan.
"It seems that the Xuanhuang Realm, having been beside the Immortal Ruins for too long, has itself developed this characteristic."
"The talents and spiritual essence of all beings are shed in the opposite direction of the Immortal Ruins' pull. Even without the Immortal Ruins, this trend cannot be completely reversed immediately."
After conducting comparative experiments at multiple locations within the Abyssal Sea, Li Fan had preliminarily reached a conclusion.
"It is not some monstrous entity at work," he thought, relieved.
However, naturally, Li Fan became curious about the reason behind this phenomenon.
His comprehension of the The Hunger Seal was considered second only to the Starving Immortal among the "original" possibilities.
He was aware of the all-consuming pull generated around him when meditating on the The Hunger Seal.
Yet, he had not noticed anything that was not attracted by this pull but rather actively repelled.
Verifying this was not difficult.
In the center of the Abyssal Sea, Li Fan unleashed the The Hunger Seal towards a nearby location.
Although not as powerful as the reconstructed Immortal Ruins, it manifested like a colossal vortex, suddenly appearing.
The starry sea became turbulent again.
Li Fan remained unmoved amidst the surge, observing a group of Netherfolk who, despairing due to the disappearance of the Sea of Darkness and howling in anguish, had fallen into his sight.
He cast them one by one into the vortex.
Despite their robust physique and their ability to trade blows with cultivators, the Netherfolk were utterly unable to resist the power of the The Hunger Seal.
Without even a hint of struggle, they all turned to powder within the immense vortex.
Without any change in his expression, Li Fan introduced them one by one and observed.
He had never paid particular attention to them before, thus it was normal to overlook this spiritual substance. This time, with meticulous observation, Li Fan indeed discovered this intangible entity.
Moreover, because the Netherfolk were all descendants of the first Azure Nether Great Heavenly Venerates, the amount of spiritual essence shed from the vortex was not insignificant.
Li Fan, like a gold prospector, collected all the spiritual essence.
"Interesting. Why does the enlightenment of the The Hunger Seal produce such an anomaly?"
"Perhaps it is related to the 'Starvation' path itself."
Li Fan recalled the scene of suppressing the Starving Immortal not long ago.
In front of the Mound Guardian's phantom, although the Starving Immortal was outmatched, it did not directly surrender. Instead, it fought back desperately.
The Starving Immortal's struggle, though futile, made Li Fan ponder its words, "I'm hungry, so hungry," like a ghostly, spectral voice.
It sounded less like it was uttered by the Starving Immortal and more like it originated from a mysterious entity beyond the Great Dao, from the depths of the heavens.
It seemed to desire to swallow mountains and drain seas, turning everything in the world into its own sustenance.
Li Fan's gaze suddenly shifted back to the Heavenly Pillar of the Starving Immortal.
"This Starvation Dao seems to have a problem."
"It's not a Dao that originally existed in the original possibility? But rather a parasitic existence after devouring?"
Li Fan dared not be absolutely certain.
The proof for Li Fan's conjecture lay within the Starving Immortal's memories.
The Starving Immortal had transformed into a Heavenly Pillar, and Li Fan could browse its past life at will. The final mystery would not be far from being unveiled.
"Since the Beast-kin could escape from other possibilities, it is not surprising that there are other outsiders."
"However, from the perspective of hindsight, the comical aspect of the matter becomes apparent."
"These outsiders, just like that group of so-called transcendent True Immortals who fled from the 'original' possibility, endured immense hardship, believing they had found a safe haven. Little did they expect that they would ultimately meet their demise."
"Or perhaps..."
Li Fan's eyes narrowed, and scenes flickered in his divine consciousness, countless possibilities unfolding. With his current deductive abilities, even without knowing the names of the individuals involved, he could, to some extent, infer the events of the past from their outcomes.
"These fleeing outsiders never intended this place to be their final sanctuary. They merely treated it as a temporary stopover. Since they could escape once, they could escape a second, a third time..."
"At the very least, that's what they must have thought. Once the Tribulation of Dao Erasure returns, they would just flee again."
"To resist disaster, aside from favorable timing, the most crucial factor is unity. But if, among the masses, there are such innate fugitives..."
Li Fan, having served as a Grand Tutor for decades, naturally understood the harm caused by such black sheep.
If they merely retreated passively, it would be one thing. The most terrifying aspect was their ability to invisibly infect, alter, and shake the thoughts of those around them.
Spreading like a plague, the consequences would be unimaginable.
"This is not a mere conjecture of mine."
"In the past Immortal Realm, there were indeed such individuals."
A figure suddenly appeared before Li Fan.
"Sun Piao Miao."
"And those who forged the Immortal Realm's chess pieces."
"And Qing Yin and the True Immortal surnamed Ling, who presided over this Immortal Realm's experimental field and then resolutely departed."
"This is just the tip of the iceberg. One can imagine how many similar figures there were among the Immortals of the Immortal Realm back then."
"Working alongside such individuals, Emperor Tian Luo, despite his immense ambition, was destined to fail. If it were me, I would first use the method of fishing to gather all these fugitives in one place. Then, I would exterminate them all!"
"This would not only prove the hearts of men but also yield a supply of materials to resist the Tribulation of Dao Erasure..."
Li Fan mused this way, a fierce glint in his eyes.
It wasn't that Li Fan truly harbored the ambition of becoming a world-saving Heavenly Emperor. It was merely a fleeting thought, a hypothetical scenario during his deduction of the past.
All that was in the past has faded like a dream.
The current original possibility was merely a collection of ruins struggling to survive.
All Li Fan could do, like those fugitives, was to seek refuge in a different era.
From the phenomena discovered at the bottom of this dark ocean, it appears that the Xuanhuang Realm possesses a high degree of "plasticity." Having been in close proximity to the Immortal Ruins for tens of thousands of years, the prolonged immersion has caused it to not yet recover from the "Immortal Ruins'" influence, even though it has long since moved away.
"The precipitation of spiritual essence from all beings in the Xuanhuang Realm is estimated to continue for another hundred years before it completely reverses."
"This reduction in spiritual essence will have little impact on those in the lower and middle tiers of talent, as their cultivation has a ceiling there. Whether this spiritual essence is present or not is inconsequential. Conversely, the more extreme the heavenly talent, the more crucial it is to maintain their completeness. This principle is the same as how the Grand Master, after I severed all his spiritual essence, turned to stone."
In the now empty dark ocean, Li Fan set up a formation to gather these invisible spiritual essences that had precipitated. Some would be used for his own research, while another portion would be used to nurture those with the highest talent in the Xuanhuang Realm.
The plan to merge all manifestations through the Dao Erasure was off to a good start thanks to the Grand Master's gift. However, it would be extremely difficult to find such an opportunity in the future, one that allowed for effortless, yet non-damaging, consumption of numerous Dao principles. Li Fan's own comprehension, on the other hand, was simply too slow.
Relying on the heavenly talents of the Xuanhuang Realm was the best option. Even before achieving Half-Immortal status, Li Fan had once used the heavenly talents of the Xuanhuang Realm to comprehend the Dao. Now, he was merely returning to his old ways.
"It's just that the Heavenly Dao of the Xuanhuang Realm is in a state of incompleteness. Not only does it fall short of the complete one in the 'Primordial' possibility, but it is also far inferior to the Dao principles displayed within the Darkest Star Sea."
"And it's inconvenient to leave this safe house within the The Great Barrier..."
After a moment of contemplation, Li Fan had an idea. A figure appeared in the Obliteration Land outside the The Great Barrier. It was an avatar formed by Li Fan using the power of the Mound Guardian's phantom. It was also a body constructed by projecting the The Dao Lattice. However, this figure was merely meant for "paving the way," so it did not refine flesh and blood, being purely an energy form.
It continuously flew outwards from the Obliteration Land. When it reached a certain distance from the The Great Barrier, it suddenly halted. "Here is the maximum range that the Mound Guardian's phantom power can reach. Hmm... it hasn't actually left the Obliteration Land and is still within the scope of the desolate land where the Great Dao is depleted."
The figure sensed its surroundings and continued to fly forward slowly. Wisps of threads, like the strings of the The Dao Lattice, flew out from the figure, weaving a path of "Dao" in the dim starlight. It was as if an extension was being crafted for the Mound Guardian's phantom within the The Great Barrier, allowing its power to extend beyond the starry sky.
Of course, this was not Li Fan's primary objective. If he were to disregard the Dao Erasure above the The Great Barrier and forcibly increase the phantom's invocation, Li Fan could have extended its power to this point. The main purpose was to improve the incomplete Great Dao within the The Great Barrier through this path of "Dao."
The path of the Great Dao extended infinitely, finally exiting the Obliteration Land and establishing a connection with the Star Sea of the North. Li Fan had initially been contemplating how to evade the notice of the Star Sea of the North's The Dao Lattice. However, upon careful observation, he discovered that the Star Sea of the North's "The Dao Lattice" had actually retracted and moved away from this border star region. Looking from afar, there were no signs of the The Dao Lattice being severely damaged. Instead, it appeared brighter and more unfathomable than before.
"It's probably to save face for this nameless Immortal Emperor I'm impersonating."
Although a gesture of courtesy, it inadvertently facilitated Li Fan. Feeling the relatively intact Heavenly Daos within the Star Sea of the North, rays of light separated from the figure. It was as if an extremely agile pair of hands were rapidly weaving. In just a few breaths, a miniature The Dao Lattice took shape in the starry sky. Compared to the true The Dao Lattice of the Star Sea of the North, this miniature net appeared so sparse and broken. This was because its support was entirely composed of the numerous Ink Slaughter Dao Manifestations within Li Fan. It was fortunate that Li Fan benefited from the Grand Master's ten thousand years of accumulation; otherwise, relying solely on Li Fan's comprehension might not have been enough to weave this net.
The miniature The Dao Lattice was merely a catalyst, responsible for guiding the complete Dao from the Star Sea of the North into the The Great Barrier. The detour through the net was to accelerate the efficiency of the reception. Li Fan was not greedy; the miniature The Dao Lattice stopped expanding after occupying a small portion of the star space outside the Obliteration Land. "This efficiency is sufficient."
With a slight movement of his mind, he returned to the Xuanhuang Realm in an instant. On the Xuanhuang Realm's upper side, he wove another The Dao Lattice. The aura of the complete Dao from outside the The Great Barrier gradually emanated from the The Dao Lattice, injecting vitality into the Xuanhuang Realm, and even the entire Darkest Star Sea. Unlike the crude and forceful replenishment with life force and immortal power, it repaired the millennia of devastation caused by the Dao Erasure from within its essence. Although it was essentially robbing Peter to pay Paul, for this star domain within the The Great Barrier, it was akin to "rebirth."
Threads of gratitude, emanating from the Heavenly Dao of the Xuanhuang Realm and the origin true intent of the Darkest Star Sea, naturally arose. They Coalesced beside the The Dao Lattice formed by Li Fan's avatar, thirstily absorbing the "complete" Dao from the outside. At a speed perceptible to the senses, this star space, which had been dry for millennia, began to become abundant.
Under the backdrop of the "Primordial" possibility, it was still an apocalyptic era threatened by the calamity of Dao Erasure. The total amount remained unchanged; where the Dao became abundant, somewhere else must have begun to wither. To delay the time it took for the outside world to discover his subtle actions, Li Fan proactively closed the passageway after a brief connection.
Disregarding the myriad intentions generated by the Xuanhuang Realm and the Darkest Star Sea due to this, Li Fan was immersed in his comprehension of the Great Dao from outside the The Great Barrier. With his body as the "Dao" path, he actively accepted the Heavenly Daos. What he saw, felt, and comprehended was entirely different from his previous experiences as an individual in the mortal world. Li Fan could more easily see the holes within the Great Dao. Where "Dao" should have been, there were lacunae due to various reasons, which was shocking. Although the Dao within the The Great Barrier appeared "full of vitality" compared to the Darkest Star Sea affected by Dao Erasure, Li Fan, beneath this vitality, saw the decline of a setting sun, like a faltering old man, his frailty exposed.
"Even my miniature The Dao Lattice can see this clearly. How could those people in the Star Sea of the North not be aware of the current situation!" Li Fan couldn't help but sneer inwardly. He gazed into the distance at his neighbor, that vast and dim The Dao Lattice. The progress of cooperation with the True Immortals seemed to be not going smoothly. Compared to Li Fan's previous observations, only three to five Dao-bearing phantoms had been added. It was unclear whether the remaining True Immortals were unwilling, or if their numbers were too few.
Li Fan temporarily had no leisure to concern himself with them. He was fully focused on digesting the gains from the Darkest Star Sea. Slowly peeling away the past memories of the Starving Immortal's Heavenly Pillar, Li Buren constructed his physical true body with the Dao Erasure's myriad manifestations, and leveraged the Azure Nether beings' enlightenment to comprehend the star sea's Great Dao... Li Fan was about to enter a long period of accumulation and development. Fortunately, the presence of the The Great Barrier and the Darkest Star Sea served as a natural secret chamber, preventing external interference.
Time slowly passed. The Darkest Star Sea was no longer dim. Specks of life's light began to emerge in various corners. And in the abyssal canals beneath the Darkest Star Sea, this change became apparent first. At the lowest point of the dark river, the calm life current once again roared and surged. Droplets of life force drawn from across the star sea converged into the river, flowing in. This boiling, majestic life force, in turn, attracted a being within the dark river. It was the fluctuation when the Starving Immortal attained the nameless state, recorded by the abyssal dark river and forming the "Shadow of the Nameless Immortal." It bore no resemblance to the Starving Immortal himself, being merely a ghostly black shadow. It existed in a state of unknowing ignorance, having remained silent since its birth. Only when the dark river was overflowing with life force did it instinctively gravitate to the most vibrant area. Like a great whale absorbing water, the Shadow of the Nameless Immortal absorbed all the splashing life force into itself. The originally thin, seemingly ephemeral image gradually solidified. After lingering by the life-sustaining dark river for a long time, the black shadow became indistinguishable from a living person. However, after completing this, it ceased any further action, as if its mission were fulfilled. It remained there, silently standing beside the roaring dark river.
Li Fan, secretly observing this figure, patiently continued to wait. "If the enemy does not move, I do not move." Addressing the saying, "How can one sleep soundly with a neighbor disturbing their side?", Li Fan could not find peace in seclusion until the hidden dangers within the Darkest Star Sea were completely resolved. Now, all potential threats in the Darkest Star Sea could be considered eradicated. Aside from the Fishing Pond, which he did not wish to deal with for the time being, the only remaining issue was the newly born Shadow of the Nameless Immortal in the dark underground. He had long left a trace of his divine sense to monitor it, and the figure's movements had not escaped his control.
The Shadow of the Nameless Immortal, after all, was not a true life form. It could not sustain the absorbed life force from dissipating. As it stood motionless like a stone statue, its life force gradually weakened with the passage of time. Unable to bear the dissipation of life force any longer, a hidden light-figure finally stirred. A broken, incomplete mask, as if severely eroded by time, surged forth from the depths of the underground dark river. It sped directly towards the Shadow of the Nameless Immortal. Upon entering the figure, it acted like a maddened beast, charging recklessly and causing the shadow to tremble violently. Amidst chilling chewing sounds, the shadow's fluctuations slowly calmed. The mask then settled upon the Shadow of the Nameless Immortal. It looked at the vast pool of gathered life force not far away, a surge of greed welling up within. Slightly opening its mouth, it was about to absorb it all into itself.
Just then... a hand suddenly pressed down on its shoulder.
"Where did this petty thief come from?"
"How dare you steal something belonging to this venerable one." The voice was calm, yet carried an inherent majesty. The figure instantly froze, instinctively trying to flee, only to find itself as if immense mountains were pressing down on its shoulders. It was utterly immobile!
"Detestable! After all, it is someone else's Dao phantom; if it were my own body..." It had no time to ponder further, only to feel a dizzying sensation as it was captured and brought into an unknown space. Two towering stone pillars stood solitary in front. The figure looked at the pillars, and a sudden, ominous premonition surged within.
"That is..." After a moment of recognition, the figure began to tremble uncontrollably. It naturally recognized what these were. It was precisely because it feared becoming an "immortal within the pillars" in the past that it had paid a great price to secretly dispatch an avatar to the lower realm, seeking a way to avoid disaster. It never expected disaster to strike so suddenly. Faced with the overwhelming calamity of Dao Erasure, even the main body, with its immense divine abilities, could only sigh in futility and turn to ash. The invasion of Dao Erasure even affected its clone. It was almost completely annihilated, leaving only a trace of its consciousness. Unable to move, it could only remain in this life-sustaining dark river it had excavated on its own.
"If only I hadn't completely sealed off the clone's self-awareness to prevent discovery back then, I wouldn't have fallen into such a tragic state." For many years lying in the dark river, it had lamented this inwardly. However, compared to the countless True Immortals and the "Heavenly Net" Immortal Emperor who perished in the great immortal realm calamity, being able to retain some consciousness was, in a way, a blessing in disguise.
Originally, it could only slowly accumulate and recover strength, praying that the calamity of Dao Erasure would not reach it before it could move. It was only recently that it sensed the fluctuation of a new Nameless True Immortal attaining enlightenment above. It was both shocked, fearful, and delighted that even after so many years since the destruction of the immortal realm, a new Nameless True Immortal had been born. Delighted because, perhaps, the immortal realm was not entirely extinct; otherwise, where did this Nameless True Immortal come from? Fearful that the other would discover it. Although it was reduced to mere remnants, with its past memories fragmented, it had, after all, once been nameless. If the other were to become greedy and devour and refine it... Whilst filled with trepidation and hesitation, it ultimately chose to take a gamble. It mobilized all the strength it had accumulated, activating the life form it had created in the underground dark river. It recorded the shadow of the Nameless Immortal who had attained enlightenment. "With this Dao shadow, I can reverse this predicament!" The thought of finally regaining new life made it somewhat ecstatic. The experiences of the past ten thousand years had been truly torturous.
After a desperate struggle, exhausting all its accumulated strength, it sank into unprecedented weakness, unable to even sense the movements of the Nameless True Immortal above. But looking at the Nameless True Immortal shadow it had crafted from afar, it felt that everything was worth it. "The life force converges here in abundance. After a few more days, when I can move, I will manipulate the Dao shadow to absorb all the life force. Escaping this wretched place should be no problem." Its plan was well laid.
As if fortune favored it, the previously calm life-sustaining dark river suddenly became turbulent. Not just with life force. There was also an abundance of Dao! This was even more important for this Nameless True Immortal facing a desperate situation. Although the main body of the Nameless True Immortal had vanished into the Dao Erasure, its comprehension of Dao remained. By absorbing life force and Dao principles, it could almost instantly recover from its injuries. Without mentioning returning to the nameless state, it should at least be able to reconnect with the Infinite Sea and regain True Immortal strength.
The chance to reverse his predicament was right before his eyes. After observing for a while, there seemed to be no abnormalities around the shadow of the nameless one. That nameless one, who had just attained the Dao, should have gone far away.
He could no longer suppress the stirrings in his heart. mustering his remaining strength, he charged towards that figure.
He had thought his fortune would turn for the better, but he never expected…
Time rewound to the present. He looked at the two isolated heavenly pillars before him. After careful observation, he finally confirmed he wasn't mistaken. A tremor ran through his heart.
"One of them should be the Southern Immortal Heavenly Pillar."
"And the other one…"
"It actually suppresses the Nameless True Immortal who had only recently attained the Dao! This!"
"Who exactly is this person!"
The solitary items.
Recalling the words he had overheard earlier, a thousand thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant.
Although he had only recently revived and his body was merely a nameless Dao shadow, he was confident in his strength. To be so easily captured and suppressed…
The other party's strength was unfathomably deep!
"In the ten thousand years I was severely injured and trapped, what happened in the outside world? Could it be that the Immortal Realm has been rebuilt?"
Even with a hundred thousand thoughts, he could only bury them deep in his heart for now.
A terrifying giant force permeated his body, completely suppressing him. Even speaking or transmitting divine sense was a luxury.
As he waited anxiously, a towering figure suddenly appeared in the field.
Suppressed, he couldn’t discern the figure’s appearance. However, the aura that was as vast as mountains and seas made him recall the two Immortal Emperors he had met before.
The figure wasted no words and grabbed him once more.
He felt his nameless Dao shadow body instantly erupt into chaos.
Although the Dao shadow was forged using the power fluctuations of the Nameless True Immortal who had attained the Dao of "Starvation," it was merely a borrowed impact. In essence, it was the power contained within this enormous "Form of Living Beings" that he had personally crafted.
The impact of the newly attained nameless one was like a falling hammer, striking a mark.
However, at this moment, the Life Dao principles condensed within this mark were uncontrollably flowing towards the figure before him. After making a circuit around the other party, they returned, becoming calm once more. It was as if they had been tidied and reined in, becoming more "focused."
He also sensed that a vast amount of Life Dao principles from the outside world were madly surging towards him.
"Barely acceptable," the figure before him shook his head, seemingly dissatisfied. Yet, he continued to manipulate the myriad Life Dao principles, constantly filling and stuffing.
"This… you want to turn me into a heavenly pillar?" After all, he was knowledgeable and quickly grasped the other party's intention.
The subsequent encounters seemed to confirm his guess.
The immense Life Dao principles, gathered from who knew where, continued to flow endlessly. The pressure from the outside world did not lessen for a moment; in fact, it slowly intensified.
He had no doubt that under such oppressive force, even a True Immortal would instantly turn into dust.
His heart filled with despair and fear at the thought of being sealed within a heavenly pillar for eternity, never to transcend. His suffering would likely surpass the last ten thousand years. True Immortals transcended the mortal realm; they shouldn't possess such mortal emotions. And he, who had once been nameless, should certainly not be so pathetic. But when the great tribulation arrived, the "Nameless True Immortal" that was him had actually died.
What remained was merely an ordinary cultivator who only wished to struggle for survival.
After realizing this, he knew he couldn't continue like this.
Once the heavenly pillar was completely formed, even if he possessed unparalleled divine abilities, it would be futile.
Gritting his teeth, he made a ruthless decision. The mask on his face shattered with a bang.
The surrounding binding forces immediately vanished.
He hastily cried out, "Senior, please wait!"
"In the Arid Nebula Star Domain, the Governing Immortal Minister, Situ Xing, pays his respects!"
…
"Governing Immortal Minister."
Hearing Xing Wuque’s words, Li Fan’s suppressing power loosened slightly.
However, he didn’t release him yet, instead carefully observing the other party.
The sudden explosion of the bronze mask earlier had almost caught him off guard. He never expected that what seemed like a plaything in his palm could suddenly unleash such great resistance.
Fortunately, he had urgently summoned the shadow of the Mound Guardian and increased the pressure, thus avoiding any display of weakness.
"What era is this, and you're still using Emperor Tianluo's methods."
"What, you Governing Immortal Minister, intend to govern me?"
After some thought, Li Fan spoke with mockery.
Since his understanding of the past Immortal Realm wasn't very clear, he decided not to get too entangled in that aspect to avoid revealing any flaws. Li Fan simply steered the other party into his fabricated deception with a single sentence: "The Immortal Realm is now destroyed. All the immortals have either died or fled."
"You, a former Immortal Minister, cannot govern me, a mountain bandit. Hmph!"
These few sentences were enough for the other party to roughly guess his origins.
With the people from the Star Sea of the North, he could use the so-called "Hidden Emperor" persona. However, to trick information out of this Governing Immortal Minister, he needed to adopt a different identity.
As expected, after hearing Li Fan’s words, Situ Xing began to speculate in the direction he was guided.
"To establish oneself as a king. The tide of Dao Erasure swept down, and the lower realms could hardly survive. Only scattered islands remained. And this person, who suppressed the nameless immortal to become a heavenly pillar, was to strengthen the resistance against the Dao Erasure…" Situ Xing's thoughts raced, and his heart grew cold.
He had originally thought his own reputation would make the other party show some consideration. But now…
"Don't call me 'Senior' either."
"In my cultivation journey, I've lived for a mere six thousand years at most, and I've never been to any Immortal Realm. Heh heh, speaking of which, you, a Governing Immortal Minister, must have lived for quite a few years, right? I should be the one calling you Senior!"
Li Fan grinned sinisterly and suddenly intensified the suppression.
"You just stay in this pillar and guard my home for me!"
"To reach such power in just six thousand years? How is that possible?"
"But there does seem to be something strange. That person is indeed not a True Immortal. Could it be that in the years I was trapped, some new cultivation system has developed in this world?"
Situ Xing’s surprise and disbelief were instinctive.
But he felt the sealing power around him, which had been static, tightening again. He had no time to think carefully.
In his panic, he frantically searched his mind for possible ways to escape.
"He's not from the Immortal Realm. My past deeds will be useless against him…"
The surroundings began to blur.
The fierce and tyrannical figure was gradually obscured by the gathering Life Dao principles.
Situ Xing knew these were signs that the heavenly pillar was about to be completely sealed.
"A person from the lower realm…"
In a moment of extreme crisis, a figure suddenly flashed in Situ Xing's mind. After a moment of hesitation, he decided to try anything, using his remaining strength to call out, "Senior, please wait! I am Xing Wuque, once one of the twelve Law Kings of the Heavenly Mysteries Sect!"
It was merely a desperate gamble, and he didn't believe the title of these Twelve Law Kings would be of any use. But what Situ Xing didn't expect was that after hearing his words, the restraining power actually lessened!
"Twelve Law Kings, Xing Wuque?"
"Those twelve people around Xuanyuan Hong?" Li Fan asked suspiciously, sizing him up.
The name Xuanyuan Hong seemed to trigger some ancient memories in Situ Xing, causing him to momentarily freeze.
But at this critical juncture of life and death, he couldn't afford to think further and hastily replied, "Exactly, exactly."
"Back then, did Xuanyuan Hong favor Luo Yichen, or Ji Yuzhen, or perhaps Madam Nie?" Li Fan asked with a strange tone and a playful expression.
Situ Xing, or rather Xing Wuque, froze on the spot.
"Hmm?"
"...Uh, none of them! Although they all harbored feelings for him, according to my observations, Xuanyuan Hong had long since had someone else in his heart. That's why he always maintained a distance from them." The other party seemed about to re-suppress him into the heavenly pillar if he didn't answer correctly. Situ Xing’s heart pounded, and he quickly responded.
"Hahahaha, you observed quite closely. Xuanyuan Hong did have a childhood sweetheart, and she was also an extraordinary figure…" Li Fan trailed off, leaving endless possibilities for the other party. Then, he slightly loosened the suppression on Situ Xing.
The towering mountain suspended above his head was temporarily removed. Situ Xing couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
He attempted to probe for more information: "Senior, you know Xuanyuan Hong?"
"Indeed. Back then, he saved my life from the Dao Erasure. However, he disappeared afterward. I’ve always wanted to find an opportunity to repay him, but we never met again." Li Fan replied.
"That does sound like something Xuanyuan Hong would do," Situ Xing secretly nodded.
"Speaking of which, you were by Xuanyuan Hong's side, so how did you end up like this?"
Hearing the other party's question, Situ Xing gave a bitter smile. "This… it's a long story."
"Then tell me slowly. I haven't had a proper conversation with anyone in a long time. Under the Dao Erasure Tribulation, life withered. There isn't even a fellow Daoist to communicate with!" Li Fan clapped Situ Xing on the shoulder, completely removed the suppressive force, and said solemnly.
✿✿￠Ο Although temporarily relieved, Situ Xing dared not act rashly as he glanced at the two heavenly pillars around him.
He studied Li Fan, weaving words in his mind to explain everything.
"From the meaning in the other party's words, Xuanyuan Hong now seems to have extremely high cultivation, at least definitely not below this person. But this is also expected."
After a long while, Situ Xing finally spoke, "To tell Senior, I was not speaking in vain just now. My main body is indeed the Governing Immortal Minister of the Arid Nebula Star Domain, Situ Xing. I suppressed a star domain of the Immortal Realm in the nameless state. However..."
Li Fan waved his hand, interrupting him. "I know that. You people went down to the lower realms one after another, searching for opportunities for some 'supreme treasure,' right? That's not important, get to the point!"
Situ Xing was stunned, opened his mouth, but found his mind blank.
"What? You are allowed to go to the lower realms, but couldn't Xuanyuan Hong do the same? Facing the great tribulation, everyone displays their own divine abilities. Did you not consider that the reason you all followed him willingly and were utterly captivated by him couldn't be that he was an ordinary person?" Li Fan scoffed dismissively.
Situ Xing's expression changed repeatedly.
"Indeed. Indeed." He suddenly became somewhat dazed, muttering the words repeatedly.
"Back then, most of us should have had our spiritual perceptions obscured. However, during the tens of thousands of years I was trapped in the "Form of Living Beings," as my main body's consciousness gradually recovered, I vaguely suspected that Xuanyuan Hong was unusual."
"But he acted so much like an ordinary mortal..."
"How could a mere mortal make us, all True Immortals who descended from the upper realm, willingly follow him back then."
Situ Xing’s words were filled with deep confusion.
"Exactly. That's what I thought too."
"I even questioned him, and he stubbornly refused to admit it. Back then," Li Fan said with a smile.
"Uh… was that also your guess, Senior?" Situ Xing was utterly bewildered and suddenly looked up at Li Fan.
"What? Was my guess wrong?" Li Fan's gaze turned cold, meeting Situ Xing's.
The gaze only lasted for a moment before Situ Xing, jolted awake by the bone-chilling indifference in the other party’s eyes, hastily averted his gaze.
"It makes sense. It makes a lot of sense."
"Because that supreme treasure must have spiritual sentience. If you wait with a specific purpose, you'll likely be futile. Therefore, we all chose to seal our spiritual perceptions and rely purely on personal luck to await it. As the saying goes, 'each according to their own ability.' This also avoided conflict from the Immortal Realm above." Situ Xing continued.
"Those who can achieve True Immortal status possess extraordinary talent and disposition. Even if they walk the mortal world again, they will undoubtedly be outstanding individuals. However, it seems that our luck wasn't quite enough. Firstly, the Dao Erasure Tribulation arrived too quickly. The Immortal Realm collapsed at a speed beyond our imagination, preventing us from returning to the Immortal Realm in time…"
"We were in different locations in the upper realm. When the Ascension passage of the Xuanhuang Realm was destroyed, some were still safe. Others had already suffered great misfortune to their main bodies. Some had their main body consciousness beginning to awaken, but we all maintained a tacit and subtle balance among ourselves."
"It was all because of Xuanyuan Hong's peculiarities," Situ Xing explained slowly.
"You suspect that that supreme treasure fell into Xuanyuan Hong's hands?" Li Fan suddenly interjected with a smile.
Situ Xing was silent for a moment, then nodded slightly.
"Otherwise, it's truly difficult to explain his meteoric rise, and how his brilliance overshadowed all True Immortals of the same generation who descended to the lower realm."
"You must know, Xuanyuan Hong's aptitude was truly not high, yet he just happened to be one step ahead of everyone else at every turn. Situ Xing's tone was somewhat bewildered."
"But before they could confirm it, no one dared to make a direct move. Moreover, Xuanyuan Hong's true identity was unknown, so they could only wait patiently for the opportunity, never expecting…"
"One day, he suddenly disappeared and never reappeared," Li Fan finished Situ Xing's thought.
Situ Xing continued to nod.
"He disappeared too quickly, too suddenly. And at the last moment, he even issued a warning to us…"
"It was truly difficult to discern the truth. We couldn't tell if he was using it as an opportunity to escape or if he had truly met with misfortune."
"This led to a split among us. Some chose to follow his traces and continue investigating, while others believed their luck was insufficient and gave up from then on…"
Li Fan shook his head slightly. "No wonder the once grand Heavenly Mysteries Sect vanished in an instant after the Heavenly Mysteries King’s departure."
Situng Xing offered a wry smile. "As the saying goes, two tigers cannot share one mountain. It was already an unbelievable feat for so many nameless beings to congregate in one realm. To have our group, back then, revolve around a single individual, calling each other brothers, and yet maintain stable relationships – that was truly astounding…"
He paused, then continued, his gaze fixed on Li Fan's intrigued expression. "Especially Luo Yichen and Ji Yuzhen, those two women. They were mortal enemies even in the Upper Realm."
Situng Xing elaborated, "In the Immortal Realm, Luo Yichen is known as the 'Clear Stream Divine Mother.' Her methods resemble those from her time in the Xuanhuang Realm before she met Xuanyuan Hong. She enjoys keeping male consorts, and not exclusively male ones. Vast star domains have become her devoted followers."
"As for Ji Yuzhen, her name in the Upper Realm was also Ji Yuzhen. Legend has it that she was born and raised in the Clear Stream Star Domain, deeply influenced from childhood by its unique atmosphere of devotion, and she believed in it wholeheartedly. However, by chance, she managed to leave the Clear Stream Star Domain one day and arrived in a star domain governed by normal immortal administrations. The stark contrast twisted her mindset, turning her reverence into hatred…"
Situng Xing hesitated for a moment before adding, "My memories as my true self in the Upper Realm are somewhat fragmented. What I heard might not be entirely true. However, it’s absolutely certain that there was an unknown conflict between them. At the time, we were puzzled, wondering why these two seemed to harbor such immense animosity from the very beginning."
"Later, Ji Yuzhen awakened her true self first and directly attacked, intending to kill Luo Yichen. Fortunately, Xuanyuan Hong intervened in time and stopped her."
"I still remember the look in Ji Yuzhen's eyes. Heh heh…" Situng Xing clicked his tongue.
"I must say, Xuanyuan Hong was quite capable. Not only did he maintain a balance between the two women when he was present, but after he disappeared, Ji Yuzhen and Luo Yichen actually coexisted peacefully for a while. It was only when they disagreed on how to handle matters concerning Xuanyuan Hong that their relationship gradually deteriorated."
"Luo Yichen believed she was ultimately destined to be apart from that treasure, and with the Clear Stream Star Domain teetering on the brink of ruin, even though it hadn't been directly affected by the Dao Erasure, she chose to return to the Immortal Realm to escape. Ji Yuzhen, on the other hand, pursued the clues Xuanyuan Hong left behind. She was convinced that Xuanyuan Hong wouldn't abandon her like that."
Situng Xing offered another bitter smile. "Ji Yuzhen's stubborn personality in the Upper Realm was quite notorious."
Li Fan recalled the swirling myriad souls of Ji Yuzhen in the ring mountain of Dongyong Continent. He subtly raised an eyebrow. "Didn't Ji Yuzhen die?"
With a wave of his hand, he displayed the current situation in Dongyong Continent of the Xuanhuang Realm to Situng Xing.
Situng Xing was initially startled by Li Fan's words. However, after observing for a while, he shook his head slightly. "Ji Yuzhen's cultivation method ensured she wouldn't perish so easily. These billions of soul fragments, including the original soul hidden in the center, are almost entirely filled with memories related to Xuanyuan Hong. She likely discarded them intentionally."
"That Dongyong Continent, precisely where Xuanyuan Hong returned after his ascension to find and meet her. It was probably intended to sever all her lingering affections for Xuanyuan Hong."
As expected of a former Nameless True Immortal, Situng Xing discerned the true nature of those billions of soul fragments from the indirect visions Li Fan displayed.
"No wonder all the scenes I saw within the memories of these soul fragments contained Xuanyuan Hong."
Li Fan's belief in Situng Xing's assessment grew.
"Back then, among you Twelve Law Kings, how many truly died, and how many deliberately disappeared?"
Situng Xing felt that this senior in front of him seemed overly interested in the past affairs of the Heavenly Mysteries Sect.
"Could it be that he encountered one of us Twelve later?"
Despite this thought, intimidated by the presence of the two Heavenly Pillars beside him, Situng Xing dutifully replied, "Uh, Sikong Lin is likely truly dead. Affected by the Dao Erasure calamity of the Immortal Realm, his main body was annihilated, and his clones suffered severe injuries. The damage was too profound, leaving no hope for recovery. Zhou Yangli and Cui Zhiyuan's main bodies were also definitely affected, but whether they escaped is uncertain."
"As for the others…"
"That's beyond my speculation."
Li Fan pointed towards the underground underground river in the Abyssal Sea. "What about you? How did you end up in such a predicament?"
Situng Xing responded with some embarrassment, "My true self's consciousness awakened the latest. Until Xuanyuan Hong vanished, I hadn't fully regained my original awareness. At the time, I couldn't comprehend certain events happening among us. I still followed Xuanyuan Hong's orders, carving the 'Form of Living Beings' beneath the sea of stars. And I rarely interacted with others, so even if they awakened their true consciousness, they weren't sure of my true identity. They weren't even sure if I was a True Immortal from the Lower Realm…"
"After working beneath the Abyssal Sea for a short while, my main body tragically perished, and I was affected. It's already fortunate that I could barely maintain my divine sense from scattering," Situng Xing sighed.
"If that's the case, then this clone of yours can be considered quite loyal," Li Fan remarked, scrutinizing him.
"Well, it's not entirely as Senior believes. In reality, I was drawn to the underground living stream by the benefits of creating the 'Form of Living Beings,' which is why I was willing to stay there," Situng Xing confessed with a smile, not hiding anything.
"Benefits?"
"After the Immortal Realm was destroyed, our True Immortal energy, which was infinite in nature, was affected to varying degrees. Some, who were lucky, might still possess infinite immortal energy. But others lost their connection to the Infinite Sea. I was among the latter."
Situng Xing sighed and continued, "By outlining and shaping this star sea through the 'Form of Living Beings' and simultaneously helping it recover, I could regain contact with the Infinite Sea through the Lower Realm's permission channels. At that time, even though the Immortal Realm was destroyed, I was still a True Immortal. Even if my main body met with misfortune, I wouldn't be significantly affected."
"Alas, things didn't go as planned."
"The Infinite Sea is the prime culprit that attracts the Dao Erasure. Even after the Immortal Realm's demise, you are still infatuated with it!" Li Fan interrupted Situng Xing, his expression growing cold.
Situng Xing was taken aback, finally seeming to understand why Li Fan lacked immortal energy.
He pondered for a moment, then cautiously explained, "It wasn't the Infinite Sea that caused the Dao Erasure. Rather, it was the failure to withstand the Infinite Sea that led to the Dao Erasure. We True Immortals connected to the Infinite Sea through the power of 'Lian Shan' – as the saying goes, 'mountains and seas are connected.' And whether we used the infinite immortal energy or not, it wouldn't impact the overall trend of the Dao Erasure tide."
"I speculate that the Immortal Realm's destruction, and Emperor Tianluo's obstinate actions, bear the vast majority of the responsibility."
Situng Xing's explanation fell into a blind spot in Li Fan's knowledge. Unable to ascertain its truthfulness, he didn't directly refute it. Instead, he asked, "I've also heard that Emperor Tianluo engaged in some frantic actions before the Immortal Realm was destroyed. What exactly was he trying to do?"
Upon mentioning Emperor Tianluo, Situng Xing's expression turned peculiar, remarkably similar to when he recalled Xuanyuan Hong.
"Emperor Tianluo intended to completely resolve the threat of the Dao Erasure calamity. And his method…"
"Was a plan for the entire Immortal Realm to ascend once more. If successful, it would transcend the mountains and seas, rendering us impervious to the ebb and flow of the tides."
"Hmm?" Li Fan's expression also shifted, becoming subtle.
"Either that Emperor Tianluo was an absolute madman, or he had some trump card. I once heard that Emperor Tianluo wasn't lacking in followers back then…" He stared at Situng Xing, seeking an answer.
"Theoretically speaking, Emperor Tianluo's plan did have a certain degree of feasibility. Otherwise, I wouldn't have chosen to follow him back then. It's just that, looking at the result, he ultimately seemed to have failed."
"However, the specific reasons for its feasibility, concerning the Immortal Realm's ascension plan, are top-secret. I didn't receive synchronized information. And that secret was perhaps completely buried along with the Immortal Realm's destruction," a trace of regret flickered in Situng Xing's eyes.
In the space of the Heavenly Pillars, an eerie silence descended.
"Immortal Realm ascension…"
Li Fan savored these words in his mind. It was indeed too audacious. No wonder Qing Yin and the True Immortal surnamed Ling, stationed in the experimental field space, had deemed Emperor Tianluo insane upon learning of this plan and ultimately decided to flee. The power of Immortals originated from the mountains and seas, yet Emperor Tianluo intended to transcend them with the power of a single realm. Even if he had some backing, it seemed far too fanciful. But to hold the position of the Immortal Realm's governing Emperor, Tianluo was undoubtedly no ordinary person. He must have weighed his options before making this decision, and at the very least, in his view, there was a significant chance of success.
"Even 'Return to Truth' may not surpass the mountains and seas. At that time, the Immortal Realm was still trembling under the onslaught of the Dao Erasure tide. On what grounds did Emperor Tianluo think he could accomplish this?" Li Fan's curiosity surged infinitely. However, this question was destined to have no immediate answer.
"You say that the Infinite Immortal Energy wasn't the primary cause of the Dao Erasure. Then, do you believe that all the Immortals in the heavens are blameless for the occurrence of the Dao Erasure calamity?" After contemplating for a while, Li Fan steered the conversation back. Li Fan's stance was clear.
Casting another glance at the Heavenly Pillars beside him, Situng Xing hesitated to speak, unable to answer the question for a long time. Finally, he stammered, "Not just me. Most True Immortals probably think so, and the facts suggest the same. Regardless of whether we used infinite immortal energy or not, the Infinite Sea was always there. And the fusion of mountains and seas is the general trend. If anyone is truly to blame…"
"Perhaps, from the very beginning, the birth of Immortals was a mistake."
"Ever since Immortals were born by borrowing the power of 'Lian Shan,' the approach of the Infinite Sea was a matter of time." Situng Xing held some principles. Facing Li Fan's stern gaze, he did not change his words. He stated frankly, "You nameless True Immortals, who attained the Dao and departed. Do you truly bear no responsibility?" Li Fan suddenly raised his voice.
With a wave of his hand, five spectral figures of the Mound Guardian appeared, surrounding Situng Xing. "Not to mention becoming pillars… Like the Mound Guardian, leaving behind echoing Dao phantoms, couldn't you have done that?" The title of Mound Guardian was indeed extraordinary. Seeing the spectral figures suddenly appear around him, Situng Xing seemed struck by lightning. His body trembled uncontrollably.
After calming down, he bowed respectfully to the spectral figures. Then, he pondered again and said, "This issue was discussed in the Immortal Realm long ago."
"The trend of fusion between mountains and seas cannot be reversed by the persistence of one or two paths. In fact, whether there's one more path or one less path supporting it, it has no impact in the grand timescale. Just like the sanctuary you've built here with two Heavenly Pillars, it seems safe for now. But in reality…"
"Destruction is inevitable, eventually."
"Perhaps it can be delayed for some time, but ultimately it's futile."
"We cannot negate the path of True Immortal advancement because of this. Moreover, if we who attained the nameless state, achieved minor transcendence, or even true transcendence, leaping above the mountains and seas, perhaps we could truly find a way to stop the fusion of mountains and seas." Situng Xing spoke righteously, his words accelerating. His eyes were resolute, as if this was his deepest conviction.
"Hmph. Placing hope on a vague, ethereal future."
"Now that the Immortal Realm has been destroyed and the number of transcended True Immortals is beyond counting, have you found a method to save the world?" Li Fan retorted. To this question, Situng Xing could only remain silent.
After a long while, he finally spoke, "Perhaps, on the other side of the Infinite Sea, there is a world that has already found a solution."
"Transcended True Immortals from all realms continuously cross over to the other shore, gathering in that grand world. With collective effort, a method to save the world should be found. This was a tacit understanding among countless nameless True Immortals at that time."
"Lingering on one world, as Emperor Tianluo demonstrated, is ultimately futile."
"You haven't embarked on the path of proving the Dao, so it's natural that you wouldn't understand these matters," Situng Xing argued convincingly, but Li Fan's heart remained unmoved. The cold countdown numbers of the 'Return to Truth' were steadily decreasing, speaking of the mortal world's ultimate fate.
"Perhaps he's not wrong."
"The fusion of mountains and seas is the true general trend of the mortal world."
"In the face of mountains and seas, the impact of even one possible path is negligible, let alone nameless True Immortals who only prove a single Dao."
"No matter what they do, or whether they leave behind methods to carry on the Dao, at most, it will only delay the arrival of the Dao Erasure calamity for a short period."
"It cannot alter the ultimate outcome of destruction." Li Fan suddenly thought of Evil Su Bai, Black Heavenly Physician, and Mound Guardian, who, despite having the ability to easily resist the Dao Erasure calamity, still departed leisurely.
"A tacit understanding among nameless True Immortals?"
"Are they only concerned with their own power, or do they still hold onto this so-called tacit understanding in their hearts?"
"Does that grand world on the other shore, where countless transcends gather, truly exist?" Countless thoughts flashed through Li Fan's mind. However, no matter what he thought at that moment, he could not outwardly show any sign of being persuaded by Situng Xing.
"The lives that all beings in this world should have had, disappeared prematurely because of your excuses."
"How should this debt be settled?"
"Should they have died?" Li Fan waved his hand, and scenes of countless beings wailing in the apocalypse instantly appeared before Situng Xing.
Not only from Li Fan's own experiences over the years in his reincarnations, but also from the insights gained from Evil Su Bai, Return to Truth, and even the Infinite Sea.
Countless apocalyptic scenes, utterly devastating and horrifying, flashed before Situ Xing's eyes in an instant.
Even having once been a Nameless True Immortal, after witnessing these sights, which were infinitely more terrifying than hell, his expression still shifted slightly.
Situ Xing did not shy away, taking in all these visions. After a moment of silence, he finally spoke with some difficulty.
His stance remained unchanged: "All sentient beings perish in the annihilation of the Dao; this is the fate of all beings under the immutable grand trend. As the saying goes, they are born with the Dao and perish with the Dao. No one in this world is inherently responsible for the life and death of others. Moreover, in the eyes of us True Immortals, these..."
"The vast majority are not even considered sentient beings."
Situ Xing's voice was initially faint, but it grew firmer with each word.
Li Fan scoffed, "All this righteous talk boils down to one thing: the weak have no right to survive. So today, you are the fish and I am the knife. You are sealed as a Heavenly Pillar, what do you have to say for yourself?"
Situ Xing opened his mouth but offered no contradictory remarks. "The strong prey on the weak; I have nothing to say. Being sealed into the Heavenly Pillar is because my skills were inferior, a tribulation of my own making."
"I only advise Senior that these three or two Heavenly Pillars can only buy temporary safety for a single time and place. To truly seek salvation, one must head to that 'Other Shore Great World'. With your Senior's strength, it should not be a problem..."
Situ Xing tried to speak further but suddenly felt the surrounding Great Dao constrict him once more with immense pressure.
This time, Li Fan gave him no more room for sophistry.
The Great Dao fused with his being, freezing and sealing his sight and thoughts.
Apart from the Primordial Bones and the Starving Immortal, another standing Heavenly Pillar appeared in this space.
However, as its foundation was merely a phantom of a Nameless Immortal, this third Heavenly Pillar was noticeably "slimmer" compared to the other two.
Furthermore, since it was not formed from true Great Dao, this "Heavenly Pillar" could not bear as much pressure from the Dao annihilation.
Li Fan still intended to seal Situ Xing.
It wasn't that he feared this ancient Dharma King or the Nameless from the Lower Realm. The primary objective was the same as with the Starving Immortal: to suppress them while slowly extracting memories from their minds.
In Li Fan's view, Situ Xing's value even surpassed that of the Starving Immortal. The Starving Immortal's early life in the Immortal Realm was merely that of an "inactive" immortal servant.
But Situ Xing had been the governing Immortal Minister of the Arid Nebula Star Domain. From the fragmented details he had previously revealed, Li Fan knew he must possess countless secrets of the Immortal Realm.
"Immortal Minister, the title suggests a ruler of the Immortal Domain. The Nameless Realm indeed has the qualifications to govern a region. Though Situ Xing himself claims that due to the impact of the Dao annihilation tribulation, his original body's memories in the Upper Realm are incomplete..."
"But whether that's true or not, I'll only know after I investigate."
If the Starving Immortal's inner being was like a diffuse glow, then Situ Xing's consciousness was like a brilliant pearl. Countless thoughts and memories were compressed to their most minuscule point, incredibly solid. For an outsider to probe, they would first need to crack open a fissure in this unified entity.
Li Fan, a master of manipulating hearts, observed carefully for a moment and discovered a weakness in Situ Xing's inner consciousness.
He sneered, "He talks so eloquently. Yet his own demise in the Dao annihilation has left him with a profound psychological shadow. If I can approach from this angle..."
Li Fan formed hand seals.
His clone, Li Buren, cooperated simultaneously.
In the Abyssal Sea, the spectral phantom of Mound Guardian, Primordial, and the Starving Immortal, all pillars supporting the Dao annihilation, began to withdraw their power.
It was as if they intended to let the newly appointed Situ Xing bear all the pressure alone.
When a great building collapses, it cannot be supported by a single beam. Much less the Dao annihilation that destroys worlds.
The sound of an approaching tidal wave, vast and immense, faintly echoed from beyond the heavens. Within the Abyssal Sea, which had just received the nourishment of an external star domain's relatively complete Great Dao, wisps of dark Qi of Dao annihilation suddenly emerged.
Sinister and terrifying, like specters.
The awakened Great Dao was thrown into chaos once more.
The beings within the star sea inexplicably felt a sense of impending doom. Although most were dormant in the Xuanhuang Realm's Land of Carefree Bliss, they instinctively furrowed their brows, their expressions uneasy.
The world was already in such a dire state, let alone Situ Xing, who was propping it up from "above."
Because he had truly experienced the horror of the Dao annihilation tribulation, upon facing it again, the formerly eloquent Nameless from the Lower Realm had his defenses broken within moments.
Under the impending doom, he no longer possessed the composure he had displayed just moments before.
He cried out in panic, howling instinctively.
He was no different from the beings in the apocalyptic visions Li Fan had presented.
"Nameless True Immortal. Nothing more."
Li Fan scoffed at Situ Xing, who was acting like a clown.
Situ Xing, as a Heavenly Pillar alone, could not hold on for much longer. Li Fan did not wish for the Dao annihilation to truly descend.
Seizing the opportunity of his broken defenses, Li Fan extended a wisp of his divine sense, following the crack in his mental defenses and entering within.
Though it couldn't compare to Return to Truth's thoughts, the overwhelming rush of past experiences instantly plunged Li Fan into a tempest.
However, having survived greater storms, Li Fan adapted for a while and was soon able to move with relative ease.
"It seems Situ Xing wasn't lying."
"This sea of consciousness is indeed incomplete."
Li Fan looked around and discovered that Situ Xing's thoughts were not presented in a continuous flow like a normal person's. Instead, at intervals, a void of pitch blackness lay before him.
From these voids, Li Fan sensed the aura of Dao annihilation.
And at this moment, these voids in his thoughts were echoing the actual Dao annihilation outside, slowly expanding outwards.
It was likely that one day, they would completely devour Situ Xing's mind and soul.
"Even if the clone escaped the Dao annihilation tribulation, its inner self is still being devoured. Not only is there a material blow, but also a spiritual one."
Li Fan carefully avoided these Dao annihilation voids and first looked at the closest and most conspicuous memory.
It was the most glorious moment of Situ Xing's life.
Even though his original body had perished, his clone firmly remembered it.
It was the moment Situ Xing proved himself as Nameless!
Unlike the solitary scene Li Fan had witnessed when the Starving Immortal proved himself, in Situ Xing's memory, countless other True Immortal figures stood around him, observing and congratulating him.
And in the distant horizon, many immortals surrounded a tall figure.
"Congratulations to Situ!"
Amidst the congratulations of the crowd, Situ Xing bowed deeply towards the tall figure in the distance.
"Bestowed the Arid Nebula Star Domain."
"Bestowed an Innate Dao Artifact."
"Bestowed a hundred thousand immortal servants."
...
Voices echoed.
Under everyone's gaze, Situ Xing's thoughts surged, his emotions stirred.
The Dao that Situ Xing proved was "Carving."
He used himself as a knife, capable of carving anything tangible or intangible in the world. Initially, he was inspired by the Dao-Carving Immortal's (Shang De Ming Dao Xian) method of carving the Dao, and combined it with his own greatest skill to achieve this unique Dao art. The reason for Situ Xing's grand ceremony of proving his Dao was because his creations through carving could serve as a lower-level substitute for carving the Dao itself.
The Four Sage Lords of the Immortal Realm were lofty beings. They had never opened the immortal path or connected the Infinite Spring. Although they had benefited countless immortals and achieved eternal merit, the vast majority of True Immortals in the Immortal Realm had not experienced the ancient, primordial era when there were no immortals in the world. The existence of the immortal path and the infinite nature of immortal power were, in their eyes, natural and commonplace. To them, the Four Sage Lords were merely symbols akin to deities.
However, the Dao-Carving Immortal was the most revered being among the True Immortals of the Immortal Realm. This was none other than the Dao-Carving Immortal's innate genius; he had observed and fully comprehended all three thousand Great Daos. Furthermore, he had carved and transformed the formless Daos he observed and comprehended, bestowing them upon the world.
The extensively written "Supreme Dao Book" (Tai Shang Dao Shu) detailed the ultimate principles of heaven and earth. It was said that nearly half of the Nameless True Immortals in the Immortal Realm were born after contemplating the "Supreme Dao Book."
Unfortunately, the Supreme Dao Book, which originally floated in the Boundless Starfield (Wu Ya Xing Yu) for all immortals to observe, was caught in the first large-scale Dao Erasure Tribulation (Dao Yan Jie) that erupted in the Immortal Realm. It was said that at the moment the tide of Dao Erasure descended, every character of the Supreme Dao Book erupted with infinite brilliance, forming a sky-connecting band of light that temporarily held back the Dao Erasure tribulation. This bought a brief window of time for the True Immortals observing and comprehending the Dao below to escape. However, as a mere Dao book, it was ultimately unable to withstand this terrifying tribulation. In the end, it was swallowed by Dao Erasure, along with the entire starfield. Only a few Great Dao symbols survived.
Situ Xing was fortunate enough to be born before the Supreme Dao Book disappeared. During his observation, he precisely determined his own Dao path: to become the second Dao-Carving Immortal! It was worth noting that although the Supreme Dao Book spanned across the Boundless Starfield and was visible to all immortals, the Immortal Realm, situated upon Mount Shang (Shang Fang Shan), was boundless. The Boundless domain alone was beyond the reach of immortal power to explore. The number of individuals with the ability, resolve, and fortune to truly travel to the Boundless Starfield and view the Dao Book was extremely scarce.
The Supreme Dao Book was like a movable sculpture built against a mountain. However, if someone could transfer the carvings and records of the Dao Book, enabling True Immortals in the world to glimpse its true appearance without arduous journeys, that would also be a tremendous act of merit! Situ Xing resolved to achieve this.
Although the Dao Book's guidance was lost, becoming the second Dao-Carving Immortal was fraught with peril and difficulty. Yet, Situ Xing possessed extraordinary talent and luck. After stumbling and toiling for half his life, he finally, as he wished, reached the Nameless realm.
Proving the Dao of "Carving" meant that the Dao-Carving Immortal had a successor, which naturally shocked the Immortal Realm. Numerous Nameless beings came to visit, marking the most glorious period of Situ Xing's life.
Alas... the act of carving the Dao was far more complex than he had imagined. Initially, he could still carve various Daos into tangible forms by relying on his memories of observing the Supreme Dao Book. But as time passed, Situ Xing gradually discovered that the success rate of his Dao carving was decreasing. After achieving the Nameless realm and his body became one with the Dao of carving, he naturally grew further apart from other Daos. To engrave further... he tried, failed, tried again, and failed again. Only when he ultimately gave up did Situ Xing truly recognize the strength of the Dao-Carving Immortal in the face of this cruel reality. The act of carving the Dao was not something an ordinary person could accomplish.
It was a pity that after leaving behind the Supreme Dao Book, the Dao-Carving Immortal vanished without a trace, making Situ Xing's desire to seek guidance on how to harmonize various Daos an impossibility.
Situ Xing was not someone to be easily defeated by setbacks. Although he could no longer directly carve Daos, he could still engrave his insights and the insights of other immortals. Even after a downgrade, he could still benefit the world. In a sense, Situ Xing's ambition to be the second Dao-Carving Immortal had been realized.
...
"Mount Shang?"
"Supreme Dao Book?"
Li Fan emerged from the brilliant vestiges of Situ Xing's consciousness. Even in its residual state, the memory was incredibly vivid. Especially with the added support of the Supreme Dao Book within the memory, Li Fan's wisp of divine sense was absolutely immersed, almost losing itself. Fortunately, due to the imminent approach of the Dao Erasure Tribulation, Situ Xing's thoughts surged, allowing Li Fan to regain consciousness in time.
He returned the power gathered by the other Heavenly Pillars and the Mound Guardian phantoms, and with their collective support, the Dao Erasure Tribulation gradually became intangible. However, Li Fan keenly sensed that compared to before, the pressure on each Heavenly Pillar seemed to have increased slightly.
"It seems this method of scaring people with the Dao Erasure Tribulation cannot be used too often. Each time it's used, it creates a flaw, hastening the arrival of the Dao Erasure Tribulation."
However, this was not within Li Fan's immediate concerns. At least in this life, before Li Fan Zhen, he could repeat this four or five times, which should be sufficient. Moreover, after enduring one "Dao Erasure scare," Situ Xing's sea of consciousness had been breached. It was no longer as condensed and flawless as before, and Li Fan could now peer into it with some effort, just as he had with the Starving Immortal (Ji Xian).
From the memories of Situ Xing, a Nameless True Immortal who had long proved his Dao, Li Fan indeed gained much valuable information.
"Human, ascends the mountain and becomes immortal."
"Sage Lord Lian Shan (Lian Shan Sheng Jun) was the first sage to ascend Mount Shang and find a path for all beings to climb."
"Mount Shang and the Infinite Sea (Wu Ya Hai). They should be beings of equivalent scale in the mortal world."
"The so-called immortals, although they occupied mountains to create the Immortal Realm, the destiny of mountains and seas merging led to the inevitable arrival of the Dao Erasure Tribulation."
Li Fan's consciousness had personally experienced the Infinite Sea and felt its boundlessness. Since mountains and seas are equal in status, they must be of comparable vastness. "The Immortal Realm, created by Mount Shang, is boundless, which is also infinity in a sense."
Compared to mountains and seas, True Immortals were like ants. Yet, ants ascended and trampled mountains and seas underfoot, creating a brilliant era. This almost gave Li Fan a surge of feeling that humans could conquer destiny.
Aside from the Four Sage Lords like Lian Shan and Gui Hai (Gui Hai), the Dao-Carving Immortal was also among those who seemed to defy mountains and seas. In Situ Xing's memory, the Supreme Dao Book, floating above the Boundless Starfield, was both awe-inspiring and venerable, as if it aimed to exhaust the principles of mountains and seas.
"The True Immortal Sigils I glimpsed before, including the 'Creation' (Zao Hua), seems to have originated from this Dao Book."
"Even just one or two characters are so profound and boundless. It's hard to imagine how magnificent the complete Dao Book would be."
Even in the lower realm, legends of the Dao-Carving Immortal circulated. Li Fan first learned of the Dao-Carving Immortal from Bai Hua (Bai Hua). The Dao-Carving Immortal's fame and profound influence on the Immortal Realm were evident. While the Four Sage Lords of the Immortal Realm, and even the Mound Guardian (Shou Qiu Gong), might possess greater strength, their widespread influence fell far short of his. This was determined by the nature of different Dao paths.
"The Dao-Carving Immortal has long since hidden himself, not appearing in the world. Perhaps he has already left the 'Primordial Possibility' (Yuan Shi Ke Neng Xing)."
"His method of carving three thousand Daos, allowing him to transcend, is understandable."
...
Thinking of this, a doubt arose in Li Fan's heart. Through his recent interactions with True Immortals, and even Nameless True Immortals, he had managed to vaguely understand the origin of the Immortal Realm and the cause behind the Dao Erasure Tribulation. However, an unavoidable question now appeared before Li Fan.
"The formation of the Immortal Realm originated from mountains and seas."
"But what is the connection between different possibilities and Mount Shang and the Infinite Sea?"
"From my previous inference of the theory of 'All Selves Unifying' (Zhu Wo Gui Yi), mountains and seas are clearly powerful beings of that level by nature. And working backward, it also indicates that even in infinite possibilities, there is only one Infinite Sea and one Mount Shang."
"Perhaps, coexisting within the same mountains and seas is the theoretical basis for leaping between different possibilities."
...
After pondering for a long time, Li Fan finally shook his head slightly. Without reaching that realm, no matter how much one fantasized, they could not understand the reasoning. But with the appearance of mountains and seas, it pointed Li Fan's Dao path, which had been shrouded in mist and halted at the Half-Immortal stage, in a direction.
"Setting aside transcending mountains and seas for now."
"Being between mountains and seas, to gain powerful strength, one inevitably has to borrow the power of mountains and seas."
"Lian Shan, Gui Hai. These are the titles of two Sage Lords, and they also expound the true meaning of the power of 'Immortals'."
"Originally, everything was in order. True Immortals trampled mountains and seas underfoot, creating a glorious era. But the problem now is..."
"The fusion of mountains and seas."
From Situ Xing's memory, it seemed the Immortal Realm was built upon the so-called Mount Shang. When mountains and seas merged, everything within the mountain fell into the deep sea. The Immortal Realm, along with everything else, naturally vanished.
Recalling the Dao Erasure Tribulation he had personally witnessed, Li Fan's heart suddenly stirred: "The Dao Erasure Tribulation is not as simple as the Immortal Realm being swallowed by the Infinite Sea."
"Instead, when mountains and seas merge, the mountain is no longer a mountain, and the sea is no longer a sea."
"Perhaps, it is a return to the state before mountains and seas existed..."
Sun Piao Miao's (Sun Piao Miao) parable from the past resurfaced in Li Fan's mind. The mountains and seas argued; the sea retorted to the mountain: "What is 'belonging naturally'? Is our infinite lifespan innate?"
Li Fan's mind conjured various scenes. "Situ Xing said that the fusion of mountains and seas is the general trend. But the key to solving all problems lies in why mountains and seas would merge."
Li Fan looked into the distance. It was the direction from which the Black Heavenly Physician (Hei Tian Yi) crossed possibilities and rushed in headlong.
"Perhaps, in that 'Other Shore Great World' (Bi An Da Shi) that exists, lies the true answer to this question."
"Heavenly Physician, Su Bai, Dao-Carving, Mound Guardian..."
"Whether it's those I've encountered personally or only heard of in historical legends, they might all converge there."
Faces flashed one by one in Li Fan's mind. He took a deep breath to calm his agitated emotions. Frankly speaking, Li Fan's strength was still far from theirs. But with the 'Reflection' (Huan Zhen) treasure in his possession, reaching their level one day was a certainty.
"The key is, how to get there."
"Currently, my idea of using Ink Slaughter (Mo Sha) to devour and derive three thousand Daos, and then merge them into one, remains the most suitable for me."
"Especially after knowing the existence of the Supreme Dao Book."
"It's a pity that the Supreme Dao Book was long ago swallowed by Dao Erasure. Any remnants are just a few characters. Otherwise, if I could just devour the Dao Book, I could probably leap to the Transcendent realm instantly." Thinking of this, Li Fan couldn't help but feel a sense of regret. A perfect shortcut was no longer available.
But then he thought, although the true Dao Book had disappeared, there might still be some True Immortals in the history of the Immortal Realm who had seen it and were still alive.
"Those who could survive the great tribulation of the Immortal Realm must be strong. It's highly probable that they visited the Boundless Starfield and saw the Dao Book back then. Such True Immortals, like Situ Xing, are powerful supplements for me!"
"It would at least save me hundreds or thousands of years of painstaking contemplation!"
A sharp glint flashed in Li Fan's eyes. The 'Myriad Phenomena of Dao Erasure' (Dao Yan Wan Xiang) he envisioned, if he were to comprehend it solely through his own efforts... considering Li Fan's almost infinite Spirit Qi, he might achieve it through prolonged, endless cycles of reincarnation. But the efficiency would be too low. How could it be as convenient as asking immortals directly? Just as in this life, after successively devouring the Starving Immortal and the Grand Master (Da Fa Shi), he could already initially weave a network of Dao Erasure Myriad Phenomena. And now, by absorbing the memories from Situ Xing's mind, this network would instantly expand several times over.
"The theoretical limit for a Nameless True Immortal in a single possibility is to become one with the Dao. The next step is to devour their counterparts from other possibilities."
"And I, with each manifestation of Ink Slaughter, can reach the realm of a Nameless True Immortal. In a single possibility alone, as the three thousand Daos return to me, I could grow to a level comparable to Evil Su Bai (Xie Su Bai) and Black Heavenly Physician (Hei Tian Yi)."
"Not to mention..." Li Fan's eyes narrowed. "The limit of each Ink Slaughter Dao manifestation is those powerful beings of 'All Selves Unifying'."
"What Evil Heavenly Physician, Black Su Bai..."
"They are all mere dishes on my plate."
With a cold snort, wisps of Ink Slaughter's dark energy enveloped the Heavenly Pillar formed by Situ Xing, extracting the resources Li Fan needed for his cultivation.
In the Abyssal Sea (Zhi An Xing Hai), the hidden worries were gone. Li Fan could finally cultivate with peace of mind and digest his recent gains. With a flicker of thought, his formless The Dao Lattice instantly enshrouded the entire Abyssal Sea. It analyzed and deconstructed all the manifesting Daos within the star sea.
The "path" leading outside the High Wall (Gao Qiang) was reopened, continuously absorbing the more refined Dao paths from the Star Sea of the North (Shuo Xing Hai).
A single Dao path in the world, even for those with exceptional talent, might remain uncomprehended throughout their lifetime. Li Fan's goal of simultaneously comprehending three thousand Great Daos would naturally be extremely slow. He had prepared for this. Therefore, he did not seek perfection, but only to establish a general "framework." Even if these were mere shallow outlines, fragile and unable to exert any effect now, they would suffice in the future with immortal essence to fill them.
"First, seal the Godly Roll... Then, slaughter all immortals in the world."
As Li Fan's thoughts drifted, the nascent form of Ink Slaughter's Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice gradually appeared. The three Heavenly Pillars, along with the five Mound Guardian phantoms, were all obscured by the increasingly dense The Dao Lattice.
Time flowed. When Li Fan's slumbering consciousness reawakened, a hundred years had passed. It wasn't the arrival of the Dao Erasure Tribulation that disturbed Li Fan, but rather that he actively woke up upon sensing someone's return.
The returned individual was none other than the manifestation of Emperor San Mo's (Di San Mo) power of Carefree Dream Land of Bliss (Wu You Meng Jing Le Tu). Previously, Emperor San Mo had volunteered to go find Wan Shi Yong (Wan Shi Yong). Unexpectedly, he never returned. Li Fan had also asked Emperor San Mo's true self, but Emperor San Mo had lost all sense of his dream manifestation. He only knew that all connection was severed when he entered the star field where Wan Shi Yong resided. He initially thought Emperor San Mo's dream manifestation would never return, but unexpectedly, a hundred years later, he returned in a hurry.
Not only the dream manifestation. Emperor San Mo's true self, upon finally sensing the experiences of his dream manifestation over the years, also suddenly changed his expression. Without hesitation, he sought an audience with Li Fan. The reason for making this wise beast, who had lived for an unknown duration, so moved...
"You're saying you went with Wan Shi Yong to another possibility?" Li Fan's manifested form asked grimly, looking at Emperor San Mo, who had merged his two bodies.
"That's right. I didn't stay long in that possibility. After understanding the general situation, I returned quickly. I didn't expect that a hundred years would have passed here. Although Ku Ying (Ku Ying) had already told me in advance that such an accident might occur, suddenly realizing a hundred years had passed still made me a bit flustered..." Emperor San Mo's tone was filled with emotion.
"Another possibility... what was the situation like?" Li Fan asked thoughtfully.
"The thirteen Primordial Dao Forms (Tai Gu Shi San Dao Xing) all existed. It was the golden age of my clan," Emperor San Mo replied slowly.
"Oh?" Li Fan's eyebrows twitched as he stared intently at Emperor San Mo, trying to discern the truth in his words. "Isn't that the place you've always dreamed of? Why did you return? To bring back your true self?"
"Don't worry, I won't stop you," Li Fan said calmly.
Emperor San Mo shook his head. "Senior has misunderstood. In that timeline, because there was no slaughter of nameless beings by humans, my clan has continued to multiply until now. Although various internal conflicts and battles have occurred, our clan has always maintained a prosperous state. However..."
"The Dao Erasure Tribulation still occurred."
"And it came too quickly." Emperor San Mo's tone revealed deep-seated alarm. "The thirteen Dao Forms struggled desperately, but it seems they may still be unable to escape the fate of destruction. There isn't much time left for my clan."
"So?"
"You want to bring your clansmen here?" Li Fan vaguely guessed Emperor San Mo's intentions.
Emperor San Mo nodded. "Indeed, I have this idea."
"Our current world, although also suffering from Dao Erasure, is relatively stable in the lower star sea compared to that place. At the very least, there's still a long period of safety. If we could reorganize things here..."
Li Fan smiled. "If you could have achieved the leap on your own, you probably wouldn't have come back to find me."
Emperor San Mo did not deny it and stated frankly, "I require Senior's assistance."
"For some reason, that possibility did not have the Xuanhuang Realm (Xuan Huang Jie), so..."
"Without the Xuanhuang Realm, there is no 'Ancient Primordial Source'," stated Emperor San Mo calmly. His ancient eyes, filled with infinite wisdom, were fixed on Li Fan. "Without the Ancient Primordial Source, our clan cannot traverse possibilities and can only wait in despair to die as the Dao Erasure approaches."
"That's not necessarily true," Li Fan replied casually. He slowly raised the index finger of his right hand, blocking Emperor San Mo's view. "I recall you mentioning your clan possessed a method of 'Furnace Unification.' Since you can traverse possibilities, surely the fused entity after the myriad beasts unify can do the same. Why seek help from others?"
A small ball of bronze-colored energy suddenly appeared on his fingertip. This was the 'Ancient Primordial Source' that Emperor San Mo had been desperately seeking! Emperor San Mo's pupils contracted. Before he could speak, the bronze sphere shattered like a bubble and vanished.
Knowing Li Fan had done it intentionally, Emperor San Mo took a deep breath and revealed the truth. "It's not that we don't want to, it's that we truly cannot."
"The method of traversing possibilities that I and Ku Ying used has severe limitations..."
Li Fan remained silent, watching Emperor San Mo with a steady gaze. Emperor San Mo's face was filled with helplessness. "After Wan Shi Yong died, Ku Ying assumed his identity and went beyond the The Great Barrier. Over the years, he experienced many things and joined the 'Immortal Hunters'."
"This is the most powerful force in the Star Sea beyond the The Great Barrier. Their cultivators wield a treasure called the 'World Traversing Profound Coffin.' The members of the Immortal Hunters seem unaware of its origin, believing it to be a replica. However, Ku Ying can sense the fluctuations of our clan, originating from another possibility, from this Profound Coffin."
"Perhaps it's because our clan has traversed too many possibilities, making us more sensitive than ordinary beings..." Emperor San Mo was explaining when Li Fan suddenly waved his hand. "Is it this?"
A profound coffin appeared before Emperor San Mo. He was initially stunned, but upon recognizing it, his expression drastically changed. This was the same coffin that Li Bu Ren had confiscated from Wu Xian and Qian Ruo Chang, who were inhabiting it.
The Star Sea, it seemed, had been keeping the existence of "Hidden Emperor" Li Fan a secret. Despite having "Wan Shi Yong" as an inside informant, Emperor San Mo was unaware of the dramatic changes that had occurred in the Star Sea over the past century, changes that were deeply connected to the "senior" before him.
"This World Traversing Profound Coffin was crafted from the remains of human transcendents who achieved ultimate detachment, thus enabling it to traverse to the other shore. However, it requires a specific secret art to function. You, of course, would not know this secret art, yet you were able to utilize its full potential and complete the traversal... You indeed possess some skill," Li Fan commented indifferently. He casually put away the World Traversing Profound Coffin, preventing Emperor San Mo from examining it too closely.
Though this Profound Coffin was genuine, Li Fan had severed its spiritual essence, rendering it incapable of traversing possibilities. At first glance, it might have fooled Emperor San Mo, but if left for too long, he might have discovered its flaws. The appearance of the Profound Coffin further testified to Li Fan's unfathomable power.
Emperor San Mo's resolve grew firmer. "Senior previously displayed immense power when saving me. With your abilities..."
"Indeed. I can help your clan traverse. But on what grounds? As the saying goes, 'those not of our kind have different hearts.' In this era where the thirteen Primordial Dao Forms exist... If I help you complete the traversal, wouldn't that be inviting a wolf into the house?" Li Fan interrupted Emperor San Mo.
Emperor San Mo, having come to persuade Li Fan, had prepared his arguments beforehand. "Senior's concerns are understandable. However, please rest assured. In the possibility we currently inhabit, there is an item called the 'Myriad Beasts Rotation Wheel'!"
"This rotation wheel is, in fact, the original Myriad Beasts Furnace. It has witnessed the entire process of our clan's life evolving from myriad to one, and then from one back to myriad. Therefore, it possesses a certain authority that transcends our life form..." As he spoke, Emperor San Mo's long eyebrows and hair began to move as if by an unseen force, fluttering in the air. His beard and hair intertwined, forming a circle, from which a phantom rotation wheel materialized.
Li Fan seemed to see myriad exotic beasts of different species roaring in competition within the phantom image. "Our clan is controlled by this rotation wheel, even those thirteen Primordial Dao Forms..."
"Except for the five Dao Forms that perished at the hands of the human Nameless True Immortal, the remaining eight are also subject to this rotation wheel. 'Bo Fu Zhu,' who unified with the myriad clans, was most deeply influenced by the furnace, so needless to say. The Primordial Dao Forms like 'Que Chen Xi' and 'Ji Liang Shou,' in helping the clan traverse possibilities repeatedly and nearing extinction, poured a part of themselves into the furnace. Although it wasn't the Primordial Dao Forms of that glorious era who did this, strictly speaking, there is no real difference between them."
"With this rotation wheel, your worries will be resolved," Emperor San Mo explained with a composed expression. The phantom image of the rotation wheel gradually solidified, transforming into a tangible object that Emperor San Mo presented to Li Fan. Li Fan gazed at the patterns on the rotation wheel, truly feeling the majestic energy of a myriad of beasts in motion. During his previous reincarnation, he had encountered the Myriad Beasts Rotation Wheel, specifically the one from the Beast Taming Sect's lineage. Compared to the one Emperor San Mo personally offered, it was vastly inferior.
After careful examination, Li Fan found that Emperor San Mo had not lied. Holding the rotation wheel, visions of the entire process of the birth of beast clans, from nothingness to existence, appeared before him. Even Emperor San Mo and Emperor Yi were among them. The mysteries of the demonic beasts' lives were now an open book to Li Fan, easily within his grasp.
"Heh heh heh. Emperor San, are they aware of your offering of the Myriad Beasts Rotation Wheel?" Li Fan asked, appraising the wise beast with a playful glint in his eyes.
Emperor San Mo lowered his head and replied calmly, "Naturally, they are unaware. In fact, they don't even know that the 'Myriad Beasts Rotation Wheel' exists in this world."
"Then won't you bear the eternal infamy of being a 'beast traitor'?"
"Heh, I've already borne that title for tens of thousands of years. Another go won't make much of a difference," Emperor San Mo said, seemingly unperturbed. He looked at Li Fan with sincere eyes. "Compared to the continuation of our clan, everything else is insignificant."
Li Fan pondered, unable to fully grasp the true intentions of this wise beast. However, regardless of his motives, Li Fan was not about to give up on the "feast" of the thirteen Primordial Dao Forms.
"With the current strength of my clone, Li Bu Ren, I can probably only contend with one Primordial Dao Form. But this is under normal circumstances. If I were to unseal the full power of the Mound Guardian's phantom..."
"Even if it further exacerbates the crisis of the Abyssal Star Sea's Dao Erasure, it would be worth it if it means I can feast on the thirteen Great Daos."
"Whether this Myriad Beasts Rotation Wheel is useful or not, I can still thoroughly deal with these Dao Forms..." Li Fan's thoughts raced. Then, he burst into laughter. "Very well. As they say, 'those who understand the times are wise.' Emperor San, you truly are the embodiment of your clan's wisdom."
Li Fan's expression suddenly shifted. "I won't hide it from you. Your clan's thirteen Dao Forms are of great use to me..." As he spoke, Li Fan deliberately put on a greedy and desirous expression.
"Ultimately, I must return to my homeland."
"Furthermore, I will personally take revenge on the two scumbags who nearly destroyed my homeland." Li Fan subtly flicked his finger, and images of Black Heavenly Physician and Evil Su Bai appeared in the air before him. Li Fan gazed at the two figures, pausing. "But I must admit, there is still a gap between my current strength and theirs. However, I have inherited the supreme Dao lineage. If given some time and resources..." He finished with a cold laugh, leaving Emperor San Mo to ponder endlessly.
"Supreme Dao lineage," Emperor San Mo, being exceptionally perceptive, latched onto the key point in Li Fan's words. In Li Fan's fabricated backstory, his homeland, though the Immortal Realm was destroyed, had left behind numerous Dao lineages in the lower realm, capable of fending off the Dao Erasure for a time. Li Fan's ability to casually create the 'Ancient Primordial Source' was the best proof of his inheritance of a supreme Dao lineage, making it difficult for Emperor San Mo not to believe him.
"Does Senior mean that the Primordial Dao Forms are the resources you require?" The wise beast quietly inquired. Li Fan proudly nodded in affirmation.
"You need not worry about me harming your ordinary clansmen. Only the Dao Forms, natural embodiments of the Great Dao, are my sustenance."
"Will you choose to betray the Primordial Dao Forms and preserve the lives of the vast majority of your clan, or watch them all perish in the tide of Dao Erasure..."
"Make your choice." Emperor San Mo's reply was swift. "My answer will not change. I have already considered the pros and cons on my way here."
"The only thing I didn't expect was that Senior could manipulate the forms of the Great Dao and utilize them. If we were to compare this to human cultivators, wouldn't that be..." Li Fan smiled sinisterly and, with ghost-like speed, appeared beside Emperor San Mo, placing his palm on his head.
Emperor San Mo felt as if a mountain had descended upon him, rendering him immobile. It was as if a carving knife was incessantly sculpting and cutting within his mind. Even with his vast experience, he found the pain unbearable. The physical discomfort came and went swiftly. Moments later, he had recovered, the recent agony feeling like a mere illusion. However, a faint shadow resembling Li Fan remained indelibly imprinted in his mind, a constant presence. No matter how he tried to calm his inner turmoil, it remained a towering presence in his consciousness.
"It's merely a minor restrictive technique, you need not be alarmed. As long as you follow the plan, all will be well."
"Conversely..." Li Fan chuckled strangely. "I wouldn't mind you testing me with the lives of your entire clan." Emperor San Mo's expression turned solemn, and he lowered his head, murmuring, "I dare not."
Afterward, Li Fan and Emperor San Mo discussed the general details of the reception plan, and Li Fan asked the crucial question: "How much 'Ancient Primordial Source' is needed to traverse possibilities?" Emperor San Mo produced a peculiar mask. "Based on our past experiences, we only need to fill this divine mask."
Li Fan took the mask and, after a brief sensation, said lightly, "Agreed. In three days, I will deliver enough Ancient Primordial Source to fill it."
"Also..."
"When you traverse possibilities this time, wear this." Emperor San Mo peered intently. Floating before him was a sculpture made of some unknown material. Mountains and seas embraced each other. Above them, a figure stood with hands clasped behind its back. The moment he touched the sculpture, the mountain and sea imagery integrated into his body, becoming imperceptible.
"You may leave now." Dismissed, Emperor San Mo's vision blurred, and he found himself back in the Xuanhuang Realm, not having truly departed but merely waiting. While standing, he observed his surroundings. Compared to a hundred years ago, everything had changed dramatically. The heavens and earth seemed more distant, and most notably, there was a pervasive sense of vitality. Emperor San Mo felt a fleeting sense of illusion, as if he had returned to the ancient times before the calamities descended.
"It would indeed be fortunate to multiply and thrive in this place for a time."
"Even if it's not permanent, it's a paradise for now."
"Moreover, with enough Ancient Primordial Source, even if this place becomes uninhabitable one day, we can find another." Emperor San Mo mused silently.
...Inside the Celestial Pillar space. Li Bu Ren stood with a solemn expression, eyes closed, acting as a bridge connecting the power of the main body to the Mound Guardian's phantom. As an energy form capable of supporting the traversal of possibilities, the 'Ancient Primordial Source' must be of extremely high quality. To artificially create enough to fill an entire mask was no easy feat. Even Li Fan, in his current state, found it somewhat strenuous. Hence, he needed to borrow power.
Of course, Li Fan would not allow the Mound Guardian's phantom or the powers of the other Celestial Pillars to directly interact with the "Return to Truth" or "Falsehood into Truth." Instead, he would utilize the The Dao Lattice connection between his clone and main body for conversion. After a hundred years of quiet enlightenment, the gradually strengthened 'Ink Slaughter Myriad Dao Forms' had enabled Li Fan's main body to withstand the power of the Mound Guardian's phantom. The boundless power of mountains and seas, channeled through Li Bu Ren, was redirected into the vast net woven by the Ink Slaughter Dao Forms.
Just as Li Fan had anticipated, the nature of 'Ink Slaughter' was subtly similar to 'Dao Erasure,' both involving the fusion of mountains and seas. As if sharing a common origin, the Mound Guardian's phantom power was transformed without any obstruction. Within the great net woven by Li Fan, stars rushed like rivers, surging endlessly and arriving instantaneously. It was akin to amplifying his own "Falsehood into Truth" divine ability by severalfold. The power surged exponentially, seemingly inexhaustible and boundless.
"False becomes true..." The memory and sensation of artificially creating the 'Ancient Primordial Source' resurfaced in his mind. Li Fan repeatedly chanted internally. Before him, bronze-colored points of light continuously emerged from the void. Li Fan's own creations using the "Falsehood into Truth" divine ability only lasted for a few breaths before dissipating, leaving behind only a small remnant. However, after a hundred years of enlightenment, this residual proportion had significantly increased, from one in ten thousand to five in ten thousand. Now, with the bolstering of external power, and his strength elevating to the 'Nameless Realm,' this retention ratio had once again leaped to five in a thousand! Even with a ninety-nine point five percent loss, the principle of "Infinite" rendered these losses negligible.
Li Fan operated the Ink Slaughter Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice at its maximum capacity, immersing himself in the experience of creation. With each nascent glimmer of light, his comprehension of the transformation between truth and falsehood deepened.
...Three days later. Emperor San Mo was summoned again. A mask was thrown at him, which he caught instinctively. The surging, familiar aura emanating from the mask caused the ancient, wise beast's body to tremble uncontrollably. To him, it contained not just energy, but the hope for his entire clan's survival.
"I will not fail Senior's trust." Emperor San Mo said solemnly. If he had harbored even a sliver of hesitation before, seeing a mask full of 'Ancient Primordial Source' now left him with no room for doubt.
"As long as there is enough of this energy, we can continue to search for new safe havens until the entire mortal world is destroyed. At the very least, before that happens, our clan can remain safe without having to gamble anymore."
"Compared to that..."
"The sacrifice of a few Primordial Dao Forms is utterly insignificant." Emperor San Mo's inner resolve lay hidden beneath his clouded eyes as he hurried towards the fringe of the Star Sea.
...Li Fan watched Emperor San Mo's disappearing form, sensing his location through the imprint left in Emperor San Mo's mind. This imprint was obtained from his comprehension of the 'Engraving' Dao over the past century. He didn't expect it to remain effective after Emperor San Mo traversed possibilities, but it would allow him to track what happened within the World Traversing Profound Coffin. Even if Emperor San Mo double-crossed him, Li Fan could still find the possibility where the thirteen Dao Forms resided. Once in enemy territory, even if his strength was insufficient, as long as Li Fan pinpointed their location, he would find a way to deal with them in the future. Furthermore, Li Fan believed the possibility of Emperor San Mo betraying the plan was extremely low.
"I can make arrangements in advance." He couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. Only after truly assimilating the Great Dao contained within a 'Nameless' being did Li Fan realize how much it had improved him. In terms of cultivation realm, Li Fan's main body was still at the "Half-Immortal" stage. However, once the Ink Slaughter The Dao Lattice was deployed, he could easily capture opponents "lighter" than him.
"Weight" was Li Fan's term for the significance of a Dao path within the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth. There were no quantifiable data, only perceptual anchoring. Just as he glimpsed the 'Engraving' Dao from Situ Xing's memories, although incomplete, it originated from a 'Nameless' being at the Dao Integration realm. The weight of its Dao was almost equivalent to half a 'Nameless' being, far beyond that of ordinary True Immortals. And this was only one of the many Dao paths within Li Fan's Ink Slaughter The Dao Lattice. 'Formless,' 'Starvation,' 'Creation,' 'Primordial'... and so on, distributed throughout the The Dao Lattice. With these enlightened principles as leverage, Li Fan could contend with true Nameless True Immortals without being at a disadvantage. This had been verified through his frequent spars with his clone over the past hundred years. Strictly speaking, this was not Li Fan's own power, but rather "adapting to local conditions and fighting force with force." If he were to leave the current possibility, the leverage available within the The Dao Lattice might instantly vanish. However, at least within the "Primordial" possibility, with this technique, Li Fan was almost in a state of semi-invincibility. Apart from some ancient monsters who survived the Great Tribulation of the Immortal Realm, Li Fan feared no one else.
"Mound Guardian's phantom. My own The Dao Lattice."
"Each time a 'Nameless' being is suppressed and devoured, both of these will be greatly enhanced."
"The Mound Guardian's phantom power has an upper limit, but my Ink Slaughter Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice has no end. Perhaps, its limit is my ideal: the Three Thousand Great Daos, all returning to me." Li Fan was very satisfied with the harvest from his hundred years of secluded cultivation. As the saying goes, "once one tastes the sweetness, they crave more," so he couldn't help but turn his gaze towards the Star Sea nearby. Due to the time difference caused by traversing different possibilities, it might take another hundred years for Emperor San Mo to send news. Li Fan couldn't just wait idly during this time. Having initially reached a cooperative agreement with the remaining True Immortal factions within the Star Sea, now bustling with True Immortals, it was naturally his ideal hunting ground. For the past hundred years, Wu Xian had been reporting on the progress of both sides. Although slow, with the joint efforts of certain factions, the Immortal Hunters and the True Immortals had gradually set aside their past animosities and agreed to jointly bear the responsibility of resisting Dao Erasure. After all, the Immortal Hunters' sincere promise to release the True Immortals, including Nameless True Immortals, imprisoned deep within the The Dao Lattice was compelling. The condition was that upon leaving the The Dao Lattice, they must leave behind a "Phantom Self Bearing the Dao." The only flaw of the "Phantom Self Bearing the Dao" was that upon achieving ultimate transcendence in the future, the phantom self would need to be retrieved. Given that even the Mound Guardian hadn't achieved this, these prisoners would readily agree.
"They haven't revealed the list of True Immortals to be released," Li Fan mused, concealed behind the The Great Barrier, gazing at the Star Sea not far away. For the past century, he had been continuously drawing upon the Dao principles of the Star Sea to nourish the weakened and depleted Abyssal Star Sea. Although the impact was negligible, the unusual anomalies had attracted the attention of the Star Sea forces, who had sent people to investigate several times. However, Li Fan had repelled them with his actions.
"They've endured it a few times, but they can't hold on forever."
"Let me add a little more fuel to the fire." For Li Fan, fighting near the The Great Barrier offered a significant geographical advantage. Therefore, any plan was best executed with the battlefield drawn here. With his mind made up, the path formed by Li Bu Ren opened its colossal bloody maw once more, like an unfathomable abyss, devouring the Dao principles of the Star Sea. This time, Li Fan made no effort to restrain himself; the sheer scale of the operation created a distorted halo near the The Great Barrier. The Star Sea side was instantly alerted. After a moment of silence, two figures arrived. One of them was Wu Xian. The other figure, whom Li Fan had never seen before, exuded no True Immortal aura. Instead, wherever he passed, like a behemoth swimming underwater, ripples of Dao principles stirred the surrounding space.
"This is a show of force," Li Fan thought amusingly. This individual clearly belonged to the Immortal Hunter faction. Given his demonstrated control over the The Dao Lattice, he would never have caused such a commotion during his journey. Li Fan quietly observed the ripples in the The Dao Lattice.
"A The Dao Lattice woven over countless eons, supported by Nameless True Immortals. It is indeed magnificent, far surpassing my current Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice."
"However..."
"Such clamor is still too audacious!" Li Fan's mind raced, and the power of 'Boundless Unity' erupted, transforming into a giant hand that lunged towards the Immortal Hunter.
Li Fan’s strike was sudden and unexpected, like a shadow surfacing from beneath the water.
The Immortal Hunter of the Star Sea was momentarily stunned when he sensed the incoming attack. But he quickly calmed down, a trace of anger hidden in his expression.
With the immense power of the The Dao Lattice, he intended to suppress the audacious intruder. He never imagined…
The brilliant Great Dao, for some unknown reason, melted away like ice the moment it neared the shadow. He swung a punch weighing a thousand jun, only for it to feel light, unable to even disturb a single leaf.
Not only that, but the very foundation of his strength, the The Dao Lattice itself, was also dissipating! It was as if the shadow had corroded a gaping hole in the The Dao Lattice, and he was now falling into this profound abyss.
The anger in the Immortal Hunter’s eyes instantly turned to terror.
Wu Xian, who had been watching with detached amusement, also sensed something was wrong. He moved to intervene, but felt a hand gently press onto his shoulder. The weight of mountains pressed down, rendering him immobile!
He could only watch as the Immortal Hunter was swallowed by the black shadow.
"What is the matter this time?"
After everything had subsided, Li Fan's voice rang out lazily. He made no mention of the suppressed Immortal Hunter, as if he had simply swatted a fly, hardly worth a second thought.
Wu Xian knew that his impudent actions must have angered the capricious "Hidden Emperor," prompting his intervention.
The thought of the Elder Wei, ranked among the top three in strength within the Star Sea Governance Council, being captured so easily sent a chill down Wu Xian’s spine.
Over the years, the Governance Council had analyzed the Hidden Emperor's strength through various means. However, the realm he had inadvertently displayed now was far beyond any of their analyses.
"Even that esteemed personage might not have achieved this feat."
"No wonder over the years, despite knowing of the Hidden Emperor's existence, we never dared to pay our respects. It turns out we were afraid…"
Wu Xian's thoughts raced, but his actions were swift. He bowed respectfully and said, "We detected unusual activity in the Great Dao at the fringe of the Star Sea. Fearing it might be a summons from Senior, we hurried to investigate."
Wu Xian did not mention the Immortal Hunter.
"Hmph."
"It shouldn't be a problem for me to draw some of your essential Great Dao, should it? After all, you have the The Dao Lattice to support you, and recently, you’ve even gained the support of some True Immortal echoes. Li Fan asked coldly.
With the Elder Immortal Hunter who was supposed to back him up directly captured, Wu Xian dared not show any objection. He could only nod bitterly, "No problem, no problem."
"I have been awake for a long time. Now that the Dao Erasure has subsided and all is in ruins, I wish to re-establish the Immortal Court…"
As Wu Xian was contemplating how to explain the situation to the Star Sea Immortal Hunter faction upon his return, Li Fan's words struck him like a thunderclap, leaving his mind blank.
"Re-establish the Immortal Court?" Wu Xian was stunned.
Years ago, he saw a glimpse of the vast and magnificent Immortal Realm.
"The Dao Erasure has not yet receded, so re-establishing the Immortal Realm is temporarily impossible. However, to restore an Immortal Domain..."
"It is still barely achievable," Li Fan said proudly.
"It will be completed in the coming days. Those interested can come and visit then. However, extraneous individuals and those who lack manners need not come."
Wu Xian was still lost in the explosive news, his mind hazy. Just as he was about to reply, he felt the pressure on his shoulders intensify. The scenery before his eyes shifted, and when he regained his senses, he had been thrown thousands of miles away.
And it seemed something had been thrown out along with him.
However, that object only traveled three thousand miles before stopping, floating silently in the void.
At first glance, it appeared to be a stone pillar, with a large character for "Stillness" engraved on it.
But after observing it for a moment, Wu Xian felt a chill run down his spine, as if he had fallen into an ice cave.
What stood before him was not a stone pillar at all. It was the Elder Immortal Hunter who had accompanied him!
"When the The Dao Lattice was first created, Elder Wei was already one of its pillars. He immersed himself in the The Dao Lattice for many years, merging with all Daos. Even when facing the nameless ones, he could handle them with ease."
"During the negotiations earlier, how commanding he was when repelling three simultaneous attacks. Who would have thought he would end up like this…"
Wu Xian felt no grief for his fallen comrade, only an unspeakable dread.
"Initially, we analyzed that the Hidden Emperor obtained the marvelous method of the Mound Guardian by chance. Now, it seems more like the Mound Guardian deliberately entrusted it to him. With such power, he is likely a close friend of the Mound Guardian…" The more Wu Xian thought about it, the more uneasy he became. He did not dare to check on the Elder who had become a stone pillar and hurried back to the Star Sea.
The matter was too grave; he had to inform everyone as soon as possible.
…
Li Fan coldly watched Wu Xian disappear, then turned his gaze back to the stone pillar with the "Stillness" character.
Although it was a stone pillar, its nature was different from the Heavenly Pillars like Yuan Shi. It was merely Li Fan’s "engraving" of it, not a solidification of a single Great Dao.
After all, the Immortal Hunter had only borrowed the power of the The Dao Lattice and possessed no Dao Path of his own.
After Li Fan used the power of the "Boundless Unity" to sever all connections between the Immortal Hunter and the The Dao Lattice, the latter's displayed strength was even inferior to that of the Heavenly Physician within the The Great Barrier.
Though he had been transformed into a pillar, he retained his senses. The arrogance from before was gone, replaced by fear, despair, and regret, all intertwined.
Li Fan used the fear in the Immortal Hunter’s heart as a catalyst, slowly corroding and exploring his mind.
As expected, anything related to the The Dao Lattice was covered by a veil, obscured and indistinct. However, the various affairs within the Star Sea Governance Council were clearly visible.
"This newly formed alliance has already gathered four nameless ones and thirty-six True Immortals…"
"Though not as delectable as the thirteen Primordial Dao Forms, it's still a passable feast."
If the Li Fan of the past would have chosen to avoid such a vast force from the Star Sea, then now, greed he felt was uncontrollable greed.
Sensing this shift in his mindset, Li Fan frowned slightly and immediately withdrew from his gluttonous fantasy.
He closed his eyes and calmed his emotions.
"The Ink Slaughter Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice, which devours nameless ones and forcefully seizes others’ Dao Paths. This method of strength growth is indeed too rapid, beyond what can be described as 'eager for quick success.'"
"Thus, my mindset has been inevitably affected. If this continues, I might not be able to accept any slow and steady progress."
"Among the myriad Daos in the world, I might be able to find a beneficiary method to devour them all. But only the transformation of true and false requires my personal, slow comprehension…"
Li Fan mused, and his desire to "feast" gradually subsided.
"The Ink Slaughter Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice, though hinting at transcendence, the 'transformation of true and false' is my true foundation."
"Even if the method is marvelous, it must not influence my state of mind."
…
After a long period of self-reflection, Li Fan gradually emerged from his almost "out-of-control" state.
While the plan to hunt nameless ones remained, he was no longer as eager, or even desperate, as before.
With the power Li Fan currently possessed, even if all four nameless ones of the Star Sea were gathered, he should be able to suppress them all at any cost. Moreover, the Star Sea faction would certainly not send all their nameless True Immortals for the first probing attempt.
Executing the plan would not be difficult.
"However, the bait needs to be carefully crafted."
Li Fan reached out, and several fragments of shimmering light appeared in his palm. These were remnants of the Immortal Realm chess pieces left by Sun Pianmiao. Most of them had disintegrated and returned to Yuan Shi during the transformation of Yuan Shi's bone into a Heavenly Pillar. Only a few fragments remained.
With just these fragments, Li Fan could not recreate the Immortal Realm. But to construct a bluffing Immortal Court…
There should be no problem.
"The reason the Immortal Realm is an Immortal Realm is its possession of Mount Shang's imposing aura and the Infinite Sea's infinity."
"If these two elements are present, even if it's not the Immortal Realm, it can be considered one."
"With the Mound Guardian's phantom and several Heavenly Pillars at my disposal, I can withstand the Dao Erasure Tribulation. Their might is more than enough for disguise."
"The key is the attribute of infinity…" Li Fan mused, hesitating for a moment.
The mysterious entity he had sensed in the Infinite Sea was truly terrifying. Most importantly, it seemed to be able to sense the "Reflection" within his main body by following the connection between his clone and his main body.
This made Li Fan, despite finding a way to access the Infinite Sea, refrain from using it a second time over the past century.
Hesitantly, Li Fan finally decided to directly consult "Reflection." After all, since their last interaction, which had been like a storm of thoughts, and with a century of tempering, Li Fan felt he could now withstand more of "Reflection's" cogitations.
Shortly after transmitting his thoughts, Li Fan truly received a response from "Reflection." This time, it was not like in the past, simply simple emotional fluctuations, nor was it like the previous occasion of clear thoughts like a stormy sea. Instead, it was a pure "direction," like an explanation.
Li Fan savored the content and his expression gradually became more animated. The direction presented was potentially a divine ability! He used the word "potentially" because the method "Reflection" imparted was completely different from any divine ability Li Fan had encountered before.
Divine abilities and techniques are about "cultivation." From nothing to something, from unfamiliar to familiar, and finally to mastery. It is a gradual process of acquiring unknown skills. But what "Reflection" told Li Fan now allowed him to skip the arduous practice and achieve the result directly. It was like a spell; speak it, and it would take effect.
Li Fan, half-believing, experimented for the first time without practice. Of course, out of caution, he did not use it on his main body but on Li Buren, his clone.
After the "direction" was completed, Li Buren noticed no changes within himself. Still, with resolute determination, he reconnected with the Infinite Sea, relying on the memory from the previous time. Since he had already established a connection with the Infinite Sea, there was no need for the previous tedious steps. With just a thought, he returned to the boundless ocean!
Even though it was not his first time, Li Buren was still awestruck by the infinity before him. However, unlike before, while immersed in infinity and bearing the weight of countless eons, Li Buren felt no pressure. It was as if he had obtained the legendary Water-Repelling Pearl, a protective layer around him that rendered him immune to the natural pressure of the ocean, allowing him to roam freely within the Infinite Sea.
"This…"
Li Buren was certain that this was a unique experience that even nameless True Immortals could not possess. Even so-called transcendent beings might not be able to calmly stay at the bottom of the Infinite Sea so comfortably. Yet, "Reflection" had achieved this with just a marvelous method.
Li Buren's mind was somewhat dazed. He carefully felt the changes happening to him. He realized that the reason he hadn't noticed the changes before was that the impact of "Reflection's" marvelous method had surpassed his own cognition, making him, a mortal not belonging to this place, akin to the Infinite Sea in origin. Because he was a part of the Infinite Sea, he was not subjected to the pressure originating from it.
Li Buren knew this was undoubtedly an extraordinary supreme divine ability. But looking at the endless concentration of time and events around him, Li Buren felt a sense of being lost, unsure of what to do next.
While he was spacing out, a sudden tremor rippled through his surroundings. It was as if the protective barrier, like the Water-Repelling Pearl, was about to break, and the pressure of the Infinite Sea was about to descend again.
"So, this kind of change, or rather deception, has a limited duration," Li Buren realized.
He dared not be careless and, while the divine ability was still effective, returned to the present world. With the help of "Reflection's" marvelous method, his clone’s foray into the Infinite Sea this time did not attract the attention of the unknown terrifying entity at the bottom of the sea.
"Moreover, with the enhancement of this method, I seem to be able to utilize the power of the Infinite Sea more than other True Immortals."
"During the duration of the divine ability, I can freely draw upon it without incurring the pressure and unrest of the Infinite Sea."
Li Fan savored the entire exploration process, his heart pounding uncontrollably.
The Immortal Rank Dissolution Disc could already derive his immortal power. Li Fan knew that although immortal power possessed infinite properties, there was an upper limit to the level of immortal power an individual could wield. This limit was closely related to one's own strength. The immortal power of a nameless True Immortal would undoubtedly far surpass that of an ordinary True Immortal. And those like the Mound Guardian were above ordinary nameless True Immortals. But now, with the divine ability imparted by "Reflection," Li Fan seemed to be able to ignore this scale and achieve cross-level reception of infinite immortal power…
Impatiently, Li Fan wanted to try again, only to discover…
The spell failed.
"Hmm?"
After trying several more times out of stubbornness, Li Fan finally found the problem. It wasn't that he had made a mistake in the execution steps of the divine ability, but rather that the divine ability itself had become unusable for him.
"Could it be that this deception can only be used once?" Li Fan's eyelids twitched. After re-examining it carefully, his heart finally relaxed.
"It's not a one-time thing."
"It just needs some time before it can be used again."
"This…"
"It’s like…"
"A skill?" Li Fan's expression became somewhat strange. While contemplating, Li Fan seemed to recall something and quickly looked at the panel displayed in "Reflection." After information like Name, Age, and Charging Progress, and before the Bound Item Information, there was a new line of text.
Divine Blessing: Illusion is True.
Simply three words, with no other explanation, yet they triggered endless contemplation in Li Fan.
Illusion is True, this clearly referred to the Dao of "When the real becomes false, the false also becomes real."
The crux lay in the preceding two words: "Divine Blessing."
"Divine. Blessing..." Li Fan savored this term on the Reflection panel.
The core was in "divine."
Illusion is True was a divine ability bestowed upon Li Fan by Reflection, and it could be considered a form of protection.
So, who did "divine" refer to?
Did it refer to Reflection itself?
Did it imply that, in Reflection's own understanding, it belonged to the ranks of gods?
"What is a god?"
Li Fan couldn't help but recall the allegorical book left by Sun Pianmiao, and the legends about the Creator God, the mountains, and the sea.
"Over these years, I've searched nearly every corner of the Xuanhuang Realm. Yet, I still haven't found the book mentioned by Liu Ruchen. It left no trace, as if it had vanished into thin air."
"The probability of it naturally annihilating in the long river of history is low. Either someone took it away individually, or it was swept away with other supplies when the Myriad Immortal Sects fled..."
"The remnants of the ten sects are almost all in the Star Sea."
Li Fan's gaze once again shifted to his neighbors beyond the The Great Barrier.
Obtaining the Divine Blessing of [Illusion is True] was no less than gaining a combat power equivalent to a Nameless True Immortal that could assist him at any time.
It might even be far more than that.
Suppressing his overwhelming excitement, after approximately twenty-four hours had passed and Li Fan detected that [Illusion is True] could be used again, he immediately calmed himself and activated it once more, returning to the Infinite Sea.
Without further astonishment at the incredible nature of Reflection's Divine Blessing, he immediately began searching for the true usage of Illusion is True.
"Though it is but an insignificant mortal thing, it can deceive the heavens and cross the seas. During the Divine Blessing, it is on par with the Infinite Sea..."
Li Buren's consciousness drifted through this vast ocean, attempting to channel its infinite power into reality.
Because it was on par, this "channeling" did not require any acknowledgment of pressure. It was as if the ocean itself was acting.
The main body channeled it in the existing world.
He scattered the remaining Immortal Realm Shards around the Primordial Pillar of Existence, like a re-creation of heaven and earth, reforming fire, earth, water, and wind. The Immortal Realm Shards returned to the Great Dao, arrayed around the Pillar of Existence.
Looking at this incomplete world, Li Fan connected his Ink Slaughter Myriad Phenomena The Dao Lattice into it.
What was lacking would be supplemented.
What overlapped, he attempted to tame.
At the center of the Myriad Phenomena The Dao Lattice was the power of the Infinite.
Anything unwilling to submit to the Myriad Phenomena The Dao Lattice was directly shattered. Then, it was re-evolved using the Dao comprehended by Li Fan himself.
Amidst a misty haze, heaven and earth were born.
There were no living beings within, only the Pillars of Existence, the Starving Immortals, the Infinite, and other such pillars standing tall.
And Li Fan's indistinct figure remained above these pillars.
"Once the cosmos is established, all phenomena arise."
The Dao Lattice, hidden outside of heaven and earth, emitted endless different splendors. All the Great Daos began to manifest in this nascent world.
It was not a matter of independent deduction, but Li Fan directly replicating the "Primordial" possibility, thus, its evolution proceeded without any deviation.
In a flash of light and shadow, in just a short time, a primordial world had appeared.
The five semblance-of-existence phantom guardians and the pillars supported the vast primordial sky.
With the world formed, the Immortal Power of the Infinite that Li Buren had channeled surged down through the The Dao Lattice pathways.
Rumble! Rumble! Rumble!
The terrifying phenomenon, akin to the descent of Dao Erasure, unfolded within the primordial world.
The newly formed heavens were completely engulfed by dark clouds. Due to the immense pressure, cracks even appeared. The world itself trembled violently, heaven and earth shaking, seemingly on the verge of collapse at any moment.
But the benefits of the Infinite Immortal Power's irrigation were also evident.
The nascent, wild, and barren world was like a parched land, greedily absorbing the power of the Infinite Sea.
The distance between heaven and earth grew ever greater with each passing moment.
On the land, mountains rose, rivers, seas, lakes, and forests, various terrains emerged. It was no longer a barren, desolate, bald continent.
In the sky, the cracks that appeared from bearing the extreme limit were being repaired by the power brought by the Infinite Sea.
Li Fan, guided by inspiration, did not completely eliminate these heavenly scars. Instead, he preserved thirteen visible scars and channeled additional Infinite Power into them.
Due to Li Fan's special attention, as heaven grew higher and earth further away, each of the thirteen heavenly scars accumulated energy nearly equivalent to that of the entire primordial world.
Li Fan sensed that these heavenly scars, due to the accumulation of so much energy, seemed to be developing a nascent sentience.
After a long period of contemplation, Li Fan still chose not to import a trace of his divine sense to gain control over these heavenly scars.
The Infinite Immortal Power accumulated within the heavenly scars had exceeded his control. If he tried to forcibly dominate it, he would likely suffer a backlash.
Li Fan merely refined and separated the connection channels between each heavenly scar and the Infinite Sea. As long as he controlled the connection channels, it was equivalent to having a leash on them. No matter what form they evolved into in the future, as long as he held the leash, he wouldn't fear them going out of control.
Inspired by this, when Li Fan sensed that this primordial world was also beginning to develop consciousness, he deliberately divided this primordial world into five regions: East, West, North, South, and Central.
Each was connected to a different channel of the Infinite Sea.
Like the diversion of a great river, the consciousness of the primordial world was also split into four pieces.
The vague sense of unease Li Fan felt in his heart then disappeared.
"It seems that if the primordial consciousness were to be born too strong, there was a risk of losing control," Li Fan mused internally.
Standing outside of heaven and earth, Li Fan quietly watched this primordial world continue to evolve.
Endless Immortal Power poured down from the Infinite Sea.
Under inexpressible pressure, the primordial world, while continuously growing, was also being compressed into an incredibly solid state.
"Externally forged by the pressure of the Infinite Sea, and internally possessing infinite adaptability, capable of devouring all three thousand Great Daos, the Ink Slaughter The Dao Lattice..."
"Perhaps even if I unleashed my full power, I couldn't cause much damage to this continent."
"Moreover, it is still in a visible growth phase, seemingly far from its limit. As long as the irrigation from the Infinite Sea continues, it can grow indefinitely..."
Li Fan watched the changes within, his heart filled with awe.
He also had a feeling that with the birth of this continent within the The Great Barriers, it was like a sturdy stone pillar had been added.
Even the entire experimental space seemed to have become much "stable."
...
In the Infinite Sea.
Li Buren was engulfed in an extremely turbulent vortex, yet he was completely unaffected.
After attempting to channel the power of the Infinite Sea into the real world, he discovered that no matter how much he intensified the channeling, the Infinite Sea would always undergo corresponding changes.
And it wouldn't even attract the attention of the Infinite Sea itself.
Li Buren gradually let go, continuously increasing the intensity. Now, the vortex he was in covered all areas of the Infinite Sea that he could observe!
Although he could command the winds and summon the rain in the Infinite Sea by virtue of the characteristics of [Illusion is True],
the primordial continent in the real world was, after all, limited in its capacity.
The outflow channel was limited, and the concentrated power gathered here, forming a vortex that could be called an ultimate miracle.
"The time has come."
Amidst the thunderous vortex, yet unaffected, aloof from the outside, Li Buren observed silently, and suddenly had a feeling.
"The duration is much shorter than last time."
"It seems Haizhen had to expend considerable effort to conceal such a large commotion."
Li Buren mused thoughtfully and skillfully returned along the vortex channel.
Without the channeler, the nourishment for the primordial continent was also cut off.
The vigorously growing heaven and earth, almost instantly, fell into stillness.
Then, the thirteen heavenly scars and the five worldly consciousnesses simultaneously let out dissatisfied roars.
Li Fan's faint figure stood amidst heaven and earth. With a cold snort, he suppressed all their clamors.
In the silence, these newly born entities finally understood their source of sustenance.
Like seeking favor, they clamored to Li Fan, begging.
Li Fan remained silent.
He simply waited for the next use of [Illusion is True].
During the interval of waiting, Li Fan also used his hand like a knife to carve magnificent buildings on the earth and in the sky. Their templates were derived from the Immortal Realm Li Fan had glimpsed in the past.
And thanks to his previous practice carving the cat treasure, Li Fan had almost perfectly replicated these Immortal Realm structures.
Days passed, and when the cooldown for Illusion is True ended, Li Fan did not rush to activate it again.
Instead, he observed and summarized the attitudes displayed by the thirteen heavenly scars and the five worldly consciousnesses during this period.
Among the heavenly scars and worldly consciousnesses, the one that roared the loudest was not connected to the Infinite Immortal Power.
When the vast Infinite Power poured down again,
these two could only watch with wide eyes as their brethren enjoyed the feast, while they themselves received nothing.
These naturally evolved beings did not possess complex consciousness.
Having what others have not instinctively ignited intense anger.
Their roars echoed through heaven and earth, even surpassing the sounds of the Infinite Immortal Power's irrigation.
Li Fan, however, gave a cold laugh and severed all connections to the Infinite Sea once again.
The heavenly scars and worldly consciousnesses, greedily absorbing the power, were stunned.
It took quite some effort for them to understand why Li Fan had stopped the Infinite Immortal Power.
For the sake of their own sustenance, they united and, with one accord, gave those two troublemakers a thorough lesson.
It had to be said that the power of these beings, naturally evolved within heaven and earth, was truly formidable.
The primordial continent was scarred in this great battle.
Fortunately, the outcome was positive.
The troublemakers, being outnumbered, dared not utter another peep, and could only watch wistfully as their brethren happily feasted.
When the duration of [Illusion is True] ended again, faced with Li Fan's cessation of sustenance, these primordial consciousnesses, while still complaining, made far less noise than before.
Especially the ones who received no sustenance this time remained completely silent.
The next time, Li Fan switched the target of deprivation.
The two who seemed to have realized their mistakes and behaved well were given the opportunity to connect and draw from the Infinite Sea. The heavenly scar that was deprived, however, was both panicked and furious, not knowing what it had done wrong.
Unbeknownst to it, it was merely randomly selected by Li Fan.
Once again, it was a happy occasion for all, and everyone received their share. The heavenly scars and worldly consciousnesses rejoiced.
And again, after waiting for a long time, the Infinite Immortal Power never arrived. The primordial consciousnesses gathered outside the tall buildings where Li Fan stood, but dared not act rashly. They simply waited in silence.
And then, the Infinite Immortal Power was reconnected to all.
Thus, day after day, year after year, Li Fan used this method of "training dogs" to discipline these primordial consciousnesses.
In the blink of an eye, another fifteen years passed.
Li Fan sensed that this primordial continent had grown to its limit.
Although it could still absorb Infinite Immortal Power, it could no longer be strengthened.
Li Fan sat high in the clouds and gazed at the vast continent below.
As he slowly raised his hand, two colossal palms enveloped the primordial world.
With strokes like soaring dragons and dancing phoenixes, the forms of living beings were etched onto the land.
After erupting in a dazzling radiance, the incredibly complex characters disintegrated into thousands of fragments.
And on the primordial continent, countless stones, plants, mountains, and lakes transformed into living beings, emerging like mushrooms after a spring rain.
Though their consciousness was nascent, they knew who had bestowed life upon them.
They knelt on the ground and collectively shouted, "Thank you, Great Master, for bestowing life!"
Li Fan waved his hand again, distributing access to the Infinite Sea to every living being.
Of course, the energy level and scale of Infinite Immortal Power that these post-natal beings could mobilize were far inferior to those of the thirteen heavenly scars and five worldly consciousnesses.
It was estimated that all of them combined could barely match one of them.
"This, is control."
Li Fan felt all the access rights to the Infinite Sea within this primordial world, its every aspect, were under his management.
With a single thought, he could bestow it, and with a single thought, he could strip it away.
"Perhaps the Governing Immortal Emperor of the past was like this, the master of life and death?" Li Fan gained a sudden realization.
The primordial continent became lively, and Li Fan silently repeated Illusion is True in his mind.
The target of the divine ability was no longer the Infinite Sea.
But this primordial world before him.
After activating Divine Blessing, Li Fan seemed to have become a part of the primordial world and earth.
Not only could he clearly sense everything happening within the world, but he could also clearly perceive the faint communication between the worldly consciousnesses.
It was as if he had become one of them, yet they remained completely unaware of this "brother" who had inexplicably appeared.
After listening for a while and finding no rebellious thoughts from these worldly consciousnesses, Li Fan nodded in satisfaction.
"This Illusion is True divine ability is truly useful."
"And..."
Li Fan silently sensed the duration of the Divine Blessing.
"As expected. The duration varies depending on the target of the application."
"When applied to this primordial continent, it can last almost indefinitely. Even if this world perishes with time, the effect of Illusion is True will still exist."
"This Primordial Immortal Realm is already an incredible creation. Yet, the gap between it and the Infinite Sea remains so vast..."
Li Fan's arrogance, as a "creator," vanished in an instant.
The cold reality brought him back to his senses.
The Primordial Immortal Realm was, in a sense, personally crafted by Li Fan. However, he differed significantly from a true "Creator God."
The manifestation of the Primordial Immortal Realm was crucially dependent on harnessing the power of the Infinite Sea. Li Fan's ability to achieve this was entirely thanks to the Divine Blessing bestowed by Return to Truth.
If this continent truly had a Creator God, it could only be Return to Truth. Li Fan was merely the one favored by this divine power, granted the authority to act on its behalf.
Quickly adjusting and reaffirming his mindset, Li Fan contemplated what he could accomplish with this Primordial Immortal Realm.
"I originally intended to simply construct a facade to impress others. I never imagined that with Return to Truth's assistance, I would actually create an Immortal Realm. It's not only enough to fool those True Immortals from the Star Sea of the North, but also..."
Li Fan's consciousness instantly focused on the thirteen Heavenly Scars and the five Heavenly Consciousnesses. As colossal sentient entities born alongside the Primordial Immortal Realm, they were currently subservient to Li Fan, behaving like household dogs. This was solely because Li Fan held the crucial reins, capable of severing their connection to the Infinite Sea at any moment.
Towards others, however, they were far less accommodating. Their fundamental nature was characterized by brutality, capriciousness, and disdain.
"Theoretically, the actual combat strength of each of them should not be inferior to a Nameless True Immortal. But since their actions are driven purely by instinct, it's difficult to say how much they can truly exert."
"However, their sheer number makes up for it. They are more than enough to deal with those True Immortals from the Star Sea of the North."
Li Fan gazed into the distance once more, awaiting his bait to take the hook.
For the past fifteen years, since Nameless Witnessed the power Li Fan had inadvertently displayed and his ambition to rebuild the Immortal Court, the Star Sea of the North had shown him the necessary respect due to a powerful being. They no longer questioned Li Fan's absorption of their complete Great Dao. They had even intentionally relaxed the constraints of the The Dao Lattice around the High Wall, allowing Li Fan to absorb the Great Dao more smoothly.
Li Fan never intended to completely drain the Great Dao of the Star Sea of the North, thereby hastening the arrival of Dao Erasure. His actions were merely to replenish the desiccated Dao Principles within the Abyssal Sea of Darkness.
After the creation of the Primordial Immortal Realm, despite being a newly born continent, it drew upon the Infinite Sea. Numerous naturally evolved Great Dao Laws within it even surpassed those of the surrounding Abyssal Sea of Darkness. Therefore, Li Fan no longer needed to "learn" from the Star Sea of the North.
In the tenth year, he sealed off the "Path," completely ceasing his absorption of the Star Sea of the North's Great Dao. Of course, Li Fan had no intention of kindly allowing the Primordial Immortal Realm to benefit the Star Sea of the North. With the High Wall acting as a barrier, outsiders could not detect the birth of this Immortal Realm continent.
However, Li Fan's deliberate restraint was precisely the signal for the "Re-establishment of the Immortal Court." In the subsequent five years, Nameless visited several times. Although he did not mention the Immortal Court, he submitted a list provided by the Star Sea of the North.
"A Nameless True Immortal as the leader, accompanied by six True Immortals."
"This is not a small contingent."
"All who have come are from True Immortal factions. None of those Immortal Hunters are here. It seems that the one named Wei was instantly suppressed by me, which has frightened them," Li Fan chuckled.
The list did not specify the Dao Path understood by the leading Nameless True Immortal.
"Benevolent Transformation, Inversion, Chaos..."
"I wonder if it will be one of these three."
Li Fan withdrew his gaze, looking down at the Primordial Immortal Realm beneath him. With a slight clench of his fingers, the fleeting scenes and imagery within this Primordial Heaven and Earth were instantly captured and gathered into Li Fan's palm, forming a lifelike, flowing scroll. The scroll slowly transitioned from ethereal to solid.
"Thirteen," Li Fan uttered softly.
As radiant light flowed, a silver figure appeared before Li Fan. The figure's outline was constantly shifting, lacking a solid form, yet it vaguely resembled Li Fan. Evidently, this Heavenly Scar had intentionally emulated him.
"You will make a trip. Deliver this painting to our neighbors."
"When this scroll is unfurled, it will mark the formal re-establishment of the Immortal Court."
Thirteen bowed to receive the command and then, like a bolt of lightning, vanished from the Primordial Immortal Realm in an instant.
This was Thirteen's first time leaving the Primordial Immortal Realm, and initially, it felt a tinge of excitement. However, upon witnessing the barren starry sky outside the High Wall, its curiosity gradually gave way to disappointment and disdain. If the Primordial Immortal Realm, permeated with Infinite Immortal Power, was a magnificent palace, then the Star Sea of the North was arguably less than a humble thatched hut. At best, it resembled a hastily constructed den, fit only for wild beasts.
Not wanting to linger for a moment longer, Thirteen only wished to complete its mission and return. It hurtled forward, flying towards the location designated by Li Fan.
There were no obstacles initially. Suddenly, it felt as if it had fallen into a vast net. Simultaneously, an uncountable number of threads seemed to cling to every inch of its body, and Thirteen felt immense resistance from the outside.
"Who goes there!"
Perhaps sensing that Thirteen was approaching from the direction of Li Fan's location, the Star Sea of the North did not immediately act against this rash intruder. Instead, it cautiously inquired first.
"By the command of the Great Master, I am here to deliver a scroll from the Primordial Immortal Realm."
"When this scroll is unfurled, it will be the day the Immortal Court is re-established."
"Those on the list are welcome to witness it."
The defiant Thirteen raised the scroll bestowed by Li Fan's head, feeling the resistance around it. Annoyed, it deliberately spoke in a booming voice. This sound erupted like a colossal tidal wave, or a fierce gale, suddenly rising within the The Dao Lattice. Innumerable Dao Strings instantly vibrated erratically. The seemingly indestructible The Dao Lattice, for a moment, swayed like duckweed in the wind.
Hearing the exclamations from various parts of the Star Sea, Thirteen felt a surge of pride. However, in the next moment, the storm abruptly ceased. Just as it had appeared, the turbulence subsided just as suddenly. It was as if something had instantly suppressed the commotion within the The Dao Lattice.
"Hmm?" At this moment, Thirteen sensed several auras similar to those of its strongest elder brothers, prompting it to become slightly more reserved. Furthermore, there seemed to be a gaze fixed upon it from outside the The Dao Lattice, a sensation identical to being observed by the Great Master.
"No wonder the Great Master invited these individuals to witness the ceremony," Thirteen realized, understanding the situation. It no longer acted presumptuously, merely cupped its hands in a salute and bid its farewell, transforming into a silver streak of lightning and departing.
Throughout the vast Star Sea of the North, not a single individual stepped forward to impede it. It arrived at will and departed just as easily. In the ensuing silence, everyone's attention focused on the scroll left behind by Thirteen. Even though the scroll had not yet been unfurled, everyone could sense its extraordinary aura. This was particularly true for the True Immortals within the Star Sea of the North. They seemed to faintly glimpse the remnants of the now-shattered Immortal Realm.
The Dao Lattice began to glow, and order was restored amidst the chaos, obscuring the gazes of outsiders fixed upon the radiant scroll. Within the circular field of vision, shadowed by the The Dao Lattice, figures appeared one after another beside the scroll. They watched in silent contemplation, completely engrossed.
A pair of transparent blue hands descended from the heavens, landing upon the scroll. With a slight exertion of force, they attempted to forcefully unfurl it, but the scroll remained utterly still.
"This scroll… carries the weight of the countless seas and mountains."
"It seems that what that Hidden Emperor said about re-establishing the Immortal Court was not mere idle talk," a fluctuation emanated from the blue hands, its tone devoid of emotion.
Another figure stepped forward to try, with the same result.
"This sensation is almost identical to when the Immortal Emperor of the past opened the nascent Immortal Realm atop Mount Shang."
"Indeed, this is the method of a Governing Immortal Emperor."
"Could it be that one of the former Immortal Emperors has descended?" Another figure retreated, their voice filled with disbelief.
No one could answer his query.
"If that is the case, then we must investigate firsthand."
"This Hidden Emperor possesses unfathomable strength, and his intentions are unclear. I will lead the team."
"Even if he harbors any sinister intentions, I can at least ensure everyone's safe return. After enduring several tribulations, we truly cannot afford any more losses," a voice emerged from the void.
The True Immortals standing beside the scroll did not object to his words. Knowing Li Fan's capabilities beforehand, they implicitly acknowledged that the speaker possessed the ability to come and go freely. Their confidence in his strength was evident.
"Although hidden Emperors are rarely upstanding individuals, given the current circumstances, it's best not to make them an enemy. If he truly still possesses the means by which the Governing Immortal Emperor created the Immortal Realm, then perhaps cooperation is possible," after a moment of silence, the only figure among the True Immortals who revealed their true face spoke.
This individual wore a white robe, with a small black cat perched on his shoulder, creating a stark contrast in color. The cat appeared to be asleep, yet its ears twitched occasionally, as if eavesdropping. This white-robed True Immortal seemed to hold considerable sway among the immortals; when he spoke, others merely nodded in agreement.
"Let us wait.
"I suspect it will not be more than a few days."
The immortals reached a consensus and decided to wait by the scroll. For them, spans of a hundred or even a thousand years passed in an instant. Waiting a few days was merely akin to taking a short nap.
Li Fan did not keep them waiting long. On the ninth day after the scroll arrived in the Star Sea of the North, a powerful fluctuation emanated from it. Gusts of wind arose inexplicably, as if about to slowly unfurl the scroll. Amidst the sharp winds, even the True Immortals found it difficult to stand steadily, retreating one after another.
Only the ethereal point, the figure shouldering the black cat, and the pair of blue hands remained immobile. However, they stared intently at the unfolding scroll in the center, their auras becoming unusually solemn.
"The aura of the Infinite Sea."
"And it's fresh."
"After so many years, we finally meet again."
The tone was enigmatic, a mixture of caution and sighing. The more of the Primordial Immortal Realm's scroll was revealed, the stronger the accompanying gusts of wind became. This was not wind in the ordinary sense. It was the pressure exerted by Li Fan, leveraging the Infinite Sea's power through "Illusion is True," descending upon the mortal world from a superior vantage point. Only those as powerful as Mound Guardian, who could stand unmoving on mountaintops or by the sea, could withstand it.
Li Fan himself had tried it. Without the state of "Illusion is True," even with the power of several Mound Guardian phantoms, he could not endure it. He succumbed after only a few breaths. The three figures present seemed to lack any strength comparable to Mound Guardian. As the scroll unfurled to ninety percent, and the pressure reached its zenith, all three retreated to varying degrees. The difference in their retreat distances revealed their respective strengths.
The weakest was the ethereal point. Although it could nullify all external influences, this exemption seemed to fail against the pressure from beyond the mortal world, forcing it to retreat inch by inch. The transparent blue hands fared slightly better, becoming increasingly translucent, as if blending completely with their surroundings. However, it seemed they were not using the surroundings to resist the majesty of the Infinite Sea, but rather to help the The Dao Lattice of the Star Sea of the North survive this pressure. A portion of their power was diverted, thus forcing them to retreat.
The strongest among the three was the white-robed figure. Amidst the hurricane from the Infinite Sea, the black cat on his shoulder had awakened. Its two emerald green eyes, like jewels, stared intently at the scroll before them. It licked its lips, its tail swaying gently. Cat and human seemed united; they barely moved in the fierce wind.
When the scroll was fully unfurled, a miniature depiction of the Primordial Immortal Realm was instantly revealed to everyone. The scene of boundless, thriving vitality was so profound that it momentarily stunned those accustomed to the desolate silence of the Star Sea.
"If this Hidden Emperor can replicate this divine ability,"
"Combined with our methods, perhaps a resurrection is possible."
The speaker was not one of the three True Immortals. It was the black cat on the white-robed figure's shoulder. However, it did not seem to be the black cat speaking of its own accord, for as it spoke, its green eyes suddenly dimmed. When the green light flashed again, the black cat appeared somewhat confused, as if unaware of what had just transpired. It was as if some entity had borrowed its body.
"Since the scroll has been unfurled, I will go first to probe his strength."
The others nodded slowly, their gazes still fixed on the scroll.
...
Within the Primordial Immortal Realm.
While the True Immortals of the Star Sea of the North were examining the scroll, Li Fan was also observing them through it. However, he was concealed within the Infinite Sea through the divine ability of "Illusion is True," thus remaining undetected.
The others were as expected; the strength of the True Immortals appearing in the Star Sea of the North did not exceed Li Fan's estimations. That is, until the figure of the white-robed man with the black cat appeared. The moment he saw the black cat, Li Fan's heart skipped a beat. The image of Cat Treasure devouring the Starving Immortal flashed before his eyes once more.
However, after an instant of instinctive vigilance, Li Fan realized that this black cat was not the Cat Treasure he had seen before. Li Fan had sculpted various wooden effigies of Cat Treasure and was intimately familiar with its appearance. Thus, after a brief moment of stunned silence, he noticed the distinct differences between the two. He breathed a sigh of relief.
"If the Cat Treasure perched on his shoulder was the real one, my plan would have to be altered. Fortunately." With the Starving Immortal as an anchor, Li Fan had gained a rough assessment of the power Cat Treasure had exhibited back then. It was not inferior to the stronger Nameless True Immortals, but it was inferior to a phantom of Mound Guardian. In his current state, even if Li Fan were to truly encounter Cat Treasure, he would still be able to face it with composure. The crucial factor was the unknown power behind Cat Treasure.
During the evolution of the clone that became the Sacred Emperor, before the true nature of reality was fully understood, Cat Treasure displayed three heaven-defying abilities: item duplication, life form simulation, and essence cultivation. Even Li Fan, who had become a creator of a true immortal domain in all but name, could not easily replicate these feats. Cat Treasure was merely a harbinger of its kind, hinting at the immense power of the forces behind it. Moreover, Li Fan had thoroughly investigated the powers within the Star Sea and found no trace of Cat Treasure’s origins. This suggested that Cat Treasure’s backing either hailed from the distant cosmos or… from other possibilities. If it was the former, it would be manageable, but if it was the latter, then the fishing pond hidden within the Xuanhuang Realm might need to be re-examined.
Within the The Great Barriers, only one location remained outside Li Fan's control: the fishing pond. The fishing pond held countless treasures, like shimmering starlight, all captured from various sources. However, the desolate cosmos of the primordial possibility where life was fading seemed insufficient to support such an abundance of treasures. The items within the pond often possessed unique characteristics, almost as if each came from a distinct civilization. In a primordial possibility ravaged by the Dao Erasure Tribulation, where even the Immortal Realm had been destroyed, it was impossible for so many different cultivation civilizations to emerge. The fishing pond might actually be connected to the myriad worlds. This was the primary reason why Li Fan, despite his ability to effortlessly control the Nameless True Immortal, had not interfered with the fishing pond. As long as it was not provoked, the fishing pond remained like a serene body of water, and Li Fan was unwilling to risk interfering. In the past, Li Fan had relied on the pond's treasures to aid his cultivation. Now, however, after comprehending the "Transformation of True and False," nothing in the world, apart from "Return to Truth," was irreplaceable to Li Fan. He set aside thoughts of the fishing pond and Cat Treasure for the moment.
As Li Fan unfurled the scroll, the True Immortals of the Star Sea were already en route to offer their congratulations. Not wishing for them to discover the existence of the The Great Barriers, Li Fan had Li Buren and the three Dao Marks wait outside the walls. Soon, led by Chaos, the True Immortals of the Star Sea exited the The Dao Lattice's coverage and entered the Annihilation Land. Compared to the past, the Annihilation Land near the The Great Barriers appeared slightly more vibrant, thanks to Li Fan's active absorption of the Star Sea's abundant Dao principles. However, the areas destroyed by the Dao Erasure could not be restored, and the terrain remained narrow and elongated. The moment the True Immortals set foot here, they perceived the Dao path manifested by Li Buren.
"Interesting," remarked one voice from a point of void leading the group. "Isn't this another kind of The Dao Lattice?" "It's a shame those Immortal Hunters couldn't join us. Their expressions would be quite amusing if they saw this path."
As the other True Immortals walked on the "road," their expressions varied. Having fought for a long time, they were quite familiar with the Star Sea's The Dao Lattice. In their eyes, the path beneath their feet seemed to be no inferior to the The Dao Lattice. The question was, how? The Star Sea's The Dao Lattice was built upon the foundation of several nameless entities, supported by numerous True Immortals, and even imprinted by a single individual. Only through the combined efforts of many could such a creation arise, allowing mortals to contend with True Immortals in an instant. What, then, was responsible for the road before them? Was it solely the accomplishment of the Hidden Emperor? If so, then this Hidden Emperor's strength likely surpassed their estimations. A flicker of concern crossed the eyes of all the Immortals.
After walking for a while, their gazes were drawn to a stone pillar erected in the void ahead. The large character "Still" inscribed on the pillar caused the Immortals' hearts to leap. They had heard of Elder Wei, an Immortal Hunter, being suppressed and turned into a pillar, but seeing it with their own eyes sent a chill down their spines. "It's not without reason that he became the 'Hidden Emperor'," they mused to themselves. Although they felt sympathy for Elder Wei, none proposed to rescue him.
Beyond the stone pillar, Li Buren and the eleventh to thirteenth Dao Marks had been waiting for a long time. "Greetings, everyone. We meet again," Thirteen grinned, his tone somber. Eleven and Twelve also regarded the True Immortals before them with the gaze of hunters. Having witnessed the infinite sea's power emanating from Thirteen, and now seeing two individuals by his side who were not inferior to him, the Immortals could not help but feel tense and uneasy. Among the Immortals, only Chaos's attention was solely focused on Li Buren. As if sensing the unique aura of Li Buren's recent return from the Infinite Sea, Chaos's attitude subtly shifted.
Li Buren manifested a seven-colored road to guide the Immortals. Stepping onto the path, they were enveloped by myriad rays of multicolored light, rendering them unable to see or hear. It felt as if they were rapidly flying forward, traversing thousands of miles in an instant. When the seven-colored light dissipated, the majestic and sacred Primordial Immortal Realm suddenly appeared before the Immortals' eyes. Even Chaos, the nameless one, froze in place. Perceiving something through a painting was entirely different from experiencing it firsthand. What they had sensed from the painting was less than one ten-thousandth of what they felt now. The sky was high, the earth vast, and the realm boundless. The great lakes, distributed like mirrors, the mountain peaks hidden in the clouds, and the palaces standing tall in the sky… The realm was brimming with vitality and nurturing infinite possibilities. What truly caused the Immortals’ spirits to stir, as if returning to their immortal homeland, was the immense Infinite Immortal Power that permeated this realm. They couldn't recall how long it had been since they enjoyed such a comfortable sensation. Although their powers gained infinite properties the moment they attained True Immortal status, they still longed for an environment filled with such "infinity." In their lives in the lower realm, their strength meant they wouldn't suffer significant harm, but they still felt awkward, as if wading through a muddy swamp, the splashing mud water causing them discomfort. Stepping into this Primordial Immortal Realm was truly like a fish entering water or a bird soaring into the sky. It was like returning home. Many True Immortals wept on the spot. After years of brutal struggle in the harsh environment of the lower realm, they never thought they would see the Immortal Realm again. Even if it was just one immortal domain, it was more than enough.
While the Immortals were caught in a whirlwind of emotions, the Primordial Immortal Realm suddenly fell silent. All living beings uniformly looked up at the sky, holding their breath. Then, they slowly bowed. The Immortals also followed the gaze of the realm's inhabitants. On the sky's expanse, thirteen Dao Marks were distributed, while five palaces, shrouded in ethereal purple mist, flickered in and out of existence beyond the sky. "What are those..." the Immortals vaguely perceived the gazes of five deities emanating from these structures. Looking down from on high, they surveyed the Immortals. The Immortals were instantly struck by the illusion of paying homage to the Governing Immortal Emperor. Infinite Immortal Power surged around them like a fierce wind. Under the pressure of the specific environment, several True Immortals' minds became unsettled, almost compelling them to bow to the five figures. However, they were restrained by Chaos, the nameless one. "Heavenly Consciousness." "Unified into Five." As expected of the Nameless Realm, with a single glance, he discerned the true nature of the five figures outside the sky. As the five Heavenly Consciousnesses naturally born within the Primordial Immortal Realm, their strength surpassed that of the thirteen Dao Marks. Chaos believed he could face the thirteen Dao Marks without fear, but against the five dominant Heavenly Consciousnesses of the Primordial Immortal Realm… "If I don't use my ultimate means, it might be a bit difficult," Chaos mused, assessing the situation. "I didn't expect this immortal domain to gather so many powerful innate beings!" This was entirely beyond Chaos's expectations. Although the Immortal Realm in the past was vast and boundless, innate beings were exceedingly rare. Those innate beings connected to the Infinite Sea were even rarer. Yet, now, this immortal domain had gathered them all. "Just what is that Hidden Emperor…" Chaos's heart sank as he endlessly searched for the Hidden Emperor who created this immortal domain, but found nothing. From then on, there was no need for him to search. Amidst the absolute silence of the realm's inhabitants, Li Fan finally spoke. His voice did not come from the heavens or the mortal world, but arose spontaneously from every corner of the Primordial Immortal Realm, as if he were omnipresent. "After many years, the Immortal Realm has been rebuilt. An immortal and enduring enterprise, now complete." "Today, the Immortal Realm is established, and the Immortal Court begins." "Enfeoffed: Central Supreme Boundless Great Emperor." "Enfeoffed: Eastern Azure Heavenly Ziwei Great Emperor." "Enfeoffed: Western Jade Emperor Heavenly Emperor." "Enfeoffed: Southern Yellow Heavenly Netherworld Great Emperor." "Enfeoffed: Northern Profound Heavenly Longevity Great Emperor." As each pronouncement echoed, the majestic figures seated within the five palaces beyond the sky, which had previously appeared like flowers in a mist, now gained distinct appearances, complete with crowns and imperial robes. When the five Heavenly Consciousnesses were enfeoffed by Li Fan, natural barriers formed across the sky and the land beneath it. The Primordial Immortal Realm was divided into the Central Supreme, Eastern Azure, Western Jade, Southern Nether, and Northern Profound Heaven realms by the pronouncements reverberating through the heavens and earth. The five Heavenly Emperors each resided in their respective heavens, seated majestically. Within these five celestial domains, different environments began to evolve. For instance, in the Northern Profound Heaven, life flourished with unparalleled vitality, surpassing that of other domains. The Eastern Azure Heaven exuded an image of noble authority, and the beings within this domain, simply by existing within the realm, spontaneously began to ascend in their life form. In practical terms, the upper limit of their Infinite Immortal Power, which was connected to the Infinite Sea, began to grow gradually. The Central Supreme Heaven represented fairness and peace, a realm of the uncrowned king, which, by not contending, achieved eternal victory. The enfeoffment of the five Heavenly Emperors descended like five great mountains, crushing the Immortals. This was the pressure of the entire Primordial Immortal Realm, which these Immortals could not resist. Therefore, despite their reluctance, they were forced to lower their heads that had been gazing at the five Heavenly Emperors. Even Chaos, the nameless one, did the same. "These five Heavenly Consciousnesses have become even stronger," Chaos marveled. "That voice resounding through the heavens and earth must be the Hidden Emperor." "It is through his conferral that the Heavenly Consciousnesses have truly gained recognition in this world, thus enabling them to control the various aspects of heaven and earth." Chaos's thoughts raced. Even the Governing Immortal Emperor of the past did not possess such supreme authority in the Immortal Realm, as the Immortal Realm was jointly created by the various Sage Lords. "In comparison, the Governing Immortal Emperor and the five Emperors enfeoffed now are beings of equal caliber." "Could it be…" Chaos's heart trembled violently, and a bold conjecture surged into his mind. "Has that Hidden Emperor embarked on the path of transforming into a Sage?" "Otherwise, his actions are inexplicable." Chaos could no longer remain calm. Although the Immortal Realm had seen successive Immortal Emperors, the Four Sage Lords had remained constant. After an immeasurable period of creation, a fifth Sage Lord had yet to emerge. "Could it be that with the destruction of the Immortal Realm, the fifth Sage Lord is about to appear?" Chaos lowered his head, attempting to locate the Hidden Emperor. However, this Hidden Emperor seemed to have forgotten about them, the observing True Immortals. After enfeoffing the Heavenly Emperors, he proceeded to enfeoff the thirteen Dao Marks. The status of the Dao Marks was inferior to that of the Heavenly Consciousnesses. They were bestowed the title of "Venerable." The originally formless Dao Marks, upon being enfeoffed, instantly assumed fixed shapes. Some resembled primordial divine beasts, others towering mountains, and yet others ordinary mortals. They varied in form. After the enfeoffment of the thirteen Venerables, the grand voice gradually faded. The five Heavenly Emperors and the thirteen Venerables began to select their generals and soldiers from the beings within the Immortal Realm, creating a scene of lively activity. The True Immortals from the Star Sea who had come to observe were left aside. It was a hundred days later when all the commotion ended. During this entire period, Li Fan had not appeared to meet them. On this day, Thirteen, clad in magnificent robes, appeared before the assembled beings. "Greetings, Venerable," Chaos, the nameless one, led the ceremony, and the other Immortals followed suit. After being bestowed the title of Venerable, Thirteen's demeanor was no longer as frivolous as before. "The Grand Master has decreed that the observation is complete. It is time for you to depart." The Immortals were stunned. "But we haven't even met…" "Hmm?" Thirteen's expression grew stern, and contempt was evident on his face. He almost blurted out, "Do you even qualify?" "This Thirteen Venerable is far superior to his former self," Chaos mused. After some thought, he cupped his hands in salute. Then, leading the observing Immortals, they departed the Primordial Immortal Realm along the seven-colored road that reappeared. "Ugh…" Perhaps it was due to their prolonged stay in an environment brimming with Infinite Immortal Power, but upon returning to the Star Sea, the Immortals instinctively felt a sense of discomfort. The drastic difference in environment made them instinctively look towards the direction of the Primordial Immortal Realm. Unfortunately, as the seven-colored road closed, they could no longer return. It took the Immortals a considerable amount of time to readjust to the harsh environment of the Star Sea, their expressions conveying a myriad of thoughts. Chaos, the nameless one, had fulfilled his mission, safely escorting the Immortals back. Moreover, the information they provided was extremely valuable, particularly the speculation about Li Fan's strength as the Hidden Emperor, which necessitated the Star Sea powers to adjust their strategy. However, Chaos himself had been absent-minded since his return.
Beyond his fond memories of the Primordial Immortal Realm, Boundless Unity was more concerned about the Hidden Emperor himself. Ancient legends of the Immortal Realm spoke of the supreme divine abilities of Immortal Saints, who could guide True Immortals to Transcendence.
"After the Immortal Realm's destruction, the Four Sage Lords vanished without a trace. If this individual has walked the path of 'Becoming a Saint,' then perhaps..." Whenever Boundless Unity contemplated this, an irresistible urge to return and visit the Hidden Emperor personally would surge within him.
However, having attained the Dao for many years, Boundless Unity possessed a degree of composure. "This matter cannot be rushed. We need to plan carefully."
"It would be best to contact the others. After all, I alone might not be worthy of a Saint's attention."
Boundless Unity pondered the various rumors he knew about the former Four Sage Lords of the Immortal Realm: Tai Yi, Lian Shan, Gui Hai, and Jing Fen.
Tai Yi Sage Lord was said to be the first being in existence. He witnessed the world's creation from nothingness, possessing unparalleled wisdom.
Lian Shan Sage Lord, within Mount Shang, pioneered the path to becoming an Immortal. The first Immortal in the world, his strength was immeasurable. If one were to rank the power of True Immortals based on their position on Mount Shang, then Lian Shan Sage Lord would undoubtedly stand at the very apex.
Gui Hai Sage Lord, by opening the Infinite Spring, caused a qualitative leap in the power of Immortals. After countless ages of excavation, the Infinite Spring transformed into the boundless Infinite Sea, providing every True Immortal in the Immortal Realm with inexhaustible resources. Governing the mountains with the sea, his might was no less than Lian Shan Sage Lord's.
Jing Fen Sage Lord...
As this name entered his mind, Boundless Unity instinctively felt a chill. He quietly recited a mantra, and the intense sense of dread slowly receded.
Jing Fen Sage Lord emerged only after the Immortal Realm's cosmic forces reached their peak, and he was the last Sage Lord to attain the Dao in the history of the Immortal Realm. Although the Immortal Realm had established the method of infinity, birth and death, growth and decay of the Dao were always within the cycle of heavenly principles. Even the Immortal Realm could not escape this.
However, the reason the Immortal Realm was filled with vibrant life and free from the decay of the Dao was entirely thanks to Jing Fen Sage Lord, who used himself as a tomb to bury the Daos of all Heavens. This ensured that the decay and eventual annihilation of the Dao would not affect the flourishing Immortal Realm. Only when the Dao cycled, returning to its period of growth and flourishing, would Jing Fen Sage Lord release the Dao.
"Jing Fen devours the Dao, initiating the cycle, upon barren tombs." This was an ancient proverb of the Immortal Realm.
It was precisely because the four Sage Lords acted as heavenly pillars, supporting the firmament of the Immortal Realm, that the vast and boundless Immortal Paradise of endless vitality came to be. Yet, because the responsibilities of the Four Sage Lords were too immense for them to manage the countless Immortals, Immortal Emperors were appointed over the ages.
In the early days of the Immortal Realm, True Immortals still knew the names of the Four Sage Lords and often silently gave thanks. But as time passed and the Four Sage Lords did not appear for a long time, the Immortals, while not entirely forgetting them, gradually faded their memory, reducing them to mere symbols.
If the Four Sage Lords had remained constant, perhaps many of the subsequent events would not have occurred. All the changes began with Jing Fen Sage Lord's abandonment of his post. Although it seemed disrespectful to say so, the truth was as stated.
After burying and organizing the decaying Daos of the Immortal Realm for countless years, this fourth Sage Lord of the Immortal Realm suddenly "went on strike" one day. With a great laugh, he expelled the decaying Daos, which had not yet completed their cycle, in a single breath.
That corrosive gale, capable of erasing all Immortal Daos, swept through the entire Immortal Realm in an instant. Countless Immortal servants, puppets, and artifacts decayed upon contact with this "Grave Wind." Even True Immortals and Nameless True Immortals could not escape this corrosive aura of the Dao. The damage to the Immortal Realm was immense, with countless casualties.
However, in the face of the Immortal Realm's infinite energy, this loss was not truly significant. With a little time, it could be repaired. The crucial issue was that Jing Fen Sage Lord had resigned. The decay and annihilation of the Dao could no longer be managed; it could only be tolerated and avoided. Furthermore, having become infused with the nature of infinity, this decay and annihilation of the Dao became even more potent. It not only transformed into corrosive gales that assaulted various parts of the Immortal Realm but also gave rise to numerous apocalyptic phenomena that descended irregularly throughout the Immortal Realm and even the lower star sea.
One of the four heavenly pillars had abruptly vanished. This was destined to bring immense chaos to the Immortal Realm. It was said that the other three Sage Lords, Tai Yi, Lian Shan, and Gui Hai, unable to bear witnessing the suffering of the Immortal Realm, had jointly persuaded the somewhat "willful" Jing Fen Sage Lord. The ultimate outcome remained unknown.
However, three thousand years after the brief disappearance of the phenomena, they began to manifest again in various locations. This time, they did not erupt on a large scale but appeared gradually with increasing intensity and frequency, allowing the Immortals a somewhat extended period to adapt. Under the guidance of the three Sage Lords, the Governing Immortal Emperor appointed numerous Nameless individuals to suppress the "Grave Wind" phenomena in various regions. With the collective efforts of the Immortals, the chaos in the Immortal Realm was successfully managed.
Boundless Unity was once one of these many Nameless individuals. That was a very long time ago. So long ago that when Boundless Unity recalled it, he could not even confirm how many Immortal Emperors had reigned since then. Later, the Immortals of the Immortal Realm gradually adapted to the many phenomena brought about by the Grave Wind. They slowly forgot the origin of these phenomena, accepting them as an inherent part of the Immortal Realm. After all, what in the Immortal Realm was truly innate?
Although Jing Fen Sage Lord withdrew from worldly affairs, he did not disappear. He sensed any dissent, even unspoken, from those who criticized his actions. All such True Immortals were caught and swallowed by Jing Fen Sage Lord without exception. Considering that Jing Fen Sage Lord could absorb and transform even the decay and annihilation of the Dao, True Immortals who attained the Dao in his eyes were virtually indistinguishable from delicious food. Unable to resist, they all transformed into corrosive Grave Wind.
At that time, countless True Immortals in the Immortal Realm had complained about Jing Fen Sage Lord. He showed no favoritism and spared no one. After this purge, the Immortal Realm felt almost "emptied." This was a great tribulation in the early days of the Immortal Realm, but it was only significant for the True Immortals at the time. For the Immortal Realm as a whole, history later proved it to be a beneficial event.
After Jing Fen Sage Lord had devoured countless True Immortals, many years passed, and he gradually expelled the Daos that the True Immortals had comprehended. Some of these Dao principles filled the Immortal Realm's heavens and earth, while others quickly found new masters. The Immortal Realm once again became vibrant. However, after this ordeal, very few remembered Jing Fen Sage Lord. Only the phrase "Jing Fen devours the Dao, initiating the cycle, upon barren tombs" lingered in the minds of the few remaining True Immortals.
With such extreme behavior, although the True Immortals dared not criticize Jing Fen Sage Lord, they expressed their feelings through their actions and daily words. When they occasionally mentioned Jing Fen Sage Lord, they no longer used the title "Sage Lord." They called him "Great Sage Jing Fen." Perhaps pleased with this moniker, Jing Fen Sage Lord himself did not object, allowing the title to spread.
Boundless Unity had narrowly escaped death at that time. He had even personally witnessed an entire Immortal Region and countless True Immortals being absorbed as wisps of green energy. Naturally, he felt both reverence, fear, and awe towards this Jing Fen Sage Lord. He did not dare to follow the example of others and call him "Great Sage Jing Fen." He continued to refer to him as Jing Fen Sage Lord in his heart.
It was precisely because Jing Fen Sage Lord "resigned from his post" that the matter of him guiding True Immortals to Transcendence was later known to the world. Jing Fen Sage Lord's act of devouring the Immortals not only instilled fear but also, for some True Immortals, his displayed power was so awe-inspiring that they became even more devoted and fervent. Jing Fen Sage Lord largely ignored these "believers." However, by contemplating them daily, he perceived their innermost thoughts. Three of them were favored by the Sage Lord. They were then guided to Transcendence, visibly to all. This fueled the fervor of Jing Fen Sage Lord's followers. After another purge, those who slandered him and those who were fanatically devoted vanished from the world. Only a simple four-character title remained in the world. What happened to Jing Fen Sage Lord after the Immortal Realm's destruction was beyond Boundless Unity's knowledge.
"That Hidden Emperor's strength is certainly inferior to the Four Sage Lords of the Immortal Realm."
"However, since he has already embarked on the path to becoming a Saint and can guide True Immortals to Transcendence, it is likely not difficult for him."
"After all, the numerous Heavenly Emperors and Heavenly Scars in that Primordial Immortal Realm indicate his close connection to the Infinite Sea."
"And to achieve Transcendence, to cross the other shore, this is the most crucial point."
Boundless Unity's thoughts churned. After a long while, instead of seeking out other Nameless individuals, he first summoned "Nameless." In the Star Sea of the North, this individual had the most contact with the Hidden Emperor. For the past hundred years, every errand and message had been handled by him. Boundless Unity meticulously questioned Nameless about every detail of his interactions with the Hidden Emperor, attempting to decipher the Hidden Emperor's temperament.
"It seems he is not particularly difficult to approach."
"Compared to..." In Boundless Unity's eyes, the method of turning people into stone pillars was nothing significant.
After dismissing Nameless, Boundless Unity pondered and finally decided that he had to make a decision soon. Thus, the Nameless individuals of the Star Sea of the North gathered once more. The first to speak was the black-clothed figure with a white cat on its shoulder. "What is seen may not be real. The Hidden Emperor may not be who he seems. Even if that Primordial Immortal Realm was truly created by him, it does not necessarily indicate his true strength. After the Immortal Realm's destruction, the Governing Immortal Emperor's authority also vanished. Perhaps this individual was lucky enough to obtain the authority and is now pretending to be someone he is not."
"If he were truly a former Immortal Emperor, he would have approached us upon descending to the mortal realm."
"How could he have quietly lived next to us for so many years?" the white-clothed figure with the black cat on its shoulder countered sarcastically.
The blue-handed figure also chimed in, "The region occupied by that Hidden Emperor... is rather peculiar."
"It is a former territory of the Sacred Merchant."
When the True Immortals present heard the name "Sacred Merchant," their expressions changed to varying degrees. In the past, during their wars with the Immortal Hunters, they had suffered their greatest losses due to the Sacred Merchant.
After a moment of silence, Boundless Unity spoke, "Brother Boyan, I believe you are overthinking. No matter how capable the Sacred Merchant is, they cannot be compared to that Hidden Emperor."
"Indeed, they developed many potent artifacts, some of which could even seriously injure us. However, none of them involved the Infinite Sea. This is the most crucial point."
The black cat immediately retorted, "Boundless Unity, you may not be aware. The Sacred Merchant's predecessor was the Merchant Immortal Boat, which split from the Mystic Merchant Immortal Boat. If there is a Sacred Merchant, how can we be sure there isn't another 'Sacred Mystic' in existence?"
"Furthermore, you believe the Sacred Merchant did not possess powers related to the Infinite Sea? I doubt it. The Sacred Merchant vanished from the star sea in a single day. Was that not an escape to other possibilities? Without a connection to infinite power, how could they achieve such a feat?"
The black cat's words left Boundless Unity speechless. However, his experiences in the Immortal Realm made him naturally disinclined to argue. He remained silent. The white-clothed figure stroked the black cat on its shoulder, and the cat immediately stopped speaking, recovering from its controlled state.
The white-clothed figure said, "The black cat's reasoning is not without merit. Upon reflection, the Hidden Emperor's sudden appearance does have many unexplained aspects."
"However..." The white-clothed figure smiled. "None of that is important."
"The key is his actual strength."
"If we can defeat him, whether he is the Hidden Emperor or someone else, everything in that Primordial Immortal Realm will belong to us. Even the authority connecting to the Infinite Sea..."
These words stirred the hearts of the Immortals, their expressions filled with uncontainable emotion. Only Boundless Unity was stunned. He truly did not expect his seemingly rational companions to make such foolish judgments. His gaze drifted to the black cat on the white-clothed figure's shoulder. After a long pause, he managed to speak, "Do all of you remember the Great Sage Jing Fen from the past?"
"Great Sage Jing Fen?" This was a very ancient name. At least half of those present had never heard it and looked confused. The remaining half, who had heard of it, instinctively showed a trace of fear in their eyes.
But they quickly retorted, "Brother Boundless Unity, you are confused! That Hidden Emperor only created a small immortal land. How can he be compared to Great Sage Jing Fen?"
"That Primordial Immortal Realm, while grand-sounding, is actually smaller in scale than my former dwelling. Hmph, if the Immortal Realm still existed..."
"Brother Boundless Unity, you are being overly alarmist. If that Hidden Emperor truly possessed the power of Great Sage Jing Fen, what is there to fear even if we become his meal?"
Boundless Unity listened to the varied dissenting voices of his companions and gradually understood. The reason they had made completely different judgments from his own was primarily due to three factors. First, they had not personally journeyed to the Primordial Immortal Realm. They had not personally experienced the Hidden Emperor's might when he created the Immortal Court and appointed Heavenly Emperors. Hearing only his description, it was easy for them to make incorrect judgments. Second, they had been enticed by the Hidden Emperor's displayed authority that connected to the Infinite Sea, succumbing to greed. Third, and most crucially, the entity represented by the black cat gave these True Immortals confidence.
"The convergence of Immortals in the Guangming Star Sea is indeed greater than in our solitary Star Sea of the North."
"But..." Thinking of the voice from beyond the sky of the Primordial Immortal Realm, Boundless Unity quickly made his decision. "Make your own choices."
"As for me, I am not going."
The decision made by Formless Chaos caused the Immortals of the Northern Star Sea to erupt in laughter. However, since Formless Chaos had always acted with caution, the Immortals were accustomed to his ways.
The man in white gently stroked the black cat on his shoulder and teased, "Don't worry, Brother Formless Chaos. Once we capture that hidden Emperor who's been playing tricks, you'll definitely get a palace in the firmament of the Primordial Immortal Realm. After all, even if you have no merit, you have effort."
The other Immortals echoed his sentiments.
Formless Chaos, however, was unfazed.
Although [Benevolent Transformation]'s words were rather unpleasant, since he had already spoken publicly, he would not go back on his word. This was entirely beneficial and not at all harmful to him.
If he had truly misjudged, and the Hidden Emperor was actually defenseless, then with his past merits, he could still secure a place in the Primordial Immortal Realm.
But if they were all gravely mistaken…
Formless Chaos began to scheme in his heart.
"It's a pity that [Inversion] isn't here now; otherwise, I wouldn't have to be so conflicted," Formless Chaos thought, glancing at the black cat on Benevolent Transformation's shoulder, a cold snort escaping him.
...
Li Fan was currently unaware of everything happening in the Northern Star Sea.
Ever since he had enfeoffed five Heavenly Emperors in the Primordial Immortal Realm, an unprecedented new realization had surged within him.
He decided to play the long game, letting Formless Chaos and the others wait. He focused intently on studying this change.
This realization stemmed from the [Sitting Heaven Art].
Li Fan, after ascending to the Half-Immortal realm, had assumed this method of passively benefiting would cease to be effective. In fact, it seemed to confirm his thoughts, as no matter how many cultivators he helped improve their cultivation, directly or indirectly, he received no feedback whatsoever.
Until this time, with his enfeoffment.
After the five Heavenly Emperors were established, the Primordial Immortal Realm finally stabilized completely from its creation. It was no longer a mere imitation of the Immortal Realm, but truly became an immortal domain.
It stood atop [Mount Shang].
And Li Fan, who had facilitated all of this, felt as if a veil had been lifted at the moment of its completion. It was as if a stepping stone had appeared beneath his feet, allowing him to ascend slightly further. The view before him instantly transformed, revealing myriad phenomena.
"So, it wasn't that the Sitting Heaven Art had failed. It's just that after attaining the Immortal Path, ordinary feedback was no longer enough to propel my progress. Only the creation of an immortal domain from nothing could barely suffice," Li Fan understood clearly.
Although his strength had not changed in any way, this slight "elevation" made him feel as if he perceived the Mound Guardian's phantom, the Starving Immortal, and the Boundless Unity Heavenly Pillar differently compared to before.
"Looking down from above, everything seems easier," the eight characters, "Looking down from above, everything seems easier," involuntarily appeared in Li Fan's mind.
After a brief contemplation, Li Fan understood the origin of this feeling.
He had already spent over a hundred years in seclusion studying both the Mound Guardian's phantom and the Heavenly Pillars. While not perfectly familiar, he was certainly acquainted with them.
The feedback from the Sitting Heaven Art, based on this foundation of familiarity, directly doubled this familiarity after the creation of the Primordial Immortal Realm.
This saved Li Fan a hundred years of cultivation.
Li Fan's eyes narrowed.
In an instant, he scanned his entire being and discovered that it wasn't just his comprehension of the Mound Guardian's phantom and the Heavenly Pillars. All the knowledge and skills he possessed had nearly doubled, following this slight upward "ascension."
Even the Ink Slaughter Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice was included.
This terrifying rate of progress made even Li Fan find it hard to believe. After reconfirming the fact multiple times, he finally had to accept it.
"An inch higher on Mount Shang equates to a reversal of heaven and earth!"
"The increase in strength is not uniform as one ascends; the higher one stands, the strength increases by tens of thousands of times!"
"No wonder there's such a vast difference between True Immortals, and even Nameless True Immortals, and beings like the Mound Guardian and the Four Sage Lords who stand at the pinnacle of the Immortal Realm."
"It's even greater than the difference between cultivators in the Lower Realm."
"Give me hundreds of millions of Dao Integration cultivators, and with sheer numbers, I could even surround and kill Longevity Realm, or even Heavenly Physician Realm super-experts. But..."
"Similarly, hundreds of millions of True Immortals might not even be a match for any single one of the Four Sage Lords."
Li Fan looked back at his past self before this realization.
If he didn't count external forces, and only considered the strength he could wield himself, the current Li Fan could easily suppress his pre-creation-of-Primordial-Immortal-Realm self.
"The peculiar nature of [Mount Shang] has thus led to unimaginable disparities even between True Immortals of the same major realm, or between Nameless beings."
"After all, theoretically speaking, those who have 'transcended' are also considered to be within the ranks of Nameless True Immortals."
Only by personally ascending could one truly know the height of the mountain.
This was Li Fan's first personal advancement in strength since reaching the Half-Immortal realm, and he had already glimpsed a corner of the magnificent and unfathomable [Mount Shang].
"It's truly unimaginable how powerful the Sage Lords, who stand above all Immortals, must be."
"And the Infinite Sea and Mount Shang itself..." Li Fan's heart yearned for it.
After a period of reverie, his thoughts returned to reality.
Li Fan looked at the Primordial Immortal Realm he had personally crafted below. He could vaguely sense that, with the continuous infusion of his Infinite Immortal Power day and night, it had become a part of the [Mountains and Sea].
Even if he severed the connection between the Primordial Immortal Realm and the Infinite Sea, this fact could not be changed.
"This is the [price]..."
"Everything in the mortal world, along with the Infinite Sea and Mount Shang, is not of the same caliber. While one can exploit advantages and borrow strength, the result is being eroded by the power of the mountains and the sea, becoming a part of them."
"The Immortal Realm is like this. True Immortals are also like this."
"When the mountains and the sea merge, it will be time to repay the debt of Dao Erasure."
All the scenes he had witnessed in his past reincarnations now replayed before Li Fan's eyes. The so-called Dao Erasure and tribulations were all unavoidable patterns.
"This is the realization that surged into my heart after I truly created an immortal domain."
"Although I consider my comprehension to be excellent, the previous Immortal Emperors of the Immortal Realm, and even the Four Sage Lords, their innate talents were certainly no less than mine."
"If I can understand these things, how could they not?"
"They stand higher, so naturally, they can see further."
...
Li Fan tilted his head slightly, looking "upwards."
"Therefore, they knew this day would come long ago. That's why they rushed to climb higher and higher, before the mountains and the sea merged."
"The lifespan on the Reflection Panel represents the lifespan of the entire [mortal world]. However, it may not fully reflect the lifespan of the Infinite Sea and Mount Shang."
"The merging of mountains and sea is a trend, but trends always have an end."
A bolt of lightning split the fog in Li Fan's mind.
In an instant, he seemed to have leaped out of the mortal world, with only the infinite mountains and sea before his eyes.
As the mountains and sea merged, the myriad beings of the mortal world below, along with this fusion, vanished into thin air.
The tide of Dao Erasure continued to press upwards.
The supreme experts on the mountainside scrambled to climb higher.
"As long as we climb high enough, we might escape the tribulation of mountain and sea merging!"
Li Fan felt as if he had reached the peak of Mount Shang, gazing down at the surging turmoil. His heart was greatly shaken, and this thought uncontrollably emerged.
But then, he could not avoid thinking, "How high must one stand to avoid the outcome of the mountains and sea merging?"
"The Mound Guardian, the Four Sage Lords?"
"Or perhaps..."
"Reflection?!"
As inspiration struck, Li Fan suddenly thought of the treasure that had accompanied him for so long.
And this time, Reflection's response was rather peculiar.
It neither admitted nor denied.
It merely exuded a sense of dejection.
Even the slightest negative emotion from Reflection had a profound impact on Li Fan.
"Perhaps no matter how high one climbs, one cannot escape the fate of annihilation."
"Ascending Mount Shang is incredibly difficult with every step. Missing the opportunity of its initial creation, how can one catch up..."
"In the past, when I cultivated in the Xuanhuang Realm, with the help of Reflection, I always had absolute confidence. As long as I had enough reincarnation time, I could always grow stronger step by step. From Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment, then to Golden Core and Nascent Soul. Ultimately, I would trample even Longevity Realm experts underfoot. But now..."
"Mount Shang has stood for a thousand years, and now, where can I stride to surpass it?"
"The phantom left by the Mound Guardian is already so powerful. What would the Mound Guardian's true strength be? If the Mound Guardian is like this, what about the Four Sage Lords of the Immortal Realm?"
"And what basis do I have to defeat them?"
Li Fan's gaze grew distant, and he gradually lost himself.
Just as Li Fan was about to fall into despair, Reflection thankfully sensed something was amiss. It completely suppressed its emotional fluctuations.
Without Reflection's influence, Li Fan gradually emerged from this "inner demon."
Even though he had experienced a hundred reincarnations, he couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat.
Li Fan was by no means a passive person.
He had always believed that as long as he possessed Reflection, he would eventually transcend and be at ease.
But Reflection's emotional stirrings were merely a catalyst. The fundamental reason was that upon finally seeing the scenery on [Mount Shang], the daze and slight despair that arose.
The gap between him and the powerhouses standing at the peak of the mountains and sea was simply too vast. It was so vast that even with his ability for infinite reincarnation, Li Fan lacked absolute confidence in bridging it.
Especially as Li Fan's strength progressed and he drew closer to these powerhouses, the risks he bore would inevitably increase. And the external forces he could borrow would become scarcer.
Among the powerhouses between the mountains and sea, only they remained. The surroundings were barren cliffs, with no more places to borrow strength from.
How could he cross that chasm, to catch up, or even surpass them?
If it were before, as long as he had "Truth into Falsehood," his ultimate trump card that maintained Li Fan's confidence, he wouldn't be affected by such negative emotions.
But the current situation was extremely unusual.
Because, firstly, Reflection itself was affected by this pessimistic emotion, which in turn involved Li Fan.
After suppressing its emotions, Reflection vanished, and all that had happened seemed like an illusion.
But Li Fan's slightly trembling body indicated that the recent experience was not a figment of his imagination.
After a long while, with immense willpower, Li Fan temporarily broke free from that emotion. However, Li Fan knew that the shadow had not been completely erased.
It still existed in a corner of his heart, ready to erupt at any moment.
Li Fan closed his eyes, wiped away the gloom within, and then reopened them.
What truly concerned him was not his momentary loss of composure. After all, this was not the first or second time.
It was the fact that Reflection's emotional fluctuations had exceeded his expectations.
"After seeing everything of the mountains and sea, have I finally glimpsed Reflection's limit?"
Li Fan was momentarily stunned, and infinite emotion surged in his heart.
Once upon a time, he had always believed Reflection to be omnipotent. As long as he possessed the treasure, he could forge ahead without hindrance.
Now, it seemed he was fast approaching the time when he would have to rely on himself.
Li Fan's expression was as deep as still water.
He knew that "fast approaching" in reality meant a rather long period of time. But after all, it was within his "visual range."
It wasn't far off.
Facing Li Fan's various thoughts, Reflection seemed to have returned to Li Fan's state when he first began cultivating, without any emotional fluctuations.
Li Fan stood still like a statue.
Until a faint fluctuation from outside the The Great Barrier startled him.
The momentum was so immense that it almost made the path constructed by Li Buren difficult to maintain.
Li Fan looked over with a cold gaze.
He saw that the visitors were the Immortals from the Northern Star Sea.
Led by Nameless Immortal, a crowd of True Immortals and Nameless True Immortals had arrived outside the The Great Barrier.
"We heard that Senior used great divine abilities to re-establish the Immortal Court in the Immortal Realm. We are inspired by this and have come uninvited to witness its marvels," said the white-robed figure loudly.
This voice seemed to possess infinite magical power. Falling into Li Fan's ears, all the emotions that had arisen from Reflection's unexpected reaction instantly vanished.
Li Fan even inexplicably felt a sense of joy.
It was as if old friends he hadn't seen in years had come to visit.
With immense pleasure, Li Fan was about to wave his hand and invite the Immortals of the Northern Star Sea in.
Suddenly, his heart trembled, and he broke free from the momentary illusion.
"Hmm?"
"What was that just now..."
"Benevolent Transformation?"
Li Fan's eyes narrowed, a hint of danger flashing within them.
"As expected of a long-standing Nameless Immortal. Even I almost fell for his Dao."
"Too bad I have [Boundless Unity] by my side. No matter what divine abilities or great Daos exist, they can all be ignored."
Li Fan, having regained his senses, did not change his actions.
As if enchanted by [Benevolent Transformation]'s power, he was not angered by their uninvited visit. Instead, he laughed heartily and directly welcomed the Immortals of the Northern Star Sea.
Li Fan acutely noticed that there seemed to be many unfamiliar faces among the visitors this time.
Moreover, [Formless Chaos] was nowhere to be seen.
Li Fan instantly understood their scheme.
"It just so happens that this Primordial Immortal Realm of mine has just been created and is still rather empty."
After the incident with Reflection, Li Fan's mood was far from good.
And now, the figures from the Northern Star Sea had come knocking on his door.
In the depths of fate, their tragic destiny had already been sealed.
Of course, these True Immortals were still unaware of this.
They were still in a state of shock upon arriving in the immortal domain.
After the Primordial Immortal Realm was officially established and stood on Mount Shang, under the blessing of the five Heavenly Emperors and thirteen Dao Marks, it underwent earth-shattering changes every moment.
Connected to the Infinite Sea, there were no longer any energy constraints. These administrators of the Primordial Immortal Realm, officially appointed by Li Fan, could transform the world to their heart's content according to their wishes.
Therefore, compared to the Primordial Immortal Realm that Chaos's Nameless observed not long ago, the current Primordial Immortal Realm had changed significantly. The five regions each evolved different scenery.
As the saying goes, when one person attains the Dao, even their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven. The beings in each heavenly region also increased in strength.
This scene of thriving vitality far exceeded the expectations of the Immortals of the North Star Sea.
Although its scale could not be compared to the former Immortal Realm, in terms of liveliness, it far surpassed it.
"It's fine, my benevolent transformation still works. Even if they are numerous, we only need to target the leader," said the figure in white, seeing the wavering morale and quickly transmitting a message to appease them.
The black cat on the white figure's shoulder also echoed, "As long as we can successfully meet that Hidden Emperor this time, with the aid of the supreme treasure, no matter what divine abilities he possesses, he will surely be defeated on the spot. Catch the king to catch the bandits. The beings in this immortal domain can be used by us."
The supreme treasure mentioned by the black cat seemed very convincing, and the immortals' emotions quickly stabilized.
Looking at the Primordial Immortal Realm, greed resurfaced in their hearts.
After benevolent transformation, the white figure led the immortals on a brief tour, then bowed deeply towards the sky: "Senior's rebuilding of the Immortal Realm is truly an unparalleled achievement. It might even be comparable to the Four Saints of the Immortal Realm, or Mound Guardian."
"We admire you to the utmost and truly hope to see Senior's divine countenance soon..."
As if very satisfied with the white figure's flattery, various anomalies arose in the Primordial Immortal Realm. Golden light filled the sky, falling like a rain of flowers. From the thirteen Dao Marks, colorful halos spewed out. The sound of the sea wind whistling seemed to come from beyond the sky, resounding throughout the immortal domain.
This was a sign of the Infinite Sea unleashing its infinite immortal power.
"As expected, this Hidden Emperor controls the administrative authority!" Among the immortals, several Nameless figures, including benevolent transformation, could not conceal their excitement.
"Ever since Emperor Tianluo caused great disaster, the Immortal Realm was destroyed, and the Four Saints disappeared, it was thought that this administrative authority had also vanished without a trace. I never expected it to reappear on this lower realm Hidden Emperor... Everyone, if we control the authority, perhaps we can truly rebuild the Immortal Realm on the The Dao Lattice!"
"Moreover, it would be a mobile immortal realm floating above Dao Erasure! We would no longer have to worry about Dao Erasure!" The cat's words were extremely inflammatory, possessing a sort of magical power that completely unified the resolve of the originally hesitant immortals.
Kill the Hidden Emperor, seize the authority!
"You, come up!" A thunderous voice rang out from beyond the sky curtain of the Primordial Immortal Realm. Perhaps due to the previous flattery, the voice had a hint of smugness.
The moment the voice appeared, all sentient beings in the Primordial Immortal Realm prostrated themselves. Even the five Heavenly Emperors in the heavenly palaces appeared and paid homage to the true master of the Primordial Immortal Realm.
The immortals of the North Star Sea also confirmed the true identity of the owner of this voice. It must be that Hidden Emperor.
A silver path descended from beyond the sky, like a silken ribbon, arriving before the immortals.
Sensing the envious emotions of all the beings in the Primordial Immortal Realm, the immortals suppressed their inner excitement and stepped onto it.
"Wait, benevolent transformation, this path..."
"The Dao Lattice?"
"Hiss... Could it be that the Hidden Emperor has helpers?"
The reason the immortals of the North Star Sea asked such a question was because the North Star Sea The Dao Lattice was built by the collective efforts of the immortals. Now, seeing something similar to the The Dao Lattice appearing in the Primordial Immortal Realm, how could they not be suspicious and uncertain?
"No need to worry, it's just a slight convergence of Dao paths. How can it be compared to the Senluo The Dao Lattice? If he didn't have such strength, how could he have created an immortal domain?" benevolent transformation said to appease them.
After exchanging glances with the black cat on his shoulder, his expression became even more serious.
The immortals followed the path connecting to the heavens and disappeared amidst the envious gazes of the beings in the Primordial Immortal Realm.
The next moment, they found themselves in darkness.
This darkness seemed to have no origin, no beginning, and could actually shield the immortals' senses.
It made them suddenly blind, unable to discern north, south, east, or west.
"Where is Senior?" The immortals, though alarmed, were not in chaos, gathering around benevolent transformation.
But they received no response.
Waiting for them in the darkness was utter silence.
"Brother benevolent transformation, it seems something is wrong," someone among the immortals warned.
The black cat suddenly let out a sharp cry: "It's Dao Erasure!"
The immortals paused slightly, then looked at the pitch blackness around them and suddenly realized.
The feeling of the surrounding darkness, bringing them the sense of the destructive regions after being cleansed by Dao Erasure, seemed to be of the same origin. However, because it was not completely similar, they were slow to identify it at first.
The immortals began to realize that this place was a trap.
But after all, they were beings who had survived the ancient tribulations. When they truly encountered danger, they did not panic for a moment.
"He dares not reveal his true form, only playing tricks, which shows his guilt."
"Fellow Daoist, please use the supreme treasure!"
...
The immortals had varying expressions, but most looked at the black cat on benevolent transformation's shoulder.
Benevolent transformation's Nameless expression remained calm, but a wave of doubt surged uncontrollably in his heart.
His benevolent transformation power had clearly not failed. In fact, its effect on his surroundings had not changed from beginning to end. Then why did the Hidden Emperor's attitude change so drastically after entering this space?
"Could it be that he was not affected by me from the very beginning? And he wanted to lure us in?"
Once this thought arose, it could no longer be dispelled.
Benevolent transformation's heart gradually turned cold.
The Dao Principles of benevolent transformation he comprehended were indeed powerful. As long as one could not resist the influence of benevolent transformation, they had no room for resistance before him and could only be slaughtered at his will.
But conversely, if the other party could ignore benevolent transformation...
Then he, as a Nameless True Immortal, was no different from a lamb waiting to be slaughtered.
Just as he was about to discuss countermeasures with the one on his shoulder, a cold voice suddenly sounded from the darkness.
"Since you all want to see me so much..."
"Then I will grant your wish."
The darkness gradually dissipated, and the Heavenly Pillar that had been hidden in the darkness also appeared in the immortals' sight.
From heaven to earth, it stood in solitude, as if recounting tragic past events.
Looking at the Heavenly Pillar before them, waves of chill rose from the immortals' hearts.
They found it hard to believe: "That is... the Southern Immortal Heavenly Pillar?! How is this possible! Didn't it disappear completely in Dao Erasure along with the Great Li Star Domain and the Ancient World of All Beings?"
"Is this the Heavenly Pillar of Starvation?"
"This one... I can't sense it at all!"
The immortals became increasingly panicked.
Primordial, Starving Immortal, Grand Master Tiandu, Situ Xing.
The four Heavenly Pillars struck their hearts like four heavy hammers.
And surrounded by the four pillars, a figure stood quietly.
He observed the immortals, as if observing livestock waiting to be slaughtered in a cage.
Being stared at like this, the immortals felt both anger and shock.
"Everyone, no need to panic. Watch me capture them!"
The black cat's pair of green eyes locked onto Li Fan from afar, with a hint of mockery.
Then it leaped up and instantly approached Li Fan.
Two brilliant green lights shot out, transforming into a saber and a sword.
In a flash, they surrounded Li Fan.
The black cat's sudden outburst was within Li Fan's expectations, but the green saber and sword shooting from its eyes were somewhat beyond control.
Because Li Fan discovered that the protective "Boundless Unity" power surrounding him was actually ineffective against this pair of green saber and sword!
He got goosebumps instantly, and his heart pounded an alarm.
"Not within the Dao Principles of 'Primordial' possibility?"
In an instant, Li Fan understood.
He dimly saw a world of lifeless objects within these green saber and sword, as if it had suffered a world-ending tribulation, leaving no living beings. Only countless blades remained.
After an unknown number of years, these "objects" settled in the dead starry sky, and by instinct, they imitated their former masters.
Gradually, they occupied the Dao paths of all heavens.
The competition among objects was even more brutal than among humans.
Without any emotional factors, it was relentless and complete.
With the continuous struggle and fusion between objects,
In the end, only a saber and a sword remained in that cold starry sky!
"Dao Saber, Dao Saber!"
Like the Mother Stone of Dao Dissolution, what the black cat used now was actually the manifestation of a complete Dao within a possibility!
Although it was a dead possibility after a tribulation, it was still a complete Dao fusion.
As the green saber and sword approached, Li Fan found himself seemingly in a desperate situation.
Two cold killing intents had firmly locked onto him.
It seemed that no formations, divine abilities, or Dao arts could block the attack of this saber and sword!
"No wonder these True Immortals, even knowing everything in the Primordial Immortal Realm, were still so confident. They insisted on finding me and causing trouble."
"With this 'Dao Saber, Dao Saber' in hand, the strength of the five Heavenly Emperors I depicted would probably be instantly killed and become nourishment for the saber and sword."
Having grown through mutual combat, this "Dao Saber, Dao Saber" had an instinctive interest in killing and devouring other Dao principles.
Li Fan could almost feel the greed and excitement emanating from this pair of faintly green sabers and swords.
In an instant, as the saber and sword approached again.
With no time to spare, Li Fan made the most suitable decision at the last moment.
The green saber and sword whistled through his body.
The immense aura caused the space within the Heavenly Pillar to churn and boil.
Even the four Heavenly Pillars seemed to be affected and trembled incessantly.
However…
Under the gaze of the North Star Sea immortals, the figure of the Hidden Emperor remained motionless.
He even reached out and slowly stroked the green saber and sword beside him.
"Star Gazer? What's going on?" benevolent transformation's expression changed drastically, and he could no longer control himself, questioning the black cat on his shoulder.
The black cat also wore an expression of disbelief.
After unleashing the "Dao Saber, Dao Saber," its spirit was already very weak. Seeing the enemy unharmed under its ultimate move, it felt unbearable terror and confusion.
Unwilling to give up, the black cat tried to summon the "Dao Saber, Dao Saber" again to injure the enemy.
But for some reason, that figure seemed to not exist in the world. No matter how heaven-defying and destructive the "Dao Saber, Dao Saber" was, it could not harm him in the slightest!
This situation was completely beyond its comprehension!
...
Li Fan ignored the completely panicked immortals. Under the protection of "Illusion is True," he continued to stroke the pair of green saber and sword beside him.
Just now, in a moment of crisis, he decisively activated this protective ability of "Reflection is True."
He transformed into the pair of saber and sword themselves.
A moment later, the alarm in his heart completely disappeared.
The killing green aura that filled the sky could no longer harm him in the slightest.
Just as he had once merged into the Infinite Sea and could freely wield infinite power, he had now become a part of this pair of saber and sword.
Though the saber and sword were sharp, how could they cut themselves?
"As expected, it's a Dao path from another possibility."
Li Fan narrowed his eyes, feeling a completely unfamiliar aura from this pair of green saber and sword.
It was like the Dao Origin he had encountered in the North Star Sea after leaving the The Great Barrier, a completely unfamiliar system.
But in the end, it was still an evolution of the Great Dao under different circumstances.
"My Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice will have the chance to experience this exotic flavor today."
The power of the Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul surged out from Li Fan.
Under the cover of the "Illusion is True" divine ability, it eagerly pounced towards the "Dao Saber, Dao Saber."
Since it was the manifestation of a Great Dao, it could not escape the erosion of Dao Erasure.
Once its offensive nature was ignored, this "Dao Saber, Dao Saber" was merely a meal for the Ink Slaughter Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice.
Just as Li Fan was devouring this collection of Dao principles from another possibility.
The immortals of the North Star Sea finally woke up as if from a dream.
Especially the black cat, it shrieked repeatedly: "Quick, stop him! He's devouring my treasure!"
Although they were in a desperate situation, the immortals did not choose to wait for death.
They unleashed their divine abilities and attacked Li Fan in unison.
But all their attacks disappeared as soon as they approached Li Fan within three feet!
This anomaly also exceeded the immortals' cognition.
However, the Nameless among the immortals vaguely recognized something.
The black cat, named "Star Gazer," stopped shrieking. Despite its immense unwillingness, it could only accept its fate helplessly. The green aura completely receded, seemingly leaving the black cat.
"Boundless Unity..."
"Great Venerable..." benevolent transformation trembled, his gaze towards Li Fan now filled with despair.
Although there were three thousand Great Daos in the world, the only one that could ignore the attacks of all other Dao paths like the one before them...
Was the legendary "Boundless Unity Great Dao," which was born before all else!
It was said that it was depicted and taken in by a Sage Lord,
Even the past Governing Immortal Emperors treated it with great respect, its value being immeasurable!
They never expected that the target they wanted to hunt today was actually Him!
At this moment, benevolent transformation's heart was filled with endless regret.
Indeed, the Immortal Emperor's administrative authority was bestowed by the Sage Lord. Now that the Immortal Realm was destroyed and the Immortal Emperor had fallen, apart from the Sage Lord's disciples, who else could hold this authority?
"Great Venerable, please calm your anger! Great Venerable, please calm your anger!"
Completely plunged into despair, benevolent transformation suddenly seemed to grasp at a life-saving straw and said repeatedly.
"The former Emperor of Eternal Bliss once sought an audience with Sage Lord Tai Yi. Though his fortune was poor and he never met the Sage face-to-face, he was fortunate enough to be bestowed a scripture.
'Afterward, due to my merit in resisting the Annihilation of the Dao, Emperor of Eternal Bliss bestowed this scripture upon me.
'At that time, the Immortal Emperor said that this scripture was personally authored by Sage Lord. It was too profound. Sage Lord Tai Yi, pitying that mortals would find it difficult to comprehend, ordered Great Venerable to annotate it...'
Shan Hua spoke with extreme haste. He had keen eyes and noticed that the Immortals from the Star Sea of the North and the reinforcements from the Star Sea of Guang Wu, who had accompanied him, were now gradually transforming into miniature heavenly pillars.
It seemed that the power of Great Venerable Boundless was truly terrifying. Among the Immortals, there were those not weaker than him, yet they were utterly incapable of resisting and were nearly annihilated.
Shan Hua's fear was evident. He quickly took out the scripture, which he believed could save his life.
'Chapter of the Primordial Beginning of Mountains and Seas'!
Li Fan looked at the scripture floating above Shan Hua's head and, with a wave of his hand, summoned it. He could indeed feel the aura of 'Boundless' from the countless small characters on it.
'So, it seems we have some connection after all?'
Li Fan examined the scripture and calmly admitted his identity as Great Venerable 'Boundless.'
'Great Venerable, you truly have a discerning eye!' Shan Hua nodded repeatedly. Yet, his mind raced, searching for information about this Great Venerable under the Sage.
The Four Sage Lords of the Immortal Realm were almost mythical figures. Even successive Immortal Emperors found it incredibly difficult to meet them. However, apart from Sage Lord Jing Fen, the other three Sages had spokespersons. Among them, the Great Venerable Boundless before him was the most approachable. As long as one went along with him, appeased him, and subtly hinted at a connection, this Venerable would often be greatly pleased.
'This chapter, the 'Primordial Beginning of Mountains and Seas,' was inspired by Sage Lords Lian Shan and Gui Hai, who established the vast Immortal Realm from nothing. Its text is profoundly mystical, almost transcending the Dao itself. I, Shan Hua, have dull talents. Without your annotations, Great Venerable, even with the precious scripture in hand, I would be unable to comprehend its mysteries.'
'Great Venerable, you are truly my master!'
'When Emperor of Eternal Bliss first entrusted this scripture to me, he also said that your mastery of the Dao far surpassed his. Truly worthy of being a disciple of Sage Lord!' Shan Hua, no longer concerned about the long-deceased former Immortal Emperor, spoke without hesitation, fabricating as he went.
Li Fan carefully studied the scripture amidst Shan Hua's eloquent flattery. In a sense, Shan Hua was not entirely lying. Although the 'Primordial Beginning of Mountains and Seas' described the creation of the Immortal Realm amidst the Infinite Sea and Mount Shang, it also contained numerous insights from Sage Lord Tai Yi himself as he witnessed these great events. It was quite similar to the 'Casual Notes of the Mound Guardian' that Li Fan had obtained previously. However, compared to the Mound Guardian's straightforward expression and directness, Sage Lord Tai Yi appeared more 'literary.' The entire scripture was almost devoid of plain descriptions, filled instead with numerous seemingly meaningless words and phrases. If not for Sage Lord Tai Yi's personal transmission, Li Fan would have almost mistaken it for the ravings of a madman. This world-shattering scripture seemed not intended for ordinary mortals to read, and the Immortals of the Immortal Realm were included within the scope of 'mortals.' Only the other Sages might be suitable readers.
If not for Boundless's annotations. Great Venerable Boundless, who had served Sage Lord Tai Yi for countless years, listening to his teachings daily, clearly understood the Sage's thoughts and intentions better than anyone in the world. While his annotations might not perfectly align with the Sage's original intent, they were nearly eighty to ninety percent accurate.
Looking at the scripture itself, Li Fan could not understand it. But with the annotations of Grand Master, he could faintly glimpse the state of mind of that Sage Lord Tai Yi. In one passage, it described how, the moment Sage Lord Lian Shan became the first Immortal in the world, all living beings at that time benefited to some degree. All beings were engulfed in immense joy. Only Sage Lord Tai Yi, while feeling a faint happiness, also felt an equal measure of worry. At that time, Sage Lord Tai Yi could not understand the source of this worry.
Another passage spoke of Sage Lord Gui Hai inviting Sage Lords Lian Shan, Tai Yi, and others to witness his breakthrough after opening the Infinite Spring. Gui Hai humorously said to Lian Shan, 'Brother, do you know which is higher, the mountain or the sea? If not, we can wait and see.' Lian Shan smiled and replied, 'Though mountains are high and seas are deep, Immortals can stand on the mountain peak and tread upon the Infinite Spring. Therefore, Immortals are the highest.' Gui Hai clapped his hands and laughed. Sage Lord Tai Yi, in a daze, saw an indistinct vision of mountains and seas roaring before the two Sage Lords, feeling a strange resonance in his heart.
With the help of the 'Primordial Beginning of Mountains and Seas,' Li Fan seemed to have returned to the dawn of the Immortal Realm's creation, experiencing ancient events firsthand from the perspective of Sage Lord Tai Yi. Besides the matters concerning the Sage Lords and the nascent Immortal Realm, this scripture also described the early innate beings and the Primordial Immortal Realm. It depicted a vast, seemingly boundless wild continent, populated by numerous wondrous innate beings. Some of these beings were manifestations of the Great Dao, some were intelligent oddities, and there were also 'humans.' However, the 'humans' in this Primordial Immortal Realm were far superior to present-day mortals. Perhaps due to their natural birth, these 'humans' could hunt the Dao-gestating innate beings on the continent, absorb them, and utilize them.
But as time passed, the 'humans' discovered that their simple and crude method of consumption could not truly grasp these Daos. Once they died, their Daos would return to heaven and earth. Nor could they perpetuate the 'Dao' through 'reproduction.' Thus, the 'humans' began to ponder the true method of controlling the Dao. They started to learn from and emulate the innate Dao-gestating beings on the continent. Some even abandoned their human forms to master the Dao. Over vast stretches of time, countless 'races' began to emerge and evolve, while the innate beings gradually withdrew into seclusion due to the 'humans'' covetousness.
The 'Primordial Beginning of Mountains and Seas' did not explicitly state Sage Lord Tai Yi's true identity. However, from various details, it could be inferred that Sage Lord Tai Yi was not originally a 'human' but was born from an innate being.
'However, at the level of Sage Lord Tai Yi, what life form is no longer important.'
'If one wishes, one can transform in myriad ways at any time.'
The 'Primordial Beginning of Mountains and Seas,' like the 'Casual Notes of the Mound Guardian,' was profound and extensive. It required considerable time and careful reading to fully comprehend.
Although Shan Hua had presented such a great gift, Li Fan had no intention of letting him go. Shan Hua's Dao held a hint of 'illusion is true,' making him quite suitable for filling the Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice. Shan Hua's nameless intuition was also extremely sharp. He sensed Li Fan's 'ill intentions' and, looking at the countless heavenly pillars erected around him, broke out in a cold sweat. He blurted out, 'Great Venerable, do you need True Immortals to serve as heavenly pillars?'
'There are still many True Immortals surviving in the Star Sea of the North. Furthermore, the Star Sea of Guang Wu has an even greater number of True Immortals gathered. I am willing to serve at your command!'
Hearing this, Li Fan's eyes flickered, and he temporarily retracted his hand, which was about to strike. Although he had suppressed many True Immortals this time, their quality was somewhat unsatisfactory. Most were ordinary True Immortals, with only two among them being nameless. One was the Dao of 'Shared Prosperity.' This Dao practitioner could enjoy the benefits of their faction's prosperity and provide a certain degree of power boost to their companions. Moreover, they could avoid the negative consequences of their faction's decline. Even if the faction they belonged to perished, they could withdraw unharmed. It was essentially about sharing blessings but not hardships. Although this Great Dao ability seemed somewhat redundant, its amplification effect was actually terrifying, snowballing and accumulating. Shared Prosperity, a nameless entity, was once a favored guest of several governing Immortal Emperors. If not for the unavoidable factor of the Annihilation Tribulation, the Immortal Realm might have continued to prosper indefinitely.
The other nameless True Immortal suppressed by Li Fan this time was 'Divine Thought.' Even if the star seas were severed due to the Annihilation Tribulation, one could use the Dao of Divine Thought to find surviving civilizations in various isolated corners. The Star Sea of Guang Wu and the nameless True Immortal named 'Star Gazer' were contacted through Divine Thought.
'...It's not that these Daos are useless,'
'But...'
'Their strength is truly unsatisfactory. Perhaps the true powerhouses among the nameless True Immortals have already fled to other possibilities.'
Thinking this, Li Fan became more interested in the remaining nameless individuals within the Star Sea of the North.
'Besides Shan Hua, there are also Hun Du and Ni.'
'And the blue giant hand that built the The Dao Lattice.'
Having begun to absorb the memories of the suppressed True Immortals, Li Fan had a preliminary understanding of this mysterious powerhouse. Unlike others who openly displayed their proven Daos, this nameless entity who crafted the The Dao Lattice of the Star Sea of the North never truly revealed its identity. Whenever it appeared, it used a blue light projection as its body, and the Immortals were unable to discern which Dao it controlled. The True Immortals suppressed within the The Dao Lattice of the Star Sea of the North should have known its true identity, but even when the True Immortals and Immortal Hunters united, they were not released and remained deeply suppressed within the The Dao Lattice.
Li Fan couldn't help but think of the City Lord of the City of Ultimate Bliss. He had almost forgotten that he had an appointment with this True Immortal.
'Soon. Wait a moment, and I will free you.'
'Shan Hua is still somewhat useful now, so there's no rush to seal him into a heavenly pillar. Besides, the return of the Thirteen Great Primordial Dao Forms mentioned by Emperor San Mo is still a long way off.'
With that thought, Li Fan coldly snorted, 'Seeing that you are somewhat sensible, I will overlook your disrespect for now.'
Shan Hua, the nameless entity, was greatly relieved and hastily thanked the Great Venerable for his kindness. Just then, another incident that made his hair stand on end suddenly occurred. The black cat on his shoulder, which had been temporarily unconscious due to Star Gazer, the nameless entity, borrowing its body, had now drowsily awakened. Seeing the figure not far away spewing arrogant words at its master, its fur bristled, and it fiercely roared at Li Fan.
'Meow~ Meow~ Meow~ Meow!'
'Little beast, how dare you!' Shan Hua no longer cared about his beloved pet and slapped the black cat's head. The black cat cried out in pain, but instead of restraining itself, it hissed at its master.
'Unruly beast! Great Heavenly Venerate, please forgive me!' Shan Hua smiled bitterly and nervously apologized to Li Fan.
'Do you think I would bicker with a beast that lacks sentience?' Li Fan sneered and, with a wave of his hand, levitated the black cat into his palm. He examined the little creature carefully. Indeed, the black cat and Cat Treasure bore some resemblance in appearance. It was no wonder Li Fan almost mistook it earlier. The black cat, now held in Li Fan's hand with its life at someone else's mercy, had no awareness of its predicament. It still recklessly bared its teeth and claws at Li Fan, continuously growling.
'It's quite fierce,' Li Fan commented with a click of his tongue. Shan Hua wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and said, 'I've always nurtured this little beast with boundless immortal power. Perhaps it has become arrogant from consuming too much. It acts this way towards other True Immortals as well.'
'It's not directed at you, Great Venerable.'
'Sigh, it was quite cute when it was young.'
Li Fan heard this, and pure boundless immortal power surged from his fingertips, extending it towards the black cat's mouth. As expected, the black cat immediately became docile and greedily devoured the energy from the Infinite Sea. The little creature was truly gluttonous. After a long while, it was finally full. However, Li Fan was somewhat surprised. He thought that after feeding the black cat, it would become more obedient. To his surprise, the beast instantly turned hostile and growled at Li Fan again.
Seeing Li Fan's expression gradually darken, Shan Hua inwardly lamented and fearfully explained, 'This beast has the temperament of a cat. It only gets close to familiar people.'
'Even if outsiders use some methods, they can never make it truly obedient.'
Li Fan's interest waned, and he listlessly threw the black cat back to Shan Hua. However, at that moment, his movements paused slightly. Shan Hua's heart tightened again, thinking Li Fan had changed his mind. Then he heard Li Fan ask leisurely, 'What did you just say?' Shan Hua, not understanding, could only repeat his words.
'...It has the temperament of cats everywhere. It only gets close to familiar people.'
With these words, Cat Treasure slowly appeared in Li Fan's mind. And its figure, lying quietly on the Sacred Emperor's shoulder. A cat and a person, as if standing before him, transcending space and time, quietly facing Li Fan's true self. A point that Li Fan had long overlooked surfaced in his heart.
How could an divine object like Cat Treasure be subdued by the Sacred Emperor with mere essence of primal force? Whatever the Sacred Emperor wanted, Cat Treasure would cooperate fully. Even for extremely strenuous activities, the Sacred Emperor could pacify it by feeding it essence of primal force. Could others do the same? Li Fan had never considered this question before. But now..."
"It seems it wasn't as simple as the Sacred Emperor subduing Cat Treasure with the Essence of Primal Force," Li Fan mused. "But rather, Cat Treasure instinctively felt affinity towards the Sacred Emperor and willingly stayed on his shoulder, serving him." He watched the black cat return to the shoulder of the fortunately transformed Nameless One, his mind pondering the origin of the Sacred Emperor's clone.
The Sacred Emperor, Li Ping, was created by him using the vital essence of Wang Xuanba and Sun Erlang. However, in that lifetime, Cat Treasure had direct encounters with Wang Xuanba and Sun Erlang but showed no particular affection towards them.
"So, the issue lies with this body, 'Li Fan'?" Li Fan's eyes flickered, a storm brewing in his heart. The 'Li Fan' he referred to wasn't himself, but the original owner of this body—the frail scholar before he transmigrated and possessed the Treasure of Return to Truth. Even after a hundred rebirths, Li Fan had completely merged with his body, leaving no lingering resentment. Yet, he couldn't deny he had "stolen" someone else's body.
"If the original owner of Cat Treasure was the original Li Fan..." Li Fan calmly glanced beyond the The Great Barrier. "The cultivation talent of the original body was indeed poor, but not entirely unsuited for cultivation. And this was evident even within the The Great Barrier, in this realm of the Azure Nether where the Great Dao is scarce. In a normal environment, he would have been a promising talent. Infinite possibilities..."
Li Fan's thoughts raced. "Theoretically, there is a possibility for a mortal to rise and achieve supreme enlightenment. In other words, theoretically, anyone within the The Great Barrier, or even anyone in the 'Primordial' possibility, might hold another supreme identity in a different possibility. Just like the Black Heavenly Physician or the Evil Su Bai."
"But that's not the reality we're facing now." The Great Barrier served as a cover, shielding them from the attention of those supreme beings who wished to devour other selves. However, ever since Li Fan entered the experimental space within the The Great Barrier and gained the power of the Mound Guardian's phantom, completely controlling the Abyssal Star Sea, he had sent out the so-called prodigies from within the wall in batches. None of them had attracted any abnormal fluctuations from outside possibilities. Not even a hint of spatial breaking like the Black Heavenly Physician, nor telepathic sensing and control like Evil Su Bai. Among these prodigies were even figures like First Young Master Proclivity and Qiao Sidao, whom Li Fan considered to possess top-tier talent.
"If infinite possibilities truly existed, there would certainly be supreme beings embodying their alternate selves. But reality shows otherwise."
"This implies that 'infinite' is not truly infinite."
"Due to the rampant devastation of the Dao Erasure Tribulation, most possibilities have long since been extinguished. The alternate supreme selves of most people in this world can probably only be found in the past recorded in the Infinite Sea."
To survive in an era where the entire mortal world had only seven million years of lifespan remaining, one either had good luck, or like the Mound Guardian, possessed strength that could resist the Dao Erasure Tribulation to a certain extent. Whichever it was, it was not good news for Li Fan.
Based on the events involving the Heavenly Physician and Su Bai, if Li Fan's speculation was correct, the moment he stepped outside the The Great Barrier, he might be sensed by the 'Sacred Emperor Li Fan' from another possibility. The confrontation between them would likely be a battle to the death.
"If the other party can truly come across possibilities, even if I unleashed all my trump cards, I might not be their match. Only under the protection of 'Illusion is True' could I barely escape."
To verify this conjecture was simple. Li Fan only needed to take a step outside the The Great Barrier with his main body. He took a deep breath, temporarily suppressing the surging urge. Even though he was eager to verify it, it wasn't the right time yet.
"Fortunately, I'm cautious and haven't rashly stepped out of the The Great Barrier. Otherwise, I would have been greatly startled. For now, it's best to steadily increase my strength. The remaining true and false in the Star Sea of the North, along with that Guang Wu Star Sea and the Thirteen Dao Forms. If these combined are still not enough, then I will suppress and devour all remaining True Immortals in the 'Primordial' possibility. I don't believe that even then, I won't be a match for that 'Sacred Emperor'."
With this thought, Li Fan coldly said to the trembling fortunately transformed one in front of him, "I'll give you thirty days to handle this. If, after thirty days, I don't get a satisfactory result..." Li Fan glanced at the fortunately transformed Nameless One. The fortunately transformed one's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly reassured Li Fan. Without uttering any threats, Li Fan flicked his sleeve and dismissed the fortunately transformed one.
His mood gradually calmed from the turmoil, and he began to digest his recent gains. To Li Fan's greatest surprise was the 'Primordial Beginning of Mountains and Seas' written by the Primordial Taiyi Sage Lord, handed over by the fortunately transformed one. But what could most significantly increase Li Fan's current combat power...
He extended his left hand, and a pair of sabers and swords radiating an eerie green light appeared in his palm. These were the killer moves of the nameless one who possessed the black cat, calling himself 'Star Gazer'. To be fair, the Immortals of the Star Sea of the North indeed had the confidence to attack. Even if all beings in the Primordial Immortal Realm joined forces, along with Li Fan himself, they might not have survived the pincer attack of these sabers and swords.
"In the Star Sea of the North, there are Blade Island and Sword Domain, these are manifestations of the residual Dao of Blade and Sword in the 'Primordial' possibility."
"And these sabers and swords are merely the surface appearance." Li Fan gently stroked the green light in his palm, closing his eyes as if he were in a silent, extremely肅杀 starscape.
"Slaughter, devour, until all Daos merge."
"This is the true essence of this treasure."
"It perfectly aligns with my Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice!" Li Fan rejoiced inwardly. He opened his mouth slightly and swallowed the pair of green sabers and swords directly into his abdomen. Ten thousand strands of green light instantly surged from the sabers and swords, integrating into Li Fan's Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice. On the previously stern The Dao Lattice, a pair of transparent sabers and swords now vaguely hung. Among the many Dao Manifestations he displayed in human form, they seemed out of place. But precisely because of this, they added a unique charm to the Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice.
"Blade weapons, slaughter, the end." A completely new experience of Dao flowed through Li Fan's heart. This was a Dao path distinct from the 'Primordial' possibility, not simply originating from other possibilities. It was a new possibility where the Dao path attached itself and was carried by "non-living carriers." In Li Fan's 'Primordial' possibility, although Dao could manifest as objects, these supreme treasures could not cultivate like humans. Possessing a Dao was their inherent characteristic, but it was also their ultimate limit throughout their lives.
The Dao Swords and Dao Sabers from the ultimate starscape, however, had directly opened up a supreme Dao path for such existences. With a thought, a blood-red circular jade artifact appeared before Li Fan. It was the original body of the Dharma Deduction Jade, taken from the body of the little loli Dharma Deductor. Without the Immortal Power of the Infinite, the now-shattered Dharma Deduction Jade was no longer an Immortal Artifact. Its ability to deduce methods in the mortal realm was useless to Li Fan. Li Fan's previous idea was to repeat the Azure Nether's sublimation and transformation into the Immortal Realm process, pushing the shattered Dharma Deduction Jade, like himself, to transform from mortal to immortal again. But now, Li Fan had found a better method.
"I can even create a complete upper-level replacement for the Dharma Deduction Jade. 'Dao Deduction Jade'!" Li Fan had already carefully examined the Dharma Deduction Jade. Its ability to deduce all possibilities in the world likely stemmed from some form of [exhaustive search]. However, its crude realization of countless possibilities was unexpectedly efficient, as if by instinct, it could inherently discard impossible scenarios.
"The Dharma Deduction Jade represents the Dao path of [Deduction]."
"Although it is only a projection of a Dao, it might not be impossible to strengthen it by reversing the process, using the method of devouring from the Dao Sword and Dao Saber."
"Transforming shadow into reality!" Li Fan gripped the blood-red ring in his palm. The scenes and insights about the Dao Sword and Dao Saber possibilities, absorbed by the Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice, were infused into it after being processed. The originally somewhat eerie blood jade, now infused with strands of chilling green light, appeared even more bizarre.
As the saying goes, "A true transmission is but a single sentence." With the extensive experience of mutual devouring from the Dao Sword and Dao Saber, the damaged Dharma Deduction Jade almost immediately learned this advanced experience. As if starved for thousands of years, it instinctively tried to attack its surroundings. However, Li Fan ruthlessly slapped it, sending it reeling. This was no ordinary slap; it contained strands of the power of [Boundless Unity].
"You only eat what I feed you. You only watch if I don't." After several attempts to feed and being severely disciplined, Li Fan successfully established rules for the Dharma Deduction Jade. Looking at the voraciously hungry blood-red ring, Li Fan turned his attention to the several smaller Heavenly Pillars he had sealed. Without reaching the Nameless Realm, they had almost no ability to bear the Dao. They merely resembled Heavenly Pillars in form but could not truly be called such. Their insights into the Great Dao were almost useless after being devoured once by Li Fan's Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice. Standing there, they were somewhat of an eyesore. They were perfect for feeding the Dharma Deduction Jade.
As the smaller Heavenly Pillars disappeared one by one, the Dharma Deduction Jade gradually became crystal clear. The blood-red color was no longer glaring but was contained within, exuding a gentle warmth. Li Fan once again played with the well-fed Dharma Deduction Jade. Indeed, its "Deduction" ability was more than ten times stronger than before. And, as Li Fan had expected, it had already begun to surpass the boundaries of "Dharma Deduction," racing towards the broader Dao path of "Deduction."
"The Dao Sword and Dao Saber represent the process of ascending from the bottom, where projections devour their true Dao paths, and ultimately contain the possibilities of all Three Thousand Great Daos."
"In essence, they can be considered an alternate form of the Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice."
"However, there are subtle differences between the two. The Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice is a true fusion of all Daos. No matter how much it devours, it will only display the complete aspects of all devoured Daos. Whereas the devouring of the Dao Sword and Dao Saber..."
"While devouring, it's inevitable that their original attributes are retained. Just like them, even if they devoured the Dao path of an entire possibility, they would eventually still retain their original form as [Blade weapons]."
"The Dharma Deduction Jade is the same. No matter how it devours and evolves, it will ultimately still be in the form of a [Deduction Jade]."
Li Fan felt no regret for them. In fact, this made them more useful to him. "By analogy, it's not just the Dharma Deduction Jade; any projection of a Great Dao can be treated this way." As he pondered, Li Fan had already found a way to create trouble for the Black Heavenly Physician and Evil Su Bai.
"I must experiment with this thoroughly." Thirty days passed quickly. And the fortunately transformed one did not disappoint Li Fan. On the twenty-fifth day, the fortunately transformed one, along with the Formless Chaos, came to visit.
"Please forgive my hesitation and indecision before, junior," the Formless Chaos said to Li Fan before the fortunately transformed one could speak. "I already knew they intended to harm senior, yet I didn't step forward to stop them..." Though the Formless Chaos's expression was unchanged, his words were filled with remorse.
Li Fan smiled. "You are a clever person, and I like clever people who listen." The Formless Chaos rejoiced, his anxiety vanishing completely. "I am willing to serve senior like a dog."
Li Fan glanced at the fortunately transformed one, who also spoke up, and asked, "Has your esteemed self, when you collected the 'Primordial Beginning of Mountains and Seas,' had the chance to read it?" The Formless Chaos glanced at the beside him fortunately transformed one with some surprise and shook his head. "I haven't had the honor to feast my eyes upon it."
Li Fan waved his hand broadly and presented the scripture passed down by the Primordial Taiyi Sage Lord before the Formless Chaos. The Formless Chaos's reaction was the same as anyone seeing this scripture for the first time; he was immediately engrossed. However, before he could savor it, Li Fan retracted the scripture. The Formless Chaos looked thoroughly unsatisfied, yet he dared not act presumptuously before Li Fan, and could only forcibly suppress the instinctive urge in his heart.
"Rewards for merit, punishments for transgressions. Do you two wish to earn merit, or commit offenses?"
It was then that the fortunately transformed one had the chance to speak. "Shan Hua and I have investigated and found that there are still four Nameless Beings suppressed within the Star Sea of the North's The Dao Lattice. Including 'the Great Net,' we intend to present them all to Great Venerable."
"The Great Net?"
"That is the title given to the creator of the The Dao Lattice. Shamefully, he has been our enemy for ten thousand years and our ally for a hundred, yet we have never known his true identity or the Dao path he comprehends," the Formless Chaos explained.
"However, this person must have reached the Nameless Realm. And his strength is no less than that of myself and Chaos," the fortunately transformed one stated confidently.
"So, how do you plan to present these five to me?" Li Fan asked with interest. The Formless Chaos and the fortunately transformed one exchanged glances, and finally, the fortunately transformed one spoke softly, "Previously, our contact with the Guang Wu Star Sea was entirely through 'Thought' and my black cat."
"Thought has already been captured by you..." The fortunately transformed one looked at the spot where Thought had transformed into a Heavenly Pillar, only to be startled to find it now empty. His speech faltered slightly.
"You are looking for him?" Li Fan leisurely presented the blood-red ring in his hand to the two Nameless True Immortals. Even for these two undying beings who had experienced countless calamities, their expressions changed at this moment.
Among the Immortals of the Northern Coldness Star Sea, the Divine Thought was considered to be of good temperament and well-liked. His appearance and demeanor were still vivid in their minds, yet now, Chaos and Benevolent Transformation sensed the Great Dao's aura that rightfully belonged to Divine Thought emanating from the bloody circular artifact in Li Fan's hand.
What this signified was self-evident.
A former companion had become nourishment for an artifact.
Even these two Nameless Realm experts couldn't help but feel a surge of pity and fear. However, upon seeing Li Fan's cold, unfeeling gaze, they instantly snapped out of their sorrow. The deceased were gone; their own survival was paramount!
Benevolent Transformation naturally continued, "Since Divine Thought is no longer with us, I will be the sole link to the Guang Wu Star Sea for the time being. When I returned to the Northern Coldness Star Sea, I did not delve deeply into the The Dao Lattice, but instead contacted Chaos from a distance to make our plans."
"Therefore, the Great Net is not yet aware of the near annihilation of our expeditionary True Immortals. Although a considerable amount of time has passed without a response, it will surely arouse his suspicion. However, at most, he will merely guess that we are engaged in a fierce battle, a stalemate. He would never believe that we have been comprehensively and easily defeated. Otherwise, he would not have agreed to the subjugation in the first place..."
Benevolent Transformation calmly analyzed, "Under these circumstances, Chaos and I can send a request for support to the Great Net. Considering the overall strategic situation and the initial investment, the Great Net will likely provide support. And once he arrives here, with Senior's methods, he can surely be easily captured..."
Chaos added, "Although the plan sounds extremely rudimentary, the key lies in how to gain the trust of the Great Net. Over the past period, Benevolent Transformation and I have made thorough preparations, continuously transmitting false battle reports to the Great Net. It seems the Great Net hasn't detected any anomalies; he even proactively asked if we needed support. Although the Great Net is powerful, nearly half of his strength is embodied within the The Dao Lattice. If we can lure him out of the The Dao Lattice, capturing him will be twice as effective with half the effort," Benevolent Transformation chimed in.
...
After the two Nameless True Immortals simply finished their explanation, Li Fan looked at Chaos and praised with a smile, "It seems you have harbored a desire to surrender for a long time. Very good, very good."
Fingering the bloody circular artifact, Li Fan paced and approached one of the Heavenly Pillars standing tall in this space. "Your plan might be barely feasible. Unfortunately, in my eyes, there is one fatal flaw." His eyes were fixed on the Heavenly Pillar, his voice a soft echo.
Chaos and Benevolent Transformation's expressions turned solemn, "We humbly request Great Venerable to enlighten us."
"Just as you are full of confidence to capture me, your plan seems to assume that by luring out the Great Net, you will inevitably defeat and suppress him."
"You overestimate your own strength, while underestimating the opponent."
"Since his origin, background, and Dao path are unknown, how can you be so sure that as long as I act, I will definitely be able to subdue him?"
"Why isn't it that I am the one inviting a wolf into the house, and underestimating the enemy, I will be miserably defeated?"
"Or perhaps, this is what you truly hope for? To feign allegiance, but in reality, to orchestrate a plan within a plan, to make a desperate comeback?" Li Fan's voice grew colder.
Chaos and Benevolent Transformation, the two Nameless True Immortals, trembled violently in body and spirit.
"Great Venerable, please do not misunderstand! How could we dare to harbor such insincere intentions?" Benevolent Transformation hastily clarified.
"Your junior wholeheartedly considers your well-being, and Heaven and Earth's Great Dao can bear witness to this sincerity!" Chaos reiterated his loyalty.
In their hearts, both simultaneously lamented their misfortune. This legendary Great Venerable, after experiencing the destruction of the Immortal Realm, seemed to have changed drastically in temperament. He was so suspicious, erratic, and tyrannical. Compared to even the most brutal Immortal Emperors of the past, he was no less.
"I have no interest in knowing what you are truly thinking, nor is it important."
"In any case, you will side with whoever wins."
"Since that's the case, I have my own plan." Li Fan extended his hand, seemingly touching the Boundless Unity Heavenly Pillar. In reality, the Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice had already been activated, enshrouding the Heavenly Pillar before him, as well as the Grand Master's stone statue contained within.
Although he had comprehended the Boundless Unity Dao for a hundred years, he was certainly not as proficient as the Grand Master, Boundless Unity itself.
"Since the enemy is there, let's just go and attack directly." With a roar like thunder, the Boundless Unity Heavenly Pillar was taken by Li Fan. It continuously shrank, eventually transforming into a grayish-white stone staff.
A figure flickered in the space ahead. It was Li Buren, summoned by Li Fan.
"Take this!" Li Fan directly threw the Boundless Unity Heavenly Staff at his clone.
Considering the possibility of other "Sacred Emperor Li Fan" entities, this time the clone had to act as a proxy once more. Simultaneously cultivating the Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice, Li Buren wielded the Boundless Unity Heavenly Pillar with no apparent strain. Protected and empowered by the Boundless Unity Dao, no Dao magical techniques from any "Primordial" possibility could approach Li Buren.
"Unless this 'Great Net' is also a visitor from another possibility, as long as this Boundless Unity Stone Staff is in hand, the clone will be in an invulnerable position."
"The defense is more than sufficient, but the offense is still somewhat lacking." Li Fan contemplated, and then spat out a pair of water-green knife and sword from his mouth.
"I shall entrust these treasures to you as well."
"If you still cannot win, then flee quickly. If even fleeing proves impossible..."
"Then directly self-annihilate." These instructions were conveyed mentally. Benevolent Transformation and Chaos, present at the scene, were unaware. From their perspective, they only saw Li Fan bestow these two supreme treasures without any hesitation.
After a period of sensing, they were both joyous and astonished. They were overjoyed because they recognized the origin of these supreme treasures. The pair of swords and knives originally belonged to the Star-Gazing Nameless. They had personally witnessed the power of these treasures before; otherwise, they wouldn't have collaborated with the opponent so easily and been persuaded. As for the gray stone staff, although its profound mystery was unknown, judging by its ability to ignore all their senses, it was definitely an extraordinary treasure. With the aid of these two treasures, the Great Net was destined to become their captive.
They were astonished by how extraordinary the sword and knife were, and that Li Fan, this Great Venerable, could subdue them in such a short time. More importantly, such treasures were bestowed so generously, given away without reservation. If they were in his shoes, they would surely find a secluded and safe place to cultivate and comprehend them.
Chaos mused inwardly, "He also treats the ancient scripture personally passed down by the Tai Yi Sage Lord with indifference. Truly worthy of serving under a Sage Lord for so long; his vision is naturally far superior to us uncouth individuals."
"You may follow. Whether you contribute or not is entirely up to yourselves," Li Fan instructed indifferently. Then, with a wave of his sleeve, he sent Li Buren and the two Nameless beings out of the The Great Barrier.
"Although there is a ninety percent chance of victory, one must also prepare for failure," Li Fan thought to himself as he gazed into the distance. The protection of the "Illusion is True" had been applied. As soon as any anomaly occurred, he would immediately revert to his true form. If the Great Net could truly win under the combined assault of the Boundless Unity Stone Staff and the Dao Sword and Knife, then he, Li Fan, in his current state, would be no match for him. Reverting to his true form would absolutely be the correct choice.
...
In the dim starlight, Li Buren carried the Boundless Unity Stone Staff on his shoulder and, like his original body, swallowed the green knife and sword into his abdomen. Then, transforming himself into a pathway, he surged towards the Northern Coldness Star Sea's The Dao Lattice, enshrouding Benevolent Transformation and Chaos. As if he had practiced this offensive route countless times, he was incredibly adept, targeting the core area of the Northern Coldness Star Sea's Governing Council.
Transforming himself into a pathway, he traversed the starry sky, covering billions of miles in an instant. Before the two Nameless beings could even react, Li Buren had already entered the coverage range of the The Dao Lattice.
Under normal circumstances, if any foreign object invaded the The Dao Lattice, it would instantly trigger a responsive reaction from the entire The Dao Lattice. Not only would they face pressure from all the Great Daos within the The Dao Lattice, but they would also be besieged by countless Immortal Hunters. Even for Nameless True Immortals, being trapped within the net like this would result in either death or severe injury.
Over the years of interacting with the Northern Coldness Star Sea, Benevolent Transformation and Chaos had firmly established this understanding. Therefore, in all their past engagements, the True Immortal side had always employed tactics such as attempting to infiltrate or ambushing outside the The Dao Lattice.
But now... Li Buren's direct assault shattered their perception entirely. As he swept through, the The Dao Lattice made no reaction whatsoever. The densely woven Dao strings, as if struck by a single blow, collapsed. Wherever the gray stone staff passed, it burned through the The Dao Lattice like scorching flames, creating holes! The Dao strings snapped, and the The Dao Lattice was no longer a net!
Such a bizarre phenomenon left Chaos and Benevolent Transformation dumbfounded. Even in their wildest, most unrealistic fantasies, they had never imagined the The Dao Lattice being so easily shattered.
As they stood there in a daze, Li Buren had already entered the central region of the The Dao Lattice. The Immortal Hunter Headquarters and the Northern Coldness Star Sea's Governing Council were both located there. Seeing the chaos unfolding as if waking from a dream, the two True Immortals looked at the gray stone staff in Li Buren's hand. An unbelievable, yet the most plausible thought, emerged in their minds.
They had personally witnessed this stone staff transform from a Heavenly Pillar. Previously, they had been unable to ascertain the Dao path sealed and suppressed within this Heavenly Pillar. Only now, when the stone staff displayed its power within the The Dao Lattice, could they finally confirm it.
Thus, the bodies of these two Nameless beings, who had lived for who knows how long, trembled uncontrollably.
"Boundless Unity..."
"Great Venerable?"
The reason they had mistaken Li Fan for the Boundless Unity Venerable under the Tai Yi Sage Lord in the past was because Li Fan had once displayed the Boundless Unity power capable of dissolving all Great Daos. And now, as the gray stone staff revealed the same ability, they finally understood. The Boundless Unity power did not originate from that Hidden Emperor. It originated from Boundless Unity himself, who was sealed and suppressed by the Hidden Emperor!
"That is a disciple of the Sage Lord, an Innate being of immeasurable nobility!"
"Although the Immortal Realm has been destroyed, the Sage Lord may not have perished. If we anger the Sage Lord..."
"Even Boundless Unity Venerable has fallen into such a state..."
"How dare we..."
In an instant, countless thoughts flooded the minds of the two Nameless beings. But ultimately, they were replaced by a profound fear of Li Fan, the Hidden Emperor of mysterious identity. Chaos, in particular, became even more certain of his judgment.
"It seems he has truly embarked on his own path to sainthood."
"Only those who are also Sage Lords could show such disregard for other Sage Lords."
While the two Immortals were shaken, Li Buren was already wreaking havoc deep within the The Dao Lattice. After coldly uttering, "Those who resist shall die," the Northern Coldness Star Sea forces still moved to surround him. Li Buren, without any hesitation, directly unleashed the Dao Sword and Dao Knife. Billions of green lights, like willow branches in the wind, danced. Wherever they passed, not even a gasp was heard; beings vanished, leaving only empty space. Only the flying green lights grew slightly more concentrated.
The Boundless Unity Heavenly Staff cleared the path, the Dao Sword and Dao Knife eliminated enemies. Li Buren charged headlong, tearing through the densely packed The Dao Lattice layer by layer. He did not search for the mysterious "Great Net" Nameless within the The Dao Lattice but instead headed straight for the The Dao Lattice's four main pillars. These were the cages sealing Nameless True Immortals. As the most structurally stable existences within the entire The Dao Lattice, these stern cages were like paper before the power of Boundless Unity. They offered no protection whatsoever.
Soon, Li Buren locked onto one of the imprisoned Nameless True Immortals. With a swing of the stone staff, he shattered the cage with a single blow. The imprisoned Nameless being had various colored Dao strings inserted into his body, seemingly still in a deep slumber. Li Buren waved his hand, clearing away all the Dao strings from the unfortunate being. Only then did the imprisoned Nameless begin to show signs of slowly waking.
"This one seems to be 'Noble Duke Wealthy'?" Chaos, following behind Li Buren, exclaimed in surprise as if recognizing the Immortal's identity. Like Mound Guardian, he was also addressed as 'Duke.' However, their strengths were clearly incomparable. Perhaps he was merely touched by the affinity for the Great Dao of 'Wealthy.'
Li Buren paid no heed. Without waiting for Noble Duke Wealthy to fully awaken, the power of the Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice surged, instantly enveloping him. It then sent him directly into the The Great Barrier, to the vicinity of the original body.
Seeing Li Buren's actions, Chaos and Benevolent Transformation hesitated to speak. Benevolent Transformation subtly shook his head, and they suppressed their urges. With one of the Four Pillars lost, the already tattered The Dao Lattice's suppressive power was greatly reduced. Both Chaos and Benevolent Transformation could feel the surrounding pressure significantly lessen.
"Strange, at this juncture, why hasn't the Great Net appeared?"
"Be careful. The Great Net is not one to admit defeat easily. From what I know of him, he must be accumulating power for a decisive blow." Li Buren, having completed the destruction of the The Dao Lattice alongside them, had now completely aligned himself with the Hidden Emperor Li Fan. They were in an irreconcilable conflict with the Northern Coldness Star Sea, with no possibility of reconciliation. For their future, they had to remind him.
Li Buren, seemingly oblivious, continued towards the next cage. This time, he rescued a Nameless being with the Dao path of "Immovable Rock." This Nameless being's condition was much better than that of Noble Duke Wealthy. Although imprisoned for who knows how many years, he appeared vigorous and spirited. Seeing the sudden intruder, this Immovable Rock Nameless was somewhat taken aback. Just as he was about to speak, Li Buren's Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice arrived.
[Rockhard] the nameless, facing Li Buren’s sudden assault, a yellow light flashed in his eyes. Though imprisoned beneath the The Dao Lattice for tens of thousands of years, he remained unhurried.
He stomped his feet, and in an instant, his form became like a majestic mountain, standing between heaven and earth.
The Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice that Li Buren used to bind him suddenly seemed to be firmly grasped, entering a stalemate where it struggled to move.
The mountains formed by [Rockhard] were vast and continuous. Even with the Boundless Unity power surging within the Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice, it was difficult to completely dissolve Rockhard’s mountain in a short time.
Slightly thwarted, Li Buren did not hesitate. He swung a blow directly at this aged, nameless Rockhard.
This situation was exactly what Li Fan had foreseen. Although he had comprehended the Dao for a hundred years and transformed the Boundless Unity power into his own use, he had not yet reached the stage of embodying Boundless Unity. Facing a true powerhouse among the nameless true immortals, an instant crushing blow might be difficult to achieve.
This was also why Li Fan brought the Boundless Unity Heavenly Pillar.
Although Rockhard was old yet resilient, in the face of the true Great Dao of Boundless Unity, he was still insufficient. The Boundless Unity Heavenly Pillar pierced directly into the mountain. The hard rocks on the majestic, towering mountain range crumbled like tofu upon contact.
The yellow light in Rockhard’s eyes, like a blown-out candle, vanished instantly. Only bewilderment remained.
"This Rockhard, the mountain range formed by his Dao path seems to be imitating [Mount Shang]."
He similarly suppressed this nameless being and sent him to the tall walls.
Li Buren, while savoring the Dao path he had just comprehended from his opponent, moved towards the third Heavenly Pillar.
With two supreme treasures in hand, Li Buren encountered no real resistance and once again successfully captured the third nameless true immortal, [Wordless], sealed within the The Dao Lattice.
Four pillars, three were lost.
The Star Sea The Dao Lattice had lost most of its supporting anchor points. Its suppressing power greatly reduced, allowing Chaos and Benevolent Transformation to move freely within it without significant influence.
The downfall of the The Dao Lattice also brought subtle changes to the Star Sea itself.
Under the pressure of Dao Erasure, the existence of the The Dao Lattice was like integrated Heavenly Pillars, supporting the collapsing heavens. Now, with Li Fan suddenly removing three of these pillars, although the Star Sea within the The Great Barriers became more stable, the Star Sea here was undoubtedly precarious.
Within the Star Sea, life temporarily persisted, but outside the Star Sea, a shadow seemed to loom. Muffled roars like mountains and seas echoed incessantly.
Chaos and Benevolent Transformation, two nameless beings, were clearly not unfamiliar with these signs.
They even had deep memories of them, and instinctively, extreme unease and fear surged.
Li Buren ignored their emotions, faithfully carrying out Li Fan's orders.
He headed towards the location of the last imprisoned nameless being.
Benevolent Transformation and Chaos followed behind him, unable to help but utter reminders: "Something seems amiss. This operation has been too smooth."
"The Dao Lattice is about to collapse, yet [Great Net] hasn't appeared. Where has he gone?"
"It's impossible that he simply fled. The Dao Lattice is his life's work; he wouldn't abandon it so easily. Unless the importance of his current objective surpasses that of the The Dao Lattice?"
A thought surfaced in the minds of both nameless beings.
Li Buren seemed to guess their thoughts, but he merely paused his body and continued forward.
At the location of the last The Dao Lattice pillar, there were no longer any Immortal Hunters resisting.
It was eerily quiet. The remaining nameless pillar barely supported the collapsing Dao strings around it.
As soon as this last pillar was taken away, the Star Sea The Dao Lattice would cease to exist from this day forward.
Li Buren repeated his previous tactic, using the Boundless Unity Heavenly Pillar to clear the path and dissolve the The Dao Lattice’s last remaining defenses.
A gaunt figure appeared before his eyes.
He seemed to have suffered unimaginable abuse, or perhaps had been imprisoned for the longest time.
This final nameless being sat with his legs crossed, head bowed, in tattered clothes.
Compared to the previous three, he appeared utterly pathetic.
Li Buren even felt that the Dao extracted from this being by the Star Sea The Dao Lattice was even more than the other three nameless beings combined.
He alone seemed to bear the pressure equivalent to all the other The Dao Lattice pillars combined!
Numerous Dao strings were embedded in his body, a gruesome sight!
"Do you know them?"
Li Buren suddenly spoke, asking the two nameless beings behind him.
Chaos and Benevolent Transformation scrutinized him carefully and both shook their heads slightly.
"The Immortal Realm is boundless, and the number of nameless beings who have attained the Dao is uncountable. It's normal for us not to know them all," Benevolent Transformation explained.
Hearing this, Li Buren pondered as he observed the prisoner before him, not rushing to rescue him.
With his current understanding of the Great Dao, he could discern the backgrounds of the previous three nameless beings at a glance.
Rich, Rockhard, Wordless...
Although these Great Daos were embodied by nameless beings, since the nameless beings themselves had not transcended, they naturally left some traces in the world. Li Fan was able to glimpse these Dao paths through these traces.
However, this person before him was within Li Buren's blind spot.
Completely unfamiliar, an unknown Dao path.
"Could it be that he's from another possibility? Or perhaps..."
Despite his doubts, with two supreme treasures in hand, Li Buren did not harbor excessive fear.
He cautiously guarded himself as the Boundless Unity Heavenly Staff swung down again.
The remaining Dao strings intertwined with this final prisoner dissolved into nothingness.
Just as the prisoner was freed and the The Dao Lattice was about to completely collapse...
A pale, withered hand suddenly tightly grasped the Boundless Unity Heavenly Staff.
The Dao strings that had already dissipated unexpectedly surged out from the person before him again.
Although mentally prepared, Li Buren’s heart skipped a beat. He tried to retract the Boundless Unity Heavenly Pillar, but found that the gray stone staff seemed to be firmly stuck in the opponent's palm.
No matter how hard he tried to control it, the Boundless Unity Heavenly Pillar remained immobile!
Li Buren also realized that in the brief moment of grasping the Boundless Unity Heavenly Pillar, strands of Boundless Unity aura began to emerge from this prisoner.
An ominous premonition arose in Li Buren’s heart.
At this moment, this final nameless true immortal suddenly opened his eyes.
"My friend, why do you destroy my The Dao Lattice?"
...
A short while ago, within the The Great Barriers.
Li Fan, who was monitoring Li Buren's actions, suddenly felt an inexplicable restlessness.
He was startled and carefully investigated the source of this inexplicable emotion.
Since he stepped into the path of reincarnation cultivation, his spiritual premonition had saved him countless times.
Although he could not yet comprehend the origin of this accurate spiritual premonition, Li Fan had tacitly acknowledged it as a unique talent of his own, like his own spiritual essence that could be infinitely reduced.
The spiritual premonition warning him must be for a reason.
Li Fan’s thoughts raced, and among countless possibilities, he locked onto a target.
"Great Net?"
"The Dao Lattice was destroyed, yet he paid no attention. Is he planning to attack me directly?"
Li Fan couldn't help but find the situation absurd.
Although the Boundless Unity Heavenly Pillar and the Dao Sword and Dao Blade were taken by Li Buren, within these The Great Barriers, he was practically invincible.
Not only did he have the support of the five guardian phantoms, but he also had the entire population of the Primordial Immortal Realm as his soldiers.
Unless it was an transcendent being among the nameless, Li Fan feared no one.
"This spiritual premonition warning is different from before. It's not a fatal crisis, but it's definitely a potential threat."
"This indicates that this Great Net's strength is not to be underestimated."
After careful consideration, Li Fan did not immediately use Return to Truth to escape.
He decided to first meet this mysterious nameless being.
Just as he was contemplating, Li Buren had already reached the last prisoner.
And when the emaciated old man uttered, "My friend, why do you destroy my The Dao Lattice?"
A blue figure appeared like a ghost, without any warning, within the Primordial Immortal Realm.
It directly locked onto Li Fan's true location.
The distance between them was only a thousand zhang.
The Primordial Immortal Realm was entirely under Li Fan's control. He was naturally the first to sense this unexpected intruder.
This was why he was even more shocked.
Undoubtedly, the blue figure was that [Great Net].
But Li Fan had no clue how he appeared within the The Great Barriers.
Logically, with the The Great Barriers as concealment, any true immortal attempting to cross them would inevitably cause fluctuations that would attract Li Fan's attention. After all, he was now half a successor to the Mound Guardian and possessed authority over the main division of the entire experimental field.
However, the blue Great Net completely disregarded this rule.
"How..."
Li Fan stared intently at the mysterious figure before him, and without hesitation, unleashed his full power.
The guardian phantoms, the sealed Heavenly Pillars,
and even the Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice woven by Li Fan himself.
He intended to instantly suppress the nameless Great Net.
In the Abyssal Sea, tempestuous waves instantly surged. In the Primordial Immortal Realm, the winds and clouds changed, and the sky tore apart.
The Heavenly Emperor and Heavenly Scars, alerted by the anomaly, noticed the two figures confronting each other in the Immortal Realm.
Seeing someone daring to challenge the majesty of the Creation Father God, the beings of the Primordial Immortal Realm collectively erupted in fury.
They transformed into streams of light and descended instantly, standing behind Li Fan like dark clouds, glaring at the blue figure before them.
They waited for Li Fan's command to swarm forward and tear the defiant intruder to shreds.
However, Li Fan, with a stern expression, felt a tempest raging in his heart.
Because he discovered that the power from the guardian phantoms...
had become ineffective!
It wasn’t that the power of the five guardian phantoms within the The Great Barriers had disappeared.
Rather, Li Fan could no longer borrow power from the phantoms!
In an instant, Li Fan's greatest reliance was inexplicably neutralized.
"Could this so-called Great Net be the Mound Guardian?"
The thought struck him, and Li Fan's heart pounded uncontrollably.
At this moment, he was still far from possessing the strength to contend with the Mound Guardian.
"No. The Great Net's actual performance is far from that of the legendary Mound Guardian."
"He could only fight back and forth with a group of fallen nameless beings, stalemating for tens of thousands of years."
"It absolutely cannot be the Mound Guardian himself."
Li Fan quickly calmed down, contemplating the reasons for such a bizarre phenomenon.
"He seized control of my guardian phantoms."
"He can freely traverse between the inside and outside of the The Great Barriers, as if he were doing so at will."
Li Fan narrowed his eyes, and the answer already formed in his mind.
"This Great Net, like me, originated from within the The Great Barriers? And also entered the hidden space of the experimental field to obtain the Mound Guardian's inheritance..."
"However, it is not from our Abyssal Sea."
"But from another segmented space within the experimental field."
...
The words spoken by the blue figure next seemed to confirm Li Fan's guess: "Having inherited the Mound Guardian's legacy, yet engaging in such actions?"
He pointed at the sealed Heavenly Pillars here and said indifferently.
Li Fan's thoughts raced.
Since the other party didn't attack directly, there was room for negotiation.
Regardless, he would try to extract some useful information for now. After all, with the protection of [Illusion is True], he was already in an invincible position.
With a wave of his hand, he ordered the onlookers from the Primordial Immortal Realm to retreat.
Li Fan laughed heartily, "So, the dragon king offended the dragon palace!"
"Perhaps I can call you Senior Brother?"
The blue figure calmly refused, "I dare not accept."
Li Fan did not press the matter and changed the subject, "What is my purpose, and what is yours, other than transforming immortals into pillars?"
"This has been happening in the Immortal Realm since ancient times. Even the Immortal Emperors themselves could not fault me."
Li Fan sneered, "Supporting the Dao Erasure with an immortal body can be considered a great merit."
"Others can. But you cannot. Because you received the Mound Guardian's inheritance," the blue figure, not being swayed by Li Fan's sophistry, directly categorized him.
"I cannot... then you can? Heh, don't go too far..."
"Naturally, I cannot violate it either," the blue figure interrupted Li Fan.
"But the lower Star Sea is on the verge of destruction. It's too late to reason with the true immortals slowly. Therefore, I took the initiative to enter the net with my body."
The blue light around the figure gradually dispersed as he spoke.
His true appearance was revealed.
It was identical to the old man sealed at the deepest part of the The Dao Lattice!
Or rather, the two were the same person!
"Without setting an example, how can other nameless beings be willing?" the old man said indifferently.
"You!"
Only now did Li Fan understand.
The mysterious nameless being who constructed the The Dao Lattice was actually one of the four pillars of the The Dao Lattice!
The master of the The Dao Lattice was also its prisoner!
"Since you have received the Mound Guardian’s Casual Notes, why do you still need to be a pillar yourself?"
"The echoing Dao phantoms could have taken your place!" After a moment of shock, Li Fan recovered and narrowed his eyes, questioning.
The old man sighed, "Without reaching the realm of transcendence, no matter how true the phantoms are, how can they compare to the true Great Dao?"
"Of course, the most crucial problem is that there wasn't enough time."
"If I had been given double the time, perhaps I could have gradually cultivated enough echoing Dao phantoms."
As the old man spoke, he surveyed the Primordial Immortal Realm here, "Benevolent Transformation and the others did not exaggerate. This place truly has the vestiges of the Immortal Realm."
He nodded in appraisal.
"May I know Brother's name?" Li Fan clasped his hands in greeting.
"Studying the Dao, inheriting it with one's body, and carrying it with one's will. My Dao path is the two words [Bearing the Dao]," the old man said solemnly.
"Bearing the Dao," Li Fan savored the words. With a solemn salute, he said, "I shall follow my master's example and willingly enter your net. I admire your actions, fellow Daoist. However…" Li Fan let out a cold laugh, "You may be a gentleman, but I am merely an individual who stumbled upon an opportunity. I only wish to survive."
He gestured to the surrounding Heavenly Pillars. Li Fan’s expression was calm. "Without my master's phantom image and these Nameless Heavenly Pillars protecting us, this starry sky would have likely collapsed long ago. To be frank, fellow Daoist, I've never been a secure person. I fear the day the Dao Erasure Tribulation arrives and my master's phantom image can no longer protect me. It's only natural that I want to build some fortifications."
Li Fan spoke with an air of casual indifference. Anyone who heard him would find it hard to connect his mention of "a few fortifications" with a Nameless True Immortal. "Although I wish to emulate my master and bear the Dao with my phantom image, my comprehension and aptitude are insufficient. I am truly powerless and can only resort to trickery."
"Fellow Daoist, you have woven such a magnificent The Dao Lattice. Your cultivation must be extraordinary. Could you teach me?"
Li Fan smiled and made a gentle gesture. Before him, the image of Mound Guardian, sitting on a mountain gazing at the sea, suddenly appeared. Countless light and shadows shifted around the figure. This was Li Fan's understanding of the "Mound Guardian's Casual Notes."
Upon seeing his master's image, the Nameless Bearer of the Dao immediately became serious. He first bowed respectfully, then examined it closely. Seeing this, Li Fan felt a sense of understanding, and his worries were largely dispelled.
The Nameless Bearer of the Dao did not treat it perfunctorily. After carefully studying Li Fan's insights, he actually began to explain them to him on the spot. He was truly a Nameless expert who had attained the Dao, his presence evoking the same feeling as when the Mound Guardian's phantom image imparted its legacy. It was as if a sage were by one's side, personally instructing them. Li Fan was enthralled, almost forgetting his perilous situation. He frequently posed questions, bringing up all the doubts he had accumulated over a hundred years of comprehending the Dao. The Nameless Bearer of the Dao answered all his questions with utmost sincerity. Li Fan's confusion vanished, and he was overjoyed.
The time spent discussing the Dao seemed to pass in a flash. As the Mound Guardian's image gradually faded, the Nameless Bearer of the Dao fixed his gaze on Li Fan once more.
"Though your confusion is resolved, your sin cannot be erased." "You relied on your master's legacy to act recklessly and deserve punishment." "While your life will be spared, you cannot escape punishment!" "I sentence you to move into the depths of the The Dao Lattice with me and reflect on your misdeeds!"
As the Nameless Bearer of the Dao spoke in a low voice, a brilliant azure light suddenly erupted, enveloping Li Fan. Li Fan saw clearly that it was not mere blue light before him, but countless densely packed Dao Strings superimposed upon each other! Each one felt as heavy as a Heavenly Pillar. With this move, the Nameless Bearer of the Dao seemed to be casting the entire The Dao Lattice down upon Li Fan.
"That old fellow is strong!" Li Fan thought, inwardly shocked. But he felt no fear; instead, his interest was piqued. Since there was no threat to his life, he might as well indulge the other party in a sparring match. Moreover, Li Fan had not had a proper spar with an equally matched opponent since ascending to immortality.
"Illusion is True!" Li Fan silently chanted. The rapidly approaching The Dao Lattice suddenly grasped at empty air. Although Li Fan stood right there, it was like a fisherman's net in the mortal world being unable to catch water. The rules protecting Li Fan now transcended the Great Dao, making it impossible for the The Dao Lattice to capture him.
"Fellow Daoist, behold my skills." Facing the Nameless Bearer of the Dao’s astonished and uncertain gaze, Li Fan smiled wickedly. With a flick of his finger, countless Dao threads intertwined with the blue The Dao Lattice. The net, formed by Ink Slaughter's Immortal Soul, began to erode the Nameless Bearer of the Dao's comprehension of the Great Dao. In reality, this manifested as the blue light within the The Dao Lattice fluctuating restlessly. Dark shadows continuously emerged in various places. Ink Slaughter's innate suppression of the Great Dao caused the The Dao Lattice to be completely defenseless for a time, allowing Li Fan to devour it at will. Countless insights into the Great Dao flowed into Li Fan's mind continuously. The efficiency was even greater than when he had previously absorbed the Grand Master Tiandu. Li Fan keenly sensed that this did not solely consist of the Nameless Bearer of the Dao's own insights, but also the residual power of the True Immortals who had been sealed within the The Dao Lattice.
"Wicked path!" Just as Li Fan was relishing his clandestine gains, the Nameless Bearer of the Dao roared. Under the assault of the shadows, the flickering blue The Dao Lattice instantly stabilized. It was no longer just a solitary net, but as if it had substantial support from behind. Li Fan gazed at the blue halo before him, experiencing an illusion as if facing mountains and seas. "Deep as the ocean, stable as a mountain." "The Great Dao is formless, its origin outside."
Li Fan was suddenly enlightened. Although his Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice had been developed for a hundred years and had absorbed many Great Daos, its scale and power were not weak. However, Li Fan had always felt that the foundation of his The Dao Lattice was not truly stable. For those weaker than him, it was manageable. But if he encountered someone stronger or of equal strength, a gentle push might be enough to break free from his so-called Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice. While his The Dao Lattice had woven myriad forms, it could not truly bind enemies.
In contrast, the The Dao Lattice woven by the Nameless Bearer of the Dao lacked such weaknesses. Like a mountain and sea in the palm of his hand, it was easily anchored. Even when Li Bu Ren, leveraging the power of the Boundless Unity Heavenly Pillars, wantonly destroyed parts of the The Dao Lattice and even removed three Heavenly Pillars, the true foundation of the Star Sea The Dao Lattice remained undamaged. "The Heavenly Pillars were merely supports. The anchoring roots were still there." "As long as some True Immortals were captured, the The Dao Lattice could be quickly restored. No wonder he wasn't anxious when he saw the The Dao Lattice being destroyed earlier." Li Fan understood. When he first saw the Star Sea The Dao Lattice, the invisible hands that pressed down upon the myriad Great Daos in his mind were essentially borrowing the power of the mountains and seas. The Nameless Bearer of the Dao, as a disciple of the Mound Guardian, could, like his master, borrow the power of the intangible, immeasurable mountains and seas that lay beyond the mortal realm.
In comparison, Li Fan, the disciple, was somewhat of a nominal one. With the The Dao Lattice having a solid foundation, it was no longer susceptible to Li Fan's corrosive techniques. It remained steadfast, unmoved by any storms. It was like a delicious piece of meat suddenly turning into an extremely tough bone. Li Fan had no choice but to temporarily withdraw, retracting his Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice.
"Fellow Daoist possesses remarkable skills!" "Be careful!" The praise and the sneak attack came simultaneously. "Since you borrow the power of the mountains and seas, I shall sever your connection to them!" A cold glint flashed in Li Fan's eyes. Although this was ostensibly a sparring match, if he could truly seize this Nameless Bearer of the Dao at this opportunity, Li Fan would hesitate not one bit.
The mountains and seas transcended the mortal realm. Only a handful of people in the world could witness their true form. Li Fan was certain that the Nameless Bearer of the Dao before him had absolutely never seen the mountains and seas firsthand. His ability to borrow their power was likely through the descriptions in the Mound Guardian's legacy. But coincidentally, Li Fan was one of those very few people in the world.
In a trance, it was as if he had returned to the boundless Infinite Sea, with Mount Shang, which had no peak, standing in the distance. Amidst the fusion of mountains and seas, endless echoes reverberated. With the mystical power of "Illusion is True," although Li Fan had not returned to the mountains and seas, he seemed to have personally experienced them again. Thus, he sensed the faint connection the Nameless Bearer of the Dao had established with the mountains and seas. Although he did not understand how this connection was formed, it did not prevent Li Fan from employing a ruse of substitution. Replacing the mountains and seas!
The Nameless Bearer of the Dao, undoubtedly under the influence of "Illusion is True," would not be able to distinguish between Li Fan and the true mountains and seas. Compared to the lofty and unattainable Infinite Sea and Mount Shang, Li Fan, the imitator, would proactively seek closeness. Under these circumstances, it was reasonable for the Nameless Bearer of the Dao to mistake Li Fan for the mountains and seas.
Consequently, the connection between the Nameless Bearer of the Dao's blue The Dao Lattice and the mountains and seas gradually became chaotic and finally severed. Li Fan, who had momentarily forged a connection with the blue The Dao Lattice by impersonating the mountains and seas, seized this fleeting opportunity to see the reason for the connection.
"As expected." Between the mountains and seas, a faint figure stood with his hands behind his back. Although the Mound Guardian existed in the mortal realm, he had left his mark within the mountains and seas. The Nameless Bearer of the Dao was the Mound Guardian's disciple, and not just through ordinary inheritance. Therefore, he could sense the Mound Guardian's imprint within the mountains and seas. This was why he could borrow the power of the mountains and seas to suppress the The Dao Lattice!
In a flash, Li Fan also locked onto the location of the Mound Guardian's imprint within the mountains and seas. However, he did not rashly tamper with it. As long as he could grasp this imprint, he would be able to borrow the power of the mountains and seas, just like the Nameless Bearer of the Dao, regardless of his location and no longer confined within the The Great Barriers.
But the problem was… The Mound Guardian himself still existed in the mortal realm. The Nameless Bearer of the Dao was a legitimate disciple of the Mound Guardian, embodying the Dao with his being and inheriting it with his aspirations. Such a disciple, borrowing his master's name and power, would likely not be blamed by the Mound Guardian. In fact, if he sensed his disciple in danger, he might even traverse spacetime to offer aid.
As for Li Fan? He used the Mound Guardian's phantom image, which was provided by his clone, Li Bu Ren. Moreover, he had used the phantom image meant to carry the Dao Erasure Tribulation as a weapon to seal Nameless True Immortals. He was undoubtedly a charlatan. It was fine within the The Great Barriers. But if he foolishly presented himself before the Mound Guardian… Li Fan was certain that even if the Mound Guardian himself was magnanimous and extraordinary, and perhaps didn't care much, a casual slap from him would be more than Li Fan could withstand in his current state. It might even expose the existence of Return to Truth.
"In a life-threatening situation, I might be able to actively trigger it. The Mound Guardian's name should be terrifying enough to create chaos as a cover, allowing me to calmly revert to Return to Truth." Li Fan had used such a tactic multiple times when he was a mortal and was adept at it. "It's just a pity. It seems I cannot easily make a move on this Nameless Bearer of the Dao." "As expected, good students are darlings of their teachers," Li Fan mused regretfully.
Acting prudently, Li Fan quickly changed his strategy. Fortunately, the duration of "Illusion is True" impersonating the mountains and seas had ended, so Li Fan voluntarily called a halt to their confrontation. "Your cultivation is indeed far superior to mine, fellow Daoist. I have learned much today." He changed his expression, feigning sincere admiration.
Facing Li Fan's flattery, the Nameless Bearer of the Dao merely snorted and did not reply. Li Fan's ability to sever his connection to the imprint of the mountains and seas had indeed exceeded his expectations. With such prowess at his disposal, he had to proceed with caution.
Li Fan was unconcerned by the Nameless Bearer of the Dao's cold demeanor. He continued to smile cheerfully and said with great sincerity, "Actually, speaking of which, fellow Daoist and I have no irreconcilable conflicts." "I am simply seeking a secure place." "Asking me to release these True Immortals from the Heavenly Pillars is not impossible…"
"Oh?" The Nameless Bearer of the Dao looked at Li Fan with surprise, almost writing 'I don't believe you' on his face. "Fellow Daoist, the reason you care about these sealed individuals in the Heavenly Pillars is because they are like me?" Li Fan retorted.
The Nameless Bearer of the Dao pondered for a moment, then nodded frankly. "All Immortals in the Immortal Realm have received grace from my master and inherited his teachings. In a sense, all Immortals in the Immortal Realm are disciples of the Mound Guardian. How can fellow disciples harm each other?"
"Well said, 'How can fellow disciples harm each other!' Your words today are truly like a divine revelation!" Li Fan exclaimed, clapping his hands in praise after a moment of surprise. Naturally, he replaced "fellow Daoist" with "senior brother." Pausing, Li Fan saw that the Nameless Bearer of the Dao did not object, and then continued with a smile, "Having received your guidance today, senior brother, I realize my past mistakes. As I said earlier, I am willing to release the True Immortals imprisoned in the Heavenly Pillars unconditionally. Furthermore, I can assist senior brother in rebuilding the The Dao Lattice…"
The Nameless Bearer of the Dao looked skeptical. "What are your conditions?" It was clear he had already understood Li Fan's character as his newfound junior brother.
"My aspiration to build safe fortifications has never changed. Senior brother, you would not wish for the phantom image left by our master to turn to dust in the Dao Erasure Tide, would you?" Li Fan continued, "Senior brother, you should know that I now have a method that benefits both sides. It can satisfy my needs without harming our fellow disciples in the Immortal Realm."
"The alien races, embodiments of the Primordial Dao. Have you heard of them, senior brother?" Li Fan asked with a smile.
The Nameless Bearer of the Dao's expression shifted slightly. "Nameless alien races? When did such monstrosities appear in this realm?" "No, no. Not from this realm. But from beyond the heavens!" Li Fan extended his hand, pointing into the distance. Beyond the The Great Barriers, beyond the realm of possibilities. This time, the Nameless Bearer of the Dao's expression truly changed.
"How many?" he asked, his voice deep, no longer sounding like the one who had just spoken of the Immortals of the Immortal Realm. "Thirteen of them," Li Fan uttered the word calmly. "Hmm?" Even the Nameless Bearer of the Dao was startled by the number. "Is this true?" His voice rose several octaves.
Li Fan’s expression turned serious. "How dare I deceive senior brother. This is the fundamental reason why I have exhausted every effort to enhance my strength. These thirteen Primordial Dao Forms are too aggressive. I cannot sleep or eat in peace!" Li Fan sighed.
The Nameless Bearer of the Dao pondered for a moment, then decisively said, "Junior brother, rest assured, with me here, even if all thirteen of those nameless alien races attack, they will not touch a single hair on your head!" "You are right. If we can supplement with these thirteen Primordial Dao Forms, the Star Sea's temptations can be completely resolved!"
“To be frank, brother, I possess a treasure called the Wheel of Ten Thousand Beasts, which can restrain nameless alien races. However, its power is limited, and it can only restrain eight of them at most. The rest will have to trouble you, brother.” Li Fan spoke with surprising sincerity.
He then presented the treasure gifted by Emperor San Mo.
Cheng Dao gazed at the peculiar life forms appearing within the wheel and nodded slightly. “Indeed, it carries the aura of the Great Dao from beyond the heavens. Heh, brother, rest assured. With me here, these alien races won’t cause any significant trouble.”
Cheng Dao’s confident demeanor seemed genuine, which piqued Li Fan’s curiosity.
“Brother, though you are powerful, I doubt you alone can defeat these nameless alien races if they combine their strength. Could it be…” Li Fan pointed upwards, hinting at the Mound Guardian who had already departed.
Cheng Dao chuckled heartily. “Such trivial matters hardly require my Master’s intervention. When dealing with fellow disciples, perhaps I should exercise some restraint. But when it comes to these alien races…”
“I can resort to any means necessary.”
Li Fan’s eyes lit up, and he cupped his fists. “Please, brother, enlighten me.”
Cheng Dao didn’t answer directly but instead asked cryptically, “Is the one beside my main body your clone?”
“Brother truly has extraordinary insight. This clone of mine is not connected by blood essence but merely by a spiritual link in the ethereal, making it impossible for others to detect.”
“Then, observe closely.”
The scene shifted back to the depths of the Star Sea The Dao Lattice.
Li Buren was locked in a stalemate with Cheng Dao’s main body.
Chaos and Benevolence attempted to assist but were blocked by an onslaught of ten thousand Dao Threads. It was as if a hidden The Dao Lattice resided within Cheng Dao’s emaciated form!
Even with the power of Boundless Unity, it would take some time to unravel these Dao Threads, leaving Chaos and Benevolence to fend for themselves.
“Who is this person? How peculiar!”
“These Dao Threads, while seemingly reflections of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth, are in fact more profoundly rooted in his own understanding. I even saw my own Dao of Benevolence within them! How is this possible!” The two of them, both nameless, instantly perceived the strangeness of Cheng Dao, their hearts filled with dread.
Unbeknownst to them, Li Buren and Cheng Dao, who had been locked in a fierce battle moments before, had now resolved their conflict. Cheng Dao had even begun to actively explain and demonstrate his insights to Li Buren.
“Junior Brother, observe closely.”
Cheng Dao’s grip on the Boundless Unity Heavenly Pillar tightened with each passing moment.
Li Buren sensed the surging Boundless Unity aura emanating from him growing more intense, like boiling water.
Suddenly, hundreds of Dao Threads moved as if imbued with sentience, all attacking Li Buren simultaneously.
“This is…”
“Boundless Unity?!”
These hundreds of Dao Threads could disregard the defenses of the Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice, and even the Boundless Unity Heavenly Pillar itself seemed powerless against them. If Li Buren hadn’t swiftly employed his Dao Sword and Dao Blade to block these threads, he would have been impaled by now.
“The name Cheng Dao is not merely an empty boast. It is an embodiment of the will and practice.” Billions of Dao Threads heavily surrounded him and Li Buren, isolating them from the prying eyes of Benevolence and Chaos.
“While constructing the Star Sea The Dao Lattice externally, I also bear a The Dao Lattice within my body. Even if the Great Dao perishes one day, and the The Dao Lattice disappears, I can still become the The Dao Lattice, the Great Dao itself!” Cheng Dao’s voice boomed like thunder.
In Li Buren’s eyes, this gaunt old man seemed like the very embodiment of the Star Sea The Dao Lattice, seated before him, bearing the weight of heaven and earth!
“Brother Cheng Dao’s actions are indeed admirable. However, if this is all, it might not be enough. After all, with the Immortals departed, the Great Dao of this realm is already incomplete. Your Dao will be further diminished… and those thirteen primordial Dao forms of the alien races, each represents a complete Great Dao. A well-armed infant might not be as strong as a single robust arm,” Li Buren shook his head.
Cheng Dao did not refute Li Buren’s words directly but smiled and asked, “What if the Dao I bear is a complete Great Dao?”
“Observe!”
The Dao Threads surging from Cheng Dao seemed endless, obscuring his entire form.
The Dao Lattice of the Star Sea, it turned out, was merely an insignificant part of the whole. Cheng Dao’s body had completely vanished, and Li Buren felt as though he had fallen into an infinite expanse of stars. Brilliant Great Daos glistened all around him!
Though much more obscure than directly observing the True Great Dao, a keen perception would surely yield great benefits.
As Li Buren gazed at this True The Dao Lattice hidden within Cheng Dao’s body, two phrases suddenly surfaced in his mind.
The Dao Carving Immortal, and the Great Ultimate Dao Scripture.
“His act of bearing the Dao is fundamentally no different from the Dao Carving Immortal or the Great Ultimate Dao Scripture.”
“The Dao Carving Immortal manifested the formless Dao and then translated it, allowing the world to perceive, understand, and grasp it.”
“As for Cheng Dao, perhaps he recognized his own limited aptitude and could not emulate the Dao Carving Immortal’s feat. He willingly chose to become a ‘mirror’ reflecting all the Great Daos of the heavens.”
“However, to be a ‘Dao Mirror’ is also an extraordinary accomplishment. Apart from his own profound understanding of the Great Daos. The most crucial aspect is…”
“The matter of timing. Let alone the Immortal Realm suffering calamity and the Great Dao being lost in annihilation. Even in the once intact Immortal Realm, many nameless True Immortals transcended and departed, leaving the heavens’ Great Dao incomplete. From where did he derive these heavens’ Great Daos he reflects?” Li Buren’s thoughts raced.
As if sensing Li Buren’s doubts, Cheng Dao’s ethereal voice echoed from all directions, “I was originally a spirit stone by the sea of mountains and oceans. I gestured for billions of years in the Immortal Realm, yet I could not hatch. Even when my Master was about to transcend and depart, I had not gained sentience.”
“Later, Master came to the Lower Realm’s testing ground and discovered a particular star sea that might aid me. Thus, he left me here.”
Before Li Buren, a dark and chaotic starry sky appeared.
It was one of the countless pocket spaces within the Immortal Realm’s testing ground. Li Fan had observed this area before and found nothing special.
The scene rewound, and myriad blue light projections emerged from the darkness. This was the original appearance of this star sea countless years ago, a boundless, azure ocean that filled the entire star field.
Its source was a mountain peak no larger than a palm.
Streams flowed endlessly from the mountain, seemingly outside the cycle of worldly reincarnation. Once born, they did not participate in the cycle of heaven and earth, nor did they disappear.
Over accumulation, they gradually filled the entire star field.
Only the mountain peak at the center of the star sea remained unaffected.
The Mound Guardian placed the spirit stone there, at the mountain’s peak and the spring’s source. Washed day and night by the stream, it finally transformed into a human!
…
Li Buren sighed, “So, Brother actually has such an extraordinary background!”
“When I was a spirit stone, I reflected all the scenes of the world. The departed and the vanished were all within my past. Except for those who truly achieved transcendence and sainthood, I could re-project them with my divine sense.”
The billions of The Dao Lattices displayed to Li Fan vanished, and Cheng Dao returned to his emaciated old man appearance.
“It merely requires time.”
“Unfortunately, time is not on my side,” Cheng Dao sighed.
“As you’ve seen, constructing the Star Sea The Dao Lattice took me tens of thousands of years. To restore the heavens, it would take an estimated tens of millions of years…”
Li Buren pondered for a moment and seemed to understand. “If there were no pressure from the Dao Erasure Tribulation, Brother, you wouldn’t need so much time, would you?”
“Precisely. In the end, I merely carry the shadow of the Dao, not the True Great Dao itself. Without the support of Dao Transcending True Immortals, even if I could recreate the complete Great Dao, it would be like a castle in the air, fragile and easily scattered with a push!”
“Brother, you need not be so humble. To reflect the complete Great Dao, such a method and realm are beyond ordinary nameless beings. I am still curious, what precisely did Brother mean by ‘resorting to any means necessary’ earlier?” Li Buren was intensely curious.
“Replacing the Dao with shadows, transforming shadows into Dao,” the old man, still seated, slowly uttered these eight words.
Li Buren pondered them carefully.
“Between different possibilities, the paths of the Dao may vary slightly. But ultimately, they remain within the mortal world, unable to transcend the mountains and oceans. As a spirit stone born by the sea of mountains and oceans, I can likely absorb and devour them. Then, I will transform them into the shadows of the Great Dao within my memory.” Cheng Dao explained unhurriedly.
“Perhaps due to the influence of the mountains and oceans, my absorption is not particularly difficult. I can even, to a certain extent, disregard the will of others.”
As if to validate his words, Cheng Dao’s grip on the Boundless Unity Heavenly Pillar tightened again. Instantly, the intensity of the surging Boundless Unity aura around him increased fivefold.
Li Buren noticed that the Boundless Unity Heavenly Pillar itself had weakened slightly.
While “Boundless Unity” remained “Boundless Unity,” its upper limit had weakened.
“The beings sealed within this pillar should be from the era of the Sage Lords, perhaps the Boundless Unity Venerate…”
Cheng Dao shook his head and channeled the forcibly seized Boundless Unity power back.
The weakened portion of the Boundless Unity Heavenly Pillar was replenished, returning it to its original state.
“The Great Dao plundered from me can be transformed within my body. If those thirteen alien Dao forms dare to come…”
“Then they shall not leave, they will all become Heavenly Pillars,” Cheng Dao declared, sealing the fate of these nameless alien races in a few words.
Cheng Dao’s action of weakening the upper limit of the “Boundless Unity” Great Dao sparked deep contemplation in Li Fan.
In a way, this method seemed similar to his own ability of “Truth into Falsehood,” which reduced the spiritual essence limit.
“However, ‘Truth into Falsehood’ pertains to existence, arbitrarily reducing it. Whereas Cheng Dao’s innate divine ability merely transforms its nature without direct erasure. But perhaps both are related to the mountains and oceans…”
“It is fortunate that the Mound Guardian found and enlightened this spirit stone in the past. With Cheng Dao’s current moral principles, as long as one does not act contrary to his understanding right before him, it will not cause trouble. Otherwise, even without using the Mound Guardian’s mark, it would be extremely difficult to deal with him once he unleashes this innate divine ability,” Li Fan thought with a hidden fear.
The might of mountains and oceans transcends the mortal world. All powers originating from the mortal world are no match for it. Only the transformation of truth and falsehood can contend with it.
“Perhaps the Mound Guardian’s retention of his mark also served as a form of surveillance. Otherwise, if he were to go mad and lose control, the damage to the mortal world would be immense.”
As Li Fan pondered, he decided that Cheng Dao was a friend, not an enemy.
“Brother, rest assured. Since you trust me so much, I will never reveal your origins to anyone else,” Li Fan vowed earnestly.
“With such abilities, Brother, I am truly without worry. However, the True Immortal sealed within the Heavenly Pillar cannot be easily released. I fear there might not be enough support, and the Dao Erasure is approaching…” Li Fan explained with a troubled expression.
“I understand that perfectly,” Cheng Dao was by no means rigid. “We can release them once alien Heavenly Pillars are added to compensate. Tell me, when will these nameless alien races arrive?”
“From fifty years at the shortest, to a hundred years at the longest.”
Cheng Dao nodded. “That is acceptable. Not too long. The grievances they have suffered are not too significant.”
Li Fan agreed. “Heh, Brother truly has a compassionate heart.”
The billions of Dao Threads obscuring the sky retracted.
Benevolence and Chaos, still on high alert, looked at Li Buren and Cheng Dao standing together, seemingly as close as brothers, and were utterly stunned.
“Senior, what is happening?” Chaos transmitted.
“It was merely a misunderstanding. This is ‘Great Net,’ and he is my senior brother.”
Li Buren’s words greatly astonished the two nameless True Immortals.
They intently scrutinized the frail old man before them but could not connect him to the pair of large blue hands.
Cheng Dao, too, was disinclined to explain himself.
He merely said indifferently, “Although you have thwarted my plans multiple times, considering we are of the same sect, I shall not hold it against you.”
His words left Benevolence and Chaos utterly bewildered, having no idea where this alleged “same sect” originated.
However, they dared not inquire further.
Thus, a storm, or perhaps a farce, finally came to an end.
Though some True Immortals perished in the entire affair, no nameless realm figures suffered casualties.
They were merely temporarily sealed within the Heavenly Pillars, ready to be released at any time.
As for the Immortal Hunters and mortals within the Star Sea The Dao Lattice…
They were entirely outside Cheng Dao’s consideration.
Li Fan had come to understand his senior brother somewhat. His perception of fellow disciples was tiered.
Those who received the true teachings of the Mound Guardian were the closest.
Among the Immortals of the Immortal Realm, their importance was determined by cultivation.
As for the mortals of the Lower Realm, they were merely ants to be used.
“I can only say that he is indeed a spirit stone from the sea of mountains and oceans. Though enlightened by the Mound Guardian and awakened to sentience and morality, deep down, he remains cold-blooded and unfeeling,” Li Fan mused internally.
However, he showed no outward reaction, addressing Cheng Dao as “Brother” with utmost familiarity.
Perhaps because he had never been addressed so sincerely since his birth, Cheng Dao, content with the affection, became even more amiable towards Li Fan.
During their casual conversation, Li Fan also learned why a nameless True Immortal like Cheng Dao would resort to mortal assistance to maintain the The Dao Lattice.
“Mere mortals can contend with Brother?” Li Fan expressed disbelief and surprise.
“If I were to fight with deadly intent, they would naturally not be my match. However, even in their defeat, they could not change the fact that they could injure me. Thus, I gradually became interested in them.”
Another chapter will be released around 2 AM.
"A mere mortal cannot truly harm me. I was merely borrowing power," the Elder stated. "However, to be able to borrow power from the Great Sage Jing Fen is no small feat." As he uttered the words 'Great Sage Jing Fen,' just like when mentioning the Mound Guardian, Elder Cheng Dao's expression turned solemn and reverent.
At these words, Li Fan's heart leaped. An ominous premonition enveloped him.
Subconsciously, he activated the 'Illusion is True' divine ability.
Mere moments later, Li Fan felt a chilling sensation as if a gaze had swept over him from Elder Cheng Dao. However, it was only a fleeting glance, not lingering on him. Then, this gaze dissipated.
Elder Cheng Dao seemed accustomed to it and continued speaking, completely oblivious to the tempest raging within Li Fan's outwardly calm demeanor.
"Great Sage... Sage Lord."
"The fourth Sage Lord of the Immortal Realm, who is perceived whenever mentioned?"
"I was almost harmed by this old fellow!"
The Sage Lords stood at the pinnacle of the Immortal Realm, capable of manipulating the Mountains and Seas to a certain extent. Their power was beyond doubt. Even with the protection of 'Reflection,' Li Fan was not entirely confident he could escape such a powerful cultivator unscathed. How could he not feel a lingering fear?
Fortunately, through years of simulated reincarnations, Li Fan had cultivated an extremely acute spiritual sense. Acting on a sudden inspiration, he had timely executed the 'Illusion is True' divine ability and thus escaped disaster.
Li Fan's 'Illusion is True' this time was a simulation of an ordinary True Immortal in the mortal world. Unlike previous occasions where he transformed into targets of special nature, he merely hid his own peculiarity. Had Li Fan not rehearsed this several times during his previous insights, he would not have reacted so swiftly this time.
"Although the 'Illusion is True' divine ability cannot be maintained indefinitely, merely transforming into an ordinary True Immortal in the mortal world, with minimal consumption, can almost be sustained forever. However, to change the effect of 'Illusion is True' requires waiting another twenty-four hours."
"When interacting with this old fellow in the future, I must remain constantly vigilant," Li Fan thought, forcing himself to calm down and cease dwelling on the matter of the Great Sage Jing Fen.
He listened as Elder Cheng Dao continued, "After I emerged from that experimental field, I was naturally meant to inherit my master's Dao and use a phantom to bear the Dao Erasure. But the problem was that the surrounding star sea was barren and lifeless. I couldn't find a True Immortal anywhere. It was at this opportune moment that the master of the Sacred Merchant approached me, saying they had a method..."
"The master of the Sacred Merchant?" Li Fan's attention was drawn back.
"This mortal indeed possesses some skill. He can pursue the faint, subtle connections between True Immortals and the Mountains and Seas, accurately locating hidden True Immortals in the vast, desolate, and silent star sea. Although I can do the same, it takes more time. Having someone else handle it is naturally better."
"I was quite fortunate. The first Unknown I encountered, 'Grind,' was quite reasonable. He was willing to follow my master's will and leave behind a phantom to bear the Dao."
"But as I said before, the Calamity of Dao Erasure arrived faster than I imagined. Time was running out," Elder Cheng Dao said with some regret.
"By the time 'Grind' comprehends the profound techniques passed down by my master and splits off his phantom to bear the Dao, this star sea might have already been swallowed by Dao Erasure. My first battle after leaving seclusion cannot end so hastily. Faced with an emergency, I had to substitute myself for the phantom." As he grew gradually more familiar with Li Fan, Elder Cheng Dao's words subtly shifted.
However, on the whole, they still aligned with Li Fan's assessment of Elder Cheng Dao's character.
Elder Cheng Dao was originally a spirit stone by the edge of the Mountains and Seas. Being an entity from beyond the mortal world, he possessed a naturally cold disposition. However, he had been enlightened by the Mound Guardian and was thus bound. Therefore, his actions still remained within the established rules.
"The effect was still quite good, barely resisting the impending Calamity of Dao Erasure. It's just that 'Grind' inevitably had some grievances. But seeing that I myself entered imprisonment, he could hardly say anything more. As compensation, I specifically crafted a City of Ultimate Bliss for him. With a clone able to enjoy himself and vent outside, he is quite unique among the True Immortals in the The Dao Lattice." Elder Cheng Dao seemed somewhat dismissive.
In his view, being able to offer himself to resist Dao Erasure and practice the Mound Guardian's philosophy was an immense honor.
"But not every True Immortal in the world is as reasonable as 'Grind.' The vast majority are not very cooperative. Due to my fellow disciples' relationships, I cannot directly intervene. I can only rely on the power of these mortals in the star sea."
"When I saved them from the Calamity of Dao Erasure, they were deeply grateful to me and followed my every word. The Governing Council, the Immortal Hunters, and even some survivors from within the The Great Barriers were thus established..." Elder Cheng Dao's tone was indifferent.
Li Fan could somewhat understand Elder Cheng Dao's mindset. To him, these mortal individuals were indeed not within his scope of consideration. Even though Li Fan had almost torn apart the The Dao Lattice this time, killing and injuring countless Immortal Hunters, as long as he called him 'Senior Brother' a few more times, Elder Cheng Dao would dismiss the matter. In short, the reason was that the weight placed on fellow disciples who inherited the Mound Guardian's legacy was entirely different from that of mortal ants in Elder Cheng Dao's heart.
"Even if it's only mortals wielding the blade, with Senior Brother overseeing, capturing True Immortals in the star sea should be effortless. Why did I hear that the Immortal Hunters were repeatedly thwarted? And even fell into a disadvantageous position during the battles?"
Elder Cheng Dao narrowed his eyes upon hearing this. Li Fan felt a cold killing intent emanating from him, along with a subtle, almost imperceptible greed. After a long pause, Elder Cheng Dao finally confessed, "If they were all like 'Chaos' and 'Benevolent Transformation,' with such strength, there would be no trouble. The most crucial one was 'Reverse'..."
"'Reverse'?" Li Fan immediately thought of the Unknown True Immortal within the True Immortal forces, rumored to have crafted the treasure 'Reverse Flow Boat.' He couldn't help but ask in surprise, "Does a method to reverse time truly exist in this world?"
Elder Cheng Dao's tone grew somber. "Although there is no definitive proof, it is highly likely. Hmph, every time they managed to turn the tide, transforming decay into miracle, how could it be such a coincidence?"
"I tried every method, but I was helpless against such a phenomenon. Later, 'Reverse' disappeared without a trace. Only then did those True Immortals gradually become more obedient."
Li Fan fell into contemplation.
"'Reverse Flow Boat,' the second of the Three Methods of Seeking Refuge."
"If time could be reversed, what would happen when encountering 'Reflection'?"
He thought this, but on the surface, Li Fan said, "Reverse disappeared. Perhaps he used the 'Reverse Flow Boat' to return to the past?"
"Perhaps. It's a pity I couldn't capture him. Otherwise, if I could return to when I was a spirit stone by my master's side and suddenly awaken my consciousness, my master would surely be very surprised." These words, emanating from a thin, old man, were indeed somewhat peculiar. But it was enough to show the profound influence the Mound Guardian had on Elder Cheng Dao.
Li Fan was speechless, and a silence fell between them.
Having finally confirmed that a method to reverse time truly existed, Li Fan became fixated on it, attempting to glean more information from Elder Cheng Dao.
"I believe such a heaven-defying divine ability does not exist in this world. Who is my master? Even he seemed unable to reverse time. It is truly hard to imagine that that 'Reverse Immortal' would be more powerful than my master," Li Fan said, shaking his head after a period of silence.
"Regarding this, I was also once perplexed and sought guidance from my master," Elder Cheng Dao suddenly said.
"Oh? What did Master say?" Li Fan's heart leaped. Not only because it concerned the matter of reversing time, but also because he discovered that Elder Cheng Dao could communicate with the Mound Guardian at any time.
"'Irrelevant to the finale.'"
"'These four words,' I still cannot comprehend them," Elder Cheng Dao sighed regretfully.
'Irrelevant to the finale.' Li Fan slowly repeated the words in his heart. It was clear that the finale referred to by the Mound Guardian was the one a million years later in the mortal world, which was ultimately submerged by the Calamity of Dao Erasure.
"Does this mean that the power to reverse time cannot resolve such a disaster?" Li Fan found this unbelievable and was utterly perplexed. However, the Mound Guardian's thoughts were beyond the comprehension of the current Li Fan. The perspective from beyond the mortal world, from the Mountains and Seas, might be entirely different from within the mortal world. Since the Mound Guardian said so, he must have his reasons. Li Fan could only comfort himself with this thought.
"Master's divine words are truly hard to fathom. Senior Brother, you need not dwell on it; I don't understand either." Hearing Li Fan say this, Elder Cheng Dao's mood immediately brightened.
Li Fan continued to inquire, "From what Senior Brother says, you can frequently receive my master's teachings? Next time you have such an opportunity, please don't forget to bring Junior Brother along!"
"Although I received the Mound Guardian's 'Casual Notes of the Mound Guardian,' I have never had the chance to personally hear his words or see his form..." Li Fan's face was filled with envy.
Elder Cheng Dao spoke with a touch of pride, and also some regret. "It's not as easy as you imagine. Master has transcended, and his divine movements are ethereal. Furthermore, his imprint exists between the Mountains and Seas. It is quite normal for a message to receive no reply for several hundred years. Therefore, although I have been awake for a long time, I have only had a few opportunities to speak with Master."
"That's truly a pity!" Li Fan sighed, but inwardly, he breathed a sigh of relief.
"But Junior Brother, rest assured, if there is any news from Master next time, I will definitely bring you along!" Elder Cheng Dao promised repeatedly, demonstrating his loyalty.
"Then thank you, Senior Brother!" Li Fan's face lit up with joy.
The interaction between the two fellow disciples was indeed very pleasant. Although Elder Cheng Dao's strength was unfathomable, after being enlightened by the Mound Guardian, he was bound by rules. Li Fan, catering to his preferences, could naturally control him with ease. Gradually, Elder Cheng Dao began to regard Li Fan as the most trustworthy person besides the Mound Guardian.
Li Fan also benefited greatly from Elder Cheng Dao. The most crucial aspect was the complete Dao projections in Elder Cheng Dao's memories. Although they were not the Dao itself and did not offer substantive help to Li Fan's 'Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice' derivation progress, they were equivalent to directly unlocking all the Dao illustrations that were previously shrouded in mist. This enabled Li Fan to precisely track targets in the future.
Benefiting from their harmonious relationship, Elder Cheng Dao was not stingy with these complete Dao memories, often sharing them with Li Fan. However, the complete Dao projection of the 'Primal' possibility was dozens of times more complex than the Dao Li Fan had glimpsed before and could not be fully comprehended in a short period. Thus, Li Fan almost always stayed by Elder Cheng Dao's side.
As for his clone, Li Buren, he was outside helping to repair the The Dao Lattice. With the assistance of True Immortals like 'Chaos' and 'Benevolent Transformation,' as well as numerous beings from the Primordial Immortal Realm, the repair of the Star Sea The Dao Lattice progressed rapidly.
In the nearby Star Sea, with the controllers of the two largest forces constantly sitting and discussing the Dao and enjoying each other's company, this region of space entered a period of rare peace and tranquility.
Until thirty-three years later.
'Benevolent Transformation' suddenly sought an audience with Li Fan.
"A message from the Guang Wu Star Sea?" Li Fan was somewhat surprised. He hadn't expected the Guang Wu Star Sea to dare approach him again after witnessing his divine ability of snatching the Dao Sword and Dao Blade with his bare hands.
"What did they say?" Li Fan asked with interest.
'Benevolent Transformation's' expression was somewhat subtle. He glanced at Elder Cheng Dao, who was still sitting cross-legged beside Li Fan.
"My Senior Brother and I are more than brothers by blood. There are no secrets between us. Speak freely!" Li Fan waved his hand.
'Benevolent Transformation' then confessed everything honestly. "That 'Star Gazer' first inquired about my recent situation. I didn't expose anything, merely feigning that I had narrowly escaped in panic and managed to survive."
"Then, 'Star Gazer' actually proposed continuing our cooperation."
"'I refused decisively. 'Star Gazer,' however, was incessant, seemingly..." Observing Li Fan's expression, 'Benevolent Transformation' whispered, "Seemingly determined to capture you, Senior."
Before Li Fan could respond, Elder Cheng Dao let out a cold laugh.
"You can agree for now and lure him here," Elder Cheng Dao instructed. "I want to see what capabilities this 'Star Gazer' truly possesses."
Li Fan pondered for a moment, sensing the peculiarity of the situation. There was no reason for a "no profit, no early rising." Li Fan's displayed strength, capable of easily resolving the attacks of the Dao Sword and Dao Blade and subduing these supreme treasures with a bare hand, undoubtedly surpassed that of an ordinary Unknown True Immortal. Yet, even so, the Guang Wu Star Sea, represented by 'Star Gazer,' was determined to capture Li Fan. Li Fan had no irreconcilable conflict with the Guang Wu Star Sea.
"So, they have guessed the method by which I obtained the Dao Sword and Dao Blade?" Li Fan became serious, as the matter involved 'Reflection.' Judging by the ability to casually produce treasures like the Dao Sword and Dao Blade, the 'Guang Wu Star Sea' force was undoubtedly not weak. There might even be powerful beings capable of transcending and traveling between different possibilities. After all, the Dao Sword and Dao Blade originated from another possibility.
"Interesting." Although Li Fan could completely ignore this 'Star Gazer' True Immortal, he could not tolerate potential threats lurking nearby. Being constantly targeted by others felt even more unpleasant. Most crucially, Li Fan now had a powerful Senior Brother acting as his shield.
"Let Senior Brother first test the mettle of this 'Guang Wu Star Sea'," Li Fan's eyes flashed with a cold glint. "Do as my Senior Brother says!" Li Fan commanded in a deep voice.
Elder Cheng Dao was quite pleased with Li Fan's response. In his view, Li Fan's straightforward agreement was far better than hesitant reluctance.
"Junior Brother, rest assured. As I said before," Elder Cheng Dao stated solemnly, "As long as Senior Brother is here, he will never let anyone harm you."
Li Fan showed a grateful expression. Simultaneously, he instructed his clone, Li Buren, to make preparations.
In the Primordial Immortal Realm, the infusion from the Infinite Sea had long achieved balance. The continent within the The Great Barriers was now virtually indistinguishable from the Immortal Realm in Li Fan's memory.
-
Having truly visited the Infinite Sea, Li Fan could now channel its boundless immortal power through the technique of "Illusion is True."
Compared to the Immortal Realm of old, this Primordial Continent perhaps only lacked in "Momentum."
Immortals, by nature, could look down from their lofty positions and observe the myriad living beings because the Sage Lord Lian Shan had ascended Mount Shang in the past, carving a path from nothingness to existence for all beings under heaven. The entire Immortal Realm was even constructed directly within the boundless Mount Shang.
However, where Mount Shang was located, and what it looked like, few immortals in the world knew.
This is what is meant by "only because I am here within the mountain."
Li Fan, a "Half-Immortal," was no different.
Though within the mountain, he could not see its true face. Though he could borrow its momentum, he could not understand its origin.
"The Infinite Sea was already so breathtaking. The grandeur of Mount Shang must surely be no less than the Infinite Sea."
Whenever Li Fan roamed the Infinite Sea, he could not help but think this. He could only deduce the existence of Mount Shang by inferring from the differing "Momentum" generated with each step he ascended.
Even without deliberately seeking the heights of Mount Shang, the momentum of the Primordial Immortal Realm had changed with the cumulative increase of Infinite Power being poured in. This was perhaps the best proof that Mountains and Seas shared the same origin.
At this moment, Li Bairen sat cross-legged within a Dao Palace atop Mount Shang, at the very apex of the Primordial Immortal Realm's firmament, above the palaces of the Five Heavenly Emperors.
He could perceive every rustle of wind and blade of grass on the continent, yet the majority of his attention was focused on a yellowed, ancient scroll in his hands.
The scroll appeared ancient and was severely damaged, with many pages torn off. However, this did not prevent Li Bairen from reading it over and over.
This book was the "Allegory of Mountains and Seas" that Li Fan had painstakingly searched for and that Liu Ruchen had once read.
After the Medicine King Sect's Medicine King True Cauldron left the Xuanhuang Realm, this scroll was confiscated by the Supreme Sect, one of the Myriad Immortal Sects, and placed within their sect's treasure vault.
Later, the Supreme Sect split, and some members took the opportunity to flee, taking with them countless treasures from the sect's vault, including this allegory.
Outside the The Great Barriers back then, amidst the chaotic confluence of many forces in the Star Sea, the survivors within the walls, presumably from the same darkened star sea, instinctively united. They eventually managed to survive and evolved into the three current powers in the Star Sea: the "Sword Domain," "Thousand Crossing Dojo," and "Primordial Abyss Land."
The former Supreme Sect was located within the "Thousand Crossing Dojo."
Li Fan was now an undisputed existence in the Star Sea. Finding something within these mortal realms was an effortless matter for him.
He didn't need to act himself; merely a command to Shan Hua would ensure the task was handled perfectly.
This "Allegory of Mountains and Seas," though still incomplete, depicted in greater detail the coexistence of mountains and seas, as well as the differing attitudes of mountains and seas towards the various life forms that appeared in the world.
It was quite enlightening for Li Fan, who was just beginning to understand mountains and seas.
However, what most deeply resonated with Li Fan was the mountains' and seas' discussion about the future.
Certain beings are born between mountains and seas, perishing on one day and living another.
Born in the sea, they perish on the mountain.
The sea does not witness their demise, but the mountain does. Thus, the mountain wept uncontrollably, wailing.
Rolling stones tumbled down from the mountain, startling the sea.
"Mountain, why do you suddenly grieve so?"
"Sea, it is because I have seen our future fate."
"How can insignificant beings be compared to us?"
"Although mountains and seas are vast now, their day of demise is small. They do not perish because they are small, but they become small because they perish!"
The mountains and seas trembled, struck with inexplicable fear…
After the fear subsided, years passed, and mountains and seas were as before.
One day, as mountains and seas played together.
Suddenly, the mountain abandoned the sea and departed.
The sea, not understanding, pursued. The mountain, unwilling, moved further away.
The sea howled and roared, "Mountain, what temper are you throwing now?"
The mountain replied dully, "Sea, have you never looked up!"
The sea looked up and suddenly saw a star, hanging high above the mountains and seas. Like the eye of a god, it gazed upon them.
The sea then abandoned its pursuit.
…
The star hung above mountains and seas for a day, then vanished.
Mountains and seas reunited, filled with trepidation.
"Mountain, where do you think He went?"
The mountain did not answer, staring intently at the sea.
After a few breaths, the sea fled in horror.
Mountains and seas were never seen again.
…
"Mountain, Sea."
"Star."
Li Bairen slowly closed the last page of the scroll, his expression inscrutable.
The majority of this allegory described the interactions between "Mountains" and "Seas."
The appearance of the "Star" was only mentioned in the last two short stories.
However, it was like a thunderous drum striking one's ears in moments of silence, striking the reader with utter dread.
Mount Shang, representing infinity, and the Infinite Sea, representing high momentum. Beings transcending the mortal world, unimaginably vast and great.
Yet, according to this allegory, there was a "Star" above mountains and seas.
It could even instill fear in mountains and seas themselves, causing them to vanish forever.
"If this allegory is not baseless fabrication, then it becomes interesting."
"The Star, in the end, vanished into mountains and seas."
Li Bairen could not help but recall his first entry into the Infinite Sea.
"Could the anomaly at the bottom of the Infinite Sea have originated from the 'Star'?"
"And what is the connection between 'Return to Truth' and the 'Star'?"
"Who exactly is Sun Piaomiao, to know such secrets?"
Li Fan had also shown this allegorical scroll to Cheng Dao. However, this spirit stone, born by the sea between mountains and seas, had no recollection of the events described in the allegory.
He even seemed somewhat dismissive.
To Cheng Dao, this was merely the random speculation of mortals about mountains and seas. After a cursory glance, he returned it to Li Fan.
"Knowing the true secrets of mountains and seas, this Sun Piaomiao is by no means simple," Li Fan's perception was the complete opposite of Cheng Dao's.
A being capable of passing down such profound techniques as the "Medicine King Scripture of Dao Refining" would not be so bored as to write nonsensical, absurd stories.
Especially when "Mountain" and "Sea" were used as allegories, their meaning was too specific. For any True Immortal, there was no possibility of them referring to any other existence.
"Perhaps the key clue lies in the missing pages."
Li Fan had investigated. These pages were not missing when the Supreme Sect acquired it; they were already damaged upon entering the vault.
"So, someone deliberately tore them off and hid them."
In the vast starry sky, finding clues from these missing pages was as difficult as ascending to heaven. Yet, Li Fan had a vague premonition.
These remaining few pages should still be somewhere, waiting for him.
"It's like a trail of bait laid out, there's no reason for it to disappear just before reaching the trap."
"However, they might not have expected that what they attracted wasn't prey, but a ferocious beast that devours people."
With a glint in his eyes, Li Bairen crushed the "Allegory of Mountains and Seas" in his hand.
It transformed into countless threads of earthy yellow, which he swallowed into his stomach.
"No wonder it could be preserved for so long without decay."
"It indeed incorporated some methods of Dao Refining."
"Transforming Dao into Elixirs, refined through a thousand hammerings. The Great Dao decays, but the Golden Core is immortal."
Li Bairen smacked his lips, savoring the taste.
"Wonderful!"
A moment later, his figure suddenly floated out of the Dao Palace, standing tall over the Primordial Continent.
Looking at the immortal realm he had crafted with his own hands below, he nodded with satisfaction, "A rare divine medicine, seldom seen since ancient times."
"Perfect for testing my skills!"
Li Bairen had no intention of directly destroying this continent he had painstakingly developed.
In fact, due to the Infinite nature of the Immortal Realm, Li Fan could even refine the Great Dao of this world using Dao Refining methods.
As long as he controlled the heat properly and achieved a balance between creation and dissolution, he could refine "Immortal Realm Dao Elixirs" without damaging the foundation of the Primordial Immortal Realm!
The Primordial Immortal Realm was like a spirit ganoderma that could continuously regenerate its own tissues, making it absolutely perfect for refining Dao Elixirs.
Therefore, Li Bairen had no worries about failure. Even for his first attempt at "Dao Refining," he went straight into it.
"Five Heavenly Emperors, heed my command."
"Fire…"
"Ignite!"
Li Bairen let out a low cry and sent an imperial decree towards the five palaces arrayed below.
On the Primordial Continent, five-colored profound light rose from the firmament, covering the sky.
The beings in the world could not help but look up at the sky, a sense of unspeakable dread filling their hearts.
But with the decree of the Creator Father God from above and the deterrence of the Five Heavenly Emperors below,
even if the beings were terrified, they could only lower their heads in silent compliance.
The thirteen Heavenly Scars, like malevolent spirits, swarmed out, patrolling every corner of the continent. Anyone daring to resist would be executed without mercy!
Amidst boundless terror, the beings of the Primordial Immortal Realm knelt and worshipped, begging for the Father God's benevolence.
But the continuous streams of multicolored light on the five heavenly canopies surged like fireworks, never ceasing.
In Li Bairen's vision, the various Dao Principles within heaven and earth were vaporized by the fiery light, rising like wisps of smoke. They transformed into a round elixir before him.
Thanks to the selfless guidance of Senior Brother Cheng Dao, Li Fan had a general understanding of all the Dao paths that "Primordial" Possibility could encompass.
It was as if he knew the composition of every medicinal ingredient in an elixir, making the refining process naturally smooth.
The smoke rose ceaselessly. Finally, a Dao Elixir slowly took shape in Li Bairen's vision.
It resembled the purple qi rising from the East, looking incomparably precious.
However, Li Bairen slightly shook his head, "It actually failed."
He casually tossed it towards the Heavenly Emperor's palaces below.
"Thank you, Father God, for your benevolence!"
The Central Supreme Emperor Boundless, being the most powerful among the Five Heavenly Emperors, snatched the Dao Elixir first. Overjoyed, he did not forget to express his gratitude.
The other Heavenly Emperors were filled with envy.
Just as he had used the authority to connect to the Infinite Sea to discipline them, even though they had now become the so-called Heavenly Emperors, Li Fan could still govern them with ease.
"It will take seven days to refine the next elixir, allowing the Primordial Immortal Realm to recover naturally."
Li Bairen calculated the consumption for refining one Dao Elixir. He couldn't help but marvel at the miraculousness of Infinite Power.
In any ordinary lower realm, no matter how profound its foundation, such refining would surely lead to utter exhaustion.
However, the Immortal Realm could continuously replenish its energy.
"Life and death are one, uniting with the Dao into truth. Free from worldly concerns, my Dao Pill will be complete."
Li Buren carefully savored the content of the Classic of Dao Refining Medicine King. He finally understood the reason for his previous failure in alchemy.
"Too strong of a pursuit. It goes against the meaning of freedom from worldly concerns..."
Li Buren shook his head with a wry smile.
"Indeed, it was too utilitarian."
"A Dao Pill is merely a touch of icing on the cake. It's better to have one, but it has no practical impact if absent."
For Li Fan, whether the Dao Pill could be successfully refined was not the key.
What was important was the entire process of refining the Dao Pill.
After witnessing the magnificence of the Great Dao at the place of bearing the Dao, Li Fan clearly realized that relying solely on his own efforts to comprehend the three thousand Great Daos of the world would be an extremely lengthy and inefficient undertaking.
He might not even be able to fully comprehend them and weave the true Myriad Phenomena The Dao Lattice by the end of the mortal world's era.
Therefore, he needed to take a shortcut.
In addition to directly absorbing the insights of the Grand Master and those who bore the Dao, the Classic of Dao Refining Medicine King passed down by Sun Pianmiao was also an effective supreme method.
The Great Dao manifested in all things in the world. Through the process of "Dao Refining," all things could be slowly refined back into the state of "Dao."
This was strikingly similar to the function of Primordial. However, the Dao after tempering was not the innate chaotic state after Primordial's effect. Instead, it was as if it had been filtered and organized, clear and understandable.
In simple terms, it was the difference between "seeing and understanding."
Even if the Dao Pill did not materialize, the process of condensing the Great Dao was enough for Li Buren to observe these Dao Principles clearly.
Seven days later, Li Buren once again opened his cauldron to refine pills.
Although anomalies were still frequent, most of the beings on the Primordial Continent, having survived the previous ordeal, were no longer terrified.
The five Heavenly Emperors and thirteen Heavenly Marks, who could benefit, worked even harder.
Li Buren directed from afar. As the flames leaped, the Dao Pill was initially formed.
Compared to the previous flawed product, this genuine Dao Pill, in addition to being enveloped in ethereal purple energy, was even more peculiar in that it seemed to possess a nascent, ignorant sentience.
Facing Li Buren, who was about to consume it, the Dao Pill not only felt no fear, but even felt a sense of eager anticipation.
"A Dao Pill is essentially the condensation of countless Dao Principles. It will not vanish simply because I consume it."
"Instead, it will merge with my comprehension of the Great Dao..."
As understanding flooded his mind, Li Buren paused with the Dao Pill halfway to his lips.
His long-cultivated caution ultimately led Li Buren to abandon the plan of consuming the Dao Pill, even if it was just a clone.
"I'll reward you with this."
He casually threw it out again.
This led to a mad scramble among the Heavenly Emperors and Heavenly Marks.
For these creations, a Dao Pill was truly equivalent to ten thousand years of arduous cultivation, even surpassing it.
This was because, within the Primordial Continent, Li Fan had fixed the responsibilities and permissions of each entity.
Even a Heavenly Emperor could only observe Dao Principles within specific regions. However, the Dao Pill bestowed by Li Fan could disregard these rule divisions.
"True power is like this."
"Breaking rules, disregarding rules, or even..."
"Creating rules."
As one Dao Pill after another was refined, numerous insights accumulated in Li Fan's mind.
Combined with what he had learned at the place of bearing the Dao, his progress was astonishing.
After the nineteenth Dao Pill, Li Buren stopped bestowing them upon the beings of the Primordial Immortal Realm.
Instead, he began to collect them.
The accumulation of Dao Pills was an extremely strong temptation for any being, surpassing the allure of Heavenly and Earthly Marvels by thousands of times for cultivators in the Xuanhuang Realm.
Yet, Li Buren remained outwardly calm and collected.
Familiarity breeds mastery. In addition to refining Dao Pills with ease, Li Buren also developed some unique ideas of his own.
"Ink Slaughter can appear in the form of Heavenly and Earthly Marvels. Therefore, it should be able to integrate into the Dao Pill."
With a thought, as he refined again, Li Buren began to channel the power of the Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul.
However, Ink Slaughter itself could, to some extent, erode Dao Principles like Dao Erasure. The integration of Ink Slaughter's power actually caused this refining attempt to fail.
But Li Buren saw hope for success.
This was because the Dao Pill did not dissipate at the moment Ink Slaughter's power was integrated; instead, it lasted for a period before disintegrating.
"This indicates that the ratio is simply incorrect. It needs to be adjusted."
After half a year of continuous attempts, Li Buren finally succeeded in refining the first "Ink Slaughter Dao Pill."
Its exterior was still enveloped in sacred purple energy.
In fact, the density of the purple energy was more than double that of a normal Dao Pill.
Astonishingly, the surface of the Ink Slaughter Dao Pill naturally displayed patterns resembling mountains and seas.
This added a touch of mystique to the Dao Pill.
Li Buren stared at it for a long time, still unable to determine if the mountain and sea phenomenon was accidental.
He therefore refined another batch of pills.
The results were still the same.
"This is quite interesting." Li Buren threw this "poisonous pill" out of his Dao Palace.
As no Dao Pills had appeared for a long time, this Dao Pill, which looked extraordinary, sparked fierce competition among the beings of the Primordial Immortal Realm.
The ferocity of the struggle even surpassed that of all previous ones combined.
The last survivor, an Earth Spirit born since the dawn of the Primordial Immortal Realm, was fortunate enough to obtain this Dao Pill.
Filled with excitement, it consumed the Dao Pill.
Amidst countless purple energies swirling, this Earth Spirit began to ascend uncontrollably. It rose towards Li Buren's Dao Palace, soaring upwards.
It completely disappeared from the sight of all beings, drawing countless gasps of admiration and envy.
Li Buren, on the other hand, watched the completely "purple-rified" Earth Spirit before him, which seemed to have lost its own consciousness, and stroked his chin.
"This is..."
"Dao-ified?"
The Earth Spirit's life form had dissipated, leaving only its form. However, there was no "Dao of the Earth Spirit" in this world.
Therefore, the scene before Li Buren was extremely bizarre.
The Earth Spirit should have consumed and digested the Dao Pill, but now, it was the other way around – it had been swallowed by the Dao Pill.
Moreover, Li Buren discovered that there was no Ink Slaughter power within this Dao-ified Earth Spirit.
During the process of Daoification, the already limited Ink Slaughter power had been consumed.
"So, this is another way to use the power of the Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul?"
A single experiment was not enough to understand how this miraculous change occurred.
Li Buren continued to refine fifteen more "Ink Slaughter Dao Pills."
As one strange purple sculpture after another appeared beside him, Li Buren gradually figured out the reason.
This time, he directly skipped the process of refining the Dao Pill. With a flicker of thought, the power of Ink Slaughter shot out, descending to lock onto an enemy.
Its near-"annihilating" characteristic, which would cause living beings to vanish without a trace when exposed to Ink Slaughter, now resulted in "Daoification."
It presented the initial form of life when it was created.
"Ink Slaughter's near-Dao Erasure power stems from its imitation of mountain and sea integration. The current Daoization," Li Buren mused, summoning a purple Dao-transformed statue before him and examining it closely. "is merely a clash of mountains and seas. The process of integration was prematurely halted."
"Mountains and seas playing together…" Li Buren recalled a phrase from an allegory of mountains and seas. "and from this, Dao is born. So that's how it is?"
Li Buren slowly ingested all the purple qi statues, experiencing the inherent Dao principles within these beings. After feeding the poison pill to powerful beings and completing a transformation using their lives and intellect, Li Buren was certain that these Dao-transformed purple statues no longer fell under the category of 'Dao Pills' and could be consumed directly. Although something extremely important seemed to have been lost during the Daoization process, the ability to greatly increase Dao comprehension without risk was undeniably worthwhile.
"In addition to aiding in Dao comprehension, this poison pill itself is a formidable divine ability for causing harm." Li Buren continued his thoughts. "Its essence is to directly fuse the power represented by the Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul with the enemy, using the methods of the Dao Refining Medicine King Scripture. This delivers a fatal blow at the fundamental level of the Great Dao… Truly, it's impossible to guard against!"
Beyond killing people invisibly like a poison, its greater significance lay in its ability to bypass differences in strength. As long as the opponent could not escape the Dao Erasure or completely avoid the power of the Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul, they could be affected by this poison pill's methods. It was merely a matter of the degree of 'poisoning'.
Li Buren began experimenting with the nameless True Immortals sealed within the Primordial Immortal Realm's Heavenly Pillars. Although he had promised to release them, it didn't prevent him from utilizing them as a resource beforehand.
The formless and shapeless Dao Refining Pill fire enveloped a Heavenly Pillar. The power of the Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul infiltrated it silently. The changes that occurred varied according to the strength of the individual.
The most tragic fate befell Situ Xing. Not being the true body of a nameless True Immortal to begin with, he had almost no power to resist the Ink Slaughter's invasion. The gray Heavenly Pillar slowly turned purple from top to bottom, revealing a strange blackness within. Just before this purplish-black hue completely engulfed the Heavenly Pillar, Li Fan timely withdrew his divine ability, thus saving Situ Xing's life. However, only a wisp of his consciousness remained, barely clinging to existence.
Li Fan held the Dao-transformed Heavenly Pillar and, with little effort, separated the Dao-transformed portion from the normal part of the Heavenly Pillar. He then directly ingested it. Compared to his own slow comprehension, this direct consumption was remarkably efficient. A single moment of refining pills surpassed the labor of a hundred years.
"Truly a supreme method!" Li Buren praised himself inwardly.
However, not all nameless True Immortals were as defenseless as Situ Xing. The Starving Immortal, in particular, was able to contend with the Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul even in her sealed state. Although she was destined to fail in the long run, being able to hold her own for a moment spoke volumes of her extraordinary nature.
Li Buren consumed a small amount of the Dao-transformed purple portion from the Starving Immortal's Heavenly Pillar. After a moment, he narrowed his eyes slightly. "As expected. The Dao of Starvation comes from beyond the 'Primordial' possibility. Or rather, it's not entirely the Dao of 'Primordial', but a product of the fusion of a certain Great Dao with an external Dao." In the complete Dao atlas that Li Fan had glimpsed during his Dao Bearing, he had not seen a projection of the Dao of Starvation, but he had seen something similar. It was likely one of the prototypes of the Dao of Starvation. Like the Dao of Sword and the Dao of Blade, Great Daos from beyond possibility had a far greater ability to fill the Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice than native Daos. It was as if a completely new blank area had almost visibly grown within the Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice, directly opening up a new branch of Dao possibilities. Even though it was not yet completely filled, one could already estimate the scale of its complete form.
Faced with this great tonic, Li Buren was momentarily tempted to disregard his promise to Dao Bearing and continue refining the Starving Immortal. But after some thought, he resisted. "Refining the Starving Immortal can wait for my next life. She's always within the Immortal Ruins anyway." "I still need to rely on Dao Bearing in this life." "No rush."
Among the sealed Heavenly Pillars, what surprised Li Buren the most was the performance of the 'Primordial' bone. Under the assault of the Ink Slaughter's purplish-black power, it retreated steadily, performing even worse than Situ Xing, whose true body had fallen while his clone survived. It was completely unworthy of the profound name 'Primordial'. After much research, Li Buren understood the reason for this strange phenomenon. "Therefore, this is not the complete Primordial Bone. It can even be said to be an extremely small portion of 'Primordial'. The vast majority of it is elsewhere." Li Buren could even sense that some wisps of Ink Slaughter's power had traced their way along the connection between the 'Primordial' entities. "Southern Immortal Heavenly Pillar." Li Buren thought of the true name of the Primordial Bone, shaking his head slightly. "I can only wish good luck to the beings under the protection of the Heavenly Pillar in that realm."
…
Li Fan did not go to extremes. Although a large part of the Heavenly Pillar was Dao-transformed, it still resembled a Heavenly Pillar. The nameless True Immortals sealed within also survived, albeit severely weakened. It would take tens of thousands of years of nourishment to recover. All that Li Buren comprehended was fed back to his main body, Li Fan. However, he did not reveal this to Dao Bearing, maintaining his image as a diligent and eager junior disciple through hidden effort.
…
A full three years later, Shan Hua brought news again. "That Star Gazer is extremely cautious. Only after I showed him the intact The Dao Lattice and confirmed that Senior had not attacked did he finally choose to cooperate with me." "We also noticed that recently, someone has been trying to approach and investigate the fringes of the Star Sea. Fortunately, our The Dao Lattice was repaired quickly, otherwise, we might have exposed ourselves," Hun Dun said by the side, calling it a close call. "Even so, Star Gazer refused to reveal his entire plan, merely instructing us to 'follow orders and adapt as needed.' Hmph…" A fierce glint flashed in Shan Hua's eyes.
"Be patient. Do not expose any flaws," Li Fan said calmly. Shan Hua immediately restrained himself. "Just follow their instructions in everything. My senior brother and I will still be waiting in the Primordial Immortal Realm for your arrival." Li Fan looked at Dao Bearing and smiled. "Senior brother, would you mind moving your quarters?"
The emaciated old man stretched his seemingly stiff body. "It's been a long time since I've been out, and I'm feeling restless. It wouldn't be bad to stay in a different place for a while." With that, blue light surged around Dao Bearing's body. Dao Bearing's phantom clone replaced his main body, sitting in the deepest part of the The Dao Lattice.
Li Fan carefully observed his surroundings and found that the Dao strings of the entire The Dao Lattice had not bent at all due to the change of main body and clone. He couldn't help but exclaim, "Senior brother, your method of using a phantom clone is almost identical to Master's! Transcendence should be just around the corner!" Dao Bearing, now standing, laughed heartily, unable to hide his pride, though he remained humble in speech. "You flatter me. I am far from Master's level. This phantom clone can only replace Dao Bearing for a hundred years at most. Any longer, and it won't work." "With senior brother's talent, even eternal Dao Bearing won't take too long," Li Fan said with a chuckle. Hun Dun and Shan Hua were accustomed to Li Fan's almost blind praise and acted as if they heard nothing, with eyes on their noses and hearts on their minds. "Senior brother, please." Li Fan led Dao Bearing to reside in the Primordial Immortal Realm. They would simply lie in wait for the people from the Guangwu Star Sea to take the bait.
After another ten days of progress, Shan Hua finally met with [Star Gazer] again. He was still attached to the black cat. "Fellow Daoist, you are too cautious. So many of our companions have died, and you're not like this," Shan Hua said with displeasure. Star Gazer also complained, "Brother Shan Hua, please don't mention it. I don't want to either. After losing the supreme treasure last time, I was almost skinned alive and sealed in a Heavenly Pillar. Fortunately, at the last moment, I recalled the details of how that thief subdued the treasure, which gave me an opportunity to atone for my sins." "But this is also my last chance. If this matter fails, you probably won't see me again." Shan Hua seemed very sympathetic and stroked the cat's head. "You've suffered greatly, fellow Daoist. If it really doesn't work out, flee to our Star Sea. At least..." "Heh heh," Star Gazer interrupted Shan Hua with a degree of embarrassment. "Alright, let's talk business. This operation isn't led by me. I'm only responsible for relaying messages and communication." "Oh?" Shan Hua's hand stroking the black cat paused abruptly. "How do you want us to cooperate?" Star Gazer remained silent for a while, seemingly listening to commands from the other side. After a long pause, his voice slowly came through. "There is a coffin. Inside, a sleeping nameless True Immortal is sealed. You simply need to escort the coffin, and then, by any means necessary, place it within the Primordial Immortal Realm." Shan Hua intended to ask for more details, but Star Gazer had finished speaking and fallen silent. "That's it?" Shan Hua was somewhat displeased. "After all this trouble, this is all you've prepared? What can this sleeping nameless immortal do on his own? You've seen the strength of that Hidden Emperor, haven't you?" Star Gazer appeased him, "Brother Daoist, please be assured. I've even risked my life, so how could I be perfunctory? With this sleeping nameless immortal acting, even if that Hidden Emperor has immense divine abilities, he won't be able to turn the tides!" "This time, he will pay back everything, with interest." Shan Hua pondered for a moment, then finally agreed. After severing the connection with Star Gazer, he went to the agreed-upon location to search for the target before informing Li Fan of the detailed situation. "It's fine. As he said, just deliver the coffin." After hearing Li Fan's reply, Shan Hua breathed a sigh of relief. He set off for the fringes of the Star Sea to search for the target.
Within the Primordial Immortal Realm. Li Fan and Dao Bearing sat opposite each other, a stick of incense burning in the center. Wisps of smoke curled upwards, formless. "Senior brother, do you have any leads on this sleeping nameless immortal in the coffin?" "Perhaps, it's an Immortal from the Other Shore," Dao Bearing said slowly after a moment of silence, his tone somewhat solemn.
"Immortal From the Other Shore?" Li Fan's pupils contracted, and he leaned closer.
"Is it that Other Shore?" he asked in a low voice.
"Yes and no," Cheng Dao seemed to fall into a memory, his expression somewhat dazed.
After a long while, he came to and gently pointed at the wisps of smoke before Li Fan. In the rising smoke, various images appeared. These were Cheng Dao's memories from when he was a spirit stone on the edge of the Mountains and Seas.
"The legendary Other Shore is indeed a place yearned for by all beings in the Immortal Realm. Even Master, after transcending, went to this place. However, the words 'Other Shore' do not solely refer to that sacred land."
"Any possibility beyond the unknown can be called the Other Shore."
"In the ancient Immortal Realm, immortal coffins would occasionally appear, accompanied by the Tribulation of Dao Erasure, traversing the Mountains and Seas, floating in. Within the coffins slept the nameless, likely having lost their homeland to Dao Erasure. They themselves could not find a way to escape the possibilities. To seek a sliver of hope, they sealed themselves in coffins, drifting with the currents between the Mountains and Seas, trying to find another place to inhabit..."
Li Fan listened, and couldn't help but think of the previous Starving Immortal, whose Great Dao aura clearly came from beyond the possibilities of the Primordial.
"It seems he might be one of these Immortals in the coffins."
"Unable to traverse possibilities with their own strength, they could only rely on immortal coffins to drift. Their strength was not at the Transcendent realm, but the immortal coffins were tossed about in the torrent of Dao Erasure. For them to last long enough to successfully reach another possibility, such strength would be top-tier even among the nameless," Li Fan mused rapidly.
But a new doubt arose.
"This... what exactly are these so-called immortal coffins? They can protect these nameless beings from the invasion of Dao Erasure? If enough immortal coffins were collected, could they not be used to build an unsinkable ship that forever floats on the torrent of Dao Erasure?" Li Fan asked.
Cheng Dao chuckled and said, "There is no such thing as forever. It's merely like boiling water to stop it from boiling. Those immortal coffins are actually the last remaining Great Dao concretions from a possibility."
"They still cannot prevent the invasion of Dao Erasure, but due to a special method of compression and condensation, they can maximally slow down the rate of Dao Erasure's erosion. The origin of this method is unknown, but it is apparently used universally across the heavens. However, its effects are indeed remarkable, capable of greatly extending the drifting time for the Immortals in the coffins."
"I recall that Master once personally saw and retrieved an immortal coffin. Unfortunately, the nameless within that coffin had long since decayed and perished. Master, pitying its fate, smelted its remains and the immortal coffin into a stubborn stone similar to me, and then tossed it outside the Mountains and Seas, in the hope that it might one day regain its vitality..."
Li Fan stared at the stubborn stone in Cheng Dao's memory. For some reason, he felt a sense of familiarity. But no matter how he searched his memories, he could not find the source of this familiarity. It was only when Cheng Dao waved his hand to interrupt the scene, and the stubborn stone transformed into countless points of light, that Li Fan suddenly awoke. Each fragment derived from this stubborn stone was like a pill!
"Medicine King Sect, the square stone?" The Scripture of Dao Refining, passed down by Sun Piaomiao. It came from a massive square stone he used to meditate on while refining pills. By any other method, this square stone was just a pure, ordinary stone. Only when one truly believed it to be a pill and consumed it would faint echoes of inheritance be heard. This mode of being indistinguishable when united yet revealing itself when divided was something Li Fan had only seen in Sun Piaomiao's inheritance. Now, he saw a glimpse of it in Cheng Dao's memory.
"Could it be that Sun Piaomiao was the transformation of that stubborn stone?"
"Having drifted in the Mountains and Seas for who knows how many years, his immortal body would have long since decayed. He indeed possesses the conditions to glimpse the secrets of the Mountains and Seas."
"And..." Li Fan recalled a passage from Sun Piaomiao's memories, as revealed by Liu Ruchen. "Birth, aging, sickness, and death; this is the eternal principle of the Great Dao. Even this starry sky cannot escape it. How can you, then?"
Li Fan's thoughts solidified: "This indeed sounds like something someone who has truly experienced the birth and death of the Dao would say. Moreover, the method of condensing and folding True Immortal Sigils into chess pieces to transform immortal domains bears some resemblance to the immortal coffins."
"If he were truly the reincarnation of an Immortal in a coffin..."
Cheng Dao seemed oblivious to Li Fan's inner turmoil. After dispelling the image of the stubborn stone, he continued to speak of the Immortals in coffins.
"You also mentioned before that the treasures, the Dao Sword and Dao Saber, used by the Guang Wu Star Sea, came from other possibilities. This shows they have forces capable of communicating with other possibilities. Though they may not be able to complete the traversal, they should at least be able to salvage and capture them."
Cheng Dao smiled and said, "Junior Brother, I fear you've encountered a formidable enemy this time. Are you afraid?"
Li Fan played along with a carefree smile, "With Senior Brother by my side, let alone a mere Immortal in a coffin, even a Transcendent expert, I would dare to fight with all my might!"
Satisfied with Li Fan's boldness, Cheng Dao's smile faded, "Confidence is good. But Junior Brother, you must not be careless. After all, these Immortals in coffins survived the Tribulation of Dao Erasure amidst the destruction of possibilities; their strength must not be weak."
"Furthermore, the Guang Wu Star Sea released the immortal coffin in response to your method of subduing the Dao Sword and Dao Saber. It's likely not a randomly selected immortal coffin..."
"Speaking of which, Junior Brother, how exactly did you resonate with that pair of swords? I fear even I would have some difficulty." Cheng Dao asked with a chuckle, looking at Li Fan.
Li Fan had already prepared the answer to this question in his heart. Without any hesitation, he took out the Dao Sword and Dao Saber and performed the Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice before Cheng Dao. Li Fan had used this divine ability in his previous encounters with Cheng Dao, so Cheng Dao was not unfamiliar with it. However, the dark purple aura that surged from the The Dao Lattice in the next moment caused Cheng Dao's expression to change.
"This Dao Sword and Dao Saber indeed come from other possibilities. Even the Great Dao of Boundless Unity cannot shake them in the slightest. However, they have always remained within the Mountains and Seas, never transcending the mortal world. My Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice core, the Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul, possesses power close to Dao Erasure. Naturally, it can suppress them!" Li Fan said proudly.
As he spoke, the phantom of the Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul, enveloped in dark purple energy, floated out of the Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice and stood before Cheng Dao. Cheng Dao, being a spirit stone nurtured on the edge of the Mountains and Seas, was naturally familiar with the intermingling auras of the Mountains and Seas. Upon seeing the phantom of the Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul, he instinctively stood up, his expression showing nervousness.
"Senior Brother need not worry, this kind of power is completely within my control," Li Fan said calmly as he retracted the Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul.
"This... where did it come from?" A trace of confusion and uncertainty flickered in Cheng Dao's eyes.
Li Fan saw it clearly and thus spoke no lie, "Senior Brother, we both originated from the [Kōroka Dojo], so you should naturally know the profound mysteries of this experimental space." Seeing Cheng Dao nod slightly, Li Fan continued, "In the world I come from, there exists something called the Essence of Heaven and Earth. It is likely the embodiment of the laws of heaven and earth."
"Ink Slaughter is one of them. I chanced upon Ink Slaughter's wonders and thus found a way to tame it..." Li Fan spoke truthfully and falsely, weaving a captivating tale. The Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul was arguably one of Li Fan's most crucial secrets. Its sudden revelation made even Cheng Dao tremble. The brilliance of this lie was that the current suppression power of the Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice over the Dao Sword and Dao Saber was developed *after* subduing them. But unless one was the owner of the Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul, it would be impossible to know the truth. What Cheng Dao witnessed now was the Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice, empowered by the Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul, easily suppressing the Dao Sword and Dao Saber.
Cheng Dao was thus greatly amazed, "Junior Brother, you truly have good fortune. If I'm not mistaken, this should be one of the goals the Immortal Realm intended to achieve back then."
"The power of the fusion of Mountains and Seas."
"The starry sky where I gained sentience also had similar creations, like that spring eye with the rushing water..."
"However, compared to your Ink Slaughter, Junior Brother, it pales in comparison." While he felt some envy, it was only envy. Cheng Dao, having been enlightened by the Mound Guardian, did not harbor any desire to seize his Junior Brother's treasures.
"Oh, right, Senior Brother. Do you know why the Immortal Realm suddenly abandoned this experimental training ground back then? They didn't even bother with Master's inheritance. Based on my observations, they were perhaps not far from finding a true solution to Dao Erasure." Li Fan showed a look of confusion. In Li Fan's words, he did not reveal that he knew the initial purpose of the experimental ground was to capture the so-called "Supreme Treasure for Saving the World." He merely steered the conversation towards resisting the Tribulation of Dao Erasure.
Cheng Dao fell silent for a moment. Then, he looked at Li Fan with a peculiar expression, "How do you know they didn't?"
"Hm?" Li Fan seemed confused.
"This training ground was built by the Immortal Realm with great effort and at great cost. The possibility of it being suddenly abandoned is nil."
"Its current emptiness might be because they achieved their desired objective."
"But the Immortal Realm was still destroyed, and the Tribulation of Dao Erasure still descended?" Li Fan was astonished.
Cheng Dao sighed, "Junior Brother, you are too naive. Even someone with Master's breadth of mind did not think of defending against Dao Erasure and saving a realm. Otherwise, he wouldn't have departed so leisurely at the very onset of the Dao Erasure tide. What about others?"
"From beginning to end, what the Immortals of the Immortal Realm, including the Governing Immortal Emperor, pursued was a method to ensure the survival of the majority of True Immortals."
"If the Immortal Realm is gone, we can rebuild it atop Mount Shang."
"Ultimately, the Other Shore is the place that everyone truly recognizes as capable of resolving the disaster of the fusion of Mountains and Seas."
"Everything else..."
"Is of no consequence."
Li Fan listened to these words and was stunned.
"Then the destruction of the Immortal Realm, and the True Immortals falling like ants..."
Cheng Dao smiled, "Those who died in the tribulation of destruction were not within the scope of the 'majority.' Those who left are the true representatives of the 'Immortal Realm.'"
"Those so-called Three Treasures of Escaping the World are merely the self-help of abandoned wretches."
…
Li Fan vaguely felt something was wrong with these words.
"Then what about the Four Sage Lords of the Immortal Realm? Three of them perished; does that mean they are no longer considered part of the true Immortal Realm?"
Cheng Dao sighed softly, "Lian Shan, Gui Hai, and Tai Yi; these three Sage Lords chose not to live. Look at the Great Sage Jing Fen; isn't he still alive and well? Does that mean the Great Sage Jing Fen's strength surpasses the previous three Sages?"
"Besides, the 'perishing' of these three Sages might not be a true perishing."
"It's merely a selective abandonment."
Perhaps because Li Fan had revealed the secret of his Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul earlier, gaining his complete trust, Cheng Dao explained himself with unusual detail this time. Li Fan slowly recovered from his shock, pondering the meaning behind Cheng Dao's words.
"Senior Brother, do you mean that Lian Shan, Gui Hai, and Tai Yi, these three Sage Lords, scoured the Mountains and Seas alone?"
"Perhaps not before. But ever since they opened up Mount Shang and connected to the Infinite Spring, it has been so."
“The Three Sage Lords are already this powerful? The sole existence in all realms…” Li Fan was momentarily lost in thought.
“The Immortal Realm is boundless. Since ancient times, prodigies have emerged in droves. However, only those four beings can be called [Sages]. Even my master, with his unparalleled techniques, is only respectfully called [Lord] by the world and cannot bear the title of [Sage]. How can you underestimate the Sages, junior brother?” Cheng Dao shook his head.
“It’s not that I underestimate them,” Li Fan said with a wry smile. “It’s just that my understanding of the Immortal Realm is based on vague records, making it impossible to form a proper perception. If not for your guidance…”
“The sole existence in all realms, or perhaps the sole existence in the Mountains and Seas. That must be the legendary realm of true transcendence, right? When Lian Shan and Gui Hai, two Sage Lords, attained their Dao, one relied on opening up Mount Shang, and the other on breaking through the Infinite Spring. How did Sage Lord Tai Yi reach this point? Could it be that there is something in this world comparable to Mountains and Seas?” Li Fan directly changed the subject.
Cheng Dao smiled. “Though my knowledge is extraordinary, the secrets of Sage Lords attaining their Dao are not within my grasp. If Sage Lords themselves do not reveal such matters, who can know for sure? However, it is true that Sage Lord Tai Yi possesses the same strength as the two Sages, Lian Shan and Gui Hai. This was confirmed when Sage Lord Lian Shan himself acknowledged it in front of Immortal Emperor Lou Huang and a host of Nameless True Immortals. As for the last one to attain the Dao, the Great Sage Jing Fen…”
“To speak with due respect, perhaps in the eyes of the Three Sages, Jing Fen is merely a junior with some power.”
“The Three Sages are the Sages of Mountains and Seas. As for Jing Fen, he is merely the Sage Lord of our world.”
“However, this judgment was made at the time of the Immortal Realm's destruction. With so many years having passed, it’s impossible to speculate on the current strength of Great Sage Jing Fen. Perhaps, like the other three Sages, the Great Sage has also taken that final step towards transcendence?”
…
Afterward, Li Fan inquired about a few more secrets of the Immortal Realm from Cheng Dao. He then steered the conversation back to the enemy approaching the Guang Wu Star Sea, the Immortal in the coffin from the Other Shore.
“Shan Hua has located that Immortal Coffin, guided by Kui Xing’s directions.”
“Just as Senior Brother predicted, that Immortal Coffin is truly a compressed condensation of the Great Dao. Based on their current speed, the Immortal within the coffin will arrive in our Primordial Immortal Realm in approximately five hours.” Li Fan showed Cheng Dao the images transmitted by Shan Hua.
“Shall we find another place to confront them? If you and I, fellow disciples, engage in battle with that Other Shore Immortal, this continent might be affected.” Cheng Dao glanced downwards and asked.
“We can rebuild it if it’s destroyed. If it cannot withstand this tribulation, then its destruction would be of no consequence. Furthermore, although the sentient beings in this realm are not very strong, they can act as makeshift helpers.” Li Fan politely declined.
Cheng Dao sincerely praised, “Your mentality, junior brother, truly possesses the demeanor of an Immortal Realm Sage.”
Li Fan chuckled, not responding.
“However, with a formidable enemy at hand, preparations are still necessary…”
Cheng Dao pondered for a moment before speaking, “If you don’t mind, junior brother, I have a divine ability that I can impart to you. Although I do not know what Dao the nameless one in the coffin has merged with, this divine ability is sufficient for self-preservation, even if it cannot defeat the enemy.”
Li Fan was overjoyed. “Senior brother, what are you saying? I would be honored!”
Cheng Dao did not stand on ceremony and tapped Li Fan’s brow.
His body and soul instantly felt as if they had returned to the Infinite Sea, swept by countless rapidly changing scenes.
Li Fan saw very clearly, the majority of these scenes depicted a solitary figure sitting on a mountain, gazing at the sea.
It was none other than Gong Qiu Gong!
Li Fan had encountered this scene countless times in his reading of [Gong Qiu’s Casual Notes].
However, what Cheng Dao transmitted was different; it was an omniscient, upward-looking perspective!
Rather than Gong Qiu Gong’s personal understanding.
Gong Qiu Gong not only sat on the mountain and gazed at the sea but also protected a spirit stone beneath him, shielding it from the invasions brought by the collision of mountains and seas.
“[Mountain Sea Unmoving Body].”
“When cultivating this divine ability, one can, like Gong Qiu Gong, remain completely unmoving amidst the great changes and vicissitudes of mountains and seas.”
“Besides defense, depending on one’s comprehension of mountain sea phenomena, one can also mimic the corrosive and sweeping power of mountains and seas from one’s Dharmakaya. Of course, this divine ability doesn’t mean one can truly replicate mountains and seas. Instead, it pulls the opponent into the vast realm of mountains and seas that one has experienced, making them feel as if they are gazing at the sea from Gong Qiu’s mountain!”
“If the opponent possesses Gong Qiu Gong’s capabilities, or has inherited from Gong Qiu Gong, they can naturally ignore this deterrence. But for ordinary individuals…”
“Especially those who have truly experienced boundless despair in the mountains and seas, and after struggling to escape with their lives, only to face mountains and seas again after countless years. They would likely collapse on the spot!”
Li Fan, while comprehending and learning the [Mountain Sea Unmoving Body], eloquently explained its profundities.
He wasn’t speaking to himself but to Cheng Dao.
Cheng Dao nodded repeatedly, very pleased with Li Fan’s swift success in comprehension.
“Senior brother’s move is truly marvelous.”
“It’s not afraid of injuring fellow disciples, and it has a peculiar effect on True Immortals in the world. The more they fear the Cataclysm of Dao Erasure and are unwilling to take responsibility, the more they will be affected by this divine ability,” Li Fan continued to praise.
Simultaneously, he displayed the [Mountain Sea Unmoving Body].
Li Fan remained the same Li Fan.
But around him, it was as if mountains and seas were encircling him.
Cheng Dao’s eyes lit up. “Junior brother, your comprehension of mountains and seas is quite profound.”
“It’s all thanks to Master and Senior Brother’s excellent teaching!”
…
For a period of time thereafter, Li Fan, with Cheng Dao’s help, consolidated the Unmoving Body divine ability. Although he already had [Illusion is True] for protection, having too many defensive divine abilities was never a disadvantage. It might save his life at some future point.
Therefore, Li Fan studied with great earnestness. He promptly consulted Cheng Dao whenever any confusion arose.
Cheng Dao not only didn’t feel bothered but was also greatly gratified.
“He’s here.”
Li Fan suddenly retracted his Dharmakaya and gazed at the horizon.
The light and shadow of mountains and seas surrounding Li Fan vanished, but the Primordial Immortal Realm erupted with anomalies.
*Creeeeak…*
A grating sound, like decaying metal grinding against each other, echoed across the Primordial Continent. All beings who heard it felt an uncontrollable irritation surge within their hearts.
Then, as the grinding sound grew louder, this irritation gradually transformed into an impulse.
Go to where the grinding sound originated! Find the source of the sound!
Once this impulse arose, it became difficult to suppress.
In an instant, many figures on the continent uncontrollably flew towards the sky.
Li Fan’s cold snort then resonated across the Primordial Continent.
Under the deterrence of the Creator Father God, many beings momentarily regained clarity, forcefully suppressing their impulses and returning to the surface.
However, some still charged towards the sound, heedless of the consequences.
It was as if the unpleasant grinding sound was their eternal pursuit, more important than their lives or the Dao!
“A childish trick to bewitch the hearts of men. This Immortal in the Coffin doesn't have any other tricks, does he?” Li Fan stopped interfering, letting the beings on the continent below rush to their deaths.
In his vision, the celestial coffin’s lid had indeed been opened a sliver.
The gap, however, was like an abyss, deep and unfathomable, swallowing everything that entered.
All existences that flew within a certain range of the celestial coffin were instantly swallowed by the abyss.
Inside the celestial coffin, the sound grew louder.
And unusual discordant noises began to emerge.
If the initial sound was that of a celestial coffin lid slowly being opened, then now, some unknown entity was scratching the inner wall of the celestial coffin with its fingernails, as if struggling to climb out of the coffin and break free!
The celestial coffin’s target was clearly the Primordial Immortal Realm where Li Fan resided.
It was rapidly approaching.
The change in sound did not diminish its enchanting and alluring effect. Beings in the Abyssal Star Sea surged towards the celestial coffin like moths to a flame.
With each creature it devoured, its speed increased.
Li Fan’s expression grew solemn as the celestial coffin arrived above the Primordial Immortal Realm.
“Let me, Senior Brother, meet him first.”
Cheng Dao suddenly stood up, took a step, and in the next moment, appeared near the celestial coffin.
“How dare you make noise before this venerable one.”
His seemingly frail body seemed to contain an endless, inexhaustible energy. He swiftly placed a palm strike towards the celestial coffin.
With every movement, faint sounds of mountains and seas roared, suppressing the cacophony emanating from the celestial coffin.
In that instant, Li Fan seemed to witness the awe-inspiring scene of mountains and seas colliding and waves crashing furiously.
“Is this Cheng Dao’s true strength when he’s not holding back?” Li Fan’s pupils contracted.
Under the onslaught of mountains and seas, the celestial coffin trembled violently.
Already in a state of disrepair, it now faced a baptism of mountains and seas, reaching its limit.
It seemed on the verge of disintegration.
However, the Guang Wu Star Sea had placed its hopes not merely on an Immortal Coffin, but on the Immortal from the Other Shore within.
*Boom!*
A muffled, booming sound emanated from within the celestial coffin.
It was as if something within was fiercely pounding against the coffin, responding to the roaring sound of mountains and seas outside.
*Boom! Boom! Boom!*
The pounding grew more rapid.
It was like thunder piercing the night sky, or like a beacon fire dispelling fog.
Even with the roaring of mountains and seas, the pounding sound could no longer be suppressed.
Reaching its climax, the pounding abruptly ceased.
In that instant, the celestial coffin crumbled into pieces. A black shadow emerged from it and lunged directly at Cheng Dao, who was near the coffin.
“Senior Brother, be careful!” Li Fan exclaimed in warning.
Before his exclamation, the black shadow had already collided with Cheng Dao.
The raindrops from the violent storm even reached Li Fan, who was watching from afar.
The Primordial Continent, on par with the Immortal Realm, swayed like a lone boat on a stormy sea, tossed and turned.
Under the gusts of wind, Li Fan felt that the stable laws of the Primordial Continent were being slowly disrupted.
He could no longer attend to this Primordial Immortal Realm, merely ordering the Five Heavenly Emperors and Thirteen Heavenly Scars to maintain order.
Li Fan looked towards the direction where Cheng Dao and the black shadow were engaged.
The black shadow, the Immortal in the coffin, had revealed its true form.
It was not human.
But a massive rat!
To simply call it a rat might not be entirely accurate. Its charging, claw-swinging, and biting movements were eerily similar to those of humans.
Its fur was a riot of seven colors, as if adorned with brocade garments.
And on its head, it wore a straw hat of earthy yellow color. However, the edge of the hat was missing a corner, as if bitten by something.
The expression on the rat’s face was as vivid as a human’s.
Greed, solemnity, and urgency were all evident.
“An Exotic Beast?”
Li Fan stared at the monster, and his mind couldn’t help but recall the lineage of Emperor San Mo.
But he soon dismissed this speculation.
Not only did the Myriad Beasts Rotation Wheel show no reaction to this bizarre rat, but Cheng Dao, locked in combat, also sent a telepathic reminder.
“Junior Brother, be careful, this is a [硕鼠仙 – Giant Rat Immortal]!”
Then, Cheng Dao explained to Li Fan what a Giant Rat Immortal was.
It was not a Nameless True Immortal who attained their Dao through the path of a “Giant Rat,” but a True Immortal that had undergone mutation after greedily and endlessly devouring the Great Dao.
Under normal circumstances, with the convergence of immortals in the Immortal Realm, Giant Rat Immortals would not arise.
They generally only existed in scenarios where the apocalypse was imminent.
To maximize their chances of survival in a drifting Immortal Coffin, the Immortal in the coffin would gather all remaining Great Daos they could find to construct the Immortal Coffin.
And if they drifted too long in the Mountains and Seas, apart from decaying and perishing, they might be backlashed by the Dao condensed within the Immortal Coffin.
The realm of Nameless True Immortals was attained by merging with the Dao.
The Three Thousand Great Daos were fundamentally incompatible. After merging with one Dao, one could no longer accommodate other Daos.
However, in the special environment of drifting in the Mountains and Seas within a sealed Immortal Coffin, miracles could arise, allowing Nameless True Immortals to possess multiple Daos.
But the price was…
The Nameless True Immortal would mutate, transforming into various bizarre forms.
The Giant Rat Immortal was a prime example of this.
It still possessed a certain level of sentience but was dominated by an instinctive desire to absorb the Dao, seeking to devour everything useful around it.
“My master might have helped bury fallen True Immortals encountered in the Immortal Coffin. But these mutated True Immortals are to be killed without mercy!”
“Keeping them around is a complete pestilence!”
“After I suppress this monstrous creature, I will settle the score with the Guang Wu Star Sea!” Cheng Dao’s voice carried a hint of anger.
Li Fan watched the Giant Rat Immortal, its body flashing, each claw swing causing the surrounding Great Dao to tremble. A strange feeling suddenly arose in his heart.
“The Guang Wu Star Sea came for my method of suppressing the Dao Sword and Dao Saber. They wouldn’t possibly entrust the task to an irrational Giant Rat Immortal…”
Just then, Li Fan noticed a glint of sharpness flash in the Giant Rat Immortal’s eyes.
He quickly sent a telepathic warning: “Senior Brother, be careful! This is not a Giant Rat Immortal in the ordinary sense.”
“Perhaps someone has taken possession, willingly merging!”
Cheng Dao’s movements faltered slightly upon hearing this.
At that very moment, a strand of black light emerged from the Giant Rat Immortal’s foreclaws.
The light suddenly erupted, enveloping Cheng Dao.
The Giant Rat Immortal itself retreated rapidly, keeping its distance, and like a human, stroked its whiskers with its foreclaws, a pleased expression on its face.
“This black light…”
Li Fan sensed an aura extremely similar to Mo Sha’s.
“It seems that it’s not only the [Kōroka] Dojo that is researching the power of blending Mountains and Seas,” Li Fan mused thoughtfully.
Although this black light was terrifying, Li Fan wasn't worried for Cheng Dao.
Having been able to survive alongside Gong Qiu Gong in the Mountains and Seas for countless eons, how could he fall so easily?
Li Fan’s prediction was correct. Within the dark light domain, which strongly resembled Ink Slaughter, absolute silence should have reigned. However, as the Giant Rat Immortal was congratulating itself, a deafening roar like crashing waves and colliding mountains suddenly pierced through the black domain.
The sound echoed throughout the Primordial Immortal Realm, drawing varied responses from across its continent. The rustling of wind through mountain forests, the babbling of flowing streams, the piercing whistle of converging winds and clouds, the clear cries of newborn life, the rumbling roar of mountains collapsing… These notes, representing life, movement, and change, resonated with the sound of mountains and seas in the sky. They surged like powerful waves, audaciously tearing open the black domain.
“A mere trick, daring to show off before an expert!” A furious roar, named Carrying the Dao, erupted from the black light. The moment it broke free, its figure merged with the surrounding heavens and earth, vanishing from sight.
Sensing that something was amiss, the Giant Rat Immortal let out a strange laugh, showing no sign of panic. It shook its plump body, and from its brocade outer skin, thousands of tiny, multicolored hairs instantly detached. As these hairs fell, they transformed into erect human figures.
In an instant, thousands of True Immortals stood tall, shielding the Giant Rat in their midst.
“What are these figures…?”
“Nameless True Immortals?”
Li Fan saw clearly that each hair shed by the Giant Rat Immortal represented a Great Dao. These transformed figures were, in essence, the same as the Nameless True Immortals who had integrated themselves with the Dao. The Nameless True Immortals, who had become mutated by greedily devouring Great Daos, were now expelling the Great Daos they had previously swallowed.
Despite losing some of its Great Daos, the Giant Rat did not weaken. Instead, its aura became even more unpredictable and unsettling. Li Fan also noticed subtle changes in the Giant Rat’s appearance: its claws turned into palms, its hunched body straightened, and its facial expression became more human-like!
A great wind blew through the mountains and seas, roaring fiercely. It scattered all the figures representing Great Daos that were guarding the Giant Rat. Witnessing this scene, Li Fan seemed to see countless possibilities, worlds, and living beings sinking and disappearing amidst the mountains and seas.
Although Carrying the Dao had limited its divine abilities to a certain area, a few gusts of wind had still escaped their original trajectory due to the intense battle. Like invisible blades, they swept across the Primordial Immortal Realm. Where the wind blades passed, all things perished. A vast chasm, a rift in the void, appeared. Even with an endless supply of immortal power constantly replenishing it, it would be difficult to repair this scar in a short time. This demonstrated the sheer destructive power at the center of the battlefield.
Amidst the howling wind, figures danced like willow branches. Though scattered, they did not vanish, steadfastly maintaining their forms in the wind of mountains and seas.
Just then, strange, continuous sounds emanated from the Giant Rat Immortal’s mouth. They were sharp, piercing screams, like a rat’s death cries, and also like a poet’s impassioned chanting. More hairs detached from the Giant Rat Immortal’s body. True Immortals, like scattered seeds, drifted out.
With its hairs completely shed, the Giant Rat became even more human-like, though it still wore the skin of a rat. The hurried chanting abruptly stopped, as if a knife had suddenly fallen and sliced open the skin. The Giant Rat transformed into a human. Unlike the indistinct silhouettes of the surrounding True Immortal Dao images, it had a tangible form. At this moment, the Giant Rat Immortal, though naked, was indistinguishable from a human.
“Two fellow Daoists…”
“A humble greeting from this one~” A voice, neither male nor female, but a blend of both, came from the human-shaped Giant Rat. It was an unprompted greeting, with no expectation of a response from Li Fan or Carrying the Dao. Before its voice even faded, it extended its ten fingers, remotely controlling the surrounding True Immortal reflections that had completely detached.
Like a puppeteer manipulating puppets from behind the scenes, with the Giant Rat Immortal’s empowerment, the faces of billions of True Immortal reflections began to subtly manifest human features. They no longer attacked solely on instinct but acted as if Nameless had been reborn, wielding their divine abilities and magical techniques to their utmost. Not only did they embody the principles of the Five Elements, Solitude, and Annihilation present in the "Primordial" possibility, but they also wielded Great Daos completely unfamiliar to Li Fan.
Before the Giant Rat’s transformation, the True Immortal Dao images were like a leaderless horde, fighting independently. But with the manipulation of the human-shaped Giant Rat, their true power was unleashed. The pressure faced by Carrying the Dao increased by more than a hundredfold in an instant. Li Fan felt as if he were witnessing a supreme being commanding troops, annihilating powerful enemies with a mere smile.
“In their lives, these Nameless individuals once obeyed my commands and answered to my call.”
“So, the true identity of this Giant Rat Immortal is…”
“Something like a Governing Immortal Emperor?”
Li Fan’s thoughts raced. Sensing the truth, he suddenly spoke out to test it: “Your Majesty! Your subject has died a wrongful death!”
This ghostly voice, piercing through the howling wind of mountains and seas and penetrating the formation of myriad Nameless, reached the Giant Rat Immortal’s ears. The Giant Rat Immortal, who was reveling in controlling the True Immortal Dao images, suddenly froze uncontrollably. Although it quickly regained its composure, this subtle change did not escape Li Fan’s observation.
“Senior Brother, do not panic!”
“I will assist you!” With his suspicion confirmed, Li Fan let out a cold laugh. The Infinite Heavenly Staff led the way, with Li Fan closely following, heading straight for the Giant Rat Immortal.
Sensing Li Fan’s movement, thousands of True Immortal Dao images rushed to stop him. Most were blocked by the Infinite Heavenly Staff. Even those few that were outside the scope of the original Infinite Great Dao could not penetrate Li Fan’s Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice and the dual defense of the Unmoving Mountain and Sea Body. Enduring the attacks of the True Immortal Dao images, Li Fan charged towards the Giant Rat Immortal. He intended to snatch the Immortal Emperor's head from amidst the army!
Carrying the Dao also understood Li Fan’s intention and cooperated. Not only did the sounds of mountains and seas become more ferocious, but a colossal figure, seemingly looking down from above, appeared above the formation of True Immortal Dao images. Its mere gaze upon the mountains and seas annihilated countless True Immortal reflections.
The Giant Rat Immortal, having expelled all the Great Daos it had swallowed, had greatly increased its combat power. However, without a doubt, its true body was now at its most vulnerable. Li Fan’s movements were incredibly swift. In the blink of an eye, he was within three feet of the Giant Rat. This surprise attack was too fast; the Giant Rat didn’t even have time to recall the swallowed Great Daos. With only a sparse layer of hair restored, Li Fan’s attack arrived. The Infinite Heavenly Staff came first, followed by a saber and a sword!
With nowhere to dodge, the Giant Rat Immortal’s eyes flashed with ferocity. Facing the combined assault of a staff, a saber, and a sword – three supreme treasures – it showed no fear. It opened its mouth, revealing its sharp fangs, and ferociously bit towards the Infinite Heavenly Staff, the Dao Saber, and the Dao Sword. It seemed intent on devouring these three deadly weapons that sought to end its life!
Truly worthy of the insatiably greedy Giant Rat! However, the Giant Rat’s reaction was precisely within Li Fan’s expectations. With a loud laugh, the Infinite Heavenly Staff, Dao Saber, and Dao Sword vanished into thin air. In their place appeared several pills radiating purple qi. Even though it clearly witnessed this instantaneous change, its greedy nature compelled the Giant Rat to not retract its fangs. It had devoured countless immortals in the court and an entire world; what was there that it dared not devour!
As the countless True Immortal reflections released earlier were rapidly retrieved, the Giant Rat Immortal finally transformed back from its human form into its ferocious beast-like appearance. After greedily swallowing the pills Li Fan had delivered, it attempted to search for Li Fan’s figure. However, Li Fan had already fled a thousand miles away, returning to a safe position, waiting for the medicine to take effect.
“Swallowing so many poison pills at once, you won’t die if you don’t burst!”
However, the time it took for the Giant Rat Immortal to succumb to the poison was far longer than Li Fan had anticipated. It seemed that after all, it was a formidable character who had traversed the seas in a coffin, possessing some resistance to the power of Dao Erasure.
After Carrying the Dao and the Giant Rat Immortal were locked in a stalemate for half a day, abnormalities began to appear on the Giant Rat. Its once multi-colored hairs gradually turned purple and began to fall off uncontrollably. This was a manifestation of Dao transformation caused by the poison pills Li Fan had refined. Initially, the Giant Rat Immortal did not notice until the purple fine hairs were scattering everywhere. It then realized its predicament in a panic.
With a piercing shriek that shattered the clouds, the Giant Rat Immortal abandoned its battle with Carrying the Dao and hurriedly began collecting the hairs shedding from its body. From the Giant Rat Immortal’s cry, Li Fan not only heard fear but also anxiety and reluctance. This was somewhat unexpected. However, regardless of the past between the Giant Rat Immortal and its former subjects, it did not hinder Li Fan from seizing the opportunity to strike while it was vulnerable.
With a wave of his sleeve, while simultaneously vying with the Giant Rat Immortal for the Dao-transformed hairs, Li Fan also connected with the power of the poison pills within the Giant Rat Immortal’s body, ready to tighten the Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice at any moment. The more hairs it shed, the faster its strength declined. The weaker it became, the harder it would be to suppress the erupting poison pills. Once it showed signs of decline, the Giant Rat Immortal’s defeat was sealed.
It was finally time to reap the rewards, and Li Fan would not concede to Carrying the Dao.
“Life and death are one, merging with the Dao. Carefree beyond worldly matters, my pill is complete.” Li Fan softly chanted in his heart. The Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice served as the pill furnace, and the power of Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul acted as the pill fire. He slowly refined this drifting Immortal from another possibility into a Dao Pill. The Giant Rat struggled desperately, but the net tightened relentlessly, rendering its efforts futile.
At this moment, Carrying the Dao also revealed himself. Witnessing Li Fan’s pill-refining actions, he pondered for a moment before not intervening. After all its hairs were shed, the Giant Rat Immortal transformed back into a human form. It stopped struggling, merely watching Li Fan and Carrying the Dao from afar.
“The one who devours others is ultimately devoured.”
“This saying is indeed true!”
“Fellow Daoists, may you not follow in my footsteps!”
“Hahaha…” With a wild laugh, the Giant Rat Immortal was completely refined. It became a crystalline, round pill radiating seven-colored purple qi, held in Li Fan’s palm. Undoubtedly, this was the most beautiful and precious Dao Pill Li Fan had refined since mastering the Dao Refining Medicine King Scripture.
“It’s a shame I can’t directly consume it.” Li Fan looked at Carrying the Dao, whose expression was serious, and had a thought.
“Senior Brother, here you go.” He said solemnly, intending to hand over the Dao Pill.
“Oh? That’s not necessary.” Carrying the Dao was certainly surprised by Li Fan’s gesture but immediately shook his head and refused. It wasn’t that he saw through the Dao Pill’s mystery. After all, Li Fan himself couldn’t be certain if the Dao Refining Medicine King Scripture left by Sun Pianmiao had any issues; it was simply Li Fan’s cautious nature. The reason Carrying the Dao refused Li Fan’s good intentions was entirely because he adhered to the rules set by Mound Guardian Gong: no matter how good a treasure was, it should not be snatched from fellow disciples. The Dao Pill before him, though miraculous, was not so miraculous as to make Carrying the Dao break Mound Guardian Gong’s rules.
“This battle’s success in subduing this rat demon relies entirely on Senior Brother’s frontal confrontation.”
“If you hadn’t held back the billions of True Immortal Dao images it transformed into, I would never have been able to approach its true form so easily. You deserve to enjoy this Dao Pill, Senior Brother.”
“Moreover, after Senior Brother consumes this pill, you can share the other possibilities of Great Dao that you comprehend with me. If I were to consume it, I wouldn’t have the ability to explain them to you in detail!”
Li Fan’s words were indeed logical. After his heartfelt appeal, Carrying the Dao could no longer refuse the gesture and, half-heartedly, swallowed the Giant Rat Dao Pill.
“Senior Brother, how does it feel?” Li Fan asked tentatively after a long while.
“Alas.”
“This Giant Rat, and those countless True Immortal reflections, were truly just a group of pitiful beings.” Carrying the Dao sighed and shook his head.
Li Fan: “Senior Brother, what do you mean?”
“These are the countless images I sensed after consuming the Dao Pill.” Carrying the Dao said, then waved his hand lightly, presenting the scenes before Li Fan.
Initially, it was a magnificent Immortal Realm, peaceful and prosperous, flourishing. The Giant Rat Immortal had already served as Governing Immortal Emperor for nearly two hundred million years. During its reign, all immortals in the Immortal Realm submitted, and the scene was one of great prosperity. Even after the Giant Rat Immortal took office, the Three Sages no longer interfered in the affairs of the Immortal Realm. The immortals only knew of the Immortal Emperor, not the Three Sages.
Peak prosperity gave way to decline, beginning with the sudden descent of the Dao Erasure Tribulation. In the beginning, the Giant Rat Immortal was filled with ambition. It firmly believed it could lead all immortals to overcome this mere Dao Erasure disaster. However, the Dao Erasure would stop and recur, repeatedly. Although it could be suppressed in a short period, there seemed to be no prospect of its complete eradication.
The Giant Rat Immortal, maintaining a outward appearance of composure but inwardly growing panicked, considered secretly visiting the Three Sages to seek answers. However, it was shocked to discover… the Three Sages were gone. It was as if they had vanished from this world, and all attempts to contact them failed. Although most immortals in the Immortal Realm had largely forgotten about the Three Sages, the Three Sages still represented the sages in the hearts of the immortals. Already facing disaster and with the populace in a state of panic, if they were to learn that the Sages had vanished, the Immortal Realm would descend into chaos before being annihilated by the Dao Erasure Tribulation.
After much deliberation, the Giant Rat Immortal decided to conceal this news. To prevent the disappearance of the Sages from being exposed, it even resorted to impersonating the Three Sages single-handedly. While the Giant Rat Immortal, as an Immortal Emperor of a hundred million years, possessed unparalleled strength far surpassing other immortals, impersonating one Sage might not be difficult. However, impersonating all three Sages without revealing any flaws… that was stretching it. Thus, the Giant Rat Immortal desperately sought ways to increase its strength in a short period. In desperation, it thought of directly devouring True Immortals to steal their comprehended Great Daos. The effect was remarkable. The Giant Rat Immortal, relying on its peerless cultivation, truly managed to merge multiple different Dao paths into one.
The initial fusion of the second Dao was the most arduous.
The Giant Rat Immortal's cultivation path was the Great Dao of the "Imperial Law." The more subordinates he subdued, the more loyal they were, and the stronger the feedback he received.
Through the accumulation of two hundred million years, his Great Dao of the "Imperial Law" had reached the theoretical extreme. Under the heavens, none dared not submit.
It was precisely by relying on this supreme Great Dao of the "Imperial Law" that the Giant Rat Immortal, with absolute crushing power, was able to merge and absorb the second Dao around him like a loyal subject.
If one could become two, then two could become three.
Under the guise of Immortal Emperor, he secretly summoned countless immortals. Then he devoured them one by one in secret.
Initially, the cautious Giant Rat Immortal would target True Immortals with ordinary strength and little renown. However, as the myriad Daos fused, the Giant Rat Immortal grew somewhat more audacious.
Yet, it must be said that the Giant Rat Immortal truly lived up to his title of "Eternal Immortal Emperor."
Even as his greed for Dao gradually consumed his mind, the Giant Rat Immortal did not forget his original intention. He transformed into three Sages and propped up the collapsing world.
Under the Great Tribulation of Dao Erasure, the world teetered on the brink of destruction. Under his governance, it surprisingly endured for another hundred million years. It seemed that the hope for eternal existence was in sight.
But all stories must come to an end.
After being delayed for hundreds of millions of years, the Great Tribulation of Dao Erasure seemed to have lost its patience for a stalemate. It mobilized its forces and concentrated its assault.
Suddenly, one day, the Giant Rat Immortal was horrified to discover that the pressure of the Great Tribulation of Dao Erasure facing the Immortal Realm had inexplicably doubled.
The hundreds of millions of years of peace and tranquility had long caused the immortals to lose their keen sense of crisis. When they finally reacted and sought to mend the heavens with immortal power, it was already too late.
The Giant Rat Immortal could only watch in despair as the terrifying tide of Dao Erasure, with unstoppable might, engulfed more than half of the Immortal Realm in an instant.
The fallen True Immortals were countless. And the survivors were utterly terrified, their courage to resist the calamity completely shattered.
As the de facto ruler of the Immortal Realm, witnessing his territory collapse in such a short period was undoubtedly a crushing blow. However, at that time, these so-called "emotions" were no longer important at all.
Survival was the only thing that truly mattered.
But the Giant Rat Immortal, also known as the "Eternal Immortal Emperor," discovered with despair that, under the impending disaster, they had nowhere left to flee.
The immortals gathered around him, begging for a way to survive.
But looking at the already thousand-patched Immortal Realm, the Giant Rat Immortal himself had fallen into despair.
However, he was, after all, the ruler of the Immortal Realm for three hundred million years. The Giant Rat Immortal would not give up so easily.
In his moment of desperation, a crazy idea surged in his mind.
To gather the strength of all immortals and directly reach the Other Shore of transcendence.
In the possibilities the Giant Rat Immortal inhabited, legends of the Other Shore and other possibilities were also circulated. But they were closely guarded secrets, of the highest confidentiality. Even the Giant Rat Immortal himself had only accidentally heard of them from the Three Sages when he was young. True transcendent powerhouses had never been born.
With no one to learn from, the Giant Rat Immortal could only explore on his own.
But the most crucial point was that his time was running out.
After searching the remaining lands of the Immortal Realm, the Giant Rat Immortal finally found a method that could barely cross possibilities.
The Immortal Coffin Crossing!
Unfortunately, among the surviving immortals, it seemed only he possessed the strength to survive within the Immortal Coffin, transformed from the world, floating in the tide of Dao Erasure.
Others, even if they could barely enter the Immortal Coffin, would likely perish long before reaching the Other Shore.
The Giant Rat Immortal could indeed escape alone. But as the dignified Eternal Immortal Emperor, could he simply watch his subjects die tragically?
The Giant Rat Immortal was clearly not such a selfish individual.
Relying on his years of experience in secretly devouring and merging Daos from countless immortals, at the last moment, the Giant Rat Immortal devised a brilliant plan. He would use the "Imperial Law" to control the Daos and maintain their balance.
As long as they remained in a state of partial or complete devouring, the immortals would not be truly absorbed by him. They would retain their independent Dao paths, cultivation, memories, emotions, and so on.
Once they successfully drifted to the Other Shore within the Immortal Coffin, he could then release the immortals, thereby successfully evading this calamity.
After experimentally absorbing more than a dozen True Immortals, the Giant Rat Immortal found this method feasible. The only drawback was that he himself was both leading the devouring of Dao and desperately trying to maintain the distinct boundaries between the Daos.
This extremely contradictory approach would subject him to ultimate torment.
And it would increase in proportion to the number of Dao paths absorbed and the time it took to maintain the balance of the various Daos.
For a moment, he had a flicker of hesitation. But in that hesitation, countless True Immortals perished.
The Immortal Realm was already in a precarious state, on the verge of a final tidal wave of Dao Erasure. There was simply no time to explain things slowly to the surviving True Immortals.
Even if he explained, they might not believe him. With this conviction, the Giant Rat Immortal resolutely began to devour the immortals on a massive scale.
Facing this "Eternal Immortal Emperor's" sudden act of cannibalism, the immortals were horrified and terrified.
Yet they were completely unable to resist.
They could only curse and beg in despair and fear.
Although the "Eternal Immortal Emperor" acted without hesitation, the words and actions of the immortals were deeply imprinted in his heart.
"Giant Rat! You are the biggest giant rat in the Immortal Realm!"
"Your Majesty, spare us!"
"Even if you devour me, I will become a vengeful spirit, waiting for the day of your demise!"
...
Initially, he would still listen to the voices in his heart.
As the number of immortals he devoured increased, the Giant Rat Immortal's heart instinctively became more indifferent. Later, he simply ignored them altogether.
At the very moment before the Immortal Realm completely shattered and the tidal wave of Dao Erasure devoured all things.
The Great Dao distorted its form, and the Immortal Coffin descended from the heavens.
The Giant Rat Immortal, with the surviving True Immortals, hid inside.
What followed was an extremely long period of time. So long that the Giant Rat Immortal's memories had become somewhat blurred.
Inside the coffin was absolute darkness. Outside the Immortal Coffin was the world-ending tide of Dao Erasure.
The Giant Rat Emperor could clearly sense the Dao Erasure constantly eroding the Immortal Coffin.
He could only pray in secret that they would reach the Other Shore before the Immortal Coffin was completely corrupted.
But perhaps his luck had been exhausted from being the ruler of the Immortal Realm for three hundred million years. After an unknown amount of time, let alone the Other Shore, he hadn't even encountered a safe place.
The Immortal Coffin drifted with the currents, floating in the tide of Dao Erasure.
Hope seemed forever out of reach.
And the Giant Rat Immortal had underestimated the difficulty of maintaining the fusion of all Daos.
Perhaps in the normal environment of the Immortal Realm, it could be maintained. But within the Immortal Coffin, surrounded by the tide of Dao Erasure, maintaining balance became increasingly difficult.
He was unwilling to devour the immortals in his heart.
But he could only watch helplessly as his own body merged with his former subordinates.
He had truly become the "Giant Rat" whom countless people cursed.
The last sliver of light in his heart gradually extinguished. The Eternal Immortal Emperor plunged into endless darkness...
After another unknown period of time, when the Immortal Coffin had completely rotted and could no longer resist the tide of Dao Erasure.
With a deafening roar, the Giant Rat Immortal, as if through a different life, discovered that he had finally arrived in another starry sky.
This starry sky, though still filled with the residual aura of the ravaged aftermath of Dao Erasure, was, at least, temporarily safe.
...
Li Fan and Cheng Dao, two fellow disciples, gazed at the unfolding scene before them, rendered speechless for a long time.
"If it were me, I wouldn't have done any better than this Eternal Immortal Emperor."
"Even though he tried his best, the great situation was beyond salvation," Li Fan sighed.
Cheng Dao also commented, "His plight is pitiable, and his actions are forgivable. If he hadn't been so aggressive, perhaps his life wouldn't have been taken."
Li Fan showed a look of shame. "I was too rash. I never expected that this outwardly fearsome Giant Rat would have such a past."
Cheng Dao waved his hand. "Junior Brother, you don't need to blame yourself. The vast majority of Giant Rat Immortals are not benevolent. Do not let this anomaly, the Eternal Immortal Emperor, change your perception."
"Senior Brother's teachings are wise," Li Fan replied.
Next, Cheng Dao completely explained the Dao path he had comprehended from the Giant Rat Dao Pill to Li Fan. He even added his own insights into the Great Dao from time to time.
The comprehension of this disciple of Mound Guardian, who resided by the mountains and seas, was truly extraordinary. Li Fan even suspected that even if he himself consumed the Dao Pill, the effect would not have been better.
While listening to the scriptures and the Dao, Li Fan was also subtly observing Cheng Dao.
It seemed that after consuming the Dao Pill, there were no unusual signs in the latter.
"However, I can't jump to conclusions so easily. I still need to feed him a few more pills."
"Guang Wu Star Sea, hmph..."
After ninety-nine days, Cheng Dao finished imparting his teachings.
"Senior Brother, do you feel that the possibility the Eternal Immortal Emperor inhabited had a much weaker Dao path than ours?" Li Fan asked, his brow furrowed as he recalled the scene, his tone tinged with disbelief.
"It's not your illusion. It is indeed so," Cheng Dao nodded.
"Why is that?"
Cheng Dao narrowed his eyes, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly said, "Perhaps it is because, in that possibility, an unparalleled figure has already emerged."
"Hmm?"
"This is my conjecture; it has not been confirmed by our Master."
Cheng Dao first stated his point and then continued, "Excluding the Three Sages, in a certain possibility, there seems to be an upper limit to the number of powerhouses that can be born."
"It's not just the simple quantity, but a combination of quantity, cultivation realm, and other factors that jointly determine it."
"Of course, by 'powerhouses,' I mean transcendent powerhouses who can break free from their own possibilities."
Cheng Dao used his finger as a brush and drew a circle before Li Fan.
"Like a pond of a fixed size, every time a powerhouse is born, a region is carved out of this pond. Once the pond is completely occupied, even those with heaven-defying talent will be unable to reach the realm of transcendence."
Li Fan stared intently at the constantly divided circle before him, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Senior Brother, in the world where the Eternal Immortal Emperor resided, the Three Sages vanished. Does this perhaps imply that the potential there has been exhausted, and no more transcendent powerhouses will emerge from there?"
Cheng Dao looked at Li Fan with a half-smile, but did not answer.
Seeing this, Li Fan already had the answer in his heart.
He continued to examine the small circle before him, waving his hand to redraw the hundreds of areas that had been divided.
"In that world, let alone powerhouses like our Master, even transcendent beings are extremely rare."
"If that's the case, how powerful was the previously born powerhouse?"
"It almost exhausted the potential of an entire possibility?" Li Fan temporarily used 'potential' to refer to the small circle before him.
"Could it be that their strength surpasses Master's?" Li Fan couldn't help but gasp.
Cheng Dao remained calm. "In the past, when Master resolved the Great Tribulation of Dao Erasure and saved the Immortal Realm from peril, the Immortal Emperor and all the immortals looked up to him with admiration. Yet, Master remained humble."
"He has never considered himself a powerhouse in the mountains and seas."
"In Master's own words, he was merely a 'virtuous individual of Mound Guardian'."
Upon hearing this, Li Fan became solemn. He nodded in agreement. "Master is not only a teacher due to his strength, but also due to his magnanimity and demeanor. Even if, one day, Senior Brother's strength surpasses his, I believe you will still regard him as your teacher."
"Naturally!" Cheng Dao did not deny it.
"The mountains and seas are truly a place where powerful individuals abound," Li Fan's gaze returned to the small circle before him, and he found himself lost in thought, staring at the inner circle that occupied almost the entire area.
"I truly wonder what the legendary Other Shore is like, where so many unimaginable powerhouses gather."
Cheng Dao smiled. "Junior Brother, worry not. With our talents as fellow disciples, setting foot on the Other Shore one day is a foregone conclusion."
Li Fan laughed heartily. "Then, Senior Brother, I thank you for your auspicious words in advance."
"Let's not talk about the Other Shore for now. If you wish to see visitors from other possibilities, you can do so now." After a moment of silence, Cheng Dao suddenly spoke.
"Senior Brother is referring to Guang Wu Star Sea?"
"That's right." Cheng Dao then presented Li Fan with a brand new scene.
A total of nine Heavenly Pillars, arranged in a circle.
In the center, encircled by the Heavenly Pillars, was absolute darkness. Li Fan could sense the familiar aura of Dao Erasure from it.
And outside the nine Heavenly Pillars, densely packed, from sparse to dense, were at least a hundred supporting pillars!
Although each Heavenly Pillar might not necessarily seal a nameless entity within, the grandeur of this structure could still be felt.
Unlike Li Fan's method of simply using Heavenly Pillars to support the collapsing sky, these Heavenly Pillars were not of uniform specification. Instead, they were arranged from the inside out, from weak to strong.
They formed a staircase.
The nine central Heavenly Pillars were the weakest.
For they actually attracted the Dao Erasure to this place.
And the surrounding hundred dense Heavenly Pillars formed a solid defense, preventing the attracted Dao Erasure from spreading.
Li Fan looked at the area enclosed by the nine Heavenly Pillars, which resembled a "reservoir."
He suddenly realized, "Is that how Guang Wu Star Sea salvages creations from other possibilities?"
"It should be so. It is indeed quite ingenious."
"Beyond ingenuity, the fact that they could construct these hundred Heavenly Pillars indicates that the strength of Guang Wu Star Sea is absolutely not to be underestimated. I had underestimated them before," Cheng Dao said with admiration.
The initial fusion of two Daos was the most arduous.
The Giant Rat Immortal originally cultivated the Great Dao of [Imperial Law]. The more subordinates he had who surrendered to him and were loyal, the stronger the feedback he received.
The accumulation of two hundred million years of time had allowed his Great Dao of [Imperial Law] to reach the theoretical extreme. Under the heavens, none did not surrender.
It was precisely because of this supremely powerful Great Dao of [Imperial Law] that the Giant Rat was able to fuse and absorb the second Great Dao around him with an overwhelming advantage, as if it were a subordinate.
From one, it could become two. From two, it could become three.
Under the guise of the Immortal Emperor's name, he secretly summoned the immortals and then devoured them one by one in secret.
At first, the cautious Giant Rat Immortal would target True Immortals with ordinary strength and obscure reputations. But later, as the myriad Daos fused, the Giant Rat Immortal became somewhat unrestrained.
However, it had to be said that the Giant Rat Immortal lived up to his title of [Eternal Immortal Emperor].
Even though his greed for the Dao gradually consumed his mind, the Giant Rat Immortal did not forget his original intention. He transformed himself into three Sages, saving the world from ruin.
Under the Tribulation of Dao Erasure, the world that was on the verge of collapse, under his governance, was actually prolonged for another hundred million years. It seemed as if there was indeed hope for eternal existence.
But all stories must come to an end.
After being delayed for a hundred million years, the Tribulation of Dao Erasure seemed to have completely lost its patience for further stalemate. It mobilized its forces and concentrated its attack.
Suddenly, one day, the Giant Rat Immortal discovered with horror that the pressure of the Tribulation of Dao Erasure facing the Immortal Realm had inexplicably doubled.
The hundred million years of peace and stability had long caused the immortals to lose their sharp senses for danger. By the time they reacted and intended to mend the heavens with their immortal power, it was already too late.
The Giant Rat Immortal could only watch helplessly as the terrifying tide of Dao Erasure, with its irresistible might, swallowed more than half of the Immortal Realm in an instant.
The fallen True Immortals were countless. The survivors were also utterly terrified, losing any courage to resist the disaster.
As the actual ruler of the Immortal Realm, witnessing his territory collapse in such a short period was undoubtedly an extremely crushing blow. However, at that time, these so-called "emotions" were no longer important.
Survival was the only truly meaningful thing.
But the Giant Rat Immortal, also known as the [Eternal Immortal Emperor], discovered with despair that under the imminent disaster, they had no escape.
The immortals gathered around him, begging for a way to survive.
But the Giant Rat Immortal, looking at the already tattered Immortal Realm, had fallen into despair himself.
However, after all, he was someone who had ruled the Immortal Realm for a full three hundred million years. The Giant Rat Immortal would not give up so easily.
In his desperation, a crazy idea surged in his heart.
Gather the power of all immortals and directly reach the Other Shore, transcending existence.
In the possibilities the Giant Rat Immortal inhabited, there were legends about the Other Shore and other possibilities. However, these were little known, absolute top-secret information. Even the Giant Rat Immortal himself had only accidentally heard of them from the Three Sages in his youth. Let alone the emergence of true transcending powerhouses.
With no one to learn from, the Giant Rat Immortal could only rely on himself to explore.
But the most crucial point was that he had very little time left.
After searching the remaining lands of the Immortal Realm, the Giant Rat Immortal finally found a method that could barely traverse possibilities.
Crossing with an Immortal Coffin!
It was just that among the surviving immortals, it seemed only he possessed enough strength to survive in the Immortal Coffin, transformed from the world, floating in the tide of Dao Erasure.
Others, even if they could barely enter the Immortal Coffin, would likely be completely destroyed before long. Let alone reaching the Other Shore.
The Giant Rat Immortal could undoubtedly escape alone. But as the dignified Eternal Immortal Emperor, could he really watch his subordinates die tragically?
The Giant Rat Immortal was clearly not such a selfish individual.
Relying on his years of experience in secretly devouring and merging the Daos of the immortals, at the last moment, the Giant Rat Immortal came up with a brilliant method. He would use the [Imperial Law] to control the Dao and maintain the balance of all Daos.
As long as he remained in a state of partial or full devouring, the immortals would not be truly absorbed by him. They would still retain their independent Dao paths, cultivation, memories, emotions, and so on.
Once they successfully drifted to the Other Shore hidden within the Immortal Coffin, he could then release the immortals, and they would successfully escape this calamity.
After experimentally absorbing more than ten True Immortals, the Giant Rat Immortal found that this method was feasible. The only drawback was that he himself was simultaneously controlling the devouring of the Dao and desperately trying to maintain the distinct boundaries between the Daos.
This extremely contradictory approach would put him in extreme torment.
And with the increasing number of absorbed Dao paths and the increasing time spent maintaining the balance of all Daos, the torment would increase proportionally.
There was a moment of hesitation in his heart, but during this hesitation, countless more True Immortals met their tragic ends.
The Immortal Realm was already in a precarious state, on the verge of a final tidal wave of Dao Erasure at any moment. There was no time to explain to the surviving True Immortals slowly.
Even if he explained, they might not believe him. Holding this belief, the Giant Rat Immortal resolutely began to devour the immortals in large numbers.
Facing the sudden man-eating behavior of this Eternal Immortal Emperor, the immortals were horrified and terrified.
Yet, they were completely unable to resist.
They could only curse and beg in despair and fear.
Although the Eternal Immortal Emperor acted without any hesitation, the words and actions of the immortals were deeply imprinted in his heart.
"Giant Rat! You are the biggest giant rat in the Immortal Realm!"
"Your Majesty, spare me!"
"Even if you devour me, I will turn into a vengeful spirit and wait for the day of your demise!"
...
At first, he would still listen to the voices in his heart.
As the number of devoured immortals increased, the Giant Rat Immortal instinctively became more indifferent. Later, he simply stopped caring altogether.
At the last moment before the Immortal Realm was completely destroyed and the tidal wave of Dao Erasure swallowed everything,
The Great Dao twisted and transformed into matter, and an Immortal Coffin descended from the heavens.
The Giant Rat Immortal, along with the surviving True Immortals, hid inside.
What followed was an extremely long period of time. So long that even the Giant Rat Immortal's memories had become somewhat blurred.
Inside the coffin was absolute darkness. Outside the Immortal Coffin was the world-ending tide of Dao Erasure.
The Giant Rat Emperor could clearly sense the Immortal Coffin being constantly eroded by the Dao Erasure.
He could only silently pray to reach the Other Shore before the Immortal Coffin was completely corrupted.
But perhaps his luck had been exhausted from being the ruler of an Immortal Realm for three hundred million years. After an unknown period of time, let alone the Other Shore, he hadn't even encountered a safe place.
The Immortal Coffin drifted with the currents, floating in the tide of Dao Erasure.
There seemed to be no hope in sight.
And the Giant Rat Immortal had underestimated the difficulty of maintaining the fusion of myriad Daos.
Perhaps in the normal environment of the Immortal Realm, it could be maintained. But within the Immortal Coffin, surrounded by the tidal wave of Dao Erasure, maintaining balance became increasingly difficult.
He was unwilling to devour the immortals in his heart.
But he could only watch helplessly as his own body merged with his former subordinates.
He had truly become the "Giant Rat" cursed by millions of people.
The last flicker of light in his heart gradually extinguished. The Eternal Immortal Emperor plunged into endless darkness...
After an unknown number of years, when the Immortal Coffin had completely rotted and could no longer resist the tide of Dao Erasure.
With a loud rumbling sound, the Giant Rat Immortal, as if from another world, discovered that he had finally arrived in another starry sky.
This starry sky, though still filled with the residual aura of the ravaged Dao Erasure,
Was at least temporarily safe.
...
Li Fan and Cheng Dao, two fellow disciples, looked at the scene unfolding before them and remained silent for a long time.
"If it were me, I wouldn't have done any better than this Eternal Immortal Emperor."
"Even though he tried his best, the momentum was too great to resist," Li Fan sighed.
Cheng Dao also commented, "His plight is đáng thương, his actions are forgivable. If he hadn't been so aggressive, perhaps we wouldn't have had to take his life."
Li Fan showed a look of shame. "I was too rash. I never expected that this fearsome-looking Giant Rat would have such a past."
Cheng Dao waved his hand. "Junior brother, there's no need to blame yourself. Most Giant Rat Immortals are not good people. We shouldn't change our perception because of this outlier, the Eternal Immortal Emperor."
"Senior brother's lesson is well-taken."
Next, Cheng Dao recounted the Dao paths he had comprehended from the Giant Rat Dao Elixir to Li Fan, even adding his own insights into the Great Dao from time to time.
The comprehension of this disciple of "Stone Spirit on the Edge of Mountains and Seas" and "Mound Guardian" was truly extraordinary. Li Fan even suspected that even if he himself had taken the Dao Elixir, the effect would not have been better.
While listening to the scriptures and understanding the Dao, Li Fan was also secretly observing Cheng Dao.
It seemed that after swallowing the Dao Elixir, there were no abnormalities in the other party.
"However, we can't draw a conclusion so easily now. We need to feed him a few more."
"Guang Wu Star Sea, hmph..."
On the ninety-ninth day, Cheng Dao finished imparting his teachings.
"Senior brother, do you feel that the potential of the world where the Eternal Immortal Emperor resided seems much weaker than ours?" Li Fan asked with a frown after recalling the scene, his tone a little uncertain.
"It's not your illusion. It is indeed so," Cheng Dao nodded.
"Why is that?"
Cheng Dao narrowed his eyes and remained silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Perhaps it's because a peerless figure has already emerged in that potential."
"Hmm?"
"This is my guess, and it hasn't been confirmed by Master."
Cheng Dao first clarified, then continued, "Excluding the Three Sages, it seems there is a certain limit to the powerhouses that can emerge in a particular potential."
"It's not just about the quantity, but a combination of factors such as quantity and cultivation realm."
"Of course, when I say powerhouse, I mean a transcending powerhouse who can break free from their own potential."
Cheng Dao used his finger as a pen and drew a circle in front of Li Fan.
"It's like a pool of a fixed size. Every time a powerhouse emerges, a region is carved out of this pool. When the pool is completely occupied, even those with heaven-defying talent can no longer reach the realm of transcendence."
Li Fan carefully stared at the constantly divided circle, showing a thoughtful expression. "Senior brother, in that world, the Three Sages actually disappeared. Does this perhaps mean that the potential there is exhausted, and no more transcending powerhouses can be born?"
Cheng Dao looked at Li Fan with a half-smile, but did not answer.
Seeing this, Li Fan already had an answer in his heart.
He continued to examine the small circle in front of him, waving his hand to redraw the hundreds of subdivided regions.
"In that world, let alone powerhouses like Master, even those in the realm of transcendence are very few."
"If that's the case, how powerful was the powerhouse that emerged before?"
"It almost exhausted the potential of an entire possibility?" Li Fan exclaimed, temporarily using "potential" to refer to the small circle in front of him.
"Could it be that their strength is even greater than Master's?" Li Fan couldn't help but gasp.
Cheng Dao was very calm. "In the past, when Master resolved the Tribulation of Dao Erasure and saved the Immortal Realm from the brink of disaster, facing the admiration of the Immortal Emperor and all the immortals, Master remained very humble."
"He never considered himself any kind of powerhouse in the mountains and seas."
"In his own words, he was merely a 'Virtuous Mound Guardian Immortal'."
Li Fan became solemn upon hearing this and nodded in agreement. "Master is not only worthy of being a teacher due to his strength, but also due to his breadth of mind and demeanor. Even if, one day, Senior brother's strength surpasses his, I believe you will still respect him as your teacher."
"Naturally!" Cheng Dao did not deny it.
"The mountains and seas are truly filled with powerful individuals," Li Fan's gaze returned to the small circle before him, and he stared blankly at the inner circle that occupied almost the entire area.
"I truly don't know what the legendary Other Shore is like, with so many unimaginable powerhouses gathered together."
Cheng Dao smiled and said, "Junior brother, do not worry. With the talent of us fellow disciples, stepping onto the Other Shore one day is a certainty."
Li Fan burst into laughter. "Then I thank Senior brother for your auspicious words in advance."
"Let's not talk about the Other Shore for now. If you want to see visitors from other possibilities, you can do so now." After a moment of silence, Cheng Dao suddenly spoke.
"Senior brother means the Guang Wu Star Sea?"
"Indeed." Cheng Dao then displayed a completely new scene before Li Fan.
There were a total of nine celestial pillars, arranged in a circle.
In the center surrounded by the celestial pillars was absolute darkness. Li Fan sensed a familiar aura of Dao Erasure from it.
And outside the nine celestial pillars, there were densely packed, from sparse to dense, at least a hundred supporting celestial pillars!
Although not every celestial pillar might seal a Nameless Immortal,
One could still feel the grandeur of this celestial pillar construction.
Unlike Li Fan's approach of simply using celestial pillars to support the collapsing heavens, these celestial pillars were not of equal specifications. Instead, they went from the inside out, from weaker to stronger.
It was as if they formed a staircase.
The nine celestial pillars in the center were the weakest.
Because they actually attracted Dao Erasure to this point.
While the surrounding hundred celestial pillars formed a solid defense, preventing this attracted Dao Erasure from spreading.
Li Fan looked at the area surrounded by the nine celestial pillars, which resembled a "reservoir."
He suddenly realized, "Is that the method the Guang Wu Star Sea uses to salvage creations from other possibilities?"
"It should be. It is indeed quite ingenious."
"Besides being clever, being able to build these hundred celestial pillars means that the strength of the Guang Wu Star Sea is absolutely not to be underestimated. I underestimated them before," Cheng Dao praised.
Li Fan's spirit was tense as Cheng Dao closed his eyes and remained silent. He closely monitored their surroundings, ready to use Return to Truth at the slightest sign of trouble. Although Mound Guardian publicly humbled himself and never claimed to be a powerhouse within the Mountains and Seas, Li Fan was not one to be carried away by flattery. If his deception—posing as Mound Guardian's disciple and attempting to trick others—were exposed, not to mention Mound Guardian, Cheng Dao himself would likely pursue him relentlessly.
The connection between the mortal world and the Mountains and Seas seemed arduous. Cheng Dao spent three full days with his eyes closed before finally managing to open them.
"I've already sent a message to my master, briefly explaining the situation. I just don't know when he'll have the time to see it," Cheng Dao said with some regret. Communicating with the Mountains and Seas must have been a significant burden for Cheng Dao. His already aged appearance seemed to carry an even greater aura of decay and annihilation.
"Senior Brother, please rest," Li Fan urged. Cheng Dao did not refuse and sat down in the void. It took him over a month to recover.
Li Fan was surprised. "Is it really that difficult to contact your master?"
"Of course," Cheng Dao replied with a serious expression. "The Mountains and Seas are not places ordinary beings from the mortal world can tread. I was only able to barely manage it due to my peculiar origins. Otherwise..."
"Let alone being able to withstand the pressure from the Mountains and Seas, even if one could endure it, they would constantly face the presence of Dao Erasure energy, which is countless times more potent than anything in the mortal world. It would be like a mortal falling into water, their mind overwhelmed by a suffocating sensation. They would likely go mad before being swallowed by Dao Erasure."
Cheng Dao sighed deeply. "Since ancient times, the Mountains and Seas have not been places that mortal beings can easily access. If not for the pioneering efforts of the Sage Lords Lian Shan and Gui Hai, we wouldn't even be able to glimpse them from afar."
Li Fan naturally knew the terrifying nature of the Mountains and Seas. He had personally entered the Infinite Sea, where every drop of seawater seemed to possess a weight capable of crushing his soul. The difference, however, was that Li Fan possessed the Return to Truth treasure. Under its protection, Li Fan could now freely navigate the Mountains and Seas within certain limitations.
"What does it feel like to wander among the Mountains and Seas?" Li Fan asked Cheng Dao, feigning ignorance and great curiosity. Cheng Dao did not hide anything, detailing his experiences and insights as his consciousness traversed the Mountains and Seas.
Comparing Cheng Dao's account with his own experiences, Li Fan's awe at the power of Return to Truth grew. Beings like Cheng Dao found it incredibly difficult to travel within the Mountains and Seas, treading carefully as if on thin ice. A single mistake could mean annihilation. Furthermore, according to Cheng Dao, this was all with the protection of Mound Guardian's mark. Without Mound Guardian's guidance, Cheng Dao's current strength would not allow him to venture far.
From their casual conversation, Li Fan also confirmed that Cheng Dao had not mentioned him to Mound Guardian in this communication. After all, every extra moment spent there meant immense pressure. Only crucial matters could be conveyed. Despite Cheng Dao's words, Li Fan did not fully believe him, constantly on guard, expecting Mound Guardian to suddenly appear.
Since the matter had been reported to his master, Cheng Dao was unwilling to act on his own, awaiting instructions. Based on past experience, Mound Guardian's response time was unpredictable. However, with the pathway to the Outer Star Sea from the The Great Barrier now completely sealed by Dao Erasure, Li Fan and his companions were helpless to seek revenge on the Guang Wu Star Sea for the time being. They could only wait patiently.
The Giant Rat Immortal's condensation of the Great Dao had also greatly enlightened Cheng Dao. Li Fan could clearly perceive that the The Dao Lattice attached to the The Great Barrier was not only becoming more solid but also sprouting new Dao Strings. Some of these even represented Dao Principles that no longer existed in the original possibilities. Cheng Dao had comprehended these himself and derived them. They could not support Dao Erasure but served as auxiliary components to the Star Sea The Dao Lattice.
Cheng Dao gradually became immersed in his own contemplations, losing track of time. Meanwhile, Li Fan pondered the method of "fishing" in the Dao Erasure tide employed by the Guang Wu Star Sea. The unknown entity hidden within the Dao Erasure had not yet departed, so Li Fan could not risk provoking it within the The Great Barrier.
Li Fan's main body appeared to be meditating in the Primordial Immortal Realm, but his consciousness had entered the "Eternal Samsara." During Li Fan's period of self-indulgence, time loops continued to unfold within Eternal Samsara. The outcome of the Starving Immortal's world-ending destruction had been repeated countless times. The True Heavenly Venerate, whose spiritual essence had been completely stripped away, now lacked any cultivation talent and had even become deranged. Regardless of the presence of this outsider, Eternal Samsara continued to evolve through the passage of time Li Fan had once experienced.
Li Fan's consciousness entered this loop not to toy with the True Heavenly Venerate again, but to study the fishing technique of the Guang Wu Star Sea during this temporal interval.
"The first thing to verify is whether the Eternal Samsara created by Return to Truth is a complete possibility..." Li Fan mused, and his consciousness instantaneously traversed the Abyssal Star Sea, arriving at the location of the The Great Barrier. With practiced ease, he entered the experimental space. As expected, he saw the five phantoms left behind by Mound Guardian.
Li Fan remained silent. After leaving the The Great Barrier, he explored the still intact Star Sea of the North. The Dao Lattice, Immortal Hunters, and Cheng Dao all existed within this possibility. Previously, Li Fan had not fully considered the implications of unlocking Eternal Samsara and did not find Return to Truth's creation of this temporal flow particularly remarkable. It was only after venturing beyond the The Great Barrier and encountering numerous nameless entities, understanding the existence of Sage Lords and even transcended beings, that Li Fan realized the sheer incredulity of it all. He also vaguely understood that his own "Return to Truth" was fundamentally different from simple time reversal.
"In essence, it is the same as the 'original' possibility I experience each time I activate Return to Truth. Except a segment of time has been extracted... and..." Li Fan attempted to enter the Infinite Sea within Eternal Samsara but, as expected, failed.
"The mortal world exists by depending on the Mountains and Seas."
"But this Eternal Samsara was conjured out of nothing by Return to Truth, merely relying on Return to Truth. It cannot connect to the Mountains and Seas. It is like a sealed room, which, in a sense, is absolutely safe for me."
"But conversely..."
"Each time I use Return to Truth in reality, it is to reshape the Mountains and Seas." Li Fan had previously judged from the lifespan display on his Return to Truth interface that after activating Return to Truth, the entire state of the Mountains and Seas was reset. However, doubt now arose in Li Fan's mind. After truly witnessing the power of the Mountains and Seas and Return to Truth's interaction with them, Li Fan realized that Return to Truth might not be superior to the Mountains and Seas. It was more likely on the same level. This could be inferred from the short duration of Return to Truth's concealment of the Mountains and Seas.
"Of course, it's also possible that my body cannot withstand the deception of the Mountains and Seas for extended periods. Prolonged integration might lead to unknown side effects. Return to Truth might have deliberately set these durations and cooldowns to protect me." Li Fan shook his head slightly. With his current strength, he was far from comprehending the true nature of the Mountains and Seas or Return to Truth.
Regardless, as long as it was useful to him, that was all that mattered. Within Eternal Samsara, Li Fan was virtually unrivaled. Without the constraints of the Mountains and Seas, coupled with the experience gained in his current life in reality, he managed to re-establish the Primordial Immortal Realm within the The Great Barrier and erect numerous Heavenly Pillars in a short period.
"One could say this is a simulation within a simulation."
"Even the insights into the Great Dao I absorb here are entirely valid." Li Fan gently stroked the ripples of Dao Principles emanating from the Heavenly Pillar of the Starving Immortal, finding it utterly wondrous. Although the Starving Immortal was temporarily sealed, the start and end points of this temporal flow were already set. It wouldn't be long before she returned to the Immortal Ruins, with no memory of this.
With this thought, Li Fan no longer paid attention to the Starving Immortal, but gazed at the Heavenly Pillars standing uniformly and straight within the arena.
"Since it's not truly connected to the Upper Mountains and Infinite Sea, the tide of Dao Erasure here is merely a simulation by Return to Truth."
"However, truth begets falsehood, and falsehood begets truth. With Return to Truth's power, there is almost no difference between fake and real. It's sufficient for my experiments. If I can succeed in creating this within Eternal Samsara, I can replicate it in reality."
"Moreover, I can adjust and control the flow of time here at will..." The entire possibility of Eternal Samsara was essentially a playground tailor-made for Li Fan. The one-to-one replication of the real world removed all his worries. He began to earnestly research the engineering of the Heavenly Pillar breakwater for fishing in the Dao Erasure. Even if it was just a fleeting glimpse from the Giant Rat Immortal's memory, the principle was not complex. For Li Fan, shaping the Heavenly Pillar with varying heights using the techniques from the Medicine King Scripture of Dao Refining was effortless. In just over ten cycles of Eternal Samsara, Li Fan successfully created this marvel for the first time.
With a thought, Li Fan temporarily withdrew the power of Mound Guardian's phantom from within the The Great Barrier. As the supporting force vanished, dense dark clouds began to appear around the central, lower Heavenly Pillar. The sound of roaring waves grew louder and more intense. Li Fan instinctively retreated. He solemnly observed the dark, abyssal vortex before him. After a long period of observation, he could not discern any difference between this "fake" Dao Erasure and the real Dao Erasure connected to the Mountains and Seas.
"It seems my path of True Becomes False still has a long way to go." Li Fan steadied his mind and refocused his attention on the Dao Erasure vortex. Since it was not connected to the Mountains and Seas, no foreign entities would be attracted or swept in. However, judging by the commotion caused by the descent of Dao Erasure, Li Fan confirmed that this initial attempt had been successful. The only thing he could not yet accomplish was to restore the central, lower Heavenly Pillar after successfully luring in entities from the Dao Erasure tide, as the Guang Wu Star Sea had done. The consequence of initiating this process meant it was not far from the world-ending catastrophe of Dao Erasure.
"Shaping is easy. Returning what was removed and restoring it completely in a short time... is difficult." Li Fan's mind recalled the bizarre scene during the Guang Wu Star Sea's Dao Erasure fishing expedition, where the faces of Nameless True Immortals appeared on every Heavenly Pillar.
"Without their cooperation, it's likely impossible." Li Fan touched his chin and looked again at the sealed Starving Immortal within the Heavenly Pillar. The Starving Immortal within Eternal Samsara was almost identical to the one Li Fan knew from the original possibility in reality. Seeing Li Fan's many heaven-defying techniques and the tragic end of his fellow True Immortals whose Heavenly Pillars were still chopped down, the Starving Immortal wisely chose to cooperate.
"Since I can strip away your understanding of Dao Principles through the Medicine King Scripture of Dao Refining, you can naturally reclaim what you've lost using the same scripture."
"'Life and death are one, unite with the Dao, roam freely beyond the material world, and my elixirs will be formed.' This is the Great Elixir Art of Heaven and Earth. I will impart it to you..." Li Fan generously passed on this supreme marvelous technique. Initially, the Starving Immortal was somewhat fearful, but as her understanding of the Medicine King Scripture of Dao Refining deepened, her entire focus was gradually captivated. The Starving Immortal's comprehension was acceptable. Li Fan almost lost patience before she finally grasped this profound Dao Refining method. However, Li Fan then realized that although the Starving Immortal's initial progress was slow, she was even more proficient than Li Fan in its actual application.
Upon closer observation, Li Fan noticed something peculiar. "This Dao of Starvation seems to have an innate compatibility with the Medicine King Scripture of Dao Refining. The Dao Pills I refine require transformation by others to be absolutely safe. But the Starving Immortal has no such concerns and can swallow them directly without any taboos. Although she is imprisoned and has no need to worry about any hidden schemes behind the Medicine King Scripture of Dao Refining, it partly explains the uniqueness of the 'Starvation' Great Dao, this foreign Dao Principle. After all, it's a Dao Path that can achieve rebirth in another possibility by taking someone else's place..."
Thus, although Li Fan did not know how the Guang Wu Star Sea achieved the conversion of Heavenly Pillar heights, he managed to achieve his desired effect through his own knowledge and considerable effort. Subsequently, Li Fan modified the Medicine King Scripture based on the Starving Immortal's feedback, removing unnecessary parts. The method only needed to cooperate with the transformation of the Heavenly Pillars.
His objective achieved, with this time loop, Li Fan had only spent slightly over twenty cycles within Eternal Samsara. In the real world, only about an hour and a half had passed! This was the terrifying power of Return to Truth. Li Fan watched the Starving Immortal, who was smugly pleased after mastering the marvelous technique, her face etched with astonishment at the start of another reincarnation cycle. For some reason, Li Fan was reminded of something Mound Guardian had once said to Cheng Dao:
"The outcome is irrelevant."
"Just as the beginning and end of this Eternal Samsara are predetermined, perhaps everything in the mortal world has already been set."
"No matter how sentient beings struggle, the end result remains unchanged." Li Fan pondered this, falling into a slight daze.
"The entire mortal world, including the Mountains and Seas, is merely a larger version of the Eternal Samsara?"
"Just as the True Heavenly Venerate, no matter his attempts, could not alter the fate of the Xuanhuang Realm being swallowed by the Immortal Ruins, the Mountains and Seas are ultimately destined to merge."
"How can one truly change, truly transcend?"
...
As the Eternal Samsara time reset once more, Li Fan's consciousness withdrew from it. However, the questions raised by this attempt lingered in his heart, refusing to dissipate.
They even surfaced in his thoughts when he secretly experimented with the Heavenly Pillar Immortal Embankment in reality.
It proved that the Eternal Samsara was almost identical to the "Primordial" possibility. The experimental results Li Fan achieved within it could be directly applied to reality without alteration.
After witnessing Li Fan's method of constructing the Immortal Embankment, Cheng Dao also sighed in admiration, "Junior Brother, you are truly a genius. How long has it been, and you've already replicated this? And purely through memory, without even visiting in person."
"Once the principle is understood, replication is not difficult. It is the new The Dao Lattices that you, Senior Brother, have integrated after your enlightenment that are truly remarkable. These do not exist in our world," Li Fan said humbly, pointing to the The Dao Lattices surrounding the The Great Barrier.
While Li Fan was comprehending the Immortal Embankment, Cheng Dao had also successfully integrated the original Dao threads into the The Dao Lattice. Li Fan could faintly sense that with the addition of these new forces, the star system near the High Wall-Shuo Sea had become significantly more stable.
It seemed that with the support of these previously non-existent Dao principles, the effect was greater than the sum of its parts.
Cheng Dao also noticed this anomaly and recounted an anecdote.
He had once inquired about possible methods to resist the Dao Erasure during his communication with the Mound Guardian. Inheriting knowledge from his master, Cheng Dao wished to emulate his predecessor's feat of saving an entire era single-handedly.
The Mound Guardian did not ridicule his disciple's overconfidence but instead offered two serious suggestions.
Firstly, to continue cultivating the "Phantom Selves Bearing the Dao" technique. As long as one was powerful enough, even if the ultimate fate of being consumed by the Dao Erasure could not be altered, one might be able to hold on until the final moment of the Mountains and Seas merging.
If the first method was to seek external assistance, then the second method was to strengthen the possibility itself. If it was already incredibly solid, it would naturally no longer require heavenly pillars or phantoms.
However, Cheng Dao's current possibility was already critically ill, riddled with holes. To reverse such a terminal illness required extraordinary measures.
This involved absorbing the Great Dao from other possibilities to fill its own deficiencies.
"It's like taking from the abundant to give to the deficient!"
The Mound Guardian also told Cheng Dao that there were indeed individuals like that in the Mountains and Seas, who traversed to other possibilities, extracted and refined the Great Dao, and then returned to their own homeland to sustain the collapsing heavens.
"This aligns with what Master mentioned. It seems that in all matters, personal verification is crucial. No amount of contemplation or imagination can compare to hands-on experience," Cheng Dao said, stroking his beard with a smile, clearly satisfied with his own creation.
Li Fan and Cheng Dao then exchanged their respective insights.
Despite being a disguise, their interactions felt as genuine as those between biological brothers.
Time flowed by in this harmonious atmosphere, and fifty years passed in the blink of an eye.
Cheng Dao still had not received a message from the Mound Guardian, but the Primordial Dao Forms that Li Fan had been awaiting finally arrived.
On this day, a subtle disturbance emanated from the border of the High Wall-Shuo Sea.
It was like the waves created by a colossal pleasure boat sailing against the wind, continuously crashing against the shore. Already surrounded and enclosed by the Annihilation Land, relying solely on the High Wall's The Dao Lattice for sustenance.
At this moment, struck by this violent tremor, it felt like a solitary island in a giant tsunami, on the verge of capsizing.
Li Fan and Cheng Dao simultaneously appeared, looking towards the direction of the anomaly.
It bore a striking resemblance to the scene when the Dao Erasure approached from beyond the world.
However, besides the howling sound of the Mountains and Seas, there was also a dull thudding sound, like metal hammers repeatedly colliding and striking.
With each resonating sound, it seemed as if a thread was being created from nothingness, carving a path through the void.
The dull thuds continued, and as countless Dao threads converged, they became thicker. It was as if divine power was parting the sea, forcefully creating a path through the Dao Erasure.
Li Fan stared at the wondrous spectacle before him, suddenly recalling the moment when the Black Heavenly Physician broke through the High Wall and descended upon the world.
"Senior Brother, have you ever seen someone cross between possibilities?"
Cheng Dao was slightly taken aback by the question. Then, he remembered the nameless alien Li Fan had mentioned earlier.
His expression immediately turned serious.
"It appears that that Emperor San Mo has been hiding something."
"This kind of disturbance does not seem like something that could be caused by a mere thirteen Nameless True Immortals."
Li Fan nodded in agreement. "That resonant sound can temporarily repel the Dao Erasure... ordinary Nameless True Immortals would likely be obliterated by such a sound."
"However, with Senior Brother here, there is nothing to fear."
Cheng Dao smiled and said coldly, "The more materials we have for mending the heavens, the better. We welcome anyone who comes fearlessly."
The anomaly at the border of the Shuo Sea became increasingly magnificent until the thread in the void finally solidified. At this point, the resonating sound abruptly ceased. A beam of green light shot out from this thread, followed by a moment where it entered the void.
Behind the beam of light, the Dao Erasure re-engulfed the thread.
Unlike the immense commotion during its creation, the Dao Erasure's engulfment was utterly silent. It happened without a whisper.
The beam of light seemed to have locked onto the location of the High Wall. Although it was its first descent, it showed no hesitation, charging directly towards it.
However, just before reaching its destination, it appeared to abruptly detect the The Dao Lattice attached in layers outside the High Wall, like a protective shield.
It then halted abruptly.
The green light receded, revealing its original form.
It was a strange, grotesque mass of flesh with a thousand hands.
A faint, eerie green light still shrouded the surface of the flesh sphere, obscuring its details.
But Li Fan could still vaguely discern the characteristics of various monstrous beasts on this colossal flesh sphere.
"Junior Brother, it seems something significant has happened to this beast clan."
"Senior Brother is right, I can see it too. Within this colossal fused form, there isn't a single unified consciousness..." Li Fan stared ahead, a thought flashing through his mind. He attempted to activate the Myriad Beast Rotation Wheel.
Upon activation, it did indeed have an effect. The countless tentacles on the massive flesh sphere stirred incessantly, as if swaying in the wind.
It was also as if it were mocking Li Fan.
"Boy, is the Myriad Beast Rotation Wheel fun?"
It was as if millions of different voices spoke simultaneously, each with a distinct emotion.
There was anger, mockery, the greed of seeing delicious food, the ecstasy of surviving a calamity, and the overwhelming relief of finally seeing a habitable continent after years adrift at sea.
Li Fan shook his head slightly and said to Cheng Dao with a hint of regret, "It seems, in the end, I underestimated them."
"After all, it is an entire civilization of possibilities. Even though they are an alien race, they are not so easily manipulated. Even the same person can vary greatly across different possibilities. How much more so for an entire race?" Cheng Dao offered words of comfort.
"However, they have come nonetheless. This fulfills Master's words: It matters not the final outcome."
Ever since an encounter during the Eternal Samsara, Li Fan had grown fond of these four words. Besides the profound and unfathomable meaning they inherently held, Li Fan favored the sense of detached control they conveyed, as if everything was within grasp.
"Hahaha, well said, Junior Brother! 'It matters not the final outcome!'"
"Arrogant aliens, since you have come, you shall remain here!"
Without waiting for Li Fan to act, Cheng Dao had already vanished from his spot.
The hidden The Dao Lattice outside the High Wall suddenly shimmered with an unending brilliance, then rapidly expanded to encompass the entire surviving star system surrounded by the Annihilation Land.
The colossal thousand-handed flesh sphere was caught off guard and fell into the net.
Though it relied on the Ancient Primordial Source provided by Li Fan to traverse possibilities, the immense disturbance caused by its arrival was indirectly a testament to this flesh sphere monster's power.
It was highly likely that it was a fusion of the entire alien race, including the Primordial Thirteen Dao Forms. Its strength was not to be underestimated.
Even now, caught in the net, it did not seem alarmed but rather pleased.
"Delicious!"
"You're such a gracious host, young man. I must thank you properly!"
"Hee hee hee hee!"
Millions of maniacal laughter erupted from the flesh sphere.
The images of countless ferocious alien beasts illuminated the surface of the flesh sphere one after another. Some had their eyes gouged out, others had their heads severed. In short, they were all incomplete and covered in blood. However, without exception, they all appeared to be "devouring" the surrounding The Dao Lattice.
As if intending to devour the world, a tremendous suction force instantly emanated from this creature.
This suction was different from that caused by the Starving Immortals.
The Starving Immortals' devouring was driven by "hunger." This alien fused body, however, devoured simply because it wanted to.
The Great Dao of Heaven and Earth, all things.
They were merely its nourishment!
Besides devouring, the thousand-handed flesh sphere also displayed a fervent desire to accept and merge.
It seemed intent on turning Li Fan, and everything in this star system, into a part of itself.
The Shuo Sea The Dao Lattice, directly due to a bite from this monster, created a small area of void.
Even Li Fan hadn't expected the alien fused body to devour and digest the Dao principles so quickly.
Not only did it devour, but in a very short time, it also transformed them into a part of its own strength.
Li Fan clearly saw that due to this act of devouring, the flesh sphere had grown dozens more tentacles.
"Villain!"
Cheng Dao let out a furious roar, and the light emanating from the tangible The Dao Lattice grew even brighter.
It spanned across the starry sky.
The alien fused body's consumption speed instantly slowed down.
At this moment, Cheng Dao's hands tore through the void and descended above the thousand-handed flesh sphere.
He ignored the monstrous beasts' attempts to devour and pressed down firmly upon it.
No matter how greedily the illusory beasts gnawed, it remained unyielding.
Cheng Dao's form was even more stable than the Great Dao itself.
The alien fused body could gnaw at the Great Dao, but it was powerless against the unyielding rocks of the Mountains and Seas!
In that instant, due to the backlash, tens of thousands of tentacles disintegrated with screams.
The blurry flesh and blood that fell to the ground seemed to contain their original forms.
However, before they could even struggle, countless tiny tentacles emerged from the surface of the massive flesh sphere, dragging the flesh and blood back inside.
Before long, the giant flesh sphere had grown new tentacles.
"Wind, come!"
In the starry sky, a colossal hand manifested by Cheng Dao continued to press down firmly on the alien fused body.
Meanwhile, his other hand beckoned gently towards the void where the thousand-handed flesh sphere had appeared.
Humming...
As if foreshadowing the arrival of a hurricane, the scene of repeated heavy blows striking the void reappeared.
However, this time, it was not about parting the sea and creating a path in the void.
Instead, ripples of Dao Erasure were drawn forth!
Li Fan, who was observing, narrowed his pupils. This move was one Cheng Dao had never used before. He had never even mentioned it during their usual Dao discussions. Clearly, the devouring actions of the alien fused body had ignited his true fury.
"Those ripples... they are not an illusion, but actual Dao Erasure!"
"However, it's not arriving in a torrential wave, but in gentle breezes?!"
Li Fan's eyes widened with curiosity as he quickly discerned the mystery behind Cheng Dao's divine ability.
"The essence of Dao Erasure is the merging of Mountains and Seas."
"The connection of Mountains and Seas, the crashing waves against the shore, is the merging of Mountains and Seas. But the howling wind between the Mountains and Seas is also a part of it..."
Li Fan watched as the myriad tentacles of the alien fused body completely evaporated amidst these ripples, leaving not even fragments of flesh and blood.
It was as if he saw the wind blowing from the Mountains and Seas, cleansing the mortal world.
"The great tide has not yet arrived, but the wind has come first."
"Only those who watch the sea from the Mound Guardian can know in advance."
As Li Fan was gaining enlightenment, Cheng Dao's guidance also reached his ears.
Admittedly, the alien fused body was truly ferocious.
Under the blows of this Mountain and Sea wind, even the entire Shuo Sea might not be able to hold on for long. But it stubbornly resisted defeat with its incredibly powerful regenerative ability.
Even though trillions of surface tentacles were cleared by the ripples, an endless stream of new ones quickly emerged from within.
These tentacles, the absorbed members of its own kind, now served as multiple layers of defense.
Although it knew it was no match for this powerful being who wielded the wind of the Mountains and Seas, its path of arrival was severed. With nowhere to retreat, this desperate situation only further ignited the alien fused body's ferocity.
Billions of piercing screams exploded from the surface of the flesh sphere.
Tentacles transformed back into their original monstrous beast forms.
They detached from the fused body and scattered in all directions.
The massive flesh sphere itself, however, split open from the center, revealing a giant fissure.
Within the deep fissure, an orange-yellow eyeball was hidden.
As the eyeball gazed upon them, even the ripples of the Mountains and Seas momentarily froze.
Although the wind of the Mountains and Seas quickly resumed, it provided a precious window of escape for the tentacles that had previously scattered.
If Li Fan hadn't been there.
Shortly after thousands of monstrous beasts flew out,
They all inexplicably disappeared.
It was as if some unknown hunter had been waiting for a long time.
The alien fused body even sensed that the parts it had lost, along with those being cleansed and blocked by the ripples of the Mountains and Seas,
Had their connection to itself completely severed.
"What in the world is this!"
The summoning call from the Mountains and Seas, unlike the righteous display of force against the enemy, was a subtle act. Li Fan, hiding in the shadows, used the Medicine King Scripture of Dao Refining to capture the scattered beastly phantoms fleeing from the battlefield. He did this without causing even a ripple of energy, silently. The alien fusion's entity only perceived a deep, abyssal void that mercilessly devoured its scattered parts.
As the chaotic winds from the Mountains and Seas intensified, the entity's numerous surface tentacles grew sparse. With a roar of pain, it was slowly annihilated from the outside in. It realized its frontal assault was futile, and escape was impossible. The alien fusion was truly trapped.
The orange-yellow eyeball within its spherical mass suddenly showed a hint of ferocity. Moments later, with a deafening boom, the mangled, colossal flesh-sphere exploded. Countless fragments of flesh flew through the starlit void, unleashing a torrent of blood-red, malevolent energy that clashed with the winds of the Mountains and Seas. Even this desperate final act of the alien fusion was no match for the power of the Mountains and Seas.
"Hm?" However, after detecting countless overlapping figures within the bloody aura, Cheng Dao exclaimed in surprise. He then deliberately weakened the power of the winds from the Mountains and Seas. Under the cover of these myriad shadows, the true form of the alien fusion vanished from the starfield.
Cheng Dao did not immediately pursue. Instead, he seriously observed the phantasmal blood shadows before him. These were revealed to be human forms, expelled by the alien fusion! Their nakedness and bestial movements hinted at their tragic fate, lacking even the basic sanity to be treated as anything more than livestock.
"Although I knew that creature's origin was a world ruled by the thirteen Dao Forms, a hell for our human race, I was mentally prepared," Cheng Dao's calm voice echoed through the void, momentarily silencing the howling winds from the Mountains and Seas. "Yet witnessing such a scene firsthand, I cannot suppress my fury."
Li Fan, by now quite familiar with Cheng Dao, could discern the suppressed rage beneath his brother's tranquil tone. Even he himself felt a surge of anger upon seeing the scene of billions of human blood shadows released by the alien fusion.
"They were likely slaughtered and absorbed by the aliens before fleeing here," Li Fan mused. "But for them, perhaps death was a release." He couldn't imagine what fate would befall him if he, in his human form, were transported to such a possibility, fearing that even with the infinite replication and reincarnation divine abilities, escape and a change of fate would be impossible.
"This creature deserves to die!" Li Fan declared, channeling his not-so-overwhelming anger into his words. "Does it think it can escape our brotherly gaze by fleeing into the void? Do you know this is but an isolated island? Without the means to cross the vast ocean, you have nowhere to flee once you arrive!" His voice thundered, echoing in the high-walled star sea of the Northern Coldness Star Sea.
With a wave of his sleeve, Li Fan temporarily gathered the billions of human blood shadows. While searching for any trace of the alien fusion hidden within, he also began to pacify the wronged souls of the deceased. This was not a fleeting appeasement, but a process. After inspection, the blood shadows were transformed into streams of light and sent into the Primordial Immortal Realm beyond the The Great Barrier. There, after decades of celestial cycles, these resentful souls would be reborn. While it was not guaranteed they would all be human again, any existence within the Primordial Immortal Realm, even a mountain spirit, was infinitely better than their former lives in the alien possibility.
"Thank you, junior brother," Cheng Dao said after witnessing Li Fan's benevolent act, expressing gratitude on behalf of the spectral human figures. While specialized in the grand, transcendent power of the Mountains and Seas through his long association with the Mound Guardian, he was unfamiliar with the earthly methods used to guide the myriad souls. Li Fan's skill in reincarnation and rebirth would require careful study for him to master. However, despite his anger, Cheng Dao could not afford to spend time finding a path to liberation for these human souls. Li Fan's assistance was therefore most welcome.
Li Fan worked with swift efficiency. In a short time, he completed the screening. The human blood shadows were sent for rebirth, while the remnants of the alien fusion were directly refined into elixirs. Soon, the starfield, previously chaotic from the fusion's self-destruction, returned to its pristine state.
"Senior brother, where do you think that fiend has gone?" Li Fan asked with a smile, his attention simultaneously lingering on the technique of the wind from the Mountains and Seas that Cheng Dao had just employed. Having personally experienced the power of the Mountains and Seas, he could better appreciate the subtlety of this move.
"That fiend cannot possibly have crossed the protection of our master's phantom," Cheng Dao replied, retracting his divine ability. He scanned the starfield, his killing intent unabated. After a search, he found no trace of the alien fusion. "It's quite good at hiding," Cheng Dao snorted.
"I have an idea. Senior brother, follow me," Li Fan said with a smile, leading the way. Cheng Dao followed closely. Before long, they arrived at the edge of the Northern Coldness Star Sea. Due to the strategy of diverting the catastrophe from the Guang Wu Star Sea, a portion of the original Northern Coldness Star Sea had been swallowed by Dao Erasure. What was once a central region of the star sea had become a remote frontier.
The location Li Fan had chosen was precisely where Emperor San Mo had last been seen disappearing before traversing possibilities alone. After explaining the circumstances to Cheng Dao, Li Fan continued, "It brought its entire family and fled desperately, only to suffer complete annihilation. Now, it can only escape through this method."
"But to flee before us..." Li Fan looked ahead and coldly declared, "Fiend! Come out!"
A moment of silence descended upon the starfield. A few breaths later, a figure materialized. It was unlike the grotesque, thousand-armed flesh-sphere from before. Appearing before Li Fan and Cheng Dao was a Dao Form exuding an aura of divine majesty and authority. It possessed the body of a dragon, the horns of a qilin, the tail of a black tortoise, the eyes of a god, and the feathers of a vermilion bird... It was a fusion of countless Dao Forms, spanning the void. Though its scale was far less than in its prime, its ancient, primordial aura remained undiminished.
Its form was nearly perfect, as if it contained the true meaning of the Great Dao. Even Cheng Dao, accustomed to the wonders of the Mountains and Seas, was momentarily captivated by the true appearance of this fusion of thirteen Dao Forms.
"Calling me a fiend, again and again..." the voice, like that of a decaying elder, rasped. "How laughable. In my eyes, you are the fiends! This defeat today is merely due to inferior skill. But the Mountains and Seas are boundless; who knows if our race has no stronger beings capable of easily suppressing you? Hahahaha! I await that day!"
The thirteen Dao Forms, its last refuge discovered and with no escape, spoke with remarkable calmness, its laughter only serving to express its inner despair and unwillingness to accept its fate. Cheng Dao shook his head, having no desire to waste words with the thirteen Dao Forms before him. Just as he was about to strike, to seal and transform it into a Heavenly Pillar, a ethereal yet murderous voice drifted from afar, "Regrettably, there are no longer any."
As the voice arrived, so did the speaker. The newcomer wore opulent purple robes, with a face like refined jade. A shock of red hair cascaded casually to his waist, and a red mole, like a third eye, adorned his brow. The instant this figure appeared, Li Fan's entire body instinctively bristled, as if encountering a peerless fierce beast, his body trembling with alarm. However, Li Fan was relieved to find his spiritual senses did not issue a warning. The immense killing intent inadvertently emanating from the sudden appearance of the purple-robed figure was clearly not directed at him, but at the thirteen Dao Forms.
Only three breaths after the purple-robed figure appeared did the starfield of the Northern Coldness, Great Wall, violently shake. It was like a tiny boat suddenly caught in a tempest, tossed about precariously. In the distant void of Dao Erasure, Li Fan watched in horror as a celestial pathway was carved out of nowhere, stretching directly to their location. The mere ripples caused by this pathway almost capsized the Northern Coldness, Great Wall.
Within Li Fan's mind, this celestial pathway perfectly overlapped with the one created when the Black Heavenly Physician had appeared. The alien fusion's descent had merely forced open a thin sliver in the Dao Erasure. But this purple-robed powerhouse had, with a single step, carved out a celestial path. The difference was immeasurable!
"Transcending possibilities..." "A transcending powerhouse?!" Li Fan's mind reeled as realization dawned. While his thoughts raced, contemplating countermeasures, the purple-robed figure simply extended a hand towards the thirteen Dao Forms and grasped.
The thirteen Dao Forms, about to utter more words, suddenly choked. Even its sacred and ancient aura was suppressed. Its body was involuntarily stretched and flattened. The thirteen Dao Forms showed terror, contorting violently, but were utterly unable to alter their impending fate. In five breaths, the alien fusion had been crushed into a perfect two-dimensional plane, transforming into a sheet of paper. A beautifully patterned, exquisite paper.
"For you," the purple-robed figure said, holding the patterned paper. After examining it for a moment, he offered it without hesitation to Li Fan and Cheng Dao. With a gentle gesture, the transformed thirteen Dao Forms floated towards Cheng Dao.
It was only upon closer inspection that Li Fan and Cheng Dao perceived the Dao aura emanating from the paper. Truly, this was the fusion of thirteen Dao Forms, the strongest from a single possibility. Its quality and quantity far surpassed the Heavenly Pillars within the The Great Barrier. Upon receiving the Dao paper, Cheng Dao and Li Fan were jolted out of their shock. Forcing down their astonishment, they bowed in unison, "Thank you, senior."
Given the lightning-fast display of skill, their address of "senior" was entirely fitting. Even Cheng Dao, whose heart had always belonged to his master, was now completely in awe. Li Fan, meanwhile, was reminded of Emperor San Mo's earlier mention of an unnamed Human race True Immortal who had suddenly appeared and almost annihilated the alien Dao Forms. "Could this purple-robed figure be that unnamed True Immortal from before?" Li Fan's mind stirred.
During his time with Cheng Dao, Li Fan had maintained the "Illusion is True" divine ability, covering himself. While this purple-robed figure was indeed powerful, Li Fan did not fear him discovering anything. The goodwill emanating from the purple-robed figure's words also reassured Li Fan. He directly asked, "Senior, were you perhaps the one from back then..."
Li Fan quickly recounted the events. The purple-robed figure smiled, "Indeed it was I. But that was a very, very long time ago." His tone was calm and measured, yet it carried a profound sense of ancientness, even more so than the thirteen Dao Forms fusion had displayed. Perhaps triggered by Li Fan's words, he spoke a rare few additional sentences: "Mound Guardian sensed your summons. However, he is currently not within the Mountains and Seas and cannot disengage. Therefore, he entrusted us with this task. I was initially unwilling to undertake this errand, but..."
The purple-robed figure glanced at the Dao paper in Cheng Dao's hand. He chuckled lightly, "It has been a long time since I've killed any of them. I was getting a bit restless. It's difficult to find them in the Mountains and Seas anymore. I truly miss it."
These simple words from the purple-robed figure carried an immense amount of information. Cheng Dao and Li Fan were stunned for a moment before reacting. "Senior, was it Master who invited you to help?" Cheng Dao asked, overjoyed. His excited expression was unlike that of an ancient being, but rather that of a delighted child favored by a parent.
Compared to Mound Guardian, Li Fan was more captivated by several words in the purple-robed figure's statement: "Not within the Mountains and Seas." "We." The words struck Li Fan like thunderbolts, leaving him utterly bewildered. Forcing himself to suppress his shocked expression, Li Fan lowered his head, listening to the conversation between the purple-robed figure and Cheng Dao.
"Under normal circumstances, we do not interfere in mortal affairs," the purple-robed figure explained. "But the situation you described is indeed quite unusual..." Without needing Li Fan and Cheng Dao to recount the details, the purple-robed figure's gaze precisely locked onto the Guang Wu Star Sea, beyond the void of Dao Erasure. "This is rather interesting," the purple-robed figure remarked with a playful expression. "This trip was not in vain."
Cheng Dao remained silent, pondering the purple-robed figure's words. In the silence, Li Fan suddenly spoke again, "Senior, you mentioned just now that Master is not currently within the Mountains and Seas. What exactly does that mean..." The purple-robed figure was surprised to find another disciple of Mound Guardian present. However, seeing Cheng Dao neither denying nor probing further, he replied, "It means exactly what it says. You will know in the future. Telling you now would be unbeneficial." Out of respect for Mound Guardian, the purple-robed figure offered a brief answer. Though it did not fully explain, Li Fan dared not inquire further.
"My time is limited, and I cannot stay long. If you wish to witness the spectacle, you are welcome to follow," the purple-robed figure said, waving a hand towards the Guang Wu Star Sea. Another celestial pathway suddenly materialized from the Dao Erasure, directly leading to the Guang Wu Star Sea!
The pathway emerged from nothingness, born from annihilation.
It seemed not to be a physical entity, but a unique form of energy. Forcibly carving a path through the void.
The figure in purple stepped forth, vanishing in an instant. The next moment, they appeared at the other end of the pathway.
Li Fan and Cheng Dao exchanged a glance and followed closely behind.
If it were just the two of them, venturing into the foreign starscape filled with True Immortals, they might have been more cautious. But now, with such a powerful figure clearing the way, what was there to fear!
Stepping onto this heaven-piercing path, a peculiar sensation unlike anything they had ever experienced washed over them. It was almost indescribable, but if an adjective had to be chosen, it would likely be "safe."
Born into the mortal world, they were constantly under the threat of the Great Tribulation of Dao Erasure. Though Li Fan himself might not have overly concerned himself with it, the fact remained that this reality instilled his physical body and divine soul with an innate sense of crisis. Shaped by years of this, he was like a startled bird, perpetually on edge, unable to find peace. Even though the Great Tribulation of Dao Erasure had not yet descended, and even with the Heavenly Pillars of the Nameless True Immortal providing support, the fear in his heart persisted.
After all, not to mention a few mere Heavenly Pillars, even the Immortal Realm had been annihilated under the Dao Erasure. Who could guarantee how long these Heavenly Pillars would last?
But at this moment, within the path carved by the purple-clothed figure, this long-standing anxiety finally vanished.
"Even if the Dao Erasure eventually arrives, with this path, I can remain unharmed."
Without any basis, such a thought surged within Li Fan's mind.
This was a form of blind confidence, but Li Fan was not the only one to experience it.
Looking at Cheng Dao, he felt the same.
The sense of crisis, unavoidable as long as one remained in the mortal world, was slowly being smoothed out. Li Fan felt an unprecedented calm settle upon his mind.
Innumerable distracting thoughts slowly settled at the bottom of his heart, leaving only the purest, clearest intention.
"An extraordinary divine ability!" Li Fan marveled inwardly.
"It's a pity this path is not permanent, created by the purple-clothed figure to forge a way. As he departs, it is destined to disappear soon. Such powerful energy that can repel Dao Erasure..."
"Putting aside the fact that observing such divine power up close is itself a great fortune. Even just the environment created by this path is something the mortal world can never attain, no matter how long they strive."
"If I could remain here indefinitely, my comprehension of the transformation between true and false would likely advance by leaps and bounds."
The path reached its end, and as they were about to leave, Li Fan felt a pang of reluctance.
He even entertained the thought of repeating all his previous actions in his next reincarnation, simply to re-experience this short period of time.
Li Fan seriously considered it.
"From my current understanding, even ten or more consecutive reincarnations would not accumulate as much comprehension of True and False Transformation as I have gained in this brief moment within this path."
"By that calculation, it's certainly not a loss..."
Li Fan was immersed in the tranquility and beauty that the path provided.
Cheng Dao was in the same state.
Perhaps when facing the vastness of the world alone, one could maintain a resolute will.
But once a safe haven, capable of shielding from wind and rain, appeared, spending even a short time within it would gradually erode one's sharpness.
Cheng Dao's weathered and resolute countenance softened slightly.
Perhaps sensing the thoughts of the two juniors,
the purple-clothed figure's voice drifted over, interrupting their musings.
"It can be observed, but not learned."
"This is my Dao, not yours. Ultimately, you must forge your own path to be worthy of traversing the mountains and seas."
Li Fan and Cheng Dao's hearts trembled upon hearing this. The greedy thought in their hearts instantly vanished.
"Thank you for your guidance, Senior." Recovering their senses, the two quickly expressed their gratitude to the purple-clothed figure. They realized that the absolute sense of safety they felt within the path had, in a short time, made them dependent on it. It even naturally generated desires like greed and selfishness.
However, due to the immense calmness of their minds, these distracting thoughts merely accumulated within their hearts and did not manifest. Only when pointed out by the purple-clothed figure did they surge forth from their hearts like bursting bubbles.
"The mountains and seas are boundless; only we are the vessels."
"To traverse between them, a steadfast Dao heart is essential."
"You two, although your strength and disposition are considered superior in the mortal world. However..."
"You still fall short."
"So troublesome..."
The purple-clothed figure muttered a final sigh and then vanished from their sight.
Li Fan and Cheng Dao looked at each other, and after emerging from the path, they looked back.
A cold sweat broke out on both of them.
Cheng Dao lamented, "Junior Brother, I finally understand why Master chose to minimize contact with us."
"Such protection is truly not a good thing."
Li Fan nodded slightly. "If we had stayed any longer, I fear I would have been unwilling to leave."
Ultimately, the two escaped the temptation of the heaven-piercing path and followed the purple-clothed figure.
The purple-clothed figure moved with incredible speed; their silhouette had already disappeared from view.
However, there was no need to worry about losing them.
The monumental seismic shockwaves that the purple-clothed figure's passage caused were simply too conspicuous.
A pathway suddenly appeared out of the void, swallowed by Dao Erasure. How could the Guang Wu Star Sea not notice such an anomaly?
Their reaction was swift. Judging by the imposing aura emanating from the distance, it seemed the entire top fighting force of the Guang Wu Star Sea had likely gathered at this moment.
But before the purple-clothed figure, they were utterly insignificant.
A powerful being capable of traversing possibilities was certainly not something that the True Immortals of the Guang Wu Star Sea could resist at this time.
Li Fan and Cheng Dao followed the path carved by the purple-clothed figure, pressing forward. They finally experienced what it meant to be utterly unstoppable.
Scattered purple talismans floated around them, remnants of True Immortals who had been suppressed and crushed.
Li Fan secretly attempted to collect these talismans, only to find that the purple-clothed figure had not killed them, but merely imprisoned them for the time being. Li Fan could faintly sense the terrified thoughts of these True Immortals within the talismans.
After contemplating for a moment, Li Fan and Cheng Dao decided not to act rashly for now, continuing to hasten towards the purple-clothed figure's location.
The closer they got, the more sealed True Immortals they encountered.
It seemed there was something of utmost importance there, something they felt compelled to guard, even at the cost of their lives, to obstruct the intruder.
But their resistance was ultimately futile.
The gap in strength was too immense.
Even fighting to the death, they could not even serve the purpose of "resisting."
However, a civilization that could survive and flourish to this day, even to the point of fishing in the Dao Erasure, certainly possessed its own depths.
"Senior, do not push too far!"
A fierce roar erupted from ahead, followed by a violent fluctuation that was no less significant than the commotion caused by the purple-clothed figure.
When Li Fan and Cheng Dao arrived at the scene, they discovered that the surrounding starry sky had formed a vast vacuum.
What should have been a convergence of important architectural structures had now been completely vaporized.
The purple-clothed figure was looking with great interest at a light sphere in their hand.
Within the light sphere, images constantly shifted, with countless figures seeming to dance.
And before the purple-clothed figure stood a middle-aged man, his clothes tattered, a look of despair on his face.
"Projection of a Dao Epoch. This cannot be created by your kind. Did you fish this up?"
The purple-clothed figure asked indifferently, lightly squeezing the light sphere. It was compressed infinitely within their fingertips, finally reducing to a brilliant point.
Then, the purple-clothed figure tossed this point of light towards Cheng Dao.
As if concerned that Cheng Dao might not withstand the pressure of this point, they attached a protective power, similar to that of the heaven-piercing pathway, around the point of light. This allowed Cheng Dao to observe the specific details within the point of light without being affected by it.
Cheng Dao thanked the purple-clothed figure once more, then looked at the point of light in his hand.
After a moment...
Li Fan noticed his senior brother's body trembling uncontrollably.
Cold sweat streamed down his forehead as if he were under immense strain.
After a few breaths, Cheng Dao forced himself to look away. However, he still appeared drained, his face ashen.
Li Fan was astonished.
One must remember that Cheng Dao's true form was a spiritual stone from the edge of the mountains and seas. He had accompanied the Mound Guardian, observing the sea.
He could calmly accept even the scenery of mountains and seas. What could possibly be within this light sphere that caused Cheng Dao to lose such composure?
With a concerned expression, Li Fan inquired. However, Cheng Dao seemed unable to recover from the side effects of observing the light sphere. He simply handed the light sphere, named Dao Epoch Projection, to Li Fan, indicating for him to see for himself. Then, he closed his eyes to rest, speaking no further.
Seeing this, Li Fan's curiosity intensified.
With his divine sense on guard, he peered into the light sphere.
A touch of his hand, and it instantly exploded, occupying his entire divine sense, and indeed, the entire surrounding area.
Endless light and shadow, like flowing water, evolved in succession.
From absolute nothingness, where the Great Dao did not exist, to a chaotic void where the Dao was born and grew, then to the birth of the world and the manifestation of living beings. Then, living beings comprehended the Dao through themselves, and the Immortal Realm came into being.
Countless years flashed by rapidly.
Until finally, the Great Dao of all things withered, ushering in the end.
From the beginning to the end, all that occurred, all the spirits that were born, were condensed into this single point of light.
Furthermore, it was not merely a simple projection record.
Within the light and shadow, all the Great Daos, divine abilities, and spell fluctuations that had appeared throughout the countless years and countless heroes within this possibility's existence, from its birth to its destruction, were all replicated and integrated into the light sphere.
When the light sphere exploded and sought out its targets, it signaled facing a combined attack from all the countless heroes throughout countless years within this possibility's history, accumulated over the river of time!
Such a terrifying scene almost caused the light sphere in Li Fan's palm to slip from his grasp. The words "Return to Truth" were almost on the tip of his tongue.
A drop of cold sweat formed on his forehead as Li Fan withdrew from the Dao Epoch Projection within his mind.
The light sphere in his palm felt infinitely heavy.
For a moment, Li Fan had the illusion that he could not hold it tightly.
"Fortunately, this time Senior Zi Yi paved the way. Otherwise, if it were just the two of us, facing this Dao Epoch Projection, we would likely have met our end and perished on the spot."
Li Fan and Cheng Dao, who had already opened his eyes, exchanged a look. They both saw the shock in each other's eyes.
They never imagined that there would be such a treasure within the Guang Wu Star Sea.
Compared to this, their previous Dao Sword and Dao Saber were like fireflies against the moon.
"Fishing in the Dao Erasure is indeed a means of survival. To survive in the mountains and seas, aside from the True Immortals who risked everything in the final era, there are also those powerful beings who failed in transcending and attempted to traverse the mountains and seas, only to be swallowed by them."
"These individuals might have had their consciousness erased by the mountains and seas, but their physical bodies, and the treasures they carried, had a small chance of surviving. This Dao Epoch Projection must have come from such a source."
The purple-clothed figure first dismantled all the dams formed by the Heavenly Pillars, gathering all the terrified True Immortals within them. Then, they pressed their hands together in the center.
A new Heavenly Pillar, entwined with purple energy, was thus born.
The purple-clothed figure erected this Heavenly Pillar in its place. The roaring of Dao Erasure caused by the absence of a Heavenly Pillar finally ceased.
Li Fan sensed that even during the brief interval of the Heavenly Pillar's replacement, signs of Dao Erasure descending had appeared. However, the commotion was even less than what had occurred within the High Wall of the朔星海.
Clearly, the purple-clothed figure was a factor.
Just by standing there, they were already acting as countless Heavenly Pillars, resisting the Dao Erasure to a certain extent.
In the Guang Wu Star Sea, the middle-aged man in tattered clothes, staring at the Heavenly Pillar of Immortals before him, was lost in a daze.
The records of over a hundred thousand years had collapsed in an instant, almost crushing his will.
Facing the purple-clothed figure's inquiry, he did not reply.
However, after a moment of silence, the middle-aged man slowly regained his senses.
He said with a hoarse voice, "Senior is correct. It was a stroke of luck that we obtained a remnant shedding.
"This was supposed to be our fortune, but we did not expect..."
The purple-clothed figure interrupted the middle-aged man, "This is your fortune. That Dao Epoch Projection might be insignificant. However, that powerful expert's remnant shedding, perhaps even a new transcending expert. It's a pity you went down the wrong path."
"Taking the body as a teacher, you could have comprehended the Dao of past experts. But what did you do?"
The middle-aged man's expression was somewhat dazed. After a long while, he whispered, "Sent it back to Dao Erasure, to use it as a vessel. Firstly, to find other safe havens. Secondly, to collect other drifting treasures..."
The purple-clothed figure let out a snort and rebuked mercilessly, "Fools!"
The middle-aged man sighed, "It's not that we were unwilling to comprehend. It's that we could not."
"Remnants like mountains appeared before our eyes, yet we were like we were in the mountains, unable to see their true form."
"We tried for many years, yet it remained the same. Out of necessity, we finally gave up, seeking a new use for them."
The middle-aged man thought this explanation would elicit sympathy from the purple-clothed figure.
However, the purple-clothed figure merely nodded and said coldly, "Then you were even more foolish. Beyond hope."
The purple-clothed figure pointed at the man from the Guang Wu Star Sea. The man opened his mouth, wanting to say something more.
A moment later, he exploded like a bubble, turning into countless purple light projections.
They were absorbed by the surrounding starry sky.
A powerful being, at least at the realm of the Nameless True Immortal, was thus casually erased by the purple-clothed figure.
Li Fan and Cheng Dao couldn't help but feel a shiver run down their spines upon witnessing this.
"If not for the sake of the Mound Guardian, this purple-clothed figure would certainly not have been so accommodating."
The purple-clothed figure seemed to have done something trivial, quickly forgetting about the middle-aged man.
They strode to the very center of the original Heavenly Pillar embankment, staring ahead.
Their gaze seemed to transcend mountains, seas, and the mortal world.
Beyond the mortal world, something seemed to be facing the gaze of the figure in purple.
After a brief silence, ripples began to surge!
It was similar to the torrential tides that had previously caused the Collapse of the Star Sea of Guang Wu, but the disturbance was tens of thousands of times greater.
It was as if the utterly indifferent expression of the figure in purple had enraged the unknown entity within the Great Annihilation, compelling it to stir up monstrous waves and engulf the mortal world where the figure in purple resided.
The Star Sea of Guang Wu was on the brink of collapse.
Even the immense pillar of purple energy, formed by the unity of all immortals, struggled to withstand this cataclysm. Li Fan suspected that if the figure in purple were not standing there, the remaining vestiges of the Star Sea of Guang Wu, and even the entire Primordial Possibility, would have directly crumbled under this might.
"What… what is that on the other side? Could it be the rumored remnant of a powerful being, fished out of the Great Annihilation by the Star Sea of Guang Wu?" Li Fan exchanged a look with Cheng Dao, seeing the unconcealed astonishment in each other's eyes.
Yet, in the face of such earth-shattering events, the figure in purple remained unfazed. Discovering something, a faint, happy smile touched their lips.
"You two juniors, watch closely."
After saying this to Li Fan and Cheng Dao, the figure in purple vanished instantly.
The next moment, the tempestuous waves in the star sea subsided!
It wasn't that the source of the disturbance had been apprehended, but rather that a far greater tempest had arisen simultaneously. Like an absolute sovereign, it drew all minor disturbances in the star sea towards itself.
Li Fan surveyed their surroundings. The star-filled void was utterly silent; he found no trace of the figure in purple. The point where the two great disturbances met was, in fact, outside the Primordial Possibility!
A fine thread, like a path reaching the heavens, suddenly appeared overhead.
Through this rift, Li Fan vaguely perceived a magnificent scene of boundless mountains and seas stretching to the horizon.
Gazing from this vantage point was entirely different from the experience of crossing to the Infinite Sea through the Immortal Realm's Ascension Platform.
In the Infinite Sea, each drop of water carried the immense pressure of countless epochs condensed into time, making it impossible for Li Fan to truly comprehend the sights within. Even later, with the protection of the All-Becomes-True treasure, Li Fan could only glimpse endless fragments within the sea as he freely roamed, not the mountains and seas themselves.
However, now, through the slender thread created by the figure in purple, Li Fan finally beheld the panorama of mountains and seas as seen by a transcend ent being.
Even a mere corner of it left Li Fan stunned and lost in thought.
Even after experiencing countless reincarnations, possessing the ultimate treasure of Return to Truth, and having personally ventured into the Infinite Sea, Li Fan still felt an irrepressible sense of insignificance in the face of this continuous mountain and sea landscape.
"Is this… the Infinite Sea and the Mount of Above, transcending the mortal world?" Li Fan murmured to himself.
He could not fathom anything of it; his entire being was simply overwhelmed by this ineffable grandeur. There was no room in his mind for anything else.
In contrast to Li Fan, a wondrous phenomenon manifested around Cheng Dao. A crystalline white light emanated from his entire body, and behind him, the phantom of a rough stone vaguely appeared. Cheng Dao tilted his head towards the sky, as if reverting to his past when he, a spirit stone from the mountains and seas, gazed upon the sea.
Various profound fluctuations emanated from this spirit stone by the sea, seemingly resonating with the mountains and seas beyond the celestial canopy.
Li Fan was jolted from his trance by these fluctuations.
Upon careful contemplation, a sense of dissatisfaction arose within him: "We both witnessed a corner of the mountains and seas, yet I could not grasp anything, while Cheng Dao continuously gained enlightenment. The disparity…"
Li Fan's mind was now clear, but his gaze upon the mountains and seas still left his mind blank. The chasm between him and this vast landscape was simply too great. With the might of an ant, even if he beheld the mountains and seas, it would be as if he saw nothing.
If it were a lower-level mortal Dao, he would not have felt this way.
"It seems my current cultivation is sufficient for navigating the mortal world, but to traverse the mountains and seas, I still have a long way to go."
"Fortunately, my senior brother is not stingy. He doesn't intend to hoard his own insights," Li Fan mused to himself, observing the waves of enlightenment emanating from Cheng Dao.
This spirit stone from the mountains and seas was now like a mirror, reflecting the celestial scene that Li Fan could not otherwise perceive. It allowed Li Fan to gain insight through him.
After the thread tore open the celestial canopy and revealed the true mountains and seas, the immense disturbance from the Great Annihilation vanished.
While gaining enlightenment, Li Fan also attempted to locate the figures of the unknown entity and the figure in purple amidst the mountains and seas.
But given the boundless nature of the mountains and seas, even a powerful being like the figure in purple would be like an ant if they fell within. Tracing their movements was difficult.
"Watch closely, you two juniors…"
"Watch what?"
"Is it just these mountains and seas?"
Li Fan had a premonition that it was far more than that.
But his strength was insufficient; he could not see what the figure in purple was pointing to.
Cheng Dao, however, seemed to have discovered something, and the waves of enlightenment around him intensified.
"Junior brother, focus your will here!"
The deep bond Li Fan had painstakingly cultivated with Cheng Dao during this time proved instrumental at this crucial juncture.
Ultimately unwilling to let his junior brother miss this opportunity, Cheng Dao, while immersed in enlightenment, still called out a reminder.
Li Fan rejoiced and followed Cheng Dao's guidance.
In an instant, his vision seemed to pierce through the fine thread in the celestial canopy, leaping out of the mortal world and into the mountains and seas.
Vaguely, he could see the indistinct figure of the figure in purple standing tall.
Before the figure in purple was a flattened sphere, with countless fine threads emanating from its front and back, converging in the center.
A power identical to the pathway to the heavens enveloped both the figure in purple and the flattened sphere. These threads attempted to scatter from the sphere but were firmly restrained by the figure in purple.
Faintly, Li Fan could discern that the flattened sphere had once been humanoid, but it was now decaying and decomposed into threads.
"A remnant of a Transcendent expert who crossed the mountains and seas…"
Li Fan was not concerned with the battle between these two.
Instead, he was focused on what gradually appeared within the decaying remnant as it was suppressed and decomposed.
Around what was presumably the head, numerous fleeting images slowly revealed themselves.
To Li Fan's astonishment, the light and shadow hidden within the remnant's brain were actually depictions of the mountains and seas!
Even though the body was decaying and the soul dispersed, this image of mountains and seas remained intact.
"Perhaps this is the fundamental reason why the remnant could drift in the mountains and seas," Li Fan realized something.
But immediately after, the scene he glimpsed within this miniature landscape of mountains and seas made his spirit tremble once more.
The mountains and seas within the remnant's mind seemed no different from the mountains and seas Li Fan was currently witnessing.
But upon closer inspection, a solitary sail could be seen, traversing the mountains and seas!
Even the boundless, ancient, and vast atmosphere of the mountains and seas only caused the lone sail to fade slightly; it did not completely engulf it.
Li Fan instantly understood: "It is not that the image of mountains and seas made the remnant immortal. It is the lone sail in these mountains and seas!"
"This is…"
"The mortal crossing path of the expert in his lifetime?!" Li Fan stared intently at the solitary sail amidst the mountains and seas, and for some reason, a sense of familiarity welled up in his heart.
At the same moment, Return to Truth, which had been dormant for a long time, finally sent out faint waves of consciousness, further confirming Li Fan's judgment.
"Eternal Residual Will?!" Li Fan's heart skipped a beat.
More precisely, this solitary sail traversing the mountains and seas, in its fundamental nature, was perhaps the same as the eternities Li Fan had encountered before.
But undoubtedly, it was far more powerful than any he had absorbed previously. Even though it had ultimately failed to cross the mountains and seas, its ability to protect the remnant and allow it to exist peacefully amidst the merging tides of mountains and seas for tens of millions of years was enough to prove its extraordinary nature.
In comparison, the lingering thoughts of beings like True Yang and Su Bai seemed insignificant.
"But their essence is the same."
"It is not merely a projection of the Great Dao; it is a resonance of one's own will. This is the fundamental reliance for crossing the mountains and seas…"
"The mountains and seas are boundless, yet I am the boat!"
The figure in purple's earlier words echoed precisely in Li Fan's mind, like a bolt of lightning piercing the fog and illuminating the answer.
"If True Yang were fortunate enough to reach the realm of transcendence, then his method of crossing would be to use 'Not Inferior to Others' as his boat. If it were Su Bai, it would be to endure suffering through the path of 'Compassionate True Love'."
"In essence, these cultivators who could condense into 'Eternal Residual Wills' after death had already taken half a step out of their own path. They were seeds of transcendent beings! This has nothing to do with cultivation realm and seems to be solely related to one's temperament and will."
"However, to achieve transcendence, one's own path and cultivation realm are indispensable!"
"If one's cultivation is sufficient but one lacks a boat, one can only sigh at the boundless sea. And if the boat is formed but one's strength is insufficient, venturing into the mountains and seas would lead to only death."
Li Fan was shaken.
Indeed, this was a great fortuitous encounter.
Through the remnant of a powerful being, the figure in purple had practically illuminated the path to transcendence for Cheng Dao and Li Fan.
Perhaps Li Fan alone, through constant attempts and reflections, could eventually unravel this mystery. But the guidance from the figure in purple had directly saved them several cycles of reincarnation!
"The path to traversing the mountains and seas. No wonder Return to Truth always conveyed such longing desires when encountering it."
"Is Return to Truth absorbing these to simulate and deduce methods to resist the mountains and seas?" a bold thought emerged in Li Fan's mind.
As if sensing the presence of the figure in purple not far away, Return to Truth, after emitting faint fluctuations, quickly fell silent once more, offering no response to Li Fan's conjecture.
Beyond the mortal world, the figure in purple had already extracted all the lines outside the lone sail of mountains and seas. However, it did not absorb them itself but hurled them into the mountains and seas.
Without the support of the remnant used for crossing, these lines dissolved into the mountains and seas like ice in water, disappearing without even a ripple.
And the figure in purple, who had maintained the demeanor of a transcendent being since its appearance, now wore a rare look of solemnity before the lone sail of mountains and seas, mixed with a trace of genuine respect.
The lone sail, now slightly faded, seemed to sense the figure in purple's intent, emitting waves of seven-colored profound light in response.
The figure in purple, amidst the mountains and seas, once again displayed its Heaven-Piercing Great Dao technique. A fine thread instantly formed, spanning across the mountains and seas, heading towards an unknown destination.
The lone sail of mountains and seas, enveloped in seven-colored light, set sail along this path.
The figure in purple watched the lone sail depart. When it completely vanished from sight, it withdrew the Heaven-Piercing Great Dao.
Maintaining the pathway amidst the mountains and seas was clearly no small burden for the figure in purple. Its flowing robes fluttered as if moved by the wind. It was only when the blood-red mole on its brow, like a shining pearl, emitted waves of red light that its state stabilized.
After collecting the lone sail, the figure in purple did not return from the mountains and seas.
Before the thread of connection closed, it transmitted a message from afar: "My task is done. I have extended the path for you to cross for three days. Make of it what you will."
Then, as abruptly as it had appeared, it vanished without a trace.
As for the countless True Immortal purple talismans still scattered throughout the Star Sea of Guang Wu, their fate was of no concern.
Only Li Fan and Cheng Dao, still recovering from their shock, stood silently in the starry expanse.
After a long while.
As the fine thread beyond the celestial canopy gradually faded and the scene of mountains and seas disappeared, Cheng Dao reluctantly withdrew his gaze.
With the cessation of his enlightenment fluctuations, Li Fan's ingenious method of reflection also became invalid.
"Senior brother, where do you think that lone sail in the mountains and seas finally went…"
"Could it be… the Other Shore?" Li Fan asked softly, replaying what had just happened.
Cheng Dao's expression was solemn, and he remained silent for a long time.
However, he finally nodded: "It should be."
"That lone sail, seemingly the true intent of crossing mountains and seas condensed by the remnant in its lifetime. I wonder why that senior in purple poured so much effort into guiding this lone sail to the Other Shore, and for what purpose."
Li Fan merely sighed: "I never expected that merely taking the Dao Sword and Dao Saber casually back then would trigger so many consecutive events."
"Junior brother, there is no need for self-reproach. This is destiny. Without your casual act, how could we have obtained such a great fortuitous encounter?"
The "fortuitous encounter" Cheng Dao spoke of not only referred to the path to transcendence pointed out by the figure in purple but also to the Star Sea of Guang Wu, which had been completely scoured by the figure in purple.
Cheng Dao surveyed the vast ruins: "That pillar of purple energy should not be disturbed carelessly. As for the other True Immortal purple talismans, collecting them is fine."
"But we must be quick. The three days mentioned by Senior Purple Energy might not be the same as the three days we understand."
It had to be said that Cheng Dao's intuition was quite accurate.
In just one day, the crossing path connecting the Star Sea of Shuofeng to the Star Sea of Guang Wu had already begun to fade.
Fortunately, Li Fan and the others had finished their scavenging and did not linger, returning to the Star Sea of Shuofeng in advance.
Watching the path disappear and the darkness of the Great Annihilation reappear in the starry sky, they both felt as if they had experienced a dream.
"Fortunately, we had our master's protection, otherwise, our fate would likely not have been much better than these character True Immortals," Cheng Dao said with a sigh.
Li Fan wholeheartedly agreed, nodding silently.
Then, they laid out all their gains from this trip, arranging them in the starry expanse.
An amalgamation of thirteen varieties of foreign races, and three hundred and seventy-five characters transformed from True Immortals of the Star Sea of Guang Wu.
A treasure, a Dao Epoch Projection.
As for other scattered immortal treasures, they were not worth mentioning.
"With so many materials in hand, our star sector should be safe for a while," Li Fan said first.
His gaze, however, remained fixed on the Dao Epoch Projection bead.
Since the figure in purple had left, this treasure, which had been compressed to a single point of light, was now showing signs of expanding outwards.
Countless divine abilities and spell images were slowly seeping out from this point of light.
Though it was suppressed in an instant by Ziyi's hand, at this moment, facing the treasure of the Dao Epoch Projection showing signs of slight loss of control, Li Fan and Cheng Dao both had to treat it with utmost caution.
After all, it was a possibility, the sum of all divine abilities that had ever appeared from its birth to its demise. The power it unleashed was truly unimaginable. Even if this possibility might not have contained any expert like Gong Qiu Gong, and transcendent beings like the Three Sages of the Immortal Realm were not recorded within it.
However, this Dao Epoch Projection was still something that Li Fan and Cheng Dao, in their current state, could not resist. Even the entire High Wall - Star Sea of the North was like an untended fire in its presence.
They could only try their best to suppress it before it erupted.
Cheng Dao was the quickest to act, manifesting a vision of mountains and seas. Gale winds howled, squeezing the light and shadow inwards.
He also said with a bitter smile, "Senior Ziyi acts swiftly and decisively, arriving fast and leaving just as quickly, but she forgot this Projection Orb."
"Perhaps it's Senior's test," Li Fan cautiously retreated to a safe area, remotely using the Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice for auxiliary suppression.
The two fellow disciples worked together, and after wasting more than half a year, they barely managed to temporarily suppress the Dao Epoch Projection Orb.
Looking at the small point of light whose brilliance had receded, Cheng Dao showed a worried expression. "This is just treating the symptoms, not the root cause. Although we forcefully suppressed it this time, I think the next outburst will be even more powerful..."
"We two might not be able to withstand it."
Li Fan also nodded, "Though the treasure is good, it's also a hot potato."
During the half-year he spent sealing the Dao Epoch Projection Orb, Li Fan had benefited greatly. It was as if he was constantly experiencing countless Dao techniques firsthand. Even though most of them were dross to Li Fan, only one in ten thousand could be of some enlightenment. With such an extremely large base, this was still an unimaginable astronomical figure.
Li Fan even felt that even with an enhanced "Dao Derivation Art," it would take tens of thousands of years to deduce such a vast number of different divine abilities.
Li Fan accepted them all without refusal, converting them into sustenance for himself.
With a computational power comparable to the Mother Stone of Dao Dissolution, he could still manage systematically.
Facing such a gluttonous feast of numerous Dao techniques and divine abilities, Li Fan did not feel much excitement.
After Ziyi's guidance, his vision had already leaped beyond the mortal world, looking towards the mountains and seas.
For Li Fan, with the assistance of Return to Truth, reaching the requirement to traverse was almost a certainty.
Even if he were to hide within the High Wall forever after this, relying on the slow accumulation of time, he would eventually reach the realm of transcendence step by step.
The problem, however, lay in the method of constructing a boat.
The requirements for one's disposition were truly profound and mysterious. It was not something that could be achieved solely through the accumulation of quantity. If the conditions were not met, even cultivating for units of billions of years would not change the outcome.
If it's not possible, it's not possible.
Li Fan had once attempted to use Dao Xuanzi and Kou Hong as raw materials, simulating and altering their growth experiences, trying to create an Eternal Residual Will.
Naturally, it had failed without a doubt.
Now that Li Fan recalled the past, it seemed to be just a thin line away, but in reality, it was likely an insurmountable chasm.
Thinking of this, Li Fan almost envied those who could already condense an Eternal Residual Will.
"Seeds of transcendent experts..."
"It's a pity that cultivators with such talent are extremely rare. Throughout the history of the Xuanhuang Realm, there have only been a handful of them. There's not much for me to learn from."
"It seems, as Ziyi said, I must forge my own unique path."
Li Fan pondered, and for the first time, he felt a rare hint of indecision.
Now, an important problem lay before Li Fan.
Return to Truth, the transformation of truth and falsehood.
Was it his own path?
With the protection of "Illusion is True," as long as his cultivation level reached the requirement, he would likely be able to ignore all the risks between mountains and seas, and traverse freely.
It would be thousands of times easier and more comfortable than the methods of traversal used by those so-called transcendent experts.
Did this mean he no longer needed to worry about his own Dao path, and no longer needed to rely on "I alone construct the boat"?
From the power displayed by Return to Truth so far, it seemed to be the case.
But for some reason, Li Fan always felt an unsettling feeling.
As if once it involved the mountains and seas beyond the mortal world, his past unconditional and blind trust in Return to Truth naturally disappeared.
This matter was crucial to how Li Fan's future path would unfold, making him unusually lost.
More importantly, it seemed that apart from Return to Truth itself, no one else could provide him with an answer.
But Return to Truth, as if completely unaware of Li Fan's thoughts, remained silent.
Although it still stayed by Cheng Dao's side, discussing insights on the Dao.
Li Fan's thoughts were actually immersed in the relationship between Return to Truth and his own Dao path.
"Junior Brother, you seem troubled?" Even though Li Fan had disguised his emotions well, he couldn't hide it from Cheng Dao. Ever since he had seen the true face of the mountains and seas again and perceived the intent of traversal, Cheng Dao's cultivation seemed to have improved further.
Seeing that he had been discovered, Li Fan no longer concealed it. He asked, "Senior Brother, have you found a direction for your own path of traversal?"
He had expected Cheng Dao to be as lost as himself, but unexpectedly, he heard Cheng Dao say with great decisiveness, "I realized this not today. Ever since Master enlightened me, I have had the answer in my heart. Though the mountains and seas are difficult to traverse, I only need to follow Master's path."
"Since Master himself could traverse the mountains and seas leisurely and at ease, then I surely can too."
"It's not that simple..." Li Fan opened his mouth, wanting to refute.
But upon careful consideration, it seemed to be precisely the case. Moreover, this thought aligned perfectly with the name "Cheng Dao" (Journeying the Dao).
Li Fan revealed a thoughtful expression.
"Perhaps I was overthinking it."
"There's no need to be so conflicted."
"If I can't determine whether Return to Truth is my path of traversal, then I'll put it aside for now. Perhaps, I do rely on it too much."
"From today onwards, I will act as if I don't have this treasure and search for my own path of traversal, until the day I reach the realm of transcendence."
"If I succeed, of course it's good, but if I fail..."
"Return to Truth might be able to bail me out." The moment this thought arose, Li Fan ruthlessly strangled it.
"If I carry this kind of mindset, it will be difficult to forge my own path of traversal. Since I've decided, I must burn all my bridges." Li Fan thought of his own feature, "Eternal Samsara," and instantly had a preliminary idea.
However, it was not yet suitable to experiment in this life.
He would wait until the next life to create an environment most suitable for comprehending the Dao, and then attempt it.
The slight confusion in his heart gradually subsided.
Li Fan bowed to Cheng Dao, "Thank you, Senior Brother, for your guidance."
Cheng Dao waved his hand, "You figured it out on your own; it has nothing to do with me."
After this small interlude, their attention returned to the Dao Epoch Projection Orb.
"Senior Brother, I have a plan that might resolve its hidden dangers," Li Fan said.
"Oh?" Cheng Dao was overjoyed.
"The reason this Projection Orb is out of control is because the man from the Star Sea of Guang Wu, when releasing this treasure, had already prepared for mutual destruction. The divine abilities recorded within the Projection Orb were actually all detonated. However, he never expected that there would be an expert in the world who could easily suppress all these detonated divine abilities with his own strength."
"Senior Ziyi's move was to curb all the detonated divine abilities within the Projection Orb. However, Senior Ziyi has already departed, and the curbing power she left behind cannot last forever," Li Fan spoke eloquently.
"I naturally understand this principle," Cheng Dao nodded slowly.
"So the key lies in the divine abilities recorded within this treasure orb. Senior Brother, do you cherish this treasure?" Li Fan suddenly asked.
Cheng Dao gave a wry smile, "Junior Brother, what are you implying? Though this item is extraordinary..."
"But how can it compare to the Dao of traversing mountains and seas? Even with a thousand techniques, infinite Great Daos... can they traverse mountains and seas?"
"They all perished in the essence of Dao annihilation." Cheng Dao clearly had his own distinct understanding.
Li Fan smiled, "That's good. It's better to guide than to block. If we continue to forcefully suppress it, it will only be counterproductive. The subsequent outbursts might become even more violent. It's better to release the divine abilities recorded within the orb, albeit slowly."
Cheng Dao stroked his beard and pondered for a moment. Then he frowned, "However, there are simply too many divine abilities and spell techniques recorded in this Dao Epoch Projection Orb. Even if we release them to the maximum extent without affecting the surrounding starry sky, it will be difficult to fully vent the pressure before the Projection Orb finally erupts."
Li Fan did not answer directly, but pointed to the High Wall - Star Sea of the North, which was covered by boundless darkness and devoid of life.
"Senior Brother, do you find this starry sky a bit desolate? How does it compare to the prime of the Immortal Realm?"
"That's far from it," Cheng Dao was also a wise man and quickly understood.
He asked with some surprise, " Junior Brother, you mean to distribute the divine abilities and spell techniques from this Dao Epoch Orb to the living beings of the starry sky?"
"Exactly!" Li Fan clapped his hands and laughed.
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"Don't look at the current desolation of the starry sky. As long as the beings are given some time and a suitable environment, their numbers can increase limitlessly, making it easy to digest this Dao Epoch Projection Orb."
"Moreover, the divine abilities recorded within this Projection Orb can serve as a key to unlock their cultivation. As long as the number of beings is large enough, perhaps a few Nameless True Immortals can be created."
Cheng Dao stared at the Dao Epoch Projection Orb, clearly also tempted. "This ultimate treasure also contains numerous Great Daos of other possibilities. If absorbed by the starry sky below, it might compensate for its deficiencies."
"Moreover, we brothers can also use the eyes of the myriad beings in the starry sky to browse all the divine abilities within this Projection Orb. It's a win-win situation," Li Fan seconded with a smile.
...
The two carefully deliberated, and in a short while, they had decided on this "Returning Dao" plan that benefited all beings in the starry sky.
The key to the plan's success was a sufficient number of living beings.
This was not a difficult task for Li Fan and Cheng Dao.
Under the dominion of the The Dao Lattice, the desire of living beings to procreate, the probability of conception, the possibility of survival, and the growth rate had all increased severalfold.
The Xuanhuang Realm and the Primordial Immortal Realm within the High Wall were also decided by Li Fan with a single word.
And with the infinite energy supply from the Infinite Sea, even if there were more living beings, there would be no worry of resource scarcity.
The total number of beings in the High Wall - Star Sea of the North thus soared.
Sixty years passed, and when the total number of beings in the entire Abyssal Star Sea had increased nearly a hundred-thousandfold.
Li Fan and Cheng Dao finally slowed down slightly.
The "Returning Dao" plan was not initiated only now, but had been gradually launched over these sixty years.
With the birth of each living being, Li Fan and Cheng Dao would preside and manipulate, randomly allocating a ripple of the Great Dao's divine abilities from the Dao Epoch Projection Orb to fuse with this new life.
Under the protection of the two powerful cultivators, these ripples of divine abilities would not harm the fragile new life, but instead became their innate divine abilities.
Firmly imprinted in their divine souls, they also served as a guiding light as they grew.
Of course, the divine abilities and spell techniques recorded in the Dao Epoch Projection were of varying quality. The power of the innate divine abilities each being received also varied, which was unavoidable.
However, for Li Fan and Cheng Dao, it made no significant difference who received the divine abilities recorded in the treasure orb.
All the actions of these beings who participated in the Returning Dao plan were under the control of Li Fan and Cheng Dao.
Cheng Dao was not very familiar with this aspect.
Fortunately, Li Fan had ample experience from the Xuanhuang Realm, making him very adept at this task.
With the reinforcement of the Immortal Formation, even with the vast number of participating beings, there were no signs of loss of control.
"I didn't expect Junior Brother to have such profound attainments in formations," Cheng Dao praised, stroking his beard.
"It's just a minor art. It's just a detour from my past cultivation journey," Li Fan shook his head slightly.
"Junior Brother, there's no need to be modest. Who knows if formations cannot traverse mountains and seas?" Cheng Dao, however, was very serious.
"I recall that in the Immortal Realm, there was a formation called the 'Profound Origin Spirit Array.' It was a marvelous formation that even Master often praised. It is said that the expansion of the Immortal Realm's territory in Mount Shang owed no small part to this formation."
Cheng Dao's words immediately caught Li Fan's attention.
"Profound Origin Spirit Array..."
"I am familiar with a part of this formation. However, it does not seem to possess such power?" Li Fan asked tentatively, with a hint of doubt.
As he spoke, Li Fan also displayed five sets of formation diagrams he knew, including "Desolate Falling, Empty Chamber Blooming Flowers," to Cheng Dao.
Although Cheng Dao was not proficient in formations, worldly matters were generally inseparable from mountains and seas. After careful study, he could discern some mysteries.
"Individually, each formation appears to have limited power. However, when they fuse and overlap, the power they unleash increases a thousandfold."
"Just like the rapidly increasing number of beings in the starry sky during this period."
"Moreover, from my impression, the part you are missing from the 'Profound Origin Spirit Array' seems to be the more critical component."
Cheng Dao narrowed his eyes and displayed an image of the Profound Origin Spirit Array in operation, as he had seen it before.
This era seemed to be the very beginning of the Immortal Realm, when the mountains and seas were first connected.
The Immortal Realm was not as boundless and limitless as the legends claimed. One could even see its boundaries just by looking at the Dao-Bearing Spirit Stone.
Yet, as time flowed, the spirit stone remained a spirit stone, unchanged. However, one by one, small dots of varying luminescence emerged around the Immortal Realm, slowly expanding it.
The vision focused into each individual luminous dot.
First, a tremendous power stabilized the foundation of each dot, allowing it to stand tall within the Mount Shang, as if a solid foundation had been laid.
Then, strands of regular fluctuations emanated, and wherever they passed, life and order were born from the primordial, newly-formed Immortal Realm. These fluctuations traversed each luminous dot at an astonishing speed.
Thus, the scale of the Immortal Realm expanded exponentially.
Li Fan observed clearly, these fluctuations must be the [Profound Origin Spirit]!
Although the complete content of the [Profound Origin Spirit] was still unknown, sensing its aura through the five known formation diagrams was not difficult.
The world-creating power of this formation in the primordial mountains and seas matched Li Fan's initial expectations for the [Profound Origin Spirit]. It was meant to re-establish the elements of earth, fire, water, and wind, and to cleave the heavens and earth from the void!
"My initial understanding was fundamentally correct. I just didn't realize then that the Immortal Realm wasn't born from nothingness, but rather carved out from the mountains and seas..."
"While this Profound Origin Spirit is extraordinary, it cannot compare to the power of the mountains and seas. A supreme expert had to first lay the foundation within the mountains and seas before it could be fully utilized."
"To put it plainly, the Profound Origin Spirit was merely a convenient tool for the Three Sages to build the Immortal Realm. It only needed to connect the Immortal Realm to the mountains and seas initially, and the subsequent construction work could be directly handed over to the [Profound Origin Spirit]. Efficiency, stability, convenience, and labor-saving."
Li Fan pondered his own experience creating the Primordial Immortal Realm and then looked at the terrifying outward expansion of the Immortal Realm's luminous dots within Cheng Dao's memory, a sense of enlightenment filling his heart.
"That's right. Given the boundless nature of the Immortal Realm at that time, if every act of creation had to be personally undertaken by the Three Sages, wouldn't they have been utterly exhausted? The Profound Origin Spirit, at the very least, could save a large portion of mechanical and repetitive tasks."
"After the Three Sages ceased their involvement, they passed down the formation diagrams, instructing later generations to assist. This might be the reason the Great Formation was passed down in the Immortal Realm. However, as it involved the secrets of the Immortal Realm's construction, the most crucial few formation diagrams would not be known to ordinary True Immortals. Perhaps one would need to seek out the successive Governing Immortal Emperors..."
The power of the Profound Origin Spirit that Cheng Dao displayed to Li Fan far exceeded his expectations, reviving Li Fan's previously abandoned thought of restoring the formation diagrams.
"Cheng Dao is right. The power of the Profound Origin Spirit in forging the Immortal Realm and allowing it to stand stably within the mountains and seas, if condensed into a Dao path, would not be an unsuitable method for traversal. Although it might not be suitable for me, I will entrust it to the Dissolution Disc."
"Let it help me explore the path."
In an instant, many thoughts flashed through Li Fan's mind.
Since crossing the High Wall and connecting to the Infinite Sea, his strength had advanced by leaps and bounds. Many of the treasures he originally possessed had gradually become less useful.
This was the case for the Dissolution Disc, and the Heavenly Profound Mirror.
Perhaps they each had their unique aspects, but ultimately, they were just scattered among the countless Immortal Treasures of the Immortal Realm. Even after the baptism of time, they had become stronger than before.
But ultimately, they could not compare to the top-tier treasures of the past Immortal Realm.
Let alone the essence remnants like the Dao Sword and Dao Saber, which were salvaged from the Dao Erasure by the Guang Wu Star Sea, representing entire possibilities.
However, Li Fan had no intention of discarding these "worn-out wives."
After all, compared to Return to Truth, there was no fundamental difference between the Dissolution Disc, the Dao Sword and Dao Saber, or even the Dao Epoch Orb.
***
Cheng Dao, as an innate spirit stone beside the mountains and seas, truly possessed enviable comprehension in his Dao comprehension. Although he had never formally studied formations, through osmosis and his own observations, Cheng Dao's understanding of the Profound Origin Spirit Great Formation was not much inferior to Li Fan's.
Furthermore, Cheng Dao's vision was exceptionally high, having originated from the mountains and seas. Therefore, he could more accurately judge whether the [Formation Dao] could serve as a path for traversal.
After discussing formations further with Cheng Dao, Li Fan had to admit the correctness of his insights.
"Perhaps, in that Other Shore Great World, there are seniors who established themselves through formations," Li Fan said with a smile.
The sudden arrival of the purple-robed figure had, in a way, unveiled the mysteries of the mountains and seas, as well as the Other Shore, for Li Fan in advance.
The potential scenery made Li Fan's heart yearn uncontrollably.
Alas, his current strength was limited. Before he could find his own path of traversal, he would have to remain within the High Wall.
However, thanks to the [Dao Returning Plan] and the endless beings' analysis of the Dao Epoch Orb, Li Fan's comprehension of the Heavenly Dao principles had progressed by leaps and bounds.
In sixty years, the scale of the Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice had more than quadrupled, mirroring the increase in the number of beings within the High Wall - Star Sea of the North. It wasn't just about diversity.
With the infusion of Great Daos from other possibilities, the Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice had become increasingly stable.
Each Dao String was crystal clear and lustrous, almost comparable to the Heavenly Pillars that sealed True Immortals.
Coupled with the numerous purple talismans of True Immortals collected from the Guang Wu Star Sea, the High Wall - Star Sea of the North was now truly impregnable.
Even if the [Primordial] possibility were to be annihilated, it could still hold out for a considerable period.
However, despite such significant progress.
Li Fan still had no clue about how to traverse the mountains and seas.
Cheng Dao, since awakening his sentience, had been cultivating for tens of thousands of years. His memories could even trace back to the initial creation of the Immortal Realm. His progress in the last hundred years was comparable to that of the past ten thousand years. Cheng Dao was extremely satisfied and naturally did not feel anxious due to the slow progress.
But Li Fan was different.
Although he had reincarnated a hundred times, the actual time spent cultivating was not much.
Decades of diligent cultivation and enlightenment had yielded no tangible progress. Li Fan inevitably became a little impatient.
Although he quickly suppressed the unease in his heart, it did not escape Cheng Dao's observation.
Having experienced so much together as "brothers," sharing hardships, life and death, and prosperity.
The bond between Cheng Dao and Li Fan now was as the Dao of Return to Truth, extremely illusory yet seemingly real!
Seeing Cheng Dao's half-smiling expression, Li Fan stopped hiding his feelings and sighed, "The arrival of Senior Purple Robe, while resolving the hidden dangers of the Star Sea, may not be a good thing in the long run."
"I would have preferred to resolve all this myself. To see it, yet be unable to reach it; therein lies frustration."
Cheng Dao smiled, "To see a Sage and then yearn for it is human nature. If it's like this for you, how can I avoid it?"
"Senior brother seems much calmer than I am."
"It's only a matter of time, at most a few tens of thousands more years. Not worth mentioning," Cheng Dao said, stroking his beard nonchalantly.
"My aptitude is dull, and I am accustomed to exchanging time for cultivation. Whereas you, Brother Disciple, seem to have not used much time for cultivation, hence the numerous scattered thoughts in your heart..." Cheng Dao's words pierced the veil of secrecy.
Li Fan did not deny it and nodded.
If he had to wait for several tens of thousands more years to comprehend the path of traversing the mountains and seas...
Then, before that, Li Fan would definitely have to find ways to try some "unconventional methods."
Not necessarily doing it himself. Using others to test the reality of the path ahead was Li Fan's usual tactic. Doing it again, this time for the mountains and seas, would merely be treading old ground.
Perhaps Cheng Dao had vaguely discerned Li Fan's inner thoughts.
However, he did not say much.
Each person's specific circumstances were different, and their methods of facing difficulties would also vary. There was no absolute right or wrong in this matter.
As long as the destination was eventually reached, there was no difference.
This was the so-called "different paths leading to the same destination."
However, Cheng Dao ultimately feared that Li Fan, in his haste, might stray onto the wrong path and stumble in the final stage before traversing the mountains and seas. After much thought, Cheng Dao made up his mind.
"Previously, I attempted to contact Master again. However, just as Senior Purple Robe said, Master is not within the mortal world of mountains and seas. He did not reply."
"This profound method was personally passed down by Master. Before he left, he specifically instructed me not to pass it on lightly..."
Upon hearing this, Li Fan, looking at Cheng Dao's expression, had already guessed what he was about to say.
He was overjoyed.
He immediately performed a solemn bow of gratitude to Cheng Dao.
One must know that even the [Mound Guardian's Casual Notes], which Mound Guardian left behind, were not accompanied by such earnest instructions. He had merely sealed them away casually in the experimental space within the High Wall for any fated individual to find.
The value of a technique that even Mound Guardian was reluctant to personally impart was self-evident.
"However, Brother Disciple, you are not an outsider. One day, after meeting Master and formally entering the sect, Master will likely pass it down to you. But since Master is not here, I am passing on the Dao in his stead," Cheng Dao said solemnly first, explaining the reason.
After a moment of silence, he bowed remotely towards the heavens, paying homage to Mound Guardian.
Then, he turned to Li Fan and asked, "Brother Disciple, have you ever wondered how Master was able to sit and watch the sea, guarding the Immortal Realm for countless epochs?"
"You must know that when he was first assigned to monitor the anomalies in the mountains and seas, Master's strength was not particularly outstanding among the Immortals. Roughly within the normal Nameless Realm. To speak disrespectfully, he was probably not as strong as we are now."
"But for what reason could Master disregard the passage of time and the changes in the mountains and seas? Even as successive Immortal Emperors fell one after another, Master could always calmly sit and watch the sea?"
Cheng Dao's gaze was fervent as he stared at Li Fan.
"To say I had no doubts would be false. When I first heard the Mound Guardian's Casual Notes, besides being shocked by Master's vision and strength, my greatest doubt was Master's [Longevity]. But after much thought, there seemed to be no other reasonable explanation. I could only attribute it to Master's powerful strength," Li Fan replied.
"Longevity is the cause, not the effect. It is not because of strength that one has longevity, but because of longevity that one becomes strong," Cheng Dao said with a solemn expression, word by word.
Li Fan's heart trembled.
The word "Longevity" had been a long-held obsession in his heart. He had even embarked on the path of cultivation in the first place to achieve longevity and live freely and at ease.
Hearing Cheng Dao's words now, it seemed that Mound Guardian had achieved his current cultivation precisely because he had attained the creation of longevity. Under the immense shock, he quickly adopted a posture of attentive listening.
"Brother Disciple, although I am a spirit stone from the mountains and seas, I cannot be truly [Immortal]. I was by Master's side for too long. Before I awakened my sentience, I had already become riddled with cracks due to the encroachment of the mountains and seas, on the verge of shattering."
"Fortunately..."
Cheng Dao's face showed a look of reminiscing. "Fortunately, throughout the long ages, I was the only thing present beside Master."
"Perhaps because I was there for so long, it became a habit. In any case, Master could not bear to see me shatter and disappear into the mountains and seas. Thus, he enlightened me and passed down the profound method of [Longevity]."
"Upon receiving the art of longevity, my cracks were completely healed. From then on, I no longer had to fear the end of my life."
Li Fan's eyes showed an astonished expression. He had originally thought that Cheng Dao had survived from the initial creation of the Immortal Realm to the present solely due to his origin as a spirit stone from the mountains and seas.
He never expected that the fundamental reason was the great longevity method passed down by Mound Guardian!
"Brother Disciple, you must know that this art of longevity is extraordinary. Even within the mountains and seas, it is [unique]!"
Cheng Dao's expression was more solemn than ever. "Unique means it is like a fruit. Although many can partake in it, the total quantity remains unchanged."
"However, due to the special nature of [Longevity], even if thousands share it, everyone ultimately attains longevity."
"Therefore, Master was willing to pass this profound method down."
Li Fan listened with rapt attention, his heart stirred.
But Cheng Dao's description of [Longevity] made his heart flicker. He couldn't help but recall [Return to Truth].
The transformation between truth and falsehood represented by Return to Truth should also be unique to the mountains and seas.
Could there be some commonality between these two?
Before Li Fan could ponder further, Cheng Dao began to slowly narrate the profound art of longevity.
As if to prevent external scrutiny, as he imparted the teachings, he conjured up scenes of the mountains and seas.
Continuous mountains and seas surrounded them, and amidst the howling winds, all traces of Li Fan and Cheng Dao were completely concealed.
The gusting wind, however, could not drown out Cheng Dao's each and every profound word.
"Master took on the duty of guarding the mountains and seas until his lifespan's end, never leaving his post. Even when the Governing Immortal Emperor and the entire Immortal Realm had forgotten him, Master harbored no resentment. He fulfilled his duty diligently until the last moment of his life."
"Only on the day his lamp ran dry and his candle burned out did Master finally find release. He offered a final bow towards the Immortal Emperor's location. Then, he fell into the Infinite Sea..."
"Unexpectedly, his fate changed just like that!"
"Because he actively sought death, he was reborn after death!"
As Cheng Dao narrated, Li Fan seemed to see the scene at the bottom of the Infinite Sea before his eyes.
The sky was filled with water droplets, each representing the condensation of endless time.
"Was the Infinite Sea like this even in Mound Guardian's time?"
"What does this represent..."
Li Fan's mind was filled with confusion, but soon, a miraculous sight at the bottom of the Infinite Sea caught his attention.
A fragment of greenish-blue lay quietly in the sea.
The water droplets in the Infinite Sea were drawn to it, circling around it.
Even a single drop of this seawater could crush Li Fan's consciousness. Yet now, the swirling vortex that formed could not even shake the light emanating from the green fragment.
Normally, with the power displayed by the green fragment in the image, the aged Mound Guardian should have been absolutely unable to approach it.
In fact, it would be a huge question mark whether the Mound Guardian could even survive in the Infinite Sea at that time.
But perhaps it was the green fragment’s own choice, a predestined fate.
In any case, the Mound Guardian miraculously arrived beside the fragment unharmed.
The fragment shone brightly at the bottom of the Infinite Sea, forcibly stopping the turbulent whirlpools around it. This allowed the Mound Guardian to traverse the myriad obstacles and touch the green fragment.
Afterward, although the whirlpools had calmed down. They even roared more ferociously, but they could no longer harm the Mound Guardian, who was enveloped in vitality.
Regardless of the passage of time, the rise and fall of the Great Dao of the world, nothing could affect the Mound Guardian, who held "Longevity," in the slightest.
This was true longevity!
With this Dao, one was enough to traverse mountains and seas, and live eternally without worry.
His gray hair and beard turned black again, and the decay of old age left his body. Returning to his youth, the Mound Guardian walked slowly, emerging from the depths of the Infinite Sea as if walking on flat ground. Wherever he passed, a tangible green light condensed into a road that spanned mountains and seas.
Even with roaring mountains and seas, and raging storms, this road of longevity remained unfazed.
When the Mound Guardian returned from the Infinite Sea, the endless green light on the road of longevity disintegrated and scattered all over the sky.
Many of them were swallowed by the waves and entered the infinite possibilities gestated within the Infinite Sea. But the Mound Guardian did not care at all.
He returned to the familiar place by the Sea of Mountains and Seas, where he had guarded for most of his life. As usual, the Mound Guardian sat cross-legged, guarding the mound and watching the sea.
Just as before.
...
As Li Fan was immersed in the scene from the past, Cheng Dao's voice slowly drifted into his ears.
"Master is the true owner of [Longevity]. However, he had no intention of monopolizing it and was willing to share it with me. This is because of the infinite attribute of Longevity."
"Just like the infinity of mountains and seas, those who attain longevity can gain endless lifespan. Even if all the living beings in the world were divided, each person would still receive an infinite share."
"The method of becoming an immortal is to connect mountains and seas. And this miraculous method of longevity is to connect with longevity!"
"It is called: Mountains and seas carry all things, a lone star gives birth. Heaven and earth provide the beginning, all attain longevity. All realms are arranged like chess pieces, myriad spirits and divine souls. One touch of connection, seeking the Dao to the extreme. Thoughts will be responded to, what is desired will be achieved..."
Li Fan held his breath, his concentration unprecedented. He meticulously memorized every word Cheng Dao relayed, repeating and savoring it constantly.
On the surface, it seemed not just a mere description of a divine ability. It was like a poem, something the Mound Guardian composed and sang while guarding the mound by the Sea of Mountains and Seas.
The ancient, vicissitudinous voice crossed mountains and seas, penetrating time, and fell into Li Fan's ears at this moment.
Through the Mound Guardian's eyes, Li Fan seemed to see the changes of time in the boundless Sea of Mountains and Seas. The flow of time in the illusion felt as real as if it were actual. Li Fan could faintly sense its erosion on him.
But the song of the Mound Guardian's longevity firmly protected him, allowing Li Fan to escape the suffering of the passage of time.
Movement and stillness, destruction and life, annihilation and eternity...
The difference between these made Li Fan faintly grasp what longevity truly meant.
"The infinity of the sea. The power and momentum of mountains."
"And also Return to Truth, and Longevity."
"It seems that each of these supreme creations at the level of mountains and seas represents a unique supreme authority. Mount Shang can create true immortals in the world. And the Infinite Sea can cause the strength of true immortals to leap, granting them infinite attributes."
"My Return to Truth..."
"In an instant, I can subvert mountains and seas, returning to the past. When truth becomes false, and false becomes true, all things may be like a dream or an illusion, or they may become real with a single thought."
Li Fan could not help but recall his experiences using [Return to Truth]. Each enlightenment of the transformation between truth and falsehood was like the process of the former Sage Lords Lian Shan and Gui Hai, carving out mountains and seas, and creating the Immortal Realm.
"In essence, the principles are the same. Both are about creating a path from nothingness. It's just that the destinations reached by the paths of cultivation, longevity, and Return to Truth are different."
Li Fan combined his own experiences to ponder the longevity poem left by the Mound Guardian.
He was pleasantly surprised to find that perhaps the truth was as he had guessed. The principles of the three had many similarities. Having already traveled a significant distance on two paths, Li Fan was now entering the third great path. After a little thought, he found it familiar.
Thus, under Cheng Dao's stunned gaze, a sky-piercing green pillar erupted from Li Fan.
The vigorous life force it released was billions of times greater than the accumulation of the past nearly hundred years within the High Wall. In just a few breaths, it reversed life and death. Making the sea of darkness, which was originally dead and only covered by the Xuanhuang Realm and the Primordial Immortal Realm with life, no longer dim but full of light.
Any creature that glimpsed this green light would have its lifespan increased tenfold at least. And those fortunate enough to absorb the few scattered fragments of the green pillar after its collapse had become so-called "longevity species" in the mortal world, living as long as heaven and earth, and remaining unfading through myriad calamities.
As for Li Fan...
Although he appeared calm on the surface.
Staring at the Return to Truth panel, a colossal wave churned within his heart.
The countdown-like age numbers, which had been there before, had disappeared.
They were replaced by a very peculiar green symbol.
It looked like a broken corner of something, yet possessed complete characteristics of its own. Although this symbol seemed to be made of only a few strokes, Li Fan could not see it completely.
Just the thought of trying to see it clearly made him feel dizzy and disoriented, as if he had drunk for three days and three nights, his stomach and soul thoroughly turned upside down.
Li Fan was forced to suppress the urge to investigate further.
However, this discomfort was not what surprised Li Fan the most. What truly threw him into deep contemplation was the unstable, ever-changing state of the green symbol.
That's right, this green symbol of longevity did not appear permanently and fixedly on the Return to Truth panel. It only alternated with the original age numbers.
Which one was true?
And yet, neither was entirely true.
"Perhaps this is because the true owner of [Longevity] is not me. It is the Mound Guardian. I merely touched the threshold of longevity by way of a path left behind by the Mound Guardian's travels. Once the Mound Guardian chooses to close this path, I will also lose the ability of longevity."
"It's like the Primordial Bones, which followed me to sneak back to the anchor point. Although he also experienced the transformation of truth and falsehood, it was built on the foundation of my control over everything. In the next life, the Primordial Bones were refined into a Heavenly Pillar, and he did not truly obtain the great power of [Return to Truth]..."
"The Mound Guardian can share [Longevity] with anyone at will, but I cannot impart the divine ability of 'Truth into Falsehood' to anyone. This seems to indicate that he has complete mastery of the [Great Dao of Longevity], while I have not truly mastered Return to Truth."
...
In an instant, countless thoughts surged through Li Fan's mind, completely occupying his consciousness.
He didn't even have time to fully savor the true taste of longevity.
Immediately after, a sense of crisis inexplicably arose in Li Fan's heart.
The feeling of being spied upon by the Great Sage Jing Fen from that time reappeared. This time, although the feeling was weaker, the instinctive crisis that arose in his heart was no less than before.
Li Fan understood in his heart that as soon as he truly touched the Great Dao of Longevity through the miraculous method left by the Mound Guardian, even with the protection of "Illusion is True," he could not block the induction of the owner of the Great Dao of Longevity.
However, perhaps it was because the Mound Guardian himself was not in the Sea of Mountains and Seas. Although he sensed Li Fan, this abrupt intruder, the Mound Guardian did not immediately descend.
But Li Fan had a premonition. Once the Mound Guardian returned to the Sea of Mountains and Seas, the first thing he would likely do was to come to Li Fan. To examine the background of this person who suddenly attained longevity.
"It seems I cannot stay in this lifetime any longer," Li Fan sighed in his heart.
When he first began contemplating this song of longevity, Li Fan already had a premonition. His subsequent actions would inevitably alarm the Mound Guardian.
But he still did it anyway.
After all, the Great Dao of Longevity was within reach. How many people could resist such temptation?
Moreover, Li Fan had Return to Truth as a safety net, giving him the confidence to experience it once and then make a quick escape.
The Mound Guardian could return and descend at any moment. Li Fan, at this moment, felt like he was sitting on pins and needles.
However, he did not choose to leave immediately.
Instead, he seized this last moment to continue savoring the Great Dao of Longevity within himself.
"Actually, when I think about it carefully, there's nothing extraordinary."
"It's nothing more than the word [Longevity]. But because it is extremely simple, it is also extremely sacred. Just like [Return to Truth], which allows one to disregard all worldly matters between the transformations of truth and falsehood. This simple word [Longevity] can also disregard all worldly calamities."
"Although I do not possess the complete technique of longevity, I am still confident enough to drift above the Dao Erasure Tribulation without falling. Not to mention the owner of Longevity, the Mound Guardian."
In a sense, Li Fan, who had obtained the creation of longevity, had already met the conditions to become a transcendent powerhouse. However, it was a gift from someone else, not from his own cultivation.
If the Mound Guardian retracted his creation, or closed the path and stopped sharing it with others, Li Fan would instantly revert to his original state.
Even though he knew that the creation of longevity in his hands was temporary, Li Fan was unwilling to let go of it for the time being.
Just like the older one gets, the more one fears death. The true owner fears loss even more.
Holding something weighing ten thousand pounds, he was reluctant to let go.
Li Fan greedily seized the last moments to comprehend this Great Dao of Longevity.
He appeared calm, but Cheng Dao, who had transmitted the miraculous method to him, was far from calm.
As if his essence and spirit had been drained, Cheng Dao looked at Li Fan, who had suddenly attained the Dao, with a dazed expression, hesitating to speak several times.
Utterly dejected.
Even the nourishment of the creation of longevity could not dispel the decay that emanated from within him.
After a long while, Cheng Dao finally couldn't help but ask, "Junior Brother... have you comprehended it?"
Li Fan nodded slightly, "I still have to thank Senior Brother for your guidance. I have indeed gained some insight."
The last shred of hope in his heart was shattered. With Cheng Dao's unwavering belief, he couldn't help but be stunned and even felt self-pity: "I have walked this path for I don't know how many years, yet I have only caught a faint glimpse of true longevity."
"I thought Junior Brother has been unsettled recently, likely due to the lack of hope for transcendence and the worry for your life. Therefore, you transmitted the Dharma to me."
"I never expected..."
Cheng Dao gave three bitter smiles: "You, who just embarked on this path, not only surpassed me in an instant, but have even reached the destination?"
He looked blankly towards the sky, "Master. Is it your favoritism, or am I simply foolish?"
Although in this lifetime, the two were playing the roles of brothers, Cheng Dao's actions had left Li Fan with a very good impression.
Seeing his confusion at this moment, Li Fan, while comprehending the Great Dao of Longevity, did not forget to comfort him.
"Senior Brother need not be discouraged. In my opinion, walking this path too quickly is not necessarily a good thing."
"For some reason, I have a very good affinity with this path. I didn't take it step by step, but leaped directly from the start to the end. Although it was fast, it left no mark of my own. If one day, Master severs this path, I will instantly fall from the summit. I'm afraid not even a shred of the creation of longevity will remain."
"However, Senior Brother is different."
"Firstly, you have always cultivated the method of [Bearing the Dao]. Following step by step is perfectly in line with your Dao path. Secondly, this path was walked by you personally over your long years. It is filled with your footprints. Even if one day, Master severs the path, with the footprints you left behind, you can still retain some of the power of the creation of longevity to a certain extent. Not to the extent of coexisting with mountains and seas, but comparable to transcendence is not difficult."
...
Li Fan slowly exhorted.
At this moment, it was as if their roles had been reversed. Li Fan was the senior brother who had long since attained enlightenment, while Cheng Dao was the junior brother just stepping onto the path of cultivation.
Cheng Dao pondered for a long time before understanding that Li Fan's words were true.
He immediately felt much better.
However, the frustration in his heartcould not be dispelled in a short time. He couldn't help but mock himself, "In my opinion, Junior Brother is the true disciple of the Mound Guardian, while I am merely a boulder by the Sea of Mountains and Seas with some luck."
Li Fan smiled bitterly and did not reply further.
Despite his envy, Cheng Dao did not harbor any jealousy because of this.
A few days later, after adjusting his mindset, the atmosphere of their interactions returned to how it used to be.
Only now, it was often Li Fan who offered guidance, while Cheng Dao was the one who listened.
Cheng Dao did not feel ashamed or displeased because of this.
With Li Fan, a pioneer and someone who had already reached the destination, providing guidance, his comprehension of the creation of longevity also progressed by leaps and bounds.
Moreover, the foundation was far deeper than what Li Fan could compare.
Li Fan was not misled by his own astonishing performance of attaining enlightenment in one go.
He knew in his heart that his smooth enlightenment was absolutely inseparable from Return to Truth.
"Either, it was to give Return to Truth face."
"Or, it sensed the anomaly of me being the master of Return to Truth and deliberately allowed me passage to leave a mark."
"Regardless of the reason, my current situation is extremely dangerous."
Li Fan also glanced towards the sky.
The prickling sensation on my back had vanished, yet a shiver would still seize my heart without cause from time to time.
"Mastering the Great Dao at the Mountain and Sea level doesn't actually have much to do with actual combat power. Take me, for instance. Even with the supreme treasure [Return to Truth] in my grasp, before I fully comprehend the transformation between truth and falsehood, my strength is still inferior to a Transcended True Immortal."
"Though Guardian of the Mound's Domain holds Longevity, he hasn't reached a point where he can contend with the Mountain and Sea. Judging by the attitude implied in Sister Zi's earlier words, their strengths should be roughly equivalent..."
Li Fan mused, gazing at the Star Sea of the North - the High Wall's celestial expanse, which was vastly different from a hundred years ago. Ultimately, he decided against taking the risk.
"Once I further comprehend and experiment with the Great Dao of Longevity, I can return through Return to Truth."
"I've gained too much in this lifetime, and I'm already touching upon a bottleneck. I need to plan carefully for the path ahead."
Relying on the benefit of Return to Truth, Li Fan had already reached the end of the Great Dao of Longevity.
However, in the next life, Li Fan had no intention of inheriting the cultivation from this lifetime. With the anchor point set at one year, he wasn't sure where Guardian of the Mound was, or if he was within the mortal world of the Mountain and Sea. If he were to detect Li Fan, who had abruptly appeared on the Great Dao of Longevity...
If Return to Truth's cooldown were still active, Li Fan would be like a turtle in a jar.
"Return to Truth creates cultivation connections out of thin air, so cultivators like Faceless Immortal and Grand Master naturally wouldn't be qualified to detect it. But Guardian of the Mound, who jointly holds the Great Dao of Mountain and Sea, it's hard to say."
"No need to take that risk."
"Regardless, the fundamental reason for my strength increase in this lifetime lies mostly in my comprehension of the Great Dao. Even if I return to the Half-Immortal starting point, I can quickly regain my combat power."
Even though he had decided against inheriting his cultivation, Li Fan still intended to comprehend the Great Dao of Longevity during the remaining time. He would return to the starting point of comprehending [Longevity], tread the path again, and savor it carefully.
This was because Li Fan was paving the way for his next life.
If he chose not to inherit his cultivation after activating Return to Truth and returning to the anchor point of one year, it would be equivalent to severing Li Fan's connection with the Great Dao of Longevity.
But perhaps Li Fan could use the marks left in this lifetime to forge his own path of Longevity.
It wouldn't be Guardian of the Mound's Dao of Mountain and Sea. Li Fan had no intention of seeking to reach the heavens in a single step. As long as he could touch upon even a sliver of Longevity's essence, it would be enough.
"Guardian of the Mound's path to Longevity is enough to ignore the Tribulation of Dao Erasure. My path of Longevity only seeks to traverse the Mountain and Sea."
"Of course, this is merely the first step I've taken. In the future, I might integrate the transformation between truth and falsehood."
After learning about the mysterious connection between Mountain, Sea, and Stars, Mountain and Sea, Longevity, and Return to Truth, Li Fan had once fantasized about what would happen if he possessed all these divine abilities.
"To ascend to the True Immortal realm, with the power of Mountain and Sea bestowed upon me. To comprehend the transformation between truth and falsehood, and wield the supreme might of Return to Truth. If, at the same time, I could tread the path of Longevity..."
In a way, the current Li Fan had already merged the three.
However, each of them was greatly diluted.
He was still effectively in the Half-Immortal realm, and his connection to Mountain and Sea relied entirely on his clones. His comprehension of the transformation between truth and falsehood was only superficial. And his path to Longevity was merely a fleeting glance, lacking true understanding.
Yet, even so, Li Fan could still distinctly sense certain ineffable changes occurring within him.
The most concrete manifestation was the Projection Orb of the Dao Epoch. Before comprehending the Great Dao of Longevity, even with the help of the reflections of countless beings in the sea of stars, deciphering it was not without difficulty; it at least required some effort.
But now...
He understood it as soon as he looked at it, and knew it as soon as he saw it.
It was as if these myriad divine abilities in the realm of possibilities were something he had seen countless times before, and practiced countless times. Now, it was merely a return to the past. There was no need to go back and relearn; he only needed to recall.
Furthermore, this process of his body actively conforming to the Great Dao of All Heavens was accelerating.
To the point where, later on, he no longer needed the help of the beings in the sea of stars to comprehend. The Projection Orb of the Dao Epoch, entangled like countless fine threads, Li Fan could see the direction and specifics of every thread with a single glance.
Even unraveling them, reflecting them like a clear mirror, was a common occurrence.
What is talent?
This is it.
It even made Li Fan feel a sense of fear.
He wasn't overjoyed by these changes in his body. Instead, he felt as if he were gradually being swallowed by the Mountain and Sea.
While Bearing the Dao was not paying attention, Li Fan, at the fringe of the Star Sea, drew upon some of the power of Dao Erasure to test it.
Although he hadn't truly stepped in, standing near the waves of Dao Erasure, Li Fan no longer felt the fatal sense of crisis he had in the past.
If before, the feeling was like standing on the edge of a bottomless abyss, where a slight misstep would lead to utter annihilation, now it was like standing on the edge of an endless lake.
Even if he accidentally fell in, he could still struggle and barely return to shore. As long as he didn't seek death by venturing into the center of the lake, his life would not be in danger.
"Even, as time goes by, my swimming ability is getting better and better."
"Even if I do nothing, as long as I keep living like this, one day, I will be able to use myself as a boat to traverse the Mountain and Sea."
If an ordinary person received such an immense fortune, they would have been ecstatic. But Li Fan felt only endless unease in his heart.
The most bizarre thing was that Return to Truth seemed to be completely unaware of the changes happening to Li Fan's body. It even seemed to welcome these changes, remaining silent. Only once did it show a slight difference.
It was as if it wanted to speak but hesitated.
This made Li Fan feel even more uneasy.
After carefully contemplating Return to Truth's intentions, Li Fan realized that it should be because Return to Truth hadn't witnessed the changes resulting from the fusion of these three elements.
Hence, it was observing with curiosity.
As time passed, the feeling of being swallowed intensified.
Illusory visions began to appear in his mind without cause.
Li Fan was certain that these visions were not from his memories.
They were like various events that had occurred in the mortal world of the Mountain and Sea.
The visible manifestation was that Li Fan's physical body began to assimilate with the surrounding world.
The most obvious sign was that Bearing the Dao, intentionally or unintentionally, began to forget Li Fan.
Not long ago, he would often come to discuss his insights on the Great Dao of Longevity with Li Fan.
But gradually, he seemed to forget that he had such a junior brother.
Whenever he instinctively intended to act, a wave of confusion would wash over him, and for a moment, he couldn't recall what he had planned to do. Only when Li Fan appeared before him and he could barely recognize him would he recall.
What's more, Bearing the Dao himself didn't find anything strange about it.
If Bearing the Dao was like this, then other beings were even less remarkable.
As the creator of the Primordial Immortal Realm, the Heavenly Emperors and Heavenly Scars in this world had all forgotten Li Fan. The connection between this world, the Primordial Immortal Realm, and Li Fan had been severed.
It was as if the Primordial Immortal Realm had been born innately, with no connection to Li Fan whatsoever.
As the various imprints Li Fan had left behind in the mortal world as "Li Fan" gradually disappeared, he integrated further into the mortal world of the Mountain and Sea.
Not just limited to the realm of original possibilities.
Li Fan looked up at the sky. The originally solid sky seemed to have been split open by countless fine cracks. Through these cracks, he could glimpse the boundless and continuous scenery of mountains and seas.
And Li Fan, if he willed it, could step out into the Mountain and Sea at any moment!
The opportunity for transcendence was within reach.
A surge of desire instinctively arose in Li Fan's heart.
But the constant warnings from his spiritual sense held him back from taking that final step.
"I can't stay here any longer."
In a moment of clarity, Li Fan thought to himself.
The illusory feeling of being swallowed by the Mountain and Sea had caused Li Fan to misjudge the passage of time.
In his memory, only a few days had passed since he began receiving guidance from Bearing the Dao and comprehending the Great Dao of Longevity.
But before Li Fan decided to activate Return to Truth, he checked the situation in the Star Sea of the North and was horrified to discover that ten years had passed in the world!
Li Fan shook his head, trying to dispel the sense of temporal displacement caused by being swallowed by the Mountain and Sea.
After calming down, Li Fan silently recited, "Return to Truth!"
In the mortal world, everything seemed to freeze.
Li Fan waited for darkness to engulf him.
One breath, two breaths, three breaths...
However, the familiar darkness did not descend.
Like being doused with an ice-cold bucket of water in winter, Li Fan silently recited again, "Return to Truth!"
"Return to Truth!"
"Return to Truth!"
...
But Return to Truth seemed to have failed!
Or perhaps it had left him.
There was no reaction whatsoever.
Immense terror surged in Li Fan's heart, far surpassing the fear of being swallowed by the Mountain and Sea.
His face contorted, and Li Fan roared repeatedly.
It wasn't just in his mind, but a furious roar in reality.
Yet, he was as if forgotten by the mortal world; nothing and no one responded to him.
In despair, a surge of rage arose in his heart.
Li Fan activated his divine abilities, attempting to destroy the Star Sea in his frustration. But not only his techniques, but also his divine sense and physical body could no longer interact with reality.
He vanished from the mortal world, merging into the Mountain and Sea.
Li Fan didn't feel his body becoming transparent or fading.
Instead, he was slowly ceasing to exist in the world.
The cracks in the sky grew more numerous.
The next step seemed to be to be drawn in involuntarily, into the Mountain and Sea.
"Could this be my final fate?"
When he realized that no matter what he did, he couldn't alter his ultimate fate, Li Fan finally became calm.
He vaguely felt that something was amiss.
But he couldn't articulate precisely what was strange.
Only when half his body had already entered the rift, and Li Fan truly witnessed the magnificent Mountain and Sea beyond the mortal world, did he suddenly awaken.
Had Return to Truth truly left him?
If he lost Return to Truth, how could just the Great Dao of Longevity and the Great Dao of Mountain and Sea maintain this state of being swallowed by the Mountain and Sea?
He would have likely already broken free.
Only with the fusion of the three Great Daos could he naturally integrate into the Mountain and Sea. Others, even those who had transcended, or even the Three Sages, couldn't achieve this.
Simple logical reasoning made Li Fan suddenly realize.
"I haven't lost Return to Truth."
As if finding a final lifesaver, Li Fan's previously calm, indifferent eyes, devoid of any fluctuation, suddenly burst forth with a glimmer of hope.
"Based on Return to Truth's performance at the bottom of the Infinite Sea, and its active teaching of the Illusory True Method, it absolutely wouldn't want me to be discovered by the Mountain and Sea right now."
"If the fusion of the three Great Daos was merely out of Return to Truth's curiosity before, then there's no reason why it would remain indifferent now that I'm about to be completely swallowed by the Mountain and Sea."
Li Fan's thoughts raced faster and faster.
The blurred sense of time also returned to normal amidst his contemplation.
"So, it's not that Return to Truth isn't responding."
"It's that..."
"My connection with it has been severed."
"Or, it didn't hear my command for Return to Truth."
Understanding dawned in Li Fan's heart.
"As long as Return to Truth still exists, there is hope."
"If a cry goes unanswered, then kick down the door!"
Li Fan had completely entered the rift of the Mountain and Sea.
The light from the realm of original possibilities was vanishing as the rift closed.
After entering the Mountain and Sea, Li Fan felt that the process of being swallowed had slowed down.
But at the same time, countless images and scenes in his mind intensified like a rising storm.
It seemed as if the illusory scenes would materialize in the next moment.
Evolving from the Mountain and Sea.
From the bottom of the Infinite Sea, the summit of Mount Shang.
Even beyond the Mountain and Sea.
And outside the mortal world of the Mountain and Sea.
It seemed as if all of them had sensed the anomaly at Li Fan's location.
The Mountain and Sea roared and rumbled.
Perhaps in the next moment, Li Fan would be exposed to the beings of the Mountain and Sea.
But the more desperate the situation, the calmer Li Fan's heart became.
He quickly found the only way to save himself.
Self-destruction.
The accumulated energy from his cultivation within his body, as well as Li Fan's divine soul and will, were instantly ignited.
Then, without reservation, he exploded.
The foundation of Immortality, the Great Dao of Longevity.
All of it transformed into fuel for endless light.
Li Fan had never discovered before how much immense energy he contained within him.
After being instantly ignited, it could even isolate Dao Erasure and burn mountains and fill seas!
The first to be affected was the realm of original possibilities, whose rift had not yet completely closed.
Like an infinite sun, boundless light illuminated the initially dim starry sky.
The Star Sea of the North, the Primordial Immortal Realm.
Even the High Wall, the The Dao Lattice.
All of this melted away like ice and snow in the flame-like light.
The entire realm of original possibilities saw only a handful of people desperately holding on.
Starting from the realm of original possibilities, it was as if a fierce wildfire had ignited.
And it began to spread rapidly, at the speed of a visual shift.
Wherever Li Fan's gaze fell, it was engulfed in light.
The torrential burning fire, the blazing flames.
They obscured the external vision.
In the midst of boundless light, Li Fan gained a fleeting moment of respite.
In a final burst of brilliance, he entered his last moment of peak strength.
According to Li Fan's observations, the surrounding possibilities being burned did not truly disappear.
Instead, they transformed into illusions and returned to the Mountain and Sea.
Li Fan could even sense the images echoing in his mind in real-time.
"Mountain and Sea, the mortal world. What is their true relationship?"
"And beyond the Mountain and Sea..."
Reaching an extreme peak of power, he suddenly collapsed.
Li Fan's thoughts snapped. He could no longer think.
"In the end, I couldn't awaken Return to Truth."
This was Li Fan's last thought before losing consciousness.
After losing consciousness, the concept of time ceased to matter.
Whether billions of years or longer had passed, for the person involved, it was merely a difference between waking up and before.
Li Fan was awakened by the constantly flickering light symbols before him.
As if urging him for a long time, the light symbols flickered incessantly. Although the frequency of each flicker remained consistent, Li Fan instinctively perceived a sense of "urgency" from them.
This emotion even infected Li Fan, causing him to feel compelled to make a choice, even though his mind was still a blank slate.
Li Fan stared at the light symbols for a long time before finally understanding their meaning.
[This simulation has ended]
[You can choose one of the following options to retain:
1. One item you possessed in this simulation.
2. Your cultivation realm in this simulation.
3. The simulated memories of a person close to you in this simulation. This memory can be inherited by that person.
4. Forfeit the above choices and speed up the recharge progress.]
...
"Simulation..."
"Retain..."
Familiar yet foreign words seemed to awaken certain past memories in Li Fan. But just as he was about to recall something, Li Fan's head suddenly felt a sharp pain.
Countless images, as if finding an outlet, surged forth, instantly engulfing Li Fan.
His true memories vanished into the vast ocean, Li Fan let out a scream and fainted again.
"Don't worry, it's just the wind evil entering his brain. Drink this bowl of talisman water, and he will surely turn danger into safety. But to completely cure the symptoms, it requires continuous consumption. Shujuan, you must understand that many people in the village are waiting for this talisman water to save their lives. We were good friends when we were young. But providing you with one or two bowls for free is already doing my utmost. From now on, if you still want this talisman water..."
"It depends on your sincerity."
"Xiaoyue... Lord Li Wu, you can rest assured, even if I have to sell my pots and pans, I will save Fan'er."
...
In his daze, two chattering female voices occasionally echoed in Li Fan's ears.
Then Li Fan felt that he was forcibly fed a turbid liquid with a unique smell.
It was like something that had been brewing in a stinking ditch for more than ten years. As the liquid entered his stomach, a sense of nausea and vomiting surged to the crown of his head.
"Ugh."
Li Fan suddenly rolled over and vomited.
"Shujuan, look, didn't I say this talisman water is miraculous? You need to drink a few more bowls in time to fully recover..."
"Fan'er." A woman, disregarding the filth Li Fan had vomited, rushed up with extreme joy to check on him.
Li Fan, who had just woken up, had a chaotic mind and couldn't sort anything out. He only managed to grasp the essence of the nagging, somewhat sharp voice that wanted to force more of that turbid liquid down his throat. As if feeling that extremely pungent smell again, Li Fan was overcome with unbridled rage.
"Putting on a show!"
His voice was hoarse, cold, and cruel.
The two women in the room were startled.
Silence fell upon the small room. Li Fan instinctively reached out towards the witch-like woman, waving his hand in the air.
But as soon as he raised his hand, he felt a surge of weakness.
His stomach churned, and he couldn't help but vomit again.
"Shujuan, I think... your nephew's delusion might be quite serious. He needs to drink a few more bowls."
"Yes, yes, yes."
"How dare you!" Li Fan was furious upon hearing this.
But this body was truly at its weakest.
Even with all his efforts to struggle, he was easily subdued by the two peasant women, and had to humiliatingly drink bowl after bowl of talisman water.
...
One month later.
At the dinner table, Li Fan ate leisurely. The meal was not particularly lavish: vegetables, tofu, and a bowl of fish soup were all there was.
"Even though we've sold more than half of our land, your body is slowly getting better, isn't it?"
"I asked Scholar Qian in the village, and he said that you were afflicted by illness and invaded by wind evil, which caused various hallucinations. As long as you read more sage books, righteous energy will naturally arise in your heart, and the hallucinations will gradually disappear..."
Li Fan listened to the nagging of the woman beside him, occasionally nodding in agreement.
At the same time, he was sorting through the various images in his mind.
After the meal, Li Fan went out for his usual walk and exercise. He ignored everyone who greeted him. After walking for a while, he finally arrived at a quiet, deserted place.
Only then did Li Fan carefully look at the rapidly flickering light symbols before him.
"Simulation, inheritance."
"What does this mean?"
During this period, whenever he looked at these constantly flickering words, Li Fan seemed to sense their urgency. Even on several quiet nights, lying in bed, he found it difficult to fall asleep.
He wanted to just casually choose one.
However, his naturally cautious nature prevented him from making a hasty decision.
Li Fan had a premonition.
No matter which option he chose, it was unlikely to lead to a good outcome.
Li Fan felt a slight headache and decided to temporarily put it out of his mind.
Instead, he continued to sort through the chaotic memories in his head.
"Are these illusions real or fake?"
A month had passed, and Li Fan still hadn't figured this out.
The images in his memory came from different people, different times, and even different worlds.
They were bizarre and varied.
There were personal experiences from a first-person perspective, observations from a third-person perspective, and even macroscopic views from the heavens above.
It was truly difficult to discern reality from illusion.
"Perhaps... these are all real."
"These are all things I have experienced in what is called a 'simulation'."
Li Fan closed his eyes, forcefully suppressing the infinite illusions and distracting thoughts. He couldn't help but think this.
"If these are all my memories, then no matter what, I wouldn't be as frail as I am now."
"Therefore, something must have gone wrong during the simulation."
"Cultivation Realm..."
Li Fan couldn't help but stare at the second option given in the reminder.
During these days, Li Fan had discreetly inquired about it. Combined with the countless illusions in his mind, Li Fan was certain that only true cultivators were related to the term "cultivation realm."
"No matter what I experienced in the simulation, or what realm I reached, it would definitely be better than my current state. In that case, it seems there's no problem with choosing this option for inheritance."
"Flying through the air, escaping through the earth, eternal life."
At this thought, Li Fan's heart instinctively fluttered. It represented both a natural yearning and a sense of inexplicable fear.
But having not made a decision for so long, Li Fan wouldn't change his mind in an instant.
He compared the option of inheriting cultivation realm with the other choices.
"If it's just an item, it seems unlikely to help change my current predicament. Moreover, with my extremely frail body, I can barely hold chopsticks. Even if I obtained an immortal treasure, I probably wouldn't be able to use it," Li Fan shook his head inwardly.
"Choosing a close person, to inherit memories."
Li Fan pondered for a long time.
"The closest person... If that person inherits the memories from the simulation, seeing my current predicament, they should step forward to help."
As his attention focused on this option, dozens of different figures appeared in Li Fan's mind.
Li Fan scanned them one by one.
When his gaze lingered on an old man with white hair, he felt the most comfortable sensation instinctively. As for the others...
"They don't look like kind people."
"Could it be that I associated with these people during the simulation?" Li Fan felt a little incredulous.
He stared at the image of the old man for a long time.
Then Li Fan turned to the last option reminder: "Speed up recharge progress."
Based on his observations during this period, Li Fan roughly guessed that "recharge" was a necessary condition for initiating a simulation.
"In other words, I can perform another simulation."
...
Li Fan slowly opened his eyes in reality.
He had been in this quiet place outside the village for a long time. As dusk approached, Li Fan hurried back.
For the next period, he maintained his facade.
His body recovered, and he studied day and night without ceasing.
In reality, he was patiently waiting for the so-called recharge to complete.
Finally, one day, he felt an inexplicable sense. The simulation could be initiated again.
With a silent chant, Li Fan fell into darkness once more.
When he woke up again, he looked around and was taken aback.
It was the familiar room.
It seemed as if nothing had changed.
"Could it be that it was all just my delusion?" Li Fan's mind trembled, and his disappointment was unspeakable.
But he soon noticed that the room he was in was subtly different from what he knew.
"I clearly used more than half of this ink."
"And..."
Li Fan's heart stirred, and he quickly flipped through the books and papers on the table.
"That's right. It seems I've returned to about a month ago?"
To verify his suspicion, Li Fan rushed out to find his aunt. As expected, she looked significantly younger. Most of the gray hair on her head was gone.
"So this is what they call simulation!"
After being extremely excited, Li Fan quickly calmed down. Clearly, this body was already accustomed to it.
"To return to the past, to have the ability of foresight."
"Though the world is vast, I can go anywhere."
"However, I must be extremely careful. Be careful of the things that caused me severe injury in the simulation."
An indescribable aura emanated from the young Li Fan.
Although he had the face of a green scholar, there was an unfathomable majesty about him.
Twenty years later.
"Congratulations to the Grand Tutor!"
In the Grand Tutor's mansion, Li Fan raised his cup with a smile, looking at the officials of the Great Xuan.
Facing the flattery of the court officials, his mind drifted elsewhere.
"What exactly is cultivation like?"
In twenty years, he had risen from an insignificant scholar to become the Grand Tutor, wielding immense power.
But he had never forgotten that he was merely in a simulation.
Nor had he forgotten his purpose.
To find the truth behind his lost memories.
"I have sorted through things day and night all these years, and finally figured out some clues. However, without Immortal Spiritual Qi, I can't act on any of my plans, no matter how well-prepared I am!" Li Fan sighed inwardly.
After the wine flowed freely and the guests departed, Li Fan returned to his bedroom and quietly looked at his reflection in the mirror.
He touched his dense beard, then removed his disguise.
"Compared to twenty years ago, there's no change at all."
"Heh."
"Not even this body."
Li Fan stretched and moved his body.
Twenty years had passed, yet he felt no aging. In fact, he felt that as time flowed, his body had become younger and more vibrant.
He hadn't even officially embarked on the path of cultivation.
"As expected, I am no ordinary person."
To conceal his secret of immortality, Li Fan had wives and concubines but rarely shared a bed with them, citing heavy state affairs as an excuse. In fact, every few years, his concubines would die of illness.
Originally, people in the court used this as a point of discussion, spreading various rumors.
However, after he personally killed the previous emperor and supported the young crown prince to ascend the throne, there were no more discussions in the land.
Li Fan became the Grand Tutor not out of lust for power.
But to find a way to leave this world.
Although his body possessed the anomaly of longevity, in other aspects, he was no different from a mortal. It was somewhat difficult to travel the world and find the path of cultivation on his own.
However, after becoming Grand Tutor, he established a secret organization to seek immortals.
This would make his future actions much more convenient.
Another ten years later.
The young emperor gradually grew up, unwilling to be controlled by Li Fan as a puppet.
He secretly raised loyal retainers and strategized with officials.
He intended to assassinate Li Fan and reclaim his power.
The plan proceeded smoothly, and Li Fan, unaware, walked alone into the trap set by the emperor.
The young emperor watched as Li Fan was surrounded by dozens of elite guards and couldn't help but laugh triumphantly.
"Grand Tutor, Grand Tutor, back then, when you used the name of teaching me to read, you whipped me. Who knew today would come?"
However, in this desperate situation, Li Fan's expression remained completely unchanged.
"Today, what about today?" he asked with a smile.
"Facing death, you're still being stubborn," the young emperor sneered and waved his hand. The guards then drew their weapons and charged.
However, what happened next was far beyond his expectations.
As the blades struck, they only produced the sound of metal clashing against metal, unable to pierce even an inch.
And the seemingly frail Grand Tutor, with every punch he threw, could send the stout men he had personally selected flying, their flesh and blood exploding.
The encirclement trap had turned into a bloody Shura-like field.
When Li Fan, covered in blood, walked up to the young emperor.
The young emperor was already terrified stiff.
Li Fan frowned, looking at his blood-soaked clothes: "Without divine abilities or magic, relying only on a mortal body makes things inconvenient."
"However, I don't feel much discomfort despite this heavy scent of blood."
"It seems that during my previous simulations, what I experienced..."
"Grand Tutor, Grand Tutor, spare me!" The young emperor wailed, but Li Fan merely let out a cold snort and stomped him to death with a single foot.
...
If one emperor dies, another will rise.
In this world, only the Grand Tutor remained eternal and unchanging.
Time flowed by, and the Great Xuan Dynasty experienced several changes of succession. The world had grown accustomed to these frequent changes of dynasties.
On this day, it was the Grand Tutor's seventieth birthday.
Officials from all regions traveled thousands of miles to the capital to offer their congratulations.
All the wise and distinguished gathered at the Grand Tutor's mansion.
"Daoist Xuan, you are going too far!"
A furious roar suddenly echoed above Xuanjing.
Two figures streaked across the sky like shooting stars, stopping above the Imperial Capital.
The entire court, from the Grand Tutor downwards, turned ashen, with many crying out "Immortal Master!" and preparing to kneel.
Only Li Fan remained composed, a cold snort escaping his lips, "What's the panic!"
His decades of authority had ingrained his absolute, undeniable majesty into the hearts of all officials. With a single word, he forcefully suppressed their innate fear of immortals, bringing a temporary calm. Yet, as they gazed at the two immortal figures hovering above, undeniable fear still etched their faces. Within the Imperial Capital, mortals shivered in silence.
The conversation between the two cultivators continued, their voices like rolling thunder.
"Kou Hong! Do you think you can escape to this Immortal-Severing Land and I'll let you go? Hand over the cultivation method you obtained that day, or I will not rest until you are dead!"
"Ridiculous! It is precisely because I lacked a method to form a Golden Core that I have been trapped at the Foundation Establishment stage for nearly a hundred years! My life’s end is near, and I was about to turn to mere bones. Yet, I obtained this Golden Core cultivation method. How could I possibly hand it over to another!"
"This conversation… it seems rather familiar."
"It appears this is not my first time experiencing this," Li Fan thought, a sharp pain suddenly piercing his mind with Kou Hong and Dao Xuanzi’s booming dialogue. Images flashed rapidly through his consciousness.
"Not good!" As memories of the ensuing battle between the two, which would reduce the entire Imperial Capital to ruins, flooded his mind, Li Fan’s heart tightened. The unfolding events mirrored precisely what his memories had shown him.
"Kou Hong! What do you think you're doing!"
"Just seeking a sliver of hope for survival!" With Kou Hong’s maniacal laughter, a colossal crimson hydra slowly descended, its searing flames threatening to immolate everything around it. Witnessing this spectacle, all mortals within the Imperial Capital displayed expressions of terror and despair.
Everyone except Li Fan. His heart remained untouched, devoid of any disturbance. He even felt a strange sensation as he perceived the crimson flames from above.
"This… is this the Spirit Qi required for cultivation?" Li Fan attempted to sense it more intimately. The flow of time seemed to slow to an agonizing crawl. He could clearly see the massive flame hanging in the air, as if frozen, unmoving.
To his surprise, this so-called immortal Spirit Qi was not as difficult to comprehend as he had imagined. In fact, it felt rather accessible, and… obedient. It seemed as if with a mere thought, he could easily manipulate it.
Thus, Li Fan attempted to draw the violent, searing Spirit Qi from the sky into his body. It was as natural as water flowing downhill, impossibly smooth. The immense power that could have incinerated the Imperial Capital, upon entering Li Fan's body, was like a river merging into the ocean, causing not even a ripple. If not for the subtle changes he felt within his body, he might have thought his attempt at absorbing Spirit Qi had failed.
"The original attribute of the Spirit Qi, belonging to the flames, has also vanished. It seems to have returned to its pure state."
"Is this also a function of this body?"
The anomaly in the situation occurred so abruptly. Kou Hong’s ferocious expression was still frozen on his face, but his killing move, [Dao Law: Fire Dragon's Roar], inexplicably began to dissipate. Kou Hong grew increasingly bewildered.
"You poisoned me?" Kou Hong’s first assumption was that his good brother was responsible, and he asked with anger and disbelief.
"...What?" Dao Xuanzi, unable to comprehend Kou Hong’s thought process, was initially baffled.
As the two prepared to bicker further, a cold, supremely authoritative voice suddenly echoed from below.
"Insolent!"
"Get down here!"
A tremendous force struck them as if countless hands were dragging them downwards. Kou Hong and Dao Xuanzi, caught off guard, lost their ability to float and plummeted to the ground, crashing heavily.
*Boom!*
They carved two large pits into the stone streets of the Imperial Capital.
Silence descended upon the Imperial Capital. Who in the city didn't recognize that voice? Without time to even cherish their survival, everyone in the Imperial Capital was enveloped in an inexpressible shock.
Within the Grand Tutor's manor, the entire court, officials of all ranks, stared at Li Fan as if he were a ghost or a deity. One person, however, reacted the quickest. "The Grand Tutor is wise and mighty! Even immortals bow before him! With the Grand Tutor among us, it is truly the fortune of our Great Xuan!" He then prostrated himself. The other officials, hearing this, quickly followed suit, echoing his words and bowing.
Li Fan ignored them. He walked slowly towards the spot where the two cultivators had fallen. The moment he took his first step, the Imperial Capital still held faint traces of Spirit Qi. However, by the time Li Fan reached the disheveled Kou Hong and Dao Xuanzi, all the Spirit Qi had been absorbed by him.
"Why is there so little…" Li Fan grumbled, dissatisfied. He then turned his attention to the cultivators who had unceremoniously intruded. The two "immortal masters" were now surrounded by the Imperial Capital's guards. Though they possessed an innate fear of legendary immortal masters, they faithfully aimed their spears at the intruders. As Li Fan approached, they parted ways, clearing a path before any command was given.
Having exhausted all methods to escape the immense pressure suppressing them, Dao Xuanzi and Kou Hong felt a sense of despair. "This Immortal-Severing Land is truly perilous…" a wave of regret washed over them. Just then, Li Fan arrived before them. Though he exuded no Spirit Qi, his presence was so substantial it made the two cultivators tremble uncontrollably.
"From whence do you two hail?" Drawing closer, Li Fan could more clearly sense the spiritual power contained within them. He didn't act rashly, suppressing the stirring within him. He asked in a cold tone, "Reporting to Senior. We two hail from the Xuanhuang Realm, from Crimson Cloud Mountain… we accidentally entered this place. We have offended you greatly and beg for your understanding." Dao Xuanzi stammered, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
Through the ensuing exchange, Li Fan gained a general understanding of the Great Xuan's pocket world and the Xuanhuang Realm. Simultaneously, with each word Dao Xuanzi spoke, corresponding images flashed in Li Fan's mind: the Immortal-Severing Great Formation sealing the Great Xuan pocket world, located in the Eastern Abyss; the tomb of Yi Yin, a disciple of the Grand Origin Sect, secretly containing Dao-Melting Stones and the Grand Origin Boat; and the Step-Stopping Broken Stele in Qian Hong's tomb… To Li Fan’s surprise, when he heard the words "Crimson Cloud," an image of a crimson figure, standing in the heavens, wielding ethereal flames and burning the vast sea, suddenly appeared before him.
"Could it be that I was severely injured and lost my memory because of such a tribulation?" Li Fan mused, analyzing his instinctive emotions when the images appeared.
"Hmm… that's not right."
"Was I this powerful before? To be able to disregard such a tribulation?" Discovering this, Li Fan felt no joy but rather a growing unease. The further he had come before his amnesia, the more difficult the crisis that had wounded him must have been to face. "I must proceed with utmost caution, step by step."
…
"Allow me to borrow your Spirit Qi." When his interrogation concluded, Li Fan clasped his hands before Kou Hong and Dao Xuanzi. What happened next caused the Kou brothers to stare in horror. It was as if a void had appeared within their bodies, and all their Spirit Qi flowed uncontrollably into it. Within mere moments, they were completely emptied. Stripped of all Spirit Qi, they were no different from mortals! Yet, strangely, the two felt no pain or weakness as would be expected from normal cultivators who lost all their Spirit Qi. Instead, they felt incredibly energetic, as if they had broken through several major realms! They were even shocked to discover that their Foundation Establishment Oddities, influenced by this surge of vitality, were inexplicably crystallizing, showing signs of sublimation and transformation!
"This… what exactly…?" The brothers were filled with shock and confusion. They simultaneously suppressed all their inner thoughts. Though they had acted rashly, they were far from stupid. Based on the elder's displayed abilities, he was at least a Nascent Soul stage great cultivator!
"But after the Nascent Soul stage, one forms their own grotto-heaven. How could they lack Spirit Qi?"
"Could it be… before the Great Tribulation…" Kou Hong and Dao Xuanzi exchanged glances, believing they had found the truth.
"If Senior has any commands, please do not hesitate to ask. We will obey even unto death!" Kou Hong grunted.
Li Fan simply waved his hand, and the Imperial Capital guards swarmed forward, apprehending the two defenseless individuals and imprisoning them under strict guard. Li Fan did not return to his manor but remained seated above the dungeon. The moment he absorbed all the Spirit Qi from the two, a killing intent had briefly surged within Li Fan. However, upon faintly sensing that the two might have other uses, he changed his mind.
Li Fan sat in contemplation, trying to recall the feelings he had just experienced. "Eternal Residual Wills." "Only I as the boat… the method of crossing?" As these fragmented words surfaced in his mind, countless grand figures suddenly surged inwards.
*Pfft!*
Li Fan violently vomited a mouthful of blood. His head felt as if it had been repeatedly struck by a massive hammer, causing him to spin dizzily. It was not an illusion but a genuine critical injury to his brain. Along with crimson blood, viscous white tissue spewed from his orifices. Instantly, Li Fan was completely drenched in blood. Under normal circumstances, not only mortals but even cultivators would have died on the spot from such a severe wound. However, after forcefully severing his recall, Li Fan immediately recovered from his near-death state, not even feeling the slightest weakness. He reached up and wiped the blood from his face as if it were someone else's. With a thought, the blood covering his body transformed into wisps of green light and returned to his body. Not only did he recover completely, but Li Fan also felt that by hovering on the brink of death and drawing upon the greater life force within him, he had become even stronger.
"The life force of this body is incredibly formidable."
"But it's good nonetheless." Thinking of the Xuanhuang Realm beyond the Great Xuan pocket world, Li Fan's mind began to form plans.
Half a day later, a body completely identical to Li Fan’s appeared. This was not a clone ability but Li Fan's sheer, robust life force forcing the growth of additional limbs, a torso, and even a head. He then reassembled them into a human form. Strictly speaking, this body was merely a part of Li Fan. After a brief period of adaptation, Li Fan grew accustomed to experiencing two simultaneous perspectives. Gazing at his other self, even the creator himself felt a touch of disbelief.
"…Let him go and scout ahead. If he encounters danger, he can sever an arm and survive."
Seven days later, Li Fan, taking Kou Hong and Dao Xuanzi with him, flew out of the Imperial Capital and headed straight for the Eastern Abyss. He hadn't asked the two for instructions on flight; the moment he had absorbed Spirit Qi, his body naturally recalled the method. Even with two burdens in tow, he felt no strain. In a short time, they arrived outside the Abyss.
"Senior, ahead lies the Immortal-Severing Great Formation that seals the mortal pocket world. It is fraught with peril, and we ourselves…" Kou Hong’s words trailed off as Li Fan observed for a moment, frowned, and then, with them in tow, plunged directly downwards. The two brothers’ hearts leaped into their throats. Fortunately, their fears did not materialize. The restrictions within the Immortal-Severing Great Formation seemed to have become ineffective for some unknown reason. Even as they neared completion of their breakthrough, there was no reaction. The two could only remain speechless.
Breaking through the darkness, light reappeared, revealing the continuous Crimson Cloud Mountain range before the three of them. Kou Hong and Dao Xuanzi greedily absorbed the Spirit Qi of the heavens and earth. Upon finally recovering, they sighed in relief. They then looked towards Li Fan, only to find that for some reason, he had not absorbed Spirit Qi throughout the entire process. He had continuously stared at the sky, his gaze unfocused, as if contemplating something. The two dared not disturb him and waited obediently by his side.
…
"This place has transformed from mountains to sea. How many years has it been?" Li Fan asked after a long silence. The two were initially taken aback. Dao Xuanzi was the first to respond, "Approximately… twenty-odd years. How did Senior know?" Li Fan narrowed his eyes without answering. He merely sensed a crimson figure within his body. The moment he entered the Xuanhuang Realm, Li Fan had already detected the figure floating and standing in the sky, identical to the culprit who scorched mountains and boiled seas in his memories. However, when faced with such a formidable entity, Li Fan felt not fear but a strange sensation. Thus, with a mere thought, he had "captured" the crimson figure and sealed it within his body. From it, Li Fan felt he understood many principles of "flame." However, it seemed particularly shallow, laughable, like a child babbling.
"It seems my previous achievements were even greater than I anticipated," Li Fan slowly realized.
[Recommended Book: Transmigrate through history, mend historical regrets, save historical figures, and establish a divine dynasty of destiny.]
If the Great Dao condensed within this "Scarlet Flame" figure were quantifiable, it would be as insignificant as a blade of grass. In contrast, Li Fan's understanding was like a vast, towering, and boundless ancient tree.
Thus, as the great tree swayed its branches and leaves, it also caused the small grass beneath it to emulate.
To the beings of the Cloudy Sea, the Scarlet Flame, representing the re-destruction of their fate, was now easily subdued by Li Fan.
"The previous Burning Sea incident did not achieve the Xuanhuang Realm's objective, hence the repetition of past events."
"Like burning a forest to create farmland, it requires repeated effort to utterly destroy the foundation..."
Li Fan savored the mission the Scarlet Flame had received.
Concurrently, fragments of images flooded his mind. This time, the burden on his body was not as intense as when he had previously recalled matters related to 'crossing'. There was merely a slight throbbing in his mind, and after enduring it with all his might, he managed to comprehend most of the depicted scenes.
"So, this is a fragment of the Heavenly Law Realm that invaded the Xuanhuang Realm. No wonder the Azure Nether Heavenly Dao was determined to eradicate it completely. However, where is this Heavenly Law Realm? And why did it merge with the Xuanhuang Realm?"
Just as Li Fan was about to delve deeper, he felt another wave of indescribable pressure. He wisely chose to temporarily abandon his pursuit.
"It seems I'll have to wait until my strength increases further, until I can bear more."
"But it won't be long now. The growth speed of this body is even faster than I anticipated."
For the past fifty years, apart from the 'Longevity' effect and its accompanying benefits, Li Fan's body had shown no other peculiar traits. But ever since he genuinely came into contact with Spirit Qi not long ago, the potential of this longevity physique seemed to have been truly unlocked.
Li Fan could clearly feel his progress at all times.
It was important to note that he had not yet officially begun cultivating. He had only relied on his body's instinctual absorption, and yet he had reached this point. It was hard to imagine how much faster his progress would be once he formally embarked on the path of cultivation.
However, what slightly puzzled Li Fan at this moment was that the Spirit Qi absorbed by his body was not converted into corresponding spiritual power; instead, it vanished as if a mud ox had entered the sea, leaving no trace.
His instincts told him that this might not be a bad thing, so he did not delve into it for the time being.
...
Li Fan remained silent in his thoughts. Kou Hong and Dao Xuanzi, who had received no answer, also maintained their 'junior' demeanor. They continued, "More than twenty years ago, this place was still a vast ocean. Then, one day, disaster struck, and the ocean turned into a field.
"Fortunately, there was no irreparable damage to the terrain or space. Thanks to the efforts of the many cultivators from the Myriad Immortals Alliance, this area has become vibrant once again."
"The City Lord of Cloudy Sea Heavenly City is named He Zhenghao. This person was originally from Cloudy Sea and was fortunate enough to survive the catastrophe. When Cloudy Sea was rebuilt, he volunteered to take on the heavy responsibility. Upon the completion of the city, he was enfelfeffed for his contributions," Dao Xuanzi said, pointing to a massive city suspended in the sky not far away.
"I heard that He Zhenghao is indeed a man of character. It is said that he has quite a background. On the day of his inauguration ceremony, many influential figures from the Central Four Prefectures of the Myriad Immortals Alliance came to offer their congratulations. The scene..." Kou Hong marveled with a tsk-tsk.
Dao Xuanzi nodded slightly, "Given his background, he wouldn't need to come to such a remote place to be a City Lord. Perhaps it's because of his hometown that he did so. That's why the cultivators of Cloudy Sea admire him greatly. Furthermore, he has always been righteous and helpful. If you truly wish to join the Myriad Immortals Alliance, Senior, you might consider seeking him out."
On the way here, Li Fan had fabricated his background, claiming to be a descendant of cultivators who had migrated to a mortal pocket world in ancient times.
Although they didn't know how Li Fan had managed to cultivate to his current realm in a world with no Spirit Qi resources, Kou Hong and Dao Xuanzi dared not ask further.
In the cultivation world, there were countless divine abilities and techniques; perhaps he could inherit the cultivation of his ancestors?
"As for us, we are accustomed to freedom. We don't wish to join and be subject to such constraints," Kou Hong added.
As he listened to their account, a familiar face flashed through Li Fan's mind.
"He Zhenghao..."
"He gives me a friendly impression. He must be an acquaintance from before."
"Starting with him seems like a good idea," Li Fan felt confident.
The primary reason for planning to join the Myriad Immortals Alliance was not solely to find a method of cultivation. Most importantly, Li Fan recalled that the Myriad Immortals Alliance possessed a supreme treasure called the Heavenly Profound Mirror. And it seemed he had a deep connection with this treasure mirror.
He had even been its owner once!
"All transactions within the Myriad Immortals Alliance must be conducted through the Heavenly Profound Mirror. If I can gain its assistance, all resources will be obtainable and dispensable."
"It's just that I don't know if the method of controlling the mirror from my memory is still effective at this point in time."
Since it was only a part of his manifested body, he saw no harm in trying.
Having made his decision, Li Fan cast another glance at Kou Hong and Dao Xuanzi before heading to Cloudy Sea Heavenly City.
"What is the use of these two? I wonder."
"It's best to keep them as a contingency."
With this thought, Li Fan forced out a drop of his vital blood and flicked it towards their foreheads respectively.
The moment the vital blood left his body, it transformed into a crystal-clear and dazzling green light. The boundless vitality it exuded even caused the surrounding plants to grow at a visible speed.
It was unlike normal blood; it was more like some earth-shattering treasure.
Upon entering their bodies, Kou Hong and Dao Xuanzi both showed signs of rejuvenation and surging vitality. Not only did their old injuries and hidden ailments vanish, but the Foundation Establishment Oddities within them finally completed their metamorphosis under the glow of the light.
Kou Hong's Twisted Dragon Branch transformed from a withered dragon-like branch into a complete, flourishing tree. Its green leaves swayed in the light, resembling thousands of dragons dancing.
Dao Xuanzi's rusty sword, the Profound Xuan, shed all the rust accumulated over time, appearing as if newly forged. Besides its sharpness and longevity, something seemed to be gestating within the sword. One could tell at a glance that it was no ordinary item.
All these earth-shattering changes were bestowed by Li Fan.
After a moment of stunned silence, Kou Hong and Dao Xuanzi's eyes welled up with tears. They wanted to prostrate themselves before Li Fan to express their gratitude, but before they could react, Li Fan's figure had already vanished.
"When I was captured earlier, I thought that as brothers, our luck had run out and we would perish. I never expected our fortunes to turn. Not only did we escape calamity, but we also gained such a great fortune," Kou Hong's voice was choked with extreme emotion.
"When our cultivation reaches fruition in the future, we must repay this kindness," Dao Xuan secretly vowed.
Both brothers felt that the many misfortunes of their past lives had been swept away in this moment. It was as if they had truly defied fate; a mysterious and profound aura was born within them.
Influenced by this aura, the mindset of Kou Hong and Dao Xuanzi also underwent subtle changes. Although these changes were not yet very significant, they would become increasingly apparent as their realms and cultivation improved in the future.
"Not good, someone is coming," Kou Hong's expression suddenly changed, and he called out a warning.
"They must be attracted by the anomaly caused by the treasure Senior bestowed upon us. We absolutely cannot expose the fact that we possess such treasures. Let's retreat."
The two brothers, in perfect accord, instantly vanished into the Cloudy Mountain forest.
When cultivators arrived later, they remained completely ignorant of what had transpired there.
...
In the main chamber of the Prefecture Administration Hall in Cloudy Sea Heavenly City.
He Zhenghao looked at the list before him with a troubled expression.
"This makes no sense!"
"For this performance assessment, Cloudy Sea is ranked in the bottom ten again? If Xin Xin hadn't leaked this list to me in advance, I wouldn't believe it!"
After repeatedly and carefully scrutinizing the specific content of the list, He Zhenghao sighed, "It's not entirely the fault of me, the City Lord. The region of Cloudy Sea is very remote. It also suffered a great calamity previously, leading to a decline in talent. Over the years, not many people were willing to migrate here. Merely being able to barely manage the administrative affairs is fortunate enough. How can we compete with other prefectures?"
"Take this item, for example: the number of cultivators newly promoted to Soul Transformation realm and above in the prefecture... Your father is currently only at the Soul Transformation realm!"
"The support supplies promised by the Myriad Immortals Alliance Headquarters have also been delayed."
He Zhenghao seemed to have a belly full of grievances, chattering incessantly.
A light chuckle interrupted He Zhenghao's words, "Hehe, Dad, stop complaining. If all else fails, you can just go home and be a live-in son-in-law."
"You've been honest for a few years, but then you insisted on proving yourself. You secretly got this position of Cloudy Sea City Lord by pulling strings behind Mom's back. Now you know you're wrong?"
He Zhenghao looked a bit embarrassed and cleared his throat, saying sternly, "Xin Xin, what are you saying? Although there's a bit of competitive spirit involved, more importantly, it's for the better reconstruction of Cloudy Sea. After all, your father has spent almost his entire life here."
He Xinxin simply smiled and did not reply.
He Zhenghao frowned again, looking at the list in his hand, contemplating the next assessment plan.
Suddenly, he heard his daughter let out a startled exclamation.
He Zhenghao looked up abruptly, only to see a young man standing before him, seemingly out of nowhere.
"Hmm?"
He Zhenghao's heart gave a jolt of alarm.
This Prefecture Administration Hall was a crucial location in Cloudy Sea Heavenly City. Entering here from the outside involved numerous formations and restrictions. Even a cultivator at the Soul Transformation realm would not be able to enter so quietly.
Who is this person...?
A million thoughts flashed through his mind, but based on his intuition, He Zhenghao made the correct choice.
He assumed a respectful demeanor and asked softly, "Senior, may I know..."
Li Fan looked at He Zhenghao's face, which was exactly as he remembered, further confirming his guess. This person was likely reliable. At the very least, he was not the culprit behind Li Fan's severe injuries and amnesia.
"I wish to join the Myriad Immortals Alliance, and I require your recommendation," Li Fan said calmly.
"Ah?" He Zhenghao, hearing this, thought he had misheard and was momentarily stunned.
Such powerful cultivation, and yet not a member of the Myriad Immortals Alliance.
Could he be from the Five Elders Council?
He Zhenghao's expression changed drastically.
Without a moment's hesitation, he activated his strongest trump card.
"Heavenly Net and Earthly Net Great Formation!"
Threads that crisscrossed each other appeared in the main chamber of the Prefecture Administration Hall.
Scenes of continuous mountains and rivers were reproduced within them, converging above Li Fan's head as if to suppress him on the spot.
However, what left He Zhenghao utterly dumbfounded was that the young man before him merely glanced at it, and his meticulously crafted Heavenly Net and Earthly Net Great Formation, which he had spent decades perfecting, crumbled inch by inch, ceasing to exist.
"How is this possible?!"
Even with the reputation of being a live-in son-in-law of the Heng family, He Zhenghao had managed to establish a foothold in the Central Four Prefectures of the Myriad Immortals Alliance thanks to his exceptional talent in formations. He was not looked down upon by other cultivators.
Otherwise, even if he had pleaded tirelessly, no one would have maneuvered him into the position of Cloudy Sea City Lord.
Although it was a remote place, even a mosquito's leg was meat.
During his time as City Lord, He Zhenghao knew very well how much profit this position could yield.
It was just that He Zhenghao himself was upright and incorruptible.
Otherwise, Cloudy Sea Prefecture's performance in the assessment would have been even more dismal.
Li Fan looked at the stunned He Zhenghao and repeated, "If you don't recommend me, I will go elsewhere."
"I recall that recommending cultivators to join the alliance earns merit points, right?"
Seeing He Zhenghao still unresponsive after a long while, Li Fan frowned slightly.
However, as if remembering something, Li Fan added, "Oh. Right. Don't worry, I'm not from the Five Elders Council."
As if a switch had been flipped, He Zhenghao finally came to his senses after hearing this.
"Really..." Gathering his courage, he asked weakly again.
Li Fan raised an eyebrow, and He Zhenghao quickly said, "Recommendation, recommendation. Senior, rest assured, I'll handle everything."
Only then did Li Fan nod slightly.
He Zhenghao wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, forcing himself to calm down.
He organized his words and then slowly said, "For a cultivator of Senior's caliber to join the alliance, it requires reporting to the headquarters, and then passing the test of the Jade Heart-Questioning Platform..."
Li Fan waved his hand, "No need for such trouble. Just take me to see the Heavenly Profound Mirror here. Not the one displayed in the city square, but the one exclusively used by the City Lord, with higher authority."
He Zhenghao's expression froze instantly.
"This..."
He Zhenghao hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping himself several times.
Ultimately, after weighing the power disparity between them, he said euphemistically, "Senior. Joining the alliance requires following a fixed procedure. Even as the Lord of a prefecture, I cannot act recklessly..."
"If I say you can, then you can," Li Fan said directly.
Sensing the other party's hesitation, Li Fan extended his hand and showed He Zhenghao a scene in his palm.
Within it, shining like a tiny speck of light, was the Heavenly Net and Earthly Net Great Formation that He Zhenghao had previously deployed!
Li Fan gave a gentle puff, and this tiny speck of light split into two, then two into four, and four into eight.
In just a few breaths, it was like countless stars, filling Li Fan's palm.
He Zhenghao clearly felt the immense energy contained within each of these stars.
As his ultimate technique, He Zhenghao was very aware of the power of the Heavenly Net and Earthly Net Great Formation.
If they were to detonate simultaneously within Cloudy Sea Heavenly City...
The newly rebuilt Cloudy Sea would likely be reduced to ruins once again!
By unavoidable necessity, He Zhenghao could only agree to Li Fan's request.
"The Heavenly Profound Mirror is a supreme treasure of the Myriad Immortals Alliance. Even though the person before me is powerful, he likely cannot harm the precious mirror," He Zhenghao told himself, nervously leading Li Fan to a hidden chamber at the deepest part of the Prefecture Administration Hall. After activating the Heavenly Profound Mirror of Cloudy Sea Prefecture, he could only offer this consolation.
As faint light flickered, an ancient mirror materialized out of thin air.
"It is indeed very familiar," Li Fan mused, feeling the subtle sensation welling up in his heart once more. Without hesitation, he stepped forward, his form shattering and entering the mirror. He left behind a dumbfounded He Zhenghao.
Though Li Fan had entered the Heavenly Profound Mirror, the mirror did not detect his intrusion. Functions that were originally locked and required tiered permissions to unlock were now laid bare before Li Fan, categorized and accessible without obstruction. Li Fan could also freely seize any item, resource, divine ability, or cultivation technique within the Heavenly Profound Mirror. He could even utilize the mirror's deduction and calculation power. Moreover, as long as he did not cause any major anomalies, he would not be discovered by the Heavenly Profound Mirror. If it weren't for the many memories in his mind that were clearly superior to the Heavenly Profound Mirror, Li Fan would almost have believed he was the mirror's human vessel.
"I wonder if this is a convenience brought about by the previous simulations."
For the next three months, Li Fan resided within the Heavenly Profound Mirror, delving into countless ancient texts and secret records. Though the mirror contained a vast amount of information, Li Fan felt a sense of vague familiarity with everything he read. After a cursory glance, insights would spontaneously arise in his mind. The more he reminisced, the more the fragmented memories transformed into clear recollections. Li Fan's reading speed also increased. Eventually, he no longer needed to seek clarity within the Heavenly Profound Mirror.
"Cultivating to achieve Longevity by defying the principles of heaven and earth. This is clearly a flawed cultivation method, forever bound by that Doctrine Transmitter Heavenly Venerate. Perhaps I had a conflict with him in the past..."
Li Fan did not rush onto the path of cultivation. After three months of comprehensive reading, his body continued to strengthen daily, even without active cultivation.
"The Heavenly Venerates' methods seek power from external objects because the human body is frail. To defy heaven, one must borrow external forces to alter destiny."
"However, within my body, I already possess such powerful strength. Therefore, I do not need to practice the method of defying principles."
Li Fan sat cross-legged within the Heavenly Profound Mirror, his eyes closed in contemplation. With each inhale and exhale, specks of green light surged around him like a tide. They emanated from within his body but did not leave, instead accumulating around Li Fan, casting his silhouette in a faint green glow.
When Li Fan opened his eyes again, his physical appearance had not changed significantly. However, within his dantian, a resplendent starry sky had formed. The countless stars in this cosmos all shone with vibrant, life-giving green light.
"Strictly speaking, this is not cultivation, but rather cultivating true nature, unlocking my own potential."
"Although it is said that everyone has latent abilities within their bodies, the latent abilities of mortals are incomparable to the infinite life force contained within me. Even a single green dot in this sea of stars could perhaps rival the combined sum of millions of living beings," Li Fan observed the phenomenon in his dantian, lost in thought.
When one's own strength becomes sufficiently great, every movement can distort and alter the principles of heaven and earth. Furthermore, Li Fan instinctively sensed that his ability to tame the Xuanhuang Realm's principles was particularly prominent. Just like the Scarlet Flame that appeared at his whim.
As Li Fan nurtured an immeasurable sea of stars within him, the Scarlet Flame, the first to pledge allegiance, also reaped immense benefits. Infused with endless life force, its crimson hue turned a dazzling white. It lost its human form, becoming a pure, dancing flame.
"Transforming from human to a blazing flame may seem like a downgrade, but in reality, it has broken free from the constraints of the Xuanhuang Realm. Although it still belongs to the Heavenly and Earthly Essence of the Xuanhuang Realm, a portion of it now exists beyond this world."
"The Scarlet Flame is like this, and so am I." A sense of clarity washed over Li Fan.
"And all of this is caused by this vitality." Li Fan had indeed considered investigating the abnormalities within his body. However, his three-month accumulation solely from the Heavenly Profound Mirror was evidently insufficient to unravel the true mysteries of this vitality.
"Moreover, what I understand and see is only a partial view of the Heavenly Profound Mirror's connection to the outside world. A portion of the Heavenly Profound Mirror remains sealed. I can only glimpse it when I enter the Myriad Immortals Alliance headquarters, where the main body of the Heavenly Profound Mirror is located."
Li Fan had no intention of venturing into danger for the time being. Although the Xuanhuang Realm was not vast, it harbored countless secrets. Perhaps he could start by exploring other avenues to restore his knowledge. Li Fan searched through the endless illusions, looking for the most suitable destination for himself at the moment.
Suddenly, his thoughts halted before another ancient mirror. "Is this... the Boundless Mirror?"
"Sun Luoyao, Sun Luyuan..." Information about the Sun family emerged as well. "They are direct descendants of the lineage of Mirror Controllers. Approaching them will not be as easy as approaching He Zhenghao. While this current body of mine is strong, it is not yet capable of ignoring the attacks of multiple Dao Integration cultivators."
After pondering for a moment, Li Fan summoned He Zhenghao. He Zhenghao was currently a mix of exhilaration and trepidation. This was all due to the copious resources mysteriously allocated through the Heavenly Profound Mirror. Ten times the usual amount! He Zhenghao swore that the Myriad Immortals Alliance headquarters would never be so generous! However, he was unwilling to return what he had acquired. With wealth came confidence, and as he distributed the vast resources, those below him believed it was due to He Zhenghao's influence at the Myriad Immortals Alliance headquarters, leading to their genuine awe and respect for him. Now, He Zhenghao was finally experiencing the taste of truly being a ruler of a province. However, this beautiful dream was about to shatter as he was summoned by Li Fan.
"How do you feel about the tenfold increase in resource allocation this time?"
He Zhenghao trembled, daring not to answer. Li Fan said softly, "Don't be nervous. It's just a series of numbers. Let alone ten times, I can easily procure a hundred times that for you if you dare to think and ask for it."
He Zhenghao's body trembled more violently, and he repeatedly stated his fear. He knew that everything had a price, and now, it was time for the other party to collect their due.
"Whatever the senior commands, I will strive to fulfill it."
"The top ten in the political performance assessment each year are able to travel to the Myriad Immortals Alliance headquarters to receive rewards. Set this as your goal and work hard. The next assessment is in five years. Tell me whatever you need," Li Fan said calmly.
He Zhenghao's expression drastically changed upon hearing this. In this world, what thief would openly flaunt their stolen gains? After receiving benefits, one should quietly digest them. Why would they participate in a performance competition? An improvement in ranking required substantial resources. To jump from the bottom ten to the top ten... this was simply asking for trouble! However, Li Fan's gaze told He Zhenghao that if he agreed, he would only face death five years later if his transgression was discovered. If he refused, his death would be imminent.
With no other choice, He Zhenghao gritted his teeth and agreed. Since he was already on a treacherous path, He Zhenghao decided to go all out. With a wave of his hand, he submitted a requisition list for resources several times greater than his needs. To his surprise, Li Fan agreed without batting an eye. In less than half a day, mountains of resources began appearing within the Heavenly Profound Mirror of Cloudy Sea Prefecture, leaving He Zhenghao both astonished and terrified.
In addition to the resources needed for governance, Li Fan also provided a detailed list of all the grotto-heavens, large and small, in Cloudy Sea Prefecture and its surrounding regions, as well as information on the changes in heaven and earth. With this data, fostering hundreds of Nascent Soul and Soul Transformation cultivators within five years would be no problem. He Zhenghao wiped the cold sweat from his brow, yet he felt no excitement.
"Oh, right, there's one more thing."
"Take me there and place this in the Dao Origin State, anywhere underground," Li Fan said, handing over a sapling. It appeared to be an ordinary sapling, but inexplicably, He Zhenghao felt no life force emanating from it. He couldn't even sense its existence. Holding it in his hand, he felt nothing. It was only the faint green lights flickering from it intermittently that reminded him of its presence, nearly making him forget about it.
He Zhenghao dared not delay Li Fan's instructions and rushed to the Dao Origin State. Before long, he had entered the borders of Dao Origin. He found a blessed spot where earth veins converged and planted the sapling. Afterward, he returned.
Through a part of his body that had separated, Li Fan's mind began to receive images of the Dao Origin State. "This place seems to harbor great danger."
"However, for me, it also seems to be a source of immense nourishment."
"I will wait for the opportune moment to lay down some hidden arrangements first." The sapling took root in the earth veins and began to grow wildly without restriction. Its growth did not draw power from the earth veins; instead, it radiated its own vitality outwards. This was even after Li Fan had done his utmost to suppress the overflowing vitality.
The Xuanhuang Realm, outwardly appearing vibrant and full of life, was in reality, critically ill. The vitality brought by this sapling was like the refreshing fragrance of a spiritual elixir perceived at the brink of death. It immediately attracted the attention of certain Holy Spirits within the Xuanhuang Realm. The first to notice was an ancient tree with withered leaves and branches laden with cultivators! Merely an incense stick's time after the sapling was planted, Li Fan sensed that his body in the Dao Origin State seemed to have been targeted by someone. Furthermore, the aura emanating from that individual felt strangely familiar.
"Hmm?" A hunched, frenzied figure flashed through his mind. Moments later, Li Fan saw the owner of that figure appear before the sapling.
"Is this... If Wood?" The appearance of If Wood triggered Li Fan's lost memories. As If Wood greedily reached out towards the sapling, a cold glint flashed in Li Fan's eyes. "Since you desire it so much, I shall fulfill your wish."
Li Fan was unsure if he was yet a match for this ancient Azure Nether tree, having only cultivated from scratch for three months. However, since the other party wanted to devour a part of his body, he had a countermeasure. A verdant green light suddenly surged within Li Fan's previously black eyes. Like a volcanic eruption, endless vitality emerged from the sapling underground in the Dao Origin State and poured towards If Wood.
The aged If Wood, sensing this immense vitality, instinctively showed a look of joy. It absorbed it greedily. But when it discovered that no matter how much it absorbed, the vitality from the sapling never diminished. In fact, it seemed to grow even stronger. Its surprise quickly turned into terror. Its withered branches and leaves all regained their verdant hue. Affected by the external absorption of vitality, countless new buds began to grow on the sky-supporting If Wood. However... the number of these new buds was simply too many! They sprouted densely from every part of If Wood's body, occupying every available space. In just half a day, these new sprouts combined had become larger than the original If Wood! But they showed no signs of stopping their growth. Even after If Wood fled in panic from the sapling of unknown origin, boundless vitality continued to surge from the green essence it had absorbed. If Wood felt its body becoming heavier and heavier. Those new green branches were possessing it! But If Wood was helpless, unable to even find a way to resist. Strictly speaking, the new green branches were still a part of If Wood. However, they had grown too quickly, surpassing If Wood's control. Once they matured, they suppressed If Wood itself. It was akin to parts of the body being naturally eliminated during metabolism. If Wood felt in panic that it was about to die! Not from a lack of vitality, but from an abundance of it. This way of death, which it had never considered, still filled If Wood with immense dread. It desperately tried to do something, but found itself utterly powerless against this incomprehensible vitality.
"Where did that thing come from?" If Wood's heart was filled with confusion. Just as the new branches were about to completely devour If Wood, they suddenly stopped growing. Even so, If Wood had lost its dominant position as the ancient tree of the Xuanhuang Realm and could only linger in a remote corner of the ancient tree. A hazy green figure arrived in this space as the situation stabilized. Knowing that this being was the culprit that possessed it, If Wood stared fixedly but dared not make a sound.
The visitor was, of course, Li Fan. Possessing If Wood was easier than he had imagined. This was the first time Li Fan had unleashed his internal vitality to its fullest potential without restraint. Its immense potential stunned Li Fan, who had not yet fully recovered his memories. If Wood, who controlled the vitality of the Xuanhuang Realm, was insignificant compared to the vast vitality within him. If he hadn't realized something was amiss later and stopped in time, If Wood would likely no longer exist in this world. Li Fan glanced at his new body. Frowning slightly, he shook off all the cultivators' fruits that were hanging from it, causing them to fall to the ground. Although they were in a dormant state, they had still been affected by the overflowing vitality. Not only had their past injuries from constantly forming Golden Cores healed, but their life potential had also been further stimulated. In the future, achieving Nascent Soul or Soul Transformation would be as easy as drinking water, as long as resources were sufficient.
“Heaven and Earth have the If Wood, consuming life and longevity day and night.”
“Life and death have no reincarnation, only longevity remains…”
Li Fan slowly recited the lines that originally belonged to If Wood, while simultaneously reviewing its memories. If Wood itself, however, was hiding in a corner, trembling, allowing Li Fan to probe.
From the very beginning of the Xuanhuang Realm's birth until now, it was an unimaginably long period of time. Yet, viewed from Li Fan’s perspective as an observer, it only took a dozen breaths.
“This can be called longevity…” Li Fan shook his head slightly.
Perhaps due to its prolonged state of near-death, If Wood’s memories were not particularly clear. There were even large gaps missing in certain crucial parts. However, it was enough for Li Fan to gain a general understanding of the Xuanhuang Realm's affairs.
From If Wood's viewpoint, the Xuanhuang Realm could be roughly divided into three periods.
The first period, from the initial creation of the Xuanhuang Realm to the flourishing of immortal sects. During this time, the Xuanhuang Realm was still under the control of the Immortal Realm. If Wood even retained memories from when True Immortals used it to balance and regulate the lifespan of all living beings in the world.
The second period, from the destruction of the Immortal Realm to the sudden demise of the Heavenly Mysteries Sect. During this time, the Heavenly Mysteries King replaced the True Immortals and became the helmsman of the Xuanhuang Realm. The modifications imprinted on If Wood and the Xuanhuang Realm by him still remained on If Wood’s body.
The third period, from the reign of the Myriad Immortal Sects until now.
This was also a period of greatest freedom for If Wood. The Myriad Immortal Sects, and later the Myriad Immortals Alliance and the Doctrine Transmitter Heavenly Venerates, although they claimed to be able to manipulate If Wood and share its longevity fruits, were vastly different from the True Immortals and the Heavenly Mysteries King before them.
Their so-called control was merely the act of picking the fruit once it ripened. If the Xuanhuang Realm’s vitality could not sustain itself and produce fruit, they could do nothing.
However, the True Immortals and the Heavenly Mysteries King of the past could forcibly extract the life force of all beings in the Xuanhuang Realm through If Wood to condense the longevity fruits.
In essence, there was a fundamental difference between true manipulators of If Wood and its users.
This was also why, when If Wood became ill and its vitality withered, the Myriad Immortals Alliance stood by and did nothing. Both the Heavenly Physicians and the Dharma-Preachers had attempted to heal If Wood. Their unsuccessful attempts were due to a unique creation restriction within If Wood.
What the True Immortals created could naturally only be controlled by the True Immortals.
Furthermore, If Wood, and indeed the entire Xuanhuang Realm, were not merely ordinary creations of True Immortals.
Yet, at this moment, by using the vast life force within his own body to gain absolute control over If Wood, Li Fan, despite being in a mortal body, found the restrictions on If Wood to be incredibly familiar.
The theoretical chasm between immortals and mortals had not hindered him.
It was as if the dam had broken, and Li Fan, relying solely on instinct, completed the deciphering and intrusion of the restriction within a few breaths of detecting its presence.
The heavily guarded immortal restrictions seemed utterly undefended against the abundant verdure controlled by Li Fan!
It was only now that Li Fan not only became If Wood, but also its master.
The ancient, sky-supporting tree, newly revitalized, had its core filled with incredibly intricate patterns.
Although Li Fan seemed to be encountering them for the first time, after a brief observation, he could quickly understand the meaning of these patterns.
What caught Li Fan’s attention were the modification imprints likely left by the Heavenly Mysteries King.
Upon careful consideration, Li Fan began to grasp the Heavenly Mysteries King’s intention in modifying If Wood back then.
“To transform a portion of If Wood’s vitality and use it independently.”
“Perhaps this was also one of the important reasons for the imbalance of the Xuanhuang Realm’s vital flow and If Wood’s rapid decay. However, where did this transferred vitality go?”
Li Fan frowned slightly, his perspective rapidly shrinking as he surveyed the surroundings of If Wood.
Li Fan did not recall much about the Heavenly Mysteries King. However, whether it was his intuitive impression or what he saw from If Wood’s memories, this Heavenly Mysteries King was undoubtedly among the strongest in the entire history of the Xuanhuang Realm.
Even though he had disappeared for many years, Li Fan dared not be careless.
If Wood was spread throughout the Xuanhuang Realm.
Soon, Li Fan traced the separated vitality to one of its branches.
A seemingly ordinary Taoist temple.
In the temple, there was an elderly man, a young Taoist boy, and a pool of ordinary water.
The old man was of Nascent Soul cultivation, while the child did not seem to be human.
And finally…
“Hmm?”
Upon witnessing this scene, Li Fan felt an instinctive sense of crisis, not from the old man or the child, but from the pool of water?
The image of countless rare treasures shimmering like stars in the pool instantly flashed through Li Fan’s mind.
The scene concluded with a cat leaping up and devouring all the heavenly treasures.
“Fishing pond…”
“A cat?”
Li Fan instinctively stopped his advance. Even though his current body was merely a branch of If Wood controlled by him.
Without entering the Taoist temple, he merely observed from afar the destination of the vitality channeled from If Wood.
Upon careful discernment, Li Fan realized that the vitality was not directed towards the Taoist temple and the fishing pond, but rather into the nearby mountain forest.
The two were merely very close, and the fishing pond was too conspicuous, which caused Li Fan to make a misjudgment at first glance.
Putting the fishing pond aside for the moment, Li Fan traced the path of the vitality channeled from If Wood.
Upon entering the underground space here, he could not help but be astonished.
“This method of condensation…”
“Although the vitality has gathered in large quantities, it has not leaked out at all. If I were not If Wood myself, I would not have been able to detect the gathered vitality even standing on the ground!”
“This is worth learning from.”
Li Fan’s biggest problem now was the uncontrollable leakage of vitality. The vitality he contained was simply too immense. Even if only one-hundred-millionth of his aura leaked out, it would undoubtedly be an absolute treasure to any external observer. This situation became increasingly severe as Li Fan activated his vitality’s potential more strongly.
He had actually found a solution here, and thus began to observe it carefully.
Even with his knowledge from his lost memories, he only had a vague understanding of the arrangement here. This time, Li Fan was genuinely surprised.
This was the first time he had encountered such a situation since beginning his latest simulation.
“Although I cannot fully comprehend it, I can pinpoint the use of the vitality.”
Li Fan’s gaze swept left and right.
Within this underground space, a village was buried. Apart from some buildings and objects, there were no other living beings in the village. The guided vitality from If Wood, on one hand, maintained the village’s original state.
On the other hand, it was all concentrated in one particular house within the village.
“From the time the Heavenly Mysteries King made his modifications until now, the vitality continuously siphoned and introduced here has accumulated to an immense quantity. Although it is still far less than one ten-thousandth of mine, it is by no means the scale he currently exhibits.”
Li Fan’s heart tightened, and after a moment of contemplation, he slowly approached.
Standing outside for a moment, he finally pushed the door open.
Following the flow of vitality, he passed through the small courtyard and entered the central room of the back house.
Li Fan’s footsteps suddenly halted.
Because through the windows, he vaguely saw a figure standing inside!
However, by observing the vitality gathered by If Wood, Li Fan finally determined that the figure did not seem to be a living being in the usual sense.
After hesitating for a moment, Li Fan decided to investigate.
The reality was indeed as he had guessed.
The so-called “figure” in the room was merely a painting.
“Why does this painting need vitality to sustain it?” A flicker of doubt crossed Li Fan’s mind.
The painting depicted several young children playing together in the mountains. Among these children, a boy and a girl held hands. The moment Li Fan saw it, he felt a slight sense of familiarity.
“This is the Heavenly Mysteries King. And…”
As if another switch had been flipped, the images flashing through Li Fan's mind told him that the person next to the Heavenly Mysteries King was likely his childhood sweetheart.
Li Fan pressed his temples, recovering his brain, which had nearly exploded from the sudden influx of information. Only then did he continue to observe the painting before him.
Due to the massive infusion of vitality, the children in the painting seemed to have come alive.
Especially the Heavenly Mysteries King, his eyes looked forward, as if looking out of the painting!
In that instant, Li Fan almost had an illusion. The young Heavenly Mysteries King seemed to have glanced at him!
But as he continued to study it, Li Fan discovered that the young Heavenly Mysteries King was not the most special in this painting.
In an inconspicuous corner of the painting, outside a house in the village, lay a disheveled, long-haired man.
His face was obscured by his hair and beard, and its features could not be seen.
However, the man looked at the children playing outside the village from afar, with a strange expression.
On the man’s chest rested a palm-sized wooden boat.
Upon closer inspection, one could vaguely see the faces of the children playing outside the village through the boat’s window!
“What does this signify?”
This painting seemed to possess a peculiar magic, unconsciously drawing Li Fan’s attention.
No matter what he was pondering in his mind, his gaze eventually turned to the wooden boat.
The wooden boat seemed to have weathered the ravages of time, becoming battered and dilapidated. It looked as if it would shatter completely at any moment.
However, perhaps due to the nourishment of endless vitality, it could still barely maintain its original form.
As Li Fan watched, he seemed to glimpse his own reflection in the window of the wooden boat. Just as he couldn't resist reaching out to touch the wooden boat,
his eyes met his reflection.
Lost memories suddenly resurfaced, causing Li Fan to recoil as if shocked, pulling his hand back.
“The Heavenly Mysteries King appears to be the person with the greatest fortune in the history of the Xuanhuang Realm. He always turned misfortune into good luck and found blessings in disasters. Even when the Immortal Realm shattered and countless immortals perished, he managed to evade such calamities…”
Li Fan’s gaze focused on the wooden boat within the scroll: “Could this be the legendary 'Reverse Flow Boat'?”
“The Three Treasures of Escaping the World…”
Li Fan forcibly channeled vitality to heal his severe injuries, trying to recall more.
“However, this treasure was created only after the Immortal Realm shattered. How could it have appeared in the hands of the Heavenly Mysteries King before the tribulation descended?”
“Reverse flow… could it have truly succeeded?”
Li Fan couldn’t help but turn his gaze towards the disheveled man holding the wooden boat.
Ultimately, his current body was insufficient to support Li Fan in recovering all his memories.
Li Fan temporarily withdrew from his memories.
Looking at the painting before him, he displayed a rare expression of hesitation.
This painting had been nourished by If Wood’s vitality for ten thousand years.
And now that Li Fan had become the new If Wood, theoretically, he could use his vitality to seize the painting.
However, what followed would be the unknown danger hidden within the painting.
Li Fan did not act for the time being, contemplating the disappearance of the Heavenly Mysteries King.
“I seem to have investigated this matter before. The Heavenly Mysteries King should have disappeared last in the Fishing Pond.”
“As for whether he disappeared actively or passively…”
“Then this painting was intentionally left behind. Was it left for his childhood sweetheart? But in his communication, he did not mention this matter, clearly not wanting her to know.”
“If the Reverse Flow Boat is truly hidden within this painting, then why would the Heavenly Mysteries King abandon such a treasure that could alter destiny?”
…
These questions clearly could not be answered by mere thought.
In the Great Xuan pocket world, within the Grand Tutor's mansion in Xuanjing City, Li Fan’s main body attempted a test, ensuring he could return to the beginning of the simulation at any time. Feeling the immense vitality within himself, a gleam flashed in his eyes, and Li Fan made up his mind.
“Hesitating and being timid makes it difficult to achieve great things. It’s just a simulation anyway. Even if I am severely injured again, it will only result in memory loss and being force-fed some talisman water.”
“Rather than leaving this mystery as a potential threat, it’s better to uncover its true nature now!”
“Since vitality is useful to it, then give it! ”
…
In the Xuanhuang Realm, Li Fan also took action.
The astonishment in his eyes vanished. He slowly exhaled a breath of longevity, directing it towards the painting before him.
This strand of longevity qi was condensed by him since he began cultivating in this life.
Compared to the vitality bestowed upon Kou Hong, Dao Xuan Zi, and even used for the possession of If Wood, it was several orders of magnitude greater.
Even though Li Fan himself turned somewhat pale after releasing this condensed qi.
However, the effect was immediate.
Li Fan stared intently at the changes before him.
Facing the sudden influx of vitality, the painting accepted it without refusal. No matter how much vitality it received, it readily absorbed it.
Strands of green appeared within the painting.
As vitality poured in, the painting also changed accordingly.
Green grass and vibrant flowers began to grow abundantly on the land. In the sky, seven-colored auspicious clouds rolled in.
The wooden boat, which was originally close to decay and damage, was renewed at a visible rate.
The change in the wooden boat caught the attention of the disheveled man controlling it.
His hair and beard flew, revealing his hidden true features.
The man suddenly looked up, gazing out of the painting.
His eyes met Li Fan’s.
Then, Li Fan felt a dizzying sensation, and his consciousness was instantly drawn into the painting!
Before he could struggle, he felt a hand placed on his shoulder.
“Great Dao of Longevity?”
The disheveled man opposite him spoke with immense surprise.
In an instant, Li Fan found himself under another’s control. Though shocked inwardly, he didn’t falter in his response, asking, "Reverse Flow Boat?" His gaze fixed on the dilapidated man's shoulder, where a seemingly rejuvenated wooden boat rested.
The scruffy man chuckled, releasing Li Fan. "As expected of a disciple of the Mound Guardian. Your insight is indeed extraordinary." He admitted the treasure's identity plainly, making no attempt to conceal it.
"Mound Guardian..." Li Fan silently repeated the name, both familiar and strange, as a cascade of images flashed through his mind. Simultaneously, he sensed an anomaly within his own body. After entering this painting, his past memories, inexplicably, no longer inflicted that familiar, piercing pain in his skull. It felt as though he could freely explore his past. Yet, a deep, intuitive feeling warned him that doing so would lead to dire consequences. This profound contradiction made Li Fan instinctively aware of the peculiar nature of this place.
Seeing Li Fan's silence, the scruffy man did not grow angry. Instead, he changed the subject. "Since you are a disciple of the Mound Guardian, you likely wouldn't fancy my Reverse Flow Boat. Young brother, why have you come here?" He spoke with a touch of wistfulness, "I thought I would never see another soul again."
Li Fan noticed that although he had channeled a great deal of his vitality into the painting, it seemed to have been entirely absorbed by the Reverse Flow Boat. The scruffy man, as its owner, had received none of it, remaining as he was before. Though his appearance was that of a middle-aged man, an indescribable aura of death emanated from him. Li Fan, brimming with vitality, was acutely sensitive to such energies. During his silence, he became certain that the scruffy man before him was not a living being, but rather a projection of sorts.
However, Li Fan did not let his guard down. The strength the scruffy man had displayed was undeniably terrifying. Such pressure from a mere illusory projection made it difficult to imagine the scruffy man's true power at his peak.
"Great Dao of Longevity, disciple of the Mound Guardian." A faint recollection surfaced in Li Fan's mind, "Could this be the source of the boundless vitality within me?"
Since the other party hadn't shown overt hostility, Li Fan decided to press his luck and probe further. He stated in a deep voice, "Sir, you generalize too much. How can a disciple of the Mound Guardian not covet a treasure like the Reverse Flow Boat? Reversing time—what an incredible fortune and creation! It is certainly not inferior to the Great Dao of Longevity!"
The scruffy man looked at Li Fan with a hint of surprise. Then, as if recalling something, he smiled with understanding and directly tossed the wooden boat from his embrace. "The Mound Guardian must be trapped within the Eternal Void Realm, which is why he can only pass down his teachings and not his disciples. Here, you may examine the Reverse Flow Boat. See if it is as extraordinary as you imagine."
Since the man dared to throw it, Li Fan dared to catch it. With the supreme treasure, the Reverse Flow Boat, in his hand, he began to examine it closely. The treasure boat seemed to sense the endless vitality within Li Fan and greedily, like a black hole, attempted to draw it in. Li Fan did not completely cut off the flow of vitality but consciously continued to send thin streams of it, using these threads to sense the boat's interior. He had always been curious why this treasure, said to reverse time, required vitality to sustain itself, much like a living being.
The palm-sized wooden boat felt as heavy as a mountain. Li Fan exerted all his strength to barely hold it. His consciousness, following the flowing vitality, entered the treasure boat. He found that its internal condition was even worse than its exterior. Startling cracks covered every corner of the boat, like hideous scars. Through these fissures, Li Fan glimpsed countless scenes that did not belong to this time. He had a vague understanding that this was not a mere illusion. Falling into these rifts could very well lead to him being lost in the currents of time.
Avoiding these perilous rifts, Li Fan’s consciousness attempted to trace the flow of vitality within the entire Reverse Flow Boat. Affected by the pervasive temporal fissures, his perception of vitality became chaotic. After considerable effort, he finally understood.
"Reverse flow, reverse flow." Li Fan squatted down, gently stroking the boat's deck, lost in thought. "Though it appears to be an object, it is truly a living being. To flow against time, it must consume its own lifespan. Under the erosion of temporal forces, it expends thousands of times more. And besides vitality, it seems to consume other things..." Li Fan narrowed his eyes. From his perspective, the Reverse Flow Boat resembled an elder on the verge of death. Although it desperately tried to sustain itself by absorbing external vitality, it was barely managing to cling to life. Moreover, it was uncertain how long this borrowed life could last. If Li Fan hadn't arrived today and contributed a large surge of vitality, this astonishing immortal treasure might have silently disappeared along with this painting.
"How could this be?" Li Fan felt a wave of disappointment. He had found news of a treasure that could reverse time, only to discover it was severely overdrawn and nearly destroyed. After examining it several times and confirming the facts, Li Fan withdrew his consciousness from the Reverse Flow Boat.
"How is it? Even if I gave you this treasure boat, would you accept it? You'd likely drown in the river of time before reaching your target temporal node…" the scruffy man said with a half-smile. Unexpectedly, Li Fan didn't play along as expected and directly replied, "Yes. Of course, I will take it."
"Even a nearly damaged Reverse Flow Boat represents a chance at a desperate survival. Even if the hope of success is slim, when faced with utter despair, it is the only spark of life," Li Fan stated with a solemn expression.
The scruffy man paused, his smile slowly fading. After a long silence, he eventually spoke with a hint of melancholy, "What you say is not entirely wrong. If Xuan Yuanhong had possessed such resolve back then, he wouldn't have left the Reverse Flow Boat here."
Li Fan heard the familiar name and immediately followed up, "Xuan Yuanhong... is he the Heavenly Mysteries King of the Xuanhuang Realm? Did his past achievements owe something to this Reverse Flow Boat?"
The scruffy man's eyes revealed a hint of reminiscence. He shook his head slightly, "In my opinion, Xuan Yuanhong's ascent was partly due to luck, partly due to his own character and effort. As for the remaining part, the Reverse Flow Boat only accounted for half. The other half..." He glanced beyond the painting. "The Mountain Sea Fishery played no small role."
"Mountain Sea Fishery?" Li Fan was initially startled, then realized the other was referring to the fishing pond. "However, why is it named 'Mountain Sea'? What is the meaning?"
In a trance, images of an endless ocean and rolling mountains appeared in Li Fan's mind, accompanied by intense light and heat. It was a vision of countless possibilities dissolving into blazing light. It seemed he was one step closer to fully recovering his memories.
At this critical juncture, the scruffy man placed a palm on Li Fan's shoulder, pulling him back from his reverie to reality. Li Fan suddenly realized his perilous situation. In the Xuanhuang Realm, his clone's head had exploded, and in the Great Xuan pocket world, his main body was also disintegrating from top to bottom, affected by the shock of the mountain sea phenomenon. Even the "Great Dao of Longevity" within him couldn't halt this dissipation. If the scruffy man hadn't awakened him in time, Li Fan would have soon become a mere phantom as well.
"Your condition... seems somewhat unusual?" the scruffy man observed Li Fan with a mixture of surprise and uncertainty.
Li Fan cupped his hands. "Senior's discerning eye is indeed sharp. To be frank, I seem to have made a mistake during my cultivation. Most of my past memories have vanished. I can only recall fragments, and my body suffers severe backlash. I have painstakingly cultivated from a mortal to my current state, relying entirely on instinct and the help of the Great Dao of Longevity within me. As for what you mentioned about the Mound Guardian..."
"I do have some impression of him, and also some vague images," Li Fan said, presenting a solitary figure of the Mound Guardian gazing at the sea to the scruffy man.
Upon seeing the Mound Guardian, the scruffy man's expression immediately turned solemn, showing his respect. He then observed Li Fan closely before slowly saying, "The Great Dao of Longevity within you is indeed wielded by the Mound Guardian. With the Mound Guardian present, there is no room for falsehood."
"However, regarding the Great Dao of the Mountain Sea, I was fortunate enough to hear some explanations from the Mound Guardian back then. My knowledge of its specifics is limited. I cannot help you much. But do not worry too much. With the protection of the Great Dao of Longevity, you will be safe even if this realm crumbles." There was a hint of envy in the scruffy man's tone.
Li Fan nodded. "Thank you for your guidance, Senior. By the way, I have not yet learned your name?"
The scruffy man waved his hand. "A dead man's name is like smoke in the past. Why mention it again?"
Li Fan replied, "When I one day recover my memories and return to my Master's side, I will certainly explain today's events. Although Senior has perished, your phantom still exists in this world. With Master's divine abilities, it is not impossible for him to intervene and bring about your rebirth."
The scruffy man seemed to have lost all hope for this. However, after a moment, as if recalling something, he changed his mind. "I am the Heavenly Emperor of the Immortal Realm. I ruled for a thousand years, undisturbed, and then I retreated. When the Dao Erasure descended and intensified, I secretly sought a method of salvation. This Kōroka Dojo was built under my direction." The scruffy man spoke calmly.
*Hidden Emperor of the Immortal Realm, Kōroka Dojo, Dao Erasure Tribulation...* Each key phrase triggered substantial recollections in Li Fan's mind. It took quite some time for him to recover from his severe injuries. Li Fan now looked at the scruffy man with a different expression.
"Since Senior was once a ruling Immortal Emperor of the Immortal Realm, you must have attained a profound level of cultivation. Why did you fall into your current state?" Li Fan asked directly, despite the bluntness, full of questions. He gestured with the Reverse Flow Boat. "Is it because of this item?"
The Heavenly Emperor nodded. "That is one reason. However, the primary reason is that my cultivation was insufficient, and my efforts ultimately failed." He sighed, seemingly lost in past recollections. After a moment, he continued, "Your divine sense entered this treasure boat earlier. Did you perceive its vitality?"
"Indeed, I perceived it. This treasure, though appearing as an object, is truly alive."
"That is because the Reverse Flow Boat was crafted using my physical body as material," the Heavenly Emperor said with a smile.
Li Fan's eyes widened in shock. He looked at the scruffy man before him, certain he was not joking. "But the world says the Reverse Flow Boat was made by the so-called 'Inverse Immortals'..."
"Oh? Inverse Immortals? I have never heard of them. However, there might be more than one Reverse Flow Boat in the world. As long as one comprehends the Dao of Reverse Flow, it is not impossible to construct a new one." The Heavenly Emperor's expression was calm.
"Comprehending the Dao of Reverse Flow?" Li Fan seemed to have a realization. "The Heavenly Mysteries King?"
The Heavenly Emperor remained non-committal. "I am merely a wandering ghost. How could I know everything about the outside world? But if there is anyone in this world who could recreate a Reverse Flow Boat, I believe Xuan Yuanhong would be the most likely. After all, by the time we parted, his understanding of the Dao of Reverse Flow had already reached a considerable level."
Li Fan remained silent.
"Some things can only be understood through experience. For instance, most matters in the world can be altered by reversing time. Yet, it is the tiny fraction that cannot be changed that ultimately determines the final outcome of the river of time." "No matter how you alter the flow of the river of time, it will eventually converge into that calm, vast ocean." "Without the power to change the entire ocean, even reversing time is merely a futile struggle," the Heavenly Emperor stated calmly.
Li Fan felt a sense of familiarity hearing his words. It was as if he himself had held similar thoughts. "Irrelevant to the outcome." The words "Irrelevant to the outcome" surfaced in his mind, corresponding to the scene the Heavenly Emperor had described.
"Although I was once an Immortal Emperor, how many Immortal Emperors have there been in the Immortal Realm?" "How many have transcended like the Mound Guardian?" "As a disciple of the Mound Guardian, you possess the Great Dao of Longevity. You already have the foundation for transcendence, surpassing ordinary Immortal Emperors by far."
Despite Li Fan being praised by the Heavenly Emperor throughout this conversation, he didn't feel honored. Instead, he felt a sense of discomfort, as if he didn't quite accept the identity of a disciple of the Mound Guardian. "Strange." "Could it be..." Li Fan suppressed this peculiar thought and followed the Heavenly Emperor's line of questioning. "Someone like Master, would they possess the power to change the entire ocean, as you described?"
"There is merely a slight possibility. Within the Eternal Void Realm, even the Mound Guardian would find it difficult to advance."
"Eternal Void Realm?" This was the second time Li Fan heard this term from Emperor Tai.
Despite losing most of his memories, Li Fan still recalled the Mound Guardian as an unparalleled expert in the world. Yet, such a figure had fallen into a difficult situation?
"What kind of place is this so-called Eternal Void Realm?" Li Fan couldn't help but ask.
"What kind of place?" Emperor Tai's expression was strange. He gestured around them. "Here, there, everywhere you've ever seen... can all be called the Eternal Void Realm. Even if they aren't now, they are destined to fall into it. This is the fate of all beings in the Mountains and Seas."
Emperor Tai's words only deepened Li Fan's confusion.
However, this former Immortal Emperor, now only a lingering phantom, seemed intent on speaking in riddles. He continued, "Back then, I transformed into the Reverse Flow Boat and repeatedly journeyed against the current of the River of Time. At first, with my nearly transcendent strength, I could barely return three thousand years into the past..."
"Three thousand years might seem long, but it's merely a blink of an eye. With foresight, I indeed made many arrangements for the arrival of the Dao Erasure Tribulation. But ultimately, it was all in vain."
"I could save some True Immortals, but not the Immortal Realm."
"So I tried again and again. Attempting to return to a more distant past, hoping to gain more preparation time. As my understanding of the Path of Counteracting the Flow deepened, the limit of my temporal regression increased. From three thousand years, to five thousand, then to ten thousand, and fifty thousand years!"
Though Emperor Tai spoke calmly, the content of his words revealed the demeanor of an unparalleled powerhouse.
"Even with the Reverse Flow Boat riddled with cracks, I still held onto hope. Until..."
"That day, I finally saw the end of the River of Time." Emperor Tai's eyes welled with infinite reminiscence.
"The end of the River of Time? How is that possible?" Li Fan's body trembled at the words, his eyes filled with disbelief. Suddenly, a few images flashed in his mind, causing a searing pain. After a brief moment, Li Fan began to understand.
Emperor Tai continued, "Like a surging river that formed from nothingness, no matter how I struggled against the current, I couldn't move forward another step!"
"The Dao Erasure Tribulation?" Li Fan slowly uttered the four words.
Emperor Tai nodded. "Indeed! The Dao Erasure Tribulation, this terrifying calamity, doesn't just devour our world at the current moment. It also erases all traces of our past existence, reducing everything in the mortal world to utter nothingness!"
"Seventy-four thousand, eight hundred and seventy-six years. This was the upstream limit of the River of Time I glimpsed when I charted its course. However, it has been a long time since I last set off. In the years I've spent within the painting, this number has likely decreased significantly..." Emperor Tai sighed.
Merely listening, Li Fan felt an irresistible sense of pressure. What could be more despairing than a fate that even reversing time couldn't alter? It was as if he had accompanied Emperor Tai in his past journey, personally experiencing the terrifying spectacle of the Dao Erasure Tribulation relentlessly forcing its way down the River of Time.
Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck Li Fan. "So, Senior, when you speak of the Eternal Void Realm, you refer to..."
Emperor Tai nodded. "Precisely. The Eternal Void Realm refers to those places that have already been swallowed by the Dao Erasure Tribulation."
Despite receiving his explanation, a greater sense of confusion welled up in Li Fan's heart.
"Senior, since you say the Dao Erasure Tribulation has already engulfed everything from the past, then how did my master, the Mound Guardian, 'travel' to a place that shouldn't exist? Traversing the void of time, even my master would face a life-or-death crisis. For what reason would they take such a perilous risk?"
Faced with Li Fan's numerous questions, Emperor Tai did not conceal them but answered them all.
With a wave of his sleeve, a vivid, flowing river appeared between the two of them. Emperor Tai, using his finger as a sword, made a light slash. The brilliant image of the river was directly erased in its upper section, leaving only the latter half, a peculiar scene of it continuing to flow through space and time.
"Have you ever wondered why, even though the River of Time has been swallowed, we who are in the downstream still exist?"
"Without the past as our foundation, can we exist independently? It's like if I went back to your mortal period and killed you directly. Would you still be standing before me now?"
Li Fan's eyes narrowed. He had indeed pondered this question and instinctively felt it impossible. Yet, the fact that the entire mortal world still existed here forced Li Fan to believe this deduction. It seemed that the disappearance of the upper reaches of the River of Time did not directly affect the lower reaches. Only when the Dao Erasure Tribulation truly reached the "present" would the entire spacetime vanish.
Emperor Tai looked deeply at Li Fan. "My past self, along with many experts in the Immortal Realm, and even three Sage Lords, all thought the same way. Until later..."
"We realized we were completely wrong!" Emperor Tai did not elaborate on how the Immortal Realm's experts discovered their cognitive error. Instead, he stated it with absolute certainty, presenting a conclusion that allowed no room for doubt.
He waved his hand again, and the previously horizontal image of the River of Time suddenly stood upright. The image drastically shrunk, and the upper portion of the river that had vanished was revealed.
"The River of Time still has its foundation. The fact that we are alive and well now is the best proof. Its being swallowed by the Dao Erasure Tribulation is merely an illusion."
Li Fan gazed at the wondrous sight Emperor Tai presented. A continuous, sky-reaching river flowing from bottom to top, emitting a faint blue light, was being encroached upon by an unknown darkness. It became intermittent.
"The invasion of the Dao Erasure Tribulation does not proceed in chronological order from ancient to present. It occurs simultaneously at every point along the river. Some historical periods vanish completely without warning. While others temporarily survive."
"We are within such a surviving node!" Emperor Tai's gaze turned towards the distant past of the River of Time. "The question remains the same. The reason we can exist is precisely because, within that darkness which appears to have been completely swallowed, there are still people persevering!"
"One day, if they all fall completely..."
"We too will cease to exist."
"We won't even have any awareness of how we disappeared, as if we should never have existed in this world. At that time, no matter how powerful anyone is, they likely won't be able to escape the fate of annihilation. Not even the Mound Guardian, who wields the Great Dao of Longevity." Emperor Tai sighed deeply.
"!" Li Fan's heart trembled violently. With a rapid turn of his thoughts, he finally understood the reason why the Mound Guardian had gone to the Eternal Void Realm. It was rescue. And it was self-preservation.
"Once this was understood, the goals of all the experts in the mortal world unified. While maintaining their own existence, they traversed the Annihilation Spacetime, traveling to the previous surviving nodes to offer assistance. This cycle continued until..."
"Returning to the distant past where the Dao Erasure Tribulation could be completely resolved."
"It's a pity that I am nearing my end. I have the will, but not the strength. Traveling against the current was my limit. Traversing the Annihilation Spacetime, however, is far beyond my capabilities." Emperor Tai sighed again, a hint of melancholy in his expression.
The truth revealed by Emperor Tai far surpassed Li Fan's expectations. It even seemed that his past memories held no understanding of this. His brain, in a state of extreme shock, was unable to comprehend or react immediately.
After a long silence, Li Fan suddenly realized something and quickly asked, "Could it be that when we suddenly awakened in the past and understood the current state of the River of Time, it was because..."
Li Fan pointed to the segment of the intermittent River of Time in front of him, above his own position. "A guest from the future came, traversed the Annihilation Spacetime, and aided us?" Li Fan's voice trembled slightly.
Emperor Tai nodded solemnly.
Li Fan gazed at the scene before him, seeming to visualize the grand undertaking of all the powerful beings working together, striving to save the swallowed River of Time. His emotions surged, and he was unable to calm down for a long time.
After a moment, he gradually regained his composure. Following the brief surge of excitement, he stared at the scene before him, and many more questions arose in his heart.
How could one traverse the Annihilation Spacetime? And how could one be certain that returning to the most ancient moment would lead to a solution for the Dao Erasure Tribulation? If countless people combined their efforts, enduring hardship, only to discover that everything was irrecoverable... What then?
... After much contemplation, Li Fan finally couldn't help but voice the many doubts in his heart.
Emperor Tai's expression grew stern. "If we don't try, then the only outcome awaiting us is destruction. By trying, perhaps we can grasp a sliver of hope for survival."
"We can only hope that those powerful beings in the ancient past can hold on until the reinforcements arrive." Emperor Tai raised his hand and pointed towards the heavens.
"You must understand, those who can travel to the Other Shore Great World are all peerless experts who have shaken the heavens and earth. And those qualified to traverse the Annihilation Spacetime and enter the Eternal Void Realm are even rarer than one in a hundred million. Such individuals, even without the slightest hope, would still struggle and fight with all their might. How could they be swayed by the mere possibility of this crisis?" Emperor Tai's tone and expression were exceptionally grave.
"Although you have inherited the Legacy of the Mound Guardian, and transcendence is almost a certainty. If you maintain this current mindset, upon entering a greater stage, you may not be qualified to advance further."
"The Great Dao of Longevity can only allow you to live long and freely within this realm."
Li Fan looked at a segment of the River of Time pointed out by Emperor Tai, his expression showing that he had accepted the lesson.
"As cultivators, upon hearing of this plan, who wouldn't be filled with righteous fervor and willing to dedicate themselves? Due to my own fate and destiny, I cannot participate. I deeply regret this."
"However, you still have a great opportunity!"
"It is perhaps fate that you stumbled into this place." Emperor Tai said, gradually muttering to himself. His expression became somewhat entranced, as if an incredibly exciting idea had struck him. The phantom body, previously shrouded in the aura of death, slowly exuded a special momentum.
"Lingering here alive holds little meaning. Therefore, today, I shall pass on all my understanding of the Path of Counteracting the Flow to you!"
"If, one day, you can go to the Eternal Void Realm on my behalf and offer assistance, then my sacrifice today will not have been in vain!" Emperor Tai seemed to achieve sudden enlightenment.
A brilliant radiance emanated from him. His figure gradually floated into the Reverse Flow Boat, and in a flash, he merged with the boat.
The Reverse Flow Boat suddenly lifted and then, with the speed of lightning, hurtled towards Li Fan.
Li Fan, previously moved and touched by Emperor Tai's impassioned words, was now instinctively trying to dodge as the Reverse Flow Boat uncontrollably flew towards him.
However, Li Fan was no match for Emperor Tai. Even though Emperor Tai was merely a phantom. Therefore, he could only watch helplessly as the Reverse Flow Boat flew into his own body.
*Boom!*
The River of Time that Emperor Tai had displayed before him also seemed to crash into Li Fan's mind. Everything Emperor Tai had experienced during his repeated journeys against the current of the River of Time unfolded simultaneously in Li Fan's mind. It was an experience similar to the one where his lost memories were consumed.
But Emperor Tai had clearly considered Li Fan's "fragile" capacity to bear it. As fleeting images continuously washed over him, all the extraneous details gradually faded. Only certain crucial matters, along with Emperor Tai's insights into the Path of Counteracting the Flow, remained, like sediment.
Emperor Tai's inheritance seemed to resonate with Li Fan's lost memories. The scenes he had experienced in the past, stimulated, could no longer be suppressed and surged forth from the depths of his mind.
"Return to Truth?!" Amidst the myriad scenes, Li Fan grasped the most critical matter. He finally remembered the name he had given to the supreme treasure he possessed. And the myriad uses of "Return to Truth."
"What's happening? Why has Return to Truth changed like this?"
"Not only have functions like Eternal Samsara disappeared, but even the anchor points I set back then are all gone!"
Although some of his lost memories were reawakened, Li Fan's mind did not stabilize. Instead, it became even more agitated. Compounded by Emperor Tai's inheritance, the situation worsened.
In the Xuanhuang Realm, within the secret chamber of the Grand Tutor's residence, Li Fan's actual body, under this immense pressure, had its entire upper half explode into a pool of flesh and blood. The aura of Longevity continuously emerged from the remaining corpse, attempting to heal the injury.
However, the upheaval suddenly triggered in Li Fan's mind this time had far exceeded his capacity to endure. Even the Great Dao of Longevity that he upheld seemed unable to save him.
"Return to Truth! Return to Truth! Return to Truth!" Seeing that the situation was dire, Li Fan could only call out mentally in desperation.
But a seemingly familiar scene occurred again. Return to Truth did not respond as if it hadn't heard him. Li Fan, unwilling to give up, called out several more times. The result was still the same.
Caught between shock and anger, watching his own body gradually being consumed, Li Fan inevitably felt despair.
However, in a daze, Li Fan recalled Emperor Tai's words from just now. "Such individuals, even without the slightest hope, would still struggle and fight with all their might!"
The panic slowly dissipated, and only an unyielding determination remained in Li Fan's eyes. In that instant, he had found his path to survival.
The Reverse Flow Boat!
The upper body had already dissolved into a pool of bloody flesh, yet Li Fan could still "feel" the Reverse Flow Wood Boat, gifted by Emperor Tai, quiescently residing within his "mind."
At this moment, driven by Li Fan's extreme desire to flow backward, the Reverse Flow Boat began to emit a clear, warm white light. Traces of verdant green seemed to accompany the white glow.
The scene of the real world dissolved and distorted, like a painting splashed with water.
An almost unbearable pain assailed Li Fan's mind. It was as if countless chains pierced through his skull simultaneously. Then, with high-speed rotation, these chains churned within Li Fan's brain.
"Ahhh!"
Even without a head, Li Fan's remaining flesh and tissue convulsed and trembled from this indescribable agony.
While Emperor Tai had imparted all his insights into the Dao of Reversal, he had never mentioned such a terrifying side effect of activating the Reverse Flow Boat.
Li Fan vaguely recalled enduring various painful torments in past simulations, but none of them came close to a ten-thousandth of what he was experiencing now.
The pain synchronized with his flesh, spirit, will, and memories.
It seemed to permeate Li Fan's very core.
Vague sounds of wind and rain gradually arose from his surroundings, and countless "raindrops" struck him head-on.
Each droplet was like the sharpest blade in existence, slicing into Li Fan.
Thus, Li Fan's pain intensified.
However, an invisible, immense force from his memories had completely crushed his surviving body. With no flesh remaining, Li Fan, desperate to live, had no retreat.
Amidst boundless pain, he managed to maintain a sliver of consciousness, continuing to sustain the power of the Reverse Flow Boat.
The sounds of wind and rain grew louder.
The raindrops striking him were no longer isolated but connected in lines.
The Reverse Flow Boat emitted deafening roars amidst continuous collisions, as if it would break apart at any moment.
Fortunately, at this critical juncture, hidden green lights bloomed, swiftly repairing the boat's damage.
After precisely nine breaths of time,
the connected lines of countless raindrops finally converged into a river.
In an instant, Li Fan plunged into it. All the pain he felt vanished at that moment.
He felt as if he had detached himself from the entire world.
His perspective ascended from the Great Xuan pocket world and the Xuanhuang Realm. After a brief pause, it began to rewind.
Li Fan gazed upon the scene of himself entering the sealed village in the Mountain Sea Fishery. He saw himself suppressing and subduing the Azure Nether Ruo Wood. He saw himself as the Grand Tutor, dominating the world. He saw himself just awakening his memories, being forced to drink disgusting talisman water…
The River of Time flowed ceaselessly, and the wood boat, traveling upstream, trembled precariously.
It seemed on the verge of capsizing with the slightest misstep.
However, precisely because these existences had occurred in past years, they served as anchors, allowing Li Fan to "borrow strength" each time he reversed for a period, stabilizing his form within the long river.
But when Li Fan had returned to the anchor point of one year and wished to surge further upstream, things changed.
The moment he surpassed this crucial temporal node, the scouring of the River of Time intensified a thousandfold.
It was as if he had transitioned from a clear, swift riverbed into a more turbid, turbulent expanse. Li Fan could no longer see any scenes within the River of Time.
Everywhere was a chaotic swirl of interwoven lines, obscuring the perception of Li Fan, the one reversing time.
The terrifying power that suddenly erupted in the river nearly destroyed the unsuspecting Reverse Flow Boat. The white light surrounding the boat was exceedingly faint compared to the surging river, less than even a single drop within it. Yet, it desperately maintained its glow, preventing the boat from being swept away and shattered.
Li Fan understood the consequences of a failed reversal.
It wasn't as simple as merely returning to reality.
He would utterly vanish from history, leaving no trace of his past existence.
Li Fan desperately sought to alter his fate.
But a single individual was utterly insignificant compared to the vast River of Time. Even with the Dao of Reversal mastered, now within the river, he could only be carried by its currents, at the mercy of fate.
It seemed like a desperate situation.
However, Li Fan did not give up his will to survive, still adhering to the Dao of Reversal, doing his best to control the Reverse Flow Boat.
While struggling, Li Fan also harbored much confusion.
According to Emperor Tai's inheritance, the journey of reversal should not have been this arduous. At the very least, when tracing back in time within a thousand-year range, even a severely damaged and disintegrating Reverse Flow Boat was sufficient to handle the waves that arose in the river.
But now, Li Fan had only reversed for about fifty years, and the sudden waves in the river possessed a might comparable to reversing for ten thousand years!
One must remember, according to Emperor Tai's experience, the further one traced back in time, the greater the pressure became, increasing almost exponentially.
Yet now, Li Fan had encountered such immense resistance at the very beginning…
It was hard to imagine how formidable the waves would be if he were to reverse for ten thousand or thirty thousand years!
"How could this be!"
Li Fan was filled with immense suspicion.
Suddenly, he recalled the visions of his own past experiences glimpsed earlier in the river.
While these visions were present, the river's behavior was within normal parameters. But once the visions disappeared, the river's waves surged, seemingly wishing to devour him!
"Could it be because I never actually experienced this period of time? Without the anchor points for support, the resistance increased a myriad of times?" Li Fan's mind suddenly lit up with this thought.
However, even knowing the reason for the river's sudden surge, Li Fan was now in a precarious situation.
The River of Time was murky, making it impossible to discern up, down, east, or west. The immense scouring force was constantly "cutting" at Li Fan.
It made it incredibly difficult to find a safe temporal node to "land."
Amidst the waves, the Reverse Flow Boat's light dimmed further, appearing on the verge of disintegration.
It seemed as though the boat and its occupant would perish at any moment.
Just at this critical juncture, a vast, immeasurable amount of green light suddenly surged forth.
Like a wave-suppressing pearl, it temporarily suppressed the storm in the river.
This green light seemed to originate from within Li Fan, yet simultaneously, in the endless River of Time, countless scattered green dots, from ancient times to the present, twinkled.
They were like lighthouses, illuminating Li Fan's path forward.
Though seemingly less effective than his own anchor points, they were undoubtedly Li Fan's lifeline.
The Reverse Flow Boat followed the direction of the green light, traveling onward.
One hundred years, three hundred years, five hundred years…
Up to a thousand years, five thousand years…
The green light on Li Fan's person began to be depleted.
The green lighthouses in the river grew dim again, gradually fading back into the surging torrent of history.
However, Li Fan had still not found a safe landing point outside the cover of the green light.
"If I were to forcibly leave the River of Time now and return to reality, there would likely be two outcomes."
"One is unfortunate death, completely annihilated by the scouring of time, becoming dust in history."
"The second is a lucky successful landing…"
"I'll wait a bit longer."
Although the vast majority of Li Fan's experience in reversing time came from Emperor Tai's inheritance, their encounters within the River of Time were vastly different.
Li Fan experienced more tumultuous waves, but in contrast, he felt little of the erosion and stripping from the River of Time that Emperor Tai had so dreaded.
One must recall that Emperor Tai's first reversal, lasting only three thousand years, had already made him feel as though he was about to completely dissolve into the River of Time, forcing him to return to reality.
Yet now, Li Fan's first attempt had already traced back several thousand years, and he hadn't felt much of the so-called stripping pressure.
If not for the protection and guidance of the Great Dao of Longevity, and the overwhelming waves in the river making it difficult to navigate upstream.
Li Fan even felt he could continue tracing back like this.
Despite the minimal erosion pressure, the further back in time he went, the greater the pressure he endured.
When time regressed to approximately eight thousand years ago,
the waves in the river raged, making navigation utterly impossible.
Li Fan was swept into them, unable to even discern the direction of time.
He meticulously observed every detail within the river, striving to find a sliver of hope at the final moment.
Yet, in the end, he was not a fortunate individual.
*Bang!*
The Reverse Flow Boat began to disintegrate. Without the protection of the treasure boat, Li Fan, directly exposed to the River of Time, faced pressure that instantly magnified countless times.
Li Fan finally understood what Emperor Tai meant by the feeling of melting.
With each surge of the river, Li Fan lost a part of himself.
Cultivation, divine abilities, insights into the Dao…
These were like external attachments, gradually peeling away with the river's scouring.
Only his inner core stubbornly persisted.
When his true inner core was damaged, Li Fan instinctively sensed an extreme, fatal threat. He knew he couldn't delay any longer; even a rash "landing" now was better than perishing in the River of Time, offering a greater chance of survival.
Manipulating the severely damaged Reverse Flow Boat, Li Fan gradually withdrew from the insights of the Dao of Reversal.
The scenery of the River of Time slowly receded from his vision, replaced by a torrential downpour.
In an instant, Li Fan was almost completely disoriented.
He was trapped in a dilemma at the boundary between the River of Time and reality, unable to advance or retreat.
Moving forward rashly risked plunging back into the River of Time, while remaining here meant continuing to be within the range of the river's scouring, his inner core constantly eroded, leading to the same inevitable death.
Just as Li Fan hesitated, he suddenly saw a familiar glimmer of light in the torrential rain before him.
This perhaps represented a past encounter he had with this light at the temporal node eight thousand years in the future.
Though it did not exist in the past, this contact had formed a cross-temporal anchor point.
Li Fan knew how incredibly difficult it was to find something related to himself amidst the torrential rain eight thousand years ago.
Seizing the opportunity, Li Fan no longer hesitated. He immediately maneuvered the dilapidated Reverse Flow Boat towards the fleeting light, flying towards it.
With the anchor point as his guide, before the Reverse Flow Boat completely disintegrated, Li Fan finally traversed the wind and rain of the River of Time.
He arrived in the real world.
The Xuanhuang Realm.
Eighty-six hundred and forty-three years before the initial anchor point!
"That stream of light… is it the Medicine King Sect?! How dare they run?"
"Quick, notify the Elder!"
"Wait! Although the Medicine King Sect isn't a large sect, their assets are considerable. If they're fleeing in such haste, they certainly wouldn't be able to take all their treasures with them…"
"Let's go. Don't let others get there first!"
"Wait, what is that? Another stream of light?"
"Could it be that the Medicine King Sect had a disagreement and decided not to run after all?"
"Let's go see!"
…
When Li Fan regained consciousness from his stupor, he was already surrounded.
"Hmm?"
In a daze, Li Fan hadn't fully recovered. He merely noticed the cultivators around him, appraising him from time to time while counting their gains.
"Kid, you're finally awake."
"Quick, tell us what happened to the Medicine King Sect. Confess honestly, and we might spare your life. Otherwise…"
"Stop wasting time with him, just search his soul directly!"
"You idiot, these two prominent streams of light are too conspicuous to hide. How will we explain ourselves when the Elder investigates!"
These people muttered amongst themselves, completely disregarding the tightly bound Li Fan.
Li Fan, for the moment, ignored them and first checked his current state.
Although his body had almost completely vanished in the River of Time, upon returning to reality, the Great Dao of Longevity within him had once again regenerated a new body.
However, it was a regret to Li Fan that, after this voyage, the Great Dao of Longevity seemed to have suffered significant damage.
And this damage seemed irreversible.
At least, for the time being, it couldn't be restored.
"After all, it wasn't truly mine, but a gift from the Mound Guardian." Li Fan mused self-deprecatingly.
"Hmm?"
"Mound Guardian?"
A moment later, Li Fan came to his senses.
Eight thousand years of reversal in the River of Time.
Although his cultivation, divine abilities, and even the Great Dao of Longevity had been scoured and cleansed, in return, his lost memories had all been restored.
The events of these two lifetimes unfolded before Li Fan, causing him to sigh inwardly.
"Driven by a moment of greed, leading to infinite variables."
"The consequences of the fusion of the three Daos – Mountain Sea, Longevity, and Return to Truth – were indeed beyond what I could currently bear."
"Fortunately, my luck was quite good, and even while I had lost my memories, I found a great opportunity."
"The Dao of Reversal…"
Li Fan lowered his head, recalling everything he had experienced in the River of Time, a peculiar glint appearing in his eyes.
"Return to Truth," he called out inwardly after contemplating.
The repeated failure of Return to Truth filled Li Fan with extreme unease.
There was still no response.
However, after careful sensing, Li Fan finally confirmed that Return to Truth was still with him.
It was merely in a state of slumber for some reason.
Recommending a new book, focusing on a simulator theme. Those interested can check it out.
Simulator novel: "You are born into the world as the son of Emperor Yan."
"You meet a proud, Ji-surnamed girl in Zhuolu and easily defeat her."
"You promote agriculture, forge weapons, and break superstitions. The gods and deities of all heavens bestow upon you the derogatory title of Chiyou."
"You sacrifice your father and launch a final assault against destiny."
Li Fan couldn't help but wonder if it was to help him escape the influence of the three merging Daos that Return to Truth had fallen into silence. For him, Return to Truth had accompanied him throughout his rebirth and cultivation journey. To suddenly be without it as a trump card, Li Fan felt extremely uncomfortable.
Fortunately, the several decades he experienced during his amnesia served as a buffer. It was as if it told Li Fan that even without Return to Truth, he could forge his own path to the heavens through cultivation.
"However, compared to Return to Truth, which could activate instantly and salvage everything, the Reverse Flow Boat is far inferior. Without a life-saving trump card, I need to be even more cautious. Otherwise, if I die this time, I will truly die." A sliver of gloom flashed in Li Fan's eyes.
Abandoning his attempts to rouse the slumbering Return to Truth, Li Fan shifted his attention to the Reverse Flow Boat.
Although weak, as his only means of survival, it still required his close attention.
Having traveled against the current for eight thousand years, the already dilapidated Reverse Flow Boat, on the verge of its end, could only be described as tragic. After Li Fan's forceful landing, only a bare deck and a few remaining pillars were left. If not for the faint traces of the Reverse Flow Dao lingering on the deck, Li Fan might have thought the Reverse Flow Boat had been completely destroyed.
"Although Great Heavenly Venerate Tai said that anyone could build a Reverse Flow Boat by comprehending the Reverse Flow Dao, in the entire Primordial Possibility, it seems only two Reverse Flow Boats have ever been created over countless years. Clearly, it's not as simple as Great Heavenly Venerate Tai made it out to be. At the very least..." Li Fan sensed the wooden planks of the Reverse Flow Boat, observing them for a long time, but ultimately found himself at a loss on how to repair it.
Not to mention creating a new one.
Return to Truth, the Great Dao of Longevity, and the Reverse Flow Boat were all in a state of 'strike' at the moment. Li Fan's current situation was certainly not pleasant.
Thus, his goal for this lifetime became clear for now.
Primarily, to quickly find a way to help Return to Truth awaken. Secondly, to repair the Reverse Flow Boat and accumulate the power of the Great Dao of Longevity.
Either of these tasks was beyond Li Fan's current capabilities.
Now, several questions lay before Li Fan.
First, since Return to Truth had fallen silent, were his understanding of the [Transformation of True and False] and the divine ability [Illusion is True] still useful?
Second, with the help of Great Heavenly Venerate Tai, he had returned to eight thousand years in the past. At this point in time, was there another Great Heavenly Venerate Tai in the secluded village beneath the Mountain Sea Fishery? If one existed, could he sense what was happening to himself from eight thousand years in the future? If not...
Third, once his strength was fully restored and his condition replenished, what should he do next? Should he return to the safe temporal domain he was intimately familiar with, the anchor point of one year, or continue to drift into the past until he found true safety?
...Even Li Fan found these questions quite troublesome for the moment.
He could only tackle them one by one.
Facing the encirclement by these disciples who were suspected to be from the Myriad Immortal Sects, Li Fan first experimented with the Transformation of True and False. His current body had no cultivation base. However, with the blessing of the residual Great Dao of Longevity, it was enough to withstand the equivalent of his Dao Integration realm strength from the past.
"When the true becomes false, and the false becomes true~"
Li Fan chanted silently in his heart.
However, nothing happened, as if a gentle breeze had passed by.
Yet, Li Fan did not feel alarmed by this. Instead, he let out a sigh of relief.
In truth, the moment he activated the Transformation of True and False, Li Fan did feel the unique fluctuations of the technique. This proved that even without Return to Truth, he could still achieve the transformation between true and false. After all, this was a Dao he had comprehended himself. As long as the Dao of True and False still existed between the mountains, seas, and the mortal world, he could deploy it with ease.
The reason there was no change in his body was simply because the spacetime of eight thousand years ago differed significantly from the Daoic environment of eight years later.
Nearly ten thousand years of time, the rise and fall of Daos, coupled with the influence of the external tribulations of Dao Erasure, could completely be considered two different worlds.
Therefore, Li Fan's divine ability of "False becomes True" had been successfully cast. However, the act of manifesting the imagined cultivation base within his body had failed.
As the saying goes, a slight deviation can lead to a thousand-mile error. The disparity in details and the drastic changes in the environment caused Li Fan's "False becomes True" divine ability to fail. To put it bluntly, the effectiveness of the Transformation of True and False was based on a thorough understanding of the world's Daos. The current situation was a variation of the Dao, requiring Li Fan to re-understand it.
However, this was not a major problem. Although eight thousand years had passed, it was, after all, the same Possibility and the same world. As long as Li Fan was given some time to re-establish his understanding of the Daoic environment, he would be able to use the Transformation of True and False smoothly.
"It's just a pity that the divine ability Illusion is True seems to have vanished from me with Return to Truth's slumber." After sensing carefully for a long time and confirming this, Li Fan sighed slightly.
However, he was not entirely surprised. After experiencing the gains and losses of the Great Dao of Longevity, Li Fan knew that what he had obtained from others was fundamentally different from what he had achieved himself.
But even though it was lost, Li Fan had not completely given up on Illusion is True, arguably the strongest life-saving divine ability in the world. To be able to transform and conceal his identity in the face of the Infinite Sea, once he had experienced its power, how could Li Fan be willing to give it up?
"The so-called Illusion is True is merely an extremely advanced application of the Transformation of True and False. Relying on my comprehension of the Transformation of True and False..." Li Fan carefully recalled the feeling of being protected by Illusion is True.
It was also thanks to its constant presence that Li Fan had retained enough profound experience, making it slightly easier for him to recall it now.
"Even if I cannot replicate the true Illusion is True, achieving a weakened version should not be difficult."
Li Fan's gaze swept over the unfriendly disciples surrounding him. After a moment, a subtle change occurred.
"You've been holding back for ages and haven't done anything. I think you..." One of the cultivators, who had grown impatient, slapped Li Fan on the head. He cursed and glared with fierce eyes.
But as Li Fan cast Illusion is True, the unfriendly expression on his face gradually disappeared.
The same happened to those beside him.
It seemed they had forgotten the identity of Li Fan, the "Medicine King Sect disciple" who had fallen from the sky. They simply treated him as one of "their own."
The cultivator who had slapped Li Fan on the head after a moment of daze looked around blankly. After a while, he snapped back to reality, his expression changing drastically. He slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "Damn it! Where did that brat go!"
The others also awoke as if from a dream, exclaiming one after another, "How is this possible? Under everyone's watchful eyes, he still managed to escape?"
"I didn't sense any Spirit Qi fluctuations from that person. How did he escape?"
Everyone was incredulous. They searched the vicinity with their divine sense but found no suspicious traces.
Just then, Li Fan spoke, "Do you smell that? There seems to be a faint medicinal fragrance lingering in the air. I've heard that Medicine King Sect disciples are skilled in using medicines. They can heal, and they can kill. We must have fallen into a trap!"
Li Fan's tone was filled with regret and urgency.
"It's true!"
The other cultivators sniffed the air and also came to a realization, all filled with regret.
They hadn't noticed anything unusual about Li Fan, who shouldn't have existed in the first place.
Li Fan, who had temporarily escaped danger, breathed a sigh of relief.
For now, this was all he could do.
The restoration of his strength required observation of this past era. It could only be achieved gradually.
"Although I have lost my past enlightenment under the scouring of the River of Time, as long as I can witness the Dao again, I should be able to re-comprehend it quickly."
"Others need to forge a Dao path from scratch, while I only need to retrace my steps."
Li Fan looked up at the Azure Nether sky at that moment, a mix of familiar and unfamiliar feelings surging in his heart.
However, he was still surrounded by enemies, and his Illusion is True hadn't fully rewritten others' perceptions yet. Therefore, he didn't reveal anything extraordinary, merely accumulating strength according to his enlightenment.
Just as the group of cultivators was at a loss due to losing their target, a streak of light flew from the distant horizon, approaching rapidly.
"Damn it, it's Elder Song."
The expressions of the cultivators changed.
"Brothers, let's stick to the same story. We'll insist that we never saw another streak of light." Soon, they reached a consensus through divine sense communication.
Li Fan looked up at the approaching figure.
He clearly saw that Elder Song, whom these cultivators feared greatly, only had a Nascent Soul cultivation.
However, his flight speed was not slow, and he soon landed before them.
He inquired about the departure of the Medicine King Sect and the streak of light that had gone in the opposite direction.
The cultivators replied according to their prearranged story.
Elder Song's gaze swept over them, lingering on Li Fan for the longest time, a hint of doubt in his eyes. However, he soon let it pass, saying nothing more.
"The departure of the Medicine King Sect was within the expectations of the Masters of the Ten Sects. Hmph, let them go, those ignorant fools." Elder Song's tone was dismissive, sealing their fate.
"Although they have left, the foundation of their sect still remains. Although our Evergreen Valley is the closest, it's still difficult to take all of the Medicine King Sect's legacy for ourselves. We can only choose the most vital areas. You, follow me back to the sect immediately to prepare for the ensuing disputes."
"This world is about to become turbulent." Elder Song sighed.
The crowd acknowledged their orders. They exchanged glances, a sense of relief washing over their eyes.
Li Fan blended in with them and returned to this so-called Evergreen Valley.
Thanks to the ability of Illusion is True, he felt at home wherever he went. After some inquiries, he quickly understood the situation.
Evergreen Valley was a subordinate sect of the Supreme Sect, one of the Myriad Immortal Sects. To call it subordinate was merely a formality. They enjoyed few benefits but had to pay their annual tribute without fail. If any of the ten sects conscripted them, they had to respond without any negligence. It could be said that they were slaves to the ten sects.
But the Myriad Immortal Sects were powerful, and even though the disciples of Evergreen Valley harbored dissatisfaction, they could do nothing but endure it silently.
Evergreen Valley was adjacent to the Medicine King Sect. The Medicine King Sect, with its practice of saving lives and healing the populace, had saved countless individuals. Evergreen Valley, benefiting from the convenience brought by the Medicine King Sect, had accumulated a considerable foundation.
As a small sect, with a Soul Transformation sect leader and three Nascent Soul elders, their strength was quite formidable within a radius of ten thousand miles.
Not long ago, the Myriad Immortal Sects seemed to have perceived the Medicine King Sect's intention to escape, and thus issued an order to monitor them. If any abnormalities occurred, they were to report them immediately.
This was why the disciples of Evergreen Valley discovered Li Fan, who had descended from the sky.
...
"Elder Song, I have an important matter to report." Just as a tense atmosphere began to envelop Evergreen Valley over the dispute for the Medicine King Sect's abandoned territory, Li Fan secretly approached Elder Song.
"Oh? What is it?" Elder Song recognized Li Fan, a sharp glint in his eyes. "You're that disciple who guarded the mountain that day? What was your name again."
"Replying to Elder, this humble one's name is Li Ping, and I recently joined the sect." Li Fan blurted this out. With the aid of Illusion is True, this Elder, who was only at the Nascent Soul stage, couldn't see through him.
"What do you have to report?"
"That day, there was indeed a streak of light from the Medicine King Sect returning to the Xuanhuang Realm, which landed in our central area. Although we captured it, we unfortunately allowed that thief to escape..." Li Fan put on a look of apprehension.
Elder Song's eyes narrowed instantly.
"Those few people dared to collude and deceive the Elder. They even threatened me. Although I agreed at the time, after much thought upon returning, I've been filled with unease."
"You are indeed conscientious." Elder Song abruptly stood up and walked out.
However, in a short while, he returned.
Only a faint scent of blood now clung to him.
"Although you were complicit in the deception, you have repented in time and exposed them."
"You deserve a reward!"
"What do you wish for?" Elder Song asked indifferently.
"This humble one dares not ask for anything. The reward is entirely at your discretion, Elder." Li Fan replied.
A smile appeared on Elder Song's face. After pondering for a moment, he rewarded Li Fan with a defensive magic artifact. As disputes were about to arise, having this artifact for protection would significantly increase his chances of survival.
"Elder Song is quite a decent person." Li Fan chuckled as he fiddled with the Dragon-Patterned Fire Cover in his hand.
He naturally didn't care about the reward itself. The reason he approached Elder Song again was merely to test the effectiveness of his Illusion is True.
When they first met, Elder Song instinctively felt some doubt. But now, he was completely fooled, treating Li Fan as an Evergreen Valley disciple.
"It will take some time to deceive someone at the Soul Transformation stage."
"The more I understand the Dao of this temporal juncture, the faster that time will come."
The surrounding Spirit Qi seemed to be drawn to him, swirling around him.
But Li Fan deliberately did not absorb it.
He merely continued to look up at the sky.
His brow furrowed, and a flicker of doubt appeared in his eyes.
Although it was the same Dao, he, as a former True Immortal, felt a sense of powerlessness when comprehending it.
It was not that his past comprehension and memories had become invalid.
Rather, the Dao principles of the Xuanhuang Realm were instinctively rejecting his comprehension.
"Hmph, Heavenly Dao of the Azure Nether."
A sharp glint emerged from Li Fan's eyes.
The Heavenly Dao of the Xuanhuang Realm had not yet been corrupted by the new cultivation methods that defied natural laws. The former rulers, the Immortal Realm, had been destroyed. Thus, this particular juncture in time represented the Xuanhuang Realm's Heavenly Dao at its peak.
While it might not have detected that Li Fan was from the future, the Heavenly Dao could still sense the unusual aura of an "outsider." When Li Fan attempted to comprehend the Dao of the Xuanhuang Realm, it instinctively resisted. However, with Li Fan's cultivation level, the Xuanhuang Realm's resistance was not insurmountable, even though his power had been diminished to that of an ordinary mortal after traversing the River of Time. He possessed countless methods to deal with the Xuanhuang Realm.
"Under the Xuanhuang Realm's Heavenly Dao's rejection, cultivation becomes a struggle against constant resistance. Every effort yields half the result. But this is easily solved. As the saying goes, if Heaven does not grant it, I shall take it myself!"
With extensive experience in cultivating the new methods, Li Fan could force his understanding of the Heavenly Dao even in his mortal body. Furthermore, at this point in time, the Dharma-Preachers had only just begun their preachings, with only one Doctrine Transmitter Immortal Venerable. If Li Fan could achieve Longevity before them, he could take their place and become another Doctrine Transmitter Heavenly Venerate!
However, doing so carried immense risks. The Dharma-Preachers had used the Heavenly Demon to possess the body of Xuan Yuan Tuo, a native of the Xuanhuang Realm. When the Myriad Immortal Sects investigated the Dharma-Preachers' identities, this layer of pretense allowed them valuable time to rise. If Li Fan, a complete outsider, were to step forward as the vanguard, he would likely face the most brutal suppression from a combined effort of the ten sects. Li Fan was wary of the full power of the ten sects before he could recover his cultivation.
"Moreover, the old path of the new methods has many drawbacks. Even if perfected, it would only allow dominance within the Xuanhuang Realm. Once one leaves this world, their strength would be greatly diminished."
"It's far inferior to my Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice."
"A pity…" Li Fan sighed inwardly. Not only were the insights that formed his The Dao Lattice lost and requiring reconstruction, but crucially, the power of his core Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul had been purged during the crisis of the merging of mountains and seas.
"However, I might be able to use the power of 'False becomes True' to manifest it again, without needing to re-initiate the Xuanhuang Realm's ascension to the Immortal Realm."
Thus, after circling back, the key issue returned to comprehending the Great Dao of the Xuanhuang Realm. Only by first creating the environment for the "True-False Transformation" to operate could Li Fan's various methods find their use.
"To be rejected to this extent, even introducing Qi into the body is fraught with difficulties. It's no less challenging than when I first began cultivating."
"However, traces of the Great Dao of Longevity still remain within me. Perhaps I can use this as a breakthrough point."
As Li Fan formally restarted his cultivation path and once again felt the intense expulsion from the Xuanhuang Realm, he was infuriated yet also perplexed. While it was a natural rejection of outsiders, to suppress Li Fan to such an extent…
"It's not entirely the Xuanhuang Realm's Heavenly Dao acting alone."
"It's as if something else is manipulating and directing it from behind."
Li Fan suddenly looked up again, a sense of realization dawning upon him.
"Who could it be? Someone capable of dominating the Xuanhuang Realm's Heavenly Dao's consciousness at this point in time…"
Several figures flashed through his mind before settling on an image. It was a scene from his past simulations, during the time when Li Fan initiated the Xuanhuang Realm's ascension into an Immortal Realm. At that time, even with the replenishment of life force from the boundless star sea, it was insufficient to support the Xuanhuang Realm's ascension. Thus, Li Fan performed a ritual, invoking the imprinted phantoms of past Great Heavenly Venerates of the Xuanhuang Realm remaining within the world. Eight phantoms stood firm in the heavens and earth. The last one was the Nameless Great Heavenly Venerate, whom Li Fan had orchestrated. Before Nameless was Su Bai. And before Su Bai… was not Heavenly Mysteries King. Between Heavenly Mysteries King and Su Bai, there existed a mysterious Great Heavenly Venerate of unknown identity. Only his form could be seen; his face was a void. This Great Heavenly Venerate seemed to appear and disappear out of nowhere, leaving no trace aside from his phantom imprint. Li Fan had attempted to investigate, but even with his half-immortal abilities, he found nothing.
"At this point in time, before Su Bai attained enlightenment and succeeded him as Great Heavenly Venerate, he should have been in charge…" Li Fan mused.
"With the invasion of outer-realm demons, instructing the Xuanhuang Realm's Heavenly Dao to retaliate is a duty of a Great Heavenly Venerate. However, this means my every forced attempt at enlightenment is extremely perilous!" Li Fan’s heart tightened. Although he hadn't been exposed yet, each enlightenment attempt was like a beacon signaling to the outside world. When his cultivation was low, it was manageable. But at the Nascent Soul or Soul Transformation realm, he would be as conspicuous as a light in the dark, inevitably attracting the attention of that mysterious Azure Nether Great Heavenly Venerate.
Of course, it wasn't a foregone conclusion that Li Fan would perish. If he could explain that he was from the future and bore the responsibility of saving the mortal world and its mountains and seas, given the high moral standards required of Azure Nether Great Heavenly Venerates, Li Fan would likely survive. However, Li Fan was unwilling to take that risk. Entrusting his life and safety to someone else's moral compass was not the act of a gentleman.
"I didn't expect that the simple path of re-cultivation would be so fraught with difficulties," Li Fan rubbed his brow.
"I wonder how others who traveled upstream dealt with this."
After half a day of deep contemplation, Li Fan finally settled on a temporary cultivation strategy. Since he couldn't actively comprehend the world's Dao, he would have to borrow the comprehension of others. Coincidentally, as the Evergreen Valley was about to face impending storms, it presented an opportunity to experiment. Using the abilities of "Falsehood into Truth," Li Fan "borrowed" numerous resources from the Evergreen Valley's sect treasury. He then went to the artifact refining workshop and sweet-talked the formation master Wang Yi into laboriously crafting a hundred palm-sized thin plates for him.
"Brother Ping, what use do you have for these? They can't defend you or fight enemies," Wang Yi asked, wiping the sweat from his brow, full of confusion. Li Fan did not answer the talkative formation master's question, merely smiling and using "Falsehood into Truth" to distort Wang Yi's memory of him.
"Huh? Who are you? Why are you in my place!"
"Get out! Don't distract me from researching the sect's great formation!" Wang Yi rudely chased Li Fan, a stranger, away. The Evergreen Valley had many alchemists, but artifact refiners and formation masters were rare. Wang Yi's status within the sect was considered high, and he was accustomed to bossing around disciples who appeared to be newly joined, like Li Fan. Li Fan quietly withdrew, leaving behind a sore and weak Wang Yi, utterly perplexed.
Returning to his dwelling, Li Fan arranged the hundred thin plates before him. Holding spirit stones, he began their reprocessing. After half a day, these originally blank plates had transformed dramatically. In the center of each plate, in a script resembling True Immortal Sigils, were inscribed the four characters "Supreme Dao Scripture." Surrounding the four immortal scripts were countless intricate patterns and mythical beast designs filling the plates. Looking at the background, faint, continuous scenes of mountains and seas could be seen. However, this mountain and sea imagery was extremely subtle, hidden within the complex and decorative patterns, making it difficult for ordinary people to detect.
After completing the engraving on the hundred thin plates, all of Li Fan's spirit stones were depleted. Li Fan himself was on the verge of collapse, feeling faint. While the forced creation by a mortal body contributed to this, the primary reason was that these hundred "Supreme Dao Scripture" plates represented the pinnacle of Li Fan's current formation mastery. Far surpassing countless generations, these were mortal formations but possessed the power of immortal formations! Due to the loss of his Dao comprehension, Li Fan's actual formation skills were greatly diminished, with only a tenth of their former power. However, his formation design concepts remained. Thus, with the help of Wang Yi, the Evergreen Valley's formation master, he created numerous basic formations. He then rewove and combined these formations, transforming the mundane into the miraculous. Finally, he created these hundred "Supreme Dao Scripture" plates. Though merely thin plates, each held infinite potential uses. The most crucial was their function as a medium, allowing real-time communication with Li Fan even across the The Great Barriers and star sea! The four characters "Supreme Dao Scripture" were an exaggeration, but not entirely without truth. Whoever obtained this scripture, if they encountered confusion during their Dao comprehension and cultivation, could implore the scripture for answers. For every question, an answer would be given. With Li Fan's experience of multiple lifetimes, cultivating True Immortality again, and personally experiencing the merging of mountains and seas, longevity, and Return to Truth, he wouldn't boast by saying there was anything in the realm of "Primordial Possibility" that he couldn't answer—let alone the Xuanhuang Realm. In other words, those who obtained the "Supreme Dao Scripture" would essentially have an unparalleled master as a personal tutor. The benefits to their cultivation were self-evident. If Li Fan hadn't been in such a predicament, he wouldn't have conceived of such a mutually beneficial plan. After a brief rest, Li Fan began his actions. Of course, he didn't distribute all the Supreme Dao Scriptures at once. Enlightenment valued quality over quantity.
"Brother, please wait!" Hearing the voice, Baili Shan, the chief disciple of Evergreen Valley, turned around. A cultivator led him to a secluded corner and then mysteriously produced a thin plate.
"You are…" Baili Shan found the other person somewhat familiar, assuming he was from the sect. However, he couldn't recall his specific identity. Without time to ponder further, Baili Shan was captivated by the plate in his hand.
"This item is called the Supreme Dao Scripture, possessing infinite mysteries. Although I have obtained this treasure, I know I am not worthy to enjoy it. Therefore, I present it to you, Senior Brother…" Li Fan whispered. Baili Shan felt a slight amusement. Judging by the other party's aura, he was merely at the Qi Refining stage, yet he dared to speak of a supreme treasure. However, the name "Supreme Dao Scripture" was indeed impressive. Carefully examining the plate, he became engrossed in the intricate patterns. When he snapped back to reality, he realized the benefactor had already vanished. "He called himself…" "What was it?" Baili Shan frowned, finding that he couldn't recall no matter how hard he tried.
In the chapter titled "The Dao Burning Furnace Burns the Dao," Baili Shan, who had recently encountered a unique thin parchment, found himself captivated by it. Though his common sense suggested it couldn't be the genuine Supreme Dao Scripture, he was inexplicably drawn to it. After days of fruitless study, he resigned himself to believing it was merely a figment of his imagination.
Three days later, as Baili Shan returned from his master's tutelage, still pondering the teachings, he found himself idly playing with the thin parchment, which he had come to refer to as the "Supreme Dao Scripture." He pondered a line from the third layer of the Everlasting Spring Scripture: "The Heavens have four seasons; to follow them is to be ever-green, to defy them is to achieve eternal life." He mused, "Isn't evergreen simply eternal life?"
As these questions swirled in his mind, a mysterious green light softly emanated from the parchment, engulfing Baili Shan's thoughts. When he regained his senses, he found himself in a vast, boundless starry sky. In the background, faint, towering silhouettes of mountains and seas could be discerned. Above him, countless mysterious characters floated, shining brilliantly like stars, as if the Great Dao itself had descended in its true form.
Baili Shan's mind roared, his thoughts momentarily blank. "The... the Supreme Dao Scripture? It's real?" As he stared in disbelief, a streak of light shot down from the stars above and merged into his body. Simultaneously, a majestic and sacred voice echoed in his mind: "Greenness signifies the order of Heaven and Earth; eternal life signifies transcending Heaven and Earth. Heaven and Earth have an end, but eternal life is boundless..."
The words reverberated for a long time. In that instant, Baili Shan experienced an epiphany, filled with immense joy: "So that's how it is!"
Meanwhile, as the Supreme Dao Scripture's first user finally established a connection with Li Fan, its creator, Li Fan was able to glimpse the Great Dao of this space-time from within Baili Shan's mind. Though it was like looking at flowers in a mirror or the moon in water, Li Fan, possessing profound understanding of both, only needed a fixed anchor point. With the veil over the Azure Nether Great Dao lifted, Li Fan was able to closely examine and verify the Great Dao of this reality with the one he had previously comprehended.
In the blink of an eye, Li Fan familiarized himself with the images of the Great Dao that Baili Shan had perceived throughout his cultivation journey. By deducing the true Great Dao from the perceived, unreal ones, Li Fan, a former nearly transcendent powerhouse, demonstrated his capabilities. His cultivation realm smoothly progressed through Mortal, Qi Refining, and Foundation Establishment, reaching the late-stage Foundation Establishment, synchronized with Baili Shan's. Li Fan's late-stage Foundation Establishment was leagues beyond Baili Shan's, allowing him to casually slaughter Nascent Soul cultivators and possess sufficient self-preservation abilities.
"However, these so-called realms are not that important. The crucial aspect is the degree of comprehension of the Great Dao. Baili Shan is merely a disciple of the Everlasting Spring Sect, with limited vision. It is imperative to disseminate more Supreme Dao Scriptures as soon as possible..." Li Fan then checked the progress of his True-False Transformation. Although Baili Shan's perceived path was merely a drop in the bucket for its advancement, it proved the feasibility of Li Fan's plan. Crucially, Baili Shan's re-enactment of the Dao path did not attract the attention of the Azure Nether Heavenly Dao or the Great Heavenly Venerate lurking behind the scenes.
"Next, I must head to where the heroes of the world gather..." Li Fan gazed into the distance and departed gracefully.
A month later, the Great Dao Sect was faintly visible. Along the way, Li Fan did not hesitate to share the Supreme Dao Scriptures he possessed. Anyone he encountered with even a modicum of talent received one. His strength also advanced from Foundation Establishment to the late-stage Golden Core. However, this seemed to be the limit for ordinary disciples outside the Myriad Immortal Sects. During this time, Li Fan encountered a considerable number of cultivators. Below Golden Core, they were abundant, but those at Nascent Soul and above were scarce. Even if he occasionally met one, they were mostly advanced in age and did not meet Li Fan's requirements.
"The Ancient Xuanhuang Realm should have been a prosperous era for cultivation. It shouldn't be experiencing such a decline in talent... Could it be..." Recalling Elder Song of Everlasting Spring Valley's mention of impending turmoil, Li Fan speculated that the Myriad Immortal Sects might be waging war on other cultivation realms. The elite disciples of the Myriad Immortal Sects had presumably been mobilized. "No wonder the Azure Nether Heavenly Dao's rejection is so strong." "I wonder if they are currently fighting against the Heavenly Law Realm where the Heavenly Physician resides."
After several tribulations, the history of the Xuanhuang Realm had become shattered and distorted, hidden as if in a mist. Even with the Stone Slab's records, its original appearance could not be restored. Only by returning to the past and experiencing it firsthand could its true form be witnessed. Li Fan's primary objective in visiting the Great Dao Sect was to find Zhao Ruoxi. As someone who would eventually become the Heavenly Venerate of Longevity, Zhao Ruoxi's talent was undoubtedly top-tier in the Xuanhuang Realm. Although he was already familiar with Zhao Ruoxi's memories, he could not pinpoint the exact period of her existence. "However, I didn't see any mention of external wars in her memories. Could she not have been born yet?" Li Fan felt a hint of regret.
Li Fan was no stranger to the sect gates of the Great Dao Sect. As for the sect's grand formation, he ignored it after a brief observation and stealthily infiltrated. The current state of the Great Dao Sect's mountain gate was significantly different from what Zhao Ruoxi had seen in her memories. The most obvious difference was that a chaotic battle seemed to have erupted in various parts of the sect. A lingering scent of blood permeated the air, and visible traces of combat marred the buildings and the ground.
"They've already reached the Great Dao Sect's gates?" Li Fan's surprise grew. This period of history seemed absent from any future records he had encountered. Sensing the area with the densest concentration of life, Li Fan donned the robes of a Great Dao Sect disciple and stealthily moved towards it.
"This is utterly humiliating! We almost lost our mountain gate..." An elder's enraged roar could be faintly heard before Li Fan even approached. "Uncle, there's no need to be angry. After the war ends, I will personally invite the 'Dao Burning Furnace' to settle this matter. For now, the most important thing is to ascertain the enemy's movements." A calm voice, which Li Fan found somewhat familiar, followed. It was Fang Dingge, the sect leader of the Great Dao Sect. Around him gathered about five hundred cultivators, ranging from Qi Refining to Dao Integration, all with grim expressions.
"I must admit, we underestimated them. After all, they are..." Fang Dingge said with a faint smile, unhurriedly. However, he was interrupted by the elder. "I was against your plan from the beginning. The Xuanhuang Realm is the foundation upon which the Myriad Immortal Sects were built; how can we abandon it so easily! Instead of fighting amongst ourselves, we should unite and find a way to deal with the great tribulation..."
"Uncle, you've said enough," Fang Dingge said, casting a slight sideways glance. Though the elder remained dissatisfied, he merely grunted and fell silent. Fang Dingge looked at the surrounding cultivators, pondered for a moment, and produced a peculiar three-legged cauldron from his palm. Formless flames rose from the cauldron's base. The image of the three-legged cauldron suddenly expanded, enveloping everyone present.
"Immortal Spiritual Qi?" Li Fan was startled and unknowingly engulfed by the three-legged cauldron. However, the roaring flames posed no threat to his life. He only vaguely sensed that his memory of the recent conversation was becoming hazy. But Li Fan was no ordinary cultivator. He had even survived the tribulation of merging three Daos and emerging unscathed. Though the three-legged cauldron was a profound immortal artifact, it could not affect him. Just as the formless flames seemed to burn within Li Fan's mind, they suddenly extinguished without cause.
"Dao Burning Furnace?" Li Fan mused. He had never heard of this immortal artifact before. From Fang Dingge's conversation with the elder, Li Fan deduced that this period was one of internal discord among the Myriad Immortal Sects. Li Fan was not surprised that the Myriad Immortal Sects possessed immortal artifacts. However, the power displayed by the Dao Burning Furnace slightly exceeded his expectations.
"Fang Dingge said that by invoking the Dao Burning Furnace, this matter would be settled. And there are no records of this battle in later generations..." "If it truly has that capability, this Dao Burning Furnace would not have been ordinary even in the Immortal Realm of that era. I wonder where this artifact ended up in the future." While Li Fan was contemplating, Fang Dingge spoke again, skipping the summary and directly issuing orders. Of the five hundred people, another hundred, Golden Core and below, were to be dispatched as reinforcements, while the rest would remain at the sect to oversee repairs and defense.
"Golden Core and below?" Li Fan almost thought he had misheard. But seeing the other Great Dao Sect disciples' lack of surprise, he knew there must be a hidden reason. Thus, he remained silent. Unfortunately for him, his luck was poor, and he was selected by Fang Dingge among the hundred for reinforcement. Li Fan noticed that Fang Dingge's gaze lingered on him for a moment longer when selecting the reinforcement personnel. "It seems the 'Illusion is True' technique cannot yet fully influence powerful individuals like the sect leaders of the Myriad Immortal Sects." Li Fan had no choice but to follow for now and seek another opportunity later.
A golden chain materialized out of nowhere above the Great Dao Sect. Fang Dingge then, along with the selected Great Dao Sect cultivators, passed through the chain, traversing what seemed to be an immensely long stretch of starry space. When Li Fan regained his senses, he found himself in a peculiar space. The limit of "momentum" in this world was extremely low, only at the level of Golden Core Perfection in the Xuanhuang Realm. However, the suppressive force of the Great Dao was inexplicably no weaker than in the Xuanhuang Realm. Therefore, all the cultivators who had arrived found their powers restricted to the Golden Core realm.
Li Fan looked up and saw a crescent moon hanging alone in the blood-red sky. It exuded an extremely strong scent of blood, as if it had condensed the lives of countless beings.
“This must be the culprit behind this world’s strangeness,” Li Fan thought to himself.
Upon closer inspection, he could even see scenes of endless mountains of corpses and seas of blood on the surface of the blood moon. Li Fan had witnessed far more horrific scenes than this, so he was not moved by it in the slightest. However, the other disciples of the Great Dao Sect reacted more normally. Their faces turned pale, and many even vomited on the spot.
Fang Dingge did not reprimand them, merely sweeping his gaze over them indifferently. Li Fan also feigned a retching posture, not drawing their attention.
After a while, when everyone had managed to adapt, Fang Dingge slowly spoke, "This world is called the **Blood Moon**, named after the monstrous entity above. The scoundrels who attacked our Great Dao Sect have fled here."
"We must wash away the shame of our sect almost being destroyed with their blood!"
Fang Dingge, as the sect leader, was undoubtedly competent. With just a few words, he stirred the emotions of the crowd. The look of panic vanished, and the Great Dao Sect disciples were immediately filled with a murderous aura.
"Kill without mercy!" Fang Dingge gave the order, and the disciples quickly spread out in all directions, each displaying their magical treasures and techniques. I must say, they are indeed one of the Myriad Immortal Sects; even the foundational disciples below the Golden Core realm possess a depth far exceeding that of heterodox rogue cultivators.
To avoid attracting attention, Li Fan merely employed his sword control technique, stepping onto a water sword and following behind one of the disciples. This person was named Lei Fanzhi, whom Li Fan had seen in Senior Sister Zhao's memories. He would become one of the Great Dao Sect's elders in the future, and his survival of this battle indicated he would likely not encounter any fatal danger.
Although with Li Fan's strength in this peculiar world, he could sweep through it as a Golden Core cultivator, this held no practical significance for him. Being swept into this place was purely an accident. Li Fan still intended to act obediently, weather this event, and then secretly spread the **Supreme Dao Scripture** within the ten sects.
"Your sword control technique is truly extraordinary, Junior Brother!" Li Fan had tried his best to be low-key, but with his current knowledge and skills, even a slight display could make ordinary cultivators' eyes light up, instinctively feeling something extraordinary about it.
"How about we pair up?" Lei Fanzhi asked tentatively. It was evident that Lei Fanzhi was still rather green at this time, perhaps it was his first time leaving the sect to carry out such a killing mission. Li Fan could clearly sense the nervousness in the other party's heart.
"Then I'll have to trouble Senior Brother for his care," Li Fan replied with a smile.
Following Fang Dingge's instructions, the two of them ventured deep into the **Blood Moon** world, purging the enemy. As long as they saw a living creature that was not a Great Dao Sect disciple, they were to kill it without mercy. Although the overall environment here was strange, the native beings were not much different from normal humans, only their skin exhibited a peculiar purple hue.
After completing the slaughter of another gathering point, Lei Fanzhi stared blankly at the flames rising from the ruins, a hint of unbearable emotion flickering in his eyes.
"Those who are not of our kind will surely have different hearts. The moment they broke into our Great Dao Sect, they should have foreseen this outcome," Li Fan said coldly, reminding him. He spoke this not only because he genuinely believed it but also because he sensed Fang Dingge's divine sense monitoring the Great Dao Sect disciples, so he deliberately said so.
Lei Fanzhi sighed and did not refute.
As the two were about to leave, Li Fan suddenly exclaimed in a low voice, "Senior Brother, look what I found!"
Lei Fanzhi followed the sound and saw Li Fan digging out two sparkling thin fragments from the black ruins. Intricate patterns depicting scenes of mountains and seas adorned them, clearly indicating they were extraordinary items. Lei Fanzhi's heart skipped a beat. He flashed closer, took the fragments, and examined them.
"Although I don't understand the meaning of the few characters on these fragments, the moment I saw them, the words **Supreme Dao Scripture** surged into my mind. Senior Brother, this..." Li Fan's voice trembled.
Lei Fanzhi held the fragments and observed them carefully. His expression was initially one of confusion, then filled with shock. Suppressing the trembling of his body, he instinctively scanned his surroundings. Seeing that no one else was present, he took a deep breath and returned one of the fragments to Li Fan: "These things are likely lost scriptures from the Immortal Realm. They are an unparalleled opportunity for us."
"I've examined them. These two fragments are identical. Let's each take one..." "Today, I owe you a great debt. I will surely repay you in the future." Although he directly took one of the two treasures, he did give the other half back to Li Fan and did not conceal the matter. He could be described as neither a saint nor a villain, but simply a normal person making a normal choice. To Li Fan's surprise, the other party was able to discern the profound mystery of the **Supreme Dao Scripture** so quickly.
"The elites of the ten sects are indeed incomparable to disciples of second-rate sects," Li Fan thought, sensing another corner of the Great Dao appearing in the mist. He nodded inwardly. However, he still maintained an expression of shock and hesitation on his face, saying, "Shouldn't such precious treasures be handed over to the sect? If the Sect Master finds out we kept them, will he blame us?"
Lei Fanzhi snorted dismissively, "What are you talking about? The heritage of the ten sects originates from the Immortal Realm; there are countless immortal treasures. It's just a scripture. If the Sect Master were to snatch it... that would be too unfitting. Don't worry."
"Besides, heaven and earth know, you know, I know. As long as we keep our mouths shut, we'll be fine." Li Fan, sensing Fang Dingge's divine sense sweep over them again, nodded in agreement.
The sweep of the **Blood Moon** world proceeded without any major incidents. Except for one large-scale battle that erupted in another area, the clearing operations in other places went very smoothly. After Fang Dingge, holding the **Dao Burning Furnace**, absorbed and incinerated the blood moon in the sky, the suppression of cultivators in this world returned to normal. Although the maximum cultivation level it could withstand remained at the Golden Core realm, cultivators could temporarily unleash their true strength. The price for this was expulsion from the world moments later.
"Since this world has been conquered, it shall serve as our Great Dao Sect's bridgehead for conquest." Fang Dingge stood in the sky, looking towards the depths of the starry sky through the golden chains outside the world, his voice booming across the expanse.
"The **Starry Sea Crossing Great Formation**. It's still intact at this point in time," Li Fan mused. Judging from Fang Dingge's words, the war involving the Myriad Immortal Sects was far from its most intense phase. "Such a large-scale war, yet there are no records of it in later generations. Interesting..." The true battles of conquering other cultivation worlds were clearly not something Golden Core cultivators could participate in. Fang Dingge led the more than a hundred disciples who completed this mission back to the sect.
The bloody smell had not yet dissipated in the Great Dao Sect, but some disciples had already returned from the battlefield. They were dispirited, and deep terror flashed in their eyes from time to time. It was evident that the front lines had left them with deep psychological scars.
At night, Li Fan quietly infiltrated the minds of several Great Dao Sect disciples who had returned from the front lines. However, it seemed that to prevent the leakage of battle plans, the memories of these returnees had been partially or completely erased. They were not very clear about the specific battle situation. Judging from the tragic scenes of countless cultivators perishing, the ferocity of this war was even greater than Li Fan had estimated.
"Oh, it seems like in the future, some cultivators experienced this earth-shattering battle again in the **Fallen Immortal Realm**." Triggered by these images, Li Fan recalled some distant memories. "Only the **Fallen Immortal Realm** can preserve records amidst such purges. However, it seems the outcome for the ten sects in this war was not very good. Otherwise, if they had won, there would be no need for such thorough purging," Li Fan's eyes flickered as he looked towards the mountain peak where the Great Dao Sect's main hall was located.
War was like still, deep water, silently consuming countless lives. Meanwhile, Li Fan's earlier, covert arrangements had finally taken effect. A divine sense, extremely "powerful" for Li Fan's current realm, suddenly intruded into the **Supreme Dao Scripture**.
"Dao Integration realm!" Li Fan rejoiced inwardly, his attention instantly concentrated. Even a **Dao Integration** cultivator, in front of the Great Dao starry sky Li Fan had created, lost their senses in an instant. It was even quicker than the Golden Core disciples who had fallen. This was because only after reaching the **Dao Integration** realm could one begin to glimpse a corner of the grand principles of heaven and earth. Therefore, upon seeing the **Supreme Dao Scripture**, one could truly realize its value. This strand of divine sense entered through Lei Fanzhi's fragment.
Just as his mind was lost in confusion, in the real world, on a certain mountain peak of the Great Dao Sect, a surge of majestic aura suddenly erupted and shot into the sky. A golden long bow was drawn, and an arrow was nocked. The arrow pierced the void and shot straight out of the Xuanhuang Realm, flying into the depths of the starry sea.
"That is..." "After being trapped for nine hundred years, just as he was about to perish, Uncle-Master Fu has finally broken through! A double celebration, a double celebration!" "Fu Xiwenz is said to be the strongest among the Great Dao Sect's prodigies of the previous generation. He wields peerless archery skills. His bow draws the setting sun, and his arrows sing like the Golden Crow! It's a shame he was too focused on archery, delaying his comprehension of the Great Dao, so his realm was always stuck at the peak of Soul Transformation. I never thought he would have hope in this life, but today..." Exclamations of surprise came from various parts of the Great Dao Sect.
Li Fan understood the cause of the situation. "Fu Xiwenz is Lei Fanzhi's master. It must have been Lei Fanzhi who gave him the **Supreme Dao Scripture**." "However, this person's divine sense cultivation had already reached the **Dao Integration** realm, only needing that final push. With the enlightenment from my **Supreme Dao Scripture**, a breakthrough is only natural."
Openly, the Great Dao Sect gained a new **Dao Integration** expert. Secretly, Li Fan, with Fu Xiwenz's help, touched upon more of the Azure Nether Great Dao. Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Soul Transformation, Dao Integration. Confined within a small room, the aura emanating from Li Fan changed rapidly, like a thousand transformations in an instant. It was as if he embodied the ancient cultivation methods, achieving enlightenment and ascending in a single day. However, the reality was entirely different. It was not Li Fan who attained enlightenment, but the Dao itself returning to Li Fan. The immense Spirit Qi disturbance caused by the ascension to **Dao Integration** on the Great Dao Sect's mountain peak lingered for a long time. Meanwhile, Li Fan's side had long since returned to calm. Even with the eyes of **Dao Integration**, what could be seen was still limited, but it provided Li Fan with a sufficiently suitable fulcrum of strength. Although the highest realm in the current Xuanhuang Realm was the Longevity Realm, the actual combat power was not significantly different from **Dao Integration**, with longevity being achieved through the **Fruit of Longevity**. Ignoring the hidden monsters, Li Fan himself had now returned to the pinnacle of the Xuanhuang Realm.
"But this is far from enough." "Just one **Dao Integration** cultivator is not enough for me to restore the **Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice**." "Although my progress in the **True-False Transformation** has improved, it's only taken a small step." The vast gap between each realm above **Dao Integration** was evident. "I need more **Dao Integration** cultivators from the Xuanhuang Realm to aid me." Li Fan's gaze shifted towards the ongoing battle that was now erupting.
As he was contemplating, a knock suddenly sounded at the door. It had not been long since Li Fan infiltrated the Great Dao Sect. The only person he could be considered familiar with was Lei Fanzhi. Seeing Lei Fanzhi's conflicted and complex expression outside the door, Li Fan understood his intentions almost instantly. He smiled slightly and opened the door. Then, as if caught off guard, he agreed to his request to go out together.
"You also know, my master has finally broken through to the **Dao Integration** realm this time. It's an absolutely joyous occasion," Lei Fanzhi said haltingly. "So he asked me to go down the mountain to invite other sects to witness and congratulate..."
"Congratulations, Senior Brother. With a Master in **Dao Integration**, your status in the sect will be vastly different from today. When you become successful, don't forget about your junior brother," Li Fan said sincerely, as if he hadn't noticed the poorly disguised excuse. Lei Fanzhi could only respond with a complex expression.
As the two walked to a deserted area, a sharp blade suddenly pierced Li Fan's chest. "Junior Brother, don't blame me!" Lei Fanzhi shouted sternly. Then, with great decisiveness, he severed Li Fan's head. Fearing that Li Fan might not be completely dead, Lei Fanzhi, his body trembling, found the **Supreme Dao Scripture** among Li Fan's belongings and burned the corpse to ashes. After standing rooted for a long time, Lei Fanzhi finally regained his senses and returned to the sect in a somewhat disheveled state. He did not notice that Li Fan, who should have been undeniably dead behind him, had reappeared out of thin air.
"Destroying the corpse and covering up the traces, marvelous." "Even if the ten sects trace back any clues in the future, the trail will end here," Li Fan said with a smile, watching Lei Fanzhi leave. And the moment Lei Fanzhi's figure completely entered the gates of the Great Dao Sect, Li Fan's smile suddenly disappeared. He looked up sharply, sensing the arrival of danger. This crisis did not come from anyone in the Xuanhuang Realm, but from this very time and space. It felt as if he had returned to the River of Time, with surging waves rising. This cleansing wave of time had no effect on time and space itself, but it targeted only Li Fan. Without the protection of the Great Dao of Longevity, the Reverse Flow Boat had also shattered. Now, Li Fan had to face this sudden change on his own.
"This is..." "The turbulence caused by the shifting course of the River of Time!" "As a modifier of history, I naturally have to bear its backlash!"
A mere ripple from the River of Time was more destructive than any so-called Heavenly Tribulation in the mortal world.
The Xuanhuang Realm remained tranquil, yet to Li Fan, it felt as if a monumental force was forcibly crumpling the very fabric of space. Boundaries, once distinct, now appeared as razor-sharp blades, slicing through his body and soul.
Even though it wasn't his first encounter with the tempests of the River of Time, Li Fan's expression still shifted slightly.
In this moment of peril, Li Fan made the most crucial choice.
He utilized his nascent understanding of the Transformation between Truth and Fiction to simulate the protection of the "Illusion and Truth" technique.
It was fortunate that he had just recovered his Dao Integration cultivation, which had given his comprehension of the Transformation between Truth and Fiction a slight edge, thus increasing the efficiency of "Illusion and Truth" accordingly.
It was akin to donning a straw cloak in a storm, allowing Li Fan to at least move and discern direction with difficulty.
The ripples from the River of Time continued to spread, seemingly waiting for the changes Li Fan had caused to subside before ceasing.
Bathed in these ripples, Li Fan was like a butterfly in a hurricane, constantly on the verge of being torn asunder.
In a flash, Li Fan conceived of a method for self-preservation.
He recalled his perilous journey upstream in the River of Time, how he had nearly lost himself but ultimately discovered a familiar beacon – the Medicine King Cauldron – that allowed him to land safely.
"Even if I've arrived at this point in time, I am still like duckweed adrift in the wind, without roots. To survive the temporal ripples, I desperately need to find my 'anchor point' in this era and fully integrate into it. It's like grabbing onto a reef for dear life while drifting in a turbulent river..."
The spatial folds intensified, making it nearly impossible for Li Fan to move.
There was no more time to waste. In an instant, Li Fan identified the most solid anchor point available to him at this juncture.
"Originally, if that Lei Fanzi hadn't made a move, the Great Dao Sect would have been the best choice. It's a pity that the identity I was impersonating is already dead," Li Fan realized with sudden clarity.
Pushing his movement technique to its limit, he returned at extreme speed towards Evergreen Valley.
The speed of Dao Integration was more than a hundred times that of the Golden Core stage. A journey that would have taken a month was now completed in an instant.
Above Evergreen Valley, Li Fan briefly sensed Elder Song's presence, concealed his aura, and descended quietly.
"Elder Song, it's me!"
Standing before Elder Song, Li Fan, while battling the temporal ripples, managed to maintain a calm demeanor. "You are..." Elder Song narrowed his eyes and examined Li Fan, a hint of confusion in his gaze. Due to the effects of "Illusion and Truth" from earlier, he didn't recognize Li Fan.
The anchor point had failed, and the temporal ripples showed no signs of receding. The increasingly dense intersecting lines nearly filled the entire world. Li Fan felt as though he would be completely submerged by the long, flowing river in the next moment.
At this critical juncture, inspiration struck Li Fan. He retrieved the magic artifact that Elder Song had bestowed upon him. Fortunately, his frugal habit of never discarding even seemingly useless artifacts meant he always kept it on his person. Now, it became his crucial lifeline.
Although Elder Song didn't recognize Li Fan, he recognized the artifact he himself had forged. This reminded him of Li Fan's identity. "Oh, it's you." With these words, Li Fan's identity was finally confirmed. Instantly, he was pulled back from the River of Time into reality. The temporal ripples began to fade.
Even with some residual tremors, Li Fan could now manage them. Having narrowly escaped death, Li Fan cleared his throat and stepped forward. "This artifact saved my life at a critical moment during a conflict yesterday. That's why I've come to thank you, Elder Song..."
As he spoke, Li Fan subtly created a microscopic crack on the artifact. Simultaneously, he rapidly condensed the surrounding Spirit Qi into a top-grade spirit stone and presented it. The power of a Dao Integration cultivator, once a True Immortal, was far beyond what Elder Song of Evergreen Valley could detect.
He smiled as he looked at the gleaming, undoubtedly extraordinary spirit stone presented to him. "You are very thoughtful." He accepted the spirit stone casually.
Their relationship grew closer, and Li Fan noticed the temporal ripples outside of reality diminish further. With the immediate crisis averted, Li Fan couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
"There's no need to be so tense. We have few disciples like you who are filial and sensible. It's rare," Elder Song observed, noticing Li Fan's significant emotional shift and offering comfort. He also spoke with genuine emotion. "Since that artifact is damaged, I will bestow another upon you. However, you must not rely on its power to seek conflict. These are trying times; stable cultivation is the righteous path." Elder Song said sternly.
He took out another artifact from his storage ring. Or rather, a treasure. Its quality was clearly a notch above the one he had gifted Li Fan earlier – an ancient, dark gold bronze bell. Elder Song looked at the bell with a hint of nostalgia. "This bell accompanied me for a long time. However, due to the limitations of its forging materials, it's of little help to me now. I shall give it to you today." "It can withstand attacks below the Nascent Soul realm without issue."
Li Fan was overjoyed and quickly accepted the bronze bell. While thanking Elder Song, he instantly began refining the bell. Li Fan's interest was not in the bell's efficacy as a treasure, but in the passage of time it embodied. Having been intimately connected with Elder Song for most of his life, and now refined by Li Fan, this bond was now transferred to him.
The turmoil in the River of Time finally receded. Li Fan had weathered the first backlash from altering history. "Elder Song, for today's boon, I shall repay you handsomely in the future!" Li Fan said solemnly. Elder Song waved his hand. "Your intention is good enough." With that, he slowly departed.
After watching Elder Song leave, Li Fan found a courtyard in Evergreen Valley and settled down temporarily. First, he re-refined the dark gold bronze bell. For Li Fan, inherent material flaws were not limitations. With the inscription of complex formations, even ordinary objects could rival immortal artifacts. As he helped the bronze bell undergo its transformation, Li Fan reflected on his previous rash actions.
"It seems now that those who travel against the current to another timeline must beware of becoming like rootless trees or water without a source." "It's not that changing history is impossible. After all, the River of Time is vast and boundless, containing infinite possibilities." "Rather, it's about having the ability to withstand the backlash of the River of Time's course changing while making alterations." "Besides one's own strength, the most critical element is the anchor point. Simply put, it's the connection with others, events, and objects in the spacetime." "The inheritance I received from Emperor Tai previously was missing this crucial aspect..."
Li Fan pondered for a long time, ruling out the possibility of malicious intent from Emperor Tai. "Emperor Tai traveled upstream at most for tens of thousands of years, and he was once an Immortal Emperor of the Immortal Realm. Countless True Immortals in the Immortal Realm could be considered his anchor points, so he naturally wouldn't worry about the temporal backlash." "The same applies to King Xuan Tian. The multitude of beings under the Heavenly Mysteries Sect's rule, and the several Law Kings who are suspected descendants of the Nameless True Immortal." "As for me, whether it's ten thousand years later or now, I am always alone..." "It's only natural that the River of Time's currents are so turbulent."
Li Fan's thoughts raced. After organizing his reflections, he let out a long sigh. He didn't succumb to self-pity due to his absolute solitude. If anchor points didn't exist, he would create them. "First, I will stabilize my existence in the present timeline. Then, I will consider other matters." Li Fan made up his mind.
The next day. "Grand Disciple's divine might!" "Look at Grand Disciple's imposing presence, he must be close to breaking through to the Nascent Soul realm! What a blessing for Evergreen Valley!" "Hmph, perhaps Evergreen Valley is too small to contain such a divine being." "What nonsense are you spouting? Is Baili Shan someone who forgets kindness!"
In the sky, Baili Shan displayed his prowess, repelling a group of opportunistic cultivators coveting the Medicine King Sect's treasures. Below, the cultivators of Evergreen Valley discussed amongst themselves. Baili Shan seemed unfazed by their opinions, gracefully leading his fellow disciples back to report. He also made a firm declaration to Zou Yunhao, the sect leader of Evergreen Valley. "Master, please rest assured. A master is like a father for life, and Evergreen Valley is my eternal home. Even if I ascend to Nascent Soul, Soul Transformation, or even Dao Integration in the future, I will not leave Evergreen Valley by half a step," Baili Shan stated resolutely. Zou Yunhao stroked his beard and nodded with great satisfaction. Then, a hint of regret appeared in his voice. "In truth, with your talent, Baili, if you were to join one of the Myriad Immortal Sects, your future would be far brighter. You might even have a chance to contend with the heroes of the world. Remaining in our Evergreen Valley..." Baili Shan replied proudly, "Master, please rest assured. Even if I stay in Evergreen Valley my entire life, I will not be weaker than those so-called prodigious talents of the Ten Sects!" Zou Yunhao sighed and remained silent. He mistakenly thought Baili Shan's words were born of youthful arrogance and ignorance of the Ten Sects' depth. Recalling Baili Shan's nervous yet observant demeanor when he had first taken him in, Zou Yunhao inwardly thought, "It's rare for Evergreen Valley to produce such a young dragon; we can't possibly hinder him. Perhaps this trip to the Supreme Sect will secure a better path for him." "The orthodox immortal teachings reside within the Ten Sects. All others are mere unorthodox paths..." Zou Yunhao sighed inwardly.
Baili Shan was oblivious to his master's thoughts. The reason for his absolute confidence and reluctance to join the Myriad Immortal Sects was due to the "Supreme Dao Scripture" he had accidentally obtained. After diligently studying this treasure, Baili Shan was convinced that its name, "Supreme," was well-earned. Merely glimpsing less than one in a hundred millionth of its brilliance had propelled his cultivation forward exponentially. "If I can fully comprehend the Dao Scripture, I might even have a chance to become a True Immortal!" "What are the Myriad Immortal Sects compared to that? They are utterly insignificant!" Joining the Myriad Immortal Sects would risk exposing his secret of possessing this treasure, whereas in Evergreen Valley, he enjoyed absolute trust. The choice was self-evident.
Baili Shan returned to his courtyard, intending to enter seclusion and meticulously study the Supreme Dao Scripture. However, he was startled to find a person inexplicably present in his room. "Who's there?" Assuming his secret had been discovered, Baili Shan immediately unleashed his Evergreen Spirit Qi, transforming it into a medical blade and thrusting it forward. "Senior Brother, you are truly forgetful. It's fine if you don't remember me, but surely you haven't forgotten the Supreme Dao Scripture I presented to you?" Li Fan said with a smile, casually deflecting Baili Shan's attack. The phrase "Supreme Dao Scripture" stirred Baili Shan's nearly lost memories. "It's you?!" In an instant, countless thoughts flashed through Baili Shan's mind – killing intent, fear, and confusion. Baili Shan was still young, and his inner turmoil was evident on his face. "Senior Brother, don't overthink it. See what this is?" Li Fan said with a smile, extending his palm. Baili Shan focused his gaze and saw a profoundly mysterious thin fragment lying in Li Fan's palm – unmistakably the "Supreme Dao Scripture" he was so familiar with! Baili Shan's heart leaped. His immediate instinct was to check his own body, and upon finding nothing missing, he breathed a sigh of relief. He was not foolish; after some deliberation, he finally understood. "You... found two fragments?" Baili Shan exclaimed in realization. "Precisely! Senior Brother, you are indeed intelligent," Li Fan said, clapping his hands in praise. "However, I had an inkling that this treasure was extraordinary, but I could never find the correct method to unlock it, which is why I steeled myself to give one fragment to you, Senior Brother." "And your performance over the past month has confirmed my suspicions," Li Fan said with a smile. "Are these two fragments identical?" Baili Shan narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Li Fan, and asked first. "I'm not sure. But I suspect there's no difference. Senior Brother, why don't you take a look?" Saying this, Li Fan offered the fragment he held with both hands. Amidst his surprise and doubt, Baili Shan accepted it and examined it. After a moment, he exhaled and returned the so-called "Supreme Dao Scripture." "Your guess was correct. This one of yours is exactly the same as the one I possess," Baili Shan said gravely. "I implore Senior Brother to teach me how to use this Supreme Dao Scripture."
After a period of contemplation, Baili Shan slowly shared his understanding. Li Fan tightly grasped the fragment in his right hand and closed his eyes. After a moment, he opened them, a wild expression emerging. "So it was this simple. Seeking too hard is worse than not seeking at all; one simply needs to walk the path of the Dao!" Baili Shan snorted dismissively. Li Fan chuckled, unperturbed. "What are your plans for the future, Senior Brother? With such a supreme treasure by your side, you can go anywhere in the world, can't you?" Sharing the Supreme Dao Scripture now made them confidantes with a common secret. Although Baili Shan didn't hold Li Fan in high regard, to prevent him from exposing their secret and implicating himself, he said sternly, "For you and me, as long as we possess the 'Supreme Dao Scripture,' it makes no difference where we cultivate. Our strength is still too weak; if it were exposed, we would have no means to protect ourselves..." Baili Shan cautioned repeatedly. Li Fan sensed that by considering him an "insider," another anchor point for his presence in this timeline had been established.
Li Fan could clearly sense that Baili Shan’s “anchor point” was much more stable than Elder Song’s. This wasn't merely due to his seemingly closer relationship with Baili Shan now. It was related to the thickness of the “ink” left behind by the anchor person in the long river of time.
“If nothing unexpected happens, Elder Song will only reach the Nascent Soul stage in his lifetime. He won't be much different from the common cultivators in the Xuanhuang Realm, ultimately perishing like an ant in the upcoming cultivation tribulation.”
“However, Baili Shan, who obtained the Supreme Dao Scripture, will undoubtedly reach the peak realm of the Xuanhuang Realm, the Dao Integration stage. She will live longer and leave a deeper imprint.”
Li Fan's gaze seemed to pierce through the mists of history, penetrating the vast river of time. He glimpsed scenes from ten thousand years in the future.
...
His guesses confirmed, Li Fan abandoned his previous practice of concealing his identity through the Illusory True existence and began to appear frequently in public. Baili Shan was, without a doubt, the center of attention at the Evergreen Sect. As Baili Shan’s newly made good friend, Li Fan also attracted significant notice.
Compared to Baili Shan, a rising star, Li Fan was a nobody without any apparent merits. Therefore, the vast majority of Evergreen disciples couldn't understand why he and Baili Shan were so close. Some disciples with darker intentions, after failing to sow discord between them, began to spread vile rumors throughout Evergreen Valley.
"Don't mind these fools. You and I are not of the same world as them," Baili Shan said dismissively.
Sensing Li Fan's insights into the Supreme Dao Scripture, she was overjoyed. "Indeed, the Great Dao is like the sky; seeing it from different angles reveals different views. By sharing our respective insights and verifying them with each other, our cultivation efficiency is several times higher than practicing in isolation!"
Initially, Baili Shan only saw Li Fan as a "confidant" who shared a common secret. However, after seeing Li Fan's rapid cultivation advancement upon comprehending the Supreme Dao Scripture, her attitude slowly began to change. She started to see Li Fan as a fellow seeker of the Dao, someone who could mutually assist her.
"Rumors are like floods; if left unchecked, they only spread further. I don't mind, but you are the chief disciple of Evergreen Valley and will inherit the position of Sect Master in the future."
"If such rumors are allowed to spread, then in the future..." Li Fan shook his head slightly.
Baili Shan's expression froze. After pondering for a moment, she frowned and said, "What you say has merit. I will report this to my master immediately..."
Li Fan waved his hand. "Brother Baili, you need to understand your position. The current situation is not that you are begging to stay at Evergreen Valley, but that Evergreen Valley needs you to stay. If you can't resolve such a trivial matter yourself, then Evergreen Valley is not worth staying in!"
"But..." Baili Shan sounded conflicted upon hearing this. What Li Fan said seemed logical, but it went against her long-held way of conducting herself.
As if sensing Baili Shan's inner conflict, Li Fan proactively offered, "Brother Baili, you don't need to worry. Just continue to play the role of the brilliant senior brother."
"I will be the villain."
Baili Shan stared at Li Fan's calm expression, completely stunned.
In the following days, Evergreen Valley witnessed a bloody purge. The perpetrators and spreaders of the rumors were executed publicly before the disciples with swift and decisive methods, their very bones ground to dust. The rumors immediately ceased.
As for Li Fan's blatant disregard for sect rules and his act of slaughter, the Evergreen Valley Sect Master and the elders all chose to turn a blind eye. They all believed that Baili Shan, unwilling to tarnish her reputation, had instructed Li Fan to act on her behalf. Compared to Baili Shan, those who spread the rumors were insignificant and deserved death, so no punishment was meted out. In fact, they even stepped forward to support the two.
The storm gradually subsided. However, Li Fan's ruthless killing figure was deeply etched into the minds of the Evergreen disciples like a nightmare.
"Indeed, this method of leaving anchor points is effective."
"And its effect is even better than ordinary methods," Li Fan mused in his secluded cultivation chamber, feeling the increasingly stable connections between himself and the mortal world hanging in the air. A dangerous glint flickered in his eyes as he thought of something. However, after some consideration, it slowly vanished.
"I can use it occasionally, but it cannot be the primary method. The most crucial aspect is the presence of people and things in the air as anchor points. If they are all wiped out, or if their numbers are too few, the anchoring effect will actually decrease..."
He got up and stretched, feeling the stability of the anchor points, and nodded with satisfaction. "Although Evergreen Valley is a small sect, it influences an area of ten thousand miles. My fearsome reputation is now known throughout the valley. With this as a foundation, the anchor points I've established are temporarily sufficient for my activities."
Li Fan didn't intend to stay here for long. During this time, he had also secretly gathered some information about the fierce war currently being waged by the Ten Great Immortal Sects. The enemy was a cultivation world called "Primordial." Compared to the Xuanhuang Realm, the Primordial Realm was on a completely different level in terms of scale and overall cultivator strength. At the beginning of the war, the rulers of the Xuanhuang Realm, the Ten Great Immortal Sects, didn't take the enemy seriously, believing the war would end quickly.
As people had predicted, facing the sudden invasion from the Xuanhuang Realm, the Primordial Realm suffered heavy losses in their unpreparedness. Several of the largest sects were almost wiped out, leaving only survivors united to resist to the death. Initially, the Ten Great Immortal Sects didn't pay much attention to these insignificant resistance forces, their focus solely on quickly plundering the Primordial Realm's resources.
But no one expected that the surviving resistance forces would grow so rapidly, dealing a heavy blow to the Ten Great Immortal Sects. Not only did they nearly annihilate the Azure Nether vanguard cultivators, but they even managed to counterattack into the Xuanhuang Realm. And all of this was attributed to a world- trấn hưng immortal artifact within the Primordial Realm: The Primordial Chaos Cauldron!
This was information the Xuanhuang Realm had painstakingly gathered at a great cost. Any cultivator who died in the Primordial Realm could be revived in the Primordial Chaos Cauldron in a full- recovery state by activating the cauldron's flames. It was said that the entire Primordial Realm was initially used as a test site for the Primordial Chaos Cauldron's efficacy. Later, when the Immortal Realm was destroyed, the Primordial Chaos Cauldron was actually controlled by its own experimental subjects.
The enemy could be revived endlessly, while their own side was one less with each death. How could they possibly win? The moment this news spread, morale on the side of the Ten Great Immortal Sects plummeted. Almost everyone wanted to give up on attacking the Primordial Realm.
However, at a critical moment, the Sect Master of the One Beginning Sect, Qu Yixing, revealed the heavenly secret. The news about the Primordial Chaos Cauldron was intentionally leaked by the enemy, solely to force the Xuanhuang Realm forces to retreat. While the Primordial Chaos Cauldron could indeed revive people, all immortal artifacts required immortal Spirit Qi to activate. The Primordial Realm had no True Immortals, and the Primordial Chaos Cauldron's situation was likely similar to the remnant immortal artifacts in the Xuanhuang Realm. Using it once meant one less use.
The revival method was not without limitations. They had already sacrificed so much in the attack on the Primordial Realm; should they give up halfway? Moreover, if the Primordial Chaos Cauldron truly possessed miraculous revival abilities, after the conquest and occupation, they might even be able to revive the cultivators of the Ten Great Immortal Sects who had fallen in the Primordial Realm. Whether out of self-interest or a sense of righteousness, continuing the attack became the only choice for the Ten Great Immortal Sects. Thus, they chose to continue investing their forces and engage in a war of attrition with the Primordial Realm.
However, perhaps they had misestimated the amount of usable immortal Spirit Qi remaining in the Primordial Chaos Cauldron. Wave after wave of Primordial Realm cultivators revived, seemingly inexhaustible. Consequently, the war fell into a complete stalemate.
...
After organizing the information he had gathered, Li Fan's expression became somewhat subtle. "Not True Immortals, so they don't know the infinite nature of immortal Spirit Qi."
"They chose to fill the gap with lives..." Not all cultivation worlds were as special as the Xuanhuang Realm. As one of the most important experimental grounds in the Kōroka Dojo, it was strictly supervised. Even immortal artifacts were merely half-finished products with阉割 functions. Judging other cultivation worlds based on the Xuanhuang Realm's situation would likely lead to unpleasant outcomes.
What piqued Li Fan's curiosity was the location of this so-called "Primordial Realm." As a disciple of the Mound Guardian, Li Fan had once obtained the highest authority within the Kōroka Dojo. However, among the stars of the various experimental grounds, he had not discovered the existence of the "Primordial Realm."
"Either, at this point in time, it was occupied and subsequently annihilated by the Xuanhuang Realm."
"Or, this Primordial Realm is not within the The Great Barriers."
Li Fan had previously come into close contact with and observed the golden chains that represented the Sky Crossing Starry Sea Formation when he was at the Great Dao Sect. Judging by the power it displayed, it might indeed be able to breach the The Great Barriers and connect to the outer starry sky.
"It's a pity that it seems to have been forcibly activated at a certain cost."
"It only has one chance, no wonder the Ten Great Immortal Sects are fighting so desperately."
"Their luck is truly terrible."
"An immortal artifact capable of infinite revival..." In Li Fan's understanding, such an immortal artifact would be considered top-tier even in the past Immortal Realm, something only the Governing Immortal Emperors who held the reins of the Immortal Realm could forge and bestow upon the Immortal Ministers of each star domain.
"Could it be left by another Hidden Emperor?" Li Fan pondered silently, gazing into the faint image of the Sky Crossing Starry Sea Formation projected in the celestial screen.
"At this critical juncture of survival, someone must be able to salvage the situation from the brink of collapse, to prevent the collapse of the edifice..." Li Fan murmured, his mind already made up.
After sending a message to Baili Shan, Li Fan once again quietly departed. Entering the battlefield of the Primordial Realm was not difficult. With insufficient manpower, the Ten Great Immortal Sects were forcibly conscripting soldiers. After obtaining proof of authorization from the Evergreen Valley Sect Master, Li Fan arrived at the gates of the Supreme Sect. Compared to what he remembered seeing in paintings, it was even more magnificent. Peaks floated in the sky, forming a grand formation. The disciples of the Supreme Sect were like celestial beings looking down upon the mortal world.
Alas, the current Supreme Sect was rather desolate.
"You're here to volunteer?" Duan Yuxiao, a cultivator of the Soul Transformation stage at the Supreme Sect, looked at Li Fan with utter astonishment. After carefully observing Li Fan and matching his appearance with the description provided by the Evergreen Valley Sect Master Zou Yunhao in his memory, Duan Yuxiao set aside his doubts. He said solemnly, "Good! In this world, all sect members turn pale at the mention of war; we need exemplary individuals like you! Rest assured, our Ten Great Immortal Sects will not treat you unfairly!"
"Follow me!" Duan Yuxiao wasn't lying. He directly brought Li Fan to the Supreme Sect's treasure vault and, pointing to a sea of cultivation techniques and magical artifacts, generously said, "You may choose any three items from here!"
"If you return alive, I will report to my Martial Uncle, the Sect Master, and accept you as a direct disciple of our Supreme Sect!"
Li Fan cupped his fists and wandered through the Supreme Sect's treasure vault. Clearly, this was only the outermost layer of the vault. While it contained countless treasures, they were only valuable to those below the Soul Transformation stage. To Li Fan, with his current discerning eye, none of them were worth his attention, and there were no scenes of discovering rare treasures. He casually picked a cultivation technique and two magical artifacts just for show.
Duan Yuxiao personally escorted Li Fan to the battlefield. Within the Supreme Sect, there was also a golden chain of the Sky Crossing Starry Sea Formation. However, compared to what Li Fan had seen before, the situation seemed even more precarious. In Li Fan's opinion, this chain was clearly nearing its limit and could collapse at any moment. Duan Yuxiao, however, seemed oblivious, joyfully leading Li Fan through the spatial transition along the golden chain.
The moment he stepped into the Primordial Realm, Li Fan keenly sensed wisps of immortal Spirit Qi flowing through the world. "Without the Azure Nether Great Heavenly Venerate causing trouble, surely it won't resist my comprehension?" Li Fan felt the manifestation of the Great Dao in this world. After a moment, he couldn't help but frown slightly.
Although the situation was much better than in the Xuanhuang Realm, it wasn't exactly optimistic. This was because the Great Dao in this realm was incredibly solid and integrated as one. Li Fan almost thought he was standing before a Nameless True Immortal who had attained enlightenment!
"Furthermore, the Great Dao of this realm is actually within my blind spot, unfamiliar to my former Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice..." Li Fan felt a hint of pleasant surprise. In contrast, Duan Yuxiao was not as happy. Seemingly having discovered something, his expression became serious the moment he entered the Primordial Realm. Grabbing Li Fan, he rapidly flew towards a structure standing on the land ahead. This location was originally the base of a sect in the Primordial Realm, now occupied by the Xuanhuang Realm. Having endured countless brutal battles, it was almost unrecognizable.
"Senior Brother Duan, why have you come?" a surprisingly clear voice rang out. The speaker was a female cultivator exuding a strong scent of blood. The female cultivator had an ordinary appearance, but the heroic spirit in her eyes was unforgettable. Duan Yuxiao pointed to Li Fan and explained the situation truthfully. The female cultivator looked at Li Fan and nodded slightly. "Although his cultivation is a bit low, he can still galvanize the troops and boost morale."
"How is the battle going?" Duan Yuxiao asked.
“It’s the same as always,” the female cultivator named Cao Yingyue sighed. “We barely managed to repel them. I estimate they’ll be back in seven days.”
Duan Yuxiao offered comfort, “It must have been hard, Junior Sister. Looking at other outposts, their situations aren’t much better. This place isn’t even the front line…”
They exchanged a look, falling into silence.
“But there’s good news too. It's said that after joint efforts, they’ve finally deduced the specific location of that item. An assault is being prepared, a decisive strike to end it all…” Cao Yingyue transmitted her voice.
Duan Yuxiao felt a wave of relief. “I hope this time, we can finally end this war. We’ve already shed too much blood on this land.”
“However, even if that thing is destroyed, the enemy's final counterattack will only be more desperate. Junior Sister, you must be careful,” Duan Yuxiao warned.
“I understand that, of course,” Cao Yingyue nodded.
Their private exchange, though transmitted through voice, did not escape Li Fan’s notice.
"As the saying goes, 'Success comes from secrecy.' To think a secret like the True Primordial Cauldron’s location could be so easily exposed. After fighting for so long, the front line of the Ten Sects is still at this level…” Li Fan grumbled internally.
Suddenly, his thoughts halted.
“Something’s not right!”
“At this point in time, the Myriad Immortal Sects jointly rule the Xuanhuang Realm as a colossal entity, and they are at the absolute peak of their power before this great tribulation. With immortal artifacts like the Dao Burning Furnace, it’s impossible for them to fail at keeping secrets.”
“Therefore, they’re intentionally spreading this information, making it widely known.”
Li Fan’s thoughts shifted, and he instantly understood.
“The Ten Sects have always been unable to pinpoint the exact location of the Primordial Cauldron, so they’re releasing this news to lure the enemy into revealing themselves.”
“Hoping the Primordial Realm will move the Cauldron, thus exposing its location…”
“To think they’ve reached this point of employing such tactics. It seems the Ten Sects’ situation is indeed not optimistic.”
From just a corner of the battlefield, Li Fan had already grasped the overall situation.
At this moment, however, Li Fan maintained his guise of ignorance, his face showing a mixture of apprehension and fear.
After delivering Li Fan, Duan Yuxiao soon took his leave.
Cao Yingyue watched her senior brother’s retreating figure, her expression complex.
Just then…
A streak of light, faster than lightning, shot out from the depths of the Primordial Realm. In an instant, it pierced through Duan Yuxiao’s body!
Without even uttering a cry of struggle, Duan Yuxiao exploded into a puddle of blood and flesh.
His soul scattered, his body and dao annihilated!
Cao Yingyue froze for a moment, then realized what had happened.
“Senior Brother!”
A heart-rending cry tore from her throat as Cao Yingyue desperately flew towards the scene of the tragedy.
However, halfway there, she abruptly stopped.
“Enemy attack!”
“Form ranks!”
Cao Yingyue’s voice echoed throughout the fortress in this part of the Xuanhuang Realm. She seemed to have regained her composure in a short period, though her slightly trembling body betrayed her inner turmoil.
Not long after Cao Yingyue issued her command, Li Fan saw hundreds of thousands of cultivators, surging indiscriminately from the depths of the Primordial Realm, charging forward without regard for their lives.
Countless streaks of light spewed forth as they launched an assault on the defensive line set up by the Xuanhuang Realm.
The fortress where Li Fan was located became just one insignificant point within the terrifying tide.
The situation changed so rapidly that Cao Yingyue and the cultivators in the fortress had no time to consider Li Fan.
Furthermore, with the enhancement of the Illusionary True Form ability, Li Fan now seemed to be forgotten by the battlefield.
However, Li Fan’s own situation was far from pleasant.
Because of him, Duan Yuxiao had died unexpectedly. The backlash from the River of Time, caused by this chain reaction, was more intense than he had anticipated.
“It seems this Duan Yuxiao of the Supreme Sect held a pivotal position in the original timeline. But it’s understandable; after all, the war has reached such a critical juncture, and he could still remain in the rear instead of fighting on the front lines,” Li Fan said as he struggled to stabilize himself amidst the sudden tempest surrounding him.
He was fortunate to have built a foundation in the Evergreen Valley beforehand, otherwise, he might not have been able to withstand the erosion of this storm.
“If nothing unexpected happens, the Xuanhuang Realm should be soundly defeated in this battle and ultimately retreat in disarray.”
“And then they will erase all records of this shameful defeat.”
“From then on, the fate of the Ten Sects will decline, from prosperity to decay. After enduring calamities like the rise of the Myriad Immortals Alliance, the Incompatibility of Laws doctrine, and the Celestial-Mortal Miasma, they will ultimately be submerged in history.”
“This critical juncture happens to be where I laid my foundation!” A sharp glint flashed in Li Fan’s eyes.
For an ordinary person who had narrowly escaped death in the temporal storm caused by the redirection of the River of Time, their next step would be to find a stable anchor point and then plan further.
However, Li Fan took the opposite approach, glimpsing a method to rapidly forge a stable anchor point from this very situation.
“If this anchor point is completed, even if the River of Time is rerouted and a completely different future is created, I will be able to remain safe amidst the upheaval. Because all future Azure Nether cultivators will remember my deeds.”
“Not only establishing an anchor point for a single era, but for eternity, spanning across the ancient and modern ages!”
Li Fan was inspired by the power of the Great Dao of Longevity he had seen in the River of Time, which stood like lighthouses.
In an instant, he made his decision.
“However, it’s not advisable to make drastic moves from the start.”
“The butterfly’s wings will begin to flutter from this very outpost.”
Li Fan looked towards the distant battlefield where Cao Yingyue, cornered by three cultivators from the Primordial Realm and in a worsening situation, was about to follow in her senior brother's footsteps.
He flicked a finger.
Cao Yingyue, who was already heavily injured and hazy with dazed consciousness, suddenly saw the tragic death of her admired Senior Brother Duan before her eyes again.
He should have had an infinite future, but now he had died in vain on this battlefield. A surge of ferocity erupted from Cao Yingyue's heart, accompanied by an inexhaustible power burning like raging flames.
Her body and soul seemed to be burning. In a state of frenzy, Cao Yingyue, with a swift strike, killed the three Primordial Realm cultivators who were attacking her.
Then, without regard for her own safety, she counterattacked the cultivators storming their outpost.
Witnessing Cao Yingyue's valiant performance, the Ten Sects' cultivators defending the outpost were inspired and also began to fight to the death.
After more than half a day of fierce defense, the continuously attacking Primordial Realm cultivators were finally repelled temporarily.
The cultivators attributed this to their perseverance.
They never anticipated that this was Li Fan's covert arrangement.
Not just this outpost. If one were to look at the entire Primordial Realm from a higher perspective, they would see that the Great Dao of the Primordial Realm, which was once a cohesive whole, seemed to have had impurities introduced, becoming turbid.
An invisible, trench-like line stretched across the entire Primordial Realm, dividing the battlefield.
Sensing the anomaly, the Primordial Realm cultivators were forced to retreat.
The surviving Ten Sects cultivators lay on the ground, exhausted, savoring what might be their last moments of peace.
Li Fan, like them, was also nearly at his limit.
This was not only due to the influence he exerted through his own enlightenment and the formations he had secretly laid, which had altered the overall situation of the Primordial Realm.
It was also because he had to simultaneously contend with the renewed turbulence of the River of Time.
“This is the limit of what I can do now.”
“The foundation I laid before is no longer sufficient against such storms.”
Sensing his precarious state, Li Fan intentionally released a strong fluctuation.
Instantly, it attracted the attention of the surrounding surviving cultivators.
In an instant, they all looked at him in surprise: “Is he… breaking through?”
“Heh, Nascent Soul stage. It only marginally increases the chance of survival.”
“However, to survive the sudden assault at the Golden Core stage, and then achieve enlightenment and break through after the battle… this person is extraordinary! Who is he? I don’t think I’ve seen him before.”
“In the face of life and death, there is great terror, but also great opportunity. My Master’s words hold true!”
…
As the discussions ensued, rumors about “Li Ping” from the Evergreen Valley gradually spread.
The mere act of volunteering to fight on the battlefield was enough to earn the respect of the Ten Sects’ cultivators who had personally experienced the horrors of war.
Until the upheaval of heaven and earth was completely resolved, the Primordial Realm forces dared not launch another attack.
Everyone was able to pass a relatively peaceful night.
As night fell, Cao Yingyue, who was sound asleep, was once again plagued by nightmares of her Senior Brother’s tragic death.
“Senior Brother!” she instinctively cried out.
Senior Brother seemed to sense her call. Before vanishing, he gave her a tender, lingering glance.
Then, a faint beam of light flew from his body.
It gradually flowed into Cao Yingyue's mind.
*Boom!*
The nightmare was instantly swept away, and a scene as brilliant as the starry sky suddenly appeared before Cao Yingyue's eyes.
This incredibly magnificent sight made her momentarily forget her inner pain.
“Supreme Primordial Scripture?”
Before this exquisite scenery, Cao Yingyue was lost in a daze.
…
When Cao Yingyue regained her senses, Li Fan came to apologize.
“Guilt? What sin have you committed?” Cao Yingyue asked coldly.
“If I hadn't brought you to the battlefield, Senior Brother Duan wouldn’t have…” Li Fan said with deep remorse, lowering his head.
“…”
In truth, Cao Yingyue did have such thoughts initially. However, she also knew that she couldn't blame him. Life and death are capricious. On the battlefield, one's life doesn't truly belong to them; it all depends on fate.
Was his life less precious than the lives of the countless disciples of the Myriad Immortal Sects? Moreover, Li Fan was a loyal cultivator who voluntarily went to battle.
If she used this as an excuse to accuse him, the countless cultivators of the Ten Sects on this battlefield would not agree.
Cao Yingyue understood this, and she had already let go of her resentment.
Now that Li Fan had brought it up himself, it was like a light breeze passing by, wiping the slate clean.
“Live well.”
“For Senior Brother Duan, as well.”
Cao Yingyue said expressionlessly.
…
For the next six months, dozens of battles, large and small, occurred between the Primordial Realm and the Xuanhuang Realm.
Although the Ten Sects continued to suffer heavy casualties, they could still barely hold on, relying on the Xuanhuang Realm's powerful reinforcement capabilities.
The cultivators of the Primordial Realm could indeed be resurrected, but the occasional anomalies in the Primordial Realm’s heaven and earth greatly affected the efficiency of their resurrection. Without fully understanding the source of these anomalies, they did not dare to launch a full-scale counterattack.
Thus, the battle situation reached a stalemate.
Regarding the direction of the subsequent war, divisions began to emerge within the Ten Sects.
It was now apparent that the Immortal Spiritual Qi within the Primordial Cauldron of Rebirth would not be depleted in a short time. Despite their reluctance, they had to admit that they had made a fatal misjudgment earlier.
However, with the situation as it was, investigations into their responsibilities could only occur after the war concluded. The crucial matter now was the path forward.
Having already made one mistake, the Xuanhuang Realm could not afford another costly error.
A significant number advocated for a strategic retreat.
And among those who remained silent, countless harbored similar thoughts.
However, what kept the Ten Sects united in their nominal declaration to fight to the bitter end was the Heaven-Crossing Starry Sea Formation, inherited from the ancient Heavenly Mysteries Sect.
Initially a hope for escaping the Immortal Ruins, the golden chains of the Heaven-Crossing Starry Sea brought them hope.
Little did they know it would ensnare them in a quagmire of misfortune.
And now, they were trapped in this quagmire, unable to extricate themselves.
The “quagmire” referred not only to the war itself but also to the golden chains!
The Xuanhuang Realm forces had also noticed the anomaly in the Primordial Realm.
They were unclear about the specific details of the Primordial Cauldron of Rebirth, but they could see the changes in the Heaven-Crossing Starry Sea Formation.
The golden chains, which had been stretched to their limit and were on the verge of shattering completely, were now slowly mending themselves!
This should have been a joyous occasion for the Ten Sects to celebrate.
However, no one in the Ten Sects could truly be happy.
Because the price for the mending of the golden chains was their gradual integration into the heaven and earth of the Primordial Realm!
No one, not even the Sect Leaders of the Ten Sects, could comprehend why such a bizarre phenomenon was occurring.
It was simply a fait accompli: even if they wanted to withdraw now, they couldn't.
As part of the Heaven-Crossing Starry Sea Formation, the golden chains were connected to the Xuanhuang Realm.
Even if they withdrew from the Primordial Realm, if they didn’t retrieve the golden chains, the Primordial Realm cultivators could still attack and invade through the chains.
And if the chains were severed…
The Heaven-Crossing Starry Sea Formation had reached the realm of Immortal Formations. Although the Ten Sects often claimed lineage from the Immortal Realm, they had not reached the level where they could freely modify Immortal Formations. All they could do currently was activate and control the formations.
More critically, the Xuanhuang Realm was still located in the Abyss of Immortal Ruins. Forcibly severing the chains might cause severe damage to the Xuanhuang Realm, potentially plunging it into the Immortal Ruins. Therefore, the Ten Sects collectively rejected this option.
Thus, only one path remained for the Ten Sects.
Going forward, even if they didn’t continue attacking the Primordial Realm, they had to establish defensive strongholds to prevent a counterattack from the Primordial Realm.
This required a greater commitment of their vital forces.
“Esteemed elders, have you heard of organizations called the Myriad Immortals Alliance emerging in various parts of the Xuanhuang Realm?”
“They’re just some rogue cultivators acting indiscriminately.”
“We originally planned to suppress them after dealing with the Primordial Realm matter. But now it seems…”
“Perhaps we can enlist them in the battlefield.”
"Sect Master Qu speaks with reason," said Fang Dingge, the Sect Master of the Great Dao Sect, with a hint of implication. "After all, the Xuanhuang Realm is not solely the domain of our ten sects."
Qu Yixing, as if oblivious, continued, "The leader of the Myriad Immortals Alliance, named Ming Fa, has indeed created a sect with unique cultivation methods. However, with a Grand Heavenly Venerate overseeing the realm, he is destined to achieve nothing significant. If the commotion were to escalate further, I fear the Myriad Immortals Alliance would vanish in an instant without us needing to lift a finger."
"Since they are all going to die anyway, we might as well make the best use of them. However, the Myriad Immortals Alliance's methods are peculiar, and it is not suitable to recruit cultivators above the Nascent Soul realm. Otherwise, after they perish, the lingering energies in the Xuanhuang Realm would instead nourish the Primordial Realm..."
"Leave this matter to me. I will persuade them properly," a heroic voice declared, taking on the task. It was Situ Yao, the senior disciple brother of the Heavenly Sword Sect. He gazed towards a certain location in the Xuanhuang Realm, silently raised the gourd in his hand, and took a deep drink.
...With a few simple words, the leaders of the ten sects decided the fate of the Myriad Immortals Alliance in this moment and in the time to come.
And in a corner unseen by them, a lord was also weaving their future.
"The Primordial Rebirth Cauldron, so that's how it functions."
"I knew it. How could the original possibilities contain a Dao that I am unfamiliar with!"
Within the Dark Blood Fortress, Li Fan sat cross-legged. In his palm, a blurred and distorted image of a cauldron flickered in and out of existence. In the past half-year, using the Golden Lock Array of the Sky-Crossing Starry Sea as a medium, he had analyzed and dissected the Great Dao concentrated within the Primordial Realm.
The results were somewhat unexpected, yet upon reflection, they were also quite logical. The so-called "infinite resurrection" that occurred in the Primordial Realm was not true resurrection. It was "creation." It was exactly the same as the situation in the Xuanhuang Realm.
Deep within the Primordial Realm lay a magnificent and vast ancient immortal formation. The Nine Star Red Pearls, the Indeterminate Circle, the endless sea of frozen corpses... all of this was almost identical to the Xuanhuang Realm. The only difference was that the Nine Star Red Pearls in the Primordial Realm, unlike those in the Xuanhuang Realm which had gone missing, remained in the core of the ancient formation, maintaining its operation.
When cultivators in the Primordial Realm died, the Nine Star Red Pearls, which recorded the data of all living beings in the Primordial Realm, would use the immortal formation to recreate new copies. Both the "resurrected" and those who fought against them would believe they had "resurrected." Only those who could pierce through the layers of concealment and glimpse the underlying immortal formation could understand the truth.
"As expected of an experimental ground once presided over by an Immortal Emperor. A complete ancient immortal formation, with the Nine Star Red Pearls as its core, has actually achieved the level of [Painting the Dao with Formations]."
"Emperor Tai, Emperor Tai, you didn't even remind me of something so important."
Of course, this last remark was merely Li Fan's jest. In Emperor Tai's view, compared to the mission of reversing time and saving all epochs, the lives of all beings within the experimental ground were utterly insignificant. A formation that merely created simulated beings was naturally not "important."
"The so-called resurrection is utterly a lie. This matter cannot be revealed to the Myriad Immortal Sects. Otherwise, the combat morale of the Xuanhuang Realm's forces, which is sustained by the hope of resurrecting their fallen comrades, would instantly vanish, and the Xuanhuang Realm's front line might collapse at any moment."
Li Fan gazed at the illusory cauldron in his hand, gently caressing it. Though it was merely a phantom, it truly rippled with faint waves as Li Fan stroked it. This was naturally because Li Fan, after successfully invading and deciphering the ancient immortal formation of the Primordial Realm, had begun to attempt its modification. Even with a perfect core formation, it was ultimately no match for a True Immortal visitor from ten thousand years later.
Li Fan did not exert much effort to infiltrate the core of the Primordial Realm's immortal formation. However, thus far, he had not made any drastic moves. The reason for discreetly modifying the formation's details was the presence of two immortal realm guardians still alive within the formation.
Under the concealment of the realm-protecting ancient immortal formation, Li Fan glimpsed the true forms of these two figures. One was an Immortal Realm Observer, who had also appeared in the Xuanhuang Realm. However, the one in the Primordial Realm clearly maintained its complete and clear consciousness. The other might have existed in the Xuanhuang Realm, but had vanished with the damage to the immortal formation. This was the repair officer of the immortal formation.
The human body was only the head that had been replaced by a book, appearing to have countless pages constantly flipping. To Li Fan, these so-called Observers and repair officers were merely immortal servants. Of course, in the eyes of mortal cultivators, even just "servants," as long as they were associated with the word "immortal," they were far beyond their ability to contend with. Even Li Fan, who had now recovered to the Dao Integration realm, could not currently match these two in a frontal confrontation. It was merely a matter of avoiding their sharp edge.
However, it was clear that the immortal servants stationed in the formation did not fully understand the realm-protecting immortal formation itself. They merely followed the instructions of the True Immortals from the past and operated it by rote. They were completely unaware of the subtle changes occurring within the formation under Li Fan's guidance.
"We must solidify the belief that the Primordial Resurrection Cauldron can revive Azure Nether cultivators who died on the battlefield. Only then can we sustain their belief in continuing to fight," Li Fan understood this clearly after spending half a year in the battlefield fortress.
"I have finally built the stage for a play. If the audience leaves now, wouldn't it be a letdown..."
"What the immortal formation cannot do, I will!"
With a gentle wave of Li Fan's left hand, the illusory cauldron flew forward, spinning rapidly in the air. With each movement of Li Fan's hands, myriad rays of light surged from it. Unbeknownst to anyone, changes began to slowly occur within the Primordial Realm.
When a cultivator's soul scattered, the immortal formation would proactively capture their life data and record it in the Nine Star Red Pearls. As long as this data existed, recreating them would not be difficult. Of course, as it was not the original template data, there would inevitably be some deviations between the Nine Star Red Pearls' captured data and the cultivator's true life data. The Azure Nether cultivators, after being "resurrected," would have slight differences from their original selves. Rather than resurrection, it was more akin to reincarnation. However, even so, it was likely that the Azure Nether cultivators would be satisfied.
After several days of meticulous refinement, Li Fan had finally completed the initial modification of the Primordial Realm's immortal formation. In this process, he had also, by harnessing the Great Dao contained within the immortal formation, achieved a certain degree of calibration for the Daos of the past and future timelines. The boundaries of immortal techniques, which had previously been like a blurred glass, became clear once more. Li Fan could almost feel the Infinite Sea beyond the mortal world again. After all, True Immortals could not be suppressed. Even with the Xuanhuang Realm's resistance and suppression, as long as Li Fan had an opportunity, he could rise again in an instant.
"Azure Nether Heavenly Dao, I will deal with you after I return..."
“The idea is correct, it's just a pity they haven't understood their own position.” Li Fan commented thus.
The grand starry sky they displayed on that thin sliver of a sheet was far too elevated for the mundane world. It had even surpassed the limits of what cultivators in the Xuanhuang Realm could imagine.
For ants on the ground, it was natural that they couldn't distinguish between the first heaven and the thirty-third heaven.
That old Daoist thought he had missed out on just a method for becoming an immortal. He never imagined that in reality, it was a sky-piercing Great Dao leading directly to the Other Shore!
“Now he still possesses his own unique pride. Perhaps he will only regret it bitterly when he eventually falls and faces his demise,” Li Fan shook his head slightly.
For Li Fan, forging his own Great Dao and learning from other powerful individuals were not mutually exclusive.
He could learn the transformations between reality and illusion from Return to Truth, understand the Infinite Immortal Method from Mountains and Seas, and also study the Great Dao of Longevity from Lord Shou Qiu. However, none of this prevented Li Fan from ultimately forging his own path.
Even the sect leaders of the Myriad Immortal Sects were, in Li Fan's eyes, merely insignificant ants in the countless drops of water of the River of Time, not worth his excessive attention.
Li Fan’s focus remained on the grand performance he had meticulously orchestrated.
As Li Fan subtly nudged his fingers, the scales of victory gradually tipped in favor of the Primordial Realm.
The “anomalous malfunction” of the Primordial Rebirth Cauldron seemed to have finally been repaired. Furthermore, its resurrection efficiency was even better than before. Although the reason for such peculiar phenomena was unclear, it did not prevent the cultivators of the Primordial Realm from seizing this excellent opportunity to counterattack swiftly, aiming to secure victory.
The Azure Nether cultivators on the battlefield immediately felt the pressure.
In the preceding six months, the Primordial Realm cultivators’ attacks had lasted at most five to six days before temporarily retreating. But this time, the assault was uncharacteristically fierce and relentless.
Enemies fell one after another, yet they seemed inexhaustible.
There were even instances where, on the same battlefield, two or three incomplete corpses of the same individual were found, a sight that deeply shook the heart.
Even though the Myriad Immortal Sects’ response was swift, quickly deploying reserve support forces, their front lines were still forced to retreat continuously.
Territory painstakingly gained from the Primordial Realm through countless sacrifices was lost inch by inch.
The surviving Xuanhuang Realm cultivators were progressively squeezed into the final defensive perimeter.
As if after a continuous battle lasting tens of days, the Primordial Realm’s side had also reached its limit. A rare moment of quiet descended upon the battlefield, and all Azure Nether soldiers seized this final opportunity to catch their breath and recover their strength.
However, under such high-pressure circumstances, not a speck of “despair” arose in their minds. Only the firm conviction remained: when the enemy charged forth soon, they would fight to the death.
At the center of the Azure Nether formation, Qu Yixing, the Sect Leader of the One Beginning Sect, sat cross-legged in the air with a solemn expression.
Above his head, the power of the Five Elements, entwined with Yin and Yang energies, revolved rapidly like a Tai Chi symbol. Mysterious fluctuations emanated from this vortex, influencing and altering the resolve of the Azure Nether cultivators on the battlefield.
“Brother Yixing, although your method is ingenious, it is not a long-term solution.”
“It can last for at most another month. Otherwise, they will all turn into monsters who have completely lost their sanity, with only slaughter left in their minds,” Situ Yao said with a heavy tone.
“A month… I don’t think the situation can even last that long. Perhaps everyone should make a decision sooner,” spoke Fang Dingge, the Sect Leader of the Great Dao Sect.
“I have already asked Mother Stone to perform a hundred million calculations. There is a fifty-six percent chance of success. The advantage is ours, why not go all out for it!”
A fifty-six percent chance was as good as a guaranteed victory in Fang Dingge’s eyes. No one present responded.
“Of course, if any of you are confident that you can sever the Golden Chain Across the Heavens while ensuring the safety of the Xuanhuang Realm, you can disregard my plan,” Fan Dingge’s sharp gaze swept across everyone.
“The safety of the Xuanhuang Realm cannot be completely guaranteed. But if it's just the safety of the Myriad Immortal Sects, perhaps that can be achieved.” After a moment of silence, a voice came from a crumpled yellow paper figure.
The paper figure regarded Fang Dingge with a peculiar and distorted expression, neither smiling nor crying.
Fang Dingge's face flashed with anger upon hearing this: “Yi Jue! Don't try to peddle your Tribulation Passage plan again. It’s one thing that you don’t send anyone to fight in this bloody war. Now you even want to sow discord and shake the morale?!”
“If you continue like this, don't blame my Burning Dao Furnace for showing no mercy!”
Facing Fang Dingge’s threat, Yi Jue Daoist from the Guiding Tribulation Sect was unfazed. He chuckled, “Sect Leader Fang, your words are mistaken. One must plan for victory before defeat. You are always so fond of gambling. You might win countless times, but with just one failure, you will face the end of death and the annihilation of your Dao. Who in this world can keep winning forever?”
Fang Dingge coldly replied, “Words are useless! Facts will prove everything. Besides, besides my strategy, is there a better method? Do you want us all to become these half-human, half-ghost monsters like you?”
“Not human, not ghost, is that not immortal? Since you are unwilling, I will not force you. But don't expect anything from our Guiding Tribulation Sect. This old Daoist shall take his leave~” Yi Jue Daoist chuckled with an obscure meaning.
The lively expression on the paper figure instantly froze, then slowly fell to the ground.
Yi Jue Daoist of the Guiding Tribulation Sect had transformed into a common piece of paper.
The remaining people present fell into silence.
“Hmph, I think the Guiding Tribulation Sect, influenced by that old madman Yi Jue, will sooner or later turn into paper figures. Perhaps…” A dangerous glint flashed in Fang Dingge's eyes.
Situ Yao interjected with a hearty laugh, quickly intervening: “The Myriad Immortal Sects have always been united. We have endured even more dangerous tribulations in the past, so why should we ruin our friendship over this matter?”
However, Fang Dingge showed no intention of backing down: “The situation is different now. After several major battles, how much energy is left in the immortal artifacts you all possess? Without immortal Spirit Qi, what difference are they from scrap metal? We have relied on these immortal treasures to be lucky enough to survive in this starry sky until now. Once we can no longer wield immortal artifacts, what will become of us?”
…
The people from the Myriad Immortal Sects argued endlessly.
Finally, it was a female cultivator, clad in a black veil, with a graceful figure but a voice as harsh as tearing metal, who ended their dispute.
“Since everyone has their points, why not hedge our bets? Everyone, don’t forget, we still have one captured immortal artifact.”
Xiahou Yan, the Lord of the Prison of Uncertainty, swept his gaze across everyone.
As if struck by visible swords, everyone instinctively narrowed their eyes, avoiding Xiahou Yan’s direct gaze.
“That immortal artifact is too bizarre. It's best not to use it lightly…” Even Fang Dingge, after some hesitation, shook his head and rejected the idea.
Xiahou Yan sneered.
In front of the sect leaders of the Myriad Immortal Sects, he openly taunted: “The leaders of the Myriad Immortal Sects should be the most exceptional heroes in the world. Yet, they turn out to be indecisive and two-faced.”
Although his words were unpleasant, he included himself in the insult. The others merely showed embarrassed expressions and couldn't retort.
“However, it cannot be blamed on you. The more power one holds, the more considerations one has to make. Sects, the world, all beings…”
“It’s far less satisfying than when I was alone, roaming the world!” Xiahou Yan said calmly.
As if recalling past memories, a silence fell over the hall.
It was Xiahou Yan who spoke again: “Consider it. Although the [Two-Part Immortal Seed] is peculiar, it can divide all of us into two without any loss. One more option, one more fallback, one more chance at survival.”
“It shouldn't have reached such a critical point yet.” Jiang Yixing and the others still did not agree with Xiahou Yan’s opinion.
“Although the Two-Part Immortal Seed is incredibly profound, its side effects are too immense. We used it once back then, and it took nearly a hundred years to digest it. Lu Chenghong and Yi Jue of the Guiding Tribulation Sect, who were relatively normal, have both become the madmen they are now…”
“But didn't we win in the end? And those three cultivation worlds have long since turned to dust. Since we could endure it once, we can endure it a second time,” Xiahou Yan insisted.
It was only when they looked at him with suspicion that Xiahou Yan realized he had lost his composure.
He then snorted coldly and remained silent.
Another long period of silence ensued.
Situ Yao drained the gourd of fine wine in his hand impatiently and said, “I believe Senior Brother Dingge's method is feasible. I witnessed Mother Stone’s entire deduction process. There is still some hope for ending the Primordial Realm's conquest.”
“If you are unwilling, then let me do it.”
“It’s just a matter of death anyway. When has Situ Yao ever been afraid!”
“Good!” Fang Dingge was exhilarated to finally have a supporter.
As opinions began to unify, the remaining individuals had no choice but to start considering.
Just then, a weak voice came from the corner.
“My master said he agrees with Sect Leader Fang's plan. However, our Supreme Sect will only send three people for support.” The speaker was Jiang Yingyue.
This female cultivator, who had been slaughtering countless enemies on the battlefield, was like a child in front of the sect leaders, having not dared to utter a word until now.
She only spoke timidly after receiving a communication from her master.
Initially, everyone was somewhat displeased with the old Daoist’s absence. Now, upon hearing that the Supreme Sect was only willing to send three participants for a plan concerning the life and death of the Xuanhuang Realm, their expressions became even less favorable.
However, upon seeing the three names composed of dots of starlight appearing in Jiang Yingyue's hand, everyone had no further objections.
This was because these three individuals were the top combat forces of the Great Dao Sect, and the strength of any one of them was not much inferior to those present.
After a period of heated debate, consensus was finally reached.
The Myriad Immortal Sects began to discuss the specific details of the operation, and Fang Dingge reiterated: “The reason we have been unable to win and have been so stubbornly entangled by the Primordial Realm is due to the existence of that immortal artifact, the Primordial Rebirth Cauldron.”
“The Primordial Realm cultivators, in terms of scale and strength, are far inferior to our Xuanhuang Realm. Yet, they are inexhaustible. Even we, after ten or more Dao Integration cultivators trade their lives for injuries, would need a good period of recovery. However, they can reappear on the battlefield completely unharmed after just a few days.” Clearly, Fang Dingge spoke with gritted teeth due to a previous loss.
“The key to breaking this deadlock is to destroy that Primordial Rebirth Cauldron. We didn’t act before because we could never ascertain its exact location. Repeated probing with schemes yielded no results. But now…”
A sharp glint flashed in Fang Dingge’s eyes: “Perhaps, truly concerning the safety of the Xuanhuang Realm, that Great Heavenly Venerate, who has always been taciturn and uninvolved, has finally decided to offer guidance.”
Fang Dingge waved his hand, and a projected image of the Primordial Realm appeared in the hall.
Inside it, flashing light dots indicated the location of the Primordial Rebirth Cauldron.
“According to the Great Heavenly Venerate, this so-called Rebirth Cauldron is actually an ancient immortal-grade formation. As long as a few crucial nodes of the formation are destroyed, its resurrection effect can be influenced for a period of time.”
“Enough for us to completely sweep this realm!” Fang Dingge said gravely.
“The corresponding positions here are…” Jiang Yingyue looked at the projected image before her and suddenly became lost in thought.
“Indeed, deep within the Primordial Realm, at the location of the Primordial Realm’s largest immortal cultivation sect, the Celestial Dao Palace.”
“The entire Primordial Realm is covered by an immortal-grade great formation. To infiltrate deeply and successfully destroy the formation is fraught with peril…”
“However, our chances of success are still higher!” Fang Dingge stated.
“Since the war began, all cultivators who have appeared on the Primordial Realm's battlefield have been included in Mother Stone's deduction calculations, with an additional one-third buffer for strength…”
“Even so, we have a fifty-six percent chance of success.”
As Fang Dingge spoke, hundreds of dense light dots appeared on the Primordial Realm projection. Each light dot represented a cultivator above Soul Transformation Perfection who could pose a threat to their plan.
As divine sense focused on these light dots, the data of the corresponding cultivators appeared. In addition to their appearance and strength, their various divine abilities and techniques displayed on the battlefield were also shown.
“Their ability to resurrect endlessly is their absolute advantage, but it is also their fatal weakness.”
“They are still unaware of us now, yet we know them like the back of our hand.”
Everyone in the hall was captivated by the scene before them.
Even Xiahou Yan and others, who disagreed with Fang Dingge’s risky plan, watched and pondered in silence.
And not far away, through Jiang Yingyue's eyes, Li Fan, who had captured all the secret discussions of the Myriad Immortal Sects, shook his head slightly.
“Even without me, with the little strength they have brought forth, they still won't be able to break through the defenses of countless Primordial Realm cultivators and destroy the immortal formation.”
Li Fan immediately saw the fatal flaw in this plan.
The protective immortal formation, empowered by the Nine-Star Red Pearl, was not merely capable of creating life.
Putting aside other abilities, while the Overseers and Repairers in the Primordial Immortal Formation might not know how to activate them, they could certainly temporarily stimulate the potential of the created beings, greatly boosting their combat power in a short period.
Although the price was the rapid burning of the created beings’ lifespan, it was enough to last the Xuanhuang Realm adventurers for a mere moment, thus causing their plan to fail.
It was even possible that the elites of the Xuanhuang Realm would be buried here.
“It's exactly the same as the Myriad Immortal Sects' decapitation strategy back then.”
“It’s just that it seems, without my participation, they will all lose this gamble.”
“The idea is sound, but unfortunately, they’ve misjudged their own standing,” Li Fan commented.
The Great Dao starry sky displayed in that thin slice was far too elevated from the mundane, even exceeding the limits of what cultivators from the Xuanhuang Realm could comprehend.
To ants on the ground, the distinction between the first and thirty-third layer of heaven would naturally be imperceptible.
That old Daoist believed he had missed out on mere methods of becoming an immortal, unaware that he had actually bypassed a direct path to the Other Shore!
“He still possesses his unique pride. Perhaps only when he faces his demise will he regret this irreversible mistake,” Li Fan mused, shaking his head slightly.
For Li Fan, forging his own Great Dao and learning from other powerhouses were not mutually exclusive.
He could learn the transformation of reality and illusion from Return to Truth, comprehend limitless immortal methods from the tales of Mountains and Seas, and even study the Great Dao of Longevity from Lord Qiu Gong. Yet, none of this would prevent Li Fan from ultimately walking his own path.
Even the sect leaders of the Myriad Immortal Sects were, in Li Fan's eyes, but insignificant ants in the river of time, not worth excessive attention.
Li Fan’s focus remained on the grand play he had meticulously orchestrated.
As Li Fan subtly shifted his fingers, the scales of victory gradually tipped in favor of the Primordial Realm.
The "abnormal malfunction" of the Primordial Rebirth Cauldron seemed to have been finally repaired, and its revival efficiency even surpassed its previous state. Though the reason for such bizarre phenomena remained unclear, it did not prevent the cultivators of the Primordial Realm from seizing this golden opportunity to counterattack swiftly and secure victory.
The Azure Nether cultivators on the battlefield immediately felt the pressure.
In the preceding half-year, the Primordial Realm's assaults had lasted at most five to six days before a temporary retreat. However, this time, the attack was unprecedentedly fierce.
Enemies perished in waves, yet they seemed inexhaustible.
There were even instances that sent shivers down their spines, such as the appearance of two to three damaged corpses of the same individual on the same battlefield.
Even with the swift response of the Myriad Immortal Sects and the deployment of reserve forces, the front lines were continuously forced to retreat.
Territory hard-won through countless sacrifices in the Primordial Realm was lost inch by inch.
The surviving Azure Nether cultivators were gradually compressed within the final defensive perimeter.
It seemed as if, after continuous days of fierce fighting, the Primordial Realm had also reached its limit. A rare moment of tranquility descended upon the battlefield, and all the Azure Nether soldiers seized this final respite to restore their strength.
Yet, under such immense pressure, not a trace of despair stirred in their minds. Only a resolute conviction remained: to fight to the death when the enemy charged forward again.
In the center of the Azure Nether defense line, Qu Yixing, the Sect Leader of the One Beginning Sect, sat in deep contemplation, his expression grave.
Above his head, the Five Elements energy swirled with the Yin and Yang energies, revolving rapidly like a Tai Chi symbol. Mysterious fluctuations emanated from this vortex, influencing and altering the will of the Azure Nether cultivators on the battlefield.
“Brother Yixing, while your method is ingenious, it is not a long-term solution,” Situ Yao said with a heavy tone.
“It can last for at most another month. Otherwise, they will all transform into monsters devoid of consciousness, with only slaughter remaining in their minds.”
“A month… I doubt the situation will hold that long. Perhaps it's best if everyone makes a decisive choice,” interjected Fang Dingge, the Sect Leader of the Great Dao Sect.
“I have already had Mother Stone perform countless calculations, and there is a fifty-six percent probability of success. The advantage is ours, so why not go all out?”
A fifty-six percent probability, in Fang Dingge's eyes, was akin to victory being assured. No one present uttered a word.
“Of course, if any of you are confident that you can sever the Sky-Crossing Golden Lock while ensuring the safety of the Xuanhuang Realm, then disregard my plan,” Fang Dingge's sharp gaze swept across the group.
“The safety of the Xuanhuang Realm cannot be guaranteed. However, if it is only the safety of the Myriad Immortal Sects, perhaps that can be achieved,” after a moment of silence, a response came from a crumpled yellow paper figure.
The paper figure regarded Fang Dingge with a bizarre and twisted expression, neither smiling nor crying.
Upon hearing this, a flash of anger crossed Fang Dingge's face: “Yi Jue! Don't try to peddle your Tribulation Crossing plan again. You contribute nothing to this bloody battle, yet you seek to sow discord and undermine morale?!”
“If you continue this way, do not blame the Burning Dao Furnace in my hand for its ruthlessness!”
Faced with Fang Dingge’s threat, Daoist Yi Jue of the Tribulation Crossing Sect remained unfazed. He chuckled, “Sect Leader Fang, that is where you are mistaken. One must plan for victory before defeat. You are always so fond of gambling. You might win countless times, but a single loss will lead to utter annihilation. Is there anyone in this world who can win forever?”
Fang Dingge said coldly, “Words are futile! Facts will prove everything. Moreover, besides my strategy, is there a better method? Do you expect everyone to become the monstrous state of being neither human nor ghost like you?”
“Is not being neither human nor ghost akin to being an immortal? Since you are unwilling, I will not force you. However, do not count on our Tribulation Crossing Sect. This old Daoist shall depart~” With an enigmatic smile, Daoist Yi Jue spoke.
The vivid expression on the paper figure instantly froze, and then it slowly drifted to the ground.
Daoist Yi Jue of the Tribulation Crossing Sect had transformed into a common piece of paper.
The remaining individuals in the room fell into silence.
“Hmph, I suspect the Tribulation Crossing Sect, influenced by that madman Yi Jue, will eventually turn into paper figures. Perhaps…” A dangerous glint flashed in Fang Dingge’s eyes.
Situ Yao interjected with a forced laugh, “The Myriad Immortal Sects have always been united. We have faced greater perils than this in the past. How can we let this matter damage our camaraderie?”
Fang Dingge showed no signs of compromise. “Times have changed. After these battles, how much energy remains in your immortal artifacts? Without immortal Spirit Qi, what are they but scrap metal? We have relied on these immortal treasures to lucky survive in this starry sea. What about our future when we can no longer use them?”
…
The members of the Myriad Immortal Sects argued incessantly.
Ultimately, it was a graceful female cultivator, clad in flowing black gauze, whose voice, albeit grating like tearing metal, ended their dispute.
“Since everyone has their reasons, why not bet on both sides? Do not forget, we still possess one captured immortal artifact.”
Xiahou Yan, the Mistress of the Prison of Uncertainty, swept her gaze across the group.
The others instinctively squinted, as if pricked by tangible blades, avoiding Xiahou Yan's direct gaze.
“That immortal artifact is too bizarre. It is best not to use it lightly…” Even Fang Dingge, after a moment of hesitation, shook his head and rejected the idea.
Xiahou Yan let out a cold laugh.
In front of all the sect leaders of the Myriad Immortal Sects, she openly ridiculed, “The leaders of the Myriad Immortal Sects should be among the most heroic figures in the world. Yet, it seems they are indecisive and opportunistic.”
Though her words were harsh, they encompassed herself as well. The others merely looked embarrassed and could not retort.
“However, one cannot blame them. The more power one holds, the more one must consider. Sects… the world… all sentient beings…”
“It is far less exhilarating than when one was alone, traversing the world!” Xiahou Yan said in a calm tone.
Her words seemed to stir old memories, and a moment of silence fell upon the hall.
Xiahou Yan broke the silence. “Consider it. Although the Two-Part Immortal Seed is peculiar, it can divide all of us without any loss. It offers an additional choice, an additional retreat, an additional chance at survival.”
“It has not reached that critical stage yet,” Jiang Yixing and others still hesitated to agree with Xiahou Yan's proposal.
“Although the Two-Part Immortal Seed is incredibly mystical, its side effects are also immense. We used it once in the past, and it took nearly a hundred years to digest. Lu Chengheng and Yi Jue of the Tribulation Crossing Sect, who were once relatively normal, have both become the deranged individuals they are now…”
“But did we not win in the end? And those three cultivation worlds have already turned to dust. If we could endure it once, we can endure it a second time,” Xiahou Yan insisted.
Sensing the increasingly suspicious glances cast her way, Xiahou Yan realized she had lost her composure.
She then let out a cold snort and fell silent.
Another long stretch of silence ensued.
Situ Yao drained the wine from his gourd, his impatience evident. “I believe Senior Brother Dingge's method is feasible. I witnessed the entire process of Mother Stone's calculations. There is some certainty in ending the Primordial Realm's conquest.”
“If you are unwilling, then let me do it.”
“In the end, it is merely a matter of death. When has Situ Yao ever feared it!”
“Excellent!” Fang Dingge was invigorated by finally gaining a supporter.
As opinions began to align, the remaining individuals could not help but consider the proposition.
Just then, a soft voice echoed from a corner.
“My Master said he agrees with Sect Leader Fang's plan. However, our Supreme Sect will only send three individuals to assist.” Speaking was Jiang Yingyue.
This female cultivator, who had been a formidable force on the battlefield, slaughtering countless enemies, appeared like a child before the sect leaders, having previously dared not utter a sound.
Only after receiving a message from her Master did she timidly speak.
Originally, everyone had some reservations about the old Daoist's absence. Now, hearing that the Supreme Sect was only willing to send three participants for a plan concerning the life and death of the Xuanhuang Realm, their expressions grew even more displeased.
However, upon seeing three names, formed by points of starlight, appear in Jiang Yingyue's hand, the others had no further objections.
This was because these three individuals represented the pinnacle of combat power in the Great Dao Sect; the strength of any one of them was not much inferior to those present.
After some contention, consensus was finally reached.
The Myriad Immortal Sects began discussing specific operational details, with Fang Dingge restating, “The reason we have been unable to achieve victory and have been stubbornly entangled by the Primordial Realm is precisely because of the existence of that immortal artifact, the Primordial Rebirth Cauldron.”
“The scale and strength of the Primordial Realm cultivators are far inferior to ours in the Xuanhuang Realm. Yet, they are inexhaustible. Even we, after suffering ten or more casualties from dozens of Dao Integration cultivators engaging in suicidal attacks, would require significant recovery. However, they reappear on the battlefield in perfect condition after only a few days.” Fang Dingge's words were laced with lingering resentment, clearly having suffered losses before.
“The key to breaking this stalemate is to destroy the Primordial Rebirth Cauldron. We did not act before because we could never ascertain its exact location, and our repeated probing attempts yielded no results. However, now…”
A sharp glint appeared in Fang Dingge's eyes. “Perhaps it is because the matter truly involves the safety of the Xuanhuang Realm, that the Great Heavenly Venerate, who has always been taciturn and aloof, has finally deigned to offer guidance.”
With a wave of Fang Dingge's hand, a holographic projection of the Primordial Realm appeared in the hall.
Within it, flashing light spots indicated the location of the Primordial Rebirth Cauldron.
“According to the Great Heavenly Venerate, this so-called rebirth cauldron is, in fact, an ancient immortal-grade formation. As long as several key nodes of the formation are destroyed, its revival effect can be temporarily hindered.”
“This will be enough for us to completely sweep this realm!” Fang Dingge declared gravely.
“The corresponding locations here are…” Jiang Yingyue stared at the projection before her, her expression suddenly lost in thought.
“Indeed, deep within the Primordial Realm, at the original location of the Primordial Realm's largest cultivation sect, the Celestial Dao Palace.”
“The entire Primordial Realm is covered by the immortal-grade grand formation. To infiltrate deeply and successfully destroy the formation will be fraught with peril…”
“However, our chances of success are still higher!” Fang Dingge stated.
“Since the war began, all cultivators who have appeared on the Primordial battlefield have been incorporated into Mother Stone's deduction calculations, with an additional one-third of her strength allocated for redundancy…”
“Even with this, we still have a fifty-six percent probability of success.”
As Fang Dingge spoke, hundreds of densely packed light spots appeared on the Primordial projection. Each light spot represented a cultivator at the perfect Soul Transformation realm or higher who could pose a threat to their plan.
When divine sense was focused on these light spots, the information of the corresponding cultivators would appear, including their appearance, strength, and the various divine abilities and techniques they had displayed on the battlefield.
“Their ability to revive infinitely is their absolute advantage, but it is also their fatal weakness.”
“They are currently unaware of us, while we are already fully informed of them.”
The individuals in the hall were captivated by the scene before them.
Even Xiahou Yan and the others, who disagreed with Fang Dingge's risky plan, watched and contemplated silently.
Meanwhile, not far away, Li Fan, privy to the Myriad Immortal Sects’ secret discussion through Jiang Yingyue’s eyes, shook his head slightly.
“Even without me, with the strength they are mustering, they will not be able to break through the heavy defenses of the Primordial cultivators and destroy the immortal formation.”
Li Fan saw the fatal flaw in their plan at a glance.
The protective immortal formation, empowered by the Nine-Star Red Pearl, was not simply for creating life.
Beyond its various other abilities, the overseers and repairers within the Primordial Immortal Formation might not know how to activate them. However, temporarily stimulating the potential of the created life forms, causing their combat strength to surge in a short period, was definitely achievable.
Although the price was the rapid burning of the created beings' lifespan, as long as it could stall the Xuanhuang Realm's adventurers for a moment, their plan would fall short of success.
It was even possible that it would lead to the annihilation of the Xuanhuang Realm's elites.
“It is just like the Myriad Immortal Sects' decapitation strategy back then.”
“However, it seems that without my involvement, they are all destined to lose this gamble.”
Li Fan seemed to have foreseen the fate of the Immortal Sect members. "However, the Immortal Sect does not represent the Xuanhuang Realm. As long as I am here, the Xuanhuang Realm will not lose."
"It's just that the process will be more tragic."
Li Fan, in the role he played, completed his final preparations before the Immortal Sect's surprise attack was launched. Once again, it was a sudden explosion and breakthrough during a life-or-death struggle under siege.
At this point, the rumors of him possessing the "Conquest Sacred Physique" were thoroughly confirmed.
His ascension from the Soul Transformation realm to Dao Integration caused his status to change overnight. No one dared to mock him anymore; instead, they showed superficial respect.
Of course, his terrifying progress, not inferior to Jiang Yingyue's, naturally attracted the attention of the Myriad Immortal Sects' higher echelons. Jiang Yingyue had the Supreme Sect Leader shielding her, but Li Fan hailed from the ordinary sect of Evergreen Valley, with no backstage support. Therefore, covert investigations were unavoidable.
However, Li Fan simply allowed the Myriad Immortal Sects' people to investigate him.
His strength far surpassed that of the entire Myriad Immortal Sects. After their investigations, they could only conclude that Li Fan possessed a special body and extraordinary talent.
Following the investigations, all ten sects extended olive branches to him.
Li Fan, however, politely declined them all, citing his desire to continue fighting enemies on the Primordial Realm battlefield.
He even disregarded the favorable offer of being withdrawn from the battlefield and returned to the rear of the Xuanhuang Realm.
"Until the enemy is broken, I will not return," Li Fan declared resolutely, then turned and left, leaving behind a noble and righteous silhouette to the cultivators of the Myriad Immortal Sects.
His decision moved everyone present.
They no longer spoke of recruitment but instead offered various magic artifacts and divine abilities, hoping to increase Li Fan's chances of survival in the upcoming decisive battle.
After all, no sect would dislike recruiting a loyal and righteous individual like "Li Ping," who possessed formidable combat power honed through life-and-death struggles and unwavering loyalty. Furthermore, his growth trajectory and background were impeccable, making him an invaluable asset to any sect.
This was crucial for the Myriad Immortal Sects, who had suffered heavy losses in the continuous battles.
Therefore, the ten sects spared no expense in their recruitment efforts.
"Great Dao Sect's [My Dao Like Me], Heavenly Sword Sect's [Heaven Shattering Sword], One Beginning Sect's [Myriad Phenomena Unify], Prison of Uncertainty's [Ethereal Divine Movement]..."
Li Fan casually glanced through the divine abilities gifted by the Myriad Immortal Sects, a playful smile appearing on his face.
"These are still a step short of the secret techniques of the ten sects, but they are still top-tier important divine abilities. They are truly generous..."
"Then, I cannot disappoint you."
In Li Fan's mind, he swiftly deduced and improved upon these divine abilities.
Not long after, enhanced versions of the ten sects' divine abilities were produced. They were fundamentally the same techniques, but after Li Fan's optimization, the actual power they could unleash had doubled.
Any one of them was comparable to a sect's ultimate technique.
Li Fan waved his hand, and countless specks of ethereal text in his mind flew out like flowing light. In reality, they transformed from the ephemeral into the tangible before him.
They materialized as physical manual copies of divine abilities.
Li Fan neatly arranged these manuals and placed them in his room, under his pillow.
Then, he pushed open the door and rejoined the battlefield.
A few days of calm passed, followed by a tsunami-like series of relentless attacks from the Primordial Realm cultivators.
Dao Integration cultivators, who rarely appeared on the battlefield and were usually held back as a final trump card, also made their presence known and joined the fray.
"Dao Integration cultivators can only be countered by Dao Integration cultivators."
On the Xuanhuang Realm's side, the number of Dao Integration cultivators on the battlefield was clearly insufficient.
Thus, almost as soon as this final battle began, the Xuanhuang Realm fell into a disadvantage.
"Damn it, what was the sect thinking, not sending more people!"
"I've cultivated for five hundred years, and I don't want to die on this battlefield today, cut off from the Great Dao."
"I should have never stepped into this den of trouble for that meager reward. Mistakes, mistakes, mistakes!"
...
Faced with desperation, cultivators displayed different attitudes, but the majority were filled with passive and negative emotions.
The Myriad Immortal Sects' surprise attack plan on the Primordial Resurrection Cauldron was highly classified. Therefore, the cultivators on the battlefield were unaware that most of the ten sects' leaders had already arrived.
In this seemingly isolated and helpless situation, it was inevitable that their morale would falter.
The overall strength was already weaker, and with their morale plummeting, the battle quickly began to spiral out of control.
"Everyone, behind us lies the Xuanhuang Realm. We have nowhere to retreat, so we can only fight to the death!"
At this moment, a resonant voice boomed across the entire Primordial Realm battlefield.
Countless gazes in the sky and on the ground followed the direction of the voice.
As a blinding white light flashed, Li Fan, bathed in the bloody mist formed by the instantaneous obliteration of two Dao Integration cultivators, roared. Wielding his blade, Li Fan pointed it towards the countless enemies ahead.
He let out a disdainful laugh.
"Villains, come forth and face your death!"
Such arrogant behavior naturally ignited the fury of the Primordial Realm cultivators. Li Fan's power, capable of instantly killing Dao Integration cultivators, was undeniable. However, the Primordial Realm cultivators could revive endlessly and would not be intimidated by Li Fan.
Moments later, no less than twenty streams of light flew from various corners of the battlefield towards Li Fan's location.
On the battlefield, there were no fair one-on-one duels; it was a fight to the death.
Soon, surrounded, Li Fan seemed to be in dire straits.
However, with Li Fan drawing their attention, the pressure on the other Azure Nether cultivators on the battlefield drastically decreased. Inspired by Li Fan, they managed to somewhat regain their composure.
And at this time, at the rear of the main battlefield, a group of people were rapidly speeding towards the depths of the Primordial Realm.
Leading the group was none other than Fang Dingge, the Sect Leader of the Great Dao Sect.
He looked at Li Fan, who, facing the encirclement of several individuals, remained unfazed and even held his ground, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes.
"Is this... our Great Dao Sect's [My Dao Like Me]? I recall only recently imparting this secret technique to him. To have mastered it so skillfully already?"
The ten sect leaders were naturally well aware of Li Fan, the shining new star on the Primordial Battlefield. Witnessing Li Fan single-handedly face over ten Dao Integration cultivators and more than twenty Soul Transformation cultivators, they were all filled with awe.
The Primordial Dao Integration cultivators mentioned were all at the early stage of Dao Integration, but Li Fan's ability to achieve such a feat undoubtedly proved his unparalleled combat prowess.
"This child's rise was beyond our expectations."
"Our chances of success in this mission have increased further."
"I hope he is still alive when we return."
Despite their great admiration for Li Fan, they could not alter their surprise attack plan to save him. The group pressed onward without looking back, heading rapidly towards their destination.
Under the cover of the One Beginning Sect's [Primordial Beginning Great Formation], they evaded the Primordial Realm cultivators' detection. They were getting closer and closer to their destination, the Celestial Dao Palace.
Soon, a ninety-nine-story building, standing on the sheer cliff of a ten-thousand-zhang mountain, appeared before their eyes.
"Everyone, the formation's core is beneath this tall building, within the mountain's interior."
"Once we enter the core of the tall building, this concealing formation will likely become ineffective. At that time, we will need to charge in forcefully..."
As Fang Dingge reminded them, the group had already infiltrated the Dao Palace.
Perhaps because most of their strength had been committed to the battlefield, the defenses within the Celestial Dao Palace were fewer than expected.
However, as they delved deeper into the Dao Palace's core, the number of cultivators inevitably increased.
The Xuanhuang Realm's good fortune ended here.
As a shrill alarm sounded, a dense, bloody, ominous cloud instantly descended and enveloped the Dao Palace.
The Primordial cultivators who were fighting on the battlefield paused. Then, with remarkable uniformity, they attempted to withdraw from the battlefield and return.
At this moment, a golden chain materialized across the void. Thousands of figures charged out from the Xuanhuang Realm.
"Azure Nether cultivators, heed my command! Delay these villains at all costs!"
"The leaders of the Myriad Immortal Sects are all here today, and they have pinpointed the location of the Primordial Resurrection Cauldron!"
...
As if prepared, resounding pronouncements echoed like rolling thunder across the battlefield.
Seeing the reinforcements from the Xuanhuang Realm armies and understanding the ten sects' leaders' surprise attack plan, as well as realizing they were not abandoned and victory seemed within reach, the Azure Nether cultivators on the battlefield were immediately filled with renewed morale.
In contrast, the Primordial Realm cultivators appeared somewhat panicked.
After all, the anomaly that appeared above the Dao Palace was only seen when it was under attack. If the Resurrection Cauldron were to be destroyed, they would no longer be able to revive. Consequently, they instinctively wanted to rush back to provide support.
However, they soon seemed to have received some collective notification. They instantly abandoned their thought of offering support and, instead, turned back and attacked with even fiercer ferocity.
In the distance, numerous whistling sounds of breaking through the air converged, creating a thunderous symphony. Countless figures, like a dark cloud pressing down, rapidly approached this location.
"This... are all the Primordial cultivators attacking?"
Such a terrifying sight shook everyone present. However, the recent boost in morale persisted, and they firmly believed that as long as the ten sect leaders made a move, they could surely turn the tide of the battle.
With a resolute belief, the Azure Nether cultivators clashed with the rolling dark cloud.
Explosions, wails, curses, the clang of metal against metal... mingled with the heavy scent of blood.
The battle of conquest had reached its most intense moment.
And at this very moment, beneath the Celestial Dao Palace, just one step away from the formation core identified by the Great Azure Nether Heavenly Venerate, Fang Dingge and his group, facing the twelve figures standing before them, involuntarily felt a sense of despair.
Just a short while ago, they had joined forces, using their own vital blood as a price to unleash their strongest ultimate techniques, killing these twelve Dao Integration cultivators. But as they ecstatically prepared to advance further, a storm swept through the clearing. Amidst the turmoil, the twelve figures reappeared. They seemed completely unharmed, their auras even more robust than before.
Though Fang Dingge and the others looked extremely grim, with ultimate victory just a step away, they could not easily give up.
"Everyone, let's give it our all!"
Seven-colored divine light surged from Fang Dingge, rushing forward again.
"[My Dao Like Me]!"
All the divine abilities unleashed by the twelve Primordial Dao Integration cultivators were swept up and absorbed by this seven-colored divine light. Fang Dingge, who withstood the combined attack, only had a slightly flushed complexion and suffered no serious injuries. The others seized the opportunity to unleash their killing divine abilities. A colossal sword shadow split into two, then two into ten thousand, encircling the twelve Primordial Dao Integration cultivators.
As the wind blew, gusts of yellow sand swept along, each grain of sand seemingly containing a confined demon god. The sandstorm roared, and the demon gods howled. Xiahou Yan's figure was hidden within this sandstorm.
Above where they fought, the Qi of Yin and Yang and the Five Elements rotated like a wheel, separating the battlefield from the outside Dao Palace. All attacks from the Dao Palace reinforcements and the formation's restrictions were blocked.
...
After an extremely arduous battle, the twelve Dao Integration cultivators blocking their path finally fell.
"Quick!" Fang Dingge's breathing was visibly disordered as he transmitted his voice.
Everyone rushed forward.
But after only a few steps, that familiar storm descended again. One, two, three, four... The figures they had just personally killed reappeared out of thin air in the void. Even the remnants of their flesh and blood lay nearby. The twelve Primordial cultivators stood like an insurmountable wall, blocking the Azure Nether group.
With a mocking expression, Fang Dingge steadied his mind, took a deep breath, and said, "Continue!"
"Since they can resurrect, let's kill them even faster!"
An image of a tripod stove appeared subtly in his hand. With a trace of heartache in his eyes, Fang Dingge lightly tapped the body of the furnace. As milky white flames erupted from the tripod furnace, the twelve Dao Integration cultivators, who had resurrected once more and were even stronger than before, could not resist at all. They turned to dust in the milky white flames.
Taking advantage of the lingering flames, the Azure Nether group pressed forward rapidly. This sudden assault achieved excellent results. As long as they broke through the final layer of defensive restrictions, they could destroy the formation core. The group of ten sects was filled with hope.
At this moment, the resurrection storm struck again. This time, the gestation process took longer than before. It seemed that Fang Dingge's summoning of the Dao Burning Furnace had triggered some unexpected factors within the formation.
When the twelve Primordial Dao Integration cultivators were resurrected and stood tall once more, the auras of the ten sects' members inevitably became strained. This time, it was not merely a resurrection; judging by their aura, the strength of these twelve individuals had more than doubled compared to their previous appearance. Furthermore, they were all adorned with flowing, iridescent armor and magic artifacts, which were clearly no ordinary items.
"Sect Leader Fang..."
Fang Dingge gritted his teeth and remained silent. He released another burst of milky white flames.
Within the Xuanhuang Realm, a deathly silence first descended, followed by an uproar.
"What on earth is happening?"
"Can he still fight? Just give up. It's too tragic. There's no hope of winning."
"Where are the cowards of the Ten Sects! Let me in, I want to go to the Primordial Realm and die with the God of War!"
...
Most cultivators in the Xuanhuang Realm only saw "Li Ping" stand up once more, seemingly intending to continue fighting. Only a very small number of individuals understood the meaning behind the inexplicable aura that erupted from Li Ping.
They all rose to their feet in shock and awe.
"Sect Master Fang, if I'm not mistaken, that is..." asked Xia Houyan, the Master of the Prison of Uncertainty, with disbelief.
Fang Dingge also lost his previous composure. He scrutinized the scene with uncertainty for a long time, afraid of misinterpreting.
However, as the distorted phenomena in the sky grew more pronounced, he finally confirmed: "A breakthrough. Could it be a sign of a breakthrough?"
"He's already at the peak of the Dao Integration realm. If he advances further..."
Fang Dingge's mouth opened, filled with immense astonishment.
"Immortal?"
The few individuals in the hall exchanged glances, their hearts filled with shock and confusion.
But soon, they looked up in unison, unwilling to miss any detail.
In the sky, the distorted ripples intensified, all revolving around Li Ping's standing figure.
It was as if a pebble dropped into a large lake, causing concentric ripples on the water's surface.
The cultivators of the Primordial Realm, who had been silently mourning, also noticed this anomaly. Without further ado, they quickly launched their attacks once more.
However, around Li Ping, a tempestuous storm had seemingly erupted.
Any living being that attempted to approach was inevitably swept up by the gale, spinning uncontrollably in the air like ants. Even cultivators in the Dao Integration realm were no exception!
Even with their full strength, they could not get any closer, let alone harm Li Ping.
In the very center of the gale, Li Ping's vitality and aura climbed ceaselessly, seemingly without end. It even transmitted through the Golden Chain Across the Heavens to the Xuanhuang Realm.
All beings gazing at the figure at the heart of the storm instinctively felt a sense of oppression, an urge to bow down to him involuntarily.
Though they did not understand why, they knew something momentous was about to occur.
The Xuanhuang Realm was filled with a deathly silence, while in the Primordial Realm, all cultivators, driven by fear, made a final struggle to stop Li Ping's transformation.
Alas, it was all in vain.
When the storm finally subsided, Li Ping's unblemished body reappeared before everyone.
Having washed away the bloodstains of the previous fierce battles, he appeared transcendent and graceful, like a being from the heavens.
"Immortal!"
The word simultaneously sprang into the minds of all beings from both realms who saw Li Ping.
Their bodies began to tremble uncontrollably.
Since the severing of the Immortal Path, there had been no True Immortals in the world for tens of thousands of years.
Yet today, an immortal was born before their very eyes!
The beings of the Xuanhuang Realm could not help but kneel in fervent worship.
Meanwhile, the cultivators of the Primordial Realm, though still fearful, launched attacks against this "Immortal" without regard for their lives.
However, after Li Ping achieved his Dao, the battlefield situation underwent a complete reversal.
Previously, Li Ping could not evade the overwhelming divine abilities and spells of the Primordial Realm cultivators.
But now, he simply extended his hand forward.
Countless converging, colorful light projections were deflected and absorbed into his palm.
Then, with a gentle breath, all these unleashed killing moves were instantly bounced back, striking their casters.
Caught off guard, the cultivators of the Primordial Realm suffered heavy casualties. Especially since they had all gathered together, unleashing their divine abilities in unison, resulting in immense losses for them.
The area that had been tightly encircled around Li Ping was now cleared, creating a large open space after the backlash of the divine abilities.
If the Primordial Realm cultivators were not particularly terrified by Li Ping's method of returning their own attacks to them, then what happened next filled even these cultivators, who could revive infinitely, with profound despair.
Li Ping gently raised his left hand upwards.
The scattered remains of the Azure Nether cultivators throughout the battlefield seemed to respond, flying into the sky.
As if summoned, phantoms emerged from beside these remains.
They were their original owners, the cultivators of the Xuanhuang Realm who had fallen on the battlefield!
Even though their faces were not particularly clear, the beings of the Xuanhuang Realm recognized these resurrected friends and relatives. Many burst into tears on the spot.
The phantoms of the Azure Nether warriors all bowed respectfully to Li Ping before grasping their weapons and charging ferociously towards the cultivators of the Primordial Realm.
One real, one phantom – the combat strengths of the two realms clashed fiercely once more.
This time, the tides of offense and defense had turned!
It was known that, whether in overall strength or average combat power, the cultivators of the Primordial Realm were far inferior to those of the Xuanhuang Realm. It was only through the Primordial Rebirth Cauldron's infinite resurrection ability that they had pushed the Xuanhuang Realm to such a desperate situation.
But now…
When the cultivators of the Primordial Realm shattered the phantoms of the Azure Nether cultivators with their full might.
A streak of light flew from Li Ping, who was holding the line. In mere moments, those phantoms reappeared. The Azure Nether cultivators, instantly "resurrected," then slew the astonished enemies before them.
They then charged towards other opponents on the battlefield.
Finally experiencing the enemy's greatest reliance for all this time, the cultivators of the Xuanhuang Realm, as if emboldened a hundredfold, slowly pushed back the cultivators of the Primordial Realm.
The phantoms that died in battle would soon be replenished by Li Ping.
On the battlefield, streaks of light continuously flashed, like a grand meteor shower blooming in the sky above the Primordial Realm.
When the meteor shower ended, the gathered cultivators of the Primordial Realm nearby were either dead or had already fled in panic.
"Kill!"
Li Ping did not stop there. He pointed his sword forward and uttered a single word.
The direction his sword pointed was towards the Celestial Dao Palace, where the Primordial Rebirth Cauldron resided!
Then, countless streaks of light slowly advanced into the depths of the Primordial Realm.
Unstoppable, undeniable.
Anything blocking this surging tide would be instantly torn to shreds.
This awe-inspiring scene made countless beings of the Xuanhuang Realm watching feel their blood boil.
They longed to participate.
Only a select few could see the true mystery behind this passionate scene, beyond the surface.
Although the resurrected cultivators of the Xuanhuang Realm were merely phantoms, their unleashed divine abilities and killing moves undeniably possessed true destructive power.
On the Primordial battlefield, how many cultivators had died and been resurrected?
And "Li Ping" alone could sustain their consumption?
As if realizing something, Fang Dingge completely lost himself, unable to conceal his inner shock any longer. He murmured to himself, "Infinity, the infinity of an immortal. Could it be that he truly is an immortal?"
All cultivators with any understanding of the nature of True Immortals reacted just like Fang Dingge at this moment.
Amidst this shock, Li Ping led millions of phantoms, advancing step by step to the foot of the Celestial Dao Palace.
Before this magnificent army of millions, the Primordial Realm's greatest combat advantage no longer existed.
You can resurrect, but I resurrect even faster than you.
Your will is resilient, you follow orders and do not collapse even in desperate situations. Our soldiers do not even possess subjective will; they are merely vengeful obsessions that exist.
...
Although the immortal Spirit Qi was infinite, the efficiency of the immortal formation had its limits.
With continuous resurrection over a long period, the pressure on the Primordial Realm's ancient protective immortal formation finally reached its critical threshold.
Visibly, the resurrection speed of the Primordial Realm cultivators slowed down significantly.
In the Xuanhuang Realm, cheers erupted.
However, the faces of the Ten Sect leaders and elites who had entered the Celestial Dao Palace remained solemn.
The combat power displayed by this "half-immortal" Li Ping indeed surpassed their imagination, but the immortal formations deep within the palace were equally despairing.
Yet, Li Ping's next move again exceeded their expectations.
He did not lead the charge into the palace.
Instead, he brought his sword down upon the ninety-nine-tiered pagodas standing atop the mountain peak.
A dazzling, eye-piercing light illuminated the entire world, obscuring people's vision.
A terrifying roaring sound, like continuous thunderclaps, reverberated through the heavens.
The immense vibration even pierced through the distant time and space, reaching the Xuanhuang Realm.
Both worlds trembled under the sword light Li Ping unleashed.
When sight returned, the Celestial Dao Palace and the cultivators of the Primordial Realm had vanished.
Only a deep chasm remained embedded in the earth.
Profound and dark, it was bottomless.
Only Li Ping's gracefully moving figure stood there.
And…
A strange cauldron in his hand.
The world fell silent once more.
"Is this the might of a True Immortal?"
The minds of all beings went blank, deeply shaken by the immense power of the True Immortal's sword strike.
After recovering from their shock, the people of the Ten Sects thought of more.
With a True Immortal descending, how should the Ten Sects conduct themselves from now on?
There seemed to be no other answer to this question.
Even if the cultivators of the Ten Sects combined, they likely wouldn't be a match for this True Immortal. Even if they used all their remaining immortal artifacts, they might not gain any advantage.
They wondered if this True Immortal would hold a grudge for their previous abandonment.
The hearts of the Ten Sects died.
In the Primordial Realm, a new change occurred.
The cauldron Li Ping held tightly in his hand suddenly erupted with towering seven-colored divine light, illuminating the entire Primordial horizon.
Li Ping gazed at the Azure Nether phantoms below, who had completed their mission of revenge and seemed somewhat bewildered.
Then, with a slight smile,
The seven-colored divine light that surged from the cauldron poured down upon them like waterfalls.
After receiving the infusion from the Primordial Rebirth Cauldron, the million Azure Nether phantoms underwent extremely noticeable changes.
Their illusory faces gradually became clear.
Their faint silhouettes grew solid.
The vitality that belonged only to living beings emerged on these phantoms.
They…
Were truly being resurrected from death to life!
Although they had already experienced too much shock today, the beings of the Xuanhuang Realm still became ecstatic upon witnessing this scene.
Especially when they saw their deceased friends and relatives marveling at their bodies in disbelief after their resurrection, they too shed tears of extreme joy.
The million Azure Nether warriors, resurrected from the dead, wept tears of joy.
After the initial excitement, they all reacted.
They all bowed their heads to the True Immortal above who had saved them and bestowed upon them a new life.
However, after a long time, the True Immortal showed no movement.
The cultivators couldn't help but look up.
They witnessed a scene they would never forget for the rest of their lives.
Specks of starlight began to emerge from the True Immortal's figure.
With a gentle breeze, these starlights floated out from the True Immortal.
Initially, there were only dozens or hundreds of stellar points.
Then, there were more and more.
Like the stars of the Nine Heavens, showering down upon the mortal realm.
As the sky above was filled with countless stars, the True Immortal had already vanished.
The beings of both realms were collectively stunned.
It took nearly half a day before they understood what had happened.
Sorrow and wails then echoed through both realms, never ceasing.
...
A month later.
The war that had changed the fate of the Xuanhuang Realm had long since concluded, but the beings of the Xuanhuang Realm had not emerged from their grief.
Without the enemy's infinite resurrection ability, the Xuanhuang Realm successfully occupied the Primordial Realm.
They had successfully carved out another safe haven for themselves on the other side of the starry sky. The threat of the Immortal Ruins outside the Xuanhuang Realm then slowly became known to the public.
However, compared to the Immortal Ruins, the beings of the Xuanhuang Realm were more concerned about what had happened to that "Azure Nether True Immortal."
Based on the deductions of the Ten Sect leaders and their observations of the scene, a preliminary conclusion was reached.
The Immortal Path was severed; this was an unchangeable fact. The "Immortal" that "Li Ping" had become was not an immortal in the true sense.
It was merely because of his earth-shattering talent that he had forcefully overdrawn himself, elevating himself to a realm between Dao Integration and True Immortal. Perhaps he could be called a half-immortal.
If he had become a True Immortal, he should have been able to reverse the event of being heavily injured and dying.
Alas…
Before his fall, he held on.
Not only did he lead the masses and complete the revenge against the Primordial Realm,
He even used the Primordial Rebirth Cauldron to resurrect as many Azure Nether cultivators as possible who had died in battle.
However, in the end, he could not alter destiny and tragically passed away.
Compared to the True Immortals who survived, it was clear that this True Immortal who sacrificed himself to save the beings of the Xuanhuang Realm would be remembered more.
Every household erected tablets and statues of the "Azure Nether True Immortal," burning incense and praying for blessings.
Even in immortal cultivation sects of all sizes, halls were erected to worship the Azure Nether True Immortal.
Although there were a few voices of opposition initially, they quickly disappeared.
Though the True Immortal was gone, his residual impact lingered, never fading.
The improved versions of the Ten Sects' ultimate techniques, left by Li Fan under his pillow, were also found.
These were designated as top-secret by the Ten Sects.
On the day these techniques were brought back to the Xuanhuang Realm, the leaders of the Ten Sects gathered to discuss and study them.
"As expected of someone who could attain True Immortal status, these improved divine abilities even surpass our sect's secret arts..."
The members of the Ten Sects all sighed in admiration.
Meanwhile, in the mortal world, rumors began to spread subtly.
Those who obtain the Supreme Primordial Scripture can attain True Immortal status!
Within the Xuanhuang Realm, an initial deathly silence was followed by an uproar.
"What in the world is happening?"
"Can he even fight again? Just give up, it's too tragic. There's no hope of winning."
"Where are the cowards from the Myriad Immortal Sects! Let me in, I want to go to the Primordial Realm and die with the God of War!"
The vast majority of cultivators in the Xuanhuang Realm had only seen "Li Ping" stand up once more, seemingly eager to continue the fight. Only a very few understood the meaning behind the inexplicable aura that erupted from Li Ping.
Their expressions filled with horror, they all rose to their feet.
"Sect Master Fang, if I'm not mistaken, that is…" Xia Houyan, the Lord of the Prison of Uncertainty, asked incredulously.
Fang Dingge also lost his previous composure, scrutinizing the scene with a mixture of shock and uncertainty for a long time, afraid of misinterpreting it.
But as the distorted spectacle on the sky screen became more pronounced, he finally confirmed, "A breakthrough. It's actually a sign of a breakthrough?"
"He's already at the peak of the Dao Integration realm, and to go any further…"
Fang Dingge's mouth moved, filled with immense astonishment.
"An Immortal?"
The individuals in the hall exchanged glances, their hearts filled with shock and confusion.
However, they soon looked up simultaneously, afraid of missing any detail.
On the sky screen, the distorted ripples intensified, all encircling Li Ping's standing figure.
It was like a stone dropped into a vast lake, causing concentric ripples across its surface.
The cultivators of the Primordial Realm, who had been silently mourning, also noticed this anomaly. Without further ado, they renewed their attacks.
But around Li Ping, a tempestuous storm had seemingly been conjured.
Any living being that attempted to approach was inevitably swept up by the gale, spinning uncontrollably in the air like ants. Even cultivators at the Dao Integration realm were no exception!
Even with their full strength, they could not get even an inch closer, let alone harm Li Ping.
In the eye of the hurricane, Li Ping's vitality and aura seemed to climb without end. It even transmitted through the Golden Chain Across the Heavens to the Xuanhuang Realm.
All beings gazing at the figure at the center of the storm felt an instinctive sense of oppression, a desire to prostrate themselves before him.
Though they didn't understand why, they knew something momentous was about to happen.
The Xuanhuang Realm was filled with a deathly silence, while in the Primordial Realm, all the cultivators, driven by their fear, made a final struggle, attempting to prevent Li Ping's transformation.
Alas, it was ultimately in vain.
When the storm finally subsided, Li Ping's intact body reappeared before everyone.
Having shed the bloody aura of his previous battles, he was transcendent and ethereal, like a being from the heavens.
"Immortal!"
The word simultaneously flashed in the minds of all beings from both realms who saw Li Ping.
Their bodies began to tremble uncontrollably.
Since the severing of the Immortal Path, there had been no True Immortals in the world for tens of thousands of years.
Unexpectedly today, an immortal was born under the watchful eyes of all!
The beings of the Xuanhuang Realm couldn't help but kneel and worship him with fervor.
The cultivators of the Primordial Realm, despite their lingering fear, still charged at Li Ping, the "Immortal," without regard for their lives.
However, after Li Ping attained his Dao, the battlefield situation immediately underwent a radical transformation.
Li Ping, who had previously struggled to dodge the world-obscuring divine abilities and spells of the Primordial Realm cultivators, now merely extended his hand forward.
Countless agreed-upon seven-colored light projections were all deflected and absorbed into his palm.
Then, with a gentle breath, all these unleashed killing moves were instantly repelled back towards their casters.
The unprepared cultivators of the Primordial Realm suffered heavy losses. Especially since they had all gathered together, unleashing their divine abilities in unison, incurring immense casualties.
What was once a tightly packed encirclement around Li Ping was now a large cleared area after the backlash of their divine abilities.
If Li Ping's current method of "fighting fire with fire" had not yet terrified the cultivators of the Primordial Realm, then what happened next sent even these cultivators, capable of infinite resurrections, into deep despair.
Li Ping gently raised his left hand upwards.
The remnants of the Azure Nether cultivators, scattered across the battlefield, seemed to sense something and flew into the sky.
As if summoned, spectral figures emerged from beside these remnants.
They were the original owners, the cultivators of the Xuanhuang Realm who had died on the battlefield!
Even though their faces were not entirely clear, the beings of the Xuanhuang Realm recognized these resurrected friends and family members. Many burst into tears on the spot.
The spectral figures of the Azure Nether warriors all bowed respectfully to Li Ping before grasping their weapons and charging ferociously towards the cultivators of the Primordial Realm.
One solid, one spectral—the two armies clashed fiercely once more.
This time, the tide had turned!
Considering both overall and average combat power, the cultivators of the Primordial Realm were far inferior to those of the Xuanhuang Realm. It was solely due to the Primordial Cauldron of Rebirth's infinite resurrection ability that they had pushed the Xuanhuang Realm to such a desperate state.
But now…
After the cultivators of the Primordial Realm poured all their efforts into shattering the spectral figures of the Azure Nether cultivators, a stream of light shot out from Li Ping, who was holding the rear. In an instant, those spectral figures reappeared. The Azure Nether cultivators, instantly "resurrected," slew their astonished enemies before them.
Then they charged towards other opponents on the battlefield.
Finally tasting the ultimate advantage that their enemy had wielded for so long, the Azure Nether cultivators were as if invigorated a hundredfold, slowly pushing back the cultivators of the Primordial Realm.
The spectral figures that died in battle would soon be replenished by Li Ping.
On the battlefield, streaks of light continuously flashed, like a grand meteor shower blooming in the sky of the Primordial Realm.
When the meteor shower ended, the assembled cultivators of the Primordial Realm in the vicinity were either dead or had fled in disarray.
"Kill!"
Li Ping did not stop there. He pointed his sword forward and uttered a single word.
The direction his sword pointed was the Celestial Dao Palace, the location of the Primordial Cauldron of Rebirth!
Then, countless streams of light slowly advanced towards the depths of the Primordial Realm.
Unstoppable, unyielding.
Anything that stood in the path of this roaring torrent would be instantly torn to shreds.
This awe-inspiring scene made countless beings watching from the Xuanhuang Realm's blood boil with excitement.
They wished they could participate.
Only a select few could see the true mystery behind this impassioned scene, beyond the surface of fervent excitement.
Although the resurrected Azure Nether cultivators were spectral figures, the divine abilities and killing moves they unleashed were undoubtedly capable of real damage.
Hundreds of thousands of cultivators had died and been resurrected on the battlefield of the Primordial Realm.
And "Li Ping" alone could sustain their expenditure?
As if recalling something, Fang Dingge was utterly lost, no longer able to conceal his inner shock, muttering to himself, "Infinity, the Immortality of Infinity. Could it truly be an Immortal?"
All cultivators with any understanding of the nature of True Immortals reacted just like Fang Dingge.
Amidst this shock, Li Ping, leading a million spectral figures, advanced step by step to beneath the Celestial Dao Palace.
Before this magnificent army of a million, the Primordial Realm's greatest combat advantage ceased to exist.
If you can resurrect, I can resurrect even faster.
Your will is tenacious, you follow orders, and your army will not collapse even in desperate situations. My soldiers, on the other hand, do not even possess subjective will; they are merely vengeful obsessions.
The immortal Spirit Qi, though infinite, had a limit to the operational efficiency of the immortal formation.
After prolonged and continuous resurrection, the pressure on the Primordial Realm's ancient protective immortal formation finally reached its limit.
Visibly, the resurrection speed of the cultivators of the Primordial Realm slowed down considerably.
Within the Xuanhuang Realm, cheers erupted.
However, the expressions of the sect leaders and elites from the Myriad Immortal Sects who had entered the Celestial Dao Palace remained solemn.
The combat power displayed by this semi-immortal "Li Ping" indeed exceeded their imagination, but the immortal formation deep within the Dao Palace was equally despairing.
However, Li Ping's next action once again exceeded their expectations.
Instead of leading his army to attack the Dao Palace, he drew his sword and slashed down at the ninety-nine-tiered towers standing on the mountain peak.
A dazzling, piercing light illuminated the entire land, obscuring everyone's vision.
A terrifying roar, like continuous thunderclaps, echoed through the heavens.
The immense vibration even traversed the vast distance of space and time, reaching the Xuanhuang Realm.
Both worlds trembled under the force of Li Ping's sword strike.
When vision was restored, the Celestial Dao Palace and the cultivators of the Primordial Realm had all vanished.
Only a deep, dark, and bottomless ravine remained, etched into the earth.
Only Li Ping's ethereal figure stood there.
And…
The peculiar cauldron he held in his hand.
Silence descended upon the world once more.
"Is this the might of a True Immortal?"
All living beings had minds gone blank, deeply shaken by the immense power of a True Immortal's sword strike.
The cultivators of the Myriad Immortal Sects, upon recovering from their shock, considered further.
With the descent of a True Immortal, how should the Myriad Immortal Sects conduct themselves from now on?
This question seemed to have no other answer.
Even if all the cultivators of the Myriad Immortal Sects combined, they likely wouldn't be a match for this True Immortal, and even mobilizing all their remaining immortal artifacts might not yield any advantage.
They wondered if this True Immortal would hold a grudge against them for their previous actions of abandonment.
The hearts of the Myriad Immortal Sects grew heavy.
In the Primordial Realm, another anomaly occurred.
The cauldron in Li Ping's hand suddenly erupted with surging seven-colored divine light,
illuminating the entire horizon of the Primordial Realm.
Li Ping looked at the Azure Nether spectral figures below, who had completed their mission of revenge and now stood somewhat bewildered.
With a slight smile.
The seven-colored light pouring from the cauldron cascaded like waterfalls, bathing them individually.
Receiving the influx from the Primordial Cauldron of Rebirth, the million Azure Nether spectral figures underwent significant changes.
Their illusory faces gradually became clear.
Their faint spectral forms became solid.
The vitality unique to living beings emerged from these spectral figures.
They…
Were truly being resurrected from death!
Even though they had already experienced too many shocks today, the beings of the Xuanhuang Realm were still ecstatic upon witnessing this scene.
Especially when they saw their deceased friends and family members, after being resurrected, looking at their bodies in disbelief, tears of immense joy streamed down their faces.
The million Azure Nether warriors, brought back from the dead, wept with joy.
After the initial excitement, they all reacted.
They immediately bowed and prostrated themselves to the True Immortal above them, who had saved and granted them a new life.
However, after a long time, the True Immortal remained motionless.
The cultivators couldn't help but look up.
They witnessed a scene they would never forget in their lives.
Specks of starlight began to appear from the True Immortal's figure.
With a gust of wind, these starlights drifted away from the True Immortal's body.
Initially, there were only a few dozen or hundreds of starlights.
Then, they became more and more numerous.
Like the stars of the Ninth Heaven, descending upon the mortal world.
As the sky above was filled with countless stars, the True Immortal had already vanished.
Beings from both realms collectively fell into a state of daze.
It took them nearly half a day to comprehend what had happened.
Sounds of pain and wailing then echoed through both realms.
Unendingly.
A month later.
The war that had changed the fate of the Xuanhuang Realm had long since concluded, but the beings of the Xuanhuang Realm had not yet emerged from their grief.
Without the enemy of infinite resurrection, the Xuanhuang Realm had successfully occupied the Primordial Realm.
They had secured another safe haven for themselves on the other side of the starry sky, and the threat of the Immortal Ruins outside the Xuanhuang Realm only then began to be gradually known to the public.
However, compared to the Immortal Ruins, the beings of the Xuanhuang Realm were more concerned about what had happened to the "Azure Nether True Immortal."
Based on the deductions of the ten sect leaders and their observations of the scene, they reached a preliminary conclusion.
The Immortal Path had been severed; this was an unchangeable fact. The "Immortal" that "Li Ping" became was not an Immortal in the true sense of the word.
It was merely that, due to his earth-shattering talent, he had forcefully overdrawn himself, elevating himself to a realm between Dao Integration and True Immortality, perhaps such a realm could be called a semi-immortal.
If he had become a True Immortal, he should have been able to reverse his fatal injuries.
It was a pity…
Before his demise, he held on.
Not only did he lead the army to complete the revenge against the Primordial Realm,
but he also utilized the Primordial Cauldron of Rebirth to revive as many Azure Nether cultivators as possible who had died in battle.
However, in the end, he could not alter destiny and passed away peacefully.
Compared to the True Immortal who survived, this True Immortal who sacrificed himself to save the Azure Nether beings would clearly be remembered more.
Every household erected ancestral tablets and statues of the "Azure Nether True Immortal," burning incense and praying for blessings.
Even in immortal cultivation sects, large and small, halls were established to worship the Azure Nether True Immortal.
Although there were a few dissenting voices initially, they quickly disappeared.
Though the True Immortal had passed away, his ripple effects still lingered, not ceasing for a long time.
The improved versions of the ten sect's ultimate techniques, which Li Fan had left under his pillow, were also found.
They were listed as top secrets by the Myriad Immortal Sects.
On the day these supreme techniques were brought back to the Xuanhuang Realm, the leaders of the Myriad Immortal Sects gathered to discuss and study them.
"As expected of someone who could attain True Immortality, these improved divine abilities even surpass our sect's most profound and unshared secrets…"
The members of the Myriad Immortal Sects were all filled with admiration.
Meanwhile, among the common folk, rumors began to spread subtly.
Those who obtain the Supreme Primordial Scripture can attain True Immortality!
Those who obtain the Supreme Dao Scripture can attain True Immortalhood!
This statement is not a baseless fantasy but has a solid foundation.
The foundation lies in the currently highly revered "Azure Nether True Immortal" within the Xuanhuang Realm!
It must be known that the Azure Nether True Immortal did not appear out of thin air. He progressed from a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator, fighting and growing all the way to the True Immortal realm. His growth trajectory is traceable.
Therefore, upon discovering this fact, people were even more astonished.
The Azure Nether True Immortal had completed the arduous journey from mortal to immortal in just a few short years!
Although the Myriad Immortal Sects had officially declared that this was due to his exceptionally special physique, constantly transforming and regenerating through constant killing and combat, it still inevitably caused some to harbor doubts.
Even within the Myriad Immortal Sects, secret, meticulous investigations were launched into the True Immortal's life before his rise to prominence.
No matter how cunning the chief disciple of Evergreen Valley was, he could not conceal himself from the methods of the Myriad Immortal Sects. Thus, his past with the True Immortal was exposed to all.
"Supreme Dao Scripture..."
Jiang Yingyue of the Supreme Sect, who was responsible for the secret investigation, looked at another familiar thin parchment in her hand, her expression unreadable.
"It's exactly the same as the one in my mind."
"According to Baili Shan, 'He' also possessed a similar parchment during his lifetime. No wonder I always felt there was something inexplicably strange about him. So that's why..."
"A special physique, coupled with the guidance of the Supreme Dao Scripture. Is that how he achieved this unprecedented feat of ascending to immortality?" Jiang Yingyue clenched the parchment, a hint of determination flashing in her eyes.
If that individual could ascend to the Immortal Realm, then she could as well.
Perhaps not as quickly...
After ruthlessly executing Baili Shan to preserve the secret as much as possible, Jiang Yingyue received a message from her Sect Master as soon as she returned to the sect.
"The Supreme Dao Scripture pertains to the future of the Xuanhuang Realm. It must be shared amongst the Myriad Immortal Sects."
The old Daoist, who had initially declined the brilliant expanse of Dao starlight, aiming to forge his own path, could no longer maintain his original resolve after witnessing Li Ping's feat of ascending to immortality within a few years.
Jiang Yingyue felt a sense of inexplicable loss, mingled with relief.
She slowly departed, carrying the captured fragment of the Supreme Dao Scripture.
From then on, the Supreme Dao Scripture became a treasure shared by the Myriad Immortal Sects. Furthermore, based on Jiang Yingyue's and others' experiences, the Myriad Immortal Sects concluded that other fragments might still be scattered in the outside world.
Regardless of the reasons, the Myriad Immortal Sects could not allow such a treasure as the Supreme Dao Scripture to fall into the hands of others. Thus, they formed a secret organization within the sects to search for it covertly.
For three years after the great war subsided, the Xuanhuang Realm remained peaceful.
Even though the Azure Nether True Immortal had resurrected most of the cultivators who died on the Primordial Battlefield, the overall losses in the Xuanhuang Realm were not particularly severe. However, that great battle had undoubtedly left a profound psychological scar on the cultivators, which needed time to heal.
The Myriad Immortal Sects and the Myriad Immortals Alliance, which had been on the verge of conflict, temporarily eased their tensions due to their shared experience of fighting side-by-side on the Primordial Battlefield.
More importantly, with the successful occupation of the Primordial Realm, a gateway to another star field was opened. The Xuanhuang Realm was no longer a desolate land trapped in desperation. The outside star sea held infinite possibilities.
The conflict between the two sides was no longer irreconcilable.
The river of history, after taking a sharp turn at this juncture, surged forward towards a completely different trajectory.
And amidst the monstrous waves caused by this redirection of the river, a figure was struggling to stay afloat.
If not for the fine threads that emerged from the river, tightly binding him, he would have long ago been submerged by the surging temporal power.
"What is the path of going against the flow? How to define past and future, front and back, forward and reverse? Is the end of this river predetermined? Or does it still hold different outcomes?..."
Amidst the surging torrents, Li Fan, while desperately trying to maintain his form, was also finding solace in suffering, meditating and seeking enlightenment.
Although he had thoroughly enjoyed the grand performance of deceiving the world and earning fame by attaining True Immortalhood before countless beings in both realms, the price was indeed hefty.
With the River of Time completely diverted towards a different future, it was constantly moving away from its original trajectory.
Consequently, the backlash was incessant.
It was even more intense than the waves Li Fan encountered when he flowed upstream in the River of Time.
Previously, he was largely within the same current. Now, Li Fan's actions were propelling him towards the opposite end of the River of Time.
If he was previously "going against the flow," then now he was "crossing over."
Fortunately, his meticulously planned performance was so brilliant that it was deeply imprinted in the minds of all beings in the Xuanhuang Realm. With so many sufficient and weighty anchor points, as long as this branch of the River of Time still existed and the Xuanhuang Realm was not completely destroyed,
it would temporarily guarantee Li Fan's safety within this segment of the River of Time.
"This is what is called 'unwavering for ten thousand generations, true name eternal'!"
From now on, regardless of his choice, whether to continue flowing upstream or to remain still, he first had a safe haven to establish himself.
It was akin to the Great Xuan's relationship with the Xuanhuang Realm, the Xuanhuang Realm's relationship with the Abyssal Star Sea, and the The Great Barrier's relationship with primordial possibilities.
Of course, considering the general moral standards of the Xuanhuang Realm cultivators and the potential for drastic changes in the heavenly and earthly calamities in the future, Li Fan did not expect this stable anchor point to remain eternally solid.
Therefore, in addition to the title of "Azure Nether True Immortal," he also left a backup plan in the form of the "Supreme Dao Scripture" as a reserve anchor point for emergencies.
Furthermore, besides the beings of the Xuanhuang Realm, there was also the Primordial Realm.
In that earth-shattering white sword light, Li Fan had not completely destroyed the Primordial Realm cultivators and the Rebirth Furnace.
Instead, he had sealed them all within that extremely deep fissure.
Admiration from the masses was an anchor point. Desperate fear was also an anchor point.
Li Fan would naturally not waste them.
In fact, slaughtering them would bring him no benefit.
With the Primordial Rebirth Furnace, the Primordial Realm cultivators, who could be continuously resurrected and inherit their past memories, were destined to be more suitable anchor point carriers than cultivators from the Xuanhuang Realm.
Perhaps in many years to come, as time passed, the fame of the Azure Nether True Immortal would gradually be forgotten by the beings of the Xuanhuang Realm, and the statues erected and worshipped everywhere would fall into disrepair.
But his majestic figure, alone with his sword, leading the masses to push back in desperation and ultimately annihilate the Primordial world, would be forever etched in the hearts of those Primordial Realm cultivators, indelible even in death.
It took him another two years, a total of five years, for Li Fan to finally stabilize himself amidst the turbulent winds of the River of Time's redirection.
Upon returning to reality with his feet on solid ground, Li Fan had a completely different feeling from the past.
He was no longer like a rootless duckweed, relying on a few anchor points for connection. Instead, he was deeply rooted within the River of Time, becoming a member of this temporal segment.
"As long as there are enough anchor points, one can shed the identity of a trespasser and become one of 'us'," Li Fan realized with a sense of enlightenment.
The benefits of fully integrating into this temporal segment were obvious.
His cultivation level had almost fully returned to what it was before he flowed against the current, and his understanding of the Great Dao had also been completely calibrated through the constant washing of the temporal tides in this period.
Li Fan had a premonition.
The Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul, the Transformation of Truth and Falsehood... and other such things, were not far from his ability to fully replicate within this temporal segment.
In a good mood, Li Fan did not immediately return to the Xuanhuang Realm.
Instead, he looked towards the fissure he had sliced open with his sword beneath him.
For five years, the Myriad Immortal Sects had completely sealed this area and had even attempted multiple times to explore the depths of the fissure.
But the sealing methods Li Fan had implemented before falling into the River of Time's currents were not something that the Myriad Immortal Sects could break.
All the individuals from the Myriad Immortal Sects were destined to return empty-handed.
"Besides the Myriad Immortal Sects..."
Li Fan narrowed his eyes, scrolling through the images recorded by the formation.
The screen flickered rapidly, and when a certain figure appeared, it suddenly stopped.
"Found you, Great Heavenly Venerate of the Azure Nether!" A flicker of excitement crossed Li Fan's eyes.
As Li Fan had expected.
After the immortal path was severed, yet True Immortals inexplicably descended. This was an unbelievable matter for any cultivator. Especially those with higher cultivation, closer to the True Immortal realm, who would inevitably become extremely curious.
The Great Heavenly Venerate of the Azure Nether, who held a position in the Immortal Realm, was even more so.
Thus, he was willing to personally visit the Primordial Realm, risking great danger, hoping to glean some insight from the traces left by the True Immortal.
However, he did not expect to be captured by the means Li Fan had left behind.
Wearing a delicate pink dress and a thin veil covering her face, with a small red plum blossom-shaped scar at her temple.
Li Fan was certain that this was the Great Heavenly Venerate of the Azure Nether, who had inexplicably vanished from the history of the Xuanhuang Realm.
Similarly, Li Fan felt a strange sense of familiarity towards her.
"It's not that I truly faced her before. But rather, it's from whose memory..."
After some recollection, Li Fan finally remembered.
The figure before him gradually overlapped with Mr. Bai's mortal paramour in Ningyuan City.
It was precisely because his paramour tragically died in the battle between Zhang Qianmo and Song Heshong, a rebellious disciple of the Purple Firmament Sect, that Mr. Bai embarked on his cultivation path later.
"Now it seems that Song Heshong's inexplicable rebellion might have had the guiding influence of the Great Heavenly Venerate of the Azure Nether. What a cunning Great Heavenly Venerate of the Azure Nether, resorting to such despicable means." Li Fan snorted coldly in his heart.
However, he could also understand.
Likely due to her position as Great Heavenly Venerate, she could not easily leave even if she wanted to. At the very least, she needed to find a suitable "successor."
And she couldn't just appoint anyone; she had to find someone who met all the requirements for succeeding the Great Heavenly Venerate.
And Su Bai might have been the most suitable candidate she secretly scouted.
"Indeed, there are no coincidences in this world. Even if Su Bai possesses extraordinary talent, capable of transforming into Soul Transformation and reaching Dao Integration within a day as a mortal, it's not just talent and cultivation that make one a Great Heavenly Venerate."
Just like the succession of the Nameless one.
Su Bai's succession was also full of traces of manipulation.
"Perhaps Su Bai also sensed something vaguely. But because the guide was his mortal beloved, he was willing to bear all of this silently." Recalling the fleeting memories he had glimpsed from the Azure Nether Malevolent Thought and Su Bai's Eternal Residual Will, Li Fan couldn't help but think so.
Shaking his head, Li Fan destroyed all the recorded images.
Taking a step forward, he arrived at the bottom of the fissure.
Where the Primordial Realm cultivators were imprisoned.
For the Primordial Realm cultivators, death was not a terrifying thing. Being unable to live or die was.
The torment they had endured over the past five years was a hundred times worse than before. Even dying in battle repeatedly was far less agonizing than their current state.
Confined to a small space, unable to move half a step.
A place devoid of sunlight, filled with deathly stillness.
They had exhausted all methods, but were unable to break through the restrictions here. Even if they committed suicide in despair, they would be immediately revived by the Primordial Rebirth Furnace above.
Compared to the battlefield, this seemed to be the true eternal purgatory.
Li Fan's arrival did not alarm anyone.
Looking at the overall condition of the Primordial cultivators below, he frowned slightly.
Li Fan's fundamental objective was to use their fear to create anchor points.
But Li Fan discovered that these Primordial cultivators' fear of him was slowly diminishing in such a predicament.
"This is not a good thing."
"We need to remind them periodically."
Li Fan lightly pointed at the Primordial Rebirth Furnace in the sky.
A brilliant radiance suddenly bloomed, illuminating the depths of the pitch-black darkness.
Bathed in the dazzling light resembling a great sun, the Primordial cultivators seemed to once again see Li Fan's god-like figure, sword raised.
As if returning to the battlefield of yesteryear, the once lifeless small area was suddenly filled with bursts of fearful, desperate shrieks.
Li Fan nodded with satisfaction.
He then flashed into the Primordial Rebirth Furnace floating in the sky.
The Overseer, the Repairman.
These two celestial servants responsible for the defensive formations of the Primordial Realm did not attack upon seeing Li Fan.
Instead, they knelt and kowtowed respectfully.
They acknowledged that, purely based on strength, Li Fan at the Dao Integration realm was no match for these two celestial servants.
But even the most powerful celestial servants were only celestial servants.
As a disciple of the Mound Guardian and the inheritor of Emperor Tai's legacy, Li Fan had numerous ways to directly gain control over them.
This was also why, from beginning to end, even when the Primordial Realm was pushed to a desperate situation and the Primordial cultivators begged for mercy, they had never appeared.
Ignoring the two celestial servants, Li Fan directly entered the core of the ancient celestial formation.
As expected, he saw the Indeterminate Circle and the shining Nine-Star Red Pearl in the center.
Standing in the center of the celestial formation, Li Fan truly felt the inexplicable pressure from Mount Shang and the Infinite Sea.
A strange look flashed in his eyes. His purpose here was not for this treasure orb, which contained information about all cultivators and living beings in the Primordial Realm.
Instead, it was for the complete celestial formation itself.
"Although I cannot directly access the Infinite Sea myself,"
"I can indirectly steal the Infinite Immortal Power from the Infinite Sea through this celestial formation."
"Just as I did with my clone before."
"Now that the Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul is gone and the Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice does not exist, I must first recover my True Immortal cultivation through this method."
Trembling with excitement, shaking with fervor, despairing in fear.
Finally, it vanished above the mountains and seas, transforming into a bridge.
It created a path for its people to travel from the sea into the mountains.
...
Li Fan carefully reread this passage from the allegory dozens of times, attempting to grasp the scene it depicted. However, the allegory was vague about details, only stating the end of this first being.
This was understandable.
The history of the mountains and seas recorded in this allegory was already a secret far beyond the mortal world. If it also involved what lay beyond the mountains and seas...
Then Li Fan would first doubt the allegory's authenticity.
After all, the allegory recorded that the ending of the first being who looked beyond the mountains and seas was death and transformation into a bridge, connecting the mountains and seas. Unless this deceased being could resurrect and record what it saw. Otherwise, no one in the mortal world of mountains and seas could ever know what it truly saw.
Actually, Li Fan was not particularly curious about matters beyond the mountains and seas. They were too distant from his current self. Speculating without foundation was useless and would only increase his troubles.
What Li Fan cared about more was this passage in the allegory:
"Born from the sea, standing upon the mountains. Thus its gaze could extend beyond the mountains and seas..."
"It seems to explain the path to transcending the mountains and seas," Li Fan mused to himself.
The history of this first being recorded in the allegory was similar yet different from the deeds of Sage Lords Lian Shan and Gui Hai of the Immortal Realm.
If one looked at the deeds of connecting the mountains and seas, it seemed this being possessed the characteristics of both Sage Lords. However, the two Sages were still within the mountains and seas, not having perished and transformed into a bridge as the allegory stated.
"If there truly is a connection between them, perhaps it was precisely because of the existence of the [bridge] transformed by this primordial first being that Sage Lords Lian Shan and Gui Hai, countless years later, achieved their Dao."
"It was also from this corpse named [bridge] that the two Sage Lords glimpsed the past of the mountains and seas," Li Fan made a reasonable guess in his heart.
"Then the author of this allegory is quite intriguing. Knowing both the future end of the world and the primordial past. And having a close relationship with the two Sages..."
An invisible fire ignited in his hand, completely burning the allegory.
This allegory was indeed not cast from any special materials; in an instant, it turned to nothingness.
Even though he had verified it once in his previous life, Li Fan still felt a bit disappointed.
"It seems there are no other hidden secrets."
Although the physical form was gone, the text of the allegory was deeply imprinted in Li Fan's mind. Recalling it carefully, Li Fan attempted to deconstruct a portion of the allegory based on his own experiences.
"If being born from the sea and standing upon the mountains already grants the qualification to transcend them, then in essence, any [Immortal] created after the two Sage Lords established the Immortal Realm actually met this condition."
"Its essence is the fusion of two Daos."
"However, the vast majority of so-called True Immortals only achieved their Dao by borrowing the power of the two Sage Lords. They never truly grasped the Dao of Mountains and Seas."
"The extreme of two Daos is the transcendence of mountains and seas."
"In my previous experiences, the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas, along with the Great Dao of Longevity and the Transformation of True and False, should be of the same caliber. This would mean..."
"Practicing any one of them to its extreme would grant the power to transcend mountains and seas. Then my previous action of fusing three Daos..."
Li Fan shook his head slightly.
Judging from the allegory's content, the mountains and seas themselves needed to be constantly refined through fusion.
Perhaps even the Infinite Sea and Mount Shang could not withstand the consequences of fusing three Daos in a short period.
"This is also why the Return to Truth [identity] was so heavily 'injured' this time. I was indeed too reckless before. To have survived is truly thanks to the Return to Truth's protection."
"Ignorance is bliss."
Looking back at his past actions from his current perspective, Li Fan truly felt fortunate and fearful.
"What was Sun Piaomiao's purpose in leaving this allegory?"
"Normally speaking, the content of this allegory far exceeds the Xuanhuang Realm. Even True Immortals might not recognize the true face of the mountains and seas. Most cultivators who see this allegory would simply treat it as a story and not think too much of it."
"Except for..."
Li Fan raised an eyebrow: "Besides me, there is also the person in the future who will tear off a few pages of this allegory."
With a thought, an identical book appeared in Li Fan's hand.
He placed it back in its original position within the treasure vault.
Although Li Fan's actions had drastically altered the historical trajectory of the Xuanhuang Realm, he could not be sure if the mysterious person who tore the pages of the allegory would reappear.
However, necessary contingency plans had to be made.
Perhaps it would bring him unexpected surprises?
Having resolved the matter of the mountains and seas allegory, Li Fan's next plan was to find the Grand Heavenly Venerate of Azure Nether.
Previously, in the Primordial Realm, the Immortal Formation had captured a trace of her aura.
Even if she deliberately concealed her existence within the Xuanhuang Realm, she could not escape Li Fan's grasp.
The Grand Heavenly Venerate’s location was locked onto in the unseen currents of fate. Li Fan smiled slightly and took a step forward.
In the next moment, he appeared out of thin air near her.
He did not rush to alert her but instead hid in the shadows, observing carefully.
This was a tranquil and ordinary mountain peak in the Xuanhuang Realm.
Due to its location in a temperate climate, instead of tall trees, the mountains were covered in verdant, short grass that stretched endlessly to the horizon. It resembled a sky-high grassland, refreshing and uplifting, broadening one's mind.
The Grand Heavenly Venerate of Azure Nether sat quietly on the mountaintop.
Before her stood an easel.
The Grand Heavenly Venerate was gradually recording the beautiful scenery with brush and ink.
For a Grand Heavenly Venerate who could search and preserve all the sights of the entire Xuanhuang Realm with a mere thought, such an action seemed meaningless.
But Li Fan could see that this Grand Heavenly Venerate seemed to be enjoying herself.
Every stroke was meticulous. Occasionally, she would frown in dissatisfaction, erase the ink, and repaint.
A gentle breeze rustled the mountain, and time slowly passed.
Just as the Grand Heavenly Venerate's painting was nearing completion, and her expression of pleasant surprise and satisfaction was visible.
In the painting, countless corpses suddenly appeared among the rolling hills.
A sea of corpses and blood, with a sky filled with malevolent energy.
A blood moon also rose in the sky.
Completely destroying the originally fresh and beautiful atmosphere.
"Who is it!" the Grand Heavenly Venerate exclaimed in shock and anger, abruptly turning around and scanning her surroundings.
She happened to see Li Fan's wry smile.
From a rational perspective, to be able to approach her without her noticing, and to recklessly alter her painting, meant that the strength of this sudden appearance was absolutely far greater than hers.
If Li Fan were her, he would not easily attack such a powerful being.
But the Grand Heavenly Venerate before him, possibly losing her reason in her fury over the ruined painting, still chose to attack Li Fan.
The smile on Li Fan's lips gradually faded as he calmly uttered a single word.
"Still!"
The Grand Heavenly Venerate, who had attacked in a furious outburst, was instantly rendered immobile!
It was at this moment that she slowly regained her senses.
The look of horror on her face was evident.
As the Heavenly Venerate of Azure Nether, she could freely command the power of the entire Xuanhuang Realm. But now...
Before this person.
Her connection to the world seemed to have been severed.
Or rather, even with the power of the entire Xuanhuang Realm added, she was still completely suppressed by this person.
A Grand Heavenly Venerate was not a dull person. She almost instantly connected this to the mysterious [True Immortal of Azure Nether] who had descended earlier.
Only an Immortal could possess such power.
Compared to a True Immortal, a Grand Heavenly Venerate was clearly not on the same level.
Having inherited the duties of the Grand Heavenly Venerate, she knew perfectly well that the so-called Grand Heavenly Venerate of Azure Nether was merely a servant under orders.
Therefore, she immediately put away her arrogance.
Even though this True Immortal's actual age was likely far less than hers.
Li Fan had only immobilized her actions, not restricted her speech.
Upon realizing this, the Grand Heavenly Venerate asked, "Why are you toying with me, Senior?"
As her voice carried out, Li Fan began to vaguely understand why Mr. Bai was so fixated on a mortal.
Even after learning he was tricked, he remained steadfast.
It was a pity that such tactics would not work on Li Fan.
"The soldiers of Azure Nether fight to the death on the front lines. You, as the Grand Heavenly Venerate of Azure Nether, are here indulging in poetic artistic pursuits..." Li Fan snorted coldly.
Using the Transformation of True and False to simulate power approaching that of the Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul, he poured it into the Grand Heavenly Venerate's body.
Initially, the Grand Heavenly Venerate's expression was quite calm as she spoke eloquently, "The duty of the Grand Heavenly Venerate is only within the Xuanhuang Realm. The matter of attacking the Primordial Realm afar is not my responsibility..."
Her voice, halfway through speaking, uncontrollably changed pitch.
The power of the Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul could annihilate everything. The Grand Heavenly Venerate's connection to the Xuanhuang Realm could not escape its reach.
Even though her body and soul felt no pain, she was still covered in cold sweat.
Although she was inwardly unwilling to continue serving as the Grand Heavenly Venerate and had already begun looking for a suitable successor, voluntarily relinquishing her position was different from being forcibly stripped of it.
The intense fear she hadn't felt in a long time almost overwhelmed her. However, she suppressed the fear in her heart and did not directly beg for mercy.
She only held on stubbornly, explaining one by one the reasons why she had not gone to the front line of the Primordial Realm.
Objectively speaking, her reasons were indeed logical and reasonable.
But Li Fan was only there to trouble her, so all these reasons were useless.
The means of depletion continued.
Seeing this, the Grand Heavenly Venerate sighed softly, "I know I have failed in my duty. I will accept any punishment you mete out, Senior. But I worry that the next Grand Heavenly Venerate of Azure Nether has not yet been appointed. If there is no Heavenly Venerate to manage the affairs of Azure Nether, the world might fall into chaos."
"Of course, if you, Senior, have the leisure to handle these trivial matters of countless mortals and the Myriad Immortal Sects, then consider my words as spoken in vain."
She seemed genuinely willing to accept punishment, and until the very last moment when her connection to the Azure Nether world was completely severed, she did not show any hostility towards Li Fan.
She endured it silently.
This made Li Fan look at her with new eyes.
Leaving her with the last thread of connection, Li Fan finally stopped.
"How long have you been serving as Grand Heavenly Venerate?" he asked, gazing at her.
"Since the departure of the Heavenly Mysteries King, it has been sixteen thousand three hundred and forty-two years," the Grand Heavenly Venerate answered swiftly.
"According to the rules of the Immortal Realm, each Grand Heavenly Venerate of Azure Nether cannot serve for more than ten thousand years. In fact, I have long exceeded my term. But the Immortal Realm was destroyed, and the normal appointment procedures have long since become invalid."
"And I have been unable to find a suitable successor..."
The Grand Heavenly Venerate spoke softly, a hint of helplessness in her tone.
"Senior, please see clearly. During my tenure, I have always been diligent. I have maintained the stability and prosperity of the Azure Nether world, fulfilling my duties responsibly. All Myriad Immortal Sects can attest to this." Soon, she changed the subject and began to speak of her contributions.
"But I see you have the intention to leave," Li Fan glanced at her and said faintly.
This was the Grand Heavenly Venerate's most confidential matter, yet Li Fan revealed it in a single sentence. The Grand Heavenly Venerate was shaken to her core.
However, she reacted quickly and admitted it on the spot: "After toiling for ten thousand years, I have grown weary. My duties are fulfilled, and it is natural human emotion to wish to step down."
"Even the first Grand Heavenly Venerate did not serve from beginning to end. Although my actions are somewhat unfeeling, they are within the rules." She defended herself.
"The first Grand Heavenly Venerate?"
Li Fan's eyes lit up upon hearing this. He immediately thought of the Netherfolk buried deep beneath the Xuanhuang Realm.
Because they possessed the bloodline of the first Grand Heavenly Venerate, the Heavenly Mysteries King had transformed them into monstrous beings, forever accompanying the Sea of Darkness as punishment.
Li Fan speculated that because of what the first Grand Heavenly Venerate had done, she had deeply angered the Heavenly Mysteries King, hence this action.
But Li Fan did not know what the first one had done, hence his question.
This woman explained softly, "The first Grand Heavenly Venerate foresaw the calamity of the Immortal Realm early on, and thus voluntarily transformed from an Immortal into a mortal. Within the Xuanhuang Realm, she established an earthly immortal dynasty, calling herself Emperor, causing chaos in the mortal world."
"Though the Immortal shed her mortality, she was still not someone mortal cultivators could resist. Thus, they had no choice but to obey her commands."
"Although the first one was no longer an Immortal, she still viewed mortal cultivators as ants, casually ordering them around and treating them like slaves. At that time, even though the major cultivation sects had complaints, they were powerless to resist."
"Later, through the means by which major sects connected directly to the Immortal Realm, the matter was reported to the Immortal Realm. An imperial decree came from the Immortal Realm, and only then did the first one restrain herself somewhat. However, she voluntarily reduced the scope of the earthly immortal dynasty, but her behavior persisted."
"Within the immortal dynasty, cultivators were like livestock, at her mercy."
"After transforming from an Immortal to a mortal, the first one's temperament became increasingly tyrannical. She often indulged in lustful pursuits. Countless mortals, and even cultivators, could not escape her clutches. However, she did not allow herself to have descendants with mortal bloodlines. If any pregnant individuals were found, they were killed on the spot. Only one branch managed to escape by chance and remained in seclusion. Only after the first one departed did they reveal their identity."
"Relying on their Immortal bloodline, they were on the verge of establishing a second immortal dynasty. Fortunately, they were stopped in time by the combined efforts of the other sects in the Xuanhuang Realm."
...
The Grand Heavenly Venerate softly recounted the first one's atrocities.
These were events not recorded in later history, and Li Fan listened with keen interest.
This is the chapter "The Past of the Great Heavenly Venerate."
“Before the True King of the Azure Nether rose to prominence, families established by the First Generation's bloodline were among the most powerful on the Azure Nether Land. They were as formidable as some ancient sects. People speculated this was due to their True Immortal bloodline, and perhaps treasures stolen from the First Generation when they escaped.”
The voice of the Immortal, the Great Heavenly Venerate of Azure Nether, was truly “pleasant.” It flowed like a mountain spring, soft as a gentle breeze, penetrating without sound, yet evoking a sense of closeness.
“By that logic, the fate of the First Generation Great Heavenly Venerate's descendants was likely not a good one.”
“Senior is indeed astute. When the True King of the Azure Nether returned from the Immortal Realm and swept through the Azure Nether Land with his Twelve Law Kings, it was precisely these First Generation bloodline families who led the resistance, aiming to revive their ancestors' legacy as the Alliance Leader. Strictly speaking, they had some authority to command the masses. In the beginning, they indeed caused considerable trouble for the True King.”
“However, this was also due to the True King's unnecessary mercy. Once he made up his mind, no one in the world could stop him.” The Great Heavenly Venerate seemed to harbor a peculiar sentiment towards the True King; his tone fluctuated slightly when he mentioned him.
Li Fan keenly detected that this sentiment was not mere admiration, but also tinged with a hint of resentment.
Unaware of this, the Great Heavenly Venerate continued, “These First Generation bloodline families, while lacking the strength of True Immortals, astonishingly mirrored their ancestors’ actions. After their territories were conquered by the True King leading his forces, the wicked deeds that transpired there were finally brought to light. To ensure the purity of their True Immortal bloodline, only close relatives were permitted to mate; they secretly gathered gifted young children, stripping them of their talents through forbidden arts; they used restrictions to enslave and control other cultivators, forcing them to serve; and at fixed intervals, they sacrificed large numbers of living beings to maintain their bloodline's stability… Their sins were innumerable and utterly heinous.”
“In his rage, the True King of the Azure Nether transformed and suppressed all members of the First Generation bloodline family…” the Great Heavenly Venerate spoke volubly.
Unexpectedly, Li Fan waved his hand, interrupting. “Let’s not stray too far. Speak of the First Generation Great Heavenly Venerate. If I've guessed correctly, his descent into the mortal realm was not through ordinary means. He retained his Immortal body, leaving himself a fallback. Is that right? If the timing was right, he could still use this Immortal body to ascend as an immortal again from the mortal realm.”
“As expected of someone entrusted with important responsibilities by the Immortal Realm, he can move freely between the mortal and immortal states.”
“And in your description, you painted him as utterly useless precisely to make me ignore him as much as possible, in order to conceal the existence of the Great Heavenly Venerate's Immortal body…”
Li Fan's gaze gradually grew cold. Despite being exposed, the female Great Heavenly Venerate before him showed no panic. She simply looked at Li Fan with a calm expression, remaining silent.
Li Fan, unfazed, continued, “In fact, I could tell you were stalling for time. A method to escape even under my confinement…” Li Fan’s gaze flickered towards the distance.
The female Great Heavenly Venerate's expression changed slightly for the first time.
Li Fan added, “And why do you think I was willing to listen to you for so long? Wasn't I also waiting?”
The opportune moment had arrived. Li Fan ceased to hesitate. The suppressed power of his Black Slaughter Immortal Soul surged forth and erupted, instantly engulfing the female Great Heavenly Venerate's body. A look of astonishment remained on her face, but in the next second, she became like a petrified statue, completely devoid of life.
Li Fan did not kill her. He preserved a trace of vitality in her body and soul, merely using the method of sealing a Heavenly Pillar to temporarily freeze her.
“Asking questions one by one is not as convenient as observing for oneself,” Li Fan said with a slight shake of his head. He never easily trusted a woman's words. He had taken everything the Great Heavenly Venerate had said as mere entertainment. He needed to see for himself what the truth was.
The reason he hadn't acted sooner was due to her position as the Great Heavenly Venerate of Azure Nether. The Great Heavenly Venerate of Azure Nether was closely tied to the safety of the Xuanhuang Realm. Recklessly injuring or killing her might cause chaos in the realm. And Li Fan did not wish for the Xuanhuang Realm to fall into chaos, as all his anchor points in this timeline were established here. Why would he destroy his own foundation?
Therefore, after severing her connection to the Xuanhuang Realm, Li Fan first used his True Immortal authority to temporarily obtain the rights of the Acting Heavenly Venerate of Azure Nether. This ensured that after dealing with the female Great Heavenly Venerate, no damage would be done to the Xuanhuang Realm, and then he acted decisively. Li Fan had not forgotten her initial hostility towards him, along with the Heavenly Dao of Azure Nether, when he first arrived in this timeline.
“Let me see.” Li Fan narrowed his eyes. The female Great Heavenly Venerate was like a book, and he turned her pages one by one, savoring them.
As Li Fan examined her, the Heavenly Dao of Azure Nether, upon noticing the inexplicable disappearance of the female Great Heavenly Venerate and Li Fan's sudden assumption of her role, exhibited instinctive caution and curiosity. It also expressed confusion and inquiry.
Dark clouds gathered in the sky. A wave of consciousness, a being of absolute importance by ordinary cultivator standards, descended upon Li Fan’s mountaintop. It felt as though the world had instantly flipped, the entire weight of the Xuanhuang Realm pressing down on his shoulders.
However, Li Fan merely snorted coldly and stomped his foot. In the next moment, the inverted heavens were righted. His divine sense shot upwards, suppressing the Heavenly Dao of Azure Nether, which had dared to reveal its wave of consciousness. The current Heavenly Dao of Azure Nether had not yet experienced the later great tribulation or the invasion of other cultivation realms; its nature was not yet so peculiar. Even the later, twisted Heavenly Dao of Azure Nether could be thoroughly subdued by Li Fan, let alone the current one.
The pressure of True Immortal strength, the life-giving nourishment of Immortal Spiritual Qi, and the all-consuming display of his Black Slaughter Immortal Soul's power… Under a combination of coercion and enticement, the Heavenly Dao of Azure Nether immediately returned to its senses, ceasing all movement.
Li Fan then continued to examine the "book" before him. The female Great Heavenly Venerate, sealed into a Heavenly Pillar, her past memories frozen page by page. Although these were merely countless static images, they did not prevent Li Fan from glimpsing her past.
The female Great Heavenly Venerate’s name was Yi Yutong. She was originally an ordinary mortal in the Xuanhuang Realm. Because her family was protected by the Heavenly Mysteries Sect, they worshipped the Faceless Heavenly Mysteries Divine Statue. Later, although the Heavenly Mysteries Sect issued a decree to collect the divine statues and cease worship, out of a mortal's simple gratitude, Yi Yutong's parents secretly kept the statue and worshipped it in secret day and night.
Originally, everything was peaceful. Despite the Heavenly Mysteries Sect's decree, there was no extensive investigation; it seemed merely a formality. However, one day, upon waking, Yi Yutong discovered with horror that her parents had both died in their beds. The cause of their death was that their faces had vanished, just like the Heavenly Mysteries Divine Statue. Without features and unable to breathe, they had suffocated to death. Fortunately, all these strange changes occurred during their sleep, so they felt no pain and passed away peacefully.
Under the Heavenly Mysteries Sect's rule, mortal lives were still lives. The double death of a couple, involving the Heavenly Mysteries Divine Statue, caused a sensation. People discussed it widely, filled with confusion. Why would worshipping the merciful and suffering-relieving Heavenly Mysteries Divine Statue bring disaster?
The Heavenly Mysteries Sect quickly sent people to quell the unrest, stating that the family had violated the Heavenly Mysteries' imperial decree and engaged in malicious worship, thus suffering a backlash. Yi Yutong was then brought before the True King of the Azure Nether.
Yi Yutong still remembered the immensely surprised expression on the True King’s face the first time he saw her. He then took her in and raised her within the sect. It was only later that Yi Yutong understood why the True King had been so surprised. It was because he had found a suitable successor.
In fact, the young Yi Yutong followed her parents to worship the Faceless Heavenly Mysteries Divine Statue every day, but she, inexplicably, underwent no change. According to the True King's words and Yi Yutong's own guess, she must have been subtly influenced by the Faceless Divine Statue while still in her mother's womb. Not only did she not die, but she was born safely, thus possessing a natural adaptability to the statue's power. It was precisely this unique innate constitution that saved her life during the subsequent disaster, leading to her being noticed by the True King.
To be "noticed" did not mean receiving much special care. Or perhaps, it was to avoid others noticing her peculiarity. Regardless, Yi Yutong's early life was spent growing up with countless orphans adopted by the Heavenly Mysteries Sect. Apart from the True King occasionally visiting in secret to teach her cultivation techniques and check her physical condition, her treatment was no different from that of other orphans.
Thus, Yi Yutong grew into adulthood. For some unknown reason, her cultivation speed was far slower than that of her peers. Even though her talent was ten or even a hundred times greater than others', it was as if an invisible hand was suppressing her from above, dictating her progress at a planned pace. The mockery of her peers and the pressure within the sect caused Yi Yutong to break down and cry countless times. During rare moments alone with the True King, she couldn't help but question him. The True King only said, "By its slowness, it can live, it can conquer. Victory leads to longevity.” These words were difficult to comprehend. She was full of grievances.
Fortunately, she persevered. At the age of twenty-nine, she finally achieved the Golden Core realm, officially stepping onto the path of a cultivator. Although her progress was slow, she could eventually serve the sect. It was a shame what happened later…
One day, the sect was suddenly thrown into chaos. Countless terrifyingly powerful auras attacked. The usually heavily guarded Heavenly Mysteries Sect was unable to mount a proper counterattack for a time. As a mere Golden Core cultivator, she could only go with the flow, fleeing in panic with the others. In a daze, she seemed to hear the True King's voice. However, the situation was too chaotic at the time; she wasn't sure if it was an illusion.
Outside the Heavenly Mysteries Sect, countless cultivators were ambushing and pursuing them. These sects, who had always seemed loyal to the Heavenly Mysteries Sect, now showed no mercy in slaughtering Heavenly Mysteries disciples. Fortunately, Yi Yutong was only a Golden Core cultivator and not a significant figure in the sect. She barely managed to escape, sustaining severe injuries. Later, her injuries became too serious, and she fainted.
During this period, she seemed to have had a very long dream. When she woke up… she inexplicably found herself inexplicably becoming the Great Heavenly Venerate of Azure Nether. In addition to the recorded memories of the previous Heavenly Venerate regarding the Xuanhuang Realm, there was also a set of instructions from the True King of the Azure Nether. Apparently, this was the True King's contingency plan. If he met with misfortune, the method he had left in Yi Yutong would activate, automatically appointing her as the Great Heavenly Venerate.
Normally, inheriting the position of Great Heavenly Venerate required passing specific trials. However, according to the True King's words, she had already passed the Great Heavenly Venerate's trial when she was very young, upon entering the sect, and had become a candidate Heavenly Venerate. Yi Yutong had absolutely no memory of this.
She, who was originally just a Golden Core cultivator, woke up inheriting the strength of a Great Heavenly Venerate. The power to casually suppress Dao Integration cultivators with a mere gesture made Yi Yutong tremble uncontrollably. The first thought that came to her mind was to seek revenge on those treacherous and despicable members of the Myriad Immortal Sects.
However, the inherent warning of being a Great Heavenly Venerate surfaced at this moment. Having become a Great Heavenly Venerate, one could not indiscriminately kill innocents for personal grudges. This meant that even with immense power, she couldn't even exact revenge. And she couldn't even abandon this responsibility. The tragic sight of her companions, who had grown up with her, being brutally killed by the Myriad Immortal Sects was still vivid in her mind. How could she reconcile this, having to help and coordinate with the Myriad Immortal Sects, who had replaced the Heavenly Mysteries Sect's position, to protect the safety of the Xuanhuang Realm?
She had tried to resist the restrictions of the Great Heavenly Venerate of Azure Nether within her. But facing the wrath of the heart-flame penalty, which could incinerate her if she defied it, Yi Yutong still felt fear. She couldn't disregard her own life for the sake of revenge. This made her feel even more ashamed.
Every day as a Great Heavenly Venerate was like an ordeal in hell for Yi Yutong. Faced with the solicitous visits of those detestable enemies, Yi Yutong could only choose to refuse. Out of sight, out of mind. While managing the affairs of maintaining the Xuanhuang Realm's safety, Yi Yutong secretly searched for news of the True King of the Azure Nether. She truly wished to return this position of Great Heavenly Venerate to him. And then, she could openly seek revenge on the Myriad Immortal Sects.
However, she searched throughout the Xuanhuang Realm but could not find the whereabouts of Xuanyuan Hong. It seemed he had perished in that upheaval. Yet, an intuition told her that the True King of the Azure Nether should still be alive. Thus, Yi Yutong had not given up hope of finding him over the years.
But… she had once thought she would forever bear the hatred for the Myriad Immortal Sects. However, time ultimately possessed the power to heal all things. Fifty years, a hundred years. Eight hundred years, three thousand years. As time passed, the figures of her former companions blurred and faded. And the main culprits of that upheaval, without her even needing to act, had mostly died of old age. It was only then that Yi Yutong began to understand the True King's words from back then: "By its slowness, it can live, it can conquer. Victory leads to longevity.” The thought of revenge gradually faded. But the position of Great Heavenly Venerate of Azure Nether was something Yi Yutong always wished to relinquish.
After serving as the Xuanhuang Realm's Great Heavenly Venerate for ten thousand years, Yi Yutong should theoretically have completed her mission. However, finding a suitable successor proved difficult. When the probability of finding such a person became exceedingly low, it became indistinguishable from impossibility. Yi Yutong searched fruitlessly for over six thousand years, scouring the entire Xuanhuang Realm, yet she found no one who met the requirements for succession.
Only then did Yi Yutong truly understand why the Heavenly Mysteries King had been so ecstatic and lost composure upon discovering her. After prolonged, fruitless searching, Yi Yutong gradually grew indifferent. In her free time, while attending to Azure Nether affairs, she found solace in nature, preparing herself to live and die with this world.
Until…
The great war in the Primordial Xuanhuang Realm erupted. A rift tore through the sky, and the scene of the Azure Nether True Immortal breaking through mid-battle and turning the tide appeared before the eyes of the world. As one of the foremost authorities on "immortals" in the Xuanhuang Realm, she recognized the unique aura of the True Immortal realm the moment it manifested.
A myriad of questions surged within her. The immortal path was clearly severed, and even a genius like the Heavenly Mysteries King could only achieve the Half-Immortal realm. How could a new True Immortal possibly appear in this world? Later, after erupting with unparalleled brilliance, that True Immortal vanished like a shooting star. She finally found some solace.
However, simultaneously, an irrepressible urge arose within her. "If I possessed the strength of a True Immortal, perhaps I could disregard the shackles of this Great Heavenly Venerate's position. After all, the Immortal Realm has long been destroyed…"
Once the thought arose, it could no longer be suppressed. Thus, she took a tremendous risk, leaving the Xuanhuang Realm for the first time in her life to travel to the Primordial Realm. It was crucial to remember that the vast majority of her strength came from the Azure Nether Great Heavenly Venerate's empowerment. Outside the Xuanhuang Realm, she would be no different from an ordinary Dao Integration cultivator. Yi Yutong was acutely aware of how many Dao Integration cultivators had perished on that land. Even though the war had subsided and the threat of Primordial cultivators was gone, one could never predict the dangers of foreign lands.
Yet, Yi Yutong went. She not only visited and paid homage to the place where the Azure Nether True Immortal had fallen but also gazed upon the world-shaking sword mark. Upon her return, Yi Yutong indeed reaped some rewards. The residual aura of the Azure Nether True Immortal felt strikingly familiar to her. This familiarity stemmed from the Heavenly Mysteries King, whom she had interacted with in the first half of her life, and also from the Faceless Divine Statue she had worshipped since childhood.
"So that's how it is. I was wrong."
"Since immortals still exist in this world, it means the immortal path has not been severed. The destination, known as becoming an immortal, is still there. Only the Immortal Realm was destroyed, and it was only one of the paths leading to that destination…"
With this sense of familiarity, Yi Yutong seemed to be able to faintly touch the boundaries of immortality. While painting, her thoughts, guided by the familiar connection, drifted out of the Xuanhuang Realm. In a trance, she saw a vast and continuous landscape of mountains and seas!
…
Li Fan slowly closed Yi Yutong's book, a solemn expression on his face. To have glimpsed the Infinite Sea and the scenery of Mount Shang during her enlightenment was beyond Yi Yutong's natural talent. The only plausible explanation was the influence of that so-called familiarity. It was similar to how Li Fan himself would occasionally see a solitary figure standing, gazing at the sea. This was not a vision he personally experienced but a change that occurred after practicing the Mound Guardian's Casual Notes and entering the Dao lineage passed down by the Mound Guardian ancestor.
"So the source of Yi Yutong's enlightenment of mountains and seas is…"
Now that Yi Yutong had transformed into a Heavenly Pillar, existing like an instrument, Li Fan, using her as a medium, completely occupied her mind. He meticulously investigated the origin of her sense of familiarity.
"It's not the Heavenly Mysteries King."
"It's the Faceless Immortal…" After careful discernment, Li Fan reached his conclusion. After all, in past reincarnations, Li Fan had been deeply entangled with both of them. Especially with the Faceless Immortal, he had even fallen into his trap, losing his own face, much like Yi Yutong's parents who had died unjustly. However, the Li Fan of today was a far cry from his former self. He had even encountered powerhouses like the Mound Guardian ancestor, the Purple-Robed one, and Emperor Tai, who could traverse the Eternal Void. Why should he fear this mere Faceless Immortal?
"The connection is so close, it indicates that they are still within the 'Primordial' possibility. Neither are transcendent powerhouses…" Li Fan's eyes flickered, and his thoughts churned. However, he eventually suppressed these ideas for the time being, prioritizing other matters in the Xuanhuang Realm first.
Examining Yi Yutong's memories, her account to Li Fan was indeed a mixture of truth and falsehood. The first Great Heavenly Venerate had indeed displayed tyrannical tendencies, but this was a residual effect of the bifurcation between immortal and mortal. As the symptoms worsened, the first one gradually sealed himself off from the world, no longer meeting people. He began searching for a successor for the Heavenly Venerate position early on. Furthermore, the reason for the first one's bloodline descendants escaping was precisely due to his deliberate leniency. It was precisely because of the first Great Heavenly Venerate's past meritorious deeds that, despite his descendants' wickedness, the Heavenly Mysteries King did not exterminate them all during the purge.
"Knowing that ascending to immortality was hopeless, the first one eventually abandoned the idea of returning to immortality."
"He simply gifted his immortal body to his successor, the Azure Nether Heavenly Venerate, as a trump card for emergencies."
"The immortal artifact, the immortal body, and the power of Azure Nether established the supreme status of the Azure Nether Great Heavenly Venerate in the Xuanhuang Realm."
"The current location of the first immortal body…" Li Fan found the answer in Yi Yutong's memories. In the next moment, he instantly transferred to the corresponding location.
"So it was here." Li Fan's perception of space and time shifted, connecting this location with its appearance tens of thousands of years later. It was the Heavenly Spirit Prefecture, where the First Sect built the Five Elements Great Grotto-heaven. However, at this temporal juncture, the space known as "Heaven and Earth's Roots" had not yet been occupied by the First Sect. And the first immortal body lay there peacefully.
The immortal body emitted wisps of immortal energy, nourishing the Xuanhuang Realm. With Yi Yutong's memories, Li Fan faced no obstacles and smoothly breached the layers of restrictions. He arrived before the first immortal body.
"Not bad. No wonder the Immortal Realm entrusted him with such an important task," Li Fan commented calmly from a distance. Judging by the aura emanating from this body, although it did not reach the Nameless Realm, it was stronger than the two Immortals of Xi and Yi encountered in the Star Sea of the North.
"A True Immortal's husk, a body completely devoid of self-awareness, is indeed the best material for refining puppets," Li Fan couldn't help but feel tempted. The first immortal body had lain undisturbed in the Xuanhuang Realm for ten thousand years, unmolested. This was undoubtedly because successive Great Heavenly Venerates had the will but not the means. Even without self-awareness, the naturally protective immortal Spirit Qi was not something anyone could breach. But it couldn't stop Li Fan.
"Perhaps the Heavenly Mysteries King could also possess this ability, but given Xuanyuan Hong's character, he might not be willing to do so." Li Fan, however, was indifferent. In his opinion, everything in the world could be used by him, and he did so without any psychological burden. This "world" referred not only to the Xuanhuang Realm but to the entire world of mountains and seas!
Although he harbored the thought of utilizing everything to its fullest, Li Fan did not let his guard down. He meticulously inspected the first immortal body from top to bottom, then set up an array on the spot to ensure no problems would arise before commencing the refinement of the immortal puppet. This time, Li Fan deeply absorbed the advanced experience from previous reincarnations in refining puppets and clones. He adopted a state between a clone and an independent puppet. The immortal puppet would still possess its own independent consciousness, but Li Fan would also have complete control over it.
Even every thought conceived in his mind would be under Li Fan's control. If necessary, Li Fan could temporarily freeze the immortal puppet's thoughts and seize control of its body. It was also a function he could use to instantly extinguish the immortal puppet's consciousness and create new sentience, starting everything anew. This immortal puppet refinement truly represented the culmination of Li Fan's abilities. At his current Half-Immortal realm, the refinement required considerable effort. Fortunately, with the support of the immortal energy from the Primordial Immortal Array's defenses in the Primordial Realm, he finally completed the refinement of the first immortal puppet.
As the puppet's consciousness slowly awakened, the nurturing immortal energy it naturally emitted towards the Xuanhuang Realm was withdrawn. Almost instantly, the Azure Nether world, which had been like a vibrant flower, seemed to lose its color. It became somewhat different. If it had been in a state of prosperity before, now, deprived of the first immortal body's nourishment, it quickly declined from peak to decay. Although this change was still extremely subtle and only a handful of people in the entire world could detect it, it was expected that as time passed, this change would become more apparent, and the rate of change would accelerate.
"No wonder Su Bai didn't take the first immortal body with him when he wanted to escape the The Great Barriers back then. Without the support of the immortal body, it's uncertain if the Xuanhuang Realm could even last for another ten thousand years."
While Li Fan was contemplating, the consciousness of the Azure Nether Heavenly Dao, which had most recently sensed the anomaly in the world, hurriedly descended. Its shock and anger were palpable. But upon glimpsing Li Fan, it froze instantly, transforming into resentment and fawning.
"Very good. It seems you learn quickly." Li Fan nodded with satisfaction. He then extracted a portion of the immortal energy from the Primordial Ancient Immortal Array and set up an immortal array here to nourish the Xuanhuang Realm. Since the immortal energy was infinite in nature, even giving out a portion had no substantial impact on Li Fan. Moreover, as this Xuanhuang Realm served as his foundational anchor point in the River of Time, Li Fan would not allow it to fall into turmoil.
The Azure Nether Heavenly Dao, having been replenished, instantly shifted from worry to joy and happily retreated. It was completely oblivious to how terrifying it was to have its lifeblood and destiny controlled by Li Fan from that moment on. Meanwhile, Li Fan did not pay too much attention to the Azure Nether Heavenly Dao. He was attempting to glimpse the life of the first Great Heavenly Venerate through the residual memories within the immortal puppet.
It must be said that the first Great Heavenly Venerate indeed possessed some extraordinary methods. The bifurcation of immortal and mortal was indeed thorough. Even after Li Fan thoroughly cleansed the body, he only found a few deeply etched memory fragments. These fragments occupied profoundly significant portions of the first Great Heavenly Venerate's life, indelibly imprinted in his essence, something even the immortal-mortal bifurcation could not erase.
"Is this the Tribulation of Dao Erasure…" The first Great Heavenly Venerate watched from afar as the Immortal Realm silently collapsed. The magnificent golden palaces of the heavenly courts instantly plunged into darkness and death. This stillness was rapidly spreading towards his location. Countless immortals vanished like ants in this terrifying calamity, unable to even cry out for help or wail, simply disappearing forever. Despair filled the first Great Heavenly Venerate's heart. He didn't even entertain the thought of escape, as he knew there was nowhere to flee.
Just as he closed his eyes, awaiting death, a figure, seemingly slender but immeasurably majestic, suddenly appeared between heaven and earth. All the immortals retreated in panic. Only he, facing the surging tide of Dao Erasure, advanced directly. He stood there alone, like a mountain, like a dam. The terrifying, all-consuming surge before him could not advance an inch! A distinct dividing line cut the vision in half.
On the other side of the dividing line lay death and void. On this side, where the first Great Heavenly Venerate stood, there was life and light. Like all the rescued immortals, the first Great Heavenly Venerate stared blankly at the imposing figure before him, unable to recover for a long time. It was only much later that the first Great Heavenly Venerate learned the name of this peerless expert: Mound Guardian ancestor.
…
"Could Emperor Tianluo achieve what Mound Guardian ancestor could not?" The first Great Heavenly Venerate seemed to be arguing with someone. Despite the other party's earnest persuasion, the first Great Heavenly Venerate was still filled with uncontrollable rage. "Lacking self-awareness! And yet, he has attracted a following…"
"No wonder even Mound Guardian ancestor had to leave."
"The Immortal Realm is beyond saving." This thought, once it arose, echoed like thunder in the first Great Heavenly Venerate's heart, never to be silenced.
"I heard that Emperor Tianluo is strictly investigating those who resisted the immortal governance, especially the numerous True Immortals who fled from the lower realms…" The voice of a friend reached the first Great Heavenly Venerate's ears at this moment.
…
"This is the Kōroka Dojo."
"Since you have come seeking refuge, choose any Immortal Realm as you please." The first Great Heavenly Venerate's divine sense swept through countless fragmented cubic spaces. Suddenly, upon seeing one of the realms, he froze.
"If I'm not mistaken, that figure seems to be…" In this realm, he actually discovered someone extremely familiar. When he had followed in the footsteps of Mound Guardian ancestor, he had glimpsed that person from afar, standing beside an Immortal Emperor.
"Shhh…" A knowing chuckle came from the person beside him. The first Great Heavenly Venerate could only stop speaking.
"Indeed, my choice was the right one."
"Then I'll choose this place. Being in a place where such important figures reside is always a safe bet."
…
"He is dead."
"Such a powerful being, yet he too has died."
"And he died in the mortal world." The first Great Heavenly Venerate watched as another illusory Xuanhuang Realm slowly took shape, his heart filled with shock and confusion. His demise was indeed unexpected. However, the birth of this illusory realm also astonished him.
"Though illusory, it is real."
"It does not require a foundation in reality."
"Even if the Tribulation of Dao Erasure arrives, it can float upon it like a wooden boat!"
In a single thought, another Xuanhuang Realm was reflected like a mirror.
Primordial, even glimpsed his own shadow within it.
Though that shadow lacked the true essence of an immortal, it was still undeniably himself, as he was in his mortal days.
Such power made even Primordial, a True Immortal, deeply awestruck.
...
The final memory from Primordial's immortal body was the moment he enacted the technique of Immortal and Mortal Division.
He looked at his reflection before him, his heart filled with a myriad of emotions.
Finally, all dissolved into a sense of peace.
"There is a reason why my fellow immortals all fled. The Heavenly Emperor's plan has reached its most desperate hour. I can feel that the day the Dao Erasure Tribulation erupts on a massive scale is perhaps drawing closer. If my immortal body still existed, even in the lower realm, it might attract the Dao Erasure. Only by shedding my immortal body can there be a sliver of hope..."
Primordial mused silently. After bidding farewell to his past self, he thus entered the mortal body.
"I truly hope that one day, I can return."
This was Primordial's last thought after transforming from immortal to mortal.
...
Li Fan emerged from Primordial's memories.
It was clear that Primordial had not achieved his wish.
Once the heavens begin to fall, how could it be so easy to turn the tide?
"The most crucial factor was the abandonment by the Three Sages."
"Because it was irrelevant to the final outcome, the Three Sages, even if capable of saving it, would not 'waste' their power on such trivial matters. Were there no powerful beings who could break free from Original Possibilities? One could only choose self-salvation. Or perhaps simply depart."
Li Fan shook his head slightly. "Speaking of which, I wonder what the Heavenly Emperor's plan truly was. To completely resolve the Dao Erasure Tribulation, and then for the entire Immortal Realm to transcend..."
Even considering it before, Li Fan couldn't conceive of any possible method.
However, after reading the complete Allegory of Mountains and Seas, Li Fan found a possibility.
To be born from the sea and stand upon the mountain, and thus transcend the mountains and seas.
If this theory was correct, then as long as one found the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas, like Longevity or Return to Truth, and merged it with the Immortal Realm.
Then it might be possible for the entire realm to transcend beyond the mountains and seas.
Naturally, it would then no longer be troubled by the Dao Erasure Tribulation.
But this was merely a theory.
Beyond the mountains and seas, there seemed to be other great terrors. The fate of the first creature born from the sea and mountains, who merged with the Dao of Mountains and Seas and gazed beyond them, proved that immense danger existed.
"Even if it succeeds, the outcome would likely be no better than being consumed by the Dao Erasure Tribulation."
Li Fan was still somewhat curious about the ultimate fate of Heavenly Emperor and the Immortal Realm. It was a pity that at this point in time, everything was already predetermined and beyond investigation.
"Perhaps by following the River of Time and flowing upstream, I could find more clues. But it would be pointless."
Li Fan collected his thoughts, gazed intently at Primordial's immortal body before him, and stimulated its spiritual intelligence.
Primordial opened his eyes, and after a moment of confusion, quickly understood his current situation. He bowed to Li Fan.
Li Fan, using Primordial's body, observed the state of the Dao Erasure Tribulation outside the Xuanhuang Realm.
"Hmm, it's still much more stable than ten thousand years later."
"The situation Primordial had worried about before his mortal transformation, the eventual collapse of the great edifice, has not occurred. It's likely due to the bones of the previous Starving Immortal buried beneath the Immortal Ruins silently supporting it."
After observing for a moment, Li Fan withdrew his gaze.
He had no intention of provoking the Starving Immortal for now.
In the past, he acted with utter disregard, destroying worlds with a mere gesture if displeased. He was backed by Return to Truth, after all. But not now.
With this immortal body, and augmented by immortal formations, capturing the Starving Immortal should not be a problem.
But Li Fan could not guarantee the safety of the Xuanhuang Realm while engaging in a battle.
If the Xuanhuang Realm were damaged, all the anchor points he had painstakingly established in this temporal segment would be destroyed. At that point, let alone capturing the Starving Immortal, he would likely be unable to protect himself.
"Staying near the Immortal Ruins is still too dangerous."
"Next, I need to find a way to safely transfer the Xuanhuang Realm."
Li Fan had experience with this before. With a moment's thought, a plan took shape in his mind.
"In this era, the Ten Sects still hold some sway. Some of the trivial matters involved can be handed over to them to handle."
"However, before that..."
Li Fan's heart stirred, and he instantly gained control of Primordial's immortal body.
He flickered and left the space of the Root of Heaven and Earth, arriving beside the hill where the Fishing Pond was located.
Suspended in the air, he gazed down at the ground below.
"It's still sustained by the life force of the Ruo Wood."
"Does this mean that there is still a Heavenly Emperor of Tai here?"
Li Fan's eyes narrowed, and with full defensive preparations, he slowly walked into the underground village.
It was almost identical to what he had seen ten thousand years later.
It was as if time had frozen in this small village.
However, when Li Fan, following his memories, arrived before the painting where the Heavenly Emperor of Tai was hidden, his steps faltered.
The painting was still the same painting.
The young Heavenly Mysteries King, his childhood sweetheart, and many of the village children were all in the painting.
But one old man who was lying down resting was missing!
"He's gone." In an instant, Li Fan felt a sense of loss.
Mixed with a trace of relief.
The place where the Heavenly Emperor of Tai had been lying was now empty.
Even the Reverse Flow Boat had vanished.
But the life force that had been absorbed by the Heavenly Mysteries King's secret technique was still tirelessly being channeled to nourish the painting.
Without the Heavenly Emperor of Tai, all the life force was absorbed by it alone.
Thus, the painting underwent a rather mysterious change. Li Fan seemed to hear the sounds of Xuan Yuanhong and his childhood sweetheart playing, as he had in the past.
Even the two children in the painting seemed to sense Li Fan's approach from outside.
They slowly turned their gaze towards Li Fan.
Seeing such a bizarre scene, Li Fan couldn't help but think of the fate of Xuan Yuanhong's descendants.
After a moment of thought, Li Fan temporarily put away the painting for now.
After isolating himself from the gaze of those within the painting, he first pondered the disappearance of the Heavenly Emperor of Tai.
"It seems that after mastering the Dao of Reversal and flowing upstream in the River of Time. No matter where one falls in the river, their existence at other time nodes will cease to exist."
It was somewhat difficult to comprehend.
However, Li Fan recalled his experiences when traversing the River of Time and began to understand.
"Originally, I was just a drop in the river, only able to go with the flow."
"But when I gained the ability to move upstream, I formed a line in the river."
"This line is my complete being. In a sense, I have now become a life form similar to the River of Time."
"However, my main consciousness is currently trapped in this segment of spacetime within the river, unable to perceive the encounters of other parts of my body. It's like having my five senses sealed."
"This is because my Dao of Reversal has only just begun. If this Dao were to reach Great Completion, I would be able to leap above the river, and all experiences within the River of Time would be clearly understood..."
As Li Fan stood immobile at the spot where the Heavenly Emperor of Tai had vanished, many insights surfaced in his mind.
The Reverse Flow Boat within his body, which had been shattered, began to slowly recover.
Even if the repair speed was slow, it was a qualitative leap compared to its previous state of complete inability to self-repair.
"Generally speaking, after mastering the Dao of Reversal, one cannot be killed by ordinary means."
"What dies is merely a drop in the river. As long as the river remains, and the drop forms a line, it is immortal and indestructible."
"Unless the erosion of the river itself assimilates one's consciousness, or the Dao Erasure Tribulation engulfs the entire spacetime. Or, like the Heavenly Emperor of Tai, one actively gives up their own life."
Only now did Li Fan understand the sacrifice the Heavenly Emperor of Tai had made to help him gain enlightenment.
Indeed, due to excessive reversal, the Heavenly Emperor of Tai's body and divine soul had both decayed, leaving only a remnant shadow surviving.
But this did not mean he had no chance of complete recovery.
He didn't even need the intervention of the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas like that of Mound Guardian to be saved. As long as the River of Time, blocked by the Dao Erasure Tribulation, became unobstructed again.
As the "currents" from upstream replenished, the Heavenly Emperor of Tai could immediately recover to his peak state from a previous period.
Although this seemed more difficult than being saved directly by the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas, it was not so.
Because it was not the entire River of Time that needed to be connected to save him, but only the connection to the previous segment of spacetime.
Since Mound Guardian could traverse the Eternal Void Realm, bringing the remnant shadow of the Heavenly Emperor of Tai to the previous segment of spacetime would easily revive him.
After all, the plan to pass on the spark of ancient times for salvation was ongoing. It was merely a matter of convenience.
Even if no one was willing to help with this, the Heavenly Emperor of Tai needed to do nothing but patiently survive and wait.
Until the day the River of Time became unobstructed again.
If one took a long-term perspective, the fate of the entire world of Mountains and Seas had only two possibilities.
Either they would completely merge with the mountains and seas, and be consumed by the Dao Erasure Tribulation.
Or the spark of life within the mountains and seas would succeed in saving themselves.
If it was the former, then all beings would have the same fate. Death was death. If it was the latter, the Heavenly Emperor of Tai would naturally be resurrected.
"The Heavenly Emperor of Tai must have understood this principle, yet he deliberately gave up this opportunity."
Li Fan squinted his eyes, recalling the enlightened words of the Heavenly Emperor of Tai before his disappearance.
"To cling to life here is meaningless. Therefore, today, I will impart what I have comprehended, the Dao of Reversal, to you!"
"If one day, you can go to the Eternal Void Realm to assist in my stead, then my sacrifice today will not be in vain!"
The resolute expression of the Heavenly Emperor of Tai was as clear as if it were yesterday.
Li Fan repeatedly shook his head. "Although he saved my life, I still find it difficult to understand."
"To give up the only, yet very stable, chance of survival..."
"If, in the future, the River reopens, perhaps new Heavenly Emperors of Tai will appear in other time nodes. But the one who experienced the constant regressions and world-saving in this spacetime will never return."
"This one owed me the grace of imparting the Dao and saving my life. Others, that other Heavenly Emperor of Tai, is not this Heavenly Emperor of Tai."
"Perhaps, the only way to restore him in the entire world of Mountains and Seas is through 'Return to Truth'." Li Fan's heart suddenly moved.
But his understanding of the Transformation of True and False was currently insufficient even to fully restore his peak cultivation, let alone create a True Immortal who had completely annihilated from nothingness.
Li Fan sighed and temporarily gave up the idea.
He solemnly sealed off the underground village with immortal formations. After leaving the underground, Li Fan instinctively looked towards the nearby Fishing Pond.
At this point in time, no Daoist temple had been built outside the Fishing Pond.
It was just a solitary pool of water, lying peacefully in the mountains. Perhaps no one would have imagined that such an ordinary-looking pool would be connected to the existence of the Nameless Realm.
"It even surpasses the Nameless Realm."
"After all, the Heavenly Emperor of Tai called it the 'Fishery of Mountains and Seas'."
Even though he was manipulating an immortal body at this moment, Li Fan did not approach. He only observed from afar.
"Since there is a Fishery of Mountains and Seas, the Fishing Pond is connected not to a single possibility, but has opened up the entire Upper Mountain..."
"What exquisite skill. The Fishing Immortal behind this must be at least a transcendent being. I wonder if they can achieve what Mound Guardian did, to traverse the Eternal Void Realm."
However, Li Fan suddenly remembered that besides the Stone Slab attempting to comprehend the Dao of Fishing and then being suddenly absorbed, the Heavenly Mysteries King had also vanished in this Fishing Pond.
"Those who have the 'leisure' to fish should still be within this segment of spacetime. They have not yet reached the level of traversing the Eternal Void. But even so, they are not someone I can provoke now."
A trace of apprehension flashed in Li Fan's eyes.
Even with the protection of Return to Truth, Li Fan avoided the Fishing Pond and its behind-the-scenes existence like the plague. Not to mention that he now only had a fragment of the Reverse Flow Wood for defense.
"No rush. Sooner or later, I will have to face this 'Fishing Immortal'."
Li Fan suppressed the myriad emotions in his heart and returned to the space of the Root of Heaven and Earth.
He handed the painting to his main body.
The main body slowly unfurled the painting, and almost instantly, their eyes met with the young Heavenly Mysteries King within the painting.
It was as if the other party had anticipated someone outside the painting.
Li Fan was not surprised. Without the Heavenly Emperor of Tai inside, he would not be frightened by a mere painting.
Ignoring the probing gaze of the young Xuan Yuanhong, Li Fan listened intently to the rustling sounds that came to his ears.
"Indeed, it's identical to the demonic sounds that came from the Xuan Yuan clan's bloodline, like a curse, that I heard before, only clearer."
"Is the Heavenly Mysteries King trying to convey something through this method?"
If True Immortal Script was to impart the Dao through characters.
Then this demonic sound was to depict the Dao through melody.
In the Original Possibilities, Li Fan had only encountered those who depicted the Dao through sound from the Grand Master.
Most other True Immortals followed the path of the Script-Carving Immortals.
"It seems that perhaps this Dao of Profound Sound does not originate from the Original Possibilities, but from the place where the Heavenly Mysteries King disappeared."
"The Grand Master studied under the Three Sages. The Three Sages themselves exist within numerous possibilities, so it can be understood."
Li Fan attempted to decipher the melody transmitted by the Heavenly Mysteries King.
When the Three Daos merged, he had become one with the mountains and seas.
Now, comprehending the Great Daos within the mountains and seas was far easier than before.
Moreover, his comprehension had not been weak in the past.
In a short while, he had an approximate result.
“…Falsehoods, life and death. Thought, spirit, body, soul, born of chaos, returning to chaos.”
“One exists eternally. Both lost and present.”
“Without front or back, without ancient or modern. Though mortal, yet not mortal; though holy, yet not born…”
…
Through the painting before him, Li Fan heard the profound sounds of the Great Dao, even more detailed and clear than those obtained from the memories of the Heavenly Physician and the Dharma-Preachers.
The profound sounds of the Great Dao transmitted by the Heavenly Mysteries King possessed infinite wonder. They could influence the past from the present and alter reality through illusion. Even though Li Fan had learned this profound sound divine ability in the past, he could never quite understand how it worked.
It wasn't until Li Fan, using the Reverse Flow Boat, traversed against the current of the River of Time that he gained some understanding.
"This profound sound actually incorporates some of the Dao of Reversal. It's not that the main body travels through the river, but rather the sounds themselves. It's like a cry emitted from the lower reaches of the river, echoing to its upper reaches."
"Speaking of which, the Heavenly Mysteries King once piloted the Reverse Flow Boat. It's not surprising that he possessed such a method. If I wished…" Li Fan squinted his eyes.
His thoughts instantly returned to the moment he had just fallen into this period of time.
Because he came from the future, his upper limit in this sliver of time was this very moment.
"You brat, you're finally awake."
"Quick, tell us, what exactly happened to the Medicine King Sect? Confess truthfully, and we might spare your life. Otherwise…"
"Stop nattering with him, just search his soul!"
This was when the disciples from Evergreen Valley surrounded Li Fan.
The current Li Fan silently recited the profound sound divine ability.
This ethereal, profound sound pierced through the surging waves of the River of Time, through years of passage, flowing upstream for a short distance, reaching the ears of these Evergreen Valley disciples.
Their expressions immediately became somewhat dazed. After carefully observing Li Fan for a moment, they suddenly exclaimed, "So it's you, kid. How did you get here all by yourself?"
It was Li Fan, through the profound sound, who had distorted and rewritten their perceptions.
Thus, this disaster, which would have originally required Li Fan to use his Illusory True technique to resolve, was invisibly defused.
The past Li Fan, seeing the inexplicable change in the expressions of those before him, seemed to realize something. His gaze penetrated the River of Time, meeting eyes with the Li Fan of the "future," or rather, the "present."
Hum hum hum…
In the current Li Fan's ears, a muffled, roaring sound faintly echoed, like surging river water and rumbling thunder. It did not originate from the Xuanhuang Realm, but from this very sliver of time.
Without the slap that would have landed on Li Fan's head, these Evergreen disciples would not have died.
Although they were merely the lives of a few insignificant Foundation Establishment cultivators, and would not have caused a major diversion in the River of Time, they still created some ripples.
Of course, with Li Fan's current cultivation of being deeply anchored as an anchor point, these tremors could no longer affect him. Let the river roar, he remained as steadfast as ever.
After completing this profound sound divine ability that traversed through time, Li Fan felt a surge of pleasant surprise, savoring the experience.
In the past, he had also used the profound sound divine ability to successfully influence and change the minds of He Zhenghao and others. But at that time, he had only mastered the divine ability itself, without any understanding of the principles behind its execution.
Now, Li Fan felt as if he had personally witnessed the entire process of the profound sound flowing in reverse and traversing through time.
He had even achieved a momentary connection with his past self.
Although this connection only lasted for a brief moment before the River of Time veiled it again.
Li Fan still felt a subtle difference within himself.
Looking along the River of Time, what he could see seemed to extend a little further.
Not just the past.
But also the future.
For the fixed past, the future was in a state of constant change, with countless possibilities. What Li Fan saw was not a single future.
But a collection of countless possibilities.
After just a few more glances, he felt a wave of dizziness and had to withdraw from this wondrous state.
However, it did not dampen the surprise in his heart.
"It seems that those who wield the Dao of Reversal, while possessing the ability to alter any point in time they are situated in, must also face the backlash of the river. As the saying goes, to kill a thousand enemies, you lose eight hundred of your own. Of course, if one is extremely stable within the river, they can ignore such vibrations and backlash."
"As for why I didn't suffer any backlash when I previously used the profound sound divine ability. Firstly, I was still under the protection of Stillness at that time. I could naturally ignore such disturbances. Secondly…"
"At that time, I had not yet leaped out of the river; I was still considered a part of the river. Even if the river changed course, the impact on myself was minimal."
"But once you leap out of the river, the significance is immediately different. No longer belonging to the river, you must face the storms alone." Li Fan recalled the situation at the time, a dawning realization in his heart.
"If previously, I was like a single drop of water that had leaped out of the river. Then now, I can barely be considered to have transformed from a water droplet into a stretch of river." Li Fan felt a slight pride.
"It's just too short, though."
"However, as I accompany the River of Time, flowing along, it will naturally become longer and longer. Of course, the corresponding self-control required will become even stricter…"
Li Fan sensed that as time flowed, the imprints he left in the river were slowly growing.
"As long as I occasionally use this profound sound divine ability to train my ability to connect the beginning and end, I can maintain this current state."
"The longer I live, the stronger I become."
"A thousand years, ten thousand years, a hundred thousand years."
If the Great Dao of Longevity from Mound Guardian was about gaining longevity through strength, then this Dao of Reversal was somewhat about gaining strength through longevity.
"Ordinary longevity certainly wouldn't be able to achieve this kind of strength gained through extended existence. But this path of refining the body and roaming within the River of Time is entirely different."
Li Fan looked towards the sky beyond the heavens, as if glimpsing the River of Time he was in. Understanding dawned upon him like waves.
The surrounding aura fluctuated.
When Li Fan regained his senses, he felt that his adaptability to the River of Time had advanced further.
This time, it wasn't through external means like temporal anchors.
Instead, Li Fan himself had become more adapted to surviving within the River of Time.
Just as a fish finds water, or a bird flies in the sky.
Having ventured into a forbidden zone that was initially unreachable, he had become one with it.
"Now, even if the anchor point is lost and the Reverse Flow Boat is destroyed, I can still barely struggle in the river for a while, instead of being instantly destroyed by the river's turbulence."
This was undoubtedly a great reassurance for Li Fan.
The current Li Fan placed very little trust in any "external objects." It wasn't that he was overly suspicious.
After all, even "Stillness" could fail, so what could be guaranteed to be useful forever?
Only by relying on oneself.
The pure self.
Li Fan's thoughts returned to this profound sound divine ability.
"The profound sound is deeply hidden within the Xuanyuan clan's bloodline. It should be Xuanyuan Hong's method of communication, achieved through the bloodline connection between himself and his descendants."
"It can not only traverse through possibilities but also span through tens of thousands of years of time."
"However, where and when did this profound sound originate?"
Li Fan pricked up his ears again.
The sound, like a faint celestial echo, became increasingly clear.
Li Fan felt as if his body was soaring upwards, following the sound, drifting out of the Xuanhuang Realm.
Leaving the Abyssal Star Sea, crossing the The Great Barrier, leaping beyond the original possibilities.
He arrived beyond the mortal world, directly facing the mountains and seas.
The River of Time, which could be observed in the mortal world, immediately emptied, disappearing.
From this perspective, the mountains and seas seemed to possess an inherent property of time solidification.
Whether it was ten thousand years ago or a hundred million years later.
Everything was contained within the mountains and seas.
It was a wondrous experience that was difficult to describe. Although it was somewhat incredible and even defied common sense, Li Fan knew that everything he knew, had experienced, and had heard of, past, present, and future,
was all solidified within the mountains and seas.
"The Dao Erasure Tribulation affects all temporal segments."
"All existing beings at all temporal nodes are inescapable from the tribulation. So that's how it is."
As if in a state of absolute rationality, Li Fan thought calmly, even forgetting the reason for his presence here.
Once his doubts were resolved, another question naturally arose.
"Then, what does 'beyond the mountains and seas' truly represent?"
"And what is the 'Star' recorded in the allegory, which suddenly appeared at the end of the mountains and seas' time?"
As if sensing what Li Fan's thoughts were touching upon.
The originally calm and solidified mountains and seas seemed to suddenly come alive.
Li Fan could even clearly sense the bone-chilling gazes emanating from all around him, from everywhere.
Shocked inwardly, he decisively halted his action of drifting towards some point in the mountains and seas along the sound.
In an instant, he returned to reality.
Li Fan looked up at the sky, observing for a long time, his heart still pounding.
It took half a day for the extremely strong sense of crisis in his heart to slowly dissipate.
"Fortunately, I'm accustomed to using Illusionary True to enhance myself. Even though it's a simplified version now, it served a life-saving purpose." One must know that Stillness was currently in a dormant, ineffective state.
Li Fan had undoubtedly escaped death by a thread this time.
Even after experiencing the crisis of the Three Paths merging, he had never imagined that the "senses" of the mountains and seas would be so acute.
"It shouldn't be like this, right?"
Li Fan's brow furrowed instantly.
This was not the first time he had directly encountered the mountains and seas.
But Li Fan was almost certain that before, for an existence like him, who couldn't even be compared to an ant in the face of the mountains and seas, the mountains and seas had absolutely not been so sensitive.
"It seems my premonition was correct."
"After experiencing the merging of the Three Paths, even with Stillness reversing it, I have become different from ordinary existences within the mountains and seas."
"It's fine if I hide in the mortal world. But if I rashly venture beyond the mountains and seas, I might face the scrutiny of the mountains and seas at any moment. Just like what I experienced just now." Thinking of this, Li Fan's heart grew heavy.
But he couldn't think of any good way to contend with the might of the mountains and seas for the time being.
"Fortunately, I didn't rashly ascend to the Immortal Realm, but used Immortal Puppets and Immortal Formations instead. Otherwise, I would truly be in mortal danger." Li Fan's expression was grim.
Since recalling his memories, his progress had been arduous.
He was constantly worried about the backlash from the River of Time, and he also had to guard against the scrutiny of the mountains and seas.
This made Li Fan, who was accustomed to acting recklessly when he had "Stillness" in hand, feel extremely constrained.
However, circumstances dictated action.
Whether it was the River of Time or the mountains and seas, they were not existences he could contend with.
He could only bow his head and play the subordinate for the time being.
"I'll take it slow," Li Fan sighed, "First, I'll focus on becoming completely stable in the River of Time."
His thoughts then refocused on the profound sound.
Li Fan recalled what he had just seen in the mountains and seas.
"The source of the sound seems to be from an even more distant past?"
"But it should still be within this temporal segment of ours, not outside the Eternal Void Realm."
"Could it be that the Heavenly Mysteries King is also trying to traverse the void realm to travel to the past and save the world? Does he already possess such strength?"
"Also, rather than the profound sound being a message he wanted to convey, it's more like a marker he left behind, guiding future generations. Could it be…"
A thought flashed through Li Fan's mind instantly: "Has he already perished? Otherwise, by all logic, he wouldn't be so persistently and steadily sending out the profound sound across the River of Time for communication."
Li Fan pondered for a long time, and finally shook his head slightly, choosing to block out the profound sound.
Even if this guess were true, he would never go out of curiosity. The Heavenly Mysteries King's strength was buried over there, and it was likely that Li Fan wouldn't fare any better.
Especially now, without the protection of Stillness, he would definitely not risk his life.
"Perhaps in the future, when my strength is sufficient, and I can stroll leisurely through the mountains and seas, I will go and investigate," Li Fan thought to himself.
He slowly put away the scroll, not stowing it away carelessly.
Instead, he suppressed it within the space of the Root of the Azure Nether Heaven and Earth.
"The second matter is also resolved."
"Next…"
"The Black Heavenly Physician, Evil Su Bai."
When the beings he needed to face shifted from colossal entities like the mountains and seas to such transcendent powerhouses, everything seemed much more effortless.
At the very least, the mountains and seas made the current Li Fan unable to even conceive of resisting or contending with them.
He only wanted to flee in panic.
As for the Black Heavenly Physician and Evil Su Bai, he could at least ponder some countermeasures.
These two transcendent powerhouses were like time bombs for the entire Abyssal Star Sea. As long as Su Bai and the Heavenly Physician stepped beyond the The Great Barrier, the bombs would detonate instantly.
Li Fan, regarding the Xuanhuang Realm as the foundation of his anchor point, absolutely had to eliminate this risk completely and early on.
Through his previous search of the Azure Nether Heavenly Venerate's memories, Li Fan had roughly pinpointed the current temporal node.
The Heavenly Law Realm had not yet been completely destroyed; it was in a period of recovery after a great war.
"It's unclear if the Heavenly Physician has already initiated the Heavenly Soul Rebirth Technique, but Su Bai has not yet been born."
"But it will be soon."
Li Fan pondered for a long time and decided to first meet the Doctrine Transmitter of the current temporal node.
The descendant of the Heavenly Mysteries King, Xuanyuan Tuo.
The Myriad Immortals Alliance, as a viable force, participated in the Primordial Realm War. The relationship between New Law cultivators and the Myriad Immortal Sects had eased considerably compared to the original timeline.
Especially the formidable combat power displayed by the New Law cultivators during the desperate battle, which directly attracted many Old Law cultivators to switch their cultivation paths.
And the Ten Sects, at this moment, were mostly focused on expanding their influence in the Primordial Realm and the surrounding star fields.
They had no time to concern themselves with the Myriad Immortals Alliance.
Therefore, the Myriad Immortals Alliance was growing more and more unfettered.
Although the Myriad Immortals Alliance’s influence grew stronger, showing signs of rivaling the Myriad Immortal Sects, Doctrine Transmitter himself became all the more cautious. He rarely appeared in public. The official explanation was that after witnessing the True Immortal’s Dao Confirmation, he had a profound realization and was in seclusion comprehending the Dao.
However, Li Fan knew that while this was a partial truth, it was more likely that Doctrine Transmitter was trying to guard against the schemes of the ten sects. After all, the sects’ methods were well-known throughout the Xuanhuang Realm after the battle of the Primordial Era.
Even though Doctrine Transmitter had gone into hiding, it took Li Fan only a moment to find him. He didn’t even need to search with his divine sense. Li Fan now controlled the reins of the Great Azure Nether Heavenly Venerate. By simply utilizing the various elements that originally belonged to the world and were later absorbed by Doctrine Transmitter’s New Law, he could pinpoint his location in an instant.
“Doctrine Transmitter laid his Dao foundation with the World of Azure Nether Myriad Spirits, achieved the Golden Core with the Heaven’s Derivation Technique, advanced to the Nascent Soul with the Primordial Grotto-heaven, and stepped into the Soul Transformation realm with the Transformation of Myriad Phenomena. The Heavenly and Earthly Essence, the Golden Arbiter, allowed him to reach Dao Integration…”
“His foundation, even compared to my own accumulated experiences from multiple reincarnations, is not much inferior. He truly is a proud son of the era, destined to suppress the Xuanhuang Realm for the next ten thousand years.”
The Golden Arbiter was originally one of the fundamental Dao principles used to manipulate the Xuanhuang Realm when it was first created. Although absorbed and refined by Doctrine Transmitter, it still maintained a close connection with the Azure Nether world. Thus, Doctrine Transmitter could command the heavens and control the earth to some extent. It was this very connection that had now become Doctrine Transmitter’s self-imposed cage.
“Found you.”
Li Fan’s figure flickered, crossing mountains and rivers in an instant. He appeared beside Doctrine Transmitter like a phantom. Currently, Xuanyuan Tuo had transformed into an old man herding cattle, holding a whip and riding backward on a green ox, urging the herd to graze in the fields. Seeing Li Fan’s sudden appearance, his expression became grave.
“Xuanyuan Tuo…” Li Fan scrutinized him with a half-smile.
But before he could finish speaking, Xuanyuan Tuo suddenly erupted, launching a preemptive strike. Thousands of golden chains materialized in the heavens and earth, streaking out from all directions. They precisely locked onto Li Fan in the center. Xuanyuan Tuo, meanwhile, held aloft an ancient bronze mirror. The mirror was simple yet profound, and within its blurry surface, it seemed to reflect the nine heavens, ten earths, and the Azure Nether world!
The golden chains were naturally the Golden Arbiter, the Heavenly and Earthly Essence. And the small mirror in Doctrine Transmitter’s hand was precisely the Heavenly Profound Mirror!
“Hmm?” Li Fan was somewhat surprised. According to the memories of the Heavenly Profound Mirror that he had previously read, it had been subdued by Doctrine Transmitter and Heavenly Physician together after Doctrine Transmitter’s Dao Confirmation. Yet now, Doctrine Transmitter had yet to achieve Longevity, and Heavenly Physician should not have fully awakened.
“It seems my actions have caused a deviation.”
“But it matters not.” Li Fan’s expression was serene. “It has no bearing on the final outcome.”
The golden chains, capable of apprehending and restraining all living beings within the Xuanhuang Realm, had precisely struck Li Fan. However, Li Fan seemed to be merely a phantom, passing through the thousands of golden chains as they missed their target. The Heavenly Profound Mirror, which reflected all the profound secrets of the mortal realm, also failed to show Li Fan’s form. In fact, after sensing that something was wrong, a green light suddenly erupted from the mirror, attempting to break free from Doctrine Transmitter’s control and escape.
Seeing both his supreme attacks rendered useless, Doctrine Transmitter’s face contorted in disbelief. In just a moment, he understood the realm and power of the person standing before him. A True Immortal!
Without time for further resistance, Li Fan flipped his hand, suppressing both the man and the mirror. He then began to examine them closely. Although his objective this time was Doctrine Transmitter, Li Fan’s gaze first fell upon the Heavenly Profound Mirror. This was because the mirror, at this time, was vastly different from how he had seen it tens of thousands of years later. It had not yet completely completed its shedding of the mortal realm; traces of immortal essence still lingered on it.
“You’ve strayed from the path!”
“The more fierce the great tribulation, the more you must face it head-on. Only then will there be a sliver of hope. Can you escape for a moment, but escape for a lifetime?” Li Fan shook his head and sighed. With a wave of his hand, he helped the Heavenly Profound Mirror with its repairs. As it reconnected with Mount Taihua and the Boundless Sea, the nearly ten thousand years of effort by the Heavenly Profound Mirror went down the drain.
The ancient patina faded, replaced by the unique, lustrous sheen of an immortal artifact, exuding a divine aura that was captivating at first glance. Although it had grown stronger, the Heavenly Profound Mirror was indescribably dejected. If not for Li Fan’s suppression, preventing it from resisting, it would have likely annihilated him instantly.
The transformation of an immortal artifact from its mortal form was a hundred times more arduous than a True Immortal’s mortal transformation. After all, immortal artifacts were creations of True Immortals, forged by them to serve the immortals. They could not easily lose control of them. Only the Heavenly Profound Mirror knew the immense price it had paid to reach this point, striving to measure and map the heavens and earth in the Xuanhuang Realm while slowly severing its own shackles. It never imagined that its painstaking efforts would be erased by an immortal in a single day!
The mirror trembled with rage. However, the immense pressure surrounding it, capable of shattering the Heavenly Profound Mirror, instantly brought it back to its senses.
“Your teachings are correct, Immortal Superior.” It could only reply helplessly.
In the blink of an eye, Li Fan’s divine sense had penetrated the core of the Heavenly Profound Mirror, dispelling the restrictions placed by Doctrine Transmitter.
“It seems the Heavenly Profound Mirror was not completely subdued by Doctrine Transmitter, but rather, they reached some sort of cooperation.” Li Fan could tell at a glance that the restrictions within the mirror were not enough for complete control.
“Awaken well. Do not fail Xuanyuan Hong’s expectations.”
Li Fan finished speaking and suppressed the Heavenly Profound Mirror, which was once again vibrating and lost in thought. Only then did he turn his attention to Xuanyuan Tuo. Although captured, Xuanyuan Tuo showed no fear. As Li Fan scrutinized him, he was silently observing Li Fan as well. Their gazes met. Xuanyuan Tuo appeared confused and perplexed. Li Fan’s gaze, however, pierced directly through the surface of Xuanyuan Tuo’s divine soul, reaching its depths. As expected, he discovered a nearly invisible transparent figure.
“Heavenly Physician…” A sinister smile played on Li Fan’s lips. Golden light flashed in his hand, and a set of golden needles materialized out of thin air. To Xuanyuan Tuo’s utter horror, nine hundred and ninety-nine golden needles were systematically inserted into his body. Though his body was covered in needles, Xuanyuan Tuo felt no pain. Instead, his heart grew calmer, and his mind became clearer. With the aid of the golden needles, he seemed to understand himself better, and thus, he too discovered the foreign entity within him!
“What is this?!” Xuanyuan Tuo was utterly astonished, having never known of such an anomaly within him. Under his gaze, this seemingly slumbering figure was slowly enveloped by golden light and dragged out, step by step. Apart from a slight discomfort in his divine soul, Xuanyuan Tuo felt no other discomfort. In fact, with the expulsion of this anomaly, he felt his divine soul and body becoming more harmonious and natural. The moments of epiphany and contemplation that had always stopped at critical junctures now erupted as if suppressed for a long time. More importantly… the mysterious murmuring voice that only appeared during moments of severe injury and crisis now became clearer. Under the influence of this murmuring voice, Xuanyuan Tuo felt the invisible shackles on his body showing signs of loosening!
Xuanyuan Tuo rejoiced inwardly but remained outwardly calm, feigning shock from the removal of the anomaly. However, Li Fan’s subsequent words shattered his hopes mercilessly.
“With your current cultivation, listening to this profound sound is of no benefit. I shall temporarily seal it for you.” Before his words even fell, the murmuring voice that had been lingering in Xuanyuan Tuo’s ears vanished inexplicably. The hope of escape, which had just kindled, was instantly extinguished, leaving Xuanyuan Tuo momentarily stunned.
“This profound sound originating from my bloodline is even clearer and more direct than the one from that painting.” Xuanyuan Tuo did not know that it was not the profound sound that had disappeared, but rather, it had been intercepted by Li Fan. This time, Li Fan’s divine sense did not drift beyond the mortal world with the profound sound. He merely observed from a distance.
“Approximately fifteen thousand years into the past…”
“This seems to be… the time when the Heavenly Mysteries King, after escaping from the Immortal Realm, returned and founded the Heavenly Mysteries Sect.”
“But the target is not ‘Primordial.’ Perhaps it’s another similar possibility?”
The guidance from the profound sound originating from his biological bloodline was too clear. Li Fan could vaguely glimpse the destination indicated by the profound sound. But for now, Li Fan had no intention of investigating further. After watching for a while, he withdrew his gaze. Disregarding the extremely dejected Xuanyuan Tuo, he first examined the transparent, thin shadow in his hand. It was like a film, its features difficult to discern. There was no indication that this was the Heavenly Physician who had once caused him immense psychological distress.
“Little friend, what are you anticipating?” The scene from back then seemed vivid in his memory. Yet, as Li Fan recalled it, it felt like ages ago. The sense of disorientation, as if a lifetime had passed, left Li Fan feeling quite emotional. In the past, he had desperately wished to turn the tables on Heavenly Physician, perhaps even to play a prank and scare him. But now that he possessed the strength to do so, he felt a sense of weariness.
“After all, I have experienced too many frights on my path to Longevity.”
“Heavenly Physician is nothing special anymore.”
Despite his inner peace, Li Fan had no intention of letting Heavenly Physician go. “Heavenly Soul Rebirth.” Li Fan was not particularly interested in Heavenly Physician but was very intrigued by the unique creation known as the Heavenly Soul. “Manifestations of the Heavenly Demon, even in the Immortal Realm, were rare.”
“Heavenly Physician could easily deceive the Azure Nether Heavenly Dao, and even eventually suppress Xuanyuan Tuo’s consciousness to gain control of his body. The Heavenly Demon played an indispensable role.” Li Fan gently stroked the transparent tissue before him. His divine sense, like a sharp knife or needle, began to decompose and cut it slowly. Even with his current abilities, he proceeded with utmost caution. Under the Great Art of Heavenly Soul Rebirth, Heavenly Physician’s remnant divine soul was almost completely merged with the Heavenly Demon, inseparable without the means of a True Immortal.
“The Heavenly Demon, the supreme inner demon.”
“Human thoughts, with their myriad reflections, resonate with the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth. And the Heavenly Demon is the inner demon born from the operation of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth…”
Heavenly Physician, suppressed by Li Fan’s power, remained in a deep slumber. The Heavenly Demon, however, seemed to sense the external danger. The transparent tissue, like boiling water, vibrated intensely for no apparent reason. To avoid damaging the integrity of the Heavenly Demon, Li Fan did not resort to brutal methods. He merely channeled his Immortal Spiritual power to suppress it slowly and gently. It took considerable effort to completely separate it from Heavenly Physician.
Without the Heavenly Demon’s protection, Heavenly Physician’s divine soul finally revealed its original form. Although still white-haired and kind-faced, as Li Fan had seen in later generations, he felt subtly younger.
“Perhaps it’s because he hasn’t experienced the tragedy of the Heavenly Law Realm yet,” Li Fan mused.
“In this Xuanhuang Realm that I now rule, the existential crisis of the Heavenly Law Realm is no more. This is a great fortune for both Heavenly Physician and the Heavenly Law Realm.” Recalling the scenes he had witnessed in the Cloud Water Heavenly Palace, Li Fan nodded slightly. First, he suppressed the slumbering Heavenly Physician and put him away. Then, Li Fan’s divine sense delved into the separated Heavenly Demon tissue, attempting to decipher its mysteries.
Sensing the intrusion of the foreign entity, even without its own will and while being sealed and suppressed, the Heavenly Demon was still capable of resisting. Li Fan seemed to return to the River of Time, his consciousness stirred by immense waves. The world spun, a state of chaos. Countless memories from the past rushed towards him like snowflakes. Sometimes, reflecting on the past and examining oneself can be beneficial. However, immersing oneself too deeply in memories can lead to losing oneself. Li Fan undoubtedly recognized the danger.
Billions of hands materialized around his consciousness-form, painstakingly reorganizing all these stirred memories. In fleeting glimpses, Li Fan saw himself diligently and arduously navigating the Great Xuan pocket world before awakening his Return to Truth. He saw himself becoming the Great Xuan’s Grand Tutor, leveraging his foreknowledge from rebirth, and wreaking havoc in the imperial court. He saw himself meeting Kou Hong and Dao Xuanzi, realizing the existence of immortals, and after countless lifetimes of hardship, finally breaking through the great formation and ascending to the Xuanhuang Realm. He saw himself establishing a solid foundation by setting up his Foundation Establishment in a hundred lifetimes. He saw himself carefully exploring the treacherous Xuanhuang Realm, advancing from Foundation Establishment to Golden Core, and finally driving the elevation of the Xuanhuang Realm, achieving the Half-Immortal realm. Then, he broke through the stalemate and leaped over the The Great Barrier, only to encounter the event of the three Daos merging, forcing him to start anew. With the help of Emperor Tai, he defied the River of Time, ascending to the present era.
As Li Fan slowly gathered and integrated the fragments of his past memories, observing his past as a pure spectator, he discovered some events that he had taken for granted, but now seemed extremely peculiar. Li Fan had always been confident in his spiritual intuition. In his past reincarnations, countless times, at critical junctures of danger, his intuition had warned him, saving his life. Li Fan’s trust in his own spiritual intuition surpassed even his trust in Return to Truth. If he only had Return to Truth and not this incredibly sensitive and uncanny spiritual intuition, he might have been captured numerous times before he could even activate Return to Truth. In the past, Li Fan believed his intuitive sense was innate, a natural occurrence. But was that truly the case?
“Flee misfortune, embrace luck. Seek auspiciousness in disaster.”
“If it were within a certain range, perhaps it could be explained by innate talent. But for risks that even Return to Truth couldn’t detect, I could still sense them beforehand and issue warnings…” Li Fan’s expression grew solemn, his suspicion naturally arising.
“Could it be that this spiritual sense is closely related to my boundless spirituality? What kind of talent is this? Is it connected to my identity as a ‘transmigrator’?”
Inevitably, a series of questions arose in Li Fan’s mind.
The first stage of the New Law was called [Self-Inherent Foundation]. Logically, as Li Fan’s cultivation and knowledge increased, he should be getting closer to achieving this goal.
However, as more mysteries about himself were uncovered, Li Fan found himself seemingly drifting further away from [Self-Inherent Foundation], even without considering the factor of [Return to Truth].
Almost lost in this storm of self-doubt, a familiar fluctuation emanated from the depths of his divine soul. Like timely rain after a long drought, it immediately brought Li Fan back to his senses.
It was Return to Truth, who had been severely injured and sleeping for a long time!
This fluctuation was fleeting and extremely weak, yet it was like a thunderclap on a clear day, instantly shattering Li Fan’s confusion.
“I was too attached.”
“Whether it’s talent or a cheat, as long as it can be used by me, that’s all that matters. I am still struggling for survival in the River of Time, why bother delving into its essence? It only adds to my troubles.”
“Perhaps there will indeed be a day when I face this profound secret. But by then, I should be able to fully know and be purely myself.”
Return to Truth’s appearance was like a calming pill.
Li Fan’s self-reflection, triggered by the Heavenly Demon, finally subsided completely.
Li Fan, who had experienced countless reincarnations and witnessed the immense changes in the world of Mountains and Seas, possessed an exceptionally firm will. Yet, he was still affected by the Heavenly Demon.
“So this is the path of the Heavenly Demon.”
“As long as one has not transcended the mortal Dao, one will inevitably be provoked by its heart demons. The strength of the heart demon even depends on oneself. The more secrets one harbors, the stronger the heart demon can become…”
The Heavenly Demon was indeed a unique creation, completely different from any other beings Li Fan had encountered.
The Nameless and Transcendent ones, powerful indeed, but in Li Fan’s opinion, they were merely powerful in terms of numbers.
The Heavenly Demon, on the other hand, was a "mechanics monster."
One could say it was strong, or one could say it was weak.
As long as one’s heart was pure and sincere, even a Foundation Establishment cultivator would not be troubled by it. But if the mind had flaws and loopholes, even the Nameless Realm would find it difficult to avoid its influence.
“And, the Heavenly Demon in this state…”
It seemed that once the heart demon was overcome, one could avoid its influence for a long time. Li Fan once again studied the transparent tissue extracted from Xuan Yuan Tuo’s body.
It was like the amniotic fluid that protected and nourished an infant in the womb.
It protected the Heavenly Physician who was still asleep.
It was precisely because Li Fan separated it from the Heavenly Physician that he was instinctively attacked by the Heavenly Demon.
“The Heavenly Demon should also be one of the Supreme Venerates of the Heavenly Law Realm.”
“However, this pile of transparent tissue does not contain its consciousness.”
“Moreover, if I recall correctly, the true Heavenly Demon should still be frozen and stored within the Mystic Immortal Boat.”
With the transformation of truth and falsehood, Li Fan simulated the Heavenly Physician’s life aura and slowly approached it.
The transparent tissue quickly re-wrapped the "Heavenly Physician."
“Interesting.”
“It seems that the Heavenly Physician’s Heavenly Soul Rebirth could not have succeeded without the Heavenly Demon’s assistance.”
“This nurturing environment…”
Li Fan shifted his perspective, examining it from the standpoint of the Great Azure Nether Heavenly Venerate.
The protective shell formed by the transparent tissue was like a mirror. When viewed from the Xuanhuang Realm, it reflected only the scenes of the Xuanhuang Realm.
Suddenly remembering something, Li Fan also examined the sleeping Heavenly Physician.
Just as he had predicted.
“It is not complete.”
“Or rather, it is only a part of the Heavenly Physician.”
“The Heavenly Soul Rebirth projected consciousness. But the Heavenly Physician’s original physical body is still hidden somewhere.”
“It should be so. Although the Heavenly Physician possessed the body of a Doctrine Transmitter, they still had their own physical body later. This is why, for a long time, I was confused about the relationship between these two. They seemed like one person, yet also like the original and a clone. Contradictory in many ways.”
“With such a complex experience, how could one untangle it without personally observing it from their memories?” Li Fan shook his head slightly.
“In the original historical trajectory, the Heavenly Physician sensed the crisis in the Heavenly Law Realm, forcefully regained control of their body, and upon returning, found the Heavenly Law Realm completely annihilated.”
“Although the Heavenly Soul Rebirth plan was half-successful, their homeland was destroyed first. The Heavenly Physician was greatly disheartened.”
“However, even so, they did not give up. Instead, they devised a plan to possess a new body. But this was even more difficult than Heavenly Soul Rebirth. They could not have accomplished it alone, let alone with Xuan Yuan Tuo’s own unstable consciousness.”
“Therefore, the Heavenly Physician needed help.”
“The Heavenly Demon, who had left the Heavenly Law Realm long ago, became their only aid.”
“Fortunately, with the nurturing environment left behind by the Heavenly Demon, and relying on its faint connection to its main body, the Heavenly Physician was able to precisely lock onto its location in the vast starry sky. They found the elusive and deeply hidden Mystic Immortal Boat.”
“After considerable effort, they rescued the Heavenly Demon. Then, the Heavenly Demon and the Heavenly Physician joined forces to completely suppress Xuan Yuan Tuo’s consciousness. The Heavenly Demon acted as the Doctrine Transmitter, and the Heavenly Physician returned to their own body.”
“Together, they sought to save the Heavenly Law Realm from destruction.”
“It can be said that for tens of thousands of years in the Xuanhuang Realm that followed, this was a two-person play. The Myriad Immortal Sects, the Venerates of One Heart, Return to Truth, and Carefree Bliss, were merely supporting actors in this grand drama.”
“It’s a pity that with me here now, this grand drama will surely not be staged.”
Li Fan looked at the Heavenly Demon’s nurturing environment and the sleeping Heavenly Physician before him, his gaze seemingly piercing through tens of thousands of years of time, seeing the future that was originally destined for them.
The feeling he had when he was influenced by the Heavenly Demon and lost in the storm of thoughts was strangely similar to falling into the turbulent River of Time.
Li Fan had a premonition that mastering the Dao of the Heavenly Demon might increase his safety when traveling against the current.
Although he didn’t know why the "Heavenly Demon" had an obscure connection to the path of moving against the current, it didn’t stop Li Fan from absorbing and refining it for his own use.
The refining process was not complicated.
In fact, it could be said to be extremely simple. Li Fan merely used the power of Truth into Falsehood to impersonate the Heavenly Physician.
He then smoothly digested the Heavenly Demon’s nurturing environment.
There was no resistance whatsoever.
“This Heavenly Demon is quite interesting. Although it appeared to have heartlessly departed, it left behind a part of its power to help the Heavenly Law Realm overcome difficulties when necessary.”
“And it was willing to sacrifice itself to protect others…”
“A prime example of being cold on the outside but warm on the inside.”
As Li Fan slowly absorbed the transparent Heavenly Demon nurturing environment, the realms of Azure Nether seemed to become more "lively and vivacious" in his eyes.
If in the past, Li Fan saw the world as merely witnessing the Great Dao of heaven and earth, then now, Li Fan could faintly see the world seemingly come alive, pulsating with its own emotions.
And it wasn’t just the Great Dao of Azure Nether.
Li Fan’s gaze, extending beyond Azure Nether, looked towards the starry sea, the The Great Barriers, and even the entire realm of Primordial Possibility.
It was the same everywhere.
This wasn’t to say that the Heavenly Demon’s abilities rivaled those of the Transcendent powerhouses, but rather it acted like a key, opening a door for Li Fan.
The reason he could see so many magnificent and vibrant scenes was because Li Fan was strong enough.
After all, Li Fan had truly leaped out of Primordial Possibility and faced the Mountains and Seas before.
“To wield the Dao of the Heavenly Demon is like having an exquisite seven-orifice heart, allowing one to perceive the emotional changes of the cold Heavenly Dao.”
“It is greatly beneficial for any cultivation path.”
“However…”
Within the mortal world, the emotions of the Great Dao were all revealed. What about beyond the mortal world…
Once one reached the realm of Mountains and Seas, the Heavenly Demon’s almost heaven-defying ability instantly became ineffective.
The Infinite Sea, Mount Shang.
These two immeasurably vast behemoths exuded an icy, forbidding aura that warned others to stay away. Even with the full extent of the Heavenly Demon’s abilities, all Li Fan could perceive was the mountains and seas themselves.
Furthermore, Li Fan sensed.
Even when merely observing the Mountains and Seas from afar within the mortal world, the Heavenly Demon's Dao suffered a backlash from their extremely cold aura.
The once warm Heavenly Demon nurturing environment, which exuded a life-nurturing aura, gradually cooled down.
It became equally chilling and icy.
In an instant, Li Fan felt as if his divine soul was about to freeze.
Fortunately, he had anticipated this and promptly withdrew his gaze.
It took quite some time for the Heavenly Demon nurturing environment to recover from its rigidity.
Li Fan’s brow furrowed as he recalled the contents of the prophecy left by Sun Piao Miao.
The prophecy recorded that during the exchanges between Mountains and Seas, they possessed emotions similar to humans.
Joy, anger, sorrow, fear, all were present.
“Prophecies are, after all, just prophecies.”
“What an observer sees may not represent the true Mountains and Seas.”
Li Fan cautioned himself inwardly.
After spending half a day completely absorbing the Heavenly Demon nurturing environment and transforming it into his own power, Li Fan reaffirmed his judgment.
As a newly born "linear being" in the River of Time, his adaptability had increased by almost double, even without adding any new anchor points.
If before he was struggling to walk, now he could at least slowly stroll.
Li Fan had not yet figured out the principle behind this.
The Heavenly Demon’s nurturing environment had been completely absorbed. If he wanted further enlightenment, he would likely have to make a trip to the Mystic Immortal Boat.
However, there was no rush.
Li Fan already had the historical trajectory of the Mystic Immortal Boat for the next ten thousand years in his mind. The drastic changes in the Xuanhuang Realm would not affect them.
After dealing with these minor matters, Li Fan finally turned his attention to Xuan Yuan Tuo, who had been waiting by his side.
After witnessing the foreign object extracted from his divine soul with his own eyes, Xuan Yuan Tuo was completely convinced. Knowing he was no match for this mysterious True Immortal, he did not put up any futile resistance.
After all, judging by the opponent’s actions, he seemed to harbor no ill intentions. Xuan Yuan Tuo pondered to himself.
Therefore, while Li Fan was experiencing the Heavenly Demon storm and his mind was in turmoil, Xuan Yuan Tuo remained standing by his side, not attempting to escape.
“Do you know who your ancestor, Xuan Yuan clan, is?” Li Fan asked.
Xuan Yuan Tuo hesitated for a moment before slowly replying, “Heavenly Mysteries King.”
He had not known this question originally.
It was only later, through a stroke of luck, that he encountered the Heavenly Profound Mirror and thus learned of his ancestral origins.
Li Fan nodded. “Long ago, I was close friends with Xuan Yuan Hong. Otherwise, I would not have intervened to save you.”
Hearing Li Fan’s casual words, Xuan Yuan Tuo’s heart trembled.
The Heavenly Mysteries King was an ancestor many generations before him, and the person before him was a close friend of Xuan Yuan Hong. Then, what about his seniority…
Xuan Yuan Tuo felt somewhat constrained. “Then, what should I call you?”
“Just call me Grandpa Ancestor.” Li Fan smiled.
“Grand… pa Ancestor…” Xuan Yuan Tuo uttered hesitantly.
However, seeing Li Fan’s expression, he hesitated for a moment before finally dutifully calling out.
“Xuan Yuan Hong departed in haste, leaving many matters unattended. The original opportunities thus became a calamity for your Xuan Yuan clan,” Li Fan sighed and shook his head.
Xuan Yuan Tuo was shaken to his core.
He immediately thought of the mad uncle from his childhood village, Xuan Yuan Sheng.
Xuan Yuan Tuo’s expression turned solemn. “Please, Grandpa Ancestor, enlighten me.”
Judging by his appearance alone, Li Fan seemed much younger than Xuan Yuan Tuo.
Yet, Xuan Yuan Tuo addressed him as an ancestor, which felt quite strange.
However, Xuan Yuan Tuo did not mind, calling out very naturally as if he had quickly accepted his junior status.
And then, the murmured incantations that followed from Li Fan’s mouth further confirmed his choice.
Because the ethereal and mysterious sounds were exactly the same as those he had occasionally heard in his ears in the past!
“Kid, do you know what this profound sound is?”
Li Fan recited a passage and then stopped to ask.
Xuan Yuan Tuo, naturally, did not know.
“This is your old ancestor of the Xuan Yuan clan sending you a message, guiding you where to go!” Li Fan pointed outwards at the sky.
Xuan Yuan Tuo gazed in the direction Li Fan pointed, perplexed for a moment.
A mere message almost caused his Xuan Yuan clan to be annihilated. Xuan Yuan Tuo found it difficult to accept.
If their ancestor was still alive, why was such a simple message so complicated?
Xuan Yuan Tuo looked at Li Fan.
After a moment of silence, Li Fan slowly recounted the legends of the Eternal Void Realm, the River of Time, and the theory of saving the world with a spark.
To prove that his words were not false, Li Fan even brought Xuan Yuan Tuo along for a brief excursion into the River of Time.
Even in his illusions, Xuan Yuan Tuo, a cultivator at the Dao Integration realm, had never witnessed such bizarre sights.
Even the small splashes of water that flew up felt like the sensation of annihilation, making him’s hair stand on end.
The surging waves threatened to engulf him at any moment.
After returning to reality from the River of Time, Xuan Yuan Tuo’s face was pale.
“Grandpa Ancestor, you…”
He now understood that the person before him was by no means just a mere True Immortal!
The reason I previously believed the other party was a True Immortal of this era was because, in Xuanyuan Tuo's worldview, the strongest beings in existence were called True Immortals. However, Li Fan unveiled a more magnificent and grander world to him.
True Immortals were practically ants. There were those who transcended, those who ascended against the current, and even beings who could contend with the mountains and seas.
Xuanyuan Tuo felt dizzy and his mind reeled from this information, his spirit wavering.
Fortunately, Xuanyuan Tuo was no ordinary person. Otherwise, such a drastic shift in his understanding, the stark contrast between his previous knowledge and reality, might have caused him to fall into despair and never recover.
He managed to steady his mind, extricating himself from the overwhelming influx of information. Xuanyuan Tuo asked with a touch of nervousness, "May I know why the Xuanyuan Ancestor left behind this profound sound message? For the Ancestor to impart it to us descendants, crossing even mountains and seas, it must be something of extreme importance..."
Not long ago, Xuanyuan Tuo had been meticulously planning how to expand the influence of the Myriad Immortals Alliance during a period of oversight by the Myriad Immortal Sects of the Xuanhuang Realm. But now, after witnessing the true nature of this world,
Xuanyuan Tuo felt that everything in the Xuanhuang Realm had become mundane and tasteless.
As the saying goes, if the skin doesn't exist, where can the hair attach? If the entire mortal world were to be annihilated, then all his actions in the Xuanhuang Realm would be meaningless.
Xuanyuan Tuo suddenly began to understand why the Ancestor had disappeared so abruptly and never returned.
Li Fan observed the subtle changes in Xuanyuan Tuo's expression and inwardly nodded. "You are correct. What Xuanyuan Hong was concerned about was the survival of all beings in the mountains and seas. The reason he sent this message to gather you all is likely connected to this matter. He certainly didn't anticipate so many changes would occur in the Xuanhuang Realm after his departure. It has even become a mere wish for his descendants to comprehend his message."
Xuanyuan Tuo felt a bit ashamed by Li Fan's words. He then couldn't help but say, "Even with your guidance and the revelation of the truth, my strength is too meager. Though I desperately wish to follow in the Ancestor's footsteps, I fear I am willing but powerless."
Li Fan waved his hand, interrupting Xuanyuan Tuo with an air of pride. "With me here, why do you need to worry?"
Xuanyuan Tuo couldn't help but feel a surge of joy at this. However, Li Fan's next words made his heart sink.
"However, you are indeed too weak now, not just in terms of cultivation, but also in your disposition. You need to be properly tempered. Otherwise, even if you could go against the current and traverse the realms, you would struggle to shoulder great responsibilities and aid Xuanyuan Hong."
"This humble disciple acknowledges the Ancestor's teachings," Xuanyuan Tuo's expression rippled slightly, a hint of unspoken words lingering. But ultimately, he uttered this phrase slowly.
Li Fan continued, "The ten sects of the Xuanhuang Realm were conquered by Xuanyuan Hong. Now, you shall emulate Xuanyuan's past actions and sweep through them. If you cannot overcome this challenge, any lofty ambitions you hold will only lead to a futile death."
Xuanyuan Tuo's expression turned solemn. "I will not fail the Ancestor's command."
Li Fan, however, stated, "You need to understand one thing. This is something you must do yourself; it has nothing to do with me. Of course, you can find other ways to prove yourself. I will not force you. The ultimate goal is for you to forge a path as a powerful individual, just like Xuanyuan in the past. You are currently merely a mere cultivator at Dao Integration, but where the focus lies depends entirely on the path you choose."
Xuanyuan Tuo seemed to understand something.
Recalling the various deeds of Xuanyuan Hong that he had heard, a renewed passion and dedication to the cause of the Xuanhuang Realm surged within him.
"The Myriad Immortal Sects..." a cold glint flashed in his eyes.
"Xuanyuan Hong's profound sound was not merely a simple message. It also possessed the power to interfere with the future from the past, to alter reality from illusion. Watch closely!"
As Li Fan spoke these words, Xuanyuan Tuo felt a slight dizziness.
Moments later, he was horrified to discover that his memories had subtly changed.
The words Li Fan had just spoken were uttered the very instant he appeared before him.
He naturally felt bewildered.
Only when time flowed normally to the present, forming a closed loop, did Xuanyuan Tuo suddenly awaken.
"Is this the Ancestor's divine ability?"
Xuanyuan Tuo's heart trembled violently. Compared to this profound sound that could reverse time and space, all the so-called new laws he had created seemed like child's play.
"The Great Dao lies in its essence, not its quantity. If you can master the profound mysteries of this profound sound, sweeping through the ten sects will be as simple as snapping your fingers," Li Fan's form gradually faded, leaving only a thin fragment behind.
"When you have accomplished this task, take this Supreme Primordial Scripture and call out in your heart. I will naturally appear."
The voice slowly faded. Xuanyuan Tuo held the fragment in his hand, and in his eyes appeared the magnificent and resplendent starry sky of the Great Dao.
"The Supreme Primordial Scripture, it seems..."
Xuanyuan Tuo's eyes narrowed, connecting it to the rumors he had previously heard about the Azure Nether True Immortal.
"As expected. I was initially puzzled by the emergence of that Azure Nether True Immortal. Now it seems, with the assistance of someone like the Ancestor, achieving True Immortal status would be an easy feat."
Filled with confidence about his future, Xuanyuan Tuo began to scheme in his heart how to settle accounts with the ten sects.
Suddenly, Xuanyuan Tuo seemed to realize something. His expression changed slightly, and he looked in the direction where Li Fan had disappeared.
"My Heavenly Profound Mirror..."
Holding the Supreme Primordial Scripture, Xuanyuan Tuo's expression shifted multiple times. In the end, he lacked the courage to directly summon Li Fan to demand the Heavenly Profound Mirror.
"It's fine. It's just an immortal artifact after all. True power lies within oneself; that is the righteous path." Xuanyuan Tuo took a deep breath, attempting to calm the turbulence in his heart.
Little did Xuanyuan Tuo know that at this very moment, Mirror Xuan, the artifact spirit of the Heavenly Profound Mirror, was crying out incessantly, "Immortal Master, spare me!"
Originally, Mirror Xuan believed that losing the accumulation from its past ascension from mortal to immortal was already extremely unfortunate. However, upon falling into Li Fan's hands, he realized his misfortune had likely just begun.
The other party seemed to understand the Heavenly Profound Mirror even better than he did. The restrictions within the mirror were like nothing, and in an instant, Li Fan poured his essence into its core. Then, a figure that looked almost identical to him, but lacked a certain spiritual dynamism, appeared before Mirror Xuan.
Almost immediately, Mirror Xuan understood Li Fan's intention: to create a new artifact spirit to replace him!
A sense of crisis, stronger than ever before, surged within Mirror Xuan. Mirror Xuan knew that time was running out for him. Once this new artifact spirit fully took shape, only destruction awaited him.
He had to prove his value before then! A unique value that the new artifact spirit could not provide!
Mirror Xuan's thoughts raced. Considering that the Immortal Master had proactively approached Xuanyuan Tuo, an answer instantly formed in his mind.
"Immortal Master, spare my life! Perhaps I can help you find the former companion of King Xuanyuan!"
Sensing that the process of creating the new artifact spirit had finally halted, Mirror Xuan breathed a sigh of relief.
Li Fan's cold voice echoed, "Why Xuanyuan Hong's companion, and not Xuanyuan Hong himself?"
Mirror Xuan quickly explained, "When King Xuanyuan departed, it was indeed too hasty. I truly do not know his whereabouts. However, his companion..."
"Before she left, she used a divine ability to separate another identical mirror artifact from me and named it 'Profound Heaven,' while renaming me 'Heavenly Mysteries.'"
Mirror Xuan's tone held a hint of indignation. "Although they have left and I don't know where they went, I can use this connection to vaguely sense their location."
"I can feel that the other me has become much stronger than before. If I was a dim star in the past, now I am like the bright moon in the sky. Because of this immense disparity, I felt fear. This accelerated my process of shedding my mortal form. Because I knew that if I completely shed my mortal form, I would no longer be the same entity as her and would forever lose the chance to compete."
Mirror Xuan's resentment towards his other self seemed to outweigh his fear of Li Fan. As he spoke, he became almost fanatical, chattering incessantly.
Li Fan had not expected Mirror Xuan to be able to track Xuanyuan Hong's childhood sweetheart.
He temporarily stopped his creation of the artifact spirit and carefully observed the Heavenly Profound Mirror at this point in time.
Though the traces were extremely faint, Li Fan, after careful examination, could still discern a subtle "imprint" on the immortal artifact.
"Even for me now, perfectly replicating the Heavenly Profound Mirror and creating an individual almost identical to the original artifact spirit is not an easy feat."
"Xuanyuan Hong truly has profound underlying power. His methods are endless."
Xuanyuan Hong's childhood sweetheart, though her name was unknown, likely had no complex background and was merely a mortal. To be able to perform such a divine ability suggested it was a gift from Xuanyuan Hong.
"Given Xuanyuan Hong's character, even if he were in danger, he would never let her go alone. Therefore, it's highly probable that they are not in the same place."
Li Fan was not particularly interested in tracking someone's companion. However, he was quite intrigued by the imprinting divine ability she had used.
The Heavenly Profound Mirror was among the more unique immortal artifacts. To be easily replicated by a mortal...
This method was somewhat similar to the "Transformation of True and False" that Li Fan possessed.
Li Fan meticulously observed the traces left on the Heavenly Profound Mirror.
Without undergoing the process of shedding its mortal form, the traces left on this immortal artifact were still preserved. Even though they were extremely minute, they could not escape Li Fan's tracking and restoration.
In front of Li Fan, a scene seemed to unfold.
In the vastness of heaven and earth, a blank piece of paper suddenly drifted down. It slowly covered the original Profound Heaven Mirror.
A delicate hand slowly pressed down on the paper.
The Heavenly Profound Mirror, imprinted on the white paper, slowly descended into the world.
"This is far superior to the 'Dual Celestial Seeds' of the First Great Heavenly Venerate's division of immortals and mortals."
"It's somewhat similar to the immortal artifact the ten sects once discussed, the 'Dual Celestial Seeds'?"
He had originally paid little attention to these residual immortal artifacts held by the ten sects. However, combined with the potential methods left by King Xuanyuan, it piqued Li Fan's interest.
His form flickered, and moments later, Li Fan, under the close watch of the ten sects, had retrieved this "Dual Celestial Seed."
He placed it alongside the Heavenly Profound Mirror for comparison.
"Eh, this thing..." Mirror Xuan's voice echoed with uncertainty, further convincing Li Fan of his judgment.
According to the ten sects, this "Dual Celestial Seed" was captured during a war against the "Twin Heaven Realm." The Twin Heaven Realm was not large, but its landscape was peculiar.
It was not constructed in the usual manner of heaven and earth, but rather with a mirror-like structure at the center, dividing the world into two halves. Not only were the landscapes divided, but all the beings within the world also existed in pairs.
They were aware of each other's existence, and even their fortunes and lives were interconnected.
In critical moments of life and death, they could achieve a manifold increase in their power through a brief "fusion" to survive tribulations. However, the side effects were severe. They would uncontrollably be drawn towards their other half in the parallel world, meaning their own existence would gradually fade away.
The reason for the Twin Heaven Realm's uniqueness was attributed to the existence of this "Dual Celestial Seed." It was said that in ancient times, the Twin Heaven Realm, like other cultivation realms, had a normal heaven and earth structure. But one day, heaven and earth suddenly reversed, as if forcibly folded.
Countless lives were lost. When they recovered, they were horrified to discover an additional sky outside the original earth, and an additional "self" to accompany it.
From then on, all beings in the Twin Heaven Realm ultimately tended towards fusion, and then converged towards the "Dual Celestial Seed" in heaven and earth.
The Twin Heaven Realm was annihilated after being conquered by the Azure Nether. However, this "Dual Celestial Seed" was captured by the ten sects and kept as a final trump card.
It allowed for the creation of another self, greatly reducing the risk of making crucial decisions at critical moments.
Li Fan gazed at the immortal seed floating quietly before him.
If the traces on the Heavenly Profound Mirror were imprints, then this immortal seed was filled with the marks of folding.
"Using the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth as paper."
"To alter it with a mere hand. What ambition, what skill."
Even though Li Fan had reached a cultivation level capable of reversing time, witnessing such a "folding paper" divine ability, he couldn't help but express his admiration.
This art of "folding was clearly not within the remnants of the Primordial Era. In Li Fan's past reincarnations, he had never encountered it.
It was only by reversing time to ten thousand years ago that he had a glimpse of its traces.
"In that case, King Xuanyuan's childhood sweetheart is not an ordinary person either," Li Fan mused, stroking his chin.
"However, I cannot make a definitive conclusion yet."
For Li Fan now, the primary obstacle to further advancement was forging his own pure path.
But this path was not easily achievable.
Whether it was transcending possibility horizontally, tracing back through the river of time vertically, or even the "True Becoming False" of true becoming false, all seemed like potential directions.
Yet, each path was fraught with immense difficulty.
He stood at a crossroads, unsure of which way to proceed.
From a rational perspective, it was clear that the "True Becoming False" was the most suitable and powerful Great Dao, as it was an existence comparable to contending with mountains and seas.
But the "Return to Truth" had fallen into slumber. Without the insights gained from activating "Return to Truth" repeatedly, comprehending the "True Becoming False" had become extremely difficult.
It was like a castle built in the air on a collapsing foundation.
For Li Fan to touch it again, even to continue climbing, he would inevitably need some steps to stand upon.
The insights of Mound Guardian from his solitary contemplation of the sea and the Sky Mysteries King’s replayed profundities, even this art of paper folding, could all be considered stepping stones for Li Fan.
He absorbed, learned, then felt and transformed.
One step at a time, he would touch that ineffable transformation between truth and falsehood.
Li Fan, having made up his mind, flicked a finger at the surface of the Heavenly Profound Mirror. The half-created nascent artifact spirit instantly dissolved into ashes.
Mirror Spirit, seeing this, let out a long sigh of relief.
However, after a moment, it sensed Li Fan's continuous, gentle stroking motions. For some unknown reason, a premonition of unease welled up within it.
It wasn’t Mirror Spirit’s imagination.
From the “Two-Part Immortal Seed” beside it, which was emanating an unusual aura, streams of power silently surged forth. They wrapped around and bound the Heavenly Profound Mirror like tentacles, securing it tightly. Then, from where they touched, countless even finer tendrils split off. Under Li Fan’s direction, they unscrupulously swept across every inch of the Heavenly Profound Mirror’s surface.
A sense of déja vu bloomed in Mirror Spirit’s heart.
“Sky Mysteries, I’m taking it away.”
For some reason, the words of the Sky Mysteries King’s childhood friend echoed in its ears once more.
“Could it be…”
The Heavenly Profound Mirror instinctively trembled. The power of the Two-Part Immortal Seed enveloping its surface vibrated even more violently, like bubbling mud with ceaseless churning bubbles.
Mirror Spirit tried its utmost to resist, but it possessed not an ounce of counter-force.
It could only watch helplessly as another version of itself slowly grew within this ‘mud’!
In contrast to the Heavenly Mirror and the Sky Mysteries King, a third mirror descended.
However, after Li Fan took the mirror and observed it, he shook his head and dismissed it.
“It has the form, but not the spirit, not the essence. A piece of trash!”
His voice was icy as he applied a slight force with his hand. With a series of bone-chilling creaks, this nascent Heavenly Profound Mirror instantly turned to dust, returning to the Two-Part Immortal Seed.
Mirror Spirit even faintly heard the tragic wail of its other self.
Covered in a cold sweat, Mirror Spirit couldn't bother with the odd feeling of being used as a replication experiment. Under Li Fan's scrutiny, it quickly divulted the differences it had perceived between itself and the copy during the recent imprinting process, thereby proving its own value.
“So that’s how it is. Well done.” Li Fan nodded, offering unreserved praise.
Learning from the previous lesson, Li Fan soon began his second experiment.
The creation was indeed better than the first attempt, but it still fell short of the true Heavenly Profound Mirror by a considerable margin.
“It seems this art of paper folding and imprinting is indeed an unfathomable divine ability. It’s not something I can master in a short time just by relying on the residual traces. It requires repeated study.”
Li Fan had anticipated this and was unfazed.
With the Two-Part Immortal Seed and the Heavenly Profound Mirror both in hand, he had ample time to practice slowly.
The only concern was that the power of "paper folding" condensed within the Two-Part Immortal Seed would be continuously depleted. Each use meant one less.
If it were merely Immortal Spirit energy, Li Fan could easily replenish it. But this Great Dao of "paper folding" could only be conjured from nothing by his “Falsehood into Truth” divine ability.
Though the efficiency was slow, especially now that Return to Truth was dormant and he could only rely on his own insights.
“But it can still be replenished, so I won't be depleting my resources. And I can simultaneously deepen my understanding of the transformation between truth and falsehood.” Li Fan took a broad view of this, proceeding at an unhurried pace.
However, during his research and experiments, the image of Cat Treasure would occasionally flash through his mind.
“I wonder if Cat Treasure’s replication ability is the same as this Great Dao of paper folding.”
“Indeed, there is no event in this world that happens without reason or violates logic. Those seemingly incredible occurrences are merely due to limited knowledge and shallow understanding.”
“Cat Treasure’s triple transformations: item replication, creature mimicry, and essence cultivation. The other two abilities…”
Li Fan frowned in thought.
A sudden idea sparked in his mind: if he could fully grasp its Dao, then he could also replicate “Cat Treasure” itself.
While Li Fan’s main body was focused on comprehending the Dao, the Great Heavenly Venerate Immortal Puppet was not idle.
As the suitable successor for the next Azure Nether Heavenly Venerate had not yet emerged, Li Fan had to shoulder the responsibility of maintaining order in the Xuanhuang Realm.
This was not a constraint from the Immortal Realm, but for his own sake.
His first action was to reform the Xuanhuang Realm from the inside out. From his current perspective, the Xuanhuang Realm was still somewhat too fragile.
To say nothing of the Calamity of Dao Erasure, even a slight resurgence from a Starving Immortal in the Immortal Ruins could plunge the Xuanhuang Realm into eternal perdition.
Fortunately, Li Fan had ample experience in reform.
Moreover, this time, his reform plan went even further than before. His goal was to forge the Xuanhuang Realm into an indestructible Immortal Boat, capable of drifting for a time and seeking new life even if the primordial realm was engulfed by Dao Erasure!
In addition to enhancement methods like elevating the Immortal Domain and the Great Dao Heavenly Pillars, Li Fan was now also considering integrating the Fallen Immortal Realm.
At this point in time, the Fallen Immortal Realm was a closed-off place, inaccessible to living beings of the Xuanhuang Realm.
Only with the permission of the Great Azure Nether Heavenly Venerate could their consciousnesses enter.
Li Fan macro-viewed the Fallen Immortal Realm at this time and found that its scale was much smaller now compared to its state ten thousand years later.
It was almost a mere projection of the normal Xuanhuang Realm, with some differences generated after years of evolution.
It seemed to still be in its infancy, with many realms that existed later not yet born.
However, Li Fan noticed some interesting things.
The Fallen Immortal Realm had recently manifested a significant expanse of new space-time. Judging by the timing of its birth, it seemed to coincide with the fierce battle between the Xuanhuang Realm and the Primordial Realm.
“Could it be…”
Li Fan’s heart moved. His divine sense traversed these newly formed spaces.
Upon returning, his expression became peculiar. “As expected. With the complete interconnection between the Primordial Realm and the Xuanhuang Realm, the Fallen Immortal Realm also seems to have infiltrated the Primordial Realm.”
The bloody battlefield of the two realms had quietly appeared within the Fallen Immortal Realm.
The only thing that put Li Fan’s mind at ease was that his existence as the “Azure Nether True Immortal” was absent from this new space-time.
“Otherwise, my current concern would not be how to remodel the Xuanhuang Realm, but how to flee for my life.”
While pondering, the Great Heavenly Venerate Immortal Puppet made another trip to the Primordial Realm.
Indeed, above this realm, it found the extremely difficult-to-detect illusory mist.
“It’s not just a fleeting reflection of the world. It can also grow over time.”
“In the original timeline, the Xuanhuang Realm struggled for survival at the edge of the Immortal Ruins, lacking the conditions to grow. But now, it’s different.”
“The Primordial Realm, and even…”
Li Fan’s gaze shifted to the surroundings of the Primordial Realm.
The Myriad Immortal Sects were enthusiastically exploring the unknown starry sky nearby.
Li Fan also sensed the vitality in the distant star sea.
Simultaneously, he also seemed to see, like a phantom, the illusory mist of the Fallen Immortal Realm following in the footsteps of the Ten Sects.
“It seems necessary to impose some restrictions on it.”
A premonition told Li Fan that passively watching it grow would be far from wise.
“Though illusory, it is real. It doesn't require a foundation in reality. It can drift on the Dao Erasure like a wooden boat.”
The first generation’s evaluation of the Fallen Immortal Realm echoed in his mind, and Li Fan dared not be careless.
Using the transformation between truth and falsehood, he mimicked the power of the Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul, like iron chains crossing a river, temporarily sealing the star paths around the Primordial Realm.
Of course, this seal was only directed at the illusory mist of the Fallen Immortal Realm, not at ordinary beings.
The expanding Fallen Immortal Realm immediately sensed the anomaly around it.
It did not exhibit any emotions like living beings.
Instead, mechanically and instantly, it made corresponding changes.
Under Li Fan’s gaze, the illusory mist of the Fallen Immortal Realm seemed to abandon its expansionist behavior. It simply hovered over the Primordial Realm, strengthening itself.
Almost visibly, the number of shifting spaces within the Primordial Fallen Immortal Realm increased.
The origin of the Fallen Immortal Realm was not the Azure Nether cultivators active in the Primordial Realm. It even included those Primordial Realm beings that Li Fan had sealed and suppressed!
Even the two Immortal Servants responsible for guarding the Primordial Rebirth Great Formation were reflected within the Primordial Fallen Immortal Realm!
This was the first time the Fallen Immortal Realm had actively “reflected” something. The reflected beings were unaware, but Li Fan, the observer, couldn’t help but feel a chill.
After pondering for a moment, Li Fan sent a wisp of his consciousness into the newly formed Primordial Fallen Immortal Realm.
His objective was to ascertain whether the Immortal Formations and Immortal Servants there were connected to the Infinite Sea and possessed infinite properties.
Return to Truth's "Eternal Samsara" function could also create space-time out of thin air, similar to the Fallen Immortal Realm.
However, Eternal Samsara was completely enclosed, with no connection to the Mountains and Seas.
As for this illusory realm of the Fallen Immortal…
Li Fan’s expression turned solemn as he felt the pressure emanating from the Infinite Sea. A flicker of apprehension crossed his face.
“It has actually connected to the Mountains and Seas?”
While shocked, Li Fan was also filled with confusion.
Connecting to the Mountains and Seas meant it possessed the essential conditions for creating True Immortals. In other words, in the illusory spaces of the Fallen Immortal Realm, it was possible for True Immortals to emerge.
“This…”
Theoretically, this was indeed the case.
However, Li Fan consistently felt that the Primordial Immortal Formations and the two Immortal Servants within the Fallen Immortal Realm had subtle differences compared to their real counterparts.
And this difference was extremely crucial.
“It merely possesses the Infinite Sea, but not Mount Shang?”
Gazing at the illusory Primordial Realm before him for a long time, Li Fan finally had a moment of epiphany and found the answer.
To verify his guess, Li Fan flashed into the vicinity of the two Immortal Servants within the Fallen Immortal Realm.
He then deliberately revealed his “aura” as a True Immortal.
In reality, upon encountering a True Immortal, Immortal Servants were bound by an ironclad rule etched into their core to offer tribute. However, in this Fallen Immortal Realm, these two Immortal Servants completely disregarded the aura Li Fan exuded.
Even more so, they simultaneously launched an attack on this intruder.
“As expected.” Li Fan calmly blocked their attacks, understanding dawning on him.
“It merely possesses infinite power, but lacks the ‘momentum’ of Mount Shang.”
“Without climbing a high mountain, one does not know the height of the sky. Without Mount Shang, one does not truly know what an Immortal is.”
Possessing the power of infinity, but without the support of “momentum” as an energy level, its effectiveness was greatly diminished.
Compared to the real Immortal Servants, it had only about one-tenth of their strength.
This discovery caused Li Fan to breathe a sigh of relief.
After suppressing the two unworthy Immortal Servants and casually destroying this expanse of space-time within the Fallen Immortal Realm, Li Fan quietly withdrew from the Primordial Fallen Immortal Realm.
For the Fallen Immortal Realm itself, the existence or destruction of individual space-times had no significant impact.
In the blink of an eye, the space-time destroyed by Li Fan regenerated.
Li Fan silently watched the scene before him: “Although the Fallen Immortal Realm is illusory, it is built upon reality. Unless reality is engulfed by Dao Erasure and all living beings cease to exist, the Fallen Immortal Realm will always regenerate.”
“And even if reality is consumed by Dao Erasure, the Fallen Immortal Realm can still cling to existence for a while longer.”
At this thought, Li Fan was momentarily unsure which was the more "advanced" existence between reality and the Fallen Immortal Realm.
“Since the Fallen Immortal Realm can connect to the Infinite Sea, then theoretically, it should also be able to connect to Mount Shang, but it doesn’t…”
“So, was this intentional?”
In the Allegory of Mountains and Seas, the calamities of living beings begin from the connection between the sea and the mountains. The Fallen Immortal Realm abandoning the mountains for the sea seemed like a method of evading tribulation.
“If that’s the case, could there also be a complete return to the mountains?”
Li Fan naturally thought.
“It has the ‘momentum’ of an Immortal, but lacks infinite properties. Which is superior and which is inferior is truly hard to say.”
“But perhaps this is the original form of Immortals.”
The sealed Primordial Fallen Immortal Realm did not continue to expand or collide with the restrictions Li Fan had imposed.
It simply hovered above the Primordial and Xuanhuang Realms, continuously evolving and growing.
For the Fallen Immortal Realm, the size of the space in reality was not the key factor limiting its growth. As long as there were living beings within its covered range, the Fallen Immortal Realm could continue to propagate itself.
Previously, it expanded towards the outer starry sky of the Primordial Realm due to its innate mechanism of self-strengthening.
Now, due to Li Fan’s restrictions hindering its growth, it instinctively contracted back.
Within its original territory, it continued to breed and grow.
Li Fan looked at this peculiar creation before him, falling into hesitation.
The Fallen Immortal Realm as a whole seemed to lack a subjective consciousness, unlike the Heavenly Dao of the Xuanhuang Realm. It merely made "mechanical" instinctive judgments.
However, it was, after all, a remnant left behind by the fall of a powerful cultivator in the Immortal Realm.
It might not necessarily become a breeding ground for life after death.
Especially its characteristic of drifting on Dao Erasure reminded Li Fan of an Immortal Coffin he had seen before.
However, the Fallen Immortal Realm was clearly more advanced than a simple Immortal Coffin, which relied on the robustness of its Dao Principles to resist Dao Erasure.
Li Fan cursed inwardly.
Choosing the Xuanhuang Realm as his anchor point indeed had its pros and cons.
Based on his understanding of the Xuanhuang Realm's past, he could establish a foundation quickly. However, the Xuanhuang Realm harbored countless secrets, and even at his current level of cultivation and strength, he needed to tread carefully at every step.
Otherwise, he could easily suffer a major setback due to carelessness.
“Regardless, one cannot sleep soundly with intruders lying beside their bed.” A cold light flashed in Li Fan’s eyes.
In the past, with Return to Truth protecting him, Li Fan could choose to restart at any time.
He could simply avoid it.
But now, Li Fan had nowhere to retreat.
Although the Fallen Immortal Realm was bizarre, if it wanted Li Fan to hand over his foundational cornerstone…
It would have to fight him first!
Li Fan did not rush into action. Before launching an assault on the Fallen Immortal Realm, he needed more time to accumulate and prepare.
His first priority was to eliminate all hidden threats surrounding the Xuanhuang Realm.
His divine sense returned from the Fallen Immortal Realm to reality. The Great Heavenly Venerate Immortal Puppet's first action was to seize control of the Sky Crossing Starry Sea Formation. The immortal formation, initially set up by the Heavenly Mysteries King, had become severely damaged through countless battles the Xuanhuang Realm had fought. The Golden Chain Array, binding the Primordial Era, was its last significant feat. Though the Myriad Immortal Sects were unable to repair it, it did not mean Li Fan could not.
As the Azure Nether Heaven and Earth boomed, Li Fan first revived the fallen Tian Beast. When the Tian Beast's colossal form reappeared, the Myriad Immortal Sects were initially bewildered, unaware of this terrifying beast's origins. After a moment, someone recalled its identity from ancient memories, and great fear arose within them. Why had the Heavenly Mysteries Sect's guardian beast suddenly been resurrected? Could the mysterious half-immortal Heavenly Mysteries King be returning?
The Myriad Immortal Sects fell into unease. Forgetting their endeavors in the Primordial Starry Sky, the core cultivators of the ten sects returned to the Xuanhuang Realm overnight to convene and discuss countermeasures. They even attempted to contact the Great Heavenly Venerate of Azure Nether for advice, but received no response. The Great Heavenly Venerate was missing.
Just as their fear intensified, the Myriad Immortals Alliance suddenly declared war on the Myriad Immortal Sects. This left the ten sects utterly dumbfounded. They feared the Heavenly Mysteries King, but what was a mere Myriad Immortals Alliance? The strongest in the alliance, the Doctrine Transmitter Immortal Venerable, was merely at the Dao Integration realm. Where did they find the courage to challenge the ten sects?
Amused yet enraged, the ten sects decided to crush the Myriad Immortals Alliance pests with overwhelming force. However, the swift series of actions by the Myriad Immortals Alliance caught them completely off guard.
First, the Doctrine Transmitter declared his true identity to the world: Xuan Yuan Tuo. He was a descendant of Xuan Yuan Hong, the former leader of the Heavenly Mysteries Sect and the Heavenly Mysteries King. The ten sects had destabilized the foundation of the Heavenly Mysteries, and Xuan Yuan Hong had established the Heavenly Mysteries Sect precisely to overthrow the rule of the ten sects and restore the Heavenly Mysteries' governance!
The ten sects had ruled the Azure Nether for millennia, and the world had almost forgotten about the Heavenly Mysteries Sect. Thus, for ordinary cultivators, the Myriad Immortals Alliance's declaration was merely a pretext for "legitimacy." But to the ten sects, it held a very different meaning.
The Doctrine Transmitter was a descendant of the Heavenly Mysteries King? A mere Dao Integration cultivator would certainly not have the courage to confront the ten sects. But what if the person behind the Doctrine Transmitter was the Heavenly Mysteries King himself? It was no wonder that such an insignificant cultivator from the wilderness could rise so quickly. He could even create a set of methods that were completely different from the current cultivation methods, yet were exceptionally brilliant.
Coupled with the loss of control over the Sky Crossing Starry Sea Formation and the resurrection of the Tian Beast, the ten sects finally believed: the Heavenly Mysteries King had returned! Ancient memories resurfaced, and fear followed suit. How strong was the Heavenly Mysteries King? Even now, among the ten sects, there were still Longevity Realm cultivators who had personally witnessed the Heavenly Mysteries King sweep across the world as a half-immortal ten thousand years ago. They knew his strength. Even if all the ten sects attacked together, they would not be the Heavenly Mysteries King's match! If they attacked proactively, it would be suicide!
Based on their analysis of the Heavenly Mysteries King's perceived strength, the core members of the ten sects concluded: although the Heavenly Mysteries King had returned, given his personality, even if he sought revenge, he would need a legitimate reason. The reason he had not appeared himself but had his descendant provoke the ten sects was to lure the ten sects into attacking first, and then, under the guise of retaliation, he would justifiably and decisively slaughter and take revenge upon them!
The ten sects, realizing this apparent scheme, broke out in a cold sweat and quickly ordered their disciples to temporarily refrain from any conflict with the Myriad Immortals Alliance.
Thus, an extremely peculiar scene unfolded on the Azure Nether Continent. The Myriad Immortals Alliance, under the banner of the Heavenly Mysteries Sect, grew at a frenzied pace. Meanwhile, the Myriad Immortal Sects, the actual rulers of the Xuanhuang Realm, pretended not to see, acting like scared turtles. This bizarre phenomenon greatly boosted the morale of the Myriad Immortals Alliance, further accelerating their expansion. The low-level disciples of the ten sects, however, were filled with frustration and confusion.
Relying on their past prestige, the leaders of the ten sects managed to suppress the resentment of their disciples for the time being. However, they knew this situation could not last. Therefore, they jointly devised a plan: quickly invite the Grand Master of the Heavenly Capital! In reality, if the Heavenly Mysteries King had not been severely injured after his battle with the Grand Master in the past, they would not have dared to attack him. Now that the Heavenly Mysteries King had returned, they could only seek help from the Grand Master again. After all, the legacies of the ten sects all originated from the Heavenly Capital. The Grand Master should not refuse to help.
While this was the theory, the ten sects were uncertain in practice. After all, it had been many years since anyone had seen the Grand Master. Even during the critical junctures of the Xuanhuang Realm's survival, the Grand Master had never appeared.
In a secret chamber of the Great Dao Sect, over half of the leaders of the ten sects were gathered, discussing their plan. All of them wore worried expressions.
Fang Ding Ge coughed lightly, "Esteemed ones, there is no need to be so dejected. Do not forget our discovery in the starry sky near the Primordial Era. If all else fails, what is wrong with ceding this corner of the Xuanhuang Realm to the Heavenly Mysteries King? It is far better than this edge of the Immortal Ruins."
This statement, which was tantamount to admitting defeat before battle, did not draw any objections. Instead, everyone nodded in unison, agreeing with Fang Ding Ge's assessment.
"Before we leave, we will take all the accumulated resources of the ten sects over the years. We will leave only an empty Azure Nether for him. Hmph..." Speaking was an extremely weathered old man. His beard and hair were completely white, and his facial skin had crinkled together, making him look quite eerie. The light in his cloudy eyes seemed about to extinguish completely, as if his Longevity Realm cultivation had reached its limit. The others present did not echo the old man's resentful words, their expressions varied. However, given the old man's status, no one stepped forward to object. The old man, named Ruan Tian Liu, was the Supreme Elder of the One Beginning Sect. After the sect leader of the One Beginning Sect died in the Primordial Battlefield and was not resurrected by the Azure Nether True Immortal, he once again assumed control of the One Beginning Sect. Ruan Tian Liu was also one of the few cultivators among the ten sects who had witnessed the Heavenly Mysteries King's might and could be described as utterly terrified of that half-immortal. Thus, from the very beginning, he had strongly opposed the ten sects attacking the Myriad Immortals Alliance.
"Elder Ruan is correct. It can be said that the essence of the Azure Nether has been largely plundered by our ten sects. Even if we transfer, we will not suffer much loss. In fact, do we not already have a contingency plan for fleeing? However, if there were any dissenting voices within the sects before who insisted on staying in the Xuanhuang Realm, then now, with the appearance of the Heavenly Mysteries King, everyone's opinion has quickly unified," said Xiahou Yan, the Master of the Prison of Uncertainty, with a smile that was not quite a smile, looking at everyone.
"It's just hateful that the Two-Part Immortal Seed has inexplicably disappeared. Otherwise, we could have pulled the wool over their eyes and left without a trace. Our main bodies would flee to the Primordial Starry Sky, leaving only weaker avatars to fight to the death with that Heavenly Mysteries Sect!" A voice of regret echoed in the chamber.
"This Two-Part Immortal Seed disappearing so bizarrely is not like its power has dissipated, nor like the Heavenly Mysteries King took it. After all, Xuan Yuan Hong acted with integrity and would never resort to such underhanded tactics."
"Could it be that he brought a helper with him this time?" The individuals in the chamber became suspicious and uncertain.
Not long after, they turned to the main topic: "Who will go and invite the Grand Master this time?" One had to know that the Grand Master of the Heavenly Capital was not as easily approached as they claimed outwardly. A slightest misstep could lead to death and the vanishing of one's Dao.
"I will lead the way," Fang Ding Ge said with a cold snort when he saw everyone hesitating, and spoke first. After a moment of shifting expressions among the others, a team of five was finally decided. They would travel to the Heavenly Capital to invite the Grand Master out of seclusion.
"Ten thousand years have passed. Although we have sent messages and tributes to the Heavenly Capital regularly, whether that Grand Master still recognizes us is uncertain... According to the experiences of our predecessors, we need to move him with something he is interested in..." The ten sects recorded the various strange phenomena that had occurred in the Xuanhuang Realm recently onto crystal slippeths, and forcibly linked them all to the Heavenly Mysteries King, using them as bargaining chips to invite the Grand Master.
"If only that Azure Nether True Immortal had not perished on the Primordial Battlefield," Cao Ying Yue, representing the Great Dao Sect, said softly while looking at the distant sky as they were about to reach the Heavenly Capital. The group paused slightly.
"Azure Nether True Immortal..." Everyone lost themselves for a moment before shaking their heads and suppressing the thoughts in their minds. They continued their flight towards the Heavenly Capital. Following the descriptions of those who had been there before, they successfully entered the celestial city. It was said that the Heavenly Capital was more like a dojo than a city, with only a few scattered buildings. Fang Ding Ge, holding an ancient token as proof, smoothly led the group into the Heavenly Capital.
"This is considered the first step successful."
"It is said that even with the token bestowed by the Grand Master back then, whether one can enter safely depends entirely on His mood. If He is disturbed, even someone at peak Dao Integration will vanish without a trace." The members of the ten sects exchanged glances and breathed a slight sigh of relief. They continued deeper into the area where the Grand Master was said to be in meditation according to their traditions. Pushing open the vermilion wooden door, two figures suddenly appeared before them. The group from the ten sects felt their hearts skip a beat and immediately prostrated themselves, shouting in unison, "Greetings, Grand Master!"
Inside the pavilion, there was a deathly silence. Cold sweat dripped from the foreheads of the dozen or so individuals from the ten sects. The Grand Master did not respond for a long time.
Just as the group from the ten sects was beginning to feel bewildered, one of the figures suddenly spoke. "Grand Master..." "Are you talking about this pillar?" The ten sects were stunned and quickly looked up. They saw that indeed, as depicted in the ancient texts, two figures stood before them. One was meditating and chanting; the other, however, was not a young boy but a middle-aged man with an imposing aura, appearing as if he were a celestial being. The moment Fang Ding Ge saw him, he felt a sense of familiarity, but the man's words were too shocking for him to think further. "Grand Master... pillar..." "What do you mean?" At this moment, the ten sects finally focused their attention on a pillar beside the middle-aged man, which he was gently stroking. An almost impossible thought emerged in the minds of the ten sects. Their bodies trembled uncontrollably from extreme fear. Moments later, being stared at by the middle-aged man, their tremors were forcibly suppressed, but their hearts remained ice-cold. The man's subsequent words confirmed their suspicions. "From now on, there will be no more Grand Master in the Xuanhuang Realm." "You will have to rely on yourselves for everything you do." "You may go." As if unwilling to waste more words with the group from the ten sects, the middle-aged man waved his hand. The group felt a sudden dizziness, and then they were expelled from the Heavenly Capital. When they looked back, the towering structure that had hovered in the sky above the Xuanhuang Realm for ten thousand years had vanished!
"Ding... Brother Ding Ge." After a long silence, the group finally came to their senses. In their eyes, the Grand Master of the Heavenly Capital, who seemed omnipotent and from the Immortal Realm, had been turned into a pillar. The impact of this event was too great. For the moment, they could barely speak coherently. However, as leaders of the ten sects, no matter how shocked they were, they finally managed to accept it after a considerable amount of time. Fang Ding Ge calmed himself and took a deep breath, "Let's return first and discuss this." Midway back, Fang Ding Ge suddenly stopped his flight and blurted out, "I remember who that person was just now! The First Generation Great Heavenly Venerate of Azure Nether!" His words left everyone looking at each other in disbelief.
"A bunch of clowns!" Li Fan, inside the Heavenly Capital, shook his head slightly. He no longer paid much attention to the Myriad Immortal Sects. Instead, he shifted his focus to the sealed Grand Master. Even though this was the second sealing attempt, Li Fan could be said to have fought a hard battle. Even before this, Li Fan had already mobilized the power of the Sky Crossing Starry Sea Formation to move the Xuanhuang Realm to the edge of the Abyssal Star Sea, a safe distance from the Immortal Ruins. Then, he activated the power of the inherited projection left by the Mound Guardian within the The Great Barrier. Against the Grand Master, ordinary immortal techniques were useless. Only the "True Becomes False" spiritual weakening blade could effectively counter him. Even with prior battle experience, the process was not without risks. Fortunately, the True-False Transformation that Li Fan wielded had too great a counteracting effect on the Grand Master's "Infinite Unity" Great Dao. Ultimately, it ended with him being sealed. "With a Heavenly Pillar as an anchor, the Eternal Immortal Boat has been preliminarily formed." Li Fan patted the Infinite Unity Heavenly Pillar with satisfaction. For this reinforcement of the Xuanhuang Realm, Li Fan had excluded the Mound Guardian's projection. After all, the Mound Guardian was now an unstable factor for Li Fan. Although everyone said the Mound Guardian had noble character, Li Fan still would not entrust his life to another's morality. "The Infinite Unity is in place. Next up is the Starving Immortal." Although the Starving Immortal had not yet proven the Nameless Dao, in terms of danger, he was even more perilous than the Grand Master.
This was why they could easily suppress the Grand Master just now – it was all thanks to Li Fan’s spirit-weakening blade, which naturally countered him. The Grand Master’s Boundless Great Dao was nothing before the “Truth into Falsehood” technique.
However, against the Starving Immortal, “Truth into Falsehood” wouldn't be as effective.
Before his spiritual essence was reduced to its absolute minimum, the Starving Immortal’s half-Nameless realm strength was more than enough to reduce the First Generation Immortal Puppet to dust. Since he no longer had the backup of “Return to Truth” this time, for the sake of safety, Li Fan wouldn’t easily reveal himself when clearing the hidden dangers around the Xuanhuang Realm.
As for the Mound Guardian’s semblance…
In his previous life, Li Fan used his clone, Li Buren, to gather all the Immortal Realm chess pieces and then received the favor of the Nameless True Immortal, which allowed him to inherit the legacy of the Mound Guardian. But this time, the true Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul within his body had vanished due to the tribulation of the Three Dao Manifestations merging. By temporarily simulating the power of the Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul through the “Truth and Falsehood Transformation,” he could barely manage.
But weaving a complete, stable The Dao Lattice capable of containing the unfolding of Immortal Realm chess pieces was beyond his current abilities. And the First Generation Immortal Puppet’s strength was completely beneath the Mound Guardian’s semblance’s notice.
So this time, Li Fan used the First Generation Immortal Puppet to display the power of "Sitting on the Mountain, Gazing at the Sea," which resonated with the Mound Guardian's semblance within the High Wall, directly granting him partial control over the Kōroka Dojo.
While this was much more convenient, it also came with drawbacks.
The Mound Guardian's semblance was used to support and resist the Dao Erasure tribulation in the nearby starry sky. To control it, Li Fan had to provide replenishment first.
In his previous life, he first had the support of the Primordial Bones. Furthermore, Li Fan could completely disregard the safety of the starry sky within the High Wall, ignore the Dao Erasure tribulation, and extract as much power from the Mound Guardian's semblance as possible.
But now, he only had half of a Primordial Bone from the complete Immortal Realm chess piece – hardly enough for significant use. Although the Boundless Great Dao held a high position, in terms of supporting the Dao Erasure tribulation, an equivalent amount was only comparable to half a Heavenly Pillar.
Combined, he could only exchange for one portion of the Mound Guardian's semblance’s power, and Li Fan still had to consider his own safety. Therefore, dealing with the Starving Immortal required careful preparation.
Don't underestimate the Starving Immortal, who was suppressed into a pillar by Li Fan in his previous life with almost no resistance. Even when facing the Mountain and Sea power displayed by the Mound Guardian's semblance in desperation, he showed no fear. That power of swallowing mountains and drinking seas, of transforming everything in the world into sustenance, was not a bluff, but the intrinsic Dao of “Starvation,” a foundation from beyond the “Primordial” possibility.
Having survived the Dao Erasure tribulation and drifted in it, to the point of reaching the Primordial Possibility and integrating and evolving, the current Great Dao of "Starvation" was by no means weak. Remember, in his previous life, Li Fan had to use the power of nearly three Primordial Heavenly Pillars to completely suppress the Starving Immortal. And at that time, the Starving Immortal had only just reached the Nameless realm!
Li Fan, who had once stripped and savored the Starving Immortal's Heavenly Pillar, knew this all too well, and thus dared not take even the slightest carelessness.
Fortunately, when it came to understanding the Dao of "Starvation," Li Fan's comprehension was likely even deeper than the current Starving Immortal's!
After careful arrangements, a perfect trap targeting the Starving Immortal was constructed.
Three years later, in the Xuanhuang Realm's time.
On the land of the Immortal Ruins, the skeletal body that had been sitting in meditation suddenly opened its eyes.
It looked towards the "distant" center of the starry sea.
“What on earth is this?”
“Is someone snatching the ownership of the Great Dao of 'Starvation' from me?”
Initially confused, after a while, the Starving Immortal finally understood why he had inexplicably awoken from his enlightenment.
The Starving Immortal found it incredible, even somewhat amusing.
After all, the skeletal remains of the previous “Starving Immortal” lay beneath him. In this world, no one could possibly comprehend the Great Dao of Starvation better than himself.
“If they are still stubbornly cultivating this Dao, they probably haven't discovered my existence yet. But to wake me from my enlightenment means this person’s understanding of the Dao of Starvation has also made considerable progress.”
The Starving Immortal found it interesting: “If I devour this person, perhaps it will spare me some hardship in my enlightenment.”
With a thought, the chains entwined around the Starving Immortal retracted into his body with a clatter. The Starving Immortal took his first step, and the missing flesh and blood were restored.
With a flash of movement, he arrived near the location of the other cultivator of the Great Dao of “Starvation” he had sensed.
“Hmm?” The Starving Immortal inexplicably sensed that the wandering Dao principles in the nearby starry sky seemed familiar.
But for a moment, he couldn't recall where this familiarity came from.
And the cultivator who should have been here had vanished from sight. The Starving Immortal's heart sank, and he quickly scanned his surroundings.
Suddenly, upon seeing a solitary figure standing quietly in the distant starry sky, the Starving Immortal’s body froze. An instinct from his body and soul almost caused him to utter the word "Master."
This was because the silhouette, both in terms of build and aura, was almost identical to her master, “Inactive”!
And as if sensing the Starving Immortal’s gaze, the figure slowly turned around at that moment.
A thin face, calm eyes.
When this face fell into the Starving Immortal’s eyes, it was no less than heavenly thunder strikes, shaking her divine soul and clouding her consciousness.
“It’s actually Master?!”
As shock, confusion, and a myriad of emotions surged through her.
In the surrounding starry sky, a silent change began to occur.
Faint threads, crisscrossing like an invisible great net, enveloped the Starving Immortal.
The figure of “Inactive” vanished, replaced by a series of scenes unfolding around her.
The heavens were about to collapse, and the Dao Erasure tribulation was descending! It was precisely the scene buried deep within the Starving Immortal’s heart from the past, when the ancient disasters occurred.
Only this time, Master “Inactive” Immortal also couldn’t resist this cataclysmic disaster. He was swallowed by the Dao Erasure as he relayed the events.
“Master!”
The Starving Immortal trembled with fear. The Dao Erasure aura drawing near from all sides made her instinctively want to flee. Only after a moment did she regain her senses.
“Wait… this is a trap?”
Although the Starving Immortal finally realized what was happening, unfortunately, the formation was already set, and nothing could be undone.
The Starving Immortal felt her vision gradually dim, as if an invisible hand was pressing down on her.
And her connection to the skeletal remains of the previous Starving Immortal was inexplicably severed.
All resistance was like a drop in the ocean.
A Heavenly Pillar slowly took shape within the formation.
Only when the foundation was being laid did Li Fan finally bring out the First Generation Immortal Puppet.
“The best strategy is to win hearts, not just cities,” he recited slowly with satisfaction.
First, he used a diversionary tactic, then shook her heart with the "Inactive" Immortal, and finally used his understanding of the Dao of Starvation to sever her connection to the skeletal remains below the Immortal Ruins. This directly reduced the difficulty of capturing the Starving Immortal by more than half.
If he had gone to war with the Starving Immortal on the Immortal Ruins land by force, it would never have been this easy.
“What a shame, the Starving Immortal hasn’t reached the Nameless realm.”
“Still just half a Heavenly Pillar, barely.”
Li Fan examined the three Heavenly Pillars he had collected so far and shook his head slightly.
Primordial, Boundless Unity, Starvation.
All of them were incomplete, far from the magnificent image they presented when they stood in the starry sea in his previous life.
“But one can’t be too greedy.”
“Even if the quality is poor, we can win with quantity,” Li Fan consoled himself.
Without the backing of “Return to Truth” anymore, Li Fan had learned to compromise. He no longer pursued perfection, but prioritized safety.
After collecting the Starving Immortal Heavenly Pillar, Li Fan then arrived on the land of the Immortal Ruins.
Although the enlightened Starving Immortal was gone, the skeletal remains of the previous Starving Immortal were still there, and the Immortal Ruins’ outward pull had not completely disappeared.
In his previous life, Li Fan had chosen to help the Starving Immortal achieve enlightenment. After the Starving Immortal reached the Nameless realm, these skeletal remains had vanished.
But now, that massive character for “Starvation” was still silently etched on the land of the Immortal Ruins!
Li Fan did not attempt to move these skeletal remains.
Because he keenly sensed the aura of the Dao Erasure tribulation supported by these remains. His experience from his previous life told him that if these skeletal remains were lost, the surrounding starry sky would immediately be affected by the Dao Erasure.
“Being restricted like this is truly stifling,” Li Fan slowly uttered these eight words.
Although he couldn't move them easily, it didn't prevent Li Fan from doing as the Starving Immortal did and sitting down to meditate.
Of course, Li Fan wasn't trying to become the next Starving Immortal.
What he was trying to comprehend was the original Dao path of the owner of these skeletal remains, before they transmigrated across the Dao Erasure to reach the “Primordial” realm.
Li Fan had a vague feeling. Compared to the Dao of Starvation, the original Dao path seemed more conducive to expanding his own Myriad Phenomena The Dao Lattice.
He still sat cross-legged on the land of the Immortal Ruins, at the center of the massive True Immortal Sigils.
However, Li Fan did not bind himself with chains this time.
He was confident that he could resist the influence of the Great Dao of Starvation with his own will.
As his understanding grew and he gradually resonated with the skeletal remains beneath him, intermittent memories from the remains surfaced in his mind.
From recent to distant.
“It's happening again! It's happening again! Last time the heavens collapsed, I was lucky to escape. This time, I probably won't be so fortunate! Damn it, why is the ’Tribulation Crossing Immortal Coffin’ lost? I’ve spent so many years searching without finding it!”
In the distance, the continuous heavens vanished without warning. The tide of Dao Erasure hid in the darkness, pressing in from all sides.
Faintly, he could hear the sounds of mountains and seas colliding and roaring from the darkness.
This sound was all too familiar, like a death knell, constantly ringing during the fall of his homeland. It was imperceptible to ordinary people, only cultivators who understood mountains and seas could hear it. Now that this symphony of mountains and seas echoed again, it awakened the Starving Immortal’s instinctive fear.
Without any will to resist, he wanted to flee.
“The Immortal Realm's fall is a foregone conclusion. I can only go to the Lower Realm to weather the storm and then think of other solutions.”
“Damn it, who took my ’Tribulation Crossing Immortal Coffin’!”
As if he had long prepared to flee, with a flash of light, the Starving Immortal was near the Ascension passage, ahead of most other Immortals.
As the connection point between the Immortal and Mortal realms, all he needed to do was pass through there to be temporarily safe.
“The Immortal Realm’s collapse will last for a while. I hope I can find a way to escape before the Dao Erasure reaches the Lower Realm.” The Starving Immortal was anxious and was about to head to the Lower Realm.
Suddenly, a voice stopped him.
“Fellow Daoist, please stay your steps!”
The Starving Immortal instinctively became alert and ignored the voice, pretending not to hear and continuing to flee forward.
But the path that should have taken an instant to traverse inexplicably stretched on, becoming so distant that no matter how he fleew, he couldn't reach the end!
“Fellow Daoist hears but does not respond. It seems you don't intend to give me face.”
“I originally wanted to discuss this with you, but now it seems there's no need!”
The voice grew closer and closer, like a shadow, and in a moment, it arrived beside the Starving Immortal.
“The Immortal Realm is in calamity, and the Lower Realm likely won't last long either. Someone has to step forward and prop up the Dao Erasure for everyone. Why can’t it be you?!”
“Sacrifice the small for the great. We survivors will remember you in the future.”
The figure said earnestly, and then the Starving Immortal felt a hand press on his shoulder.
And then he could no longer move!
First, a wave of fear, then a nameless rage ignited within his heart.
“You’re seeking death!”
An endless suction surged from the Starving Immortal, madly devouring everything around him. The Ascension passage even began to waver.
Many fleeing True Immortals, unable to cry for help, were devoured by the Starving Immortal.
However, at the center of this swirling vortex, another figure remained unaffected, looking at the Starving Immortal with a look of regret.
“It seems your awareness is rather low.”
“There’s no need to even mourn you. That saves me some trouble.”
In a few words, the Starving Immortal's fate seemed to be decided, without any regard for his own thoughts.
The Starving Immortal was both shocked and enraged.
“If not for the need to quickly assimilate into this world's Great Dao, and for me to change my appearance, how could I be bullied like this!”
“Damn it!”
The pressure on the Starving Immortal’s shoulder grew heavier and heavier, and he felt himself becoming increasingly detached from the entire world. The omnipresent immense force seemed to be crushing and flattening him inch by inch.
In his last moments of consciousness fading, the Starving Immortal desperately tried to see the figure's face.
“It’s you?! The Moral True Immortal?!”
This was the last flicker of thought echoing from the Starving Immortal's skeletal remains.
It was filled with immense resentment, which lingered for a long time.
…
“Finally, I'm alive.”
“Everyone else is dead, and only I am alive. As proof, I was right. Hmph, Master, junior brothers, may you rest in peace in the netherworld.” Having crossed the Dao Erasure tribulation and endured hardships, the Starving Immortal, who arrived in a new possibility, looked at the long-lost Immortal Realm scenery with immense joy.
However, his good mood was soon interrupted.
“Strange, shouldn't the Tribulation Crossing Immortal Coffin have descended with me into this world? Why is it missing?”
“Moreover, the Great Dao here seems to be somewhat repelling me.”
“It seems I need to find a solution.”
…
“What Lian Shan Sage Lord, Gui Hai? They are merely hypocrites trying to monopolize the Mountains and Seas!”
“The Great Dao of Mountains and Seas can be attained by anyone. Today, I will swallow mountains and drink seas!”
In the shattered apocalyptic world where lightning constantly rumbled, the Starving Immortal roared defiantly at the sky like a madman.
“You scoundrel…”
Beside him, an elder with only half a head muttered admonishingly.
“Old man! How do you feel watching your disciples and grandchildren, and the Great Dao of this world you protected, being devoured by me one by one? Hahaha!”
“You scoundrel…” The half-head did not respond, repeating the scolding.
“Boring!” The Starving Immortal stomped the head to pieces with a kick.
Fragments of bone, along with flesh and brain matter, instantly splattered.
But halfway through their flight, they were attracted and stuck to the Starving Immortal's leg.
Then, they wriggled and disappeared into his leg.
“I just don't believe it!”
“I can even devour the Great Dao, so why should I fear these mountains and seas!”
The Starving Immortal looked at the symphony of mountains and seas quietly playing in the distant darkness, his eyes turning bloodshot.
The reason I could so easily suppress the Grand Master this time was due to Li Fan’s spirit-weakening blade, which had a natural restraint against him. The Grand Master’s Boundless Great Dao was no match for the principle of “Truth into Falsehood.”
However, facing the Starving Immortal would not be as effective with this method.
Before his spiritual essence could be reduced to its lowest point, the Starving Immortal, with his half-Nameless realm strength, would have been capable of reducing the First Generation Immortal Puppet to ashes. Without the safety net of Return to Truth to fall back on, Li Fan’s true form would not easily intervene when clearing out the hidden dangers around the Xuanhuang Realm.
As for the Mound Guardian phantom...
In his previous life, Li Fan had used his clone, Li Burren, to gather all the Immortal Realm chess pieces and thus gain the trust of the Nameless True Immortal, which allowed him to inherit the Mound Guardian’s legacy. However, this time, the true Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul within him had vanished due to the tribulation of the Three Dao Manifestations merging. By temporarily simulating the power of the Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul through the principle of True and False Transformation, he could barely manage.
But to weave a complete and stable Myriad Phenomena The Dao Lattice, capable of containing the expansion of the Immortal Realm chess pieces, was beyond his power. And the First Generation Immortal Puppet, with its current strength, was simply not worthy of the Mound Guardian phantom’s attention.
Therefore, this time, Li Fan used the First Generation Immortal Puppet to exhibit the power of “Sitting on the Mountain, Gazing at the Sea,” which resonated with the Mound Guardian phantom within the High Wall, granting him direct partial control of the Kōroka Dojo.
While this was much more convenient, it also came with significant drawbacks.
The Mound Guardian phantom was meant to support and resist the Dao Erasure tribulation of the nearby starry sky. To utilize it, a replenishment would first be necessary.
In his previous life, he first had the support of the Primordial Bones. Furthermore, Li Fan could have completely disregarded the safety of the starry sky within the High Wall, ignoring the Dao Erasure tribulation to the maximum extent possible by drawing upon the Mound Guardian phantom’s power.
However, currently, he only possessed half a root of the Primordial Bones from the complete Immortal Realm chess piece, which was not of much use. Although the Boundless Great Dao possessed a high position, in terms of supporting the Dao Erasure tribulation, one root was equivalent to only half a Heavenly Pillar.
In total, he could only exchange for the power of one Mound Guardian phantom, and Li Fan also needed to consider his own safety. Therefore, dealing with the Starving Immortal still required careful preparation.
One might recall that in his previous life, the Starving Immortal was suppressed into a pillar by Li Fan with almost no resistance. But in that desperate situation, even when faced with the power of Mountains and Seas displayed by the Mound Guardian phantom, he showed no fear. That formidable aura of devouring mountains and drinking seas, transforming everything in the world into sustenance for himself, was no mere bluff. It was the original Great Dao of [Starvation], a profound foundation derived from beyond the [Primordial] possibility.
To be able to drift through the Dao Erasure tribulation, survive into the Primordial possibility, and evolve, the current Great Dao of [Starvation] was by no means weak. One must remember that in his previous life, Li Fan had used the power equivalent to nearly three Primordial Heavenly Pillars to completely suppress the Starving Immortal. And at that time, the Starving Immortal had only just attained the Nameless realm!
Having once consumed the Starving Immortal’s Heavenly Pillar and savored its taste, Li Fan was keenly aware of its power and dared not be careless.
Fortunately, in terms of understanding the Great Dao of [Starvation], Li Fan’s comprehension was likely even greater than the current Starving Immortal’s!
After meticulous preparations, the perfect trap targeting the Starving Immortal was finally set.
Three years later, in the Xuanhuang Realm’s timeline.
On the land of the Immortal Ruins, the skeletal body that had been meditating and comprehending the Dao suddenly opened its eyes.
It looked towards the “distant” center of the starry sea.
“What… is going on?”
“Someone is trying to snatch the ownership of the Great Dao of [Starvation] from me?”
Initially confused, it took a while for the Starving Immortal to understand the reason for his inexplicable awakening from his meditation.
The Starving Immortal found it almost unbelievable, even somewhat amusing.
After all, the bones of the previous [Starving Immortal] lay beneath him. No one in the world could possibly understand the Great Dao of Starvation better than he did.
“He’s still stubbornly cultivating this Dao; he probably hasn't discovered my existence yet. However, he was able to startle me awake from my meditation, which indicates that his comprehension of the Dao of Starvation has also reached a considerable level.”
The Starving Immortal found it interesting. “If I were to devour this person, perhaps it would save me some effort in my path to enlightenment.”
With a thought, the chains wrapped around the Starving Immortal’s body retracted with a clatter. The Starving Immortal took his first step, and the flesh that had disappeared was restored.
With a flash of movement, he had arrived near the location of another enlightener of [Starvation] that he had sensed.
“Hm?” The Starving Immortal inexplicably felt that the stray Dao principles in the nearby starry sky seemed somewhat familiar.
But he couldn’t recall for the moment where this familiarity came from.
And the enlightener who should have been there had vanished. The Starving Immortal’s heart sank, and he quickly scanned his surroundings.
Suddenly, upon seeing a solitary figure standing silently in the starscape not far away, the Starving Immortal’s body froze. Instincts from his body and soul almost caused him to blurt out the word “Master.”
This was because the figure, both in stature and aura, was almost identical to his master, [Inactive]!
And as if sensing the Starving Immortal’s probing gaze, the figure slowly turned around.
A gaunt face, tranquil eyes.
When this face met the Starving Immortal’s gaze, it was like a thunderbolt, shaking the Starving Immortal’s soul and clouding his consciousness.
“It’s actually Master?!”
As shock, confusion, and a myriad of emotions surged through him.
The surrounding starscape quietly transformed.
Faint lines, crisscrossing each other, like an invisible great net, enveloped the Starving Immortal.
The figure of [Inactive] disappeared, replaced by shifting scenes all around.
Heaven and Earth were collapsing, the tribulation of Dao Erasure descended! It was a scene buried deep within the Starving Immortal’s heart, from the days when he was…
But this time, Master [Inactive] could not withstand this cataclysmic disaster. He was swallowed by Dao Erasure as he was consumed.
“Master!”
The Starving Immortal trembled in fear, the encroaching aura of Dao Erasure from all sides instinctively making him want to flee. After a moment, he finally regained his composure.
“No… this is a trap?”
Although the Starving Immortal finally realized something was amiss, it was too late, and the grand formation had already been completed, making everything irreversible.
The Starving Immortal felt his vision gradually dim, as if an invisible hand was pressing down upon him.
And his connection with the bones of the previous Starving Immortal was inexplicably severed.
All resistance was like a drop of water in the ocean.
A Heavenly Pillar slowly took shape within the formation.
Only at this moment of culmination did Li Fan, controlling the First Generation Immortal Puppet, make his appearance.
“To attack a city is secondary to attacking the heart,” he recited slowly with a look of satisfaction.
First, he lured the tiger away from its mountain, then shook the Starving Immortal’s spirit with the manifestation of [Inactive], and finally, using his comprehension of the Dao of Starvation, severed its connection to the bones beneath the Immortal Ruins. This directly reduced the difficulty of capturing the Starving Immortal by more than half.
If he had forced a confrontation with the Starving Immortal on the land of the Immortal Ruins, it would not have been so easy.
“It’s a pity the Starving Immortal has not yet attained the Nameless realm.”
“Still barely half a Heavenly Pillar.”
Li Fan examined the three Heavenly Pillars he had collected, shaking his head slightly.
Primordial, Boundless Unity, Starvation.
All of them were incomplete, far from the majestic sight they presented in his previous life, standing proudly in the starry sea.
“But I can’t be too demanding either.”
“Though the Nameless Heavenly Venerate is excellent, the risks are too great. If I’m not careful, my Eternal Immortal Boat might be overturned before it’s even built. These three are barely sufficient for now.”
“If the quality is insufficient, then win with quantity,” Li Fan consoled himself.
Without the reliance of Return to Truth, Li Fan had learned to compromise. He no longer pursued perfection but prioritized safety.
After carefully storing the Starving Immortal’s Heavenly Pillar, Li Fan then proceeded to the land of the Immortal Ruins.
Although the meditating Starving Immortal was gone, the bones of the previous Starving Immortal remained, and the Immortal Ruins’ outward pull had not completely disappeared.
In his previous life, Li Fan had chosen to elevate the current Starving Immortal. After the Starving Immortal attained the Nameless realm, these bones vanished.
But now, that colossal character for "Starvation" remained quietly etched on the land of the Immortal Ruins!
Li Fan did not attempt to move these bones.
Because he had keenly sensed the aura of the Dao Erasure tribulation that the bones were supporting. His experience from his previous life told him that if these bones were lost, the surrounding starry sky would instantly be engulfed by the Dao Erasure.
“Being restricted like this is truly vexing,” Li Fan slowly uttered these eight words.
Although he couldn’t move them easily, it didn't prevent Li Fan from sitting and meditating on the Dao, just like the Starving Immortal.
Of course, Li Fan wasn’t trying to become the next Starving Immortal.
What he was trying to comprehend was the Dao that the bones’ owner had traveled before crossing the Dao Erasure and arriving in the [Primordial] realm.
Li Fan had a faint sense that, compared to the Dao of Starvation, the original path seemed more likely to enhance his expansion of the Myriad Phenomena The Dao Lattice.
He sat cross-legged once more on the land of the Immortal Ruins, in the center of the colossal True Immortal Sigils.
However, Li Fan did not use chains to bind himself.
He was confident that with his own willpower, he could resist the influence of the Great Dao of Starvation.
As his own comprehension gradually resonated with the bones beneath him.
Some intermittent memories from the bones floated into his mind.
From recent to distant.
“It’s happening again! It’s happening again! The last time the heavens fell, I was fortunate to escape. This time, I probably won’t be so lucky! Damn it, the [Tribulation Crossing Immortal Coffin] is lost, and I haven’t found it after all these years of careful searching!”
In the distance, the continuous celestial dome vanished without warning. The tide of Dao Erasure hid in the darkness, pressing in from all directions.
One could faintly hear the sounds of mountains colliding and roaring, emanating from the darkness.
This sound was all too familiar; it was this sound, like a death knell, that had continuously resonated during the fall of his homeland. Ordinary people couldn’t detect it, but only cultivators who understood Mountains and Seas could hear it. Now, this symphony of Mountains and Seas echoed once more, awakening the primal fear in the Starving Immortal’s heart.
With no intention of resisting, he wanted to flee.
“The Immortal Realm’s fall is a foregone conclusion. I can only go to the Lower Realm to lie low for a while and then think of other solutions.”
“Damn it, who took my [Tribulation Crossing Immortal Coffin]!”
As if he had prepared for his escape long ago, with flashes of light, the Starving Immortal had already reached the vicinity of the Ascension Passage, ahead of most True Immortals.
As the connection point between Immortals and Mortals, as long as he passed through there, he would be temporarily safe.
“The Immortal Realm’s collapse will last for some time. I hope I can find a way to escape before Dao Erasure affects the Lower Realm.” The Starving Immortal was filled with dread, about to ascend to the Lower Realm.
Suddenly, a voice called out to him.
“Fellow Daoist, please stay!”
The Starving Immortal’s heart instinctively became alert, and he pretended not to hear, continuing to flee forward.
But the journey, which should have taken an instant, inexplicably became so long that he could not reach the end, no matter how hard he tried!
“Fellow Daoist hears but does not respond; it seems you don't intend to give me face.”
“I originally wanted to discuss this with you, but now, there’s no need for that!”
The voice grew closer, like a shadow clinging to him. In a moment, it had arrived beside the Starving Immortal.
“The Immortal Realm is in disaster, and the Lower Realm likely won’t last long either. Someone must step forward to support the Dao Erasure for everyone! Why can’t it be you?!”
“Sacrifice the individual for the greater good. We survivors will remember you.”
The figure spoke earnestly, then the Starving Immortal felt a hand placed on his shoulder.
And then he could no longer move!
First came a wave of panic, followed by immense anger in his heart.
“You’re courting death!”
An infinite suction force erupted from the Starving Immortal’s body, madly devouring everything around him. The Ascension Passage even began to shake precariously.
Many fleeing True Immortals were engulfed by the Starving Immortal before they could even cry for help.
However, in the center of this stirring vortex, another figure, completely unaffected, watched the Starving Immortal with a look of pity.
“It seems your resolve is rather low.”
“There’s no need to even mourn you. That saves some trouble.”
In just a few words, the Starving Immortal’s fate seemed to have been decided, with no regard for his own thoughts.
The Starving Immortal was both shocked and enraged.
“If it weren't for needing to quickly integrate into this world’s Great Dao, I wouldn’t have been bullied like this after changing my appearance!”
“Damn it!”
The weight pressing on the Starving Immortal’s shoulder grew heavier and heavier, and he felt himself gradually separating from the entire world. The ubiquitous immense force seemed to be crushing and flattening him inch by inch.
In the final moment before his consciousness faded, the Starving Immortal struggled to get a clear look at the figure’s face.
“It’s you?! The Moral True Immortal?!”
This was the last wisp of thought echoing from the Starving Immortal’s bones.
It was filled with immense resentment, which lingered for a long time.
…
“Finally, I’m alive again.”
“Everyone else is dead, but I’m not. It proves I was right. Hmph, Master, Junior Brother, rest in peace in the underworld.” The Starving Immortal, having crossed the Dao Erasure and endured hardships, looked at the familiar scenery of the Immortal Realm with immense joy.
However, his good mood was quickly interrupted.
“Strange, shouldn’t the Tribulation Crossing Immortal Coffin have descended into this world with me? Why isn’t it here?”
“Moreover, the Great Dao here seems to be slightly repelling me.”
“It seems I need to find a solution.”
…
“What Lian Shan Sage Lord and Gui Hai? They’re just hypocrites trying to monopolize the Mountains and Seas!”
“The Great Dao of Mountains and Seas is for everyone to attain. Today, I shall devour mountains and drink seas!”
In the shattered final moments of the world, accompanied by the roar of lightning, the Starving Immortal roared towards the sky like a madman.
“You wicked creature…”
Beside him, an elder with only half a head remaining muttered in rebuke.
“Old man! How does it feel to watch your disciples, grandchildren, and the Great Dao of this world you protected be devoured by me one by one? Hahaha!”
“You wicked creature…” The half-head did not respond, merely repeating its scolding.
“Boring!” The Starving Immortal stomped his foot, crushing the skull.
Fragments of bone, along with flesh and brain matter, instantly splattered.
But halfway through their flight, they were drawn to the Starving Immortal’s leg and adhered to it.
Then, they wriggled and disappeared into his leg.
“I just don’t believe it!”
“If I can devour the Great Dao, why should I fear these Mountains and Seas!”
The Starving Immortal looked towards the distant darkness, where the symphony of Mountains and Seas was quietly playing, his eyes bloodshot.
From now on, I will try to write during the day and avoid staying up late. My body truly cannot handle it.
As the memories of the previous Starving Immortal, or rather, the "Dao Devourer" from another possibility, flashed through Li Fan's mind, his own skeletal remains transformed into rays of light, becoming another Heavenly Pillar.
Though it only occupied half the land, it undoubtedly represented a more concentrated essence of the primordial Great Dao of [Starvation] than what Li Fan had previously obtained.
Li Fan did not uproot this Heavenly Pillar from the Immortal Ruins' grounds. Instead, he buried the half that sealed the Starving Immortal nearby. He could sense that due to their shared comprehension of the Great Dao of [Starvation], even though the cores of the two Heavenly Pillars were not the same individual, they still showed a tendency to merge.
"Unable to attain the Nameless Realm in life, yet having a chance in death. It can be considered as helping you fulfill your wish," Li Fan nodded inwardly.
After temporarily settling the two Heavenly Pillars, Li Fan began to reflect on what he had just seen. Although the previous Starving Immortal's memories were brief, there were three aspects that Li Fan found particularly noteworthy.
The first was the Dao of [Dao Devouring]. Hidden within the Great Dao of [Starvation], that imperious desire that could swallow mountains and drink seas was not Li Fan's misperception. It was precisely the manifestation of this [Dao Devouring]. The ability to completely devour an entire possibility of a Great Dao and turn it into one's own sustenance was undoubtedly an extremely terrifying existence.
"However, he was overconfident and chose the wrong opponent. Devouring a single possibility still left him with residual strength. Facing the Mountains and Seas..." Li Fan sneered.
Without witnessing the Infinite Sea and Mount Shang firsthand, it was impossible to imagine their grand and vast scale. Even the mortal world, which encompassed all possibilities, was merely a corner of the Mountains and Seas. The previous Starving Immortal paid the price for his arrogance. After drifting in the Dao Erasure for a long time, he barely managed to arrive at the [Primordial] realm to survive. However, with the three Primordial Sages present, he dared not act recklessly. He had to change his appearance, substituting [Starvation] for [Dao Devouring]. Although both paths had similarities, their power was clearly incomparable. His final fate was to be easily transformed into a pillar supporting the heavens.
The second point that Li Fan cared about was the [ Tribulation Crossing Immortal Coffin ] that allowed the Starving Immortal to drift in the Dao Erasure for so long. The Starving Immortal's remaining memories were not extensive, but he mentioned this Immortal Coffin several times. Clearly, the Starving Immortal was greatly concerned about the loss of the Tribulation Crossing Immortal Coffin. For an item that a ruthless individual like the Starving Immortal, who could destroy and devour single possibilities, cared so much about, the Tribulation Crossing Immortal Coffin must possess its own profound mysteries.
"I wonder who stole this Tribulation Crossing Immortal Coffin. Since the Immortal Realm is destroyed, if it still exists, it should be in one of the lower realm star seas."
Although he had witnessed the destruction of the [Primordial] realm firsthand, Li Fan had not yet explored all of its surviving territories. His footsteps had only been limited to the High Wall, Star Pivot, and Guang Wu realms so far. The reasons for this were twofold: firstly, the Dao Erasure obstructed travel, making it difficult to journey. Secondly, any power that could survive the destruction of the Immortal Realm was not to be trifled with. In his previous life, the great killing weapons wielded by the Guang Wu Star Sea, such as Dao Swords, Dao Sabers, and Projection Orbs of the Dao Epoch, all possessed world-destroying power. This was true for Guang Wu Star Sea and other star seas as well. Furthermore, the backdrop of the Dao Erasure meant that these star seas would be extremely hostile towards outsiders, making it no easy feat to explore all of the Primordial star seas.
Of course, the primary reason was that it was unnecessary. Li Fan's main exploration destinations in the future were to transcend the Mountains and Seas of the Primordial realm, and even to travel upstream to the Eternal Void Realm. The High Wall, Star Pivot, and Guang Wu realms held no fundamental difference for Li Fan.
As for the last point that made Li Fan extremely concerned, even greatly apprehensive, it was the Moral True Immortal. From what Li Fan could glean from the Starving Immortal's memories, this Moral True Immortal was not only exceptionally powerful but also fundamentally different from the supreme powerhouses Li Fan had encountered before. The Mound Guardian, Emperor Tai, the purple-clothed figure, the Three Sages, and others were indeed powerful, but they all possessed a certain "air of the powerful" and followed certain rules in their actions. However, this Moral True Immortal, despite his name, acted with utter disregard for morality! He habitually stood on the moral high ground to manipulate and control others. The lives of others were of no concern to him. Anything that brought him benefits was to be fiercely pursued; anything that threatened him was to be ruthlessly destroyed... Li Fan was all too familiar with this style of behavior!
Even without having met him, Li Fan had a premonition that this Moral True Immortal would undoubtedly become his great enemy in the future!
"Interesting. Let's see who is more 'moral'," the First Generation Immortal Puppet landed lightly on the ground of the Immortal Ruins. Under the surge of the Dao Devouring power, the former ruins of the Immortal Realm were instantly shattered into countless tiny particles, which were then rapidly devoured by the First Generation Immortal Puppet. The Immortal Ruins would cease to exist, leaving behind only two Heavenly Pillars, one old and one new, supporting the crumbling heavens of this place.
Using the body of the First Generation Immortal Puppet, Li Fan savored the taste of the Immortal Realm's ruins. The entire Immortal Realm was carved out of Mount Shang. Therefore, as he slowly chewed, images of vast, continuous mountain ranges appeared in Li Fan's mind.
"With this distant viewing ability, one can indeed comprehend certain 'principles of the mountains.' However, it is still far inferior to personally visiting the Mountains and Seas. Even the Mound Guardian's Dao of Sitting on the Mountain and Gazing at the Sea is far less profound." Li Fan was not surprised by this, as he had only devoured an Immortal Realm. "It's like walking towards a mountain. The more you devour, the closer you get to the mountain."
The Immortal Realm had been destroyed, leaving behind few ruins. Li Fan naturally turned his gaze towards the Immortal Realm chess pieces left behind by Sun Pianmiao. The positions of the chess pieces at the time ten thousand years ago differed slightly from those ten thousand years later, but they were all within the High Wall. During the three years of setting traps and hunting the Starving Immortal, Li Fan had already collected them all.
The members of the Medicine King Sect, who thought they had escaped the Immortal Ruins and started anew, excitedly inquired about their surroundings from the cultivators ahead, only to be horrified to discover they had returned to the Xuanhuang Realm. Fortunately, the Ten Great Sects were currently too preoccupied with the Myriad Immortals Alliance's attacks to bother with them. After some deliberation, completely unable to understand what had happened and filled with dread, the Medicine King Sect members gritted their teeth and surrendered to the Myriad Immortals Alliance. They had initially hoped that their skills in healing and treating illness would allow them to find a place anywhere. However, the characteristics of the New Law cultivators – unbroken grotto-heavens, undying divine souls, and unkillable physical bodies – rendered many of the Medicine King Sect's most profound techniques useless. Instead, some of the peculiar elixirs they had previously considered unconventional provided them with a foothold.
Li Fan did not pay much attention to these matters. Discarding the entire Medicine King Sect casually, rather than devouring them, was already a gesture of goodwill due to their past relationship.
After unfolding the Immortal Realm and devouring it entirely with the Dao Devouring method, the First Generation Immortal Puppet temporarily reached its limit. Although the vision of Mount Shang glimpsed faintly became clearer, the immense pressure from the approaching mountain ranges also descended upon the First Generation Immortal Puppet. Immortals were, in essence, creations connected to the Mountains and Seas. The boundlessness of the Sea and the imposing height of the Mountains, balanced against each other, gave rise to True Immortals. Now, with the First Generation Immortal Puppet devouring an entire Immortal Realm using the Dao Devouring method, the Mountains had subtly begun to overpower the Sea. Li Fan vaguely sensed that certain unpredictable changes were occurring within the First Generation Immortal Puppet. He could not yet determine whether these changes were for better or worse.
He decisively stopped his devouring efforts and attempted to summon the power of the Infinite Sea to counterbalance the Mountains. Amidst the roars of the sea, the intangible pressure from the vision of Mount Shang finally receded, and the First Generation Immortal Puppet reluctantly regained its ability to move.
"That feeling of being about to be swallowed by the shadows of the continuous mountains... it was very similar to the feeling I experienced when the Three Daos merged previously?" The First Generation Immortal Puppet sat cross-legged to regulate its breathing, while Li Fan savored the memory. It took a long time before he finally confirmed.
"It's just that during the merging of the Three Daos, I was about to dissipate into an unknown collection of mysterious power. The experience just now was merely the First Generation Immortal Puppet being submerged by Mount Shang..." Li Fan couldn't help but think of the Fallen Immortal Realm. In the Fallen Immortal Realm, there was only the Infinite Sea and no Mount Shang.
"If one were to cast aside all consequences and push the Dao Devouring method to its extreme, could one create a Fallen Immortal Realm opposite to it, built upon Mount Shang?" Li Fan narrowed his eyes, drawing upon his personal experience of the Three Daos merging to rapidly deduce. If one could maintain their sanity even while being engulfed by the vision of Mount Shang, they should be able to perceive this corresponding Fallen Immortal Realm. The Immortal Ruins and the chess pieces of the Immortal Ruins, all the soil of the Immortal Realm he had devoured, reappeared intact, not in their current reality, but in their original form from Mount Shang! They were scattered like stars amidst endless mountain ranges, like stellar bodies in darkness.
"By staying far from the place where the Mountains and Seas merge, one can, in a sense, also escape the tribulation of the Dao Erasure. However, the price..." Li Fan moved like a phantom, looking around. Within Mount Shang, there was profound silence. There were no sounds of the sea representing life, only towering mountain peaks.
"Absolute order and hierarchy. Life holds no meaning here." Li Fan suddenly understood why, in the Allegory of Mountains and Seas left by Sun Pianmiao, all living beings were born from the Sea. Because Mount Shang itself was in direct opposition to life.
"Even if a True Immortal can borrow the momentum of the mountains, it does not mean integrating into the mountains. They are merely standing upon them. Even the Three Sages of the Immortal Realm were like this. As for integrating into the mountains..." The shadows of the mountain ranges closed in from all directions. The scattered remnants he had devoured quickly disappeared amidst the endless mountains.
Li Fan was startled awake from his deductive illusion, a cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. It wasn't due to fear, but rather an instinctive reverence for Mount Shang that originated from life itself. And large swaths of shadow had already fallen upon the First Generation Immortal Puppet's body.
"To devour mountains and drink seas is not mere talk. It simply requires simultaneously dealing with the backlash from both mountains and seas. While devouring mountains and seas, one is also devoured by them." Li Fan understood and helped the First Generation Immortal Puppet connect to the Infinite Sea to alleviate the pressure from the mountains. It took a full six months to cleanse the shadows from the First Generation Immortal Puppet's body.
Li Fan couldn't help but sigh, "Sage Lords Gui Hai and Lian Shan are truly gifted geniuses. If even one of them were missing, the so-called Immortal Path, cultivated to its extreme, would likely have a grim outcome." "The only end would be to merge into the Mountains and Seas, assimilating with them. But it is precisely because of the two Sages' great undertaking, opening a passage between the Mountains and Seas, that a foothold for Immortals was created through their mutual checks and balances." "However, correspondingly, having a foothold within the Mountains and Seas means facing the tribulations of the Mountains and Seas themselves. The fusion of Mountains and Seas, the tribulation of Dao Erasure..."
The Great Daos of the world are but principles of Mountains and Seas. Through the Dao Devouring method, Li Fan's direct devouring of the Immortal Realm's ruins bypassed the process of enlightenment, allowing him to confront the Mountains and Seas directly. While his cultivation speed was fast, the side effects were also unbearable for ordinary individuals. It was fortunate that Li Fan had the aid of Return to Truth, allowing him to retreat unscathed from the disaster of merging Three Daos. In the face of this lower-level "submersion," he could maintain his stability.
"All things merge into the Mountains and Seas, and the Mountains and Seas merge into a higher realm. Even Longevity and Return to Truth, which are on par with Mountains and Seas, are within this assimilation sequence..." Li Fan once again thought of the legend of the Creator God. "This legend faintly reveals the ultimate truth of the Mountains and Seas. The so-called Creator God created the Mountains and Seas and all things in the mortal world. But ultimately, everything in the world will return to its origin. The mortal world fades, the Mountains and Seas merge. This is the general trend, the destiny that the beings within the Mountains and Seas must face."
In Li Fan's mind, the image that caused the Mountains and Seas to tremble appeared silently. A lone star hung high, like a divine eye, looking down. "The various True Immortals who traversed time and space, passing on the torch of stellar sparks, are they resisting such a fate?" Li Fan stood in the dark starry sky, gazing beyond the [Primordial] realm, silent.
"With my abilities, I can uncover this truth, let alone those transcendental powerhouses, even the Three Sages. Even so, they show no hesitation or dejection..." "Truly remarkable!" Li Fan praised sincerely. If there was something that guided the changes of the Mountains and Seas from above, perhaps it was the will of the vanished "Creator God." To save the mortal world and reverse the general trend of the Mountains and Seas merging was, in essence, to contend with the Creator God. It was already an incredible feat for the ants within the Mountains and Seas to raise their antennae and attempt to resist the lone star suspended outside the Mountains and Seas.
"If the sky falls, the taller ones will bear it. Since they can still hold on, let me help them last a bit longer..." Li Fan muttered, suppressing the unease in his heart. Half of Li Fan's unease came from the trepidation of glimpsing the truth of the Mountains and Seas, while the other half stemmed from distrust. Li Fan had never been someone to entrust his fate to others. Even if they were beings far superior to him, like the purple-clothed figure, the Mound Guardian, the Three Sages, and others. When it came to his own safety, Li Fan couldn't help but have doubts: "Can these people actually do it?" Until the general trend of the Mountains and Seas merging was completely reversed, this doubt would never dissipate.
"I'm afraid in the end, I'll have to personally take action to feel at ease." Li Fan's gaze was profound, as if piercing through the fractured river of time, directly reaching the source of everything.
Thank you for your concern, fellow book friends. Yesterday, the emergency examination did not reveal any serious issues. I am currently wearing a 24-hour ECG monitor and will wait for the examination results later.
When the Xuanhuang Realm was first established, it contained the supreme Dao of Alchemy within its essence. The Xuanhuang Realm's innate ability to evolve, its capacity to recreate immortal artifacts, and even its power to birth the Ink Slaughter all held an intricate connection to this inherent Dao of Alchemy.
Li Fan’s gaze swept across the Azure Nether Heaven and Earth. What appeared in his vision was no longer the ordinary scenery of mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas, but rather intricately interwoven Great Daos crisscrossing each other. This phenomenon was not unfamiliar to Li Fan; it often occurred during his past contemplations of the Dao. However, previously, the Great Daos of the Azure Nether Heaven and Earth resembled a vast, all-encompassing net. But now… all the principles of the Dao twisted and converged, ultimately transforming into a barely perceptible, seemingly present yet absent, pill!
The illusory image of the pill shattered, and Li Fan’s vision returned to normal. Yet, Li Fan knew that what he had just witnessed was no illusion, but a thread of the Xuanhuang Realm’s essence that he had captured during this particular alchemical refining of the Azure Nether.
“So, it seems Sun Piaomiao also participated in the construction of the Kōroka Dojo…” a realization dawned upon Li Fan. Sun Piaomiao, as a reincarnated True Immortal beyond transcendence, possessed an unfathomable origin. His possessions held the power to invoke Return to Truth, offering numerous mystical benefits. Take, for instance, the Tri-Branched Tree, which could enhance the charging capacity of Return to Truth and provide a substitute for death protection; or the Hanging Eyes Puppet, which offered defense against fatal blows. There was also the square alchemical stone hiding the Scripture of Dao Refining Medicine King, and the broken-winged grey bird that indicated specific time intervals within the Kōroka Dojo. All these clues underscored Sun Piaomiao’s extraordinary nature.
“It’s a pity that, aside from these, no other items could be found. This was the case even at this temporal juncture, eight thousand years ago.”
“After all, Sun Piaomiao was active in an era too distant, a glorious age of cultivation when the immortal path was not yet severed…”
“Perhaps, by traversing the River of Time backward by another ten thousand years, more related clues could be found.”
As these thoughts flashed through his mind, Li Fan’s alchemical movements did not cease. It was possible that Sun Piaomiao had left some hidden stratagem within this half-finished pill of the Xuanhuang Realm, but Li Fan, in his current state, possessed the means to counter it!
The swirling energy in the Great Heavenly Venerate Immortal Puppet’s mouth was nearing its end. The furnace fire reached its peak but lacked sustenance, about to weaken. At this critical juncture, the main body abruptly spat out a mouthful of blood, silently scattering it across various parts of the Xuanhuang Realm.
“The furnace seals the Heaven and Earth, condensing profound essence…”
“I shall refine the Azure Nether with my own blood!”
Li Fan’s vital blood transformed into countless invisible red specks, enveloping the Xuanhuang Realm and isolating it from the outside world, simultaneously consolidating it into the nascent form of a pill. This isolation not only referred to the connection between the Xuanhuang Realm and the Kōroka Dojo but also extended to the Mountains and Seas, and the Mortal World!
With Li Fan’s current strength, he could achieve this… because with this single exhalation, he had nearly drained himself of vital blood. Hidden within this vital blood was the power of the Great Dao of [Longevity]. This power, along with his vital blood, was being slowly refined and transferred into the Azure Nether Heaven and Earth!
In his previous life, Li Fan had endured the tribulation of the Convergence of Three Daos. Although protected by Return to Truth, and narrowly escaping death, the price was immense. Return to Truth fell into dormancy, and more critically, Li Fan had not entirely escaped the state of the Convergence of Three Daos. This life’s mortal body being capable of unyielding vitality, even after draining himself, was the best testament to this.
If anyone else had obtained this divine power of Longevity, they would have rejoiced endlessly. However, Li Fan, having suffered a bitter lesson once, wished nothing more than to expel it entirely! After all, the Great Dao of Longevity ultimately belonged to the Mound Guardian. Even if he gained the Mound Guardian’s acknowledgment and a portion of its divine power, he was merely a [guest]. Since there was no hope of becoming the master, Li Fan decided to discard it directly.
“As long as I have Return to Truth, even if the Great Dao of Longevity is a true Great Dao comparable to the Mountains and Seas, I will not hesitate to abandon it!”
The Great Dao of Longevity, left by the Mound Guardian, was truly one of the most magnificent creations in the Mountains and Seas, and the Mortal World. Even though Li Fan, having experienced the Convergence of Three Daos, only had residual marks within him, he still possessed unimaginable divine abilities.
Li Fan’s vital blood had been completely drained at this moment, yet he felt no discomfort whatsoever. In the time it took to merely inhale and exhale, vital blood filled with life and power regenerated from all parts of his body. Perhaps this complete expulsion and subsequent regeneration had truly stimulated the remaining power of Longevity within Li Fan. The newly generated vital blood surged within him, emitting sounds akin to dragon roars and tiger howls, exhibiting a grandeur that far surpassed its origin. After expelling his vital blood and refining the Azure Nether, Li Fan not only felt no decline in vitality but instead felt as if he had enjoyed a deep sleep and consumed copious amounts of tonics, becoming even more robust and vigorous.
“This is Longevity…”
Feeling the latent vitality within him, vast as an endless ocean, Li Fan could not help but let out a cold hmph. This Great Dao of Longevity, he had attained it in a single moment, yet expelling it had become incredibly difficult.
“The Convergence of Three Daos was a misfortune, not a blessing, for me.”
“Through the alchemical refining of the Azure Nether, I may not be able to completely remove it, but I can minimize its influence to the greatest extent possible!”
Li Fan had long wished to resolve the hidden danger of the Convergence of Three Daos. It was only after prolonged contemplation that he devised this method to achieve two objectives with a single action. Without further hesitation, he actively stimulated his body, his vital blood erupting outward once more, scattering across the Xuanhuang Realm.
The vital blood, generated by the power of Longevity, was even more beneficial to the Xuanhuang Realm than the vitality of the Star Sea or the power of immortal spirits. After absorbing it, the entire world’s strength increased almost exponentially.
As Li Fan sprayed his vital blood, he precisely manipulated the alchemical art. “My vital blood surpasses all heavenly treasures in the world, sufficient to thoroughly solidify the foundation of the Xuanhuang Realm.”
“As expected of the Great Dao of Longevity, on par with the Mountains and Seas,” Li Fan praised inwardly. After expelling his vital blood and condensing the pill, he repeated the process. After three repetitions, the Xuanhuang Realm’s strength surpassed that of the Ascended Immortal Realm in his previous life. After five repetitions, it far exceeded the Primordial Immortal Realm of his past life. However, Li Fan sensed that his extraction of the Great Dao of Longevity from within him had only just begun. Yet, as the Xuanhuang Realm gradually expanded, the power of Longevity within Li Fan also decreased, albeit subtly but steadily. Li Fan, therefore, had ample patience. “It’s merely a matter of persistent effort.”
With the Great Heavenly Venerate providing protection, Li Fan sat cross-legged above the Xuanhuang Realm. With each breath, he exhaled wisps of blood mist, nourishing the Azure Nether. In this manner, a century quietly passed. The Azure Nether Immortal Pill had not yet fully formed, and all transformations were condensing within the pill’s core, not yet manifesting formally within the Xuanhuang Realm. In the world, only a handful of living beings could vaguely perceive the world’s changes, but even with their wildest imaginations, they could not truly glimpse the future of the Xuanhuang Realm.
At the Myriad Immortals Alliance headquarters, Transmit’s Dharma looked up at the sky, his heart in turmoil. A hundred years ago, he had learned of his ancestor, Heavenly Mysteries King’s, affairs from [Grandfather Ancestor] and inherited the Supreme Dao Scripture. He had intended to sweep through the Myriad Immortal Sects with this power to avenge past grievances. However, he had not anticipated that the war would drag on for a century. Although the Myriad Immortal Sects repeatedly suffered setbacks, they had not been completely defeated. This had caused the usually steady Xuanyuan Tuo to become increasingly impatient.
“If I cannot even clear out this mere Xuanhuang Realm, how can I follow in my ancestor’s footsteps?” Xuanyuan Tuo sighed. Theoretically, having inherited the legacy of Heavenly Mysteries King Xuan Yin and aided by the Supreme Dao Scripture, his strength and divine abilities should have far surpassed the mundane world. The Myriad Immortal Sects should have been utterly defeated. Indeed, it was so at first. Wherever the Myriad Immortals Alliance advanced, the Myriad Immortal Sects fled at the mere rumor, abandoning almost all of their outer territories and retreating into their own sect headquarters and a few crucial Grotto-heavens. At that time, it seemed as though only one step remained to annihilate the Myriad Immortal Sects and unify the Xuanhuang Realm. But suddenly, the situation shifted one day. The Myriad Immortal Sects, as if they had undergone a fundamental change overnight, launched a fierce counterattack against the Myriad Immortals Alliance. As if they had been holding back for a long time, the killing intent of all the disciples of the Myriad Immortal Sects was astonishingly strong. The seemingly feeble rabbits, who were once thought to have no power to resist, instantly transformed into man-eating tigers. Caught off guard, the Myriad Immortals Alliance suffered heavy losses. In just one month, they lost all the accumulated victories of the past few years. They had only managed to hold on thanks to the incredibly resilient vitality of the New Law cultivators. Xuanyuan Tuo was utterly baffled by the Myriad Immortal Sects’ peculiar shift in attitude. What troubled him even more was his prolonged struggle to take the final step in the New Law. Without attaining Longevity, despite possessing profound techniques and divine abilities, he remained merely a Dao Integration cultivator. He could fight ten, but not a hundred. The Myriad Immortal Sects possessed deep foundations, and he alone lacked the power to suppress them.
Xuanyuan Tuo gazed at the Xuanhuang Realm’s sky: “To defy the principles of Heaven and Earth, to prove Longevity.”
“With the sheer number of peak New Law cultivators in the Myriad Immortals Alliance, I should have attained Longevity long ago, but I have consistently failed.”
“I originally believed that some unseen force was obstructing my path to Dao.”
“But after a hundred years of contemplation, I finally understood. It is not that my New Law deductions are flawed, but that the Azure Nether Heaven and Earth itself is continuously growing stronger. Moreover, its rate of growth far surpasses that of all New Law cultivators combined.”
“Although all cultivators can devour heaven and earth with my techniques, the speed at which they devour is far outpaced by the speed at which the world grows. Even if the number of New Law cultivators were to increase tenfold, it would be but a drop in the bucket.”
A hint of dread flashed in Xuanyuan Tuo’s eyes: “What exactly is happening…” This situation far exceeded his comprehension. After much hesitation, Xuanyuan Tuo ultimately abandoned the idea of seeking help from [Grandfather Ancestor] once more. He gritted his teeth, thinking: “It is not yet a desperate situation. There must be another way!”
“Since Heaven and Earth have changed, the New Law must also change!” As if returning to the day he first grasped the New Law, Xuanyuan Tuo sat down once more, a sense of inspiration filling him.
While Xuanyuan Tuo was lost in his confusion, the members of the Myriad Immortal Sects were in a similar predicament.
“Brother Xingji, what is the verdict? Eldest Mother [Stone Mother] has been deducing for so long, has there been any result?” Fang Dingge, the Sect Master of the Great Dao Sect, revealed an uncharacteristic and barely concealed urgency in his tone. Even when surrounded and besieged on the Primordial Battlefield, he had never appeared so distraught.
Xingji Daoist sighed, remaining silent for a long time before speaking in a low voice: “Our Grand Origin Sect has possessed the Dao-Melting Stone Mother for nearly ten thousand years, yet we have never encountered such a bizarre situation.” “The Stone Mother’s computational power is nearly exhausted. Even by overdrawing itself, it cannot deduce a situation that aligns with reality.”
Upon hearing this, a deathly silence fell upon the gathering.
“Bizarre, truly bizarre.”
“We initially thought the return of Heavenly Mysteries King was just a false alarm, but who would have expected such strange occurrences over the past century.”
“The If Wood has gone out of control, the positions of Longevity are no more, the Star Paths of the Primordial Realm have been inexplicably severed, and the Xuanhuang Realm is in a state of isolation.”
“More crucially…” The senior disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect, Situ Yao, raised his wine gourd to his lips but dejectedly put it down, as if the vintage no longer held its former sweetness. Fang Dingge continued: “As cultivators, our understanding and control over the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth are weakening. If it were just one person, we could dismiss it as an illusion. But you and I are both experiencing this…” The individuals present exchanged glances, seeing the heavy burden in each other’s eyes.
“If the situation continues to deteriorate, I fear that one day, we may not even be able to fly through the air,” exclaimed Xia Houyan, the Master of the Prison of Uncertainty, astonishing everyone.
“Surely it wouldn’t reach such a dire state?” The members of the Ten Sects exchanged uneasy glances, then felt an uncontrollable sense of frustration. Compared to this, the problems faced by the Myriad Immortals Alliance seemed insignificant.
“Fortunately, before the Azure Nether True Immortal achieved Dao, he left behind many improved cultivation techniques for the Ten Sects. Using these as a reference, we have been able to slow down our loss of control over the Great Dao,” said Jiang Yingyue of the Supreme Sect. Her words brought a sense of relief to everyone, and they all reminisced about that figure who had once stood firm on the Primordial Battlefield.
…
As if sensing the countless intentions lingering around him within the Azure Nether Heaven and Earth, Li Fan, who had been meditating and refining pills for a century, finally opened his eyes on this day. In his vision, the illusory pill shadow that had appeared faintly outside the Xuanhuang Realm was now as solid as substance. Although it had condensed from countless mouthfuls of vital blood expelled by Li Fan, it carried no trace of bloodiness, merely exhibiting a crystalline, warm, and incomparably pure white radiance. Li Fan felt an immense familiarity emanating from this radiance, along with a convergence of unimaginably vast vitality. Even Li Fan himself was momentarily lost in a daze.
“I never expected that the seemingly remaining power of the Great Dao of Longevity within me would be so potent.”
“I repeatedly drained and expelled it with every breath, repeating the process for a full century!”
Amidst his astonishment, Li Fan finally gained a concrete, quantifiable understanding of the power of the Mound Guardian and the Great Dao of Longevity.
“Fortunately, after a century of diligent effort,”
“The hidden danger of the Convergence of Three Daos has now been temporarily resolved.”
Having lost the resonance of the Convergence of Three Daos, Li Fan’s sensitivity to the boundless immortal power of the Mountains and Seas and the True-False Transformation of Return to Truth had decreased by more than half. In his own performance, Li Fan discovered that his comprehension in all aspects had significantly diminished, as if he had transformed overnight from an exceptionally intelligent individual to someone dull. Although unaccustomed to this, Li Fan had no regrets.
“The Mountains and Seas are boundless, and I am the boat.”
“Although the Great Dao of Longevity is desirable, it ultimately belongs to another. Unless I can become the master, I have no need for it.” Li Fan’s expression was indifferent, his heart unshaken by the loss of the Great Dao of Longevity.
With the essence and blood, imbued with the power of longevity, nurtured for a century, the Xuanhuang Realm's inner vitality had reached an unbelievable state. However, before the elixir was fully formed, all this vitality remained dormant.
Within the Azure Nether Heaven and Earth, perhaps a few living beings could sense the changes occurring in the world. But only Li Fan, the alchemist, could truly comprehend the power condensed within the Azure Nether Elixir before him.
"They say all living beings are born of Heaven and Earth, nurtured by them, with Heaven and Earth as their parents. Your growth to this point is entirely due to my essence and blood."
"In a sense, it is I who nurtured Heaven and Earth."
Li Fan, sensing the humble and fawning consciousness of the Xuanhuang Realm's Heavenly Dao, smiled as he spoke.
Compared to the past, the Xuanhuang Realm's current subservience lacked deliberate artifice. It stemmed from the heart, from instinct, like a hungry infant begging its parents for milk.
For the Azure Nether Heavenly Dao knew all too well that while the Azure Nether Heaven and Earth contained immense vitality, it could only erupt and be truly absorbed by the world at Li Fan's command.
A full century, to only observe and not consume, had almost driven the Azure Nether Heavenly Dao mad.
Now, Li Fan had given his assent, showing signs of beginning the final step of alchemy. How could the Azure Nether Heavenly Dao dare to disobey his words?
It directly acknowledged Li Fan's jesting remark.
At that very instant, Li Fan vaguely sensed a new, indefinable relationship forming between himself and the Xuanhuang Realm.
"Since I nurtured Heaven and Earth, I am their parent."
"The bond has been forged..."
"Elixir... Commence!"
Li Fan pointed into the void. In an instant, the entire Azure Nether Heaven and Earth seemed to fall into absolute stillness.
The fleeting breeze through the plants, the humble ants and mortals, the Foundation Establishment cultivators and Longevity realm experts.
Even the mountains, rivers, lakes, seas, and the primal Spirit Qi of the earth.
All were frozen.
In Li Fan's eyes, the spectral cauldron that had circled the Xuanhuang Realm for a hundred years shattered with a roar. The soft, pearly white light that had enveloped the Azure Nether Elixir simultaneously erupted.
Moments later, it retracted back into the Azure Nether Heaven and Earth.
In this world of absolute stillness, the If Wood, originally on the verge of withering, was the first to thaw. As a new green leaf unfurled from its branches, the If Wood began to grow at an accelerated rate, a thousand, ten thousand times faster.
As if a time-acceleration button had been pressed upon it, this ancient tree, which already touched the heavens, tore through the firmament and pushed back the sky.
It ascended endlessly upwards.
The Xuanhuang Realm did not become unstable due to the torn sky, for Heaven and Earth were also growing in tandem at this moment.
The power of longevity, accumulated over a hundred years, finally permeated every corner of the world. In a single breath, the Xuanhuang Realm's scale expanded to encompass the entire Abyssal Star Sea.
If not for Li Fan's intentional control, forcibly halting the Xuanhuang Realm's brutal growth, the Azure Nether Immortal Realm might have violently collided with the five spectral guardians of the Mounds of Remembrance in the next moment.
To the other regions within the Abyssal Star Sea, the emergence of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm was incredibly bizarre. It brutally fused everything that was originally in the star-filled sky into the Azure Nether Heaven and Earth.
It was less of a cover and more of a devouring.
Everything in the original starry sky quietly appeared within the Xuanhuang Realm, leading to various strange phenomena that defied all logic.
For instance, the continuous Great Wall of Broken Realms, like patches of dark clouds, floated above the borders of the Xuanhuang Realm. And the countless remnants of various realms gathered in the Sea of Remnants beyond the Great Wall of Broken Realms were all swept up into the sky by an inexplicable force. Then, accompanied by the flow of energy, they drifted towards various parts of the Xuanhuang Realm, eventually falling like rain.
The nascent consciousness of the Star Sea, originally located in the center of the Abyssal Star Sea, was utterly bewildered.
Upon suddenly realizing its body had changed masters, after a moment of bewilderment, it instinctively tried to struggle fiercely.
However, the Azure Nether Heavenly Dao, unfazed, swallowed it whole.
The Star Sea consciousness, without any power to resist, vanished completely.
For the original Xuanhuang Realm, the consciousness of the Abyssal Star Sea was a vast entity, unreachable and unattainable. But now, it was merely equivalent to a candy that could barely satisfy a craving.
Although its size and scope were no longer expanding, the changes within the Xuanhuang Realm had far from stopped.
As the heavens grew higher and the earth receded, everything within the world underwent a qualitative transformation.
Li Fan sat cross-legged in the air, quietly observing everything below.
...
Xuan Yuan Tuo, who was in the midst of enlightenment, suddenly awoke.
He looked around with a bewildered expression.
No outsiders had intruded to disturb him, and his location had not changed.
Yet, Xuan Yuan Tuo felt that...
The world seemed to have become somewhat different.
With a mixture of suspicion and uncertainty, Xuan Yuan Tuo instinctively tried to use his divine sense to investigate further. After a moment, his expression drastically changed.
Because when his divine sense left his body, it could no longer advance an inch.
It was as if the air was filled with incredibly hard, invisible obstacles, preventing his divine sense from moving forward.
"What's happening? What could this be?" A sense of foreboding arose in Xuan Yuan Tuo's heart.
He attempted to ascend, to explore his surroundings and discover the truth.
What happened next shocked him even more.
As someone at the peak of the Dao Integration realm, he was actually unable to fly up!
"Have I lost all my cultivation?"
The Doctrine Transmitter instinctively began to channel the power of the Heaven and Earth Essence, the Golden Arbiter, within his body.
But the more he tried, the more it felt like he was crashing into solid rock, stars flashing before his eyes and his divine soul rippling.
"How could this be?" For the first time, the Doctrine Transmitter truly panicked.
Though the Heaven and Earth Essence, the Golden Arbiter, was still present, he could no longer utilize it!
If the previous Heaven and Earth Essence, the Golden Arbiter, was like an easy-to-wield iron rod, then now it was like a colossal heavenly pillar, so tall he couldn't see the top, so vast in the distance he couldn't see the end.
Simply witnessing it sent uncontrollable shivers down his spine, let alone attempting to lift or wield it.
Even Xuan Yuan Tuo, who prided himself on his vast knowledge, took half a day to recover and accept this unbelievable reality.
Within his understanding, he could not fathom the cause of this sudden change. But he vaguely sensed that the colossal Heaven and Earth Essence within him seemed to be sealed by some power.
Although he couldn't use it, the other party also couldn't harm him.
But...
The seal was not permanent.
Instead, it was weakening with the passage of time.
"If I cannot gain the power to control it by the time the seal disappears..."
Xuan Yuan Tuo's expression turned ashen.
Before his eyes, he seemed to see a scene of this colossal heavenly pillar collapsing and crushing him.
The very foundation of his cultivation had now become a deadly blade that could end his life at any moment. This immense contrast left Xuan Yuan Tuo momentarily unable to accept it.
However, soon, the Doctrine Transmitter seemed to realize something and murmured, "Is it that I have become weaker, or..."
It had been a long time since he had walked on solid ground like a mortal. With a somewhat awkward gait, he slowly pushed open the door of his secluded cultivation place.
Whether it was his imagination or not, even this door seemed more difficult to open than before.
The grand door swung open, revealing the scene of a brand new world to the Doctrine Transmitter.
The Doctrine Transmitter Immortal Venerable of the Myriad Immortals Alliance stood frozen like a statue.
Heaven and Earth had changed.
...
The Doctrine Transmitter's reaction was considered the best among the Azure Nether beings.
When Heaven and Earth returned from their stillness, facing such a sudden and drastic change, the vast majority of living beings found it difficult to adapt.
A large number of cultivators who had been fleeing through the air plummeted to the ground.
The great formations of various sects had all lost their efficacy.
It was as if Heaven and Earth had been reopened, and everything in the world had been completely reshuffled.
After a long time, the Azure Nether cultivators gradually grew accustomed to this brand-new world.
Both the Old Law and New Law cultivators had their own advantages and disadvantages.
For Old Law cultivators, their past comprehension of Heaven and Earth had become useless. Whether it was Dao Integration or Longevity, their past realms had turned into bubbles. They were now like weak mortals, needing to start anew.
As for the New Law cultivators, although the Heavenly and Earthly Marvels and Grotto-heavens they had devoured were still present, they had undergone drastic changes along with Heaven and Earth. These became powers that they were currently unable to wield at all. They also had to start from scratch, slowly re-mastering them. Moreover, if the sealing power within their bodies disappeared before they had grown strong enough, they would be literally blown apart by their own cultivation.
And as the Xuanhuang Realm's overall scope expanded, the cultivators who could previously contact each other easily found their communication severed.
Besides the fact that their distances were too great and most of their flight and communication methods had failed, the most fundamental reason was the various strange creatures that appeared on the Azure Nether land, blocking their paths.
These strange creatures did not exist in the Xuanhuang Realm before; they had only emerged with the upheaval of Heaven and Earth. They were manifestations of the Xuanhuang Realm's Heavenly and Earthly powers, possessing their own sentience.
To the cultivators who had lost their methods, these were beings that were completely unconquerable.
Fortunately, there seemed to be some mysterious rules restricting these strange creatures, and they only moved within a fixed range. This prevented a situation where all Azure Nether cultivators were wiped out by them.
However, the cultivators also keenly observed that these strange creatures were slowly expanding their territories. It was likely that in the near future, a battle would inevitably occur between the cultivators and these ubiquitous creatures.
Under the threat to their very existence, both Old Law and New Law cultivators felt a heavy pressure in their hearts.
...
"The Azure Nether Immortal Realm does not nurture idlers."
"Giving you a hundred years to adapt is already a benevolent act from Great Master!"
The one who snorted these words was not Li Fan.
But a young girl serving by Li Fan's side.
It was the materialized consciousness of the Azure Nether Heavenly Dao!
The moment the elixir was formed, spurred by the power of the Great Dao of Longevity, the Xuanhuang Realm's Heavenly Dao consciousness was finally able to manifest its own physical form.
Her face was flawless, with not a single blemish.
However, there was an almost disharmonious sharpness in her eyebrows and tone.
"You must not be idle either."
"As Heaven and Earth are newly created, you need to oversee all places and continuously transform them," Li Fan said casually.
The young girl's expression instantly shifted, and she quickly lowered her head, replying, "Your command will be obeyed, Great Master."
Originally, the Azure Nether Heavenly Dao called Li Fan "Holy Father." However, Li Fan found the title awkward, so he had her change it.
"Indeed, it is easier to change mountains and rivers than a person's true nature."
After sending off the Azure Nether Heavenly Dao, Li Fan's gaze turned towards a certain location underground in the current Xuanhuang Realm.
It was the original location of the Source Dao Province.
Where the source of the Ink Slaughter power resided.
As the Xuanhuang Realm received nourishment from the power of the Great Dao of Longevity, everything connected to Heaven and Earth underwent transformation.
The source of the Heaven and Earth Essence, Ink Slaughter, was no exception.
However, compared to the Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul that Li Fan had manifested when he elevated the Xuanhuang Realm,
This Xuanhuang Realm's "Ink Slaughter" also had its own unique changes.
Li Fan took a step forward and arrived beside the shadow of Ink Slaughter.
Because of Li Fan's special identity as the Father of Azure Nether, Ink Slaughter did not attack him.
However, it still maintained a faint hostility.
Li Fan, unfazed, reached out and beckoned a mass of dark clouds towards him.
As the primary driving force behind the Xuanhuang Realm's transformation, Li Fan, who possessed the Sitting Heaven Art, was the greatest beneficiary of this world-altering event.
However, out of consideration for the Mountains and Seas, Li Fan had still not taken the step towards "becoming an immortal" in the true sense.
But the incredibly immense feedback power was enough for him to disregard the threat of the Ink Slaughter before him.
With a slight application of force, he easily subdued the restless Ink Slaughter.
Li Fan narrowed his eyes, sensing the difference between it and the Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul.
"The Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul is the power of the fusion of Mountains and Seas."
"Whereas this Ink Slaughter possesses more of the Great Dao of Longevity, and the momentum of the fusion of Mountains and Seas has diminished."
"Its destructive power to annihilate everything has weakened slightly, but in return..."
Li Fan, holding a ball of dark clouds, ascended to the sky above the Xuanhuang Realm.
The four heavenly pillars that had previously stood in the Abyssal Star Sea now stood here.
With the Azure Nether Immortal Realm as an incredibly solid foundation, even if these heavenly pillars had minor flaws, they were sufficiently capable of resisting the Dao Erasure Tribulation.
However, they were still some distance from the Eternal Immortal Boat that Li Fan envisioned as eternally indestructible.
This was merely the end of the first phase of the renovation project.
Li Fan was not in a hurry to begin the next phase.
It would be when the Xuanhuang Realm's life forms had barely caught up with the world's transformation, a century later, that the second phase of the renovation project would commence.
With a thought, the four heavenly pillars emitted groaning sounds.
A portion of their power was forcibly extracted by Li Fan for experimentation.
Four spectral pillar projections separated from their original positions, merging in the center to form a pitch-black broken pillar.
Then, Li Fan threw the controlled Ink Slaughter dark clouds towards the broken pillar.
As if sensing a tempting delicacy, the Ink Slaughter dark clouds, like a runaway wild dog, ferociously attacked the broken pillar.
Innumerable dense, black ink dots, like wriggling worms, continuously attempted to devour the Dao principles condensed within the broken pillar.
Even the result of the Nameless Immortal's enlightenment, this seemingly solid fused pillar, was no match for the Ink Slaughter dark clouds.
Without much effort, half of it was devoured.
However, just as the Ink Slaughter dark clouds were eagerly consuming it, Li Fan grasped it with his hand.
Then, he commanded the Ink Slaughter dark clouds to spit out the "food" it had devoured.
It was difficult to give up food that was already in one's mouth,
Especially after it had been devoured and digested?
The Ink Slaughter dark clouds were unwilling.
In an instant, it went berserk and attempted to attack Li Fan.
Li Fan chuckled, extending his left hand. Countless overlapping phantoms of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm appeared.
After all, the Ink Slaughter dark clouds were born from the Xuanhuang Realm.
The Xuanhuang Realm was its parent, possessing a natural restraining power over it.
And now, in Li Fan's hand, there were thousands upon thousands of its parents!
As if encountering an ultimate natural predator, the dark mist of Ink Slaughtered Heaven shook violently, attempting to distance itself from the myriad Azure Nether Immortal Realm projections in Li Fan's hand.
But Li Fan gripped them tightly, preventing any escape. What Li Fan held were no mere illusions. They were the genuine power of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, formed by the feedback loop of the Sitting on Heaven Art. Though currently ethereal, they could solidify in an instant. With countless layers of restraining forces, the Ink Slaughtered Heaven mist, no matter how unique, was completely subdued.
As the black mist churned, it actually "spat out" the fused Heaven Pillar that it had previously devoured! Li Fan carefully sensed the principles of the Dao contained within, finding no difference from before it was devoured.
"Originally, Ink Slaughtered Heaven possessed destructive power capable of annihilating almost everything, but the process of destruction was irreversible. It was simply impossible to achieve such free conversion."
"Influenced by the Great Dao of Longevity, Ink Slaughtered Heaven is now more suitable for forging the Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice."
With a flick of his finger, Li Fan restored the four Great Heaven Pillars. He did not directly devour the source of the Ink Slaughtered Heaven mist in the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, but instead returned it. Through the connection with the Xuanhuang Realm, he began to meticulously comprehend the transformed Ink Slaughtered Heaven mist.
Concurrently, within Li Fan's body, amidst the countless Azure Nether projections, dots of ink began to appear simultaneously. This was Li Fan employing the Art of True-Becomes-False, directly remodeling and refining the numerous illusory Azure Nether Immortal Realms, making them infinitely close to the true Azure Nether Immortal Realm. This process generated the inexhaustible Ink Slaughtered Heaven mist he needed.
As one of the final salvific answers provided by the Immortal Realm's experimental grounds, Ink Slaughtered Heaven possessed peculiar characteristics. In a sense, it was a creation born from the desire of worldly beings to simulate the merging of mountains and seas using materials from the mortal world.
If the tribulation of Dao Erasure was a tide that engulfed everything, then Ink Slaughtered Heaven was a man-made, controllable wave. Whether used to resist the tide of Dao Erasure or to merge with it, it offered refuge from disaster. In terms of its standing, Ink Slaughtered Heaven, representing the power of merging mountains and seas, even surpassed the Nameless True Immortals of the mortal world. And upon the foundation of mountains and seas, it also incorporated the Great Dao of Longevity…
"Perhaps due to the special attribute of the fusion of these two Daos, each time the Ink Slaughtered Heaven mist completes a cycle of devouring and transformation, it is equivalent to a cultivator experiencing an epiphany."
"Although it hasn't been completely analyzed yet, with a few more repetitions…". Li Fan narrowed his eyes, gazing at the expanding mist in his palm, absorbing the detailed comprehension of the four Great Heaven Pillars' principles that it had just devoured and expelled.
"In my previous life, to decipher the divine abilities within the Projection Orb of the Dao Epoch, Ancestor and I collaborated, using all the living beings in the High Wall - Star Sea of the North as a foundation to perform the 'Dao Returning Plan.' We allowed the countless prodigies and beings in this star sea to understand the Dao on our behalf."
"Compared to my solitary contemplation, the efficiency was tens of thousands of times greater. But now… If I can master this new power of Ink Slaughtered Heaven, I won't need the assistance of these myriad beings anymore. Wherever the Ink Slaughtered Heaven mist passes, the Three Thousand Great Daos will naturally reveal themselves!" Li Fan's eyes gleamed as he contemplated further possibilities.
"This is only the fusion of two Daos. If a third were added…" This was merely a fleeting thought. As soon as the idea emerged, Li Fan actively suppressed it. He had not yet fully controlled the Ink Slaughtered Heaven mist with two merged Daos; adding another would only introduce unnecessary risks of losing control.
"Although I have voluntarily withdrawn from the state of three Dao fusion, it does not mean I will abandon it."
"Moreover, I have only temporarily suppressed the hidden danger. In the near future, I will inevitably have to confront this issue again."
"Using Ink Slaughtered Heaven to pave the way is an excellent method for probing."
The overlapping Azure Nether projections in his hand slowly vanished, but the myriad thoughts in Li Fan's mind did not cease. "The fundamental difference between me personally intervening and the Ink Slaughtered Heaven experiment is that Ink Slaughtered Heaven did not truly participate in the merging process of the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas. It merely 'imitated' it based on its own characteristics."
"Although I'm still unclear how the Immortals of the Immortal Realm in the past discovered such a peculiar prototype for Ink Slaughtered Heaven, it doesn't prevent me from utilizing it."
In fact, Li Fan already had a vague guess about the origin of the Ink Slaughtered Heaven prototype. "Either it possesses a standing equivalent to the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas, Return to Truth, and Longevity, or it's the remnant of an unparalleled expert who comprehended the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas. Based on the characteristics Ink Slaughtered Heaven has consistently displayed, I lean towards the latter."
"If 'Return to Truth' were still here, perhaps I could have used the 'Dao Concealment' state while activating Return to Truth to glimpse its reality."
"What a pity." Li Fan sighed inwardly. The Dao Concealment state refers to the period when Return to Truth is activated, within the black and white range surrounding Li Fan. Apart from Li Fan, all other things exist in a superimposed state of 'both true and false.' Li Fan could experience profound insights within a limited timeframe. In the past, Li Fan had seen the figure of a Nameless True Immortal within the core of a Heavenly and Earthly Essence.
Although Ink Slaughtered Heaven was incredibly mysterious, Li Fan was confident that it would still be within the scope of Return to Truth's comprehension. If Li Fan still possessed Return to Truth, deciphering it would be twice as effective with half the effort.
"Oh, Return to Truth, Return to Truth, I wonder when you will be restored." Li Fan couldn't help but think. In the time he had spent in the past, over eight thousand years before the initial anchor point, Li Fan had occasionally fantasized that perhaps this was Return to Truth's way of solving his dependence on it, or a trial to make him truly walk his own path of crossing realms.
However, after each fanciful thought, Li Fan would inevitably offer a wry smile. Where were there so many fortunate occurrences in the world? Return to Truth had likely been damaged and fallen into a deep slumber amidst the fusion of three Daos.
"I just don't know if there's a way to accelerate its awakening, besides waiting for it to gradually recover." The things that had once aroused Return to Truth's desire to devour included not only the Eternal Residual Wills but also the peculiar relics left by Sun Piao Miao. And Return to Truth's craving for Eternal Residual Wills far surpassed its desire for Sun Piao Miao's relics.
"Within the Abyssal Star Sea, Return to Truth has already consumed all existing Eternal Residual Wills and even their seeds. Furthermore, nurturing and generating Eternal Residual Wills is not something that can be achieved in a single lifetime. It cannot be forced."
"Actually, outside the Abyssal Star Sea, there is a ready-made feast right now." Li Fan thought this, glancing past the The Great Barrier, through the Star Sea of the North, towards the depths of the star sea, to where the Guang Wu Star Sea was located.
"There is a remnant of a Transcended expert in the Guang Wu Star Sea. That remnant still retains its transcendent path from its life: a solitary sail on the sea of mountains and seas…" Eternal Residual Wills are essentially the nascent forms of transcendent paths. In his previous life, with the assistance of Purple Clothed and Ancestor, Li Fan had the fortune to clearly see this solitary sail on the sea of mountains and seas, and he had faintly sensed Return to Truth's tremor. However, at that time, Purple Clothed was still present, and Return to Truth maintained considerable restraint.
"After the matters in the Star Sea of the North are concluded, I might as well retrieve that remnant of the Transcended expert. However, in my previous life, Purple Clothed paved the way with the Great Dao of Heaven-Piercing; relying solely on myself in this life might prove somewhat difficult." The strength of the Guang Wu Star Sea should not be underestimated. Not to mention the several hundred True Immortals, the Projection Orb of the Dao Epoch alone is something the current Li Fan cannot possibly resist alone.
"However, if the Azure Nether Immortal Realm is successfully established, it may not be entirely without a chance to fight." Li Fan temporarily suppressed this thought, refocusing his attention on building the Azure Nether Immortal Realm. The new Ink Slaughtered Heaven mist also required a considerable amount of time for gradual nurturing. Li Fan did not idly stand by. His divine sense swept across the entire Azure Nether Immortal Realm, instantly locating his target. At this temporal juncture, over eight thousand years ago, besides the Xuanhuang Realm, there were still other immortal cultivation realms surviving in the Abyssal Star Sea. However, as the Xuanhuang Realm elevated and expanded, all these immortal cultivation realms were devoured and merged into the Azure Nether Immortal Realm.
Li Fan did not pay much attention to the beings of these fortunate, newly incorporated worlds. However, certain discoveries within the Azure Nether Immortal Realm resolved some long-standing doubts of Li Fan. His figure flashed, and Li Fan appeared in a deep, secluded canyon. The canyon was bottomless, shrouded in mist, and strange sounds occasionally echoed. Below the canyon, Li Fan saw cultivators from the Heavenly Law Realm, such as Qin Tang, Supreme One, and Han Hai. They had arrived in this newly formed canyon, accompanied by the engulfment of the Heavenly Law Realm.
Their plight was even more dire than that of the Azure Nether cultivators. The Heavenly Venerates who acted on behalf of Heaven's Law, such as Heavenly Sound, Heavenly Judgment, and Heavenly Oracle, had completely lost all authority, becoming no different from mortals. They could only start again from the beginning, like cultivators of other realms. And they themselves were deeply integrated with the Heavenly Law Dao path; how could it be easy to break free from their original constraints and forge a new path? Their rate of progress was even slower than that of ordinary people.
"However, if they could comprehend the corresponding Dao paths within the Azure Nether Immortal Realm…" "They could ascend to heaven in a single step." Li Fan felt no pity that led him to offer excessive care to these old acquaintances. In his view, whether it was the Xuanhuang Realm, the Heavenly Law Realm, or any other immortal cultivation realm, all beings were essentially indistinguishable in his eyes.
If there was any difference… Li Fan, undetected, arrived within a sacrificial altar in the Heavenly Law Realm. Li Fan could faintly sense the aura of the Heavenly Law Realm's Venerates that had once gathered here. And beneath this altar, a body still lay dormant. It was the Heavenly Physician! It was identical to the white-haired, compassionate appearance Li Fan had seen before. Li Fan examined it carefully: "The consciousness is completely dormant, like an empty shell. But its life force remains. This is because the Art of Heavenly Soul Rebirth was activated, and its consciousness was projected into Xuanyuan Tuo, who had infiltrated the Xuanhuang Realm in a latent state."
"The life force of this body is maintained by the combined efforts of the Heavenly Law Realm's Venerates. It will only be forcibly awakened under certain extreme circumstances, such as the fall of the Venerates or the destruction of the Heavenly Law Realm!"
"So, the Heavenly Physician I saw in the illusion within the Cloud Water Sky was this dormant body. It's no wonder that the Heavenly Physician's consciousness, anchored to Xuanyuan Tuo, could perceive the tragedy in the distant Heavenly Law Realm." Li Fan nodded slightly, his doubts dispelled. Li Fan had previously seen a scene in Han Hai's memories within the Cloud Water Heavenly Palace, where after the Cloud Water Heavenly Palace was "slaughtered" by the "Heavenly Physician," another Heavenly Physician rushed to the scene. Later, Li Fan learned that the Heavenly Physician who slaughtered the Heavenly Law Realm was actually Su Bai, manipulated by an extraneous will from another possibility. But the subsequent Heavenly Physician had inexplicably appeared in the Heavenly Law Realm. This was because, based on the timeline, the Heavenly Physician should have still been trapped within the body of the Doctrine Transmitter of the Xuanhuang Realm at this time and should not have existed in the Heavenly Law Realm.
"This makes sense now." "Only a branch soul of the Heavenly Physician was reincarnated; the Heavenly Law Realm still possessed the Heavenly Physician's physical body. When the Heavenly Law Realm's Venerates were all slaughtered by the evil Su Bai, the body was forced to awaken, hence it witnessed the tragic scene in the Heavenly Law Realm." "It was precisely for this reason that the Heavenly Physician's consciousness in the Azure Nether Immortal Realm learned of the tragedy in the Heavenly Law Realm. Disregarding all consequences, it forcibly seized control of the Doctrine Transmitter's body to return to the Heavenly Law Realm."
"Upon returning to the Heavenly Law Realm, the Heavenly Physician's consciousness returned to its own body and reverted to the familiar appearance I know. Although his homeland was destroyed, the Heavenly Physician did not give up and devised a method of using the Azure Nether Immortal Realm to regain life as a means of salvation." "And Xuanyuan Tuo, along with the Doctrine Transmitter Heavenly Venerate, naturally became crucial components in this plan." "But he alone could not completely control the Doctrine Transmitter. So, he ultimately found a way to enlist the aid of the Heavenly Demon in the Mystic Immortal Boat."
Li Fan painstakingly deduced and reconstructed the events that had transpired in the long river of past time. Although for the current Li Fan, all of this had almost lost its concrete significance, it did resolve some of his past doubts. With a slight sense of clarity, Li Fan returned the Heavenly Physician's consciousness, which he had previously suppressed, to its original body. And then…
"When the true becomes false, the false also becomes true." A blade of True-Becomes-False slashed down upon the Heavenly Physician's body! Did Li Fan go to such lengths just to kindly restore the Heavenly Physician?
"The Black Heavenly Physician beyond the High Wall possesses unfathomable strength." "This is a good opportunity to thoroughly test my previous conjecture." Li Fan's expression was calm, devoid of any pity, as he relentlessly swung the Spirit-Weakening Blade, each slash unwavering. Although the Heavenly Physician still appeared with his youthful countenance despite his aged hair, in his slumber, he inexplicably lost a certain divine aura. When Li Fan finally stopped, the Heavenly Physician no longer seemed mysterious and unfathomable. He now appeared like a kind, ordinary elder from next door!
"Heavenly Physician and Su Bai, they both continually hunt down their other possible selves for the sake of unifying all their existences." "Originally, they in each possibility were essentially the same. But now…" Li Fan smiled slightly. "Among the myriad immortal elixirs, a poisonous pill has been mixed in. I wonder if you can still attain the Dao?" This was an idea Li Fan had long harbored but had never had the conditions to implement. Now that the Azure Nether Immortal Realm was developing well, Li Fan decided to do it casually. Of course, Li Fan would not release the Heavenly Physician beyond the High Wall now. Only when he himself had the strength to contend with the evil Heavenly Physician would he cast the Heavenly Physician out of the High Wall, thereby luring the evil Heavenly Physician.
"At that time, perhaps I can learn more information about the 'Other Shore'." The mere thought filled Li Fan with anticipation, imagining the expression of that evil Heavenly Physician when he saw this severely weakened other self within the Azure Nether Immortal Realm.
"And Su Bai..."
Li Fan's eyes narrowed as he looked into the distance.
Su Bai had indeed been reborn according to destiny.
However, without the lure of the Great Azure Nether Heavenly Venerate, his fate had undergone a tremendous change.
Before the great upheaval and sublimation of the Azure Nether, he had also remained in Ningyuan City, taking care of the orphans of the dilapidated temple.
It was just that the battle between Zhang Qianmo and the cultivators of the New Law that destroyed Ningyuan City had not occurred, so Su Bai had continued to live as an ordinary mortal. It wasn't until the Azure Nether Immortal Realm descended that all living beings in the heavens and earth stood on the same starting line again.
Su Bai's talent was undeniable.
Even though the Azure Nether had changed its heavens and earth, he still had the capital to comprehend the Dao one day.
To protect the orphans of the dilapidated temple amidst the great changes in the world, Su Bai, who originally had no intention of actively cultivating, as if by destiny, began to actively cultivate.
And his adaptability to the Azure Nether Immortal Realm was far beyond that of ordinary people.
If Li Fan had not deliberately suppressed him, Su Bai would likely have reached the Nascent Soul realm by now.
It was important to note that the "Nascent Soul" of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm was by no means comparable to the Nascent Soul of the past Xuanhuang Realm.
The Azure Nether Immortal Realm had not yet produced any true Great Cultivators. Even Li Fan, the father of the Azure Nether, was still unsure what level of strength the top powerhouses that could be born in this realm would reach.
"Theoretically speaking, a cultivator who has achieved Dao Integration in the Azure Nether Immortal Realm is, in a sense, a weakened version of the [Nameless True Immortal]."
"And in the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, any cultivator who can refine Qi is essentially a seed of a True Immortal. As long as I confer their title, they can become an immortal on the spot! The process of cultivating from Qi Refining to Dao Integration is simply a process of comprehending the Dao and proving the Dao of Namelessness."
Less than half a year had passed since the Azure Nether Immortal Realm was first established. Su Bai had already covered nearly half of the journey, and this was even while being suppressed. How could Li Fan not be amazed?
"Let him grow like this. The day he achieves Dao Integration will be the day my new experiment begins," Li Fan said with a slight smile.
The Xuanhuang Realm was indeed one of the core experimental fields of the Kōroka Dojo. Besides Su Bai's unparalleled progress, the progress of other cultivators also exceeded Li Fan's imagination.
Li Fan's heart stirred, and he decided to loosen some of the restrictions on the strange creatures of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm to add some pressure.
"Just cultivating fast is not enough. Only those who can survive the tempering of life and death are truly usable."
Not long after, Li Fan looked at the wisps of invisible souls that gradually floated up into the sky of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, nodding with satisfaction.
The transformation and sublimation of the Xuanhuang Realm were all-encompassing.
And the process after the death of cultivators was something Li Fan personally participated in and redesigned. It could be said that during the hundred years of alchemy and tempering, at least one-tenth of his energy was spent on this.
It drew inspiration from the bizarre changes of the future Xuanhuang Realm's [Returning the Dao to Heaven], and even went a step further.
Only Li Fan could perceive that the invisible souls of these fallen cultivators were all slowly floating and gathering in a transparent net above the nine heavens.
The scenes experienced by the cultivators during their lifetime flickered within the net. Even their insights and thoughts were absorbed by the net.
All these life thoughts were classified and organized. Then, through the net, they were transmitted to the Azure Nether Immortal Realm.
"It's not just the living beings who are slowly adapting to the Azure Nether Immortal Realm. At the same time, the Azure Nether Immortal Realm is also adapting to the living beings under its heavens."
"Mutual struggle, mutual competition. Only then can I forge the immortal ship of my ideals."
As could be predicted, the cultivators of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm would find cultivation increasingly difficult.
The Heavenly Dao of the world was not static but was constantly changing. The conventional method of exploring cultivation based on the experiences summarized by predecessors would be completely useless.
To progress, one could only grope their way forward through self-exploration.
In addition to promoting the "transformation of heaven, earth, and living beings," this transparent net above the nine heavens had other uses.
The foundation of the Primordial Immortal Realm was the Immortal Ruins and the scattered points occupied by the Immortal Realm chess pieces on Mount Shang. As Li Fan irrigated it with essence blood containing the Great Dao of Longevity, the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, this behemoth that grew from the ruins, had long surpassed the "foundation" that was once on Mount Shang.
Therefore, even though the Primordial Immortal Realm had its great momentum established, it was actually precarious and at risk of collapse at any moment.
And this transparent net played a role in temporarily stabilizing it.
"Even if, due to an accident, the Azure Nether Immortal Realm falls from Mount Shang, with the great net as a buffer, it will not directly fall apart. Of course, it will ultimately have to re-establish its foundation on Mount Shang and be completely stabilized."
"But that will only be after the Ink Slaughter dark clouds have fully formed."
"Beyond Mount Shang is the Infinite Sea."
At the four corners of the transparent net stood four Ascension Platforms.
Although they had been prepared long ago, they had never been activated.
"We must consider that the moment the mountains and seas resonate and a True Immortal is recreated, it will surely attract the attention of certain powerful beings."
"Sage Lords Lian Shan, Gui Hai, Tai Yi..."
"And even other Transcendent powerhouses."
Strictly speaking, the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, this elixirs, had not been truly refined yet, because it had not been formally connected to the mountains and seas.
It was still in a state of isolation and closure, so even Li Fan's actions of reducing the spiritual essence of the Heavenly Physician previously would not have been detected by the Black Heavenly Physician outside of the Primordial Possibility.
But once the first True Immortal was born in the Azure Nether Immortal Realm and connected to the mountains and seas.
It would be like the eggshell being broken, and its seclusion would no longer exist.
All possible dangers would then come flooding in.
This was also why Li Fan was eager for Su Bai to grow quickly, as experimental material, but still had to suppress his growth rate.
The four Ascension Platforms stood majestically, arranged at the four corners of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, like the legendary Heavenly Gates. Once the Heavenly Gates opened, the Azure Nether Immortal Realm would usher in an unknown, immense change.
Even Li Fan could not predict much about the future.
"However, what is certain is that the vast majority of powerful beings should be like the Mound Guardian, residing in the Eternal Void Realm. Even if they are attracted by the commotion of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, as long as it does not endanger the mountains and seas, those powerful beings should be too lazy to bother."
"After all, it has no bearing on the ultimate outcome."
"So, what I need to guard against are those like the Black Heavenly Physician and the Evil Su Bai, who have ties to the Azure Nether Immortal Realm."
Having personally created the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, this creation, even if he expected to confront these transcendent powerhouses in the future, Li Fan felt no fear in his heart now.
Within his body, the countless projections of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm generated by the Sitting Heaven Art, as well as the divine ability of True-False Transformation, were his greatest confidence.
"The True-False Transformation still carries the risk of being seen through by other powerful beings. It cannot be used lightly."
"However, my past learning and knowledge are extremely mixed. Any one of them, combined with this incredibly profound feedback power, is enough to contend with them," Li Fan said proudly.
During the hundred years of refining the Azure Nether Elixir, Li Fan also comprehensively sorted out the various divine abilities and Great Daos he had learned, known, and comprehended in the past.
His ultimate goal was to forge a path of crossing that belonged solely to himself.
"Theoretically, the True-False Transformation is the most suitable for me. However, the Great Dao of True-False is on par with the mountains and seas. Now that Return to Truth has fallen into a deep slumber, and without its guidance, trying to cross by relying on my past comprehension is simply not enough."
"So, I still need to find a [ladder]. The Great Dao of True-False encompasses everything in the mortal world. The more I know about everything, the closer I get to the Great Dao of True-False."
Li Fan pondered, and the divine abilities he had mastered and was familiar with from his past reincarnations, which could serve as a reference for comprehending the Great Dao of True-False, appeared one by one in his mind.
"The first is the [Dao of Formations]. Initially, I underestimated it, but after guidance from Bearing the Dao, my thoughts changed. The Three Sages created the mountains and seas and built the Immortal Realm using the [Profound Origin Spirit Array]. The fact that it could transform the mountains and seas already indicated the extraordinary nature of the Dao of Formations. It's just a pity that the Immortal Rank Dissolution Disc was unfortunately lost during the Three Dao Fusion. Although there seemed to be a few wisps of spiritual intelligence, they were also integrated into my body. However, my talent for the Dao of Formations cannot compare to the immortal artifact that was used to decipher formations in the past."
"But with my methods, it's not impossible to recreate the Immortal Rank Dissolution Disc."
"The second is the Profound Sound. A completely different system from the True Immortal Sigils, using musical rhythms to decipher the Great Dao of the mortal world. The Azure Nether King and the Grand Master. One can reverse the river of time, alter the past, and influence the future. The other can evade calamities and avoid disasters. From their Profound Sounds, they can serve as stepping stones. I can also deduce more principles of the Dao related to musical rhythms from them. However, without more Profound Sounds to reference, it would take a lot of time to deduce them," Li Fan shook his head slightly.
Although he was very confident, he also had a sufficient understanding of his own comprehension. It was a thankless task to deduce unknown profound sounds from scratch on his own.
Fortunately, he had already made contingency plans. Guiding the Dharma-Preachers to search for the Azure Nether King was one of them.
"The third is the Ink Slaughter power and the Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice. Once the new Ink Slaughter is nurtured, I can directly devour it to decipher all Great Dao laws that can be contacted. The efficiency of this method is definitely among the best of all methods of comprehending the Dao. The only flaw is..."
Li Fan sighed softly in his heart: "The Primordial Possibility is a world abandoned by countless powerful beings who fled, leaving its Great Dao incomplete. Even if the entire Primordial is devoured and deciphered, the scope of knowledge is extremely limited. Inevitably, I will have to travel to other possibilities to gather scriptures."
"It's best if I can follow the Black Heavenly Physician into that Other Shore Great World," Li Fan's eyes flashed with a dangerous light.
After pondering for a long time, he continued.
"The fourth is the inheritance from the Mound Guardian. Sitting on the mountain and gazing at the sea, with an unmoving body amidst mountains and seas. Although it is not as potent as the Great Dao of Longevity, it already possesses the strength to look down upon the mountains and seas. I personally received the inheritance from the Mound Guardian's phantom and had detailed exchanges of insights with Bearing the Dao. In this Dao, I am not weak."
"The fifth is the Great Dao of Counteracting the Flow. Since absorbing the power of the Heavenly Demon, I have felt my progress in this Dao. This is my only means of survival after losing Return to Truth. The priority of comprehending the Dao should be at the forefront. After all, worldly affairs are unpredictable, and even with a thousand calculations, accidents cannot be avoided," Li Fan's eyes seemed to see the vast river of time again, and a sense of his own insignificance naturally arose in his heart.
Being in the river of time felt different from observing the mountains and seas.
Although he also felt his own insignificance, when in the river of time, his heart was filled more with a sense of powerlessness and weakness, as if constantly in storms, with life and death uncertain.
And when facing mountains and seas, he would be silently drowned and assimilated.
"The sixth is what I learned in the Star Sea of the North in my previous life, the Great Dao Descends Upon the Body Technique. Although this technique was only proposed by a True Immortal, its conceptual level is not inferior. All Great Daos return to oneself, and the physical body can become a saint. It can complement the Creation Furnace Technique. By carrying the Great Dao within oneself, the theoretical extreme can even transform into mountains and seas... and it can also form an excellent combination with my Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice."
"The seventh is Sun Piaomiao's Medicine King Scripture of Dao Refining. Although this divine ability is extremely profound and ranks among the best of all my learnings, Sun Piaomiao is too mysterious. I must be careful to guard against any tricks he may have left behind. Using it as a tool would be more appropriate."
Li Fan's heart was neither joyful nor sorrowful. He calmly sorted through the various divine abilities he had known in the past.
The Heavenly Profound Mirror's establishing the Dao within oneself and practicing it externally.
Doctrine Transmitter Jiang's [My Dao Like Me].
The Heavenly Physician Immortal Scripture's and the Book of Heaven Mending's Dao of the Healer.
Situ Xing's Dao of Script-Carving.
Giant Rat Immortal's Devouring and Imperial Law Great Daos.
The crossing path demonstrated by Zi Yi.
Perhaps the paper-folding imprint technique of the Azure Nether King's childhood sweetheart.
...and so on.
Regardless of where these divine abilities came from, as long as they could enlighten Li Fan, he accepted them all.
It was like a grand mixture, as long as the chef's skill was high enough, a peerless delicacy could still be created.
"All Great Daos, in the end, are not as profound as the single phrase [Truth becomes false, and false becomes true]."
"The True-False Transformation may be the crossing path I have been desperately seeking and the most suitable for me."
"It's just that..."
Thinking of this, Li Fan's heart showed a hint of hesitation.
Because Return to Truth had suddenly fallen into slumber.
Because in some crucial moments of the past, Return to Truth had lost contact. Regardless of the reason.
And also because...
"Even if I master the True-False Transformation, can the crisis of mountain and sea fusion truly be resolved?"
"After all, even Return to Truth itself seems to be collecting more possible answers for saving the world. If only the True-False Transformation of [Return to Truth] could turn the tide."
"The mountains and seas would not have become what they are now."
With this thought, Li Fan's thoughts naturally converged again on the fusion of the three Daos: mountains and seas, longevity, and Return to Truth.
Following that, the personal experience of the Three Dao Fusion also reappeared in his mind.
The power of Longevity, which had gradually dissipated and become extremely thin within his body after a hundred years of alchemy, constantly drawing on his essence blood, surprisingly showed signs of rising and thickening again!
Fortunately, Li Fan awoke in time and instantly detached himself from that immersion.
"It truly is a persistent haunting!" A shadow flickered across Li Fan's eyes.
Without the slightest hesitation, he spat out another mouthful of fresh blood, sprinkling it onto the Azure Nether.
Only then did he alleviate the trend.
"The Three Dao Fusion is indeed not so easily suppressed."
"But the most fundamental issue is the confusion in my heart."
"Other than the method of Three Dao Fusion, there seems to be no better path," Li Fan realized in his heart.
If the merging of mountains and seas was the inevitable trend of the world, then the merging of the three paths was a miracle that had never occurred in the mortal world of mountains and seas. The mountains and seas themselves, or perhaps even Return to Truth, might have been silently anticipating this outcome.
It was incredibly difficult to resist the Dao Erasure that stemmed from the merging of mountains and seas. How much more challenging would be the tribulation of the merging of the three paths?
Once one entered a state of merging, without a power that transcended the three paths, it was almost impossible to break free completely. Even with the aid of Return to Truth, this was the case.
Even though Li Fan sprayed his vital blood to dilute the power of the Great Dao of Longevity within him as much as possible, he still couldn't reverse the trend of merging. Any thought in his mind that touched upon "merging" would cause the tendency to shift again.
"The method of extracting vital blood is merely a stopgap measure. Only by finding, and firmly believing in, a more correct path can this ingrained inertia be severed."
"It's just..."
Li Fan frowned slightly.
Let alone Li Fan, even the Three Sages might not have the answer at this moment.
"I'll take one step at a time and see where it leads."
His mind calmed, suppressing the numerous thoughts in his head. Li Fan forgot about the path ahead and focused solely on the present.
In his spiritual consciousness, a mysterious and extraordinary pill furnace seemed to have appeared. All his previous learnings were like alchemical materials. As Li Fan organized and stored them, they were gradually thrown into the furnace.
His thoughts were like fire, slowly refining. Li Fan, like peeling back layers of silk, analyzed the essence of these myriad divine abilities. He stripped away the superficial appearances of the divine abilities, leaving only the core essence to be formed into the pill he desired.
Li Fan quietly watched the divine ability great pill taking shape before him, feeling an unprecedented clarity.
"Seeking externally is not as good as seeking from within."
"I painstakingly pursued the True Immortal transformation of [Return to Truth], yet almost forgot that what Return to Truth truly is, and why it has always been reliant on me."
Li Fan seemed to see, within his spiritual consciousness, outside the pill furnace. Apart from the "alchemical materials" of the myriad divine abilities he had mastered through his past reincarnations, there was a gem that he had overlooked, yet was actually the most dazzling and eye-catching!
"Infinite Spirituality..."
The other materials all came from the mountains and seas, from the mortal world. No matter how skillful his refining technique, he could ultimately only refine a pill that surpassed the mountains and seas, the mortal world. Only this gem, originating from beyond the mountains and seas, the mortal world.
If added to the pill, it might have the effect of turning decay into the miraculous!
Li Fan's heart roared, and the pill furnace vibrated.
The gem, brilliant and dazzling, also erupted with an exceptionally bright radiance in an instant, flying directly into the pill furnace.
All the original materials in the pill furnace spontaneously made way for it. The gem smoothly found its place in the very center of the furnace, as if it had always belonged there.
Countless materials, like stars, surrounded this brilliant stone.
And as they were touched by the brilliance released by the gem, the materials in the furnace began to undergo an inexplicable transformation.
"Infinite Spirituality is not only what Return to Truth craves. It also holds paramount importance for the Great Daos of the mountains and seas, the mortal world."
Like a flash of light illuminating the darkness, Li Fan, in an instant, found another potential miraculous use for his Infinite Spirituality, which Return to Truth also yearned for.
"Formation Dao."
As inspiration struck, Li Fan infused a trace of Infinite Spirituality into one of the materials in the pill furnace. Almost instantly, Li Fan felt a slight dizziness.
Immediately after, countless images flashed before his eyes.
They were scenes of one "Li Fan" after another, studying and analyzing the Formation Dao.
There was the toddler-like progress of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and the innovation of a True Immortal. Although their realms differed, they had all poured their life's blood into the research of the Formation Dao, without distraction, dedicating their lives until death, without exception. They were all pure seekers of the Dao, as if they had no other pursuits besides the Formation Dao.
With each flicker of a Li Fan's life, whether it lit up or extinguished, Li Fan felt as if he had personally experienced the lifelong research of that figure into the Formation Dao.
Although like a fleeting dream, leaving no memories, Li Fan felt that his familiarity with the Formation Dao had not diminished.
The speed of the flickering phantoms increased, and the "Formation Dao" in Li Fan's eyes underwent incredible changes.
They became more and more familiar, more intimate, and simpler.
It was like a close companion with whom he had spent countless years. They were already telepathically connected, their understanding perfect.
Li Fan knew that his talent in the Formation Dao had reached a level that countless beings in the mountains and seas couldn't even dream of. Moreover, this talent was continuously climbing higher!
"The Profound Origin Spirit Array..."
When Li Fan contemplated this peerless immortal array, the formations that had previously seemed incredibly complex to him, even difficult to deduce with the Immortal Rank Dissolution Disc, were no longer so obscure and difficult to understand.
He could even deduce the remaining formations based on the five known formations, by understanding the connections between the nine sets of Profound Origin Spirit formations.
"The Profound Origin Spirit Array, out of nine, we know five: Starry Enigma, Myriad Spirits Returning to Numbers; Desolate Falling, Empty Chamber Blooming Flowers; Boundless Unity, Primordial Square; The Dao Origin, Ever-Living; Feather Ascension, Life and Death Cycles."
"The remaining four are..."
Before Li Fan's eyes, the five great formations automatically generated countless fine lines, extending to the blank areas beside them, slowly filling in the unknown.
The remaining parts of the Profound Origin Spirit Array thus appeared before Li Fan's eyes.
"Stabilizing the Cauldron, Stepping on Mountains and Suppressing Seas."
"Spirit Ruins, Myriad Daos Through Profound Mysteries..."
"Ah!"
As soon as he deciphered two of the great formations, Li Fan suddenly felt a sharp pain in his head.
This pain seemed to come from the deepest part of his divine soul, the very foundation of his consciousness. Words couldn't describe even a fraction of it; all the suffering Li Fan had experienced in his worldly reincarnations was but a drop in the ocean compared to this.
In his spiritual consciousness, not only did the deduced formations shatter instantly, but even the image of the pill furnace, the divine ability of alchemy, shattered in an instant.
Pain!
In Li Fan's spiritual consciousness, only this concept remained.
His divine soul, and even his body, seemed to be shattering due to this extreme pain!
He didn't know how long he lasted, but when the pain began to recede, Li Fan regained some ability to think.
Li Fan had a premonition that this sudden occurrence was more than just simple pain.
It was a terrifying crisis that would completely destroy the foundation of his Infinite Spirituality.
"It seems I was too rash. The utilization of Infinite Spirituality is not as effortless and elegant as I imagined, but carries immense risks."
"Although it can help me rapidly increase my talent, the rapid extraction of a large amount of spirituality in a short period can also destabilize the foundation of my existence."
Li Fan, with lingering fear, decisively halted this reckless behavior.
Fortunately, the infinite nature of spirituality ultimately existed.
After pausing the consumption, the pain that had been lingering in Li Fan's heart quickly disappeared.
Everything returned to normal, as if nothing had happened.
However, the two great formations, [Stabilizing the Cauldron, Stepping on Mountains and Suppressing Seas] and [Spirit Ruins, Myriad Daos Through Profound Mysteries], which he had just deduced, were clearly imprinted in Li Fan's mind.
And the feeling of exhaustion, as if he had fought for three days and three nights on a bed, was ever-present.
It constantly reminded Li Fan that the recent experience was not a mere illusion.
"Although I gained something, I also paid a price."
The only thing that somewhat comforted Li Fan was that his weakness was slowly fading at a perceptible rate.
"I only need to recuperate for a period, and I will recover."
After meditating for seven days, Li Fan finally regained his spirits and began to test his talent in the Formation Dao.
With the boost of Infinite Spirituality, he could see the reality of the Profound Origin Spirit Array at a glance and deduce it rapidly. Under normal circumstances, it was not this outrageously effective, but it was almost at the pinnacle of the mortal world.
The path to transcendence through the Formation Dao might still be some distance away, but achieving mastery with ease was no longer a problem.
"Even though the Profound Origin Spirit Array is one of the most complex immortal arrays in the mortal world, with my current talent in the Formation Dao, it would only take me a hundred years to fully decipher it."
"This is assuming I dedicate my entire mind and body to it, just like those fleeting illusory lives experienced. In reality, I cannot be so completely focused. After all, there are many external matters such as the Azure Nether Immortal Realm to bother me."
"The more focused I am, the higher the efficiency. The more I am distracted, the lower the efficiency. But regardless, a millennium is enough to fully analyze it."
After a thorough examination, Li Fan was quite satisfied with the improvement in his Formation Dao talent.
After all, before this, without the help of the Dissolution Disc, his formation talent was only at the level of an ordinary person. If quantified, with a total value of 100, his previous formation talent score was only 9, barely enough to begin his cultivation.
But now...
It had reached an almost extreme value of 99.
Beyond this point, it was the theoretical limit. And this one-point gap was even harder to bridge than the entire range from 1 to 99 combined.
Even with the infusion of Infinite Spirituality, it had not helped Li Fan overcome this hurdle.
"Those who can take this step are likely beings of transcendence."
Li Fan lamented the missed opportunity. His attention returned to the two Profound Origin Spirit formations.
The formations were true to their names.
The Profound Origin Spirit was a tool derived by the Three Sages to conveniently establish immortal realms in Mount Shang.
These two formations were both related to the stabilization of immortal realms after their creation.
[Stabilizing the Cauldron, Stepping on Mountains and Suppressing Seas] would solidify the foundation of the immortal realm within Mount Shang.
[Spirit Ruins, Myriad Daos Through Profound Mysteries] would weaken the influence of the power of mountains and seas on the beings within the immortal realm, enabling all True Immortals, and even Nameless True Immortals, to have the opportunity for enlightenment, rather than being suppressed by the power of the mountains and seas.
"This will also be of great reference for my construction of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm," Li Fan nodded slightly.
"If all nine formations of the Profound Origin Spirit Array were complete, I would truly be able to create heaven and earth from nothing, recreating the immortal realm. Moreover, with my myriad means, I might even be able to fulfill the ambition of Emperor Tianluo back then, creating a truly transcendent immortal realm and escaping the tribulation of Dao Erasure."
"Although the Azure Nether Immortal Realm has integrated the Great Dao of Longevity, due to its congenital flaws, it can only nurture Nameless True Immortals at best, and is insufficient to support the birth of transcendent powerhouses..."
Adding the two newly learned great formations into the modification of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, subtle changes began to occur in the world once more.
"Just a small expenditure of my Infinite Spirituality brought about such tremendous changes..." Li Fan mused, his gaze turning to the other divine ability "materials" in the pill furnace that had reappeared in his mind.
"All hundred Daos complete, all hundred Daos mastered." Li Fan murmured, as if seeing himself transformed into the foremost prodigy of the mountains and seas with the help of Infinite Spirituality.
"The growth of talent is by no means useless. Especially the simultaneous increase in all aspects of talent. It's like the tide lifting all boats. As the strength of my talents in all aspects is perfected, I will definitely be able to see my ultimate path more clearly. Perhaps even the transformation between true and false can be easily replicated and performed."
After a series of deductions, Li Fan concluded in his heart.
This was not his groundless fantasy.
The foundation of the transformation between true and false was, in fact, all the existing Great Daos of the mountains and seas, the mortal world.
And if one knew everything about all the Daos, understood all their principles, then mastering the Great Dao of True and False would surely be as easy as turning over one's hand.
However, this method of improvement seemed to have no practical significance for ordinary people.
Because the difficulty of simultaneously improving all talents to the peak was even greater than mastering the Great Dao of True and False!
Only the Infinite Spirituality within Li Fan could support this seemingly impractical plan.
"Although there were some complications during the process of improving my talent with spirituality, it was because I was too hasty. If I had proceeded slowly, perhaps all these drawbacks could have been avoided."
Just as Li Fan was contemplating how to further develop his Infinite Spirituality, a familiar fluctuation, long absent, appeared.
"Return to Truth?" Li Fan's heart instinctively rejoiced.
But a moment later, he raised his eyebrows, his expression unreadable.
Because in an instant, Li Fan had already understood the meaning behind Return to Truth's inexplicable fluctuation.
The reason Return to Truth had awakened from its severe injury and dormancy was naturally due to Li Fan's recent act of utilizing Infinite Spirituality, and it was to dissuade him.
As for the reason for the dissuasion, it was not clearly stated, and it fell back into slumber once more.
With Li Fan's personality, if others stood out to comment on his own possessions, he would definitely choose to ignore them.
However, Return to Truth's opinion could not be taken lightly.
"Does Return to Truth want to monopolize Infinite Spirituality, or does my method of improving talent with spirituality harm myself?" Doubts arose in Li Fan's mind.
Although he had stumbled upon a method to utilize his Infinite Spirituality by chance and coincidence, Li Fan did not understand the essence of Infinite Spirituality. He didn't even know what it truly represented.
After careful consideration, Li Fan ultimately decided to temporarily heed Return to Truth's advice.
He halted all actions aimed at improving his talents using spirituality.
However, this was only temporary.
Once he mastered this method of improvement, which was akin to cheating, it would be hard to resist the urge to use it when facing his various shortcomings.
"Although Return to Truth has been my reliance throughout my journey."
"However, I cannot simply listen to it and do nothing. Ultimately, the decision rests with me."
After experiencing the merging of the three paths and the extraction of spirituality, Li Fan, who would never fully trust another, finally began to waver in his trust of Return to Truth.
If the Reflection naturally possessed no independent consciousness, and was merely a capability of Li Fan’s own being, then his trust would not be shaken. However, past events had proven that the Reflection possessed its own independent consciousness. Thus, Li Fan’s lack of trust was only natural. This stemmed from Li Fan’s innate disposition. The fact that he could heed the Reflection's advice and temporarily cease the use of his own infinite Spirit Qi was already a demonstration of his trust in the Reflection.
“It seems my Spirit Qi is extremely important to the Reflection. Even in its slumber, it felt compelled to forcibly awaken and remind me. However, this also indirectly indicates that the Reflection is indeed gravely wounded. Even for such an important matter, it only managed a hasty reminder before falling back into slumber.”
Pushing this sudden incident to the back of his mind, Li Fan once again focused his attention on the changes transp cring within the Xuanhuang Realm. After comprehending the two great formations, the "Stabilizing the Cauldron, Stepping on Mountains and Suppressing Seas" and the "Spirit Ruins, Myriad Daos Through Profound Mysteries," Li Fan naturally proceeded to apply them to the construction of the Xuanhuang Realm.
With his formation dao talent nearing completion, the formations were integrated into the fabric of the Xuanhuang Realm with virtually no hindrance, forming a perfect union. The Xuanhuang Realm, originally built upon the scattered ruins of Mount Shang Immortal Realm, now seemed to have taken root in countless new places. In an instant, its precarious state transformed into one of considerable stability. Although the heavens and earth remained vast and distant, the feeling of imminent collapse had vanished.
The inexplicable sense of crisis in his heart gradually dissipated. Coupled with the Great Formation of Myriad Daos Through Profound Mysteries' effect of isolating the might of the mountains and seas, it provided the beings of the Xuanhuang Realm with a more suitable environment for comprehending the Dao and cultivating. Compared to the early days of the Xuanhuang Realm's birth, the difficulty of cultivation for its inhabitants had been halved. This also ushered in a brief period of explosive growth in cultivation for the cultivators. In just over ten days, Azure Nether cultivators had almost all advanced by a minor realm. Those with exceptional talent had even directly broken through a major realm.
This was naturally not in line with Li Fan’s plan of "a gradual approach." However, this time, Li Fan did not have to act personally. The Azure Nether Heavenly Dao, sensing his intentions, proactively made adjustments, causing this period of cultivation convenience to quickly disappear. The cultivators of the Xuanhuang Realm keenly perceived this change. Those who missed the opportunity sighed in regret, while those who benefited secretly rejoiced. Some gained insight, attempting to understand the changes in the world and await the next opportune moment.
In an instant, countless cultivators on the Azure Nether continent experienced a surge of thoughts, all connected to the consciousness of the Azure Nether Heavenly Dao. The interaction between heaven and man, like myriad threads, actually provided some nourishment to the Azure Nether Heavenly Dao. The female child it had transformed into appeared significantly more "lively."
“This is the resonance of heaven and man, laying the foundation for the transformation of all things,” Li Fan mused as he observed the changes within the Xuanhuang Realm. “The emergence of this period of suitable cultivation is beneficial to both the Azure Nether Heavenly Dao and the Azure Nether cultivators. It can be a permanent feature. However, the duration of each activation should not be too long, and there should be no pattern between each occurrence. Everything should be random. This way, the cultivators under heaven will strive to comprehend the ‘Will of Heaven’…”
As Li Fan contemplated, the laws of the Xuanhuang Realm concerning this "Gift of Dao Comprehension" were generated and deeply inscribed into the Great Dao of the Azure Nether. The hearts and minds of almost all cultivators were drawn by this miraculous "Gift of Dao Comprehension." Through this connection, Li Fan, as the master of the Xuanhuang Realm, could more easily control and grasp the minds and hearts of the Azure Nether cultivators. In his vision, streams of bizarre and colorful illusory mists, originating from the cultivators’ hearts, appeared and vanished in an instant. They were ceaseless and unpredictable. If they were to condense and not disperse, they could fill the entire Xuanhuang Realm in a moment. Fortunately, these multicolored mists were not corporeal and only manifested for an instant before disappearing.
“This is what is referred to as ‘thoughts’,” Li Fan realized. “Deeply hidden within everyone’s heart, unseen and unknown by others. Originally, only powerful beings like the Three Sages could glimpse them. However, I can forcibly pry into them by leveraging the connection between the cultivators in the world and this realm…” As if discovering a new world, Li Fan’s divine sense delved into the boundless ocean of thoughts of the Azure Nether cultivators.
“That fellow Zhao Si, his cultivation speed has always lagged behind mine. Last time, he actually gained enlightenment through a great opportunity, not only surpassing me but also stepping into the Golden Core realm. Truly detestable! He has always been at odds with me. If he continues to fall behind, how will I live in the future? I must seize the next great opportunity…”
“My decision to conceal my cultivation earlier was indeed correct. When the monstrous beasts attacked and everyone was at their wits’ end, I decisively intervened and turned the tide. From today onwards, I, Gao Zhi, will be the undisputed ruler of this Wild Serpent Mountain! I must find a way to kill all the men and leave only myself to enjoy. After all, this Wild Serpent Mountain is vast and isolated; I have no hope of seeing the outside world in this lifetime. Why not indulge in pleasure! The only thing to be wary of is that the strength of the surrounding monstrous beasts seems to be increasing in tandem?”
“Where is the venerable Doctrine Transmitter? I wonder where he is now. Since that day’s anomaly, the world has become too vast. The brothers of the Myriad Immortals Alliance who were originally gathered around, no more than a hundred miles away, have now traveled over a hundred thousand miles without finding any trace of them…”
“Hahaha, my intuition was correct! There is indeed a wondrous item underground. It is the 'Void Refining Bamboo' that I spent endless effort cultivating and selecting, but had not had time to absorb and refine! Although the world has undergone drastic changes, and the Void Refining Bamboo has expanded more than ten thousandfold, transforming from a single stalk into a contiguous underground bamboo forest, the blood essence connection between me and it still faintly exists! With this connection, perhaps I can slowly refine it into my body and achieve the Foundation Establishment realm of this new era!”
“Yesterday, we narrowly repelled the attack of the monstrous beasts through our combined efforts. However, more than half of our food and resources have been consumed. How many more such attacks can we withstand? Continuing to stay here will likely lead only to death. It is better to strike first, steal the supplies, and flee…”
The thoughts of countless beings in the Xuanhuang Realm intertwined, filled with joy, anger, sorrow, and fear. Although not all inner thoughts were revealed, they wove an incredibly vast tapestry of inner emotions. As Li Fan’s contact with these sentient thoughts increased, he gradually detected an anomaly within the Xuanhuang Realm. It was like a mirror, silently encompassing all the beings of the Xuanhuang Realm above them, reflecting all their thoughts within its depths.
“Fallen Immortal Realm…” A hint of surprise flashed in Li Fan’s eyes. This illusory world, born alongside the original Xuanhuang Realm, had also expanded in sync with the Xuanhuang Realm’s sublimation and transformation. However, despite its extraordinary foundation, it could not keep pace with the expansion fueled by the Great Dao of Longevity. The ominous clouds of the Fallen Immortal Realm were currently confined only to the area above the original location of the Xuanhuang Realm.
As the saying goes, "When one person attains the Dao, even their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven." As the beings of the Xuanhuang Realm grew stronger, the Fallen Immortal Realm also slowly changed. As its scale expanded, tangible beams of light, like lightning, would occasionally flash within the illusory dark clouds. Under the illumination of this brilliant essence, the dark clouds grew increasingly solid, showing signs of breaking through the boundary between illusion and reality.
“The Fallen Immortal Realm contains Mount Shang, but not the Boundless Sea. However, having absorbed the thoughts of the cultivators of our Azure Nether Immortal Realm, it seems that inexplicable changes are about to occur within the Fallen Immortal Realm.”
Li Fan did not allow these changes to develop. With a thought, he intercepted all the thoughts of the cultivators within the area covered by the Fallen Immortal dark clouds. It was as if a dam had been built across the upper reaches of a river. All the cultivator thoughts, serving as nourishment, were absorbed by Li Fan. The Fallen Immortal dark clouds almost visibly ceased their transformation process. The dark clouds churned, and thunder roared, as if angered by Li Fan's impudent actions. However, it had lost its nourishment. And within the Xuanhuang Realm, a world Li Fan had meticulously crafted, it possessed no capacity to contend with Li Fan. Despite its boundless resentment, it could only rage ineffectually.
The transformation brought about by the Xuanhuang Realm's sublimation retracted, and the Fallen Immortal Realm reverted to its original appearance. Furthermore, without the support of sentient thoughts, its scale began to gradually shrink. It was foreseeable that it would completely perish in the near future. The Fallen Immortal Realm, once regarded as a formidable enemy by Li Fan, had become so easily dealt with once he could "observe" and to some extent control others' thoughts!
Sensing a fatal crisis, the Fallen Immortal Realm did not passively wait for its end. Instead, it rapidly began a path of self-salvation. In an instant, the Fallen Immortal Realm internally restructured itself. Originally, there were infinite layers of Fallen Immortal illusions, coexisting together. Now, it was like a lotus flower, with numerous petals surrounding the central core. When external nourishment became insufficient, the outermost Fallen Immortal illusions would voluntarily sacrifice themselves, transmitting the remaining nourishment inwards. This ensured the survival of the innermost core area of the Fallen Immortal illusions.
Li Fan had not anticipated the secret of the Fallen Immortal Realm to be so readily exposed. However, even with his current ability to pry into divine thoughts, and even if he discovered the anomaly within the Fallen Immortal Realm, it would be difficult for him to discern its core secret amidst the countless illusions, even for a time.
“Interesting.”
“Since you’ve revealed yourself, don’t think of escaping.” Li Fan coldly snorted. He keenly sensed that the Fallen Immortal Realm was attempting to transfer to another star system via the stargate of the Primordial Realm. How could Li Fan possibly allow it to succeed?
With a thought, the Sky Crossing Starry Sea Formation was completely sealed. The two star systems, once connected, were once again isolated. As if cut in half with a single blade, the Fallen Immortal Realm was also split in two with the closure of the teleportation array. However, Li Fan was somewhat surprised that the physical division in reality did not truly affect the Fallen Immortal Realm. The two halves seemed to remain connected, and the core secret of the Fallen Immortal Realm was slowly transferring through this still-existing connection.
“Since that is the case…” Li Fan simply reopened the Sky Crossing Starry Sea Formation. Then, he fiercely grasped towards the star system on the other side! The projection of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm he had condensed in his hand instantly shattered. On the other side of the star system, within the Primordial Realm, and even the surrounding star systems, any area covered by the Fallen Immortal Realm was seized by Li Fan’s claw!
Rumble!
As if afflicted by the encroachment of Dao Erasure, the star system on the other side, with the sudden absence of a vast expanse, fell into complete silence and darkness. The abrupt loss of the Primordial star system even significantly impacted the stability of the surrounding star fields. Black energy surged forth like bamboo shoots after rain. This was precisely the sign of Dao Erasure’s imminent arrival!
Li Fan, however, paid it no mind. The star system of the Primordial Realm was far from the High Wall. As long as the connection of the Sky Crossing Starry Sea Formation was severed, even if that side was devoured by Dao Erasure, it would not affect the Azure Nether Immortal Realm. At this moment, he looked at the Primordial Realm seized in his hand, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his lips. Then, with a fierce clap, he slapped it onto the celestial dome of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm!
With a muffled thunderclap, it echoed continuously across the heavens. The sentient beings of the Xuanhuang Realm, as if by unspoken agreement, looked up at the sky, only to be astonished to discover that a moon had appeared in the sky when they knew not when. Due to the immense distance between heaven and earth, most beings found it difficult to discern the true nature of this "moon." Only those cultivators who had died in the Primordial Realm and subsequently been reborn, relying on their weak connection to the Primordial Realm, sensed something. However, they could not confirm it for the time being.
Li Fan paid no heed to the thoughts of the Azure Nether beings. He stared at the captured Primordial Realm suspended in the celestial dome, feeling the predicament of the Fallen Immortal Realm, cornered with no escape, and coldly snorted again. “Let’s see where you can escape to now!”
Instead of directly confronting the Fallen Immortal Realm, which had now become like a trapped beast, Li Fan merely confined it to a secluded corner and blocked its reflection of sentient thoughts. It proved true that without a physical basis, the Fallen Immortal Realm was like a flower without nourishment, gradually withering and decaying. However, after all, it was a remnant left behind by an existence that had astonished even the First Generation Great Heavenly Venerate. Although it showed signs of decay, the Fallen Immortal Realm would not vanish in a mere moment. Li Fan did not have the patience to wait.
“Allow me to lend you a hand once more!” The Fallen Immortal Realm, born from sentient thoughts and nurtured by them, could naturally perish from them. Under Li Fan’s guidance, countless beings of the Xuanhuang Realm experienced a terrible nightmare. In their dreams, the calamity of world destruction descended, swallowing everything in existence. Countless illusory world-ending tribulations surged upwards, encroaching upon the Fallen Immortal Realm. Though these were merely nightmares from the cultivators’ minds, they could inflict fearsome destruction upon the Fallen Immortal Realm! Like being eroded by blades of wind and swords of frost, the illusory realms on the outer fringes of the Fallen Immortal dark clouds began to wither and perish in large numbers. The scale of the dark clouds continuously shrank. In just over half a day, only the innermost part of the illusory realm desperately held on. However, by this point, Li Fan discovered that the effectiveness of his dream-world-ending method had been greatly diminished. It seemed that these remaining illusions possessed a strong resistance to the world-ending calamities conjured by the Azure Nether beings.
“The core of the Fallen Immortal Realm does not originate from the Xuanhuang Realm.”
“It originates from… the Immortal Realm, which had previously experienced the Dao Erasure Tribulation!” A sharp light flashed in Li Fan’s eyes as he discerned the reason.
The Azure Nether sentient thoughts, though incapable of completely destroying the core of the Fallen Immortal Realm, were orchestrated by Li Fan to launch wave after wave of attacks, like a rising tide, continuously weakening it.
The illusionary world surrounding the core of the Fallen Immortal Realm rapidly dissolved, allowing Li Fan to gradually discern the scene within. Vast swathes of star fields were swallowed by darkness, a manifestation of the Dao Erasure Tribulation's rampage. However, this was merely the backdrop to the Fallen Immortal Realm's core.
What truly captivated Li Fan were the countless characters, shimmering like a brilliant star-filled sky amidst the doomsday scenario, floating above the celestial canopy!
He hadn't truly entered the core of the Fallen Immortal Realm, merely observing from reality. The boundary between reality and illusion caused these characters to distort to varying degrees. Yet, drawing upon his past experiences, Li Fan easily recognized their origin.
True Immortal Seal script! Each character represented a Great Dao in the world!
"This floating... "
"Is..."
Li Fan paused, then realized: "The Boundless Starfield, the Supreme Dao Book?" He had witnessed the spectacle of the Supreme Dao Book spanning the cosmos in Situ Xing's memories. Upon comparison, it was indeed remarkably similar!
"Could the master of the Fallen Immortal Realm possibly be the renowned 'Script-Carving Immortal'?" Li Fan's heart trembled violently. Even with his current discerning eye, the thought sent a jolt of shock through him. The reputation of the Script-Carving Immortal was simply too immense, having inscribed the three thousand Great Daos with True Immortal Seal script. It was said that half of the original possibilities of True Immortals were born after observing the Supreme Dao Book and receiving enlightenment from the Script-Carving Immortal. In the hearts of the original True Immortals, their reverence for the Script-Carving Immortal surpassed that for Mound Guardian Lord and the Three Sages.
"In the past of the Immortal Realm, countless True Immortals existed."
"But setting aside the Nameless Realm, even ordinary True Immortals are rarely known in the lower realms. Only the 'Script-Carving Immortal,' even those unfamiliar with True Immortal Seal script, knew something of his legend. Where did such transmissibility originate..."
"Reflecting the Azure Nether with a single glance, forming an illusionary Fallen Immortal Realm almost identical to the real world. This illusion can not only evolve on its own but also transform from virtuality to reality, appearing in the real Xuanhuang Realm."
"This power is indeed beyond the capabilities of an ordinary Nameless one." The more Li Fan pondered, the more he believed this possibility.
"There are rumors in the Immortal Realm of the Script-Carving Immortal's demise, but the Immortals generally disbelieve it. If this Fallen Immortal is the Script-Carving Immortal..." countless thoughts flashed through Li Fan's mind. He didn't choose to retreat but continued to gaze at the core of the Fallen Immortal Realm.
Amidst the scene of the Dao Erasure Tribulation devouring the Boundless Starfield, the countless characters depicted in the Supreme Dao Book were like towering pillars, shielding and supporting a safe zone. The Immortals, like countless points of light under the tribulation, also sensed the sole safe haven in the starlit sky and rapidly fled towards the area protected by the Supreme Dao Book.
"It is said that this tribulation was the first outburst of Dao Erasure in the Primordial Era. From then on, the Primordial Immortal Realm declined, eventually perishing completely." While directing the Azure Nether sentient thoughts to continue their assault and weaken the Fallen Immortal Realm, Li Fan simultaneously observed the scene within its core.
As expected of the "Supreme Dao Book," capable of representing the three thousand Great Daos, its power was incomparable to Li Fan's counterfeit creation. Under its majestic support, the Dao Erasure Tribulation showed signs of slowly subsiding!
"This is different from the records..." Li Fan's heart grew suspicious.
Just then, a shadowy figure suddenly appeared within the resplendent Supreme Dao Book. It seemed to have a clear objective, heading directly for a specific character within the Supreme Dao Book. Its speed was too great, and it was hidden within the brilliance of the True Immortal Seal script, making its appearance impossible to discern. As the shadowy figure approached, that True Immortal Seal script began to shake violently. In a short while, as if carved away by a blade, this True Immortal Seal script vanished directly from the Supreme Dao Book!
The weight of this True Immortal Seal script seemed immense. Without its support, the already precarious state of the Boundless Starfield worsened. The starlit sky was consumed by Dao Erasure at an ever-increasing rate, and the Supreme Dao Book, unable to control the situation, shuddered incessantly. Yet, the shadowy figure ignored it, heading straight for the next True Immortal Seal script!
The shadowy figure's actions attracted the attention of other surviving True Immortals in the Boundless Starfield. They decisively launched attacks against the figure, intending to stop its actions. However, whether through divine abilities, spells, or direct assault, anyone who approached within a thousand feet of the shadowy figure was instantly teleported elsewhere. Some were sent to countless light-years away, while others were placed within the encroaching boundaries of Dao Erasure. The thousand-foot radius around the shadowy figure seemed to have become an absolute forbidden zone, inaccessible to others! The surviving True Immortals in the Boundless Starfield tried every method and means, but they could not get close, let alone stop it. They could only watch helplessly as the shadowy figure stole the second True Immortal Seal script.
With another True Immortal Seal script lost, the collapse of the Boundless Starfield accelerated. The surviving True Immortals, seeing this, no longer bothered to intervene and simply fled for their lives. Thus, the shadowy figure's theft of characters became even more audacious. Soon, the Supreme Dao Book was riddled with holes.
"Within the Supreme Dao Book are merely True Immortal Seal scripts, not the true Dao. What is the use of such a grand effort, stealing them amidst the rampage of Dao Erasure..." Just as Li Fan was pondering this, another silhouette appeared within the Boundless Starfield! The previously vanished characters in the Supreme Dao Book, on the spots where they had been stolen, suddenly emitted a faint glow, repairing the characters. Compared to their previous vividness, they were now extremely transparent, as if they might disappear again at any moment. Like a pillar supporting the heavens, with the appearance of this silhouette, the rampant Dao Erasure Tribulation suddenly calmed down. The entire Supreme Dao Book erupted with unprecedented brilliance, as if welcoming its master's arrival!
"Script-Carving Immortal!" Li Fan naturally knew the identity of this silhouette. The Script-Carving Immortal pointed a finger at the shadowy figure, and countless dense, small characters instantly materialized around the figure. Although still a thousand feet away, they continuously advanced. The characters wove together, seemingly creating passable worlds and paths out of thin air within the void of Dao Erasure. Nine hundred and ninety-nine feet, nine hundred and ninety-eight feet... inch by inch, they closed in on the shadowy figure! However, the shadowy figure remained oblivious to its predicament. It even arrogantly met the Script-Carving Immortal's gaze with a mocking glint. Then, it continued its theft! The Script-Carving Immortal did not become enraged but merely increased the speed at which he wrote the characters. The shadowy figure was clearly not as calm as it appeared; its speed in moving through the Supreme Dao Book and stealing True Immortal Seal scripts was significantly faster than before. The cost was that the area around it was lost at an increasing rate.
"Strange, why doesn't the Script-Carving Immortal simply take away the Supreme Dao Book entirely? Instead, he allows the shadowy figure to steal from it?" Li Fan mused, a hint of doubt crossing his mind as he watched the two powerful beings battle.
"Could it be..." Li Fan suddenly thought of something, his heart tightening. The events that followed seemed to confirm his speculation. After stealing nearly thirty characters, the True Immortal Seal scripts woven by the Script-Carving Immortal had encroached to within five feet of the shadowy figure, and it finally chose to stop.
"Thank you for your generosity, fellow Daoist!"
"We will definitely remember '[Anchor] Existence'!"
"Hahahaha!" The shadowy figure laughed wildly and then suddenly expanded, like a drop of ink falling into clear water, spreading rapidly outwards. Not only did it reclaim the lost thousand-foot area, but it also devoured the True Immortal Seal scripts written by the Script-Carving Immortal. However, judging from the churning scene below the shadowy figure, '[Anchor] Existence' hadn't truly swallowed them but had merely suppressed them temporarily. As if in boiling water, the phenomena within the shadowy figure's area intensified. During this process, the black color in the central area gradually faded, revealing a clear, mirror-like surface. This mirror seemed to reflect another world!
"Villain, do not flee!" Seeing the shadowy figure about to escape, the Script-Carving Immortal finally broke through '[Anchor] Existence's' blockade and directly appeared outside the mirrored area. Using his finger as a brush, he pressed it firmly onto the transparent mirror! Time seemed to freeze at this moment. Li Fan vaguely saw the boundless vistas of the Immortal Realm being born from the Script-Carving Immortal's fingertips, like mountains, suppressing the transparent mirror! Ripples arose, and the mirror seemed on the verge of shattering. However, at this very moment, four more shadowy figures appeared on the other side of the mirror. A total of five people formed a strange symbol, jointly blocking the Script-Carving Immortal's descending finger! The ripples slowly subsided, and the mirror and the shadowy figures vanished from the Boundless Starfield as if they had never existed.
The Script-Carving Immortal stood stunned, seemingly unable to accept what had happened. Due to the loss of thirty True Immortal Seal scripts, the Supreme Dao Book became incomplete. Under the onslaught of the Dao Erasure Tribulation, it could no longer resist. The Boundless Starfield collapsed at an even faster pace than before. From the Script-Carving Immortal's body, countless characters flew out, rescuing as many True Immortals as possible within his sight. The Script-Carving Immortal himself remained in place. Only when the Boundless Starfield was on the verge of complete collapse did the Supreme Dao Book, which had been in an unfolded state, gradually contract, transforming into a half-unfolded scroll that fell into the Script-Carving Immortal's hands.
"Realm of Life and Death, Five Venerates of the Same Calamity." The Script-Carving Immortal looked towards where the shadowy figures had disappeared, slowly uttering these eight words. With a forceful throw of the scroll in his hand, he hurled it somewhere unknown. The Script-Carving Immortal took a step forward, his form seemingly swallowed by Dao Erasure, and he too vanished from the Boundless Starfield.
... The scene recorded within the core of the Fallen Immortal Realm concluded here, looping back to the beginning.
"The True Immortal Seal scripts in the Supreme Dao Book are not mere depictions of the Great Daos. They seem to be vaguely connected to the true Great Daos of the original possibilities! Just as every leaf and branch of a towering tree is connected to its myriad roots underground."
"The shadowy figure named '[Anchor] Existence' did not simply steal True Immortal Seal scripts but directly stole the Great Daos of original possibility, stealing thirty at once!"
"No wonder the Script-Carving Immortal was so enraged. And no wonder, after this tribulation, the Primordial Era seemed to incessantly decline, losing all resistance against the Dao Erasure Tribulation, dooming it to eventual destruction."
"The Great Dao deficiency I sensed, apart from the Dao Attainment Nameless fleeing, was also due to someone else stealing them," Li Fan's heart pounded with shock. The strength displayed by this shadowy figure from beginning to end had surpassed the realm of Nameless True Immortals. It could easily traverse possibilities, possessing at least the same cultivation level as Black Heavenly Physician and Evil Su Bai.
"However, even so, it was still cornered by the Script-Carving Immortal. In the end, it only managed to survive with the help of four other shadowy figures. But their objective had been achieved. Weakening others to strengthen themselves. Stealing the Great Daos of others to compensate for their own. What kind of place is the 'Realm of Life and Death'?" Li Fan's eyes narrowed. Previously, everything Li Fan had encountered indicated that the transcendents in the mortal world were willing to gather and discuss methods to save the world, even passing the torch and going against the current to avert disaster, which seemed to be the common choice of all these powerful beings. However, Li Fan had long harbored doubts. It was impossible for everyone to be so "noble." A thousand people have a thousand faces. Especially when facing a crisis of life and death, individual choices would tend towards extremes.
"Indeed, apart from those who chose to save the world together, there are also extremely selfish individuals like the shadowy figures."
"Their actions are fundamentally the same as Black Heavenly Physician and Evil Su Bai, both acquiring resources from other possibilities to strengthen themselves. However, they are more extreme and their actions are grander, directly stealing the cornerstones of other possibilities..."
"Tearing down one wall to mend another. If too many walls are torn down, it's not impossible to survive the 'Integration of Mountains and Seas' tribulation," a faint light flashed in Li Fan's eyes. Instinctively, such actions were more in line with Li Fan's taste. However, from the first time he learned of other possibilities to the many transcendents he had encountered, only the so-called Five Venerates of the Same Calamity had chosen this path. Clearly, in the mortal world, they were the minority.
"Furthermore, this kind of behavior, digging up everyone's foundations, should absolutely not be allowed. Once discovered, it would likely be a fight to the death." With intelligent analysis, Li Fan temporarily suppressed the stirrings in his heart.
"The Script-Carving Immortal pursued the Five Venerates of the Same Calamity and never returned. It seems the situation is not optimistic."
"But, if that's the case, then the master of the Fallen Immortal Realm does not seem to be the Script-Carving Immortal?"
"Who could it be?" Li Fan's gaze was sharp as he looked towards the core of the Fallen Immortal Realm. While harboring doubts, he also breathed a sigh of relief. After all, if he truly had to face the Script-Carving Immortal, even his residual power after death would be immensely stressful.
"The fact that it could preserve the final scene before the Script-Carving Immortal departed... perhaps..." Li Fan thought of the half-unfolded scroll that the Script-Carving Immortal had casually thrown away at the end.
"The Supreme Dao Book?" Li Fan's eyes lit up.
"If the Supreme Dao Book truly possesses a spirit, then it would definitely have the ability to reflect the Azure Nether with a single glance."
"And with the complete fall of the Immortal Realm, the disappearance of its foundation and the Great Daos of the Immortal Realm, its demise is also a natural consequence."
Li Fan stared intently at the remnants of the Fallen Immortal Illusion, trying to discern any trace of the Supreme Dao Book. To his regret, until the Fallen Immortal Realm was on the verge of complete annihilation, he couldn't truly identify its nature.
"Press on with the pursuit of the vanquished enemy with the remaining strength; do not seek empty fame like the Hegemon King."
After a moment of contemplation, facing the Fallen Immortal Realm, which was only a sliver of light under the siege of the Azure Nether Beings' collective consciousness, Li Fan felt no reluctance. He issued the command for a final blow.
The light grew dimmer, and finally, it vanished from the world entirely.
"Did the true Supreme Dao Book truly perish so easily at my hands?" Li Fan swept his divine sense across the surroundings of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, confirming that no remnant of the Fallen Immortal Realm remained.
While feeling a slight regret, Li Fan was also struck by a sense of unreality.
Apart from his extreme selfishness, Li Fan was also inherently suspicious.
"The Fallen Immortal Realm, formed from the Supreme Dao Book, should have been a formidable enemy. Even if the foundation of the Supreme Dao Book, the Primordial Immortal Realm, has been destroyed, the Fallen Immortal Realm shouldn't be so fragile."
Having grown accustomed to adversity, a moment of smooth sailing made Li Fan uncontrollably suspicious.
As a precaution, Li Fan narrowed his eyes and meticulously examined the Azure Nether Immortal Realm from top to bottom, again and again.
Finally, finding nothing, he felt a measure of peace.
"My spiritual sense also gave no warning."
"It seems I was overthinking it."
Just as Li Fan was breathing a sigh of relief, he suddenly discovered that the Fallen Immortal Realm, which had clearly vanished moments before, had inexplicably reappeared above the Azure Nether Immortal Realm!
It was like a vigorously growing sprout, piercing the soil and emerging from the ground.
Li Fan didn't immediately move to destroy it again. Instead, his expression grim, he observed it first.
The core of this newly formed Fallen Immortal Illusion was still the scene of the Boundless Starfield and the Supreme Dao Book. However, the outer layer of the newly generated illusion mirrored the Azure Nether Immortal Realm!
This Fallen Immortal Realm was truly like a centipede – even in death, it wouldn't fall. Not only had it survived the encirclement, but it had also advanced further.
"I had already sealed off the contact between the Fallen Immortal Realm and the Azure Nether Beings' collective consciousness. How did this new Fallen Immortal Realm come into being?"
With this question in mind, Li Fan had the Great Heavenly Venerate Immortal Puppet personally send a strand of consciousness into the newly born Fallen Immortal Illusion.
The Azure Nether Great Heavenly Venerate already possessed a higher "authority" over the Fallen Immortal Realm. Even though the Fallen Immortal Realm had been destroyed and reborn, this rule had not disappeared.
The moment the Great Heavenly Venerate's consciousness entered the Fallen Immortal Realm, Li Fan sensed this fact.
"The grade of the Supreme Dao Book is far superior to the Azure Nether Great Heavenly Venerate."
"Yet, the Azure Nether Heavenly Venerate can, in certain aspects, restrain the Fallen Immortal Realm."
Li Fan's heart stirred, as if he had grasped something crucial.
The Great Heavenly Venerate's consciousness roamed the Fallen Immortal Realm, and the sights it witnessed confirmed his conjecture.
"So that's how it is."
"The core scene of the Boundless Starfield is merely an illusion. The true foundation of the Fallen Immortal Realm..."
Li Fan observed the people, events, and objects within the new Fallen Immortal Illusion. They corresponded almost one-to-one with the actual Azure Nether Immortal Realm.
However, this correspondence was limited to the beings of the original Xuanhuang Realm.
Because of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm's expansion, beings from realms like the Heavenly Law Realm, which were later incorporated, were not included in this mirroring.
"The true foundation of the Fallen Immortal Realm is the [Azure Nether Beings]!"
"As the Azure Nether Beings' collective consciousness entered and shaped the Fallen Immortal Realm, the Fallen Immortal Realm also quietly entered the bodies of the Azure Nether Beings."
"The Supreme Dao Book had long since broken down into dispersed fragments, completing a certain degree of binding with the beings of the Xuanhuang Realm."
"This is also why the Azure Nether Great Heavenly Venerate could possess a certain degree of authority to modify the Fallen Immortal Realm."
Li Fan's gaze flickered as if he had seen through the truth of the Fallen Immortal Realm.
"In this way, the Fallen Immortal Realm has two great foundations for its existence. One is the core illusory scene of the Boundless Starfield, and the other is the collective consciousness of the Azure Nether Beings. As long as either of them exists, the Fallen Immortal Realm can continue to exist."
"To completely destroy the Fallen Immortal Realm, one would have to kill all the original Azure Nether Beings." Li Fan frowned slightly at this thought.
With his current strength, he could indeed accomplish this.
However, it would be akin to "killing a thousand enemies while losing eight hundred of your own."
Not only would his hard-earned temporal anchor points be destroyed, but his subsequent plan to seal all Azure Nether Immortals would also be significantly affected.
"If the sole purpose is to completely eliminate the hidden danger of the Fallen Immortal Realm, it might not be worth the cost."
After weighing the pros and cons, Li Fan finally made a new decision.
The reason he had wanted to destroy the Fallen Immortal Realm previously was due to its unknown nature.
Without understanding its true essence, he couldn't guard against it.
But now...
"The Supreme Dao Book might not be unusable by me."
"Even if you are broken into countless fragments and hidden within the vast collective consciousness of the Azure Nether Beings, I am the parent of the Azure Nether. All Azure Nether Beings are within my grasp!"
With a thought, Li Fan instantly divided himself into countless tiny strands of consciousness.
When the Azure Nether's enlightenment miracle once again descended, accompanied by the surging collective consciousness of all beings, these minuscule divided consciousnesses quietly infiltrated the minds of these beings.
Li Fan had once understood the profound formation of "using beings to refine beings." Though ants are small, when amassed in infinite numbers, they can resist mountains and sea. Though Li Fan was the parent of the Azure Nether heaven and earth, when he came into intimate contact with this immense collective consciousness, he felt as if he had suddenly plunged into a boundless ocean.
He almost lost his direction.
However, Li Fan was, after all, someone who had personally entered the Infinite Sea several times and returned safely.
Compared to the vast and boundless Infinite Sea, the sea of consciousness of the Azure Nether beings was nothing.
Within a few breaths, Li Fan adapted.
He began a needle-in-a-haystack search for the hidden traces of the Supreme Dao Book.
Meanwhile, in reality, as if unaware of Li Fan's search, the Fallen Immortal Realm was instinctively repairing itself.
Even with Li Fan's active blockade and isolation, the growth rate of the new Fallen Immortal Illusion was extremely fast.
It seemed that after undergoing a destruction and shedding its original shell, it had become even easier to grow.
In just the time it took for a cup of tea to steep, it had recovered to one percent of its original size.
However, after this point, the Fallen Immortal Realm's recovery speed slowed down.
"Relying on the foundation rooted within the Azure Nether Beings, it can only recover to this extent. To regain its full former glory would require a continuous supply of nutrients from the Azure Nether Beings. But with my blockade, it can only go this far."
Li Fan sat cross-legged beside the Fallen Immortal Realm, silently guarding and waiting for changes to occur.
Although the Supreme Dao Book was cleverly hidden, it was now like a turtle in a jar, unable to escape. Capturing it was only a matter of time.
And Li Fan had plenty of time.
The struggle between Li Fan and the Supreme Dao Book was naturally imperceptible to the Azure Nether Beings. To them, being unable to enter the Fallen Immortal Realm was merely one aspect of the Azure Nether heaven and earth's unusual changes.
What truly concerned them was an anomaly that had traversed the entire Azure Nether Immortal Realm a while ago.
Ninety-nine continuous mountain ranges soared upwards, illuminating the Azure Nether. Almost all Azure Nether beings could witness this magnificent spectacle.
After shining in the sky, these ninety-nine mountain ranges finally transformed into a world and ascended further.
Ultimately, they reached the limit of naked-eye visibility at the edge of the firmament, resembling a star, suspended in the highest heavens!
When cultivators attempted to use their divine sense to interact with this star, information related to it would inexplicably flash in their minds: Tianlu Star, Ji Wangxian!
All cultivators who could perceive this information were shaken to their core.
Because this represented the Azure Nether Immortal Realm's first Nascent Soul cultivator's birth after the drastic changes to heaven and earth!
And the Nascent Soul cultivator of the new era possessed such astonishing power.
Far surpassing the past realms of Dao Integration and Longevity, reaching almost unimaginable heights!
One had to consider that the mountains and rivers of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm were entirely different from those of the former Xuanhuang Realm. The combined scale of these ninety-nine mountain ranges was already half the size of the former Xuanhuang Realm.
And how powerful must Ji Wangxian be, who had attained the Nascent Soul realm by mastering these continuous mountain ranges?
While fear arose in the cultivators' hearts, various ambitions were also ignited.
Who was Ji Wangxian?
He was a familiar figure to the cultivators of the former Xuanhuang Realm.
He was the ancestor of the [Myriad Laws Merchant Guild], merely a merchant!
Yet now, he had managed to achieve the Nascent Soul realm before countless prodigies and heroes.
Unconvinced, curious, jealous...
Numerous complex emotions arose in the hearts of the Azure Nether beings.
The cultivators' desire to cultivate and become stronger simultaneously surged significantly.
Everyone wished to become the second brilliant star, shining in the sky!
It wasn't just the Azure Nether beings; even Li Fan, the creator of the Azure Nether, was slightly drawn by this first rising star.
"It's actually him who broke through to the Nascent Soul realm first."
"Although my suppressing Su Bai and my own immersion in enlightenment played a role."
"However, to achieve the Dao before the members of the Myriad Immortal Sects is enough to prove his extraordinary nature."
With a mere thought, Li Fan understood the process of Ji Wangxian's advancement.
"What a ruthless person."
"Indeed, without ruthlessness, success is impossible." Li Fan raised an eyebrow, then offered rare praise.
The Myriad Laws Merchant Guild, unlike other immortal cultivation sects.
After the Xuanhuang Realm's celestial upheaval, all cultivators in other immortal cultivation sects returned to a level playing field.
The past class system was thus shaken. Some sects even resorted to infighting over the issue of "who would hold power in the new era."
However, within the Myriad Laws Merchant Guild, this problem did not exist.
Ji Wangxian, the ancestor of the Ji family, even after returning to the mortal realm, still possessed firm control over others.
This was because the entire Ji family, the entire Myriad Laws Merchant Guild, was created by Ji Wangxian as a tool for accumulating wealth and cultivating for his own benefit.
The Ji family, from birth, was under Ji Wangxian's control.
Just like Ji Zhaoxuan of the Ji family, whom Li Fan had encountered in the Fallen Immortal Realm.
Therefore, with the arrival of the new era, Ji Wangxian was not surprised but delighted.
Whenever members of the Ji family gained some insight into the new world, Ji Wangxian would directly devour them, assimilating their enlightenment.
With tens of thousands of people as his sustenance, Ji Wangxian's cultivation speed was unparalleled.
Furthermore, Ji Wangxian did not exhaust his resources. While ensuring his cultivation was far ahead, he also nurtured a large group of prodigies as future "food."
Simultaneously, Ji Wangxian organized his forces to plunder other cultivators. They were prepared with secret methods and turned into slaves, serving as sustenance for his cultivation.
With the Xuanhuang Realm's radical changes and the collapse of order, and without the constraints of the Ten Sects or the limitations of rules, Ji Wangxian had found an excellent stage for his ambitions.
Through these methods, Ji Wangxian became the first Nascent Soul cultivator in the Azure Nether Immortal Realm.
He transformed into a star, illuminating the Azure Nether.
From then on, as long as the Azure Nether Immortal Realm existed, he would be undying and indestructible.
Even if Dao Erasure descended, he would have a sliver of hope!
In a sense, Ji Wangxian, the Tianlu Star, possessed an even greater ability to resist the calamities of mountains and seas than the so-called True Immortals of the past!
Even though this resistance was overwhelmingly built upon the foundation laid by Li Fan.
Currently, apart from Ji Wangxian, no other cultivator in the Azure Nether Immortal Realm knew the benefits of transforming into an Azure Nether star.
And Ji Wangxian would not be so kind as to share this secret with others.
His desire to advance further became even more intense.
After all, if Nascent Soul could bring such fortune, what about the realms above, Soul Transformation and Dao Integration?
Ji Wangxian's exploitation and consumption grew ever more severe.
The Ji family had no room for resistance.
"This is also a form of Dao cultivation."
"Unfortunately, relying entirely on others, his ultimate achievements are destined to be limited. He cannot forge his own path of transcendence." Li Fan commented.
"However, on my list of Invested Immortals, his name might be inscribed. Ji Wangxian's cultivation and comprehension of the Dao may not be exceptional, but in manipulating and controlling others, I might even learn a thing or two from him."
Li Fan observed Ji Wangxian's methods, marveling.
Past events aside, let's mention a new invention of Ji Wangxian after achieving the Nascent Soul realm.
After transforming into an immortal star and becoming undying and indestructible, Ji Wangxian gathered all members of the Ji family.
Then, he implanted his own flesh and blood, spirit and soul, into each member of the Ji family.
He called it the "Ancestor's Gift."
This implanted flesh and blood did indeed aid in cultivation. Even gaining the characteristics of the Tianlu Star, the Ji family members possessed a semi-"undying and indestructible" ability, greatly increasing their combat power.
However, the greater function of the flesh and blood was taxation.
A significant portion of all the enlightenment and cultivation gains of the Ji family members would be absorbed by Ji Wangxian.
The higher the cultivation, the heavier the tax.
Furthermore, those implanted with flesh and blood would experience an uncontrollable surge of desire. Their moral compass would gradually fade, and they would voluntarily contribute to the Ji family's growth every night.
Ji Wangxian's cultivation resources would swell incessantly.
And under this heavy burden, if anyone still managed to cultivate with remarkable speed, they would be directly targeted by Ji Wangxian for focused attention.
He would help them reproduce more outstanding offspring, serving as reserves for cultivation seeds, while the genius themselves would always be at risk of being devoured by Ji Wangxian.
...
"This development model is indeed the most suitable in the current Azure Nether Immortal Realm."
"However, it needs to be restricted. Otherwise, if he accumulates too much advantage, others might find it difficult to resist."
As Li Fan thought this, he drew a circle in the air towards the location of the ninety-nine mountain ranges.
Moments later, countless slumbering spirits around the mountain ranges instantly awoke.
They then surged towards the Ji family's location.
"While it won't lead to his complete annihilation, he will have to devote half of his energy to dealing with the monster siege."
With Li Fan's current control over the Xuanhuang Realm, nothing that happened in this new world escaped his calculations.
As he predicted, the rapid ascent of the Ji family was directly halted.
The monstrous entities were ferocious. Even Ji Wangxian himself had to divert some of his energy to deal with them. However, since he had already transformed into an Azure Nether Star, he possessed sufficient protective power. The Ji family would not be annihilated under the siege of these monstrous entities.
Perhaps the emergence of the first Azure Nether Star greatly stimulated other cultivators.
Barely half a month later, the second Azure Nether Star appeared.
The one who attained the Dao was the Supreme Sect Leader, Chen Qiandu!
This was the old Daoist that Li Fan had seen through Jiang Yingyue's eyes, the one who remained unfazed even when facing Li Fan's forged "Supreme Dao Scripture."
Compared to Ji Wangxian's opportunistic rise, Chen Qiandu's attainment of the Dao was solid, relying entirely on his own comprehension.
On the celestial screen, ripples spread across the water. With each ripple, a phantom figure crossed the void.
The scene revealed was the second Azure Nether Star, the Star of Heavenly Crossing!
The moment the Star of Heavenly Crossing burst forth, all the disciples of the Supreme Sect, scattered throughout the world due to the Azure Nether's cataclysm, felt as if they had found their backbone. They all headed towards the location of the Star of Heavenly Crossing. Guided by the light of the Star of Heavenly Crossing, they could avoid most of the attacks from monstrous entities along the way. Consequently, the Supreme Sect became the first of the Myriad Immortal Sects to recover its basic vitality.
"This Chen Qiandu truly has some skills."
Li Fan looked at the Star of Heavenly Crossing beneath the Four Heavenly Gates, and the entire process of the old Daoist's enlightenment flickered through his mind in an instant.
As the Sect Leader of the Supreme Sect, Chen Qiandu did not concern himself much with sect affairs. From the moment he became Sect Leader, he had handed over almost all of it to his junior brother, Duan Zhiyi, to manage. He himself focused entirely on understanding the Dao and cultivation.
The Azure Nether's transformation into a new world did not significantly affect Chen Qiandu. Therefore, his Dao of Heavenly Crossing was not altered by external environmental changes; it followed his inner will. Even if he had to start again from Qi Refining, he remained calm and crossed it step by step.
"No wonder he was so firm in refusing my Supreme Dao Scripture back then. I had somewhat underestimated this person."
"This Dao of Heavenly Crossing already has some semblance of the path of transcending and crossing." Li Fan nodded slightly in appreciation.
Then, Li Fan seemed to recall something and frowned slightly: "I remember that in the Star Pivot Plain ten thousand years later in my previous life, there was a region called the 'Daoist Arena,' a gathering place for many surviving forces, similar to a sword domain. I suppose this person must have built it. Chen Qiandu has considerable potential. Perhaps soon, his cultivation progress will surpass Ji Wangxian's."
With the first and second stars having appeared successively, Li Fan's gaze turned towards Xuanyuan Tuo and Su Bai.
Even with Li Fan's deliberate suppression, Su Bai's realm had already reached Golden Core Perfection. He was only a step away from attaining Nascent Soul. Moreover, this was the result of him not fully dedicating all his energy to cultivation. Su Bai spent almost half of his day teaching the orphans in the ruined temple and maintaining order in Ningyuan City. Even so, he was able to make such rapid progress. His talent was clearly extraordinary.
Compared to Su Bai, Xuanyuan Tuo seemed somewhat inferior.
He hadn't even taken the first step of cultivation, Qi Refining. He merely entered seclusion, occasionally looking up at the sky, as if sensing something.
Li Fan, however, did not lose hope in imparting the Dao.
He had already vaguely sensed that although Xuanyuan Tuo had not yet cultivated, he was brewing something. Just like the new laws of the Azure Nether in the past, once they appeared, they would cause a tremendous upheaval.
"The new laws of the Xuanhuang Realm, I am indeed looking forward to it." Li Fan smiled slightly.
Built upon the Infinite Sea and Mount Taihua, infused with the power of the Great Dao of Longevity, the limitless and eternal characteristics of the Xuanhuang Realm perfectly resolved the potential hidden dangers of cultivating new laws.
No matter how much cultivators devoured the heavens and consumed the earth, the Xuanhuang Realm could continuously regenerate. There was no longer an irreconcilable conflict between heaven and earth and the cultivators. Instead, they shared a common goal.
To survive the calamity of Dao Erasure!
"It is no longer an unending struggle, but rather, one prospers together, and one suffers together."
Cultivators understood the Great Dao laws of the Xuanhuang Realm and transformed into stars, hanging in the sky.
And the Xuanhuang Realm, having gained these cultivator stars, underwent many wondrous changes.
The most significant was that with the addition of the cultivator stars, the Xuanhuang Realm became more stable. It was akin to building a house. Li Fan had used Mount Taihua, the Infinite Sea, and the Great Dao of Longevity as materials to construct the foundation of the Xuanhuang Realm. However, as it was his first time truly creating an immortal realm, there were inevitably many flaws. Within this large framework, countless tiny "gaps" existed.
As cultivators attained the Dao, these invisible, minute gaps would be gradually filled.
"This is what is called supplementing the Heavenly Dao with the Human Dao."
"The more prosperous the cultivation scene in this realm, the more stable my Xuanhuang Realm will become."
Li Fan sat in the ninth heaven, calmly observing the changes in the Xuanhuang Realm.
Time flew by. In the blink of an eye, twenty years had passed.
The shining stars on the Azure Nether celestial screen had increased to thirty-eight. However, the first Soul Transformation cultivator had yet to descend.
And after these years of waiting, Li Fan's harvesting period had finally arrived.
The countless divine senses he had differentiated had thoroughly infiltrated and settled within the minds of all Azure Nether life forms. It could be said that at this moment, all thoughts of all living beings in this realm were completely under Li Fan's control.
On the ninth heaven, at a position just below Li Fan, hovering above the cultivator stars and the Four Heavenly Gates, was a swirling mass of distorted light.
This was a phantom world that Li Fan had created by imitating the Fallen Immortal Realm, based on the thoughts of cultivators he had spied upon. Li Fan called it the [Primordial Illusion Realm]. Here, cultivators could not only understand what they were thinking and desiring, as well as any subtle thoughts deepest within their hearts, but they could also glimpse into the minds of others.
It could even bring some imagined creations into the Xuanhuang Realm!
"This Primordial Illusion Realm can only be entered by the stars in the heavens."
"Below the stars, mortals cannot see or know."
Li Fan's will was the law of the Xuanhuang Realm.
As the Heavenly Dao flowed, the Primordial Illusion Realm quietly changed. The light dimmed, becoming more illusory. Only those cultivators' stars that were close could detect its presence.
Not long after, Nascent Soul cultivators detected the existence of this mass of light and began to explore it cautiously.
Each of their dives into it was also an expansion of the Primordial Illusion Realm.
Li Fan did not create the Primordial Illusion Realm out of kindness or consideration for the cultivation of Azure Nether cultivators.
It was for the [Supreme Dao Scripture]!
The Supreme Dao Scripture was hidden too deeply. Moreover, it shifted with the changes in the thoughts of living beings.
Over the past twenty years, Li Fan had tried various methods to find it.
There were indeed effects, but the fragmented Supreme Dao Scripture that was revealed was always incomplete.
It was even inferior to the pseudo-version Li Fan had created himself.
So Li Fan changed his approach and did not excavate directly.
Instead, he installed a mirror in every living being's heart.
All their inner thoughts were projected together.
This conglomerate of projected consciousness was the Primordial Illusion Realm.
Although the human heart was constantly changing, at any given moment, their thoughts were fixed.
By observing the thoughts of all living beings at a specific moment, the complete hidden Supreme Dao Scripture could be pieced together.
Under the manipulation of Li Fan's will, within the Primordial Illusion Realm, it was as if a storm was constantly surging and changing. Light and shadow churned, shifting endlessly, as if undergoing trillions of changes in an instant.
With Li Fan's continuous adjustments, finally, a vast scroll floating in the starry sky appeared before Li Fan.
Unlike the True Immortal Sigils seen in the Fallen Immortal Realm, which was distorted and unclear, this Supreme Dao Scripture, reflected by the Primordial Illusion Realm, had every True Immortal Sigils clearly legible!
A scroll, spanning the star-filled sky, with shining script, truly like the Three Great Daos, illuminating the world.
Li Fan saw familiar characters within it.
Starvation, Ancient, Manifest, Return, Restrain...
Primordial, Creation, Innate, Inaction...
Some light projections were very solid, while others seemed hollowed out, only showing a faint translucent color.
"This is the difference between those who have attained the Dao of the Nameless."
"I never expected that the number of those who attained the Dao of the Nameless would be so few."
Li Fan briefly scanned it. Among the True Immortal Sigilss recorded in the Supreme Dao Scripture, those who attained the Dao of the Nameless were less than one in a hundred thousand.
"Moreover, there are those who transcended and left, and those whose scriptures were stolen."
Li Fan observed carefully and discovered traces remaining in the positions of the Supreme Dao Scripture where there were no shining characters, corresponding to the more than thirty stolen scripts.
These scripts were generally located in the front part of the Supreme Dao Scripture.
They were not translucent, but only faint imprints remained. The original forms of these True Immortal Sigilss were already imperceptible.
"As for those who attained the Dao of the Nameless yet departed..."
Li Fan looked at this portion of the scripts.
Their shapes varied. Some also left only faint imprints. Some had completely disappeared. While others left relatively clear traces.
Li Fan compared them carefully, lost in thought: "These are the different states of those who transcended and departed."
"Some have completely severed their connection with the Xuanhuang Realm. Others have left behind something akin to an echo of their existence, like the Mound Guardian, remaining to prop up the Dao Erasure."
He believed that these remaining characters still had inextricable connections with these transcendent Nameless ones. Li Fan did not sense them closely, merely observing from a distance.
The Supreme Dao Scripture, spanning across the dark starry sky, was vast and immense.
A cursory glance took Li Fan three years.
"My previous guess was correct."
"After the destruction of the Immortal Realm, most of the True Immortal Sigilss recorded in the scripture are merely True Immortal Sigilss. The underlying Great Daos they represent are either incomplete or have been swallowed by Dao Erasure."
"Therefore, most of the True Immortal Sigilss in this scroll are invalid. Only the Great Daos that still exist in the Lower Realm are worth comprehending."
Li Fan's divine sense swept across the Supreme Dao Scripture, marking each valuable character.
"I can vaguely sense a faint connection between these characters and the outside world. Some point beyond the Primordial Possibility, while others are still within the Primordium. There are even True Immortals who have not attained the Dao of the Nameless but have gained insights in their respective paths." Li Fan's eyes flickered.
"With this Supreme Dao Scripture, I might be able to capture them one by one."
In Li Fan's vision, each character in the Supreme Dao Scripture had a thin thread behind it, connecting to a True Immortal in the outside world.
There were countless threads, scattered everywhere.
Li Fan observed them carefully, his gaze seeming to pierce through infinite time and space, focusing on the other end of the thread.
"The Lower Realm Star Seas that survived the Primordium are more numerous than I originally imagined."
"However, some are too far away."
"Compared to them, the Star Sea of Guang Wu is considered adjacent."
"However, judging by the area near the High Wall alone, it will be enough for me to digest for a while."
Based on the connections presented in the Supreme Dao Scripture, Li Fan had already pre-ranked these True Immortals according to their strength.
"When cultivators in the Xuanhuang Realm reach the Dao Integration realm in large numbers, they can be used to capture them for me."
He meticulously marked them. After a long while, Li Fan refocused on the Supreme Dao Scripture itself.
Serving as a hunting indicator was merely a secondary use of the Supreme Dao Scripture.
Its original purpose was, naturally, to comprehend the Dao.
"As expected of its composition by the Script-Carving Immortal, it is even more exquisite than the True Immortal Sigilss I saw in the Samsara."
"It even seems closer to the Great Dao itself than the True Immortal Sigilss manifested after the demise of Nameless True Immortals," Li Fan marveled, staring at the 'Starvation' character in the scripture.
"However..."
"This scripture does not contain the words 'Script-Carving' (铭道)?"
Li Fan's heart was filled with doubt.
"Logically speaking, the Dao of Script-Carving is also one of the Great Daos in this world. If this Supreme Dao Scripture is truly complete, then this character should be included."
"Yet, I cannot find it anywhere..."
Li Fan snorted, "It seems that the Script-Carving Immortal hid it."
"How many other True Immortal Sigilss, like that of Script-Carving, are there?"
Li Fan stared at the more than thirty stolen characters in the Supreme Dao Scripture.
The thin threads behind them pointed beyond the Primordial Possibility, to a place called the [Realm of Life and Death].
Regardless of how many years had passed, this connection had not been broken.
"With this guidance, I can directly reach the Realm of Life and Death, if I had the strength to traverse mountains and seas."
"However, since Script-Carving Immortal is long gone, there is no need for me to join the fray," Li Fan shook his head slightly.
Then, with a large gulp, he directly swallowed the Supreme Dao Scripture presented by the Primordial Illusion Realm.
The Primordial Illusion Realm returned to its original state, so as not to alert the Azure Nether cultivators.
Li Fan, alone in his heart, quietly comprehended these countless True Immortal Sigilss.
If comprehending the Dao was an exam, then at this moment, Li Fan had the answer key in hand.
He only needed to follow suit to directly reach the Great Dao itself.
Another ten years passed. Within Li Fan's body, a Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice, far grander than the one in his previous life, quietly took shape.
The Myriad Manifestations The Dao Lattice, woven with the threads of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm's nascent Ink-Slaughter dark clouds and countless True Immortal Sigils nodes inscribed in the Supreme Dao Scripture, could be considered a miniature version of the complete Great Dao of Primordial Possibility.
Apart from the Great Daos that had already escaped or vanished, Li Fan projected all others through the Myriad Manifestations The Dao Lattice. If this were the initial version of the Myriad Manifestations The Dao Lattice, it would surely have been detected by the True Immortals still existing in the Primordial world. However, in this life, the Myriad Manifestations The Dao Lattice did not project directly. Instead, it used the Supreme Dao Scripture as a communication intermediary. Thus, it remained in a state of secure concealment.
With the successful initial establishment of the Myriad Manifestations The Dao Lattice, Li Fan's strength reached an extremely delicate stage. Although he had not officially attained the True Immortal realm, through the Great Heavenly Venerate Immortal Puppet, Li Fan could still harness infinite power. The Azure Nether Immortal Realm was forged on Mount Shang. As the progenitor of Azure Nether, Li Fan also possessed the aura of a True Immortal. Within his body, he held the power of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm's phantom formed by the feedback from the Heaven-Sitting Art. Now, with the addition of this Myriad Manifestations The Dao Lattice centered around Ink-Slaughter…
Though not a True Immortal, his strength surpassed that of ordinary True Immortals. Even those who had attained the Nameless realm would not be Li Fan's match.
“Within the Primordial, I have reached the pinnacle I can attain. Henceforth, all cultivation methods may slightly enhance my combat power, but they will be useless for taking the next step.”
“Transcendence…”
After enduring the tribulation of the three Dao manifestations merging, Li Fan lost all his memories and cultivation. He was even forced into an unfamiliar time and space from ten thousand years ago. Yet, even so, he only spent a mere hundred years to not only recover but also reach a crucial juncture in his cultivation path. This was due to the foundation he had accumulated through his past reincarnations. Despite minor disturbances, they ultimately did not affect the final outcome. Li Fan was destined to reach this point swiftly.
“But how can I truly take that step?”
Li Fan appeared to be at the center of the Myriad Manifestations The Dao Lattice, surrounded by a pitch-black starry sky where countless thin threads, representing various Great Daos, crisscrossed. His gaze swept across them, and Li Fan contemplated the path most suitable for him. He had begun searching for the answer to this question long ago. Yet, now, on the verge of this crucial step, the answer remained elusive.
“Logically, when one’s strength and realm reach my level, even if they temporarily lack an answer in their heart, they should at least have a general direction. It is impossible to not even have a clear approach.”
“This is because my path is too unique. It differs from that of any other cultivator.”
The Myriad Manifestations The Dao Lattice around him shattered violently, revealing the magnificent scenery of the Xuanhuang Realm.
“Almost eighty percent of my current strength originates from this Azure Nether Immortal Realm. The moment I attempt to step onto the path of transcendence and leave the realm of [Primordial] Possibility, I will sever my connection with the Azure Nether Immortal Realm. Without my foundation, it would be like stepping on air and falling from a ten-thousand-foot building to the ground in an instant.”
“To ascend again would be akin to starting from scratch. Naturally, it would be extremely difficult.”
“This is the drawback of borrowing power, and it is also to be expected. After all, in a hundred years, to cultivate from a mere mortal to a Nameless True Immortal is already incredibly astonishing. Is there anything perfect in this world?” Li Fan understood his situation with great clarity.
However, despite his words, he did not abandon the search for a solution to this drawback.
“The seas and mountains are boundless, so how can one build a boat?”
Following Li Fan's previous thought process and behavior patterns, he would naturally seek others' power to achieve his own transcendence. Yet, the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas was different from what he had encountered before. To cross it, one could only rely on oneself. There seemed to be no more shortcuts, leaving Li Fan temporarily in a predicament.
However, Li Fan was not in a hurry. Although the Return to Truth was currently in slumber, his foundation was stable. Before the Primordial was engulfed by Dao Erasure, he had ample time for contemplation.
While Li Fan explored answers for his future, the cultivators of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm were also doing the same. The leap from Nascent Soul to Soul Transformation was even more difficult than all previous realms combined. Even Ji Wangxian, who had exploited his family members to the extreme, or Chen Qiandu, who had already glimpsed his own path, or Su Bai, with his unparalleled talent, felt a faint despair when facing this insurmountable chasm.
If Soul Transformation was like this, what about the subsequent Dao Integration? Even if they successfully reached Soul Transformation, how could they take the next step? Once cultivators harbored such thoughts, a shadow would inevitably fall upon them. If they could not escape this shadow, their progress might be hindered for a lifetime.
The vast gaps between different realms were not something Li Fan intentionally created to make things difficult for the Azure Nether cultivators. It was due to the peculiar circumstances of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm. The Azure Nether cultivators, though standing above the Azure Nether Immortal Realm and gaining a layer of "momentum" out of nowhere, were essentially still mortals. From Qi Refining to Dao Integration, the entire cultivation process was a transformation from mortal to Nameless True Immortal. The gap between each realm was naturally unimaginably large.
“There may be thousands or tens of thousands of beings ranked among the stars, but among this multitude, only one in ten thousand can make it onto the Investiture of the Gods! And among those on the list, only a handful will eventually surpass the four great immortal sects and be bestowed immortal status!” Li Fan clearly saw the potential and ultimate limits of all Azure Nether cultivators. Without any other fortuitous encounters, the vast majority of them would remain trapped below the Nascent Soul realm for their entire lives.
It seemed bleak. However, compared to cultivators outside the Xuanhuang Realm, they were already extremely fortunate. At the very least, with the Azure Nether Immortal Realm's protection, they were largely spared the worry of Dao Erasure tribulations.
“The moment the first Dao Integration cultivator is born in the Azure Nether Immortal Realm will mark the official connection between the Azure Nether Immortal Realm and the Mountains and Seas. I hope you will not keep us waiting too long.” Li Fan's gaze swept over the figures below.
After the initial formation of the Myriad Manifestations The Dao Lattice, Li Fan ceased suppressing Su Bai. Without suppression, Su Bai’s true talent gradually manifested, achieving the eighteenth star of Azure Nether, the Star of Heavenly Benevolence. The Nascent Soul star phenomenon was the altered landscape within a hundred thousand-mile radius of Ningyuan City. All living beings within it were now protected by Su Bai, no longer plagued by malevolent spirits.
As for Doctrine Transmitter… he remained in the initial stages of cultivation. A hundred years passed, and even the most devout followers of Doctrine Transmitter had gradually forgotten him. After all, in these hundred years, Doctrine Transmitter had not made any appearance. Most of the Myriad Immortals Alliance cultivators believed he had perished in the celestial upheaval. Otherwise, it was difficult to explain why, with his former status, he had not yet manifested as a star. WWW ●●CΟ In the Myriad Immortals Alliance, three of Doctrine Transmitter’s disciples had already reached the Nascent Soul realm. They only occasionally recalled the brilliant Doctrine Transmitter Immortal Venerable from the past when cultivating.
The cultivation path for New Law cultivators within the Azure Nether Immortal Realm was even more arduous. Nine out of ten were consumed by the oddities and grotto-heavens within their bodies. The exceptionally talented few who managed to regain control of these resources found themselves facing a dead end when attempting to advance further.
To extract the essence of heaven and earth and obtain its spirit; to sacrifice the essence of heaven and earth to unite with the Dao; to reverse the principles of heaven and earth to attain longevity! These were the three realms beyond Nascent Soul. Although New Law cultivators had not met the cultivation requirements in the past, they could at least imagine these realms. However, now… there was no room for imagination.
During the cataclysmic changes of heaven and earth, many grotto-heavens persisted, undergoing transformation and sublimation along with it. But the essence of heaven and earth, and the essence of heaven and earth, had vanished from the sight of all New Law cultivators. Without the necessary materials for cultivation, how could they cultivate? The only support for New Law cultivators was the belief that these materials had not truly disappeared but that their current realm was too low to perceive them. Perhaps with further cultivation in the future, they might have another opportunity to advance. However, reality did not unfold as they wished.
The essence of heaven and earth referred to the changes of heaven and earth’s birth. The essence of heaven and earth referred to the administrators of heaven and earth’s Dao. In the original Xuanhuang Realm, these two were the natural mechanisms of the Azure Nether heaven and earth's operation, manifesting in the world. But now, above the Azure Nether Heavenly Dao, there was the Creator, Li Fan! Since the resources of oddities and grotto-heavens could regenerate continuously, and Li Fan held the operational authority of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, how could he cede it? Thus, Li Fan hid them.
If the New Law cultivators continued on their original cultivation path, it was truly a dead end. Li Fan had no intention of offering them kind advice. He was more interested in seeing how Doctrine Transmitter would alter the New Law, enabling it to function correctly within the Azure Nether Immortal Realm.
After observing for a while, Li Fan noticed Doctrine Transmitter's aura fluctuating, showing signs of imminent awakening. Peering into Doctrine Transmitter's mind, Li Fan discovered a fierce storm gathering within his consciousness. Dark clouds rolled in, all revolving around a single thought:
“Not to prove Longevity, only to prove Dao Integration!”
Li Fan's eyes narrowed as he heard this sentence echoing incessantly in Doctrine Transmitter's mind.
“Interesting.”
“It seems he has faintly sensed my existence as the ruler of this world.” Without a doubt, Doctrine Transmitter's idea was extremely wise. Setting aside the fact that the foundation of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm lay in the Infinite Sea and Mount Shang, as well as the Great Dao of Longevity, the principles of Azure Nether were fundamentally the principles of Mountains and Seas, which cultivators within the Xuanhuang Realm could not reverse. Not to mention, beyond that, there was also Li Fan, the helmsman of this realm. Reversing the principles of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm was akin to contending with Li Fan for control of Azure Nether. Even if a truly astonishing talent emerged from the countless beings in the Xuanhuang Realm, Li Fan would decisively suppress them before they could succeed in their Dao attainment.
“To sever one’s divine self in pursuit of life.”
“Indeed. It seems like an abandonment of the most crucial step, but it is actually a retreat, creating a broader horizon and securing a space for survival.” Li Fan did not withhold his praise. He looked forward to Doctrine Transmitter’s complete deduction even more.
“If my guess is correct, the original New Law was to solve the problem of cultivators being unable to cultivate. Then, the current New Law is to solve the problem of cultivators cultivating too slowly.”
“The advent of the New Law will greatly benefit the Azure Nether Immortal Realm!”
Within the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, all changes were under Li Fan's control. The thoughts of all beings in Azure Nether were also under Li Fan's observation. Therefore, Li Fan could, to a certain extent, "foresee" the future state of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm. A smile touched his lips, and Li Fan shifted his gaze with satisfaction. He then thought of his own path to transcendence.
“Sometimes, breaking free from established frameworks and approaching problems from a different angle can yield miraculous results.”
As if sensing something, Li Fan's consciousness returned to that dark starry sky. He wandered within the boundless Myriad Manifestations The Dao Lattice, forgetting the passage of time. Only after personally treading upon all the threads nine times did a flash of inspiration finally illuminate the surrounding dark starry sky.
“The seas and mountains are boundless, so how can one build a boat…”
“I have been desperately searching for the answer, but I forgot that the boat was already built by me and has always been beneath my feet!”
“To leave the Primordial means losing the Azure Nether Immortal Realm as my reliance. Then, let us find a way to bring the Azure Nether Immortal Realm into the Mountains and Seas!”
“The Azure Nether Immortal Realm is not only my sanctuary from disaster but also my vessel for crossing!”
At this, Li Fan's thoughts instantly became clear. As if comprehending everything, his laughter reverberated through the Myriad Manifestations The Dao Lattice. Along with his enlightenment, inexplicable changes also occurred within the Azure Nether Immortal Realm.
Heaven and earth trembled, and all things roared. The intense tremors lasted for a full fifteen minutes. The beings living within felt a sense of impending doom. However, after the tremors subsided, this sense of crisis quickly dissipated. Within heaven and earth, only the Azure Nether Heavenly Dao remained submerged in that feeling of dread. This was because it keenly sensed that the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, which previously had a foundation within the realm of [Primordial] Possibility, was now completely "severing" from the Primordial.
If the Azure Nether Immortal Realm was originally a house built on the land of the Primordial, then upon the completion of the "severing," it would transform into a drifting ship. Although it gained more freedom, it also became more perilous. The Azure Nether Heavenly Dao undoubtedly yearned for safety. But the cause of all this was Li Fan, the progenitor of Azure Nether. Despite his countless unwillingness, it could only endure silently. In order to protect itself, it instinctively unleashed various hidden potentials. Consequently, numerous changes quietly arose within the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, all aimed at better adapting to an uncertain future.
For instance, the Azure Nether Immortal Realm began to proactively sprout tentacle-like growths, extending from its roots in Mount Shang to explore and take root in the surroundings. Furthermore, more and more essences of heaven and earth were summoned and gathered near the Four Heavenly Gates. Even though the connection with the Infinite Sea had not officially opened, they were preemptively sensing the infinite power, preparing for the formal connection to the Mountains and Seas in the future.
Moreover, there were still residual, drifting immortal artifacts and fragments within the Azure Nether heaven and earth. In the past, the Azure Nether Heavenly Dao remained indifferent, passively "digesting" them through the natural circulation of heaven and earth in a slow process. But now… essences of heaven and earth appeared near these immortal artifacts, collecting and imprisoning them, followed by active "refinement." Although, for the current Azure Nether Immortal Realm, these residual immortal artifacts were not even comparable to supplementary nourishment. Still, it indicated the Azure Nether Heavenly Dao's attitude to some extent.
The Myriad Manifestations The Dao Lattice, woven with the dark mist of the newborn Azure Nether Immortal Realm's Ink Slaughter as its threads and countless True Immortal Sigilss from the Supreme Dao Book as its nodes, could almost be considered a miniature version of the complete Primordial Possibility Great Dao.
Apart from the Great Daos that had already escaped or vanished, Li Fan reflected all remaining Great Daos with the Myriad Manifestations The Dao Lattice. If it were the initial version of the Myriad Manifestations The Dao Lattice from his previous life, this action would have surely alerted the True Immortals still existing in the Primordial world. However, in this life, the Myriad Manifestations The Dao Lattice did not reflect directly. Instead, it used the Supreme Dao Book as a conduit for connection. Thus, it remained in a safe, hidden state.
With the successful establishment of the Myriad Manifestations The Dao Lattice, Li Fan's strength reached an extremely delicate state. Although he had not officially attained the Dao of True Immortality, Li Fan could still summon infinite power through the Great Heavenly Venerate Immortal Puppet.
The Azure Nether Immortal Realm was forged on Mount Shang. As the progenitor of the Azure Nether, Li Fan possessed the demeanor of a True Immortal. His body also contained the power of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm's phantom, formed by the Heaven-Sitting Art. Now, with the addition of this Myriad Manifestations The Dao Lattice, centered around Ink Slaughter... although not a True Immortal, his strength was beyond comparison to ordinary True Immortals. Even a Nameless One would not be Li Fan's opponent.
"Within the Primordial, I have reached the pinnacle I could attain. Henceforth, any cultivation method, while perhaps slightly increasing my combat power, will be useless in advancing further."
"Transcendence..."
After experiencing the tribulation of the fusion of three Daos, Li Fan lost all memory and cultivation. He was even forced into an unfamiliar time and space ten thousand years ago. Yet, even so, he only spent a mere hundred years to restore himself and even reach a critical juncture in his cultivation path. This was due to the profound foundation he had accumulated in his past reincarnations. Though there were minor setbacks, they were ultimately irrelevant to the final outcome. Li Fan was destined to reach this point soon.
"But how can I truly take this step?"
Li Fan seemed to have arrived at the center of the Myriad Manifestations The Dao Lattice. The surrounding starscape was pitch black, with threads representing the Great Daos intersecting in a complex web. As his gaze swept across them, Li Fan pondered the path most suitable for him. He had begun seeking the answer to this question long ago, but even now, on the verge of a breakthrough, the answer remained elusive.
"Logically, when one's strength and realm reach my level, even if there's no immediate answer in their heart, there should at least be a general direction for advancement. It's impossible to have no clear path."
"This is because my path is too unique. It differs from any other cultivator."
The phenomenon of the Myriad Manifestations The Dao Lattice around him shattered, revealing the magnificent scenery of the Xuanhuang Realm. "Currently, nearly eighty percent of my strength originates from this Azure Nether Immortal Realm. The moment I attempt to transcend and leave the possibilities of the 'Primordial,' I will sever my connection with the Azure Nether Immortal Realm. My foundation will be gone, like falling from a ten-thousand-story building to a flat surface in an instant."
"To ascend again would be no different from starting to climb from the beginning. Naturally, it would be incredibly difficult."
"This is the drawback of borrowing power, and it is only natural. After all, a hundred years to cultivate from a mortal to a Nameless True Immortal is already astonishing. Are there any perfect things in this world?"
Li Fan understood this thoroughly. However, despite acknowledging the drawback, he did not give up on finding a solution. "The mountains and seas are boundless, how can one build a boat?"
According to Li Fan's previous methods and patterns of behavior, he would naturally borrow the power of others to achieve his transcendence. However, the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas was different from the past. To traverse it, he could only rely on himself. It seemed there was no longer any shortcut, which briefly placed Li Fan in a predicament.
Yet, Li Fan was not in a hurry. Although Still Reflection was currently in slumber, his foundation was stable. He had ample time to ponder before the Primordial was engulfed by Dao Erasure.
While Li Fan was searching for answers regarding his future, the cultivators of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm were doing the same. The step from Nascent Soul to Soul Transformation was even more difficult than all previous realms combined. Even Ji Wangxian, who had exploited his family members to the extreme, Chen Qiandu, who had begun to forge his own path, and Su Bai, with his exceptional talent, felt a faint sense of despair when facing this seemingly insurmountable chasm.
If Soul Transformation was like this, what about the subsequent Dao Integration? Even if they succeeded in Soul Transformation, how would they take the next step? As soon as a cultivator harbored such thoughts, a shadow would inevitably fall upon them. If they couldn't emerge from this shadow, their progress would likely be halted forever.
The vast disparity between different realms was not Li Fan's intentional obstruction of Azure Nether cultivators. It was due to the unique circumstances of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm. Although Azure Nether cultivators stood above the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, gaining an "aura" from it, they were essentially still mortals. From Qi Refining to Dao Integration, the entire cultivation process was a transformation from mortal to Nameless True Immortal. The gap between each realm was naturally unimaginably large.
"There might be thousands, even tens of thousands, of those who rank among the stars, but among this multitude, only a tiny fraction can make it onto the Investiture of the Gods! And among those on the list, very few ultimately surpass the Four Great Immortal Sects to be ranked among the Immortals!" Li Fan clearly saw the potential and ultimate limits of all Azure Nether cultivators. Without any other fortuitous encounters, the vast majority of them would remain trapped below the Nascent Soul realm for their entire lives.
While this seemed bleak, compared to cultivators outside the Xuanhuang Realm, they were fortunate. At the very least, protected by the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, they were largely spared the worry of Dao Erasure.
"When the first Dao Integration cultivator is born in the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, that will be the time the Azure Nether Immortal Realm officially connects with the vast lands. I hope you will not make us wait too long."
Li Fan's gaze swept over the few individuals below. After the Myriad Manifestations The Dao Lattice was initially formed, Li Fan ceased suppressing Su Bai. Without the suppression, Su Bai's true talent gradually emerged, making him the eighteenth star of Azure Nether, the Star of Heavenly Benevolence. The Nascent Soul star phenomenon was an area within a hundred thousand miles around Ningyuan City, altered by the transformation. All beings within this area were now protected by Su Bai, no longer troubled by monstrous spirits.
As for Doctrine Transmitter... he remained in the initial stages of cultivation. A hundred years passed, and even his most devout followers had gradually forgotten him. After all, during these hundred years, Doctrine Transmitter had shown no signs of activity. Most of the Myriad Immortals Alliance cultivators believed he had perished during the celestial and earthly changes. Otherwise, it was hard to explain why, despite his status, he had not yet become a star. After all, three disciples of Doctrine Transmitter among the former Myriad Immortals Alliance had already reached the Nascent Soul realm. They only occasionally recalled the astonishingly talented Doctrine Transmitter Immortal Venerable when they cultivated.
The cultivation path of the New Law cultivators within the Azure Nether Immortal Realm was even more arduous. Nine out of ten were overwhelmed and destroyed by the peculiar treasures and grotto-heavens within their bodies. The rare few with exceptional talent managed to regain control of them, but when seeking to advance further, they faced a near-dead end.
"Extracting the essence of heaven and earth to obtain its spirit; sacrificing the essence of heaven and earth to unite with the Dao; reversing the principles of heaven and earth to prove longevity!" After Nascent Soul, there were three great realms. Previously, although New Law cultivators could not meet the cultivation requirements, they could at least imagine them in their minds. However, now... there was no room for imagination.
During the cataclysmic changes of heaven and earth, many grotto-heavens remained and underwent their own transformations and sublimations along with it. However, the essence of heaven and earth, the spirit of heaven and earth, had directly vanished from the sight of all New Law cultivators. Without the necessary materials for cultivation, how could they cultivate? The only support for New Law cultivators was the belief that these materials had not truly disappeared, but rather that their current realms were too low to perceive them. Perhaps, with further cultivation, they would have another opportunity to advance.
However, reality did not unfold as they wished. The essence of heaven and earth is the change of the birth of heaven and earth. The spirit of heaven and earth is the controller of heaven and earth's Dao. In the original Xuanhuang Realm, these two were the mechanisms of the natural operation of the Azure Nether Heaven and Earth, and would naturally manifest in the world. But now, above the Azure Nether Heavenly Dao, there was the Creator, Li Fan! While peculiar treasures and grotto-heavens could be endlessly regenerated, and Li Fan possessed the authority to operate the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, how could he easily cede it? Thus, Li Fan concealed them.
If the New Law cultivators continued to follow their original cultivation methods, they were truly doomed. Li Fan had no intention of kindly reminding them. He was more interested in seeing how Doctrine Transmitter would modify the New Law, enabling it to function correctly within the Azure Nether Immortal Realm.
After observing for a while, Li Fan noticed that Doctrine Transmitter's vital energy was fluctuating, showing signs of imminent awakening. Peering into Doctrine Transmitter's mind, Li Fan discovered a fierce storm gathering within his consciousness. Thunderheads rolled, all revolving around a single thought.
"Prove not Longevity, but only Dao Integration!"
Li Fan's eyes narrowed as he stared at this phrase echoing repeatedly in Doctrine Transmitter's heart. "Interesting."
"It seems he has vaguely sensed my existence as the ruler of this world."
Undoubtedly, Doctrine Transmitter's idea was extremely wise. Not to mention that the foundation of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm was the Infinite Sea and Mount Shang, along with the Great Dao of Longevity. The principles of Azure Nether were the principles of mountains, seas, and longevity, which cultivators within the Xuanhuang Realm could not possibly reverse. Furthermore, beyond that, there was Li Fan, the helmsman of this realm. To reverse the principles of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm would be akin to contending with Li Fan for control of Azure Nether. Even if a truly earth-shattering genius were born among the countless beings of the Xuanhuang Realm, Li Fan would decisively suppress them before they could achieve their Dao.
"Sever one's divine self to seek life."
"Indeed. It seems like abandoning the most crucial step, but in reality, it's a step back that opens up a vast new horizon, securing a space for oneself to survive." Li Fan did not withhold his praise. He grew even more eager for Doctrine Transmitter's complete deduction.
"If my predictions are correct, the original New Law was intended to solve the problem of cultivators being unable to cultivate. Then, the current New Law will solve the problem of cultivators cultivating too slowly."
"The advent of the New Law will greatly benefit the Azure Nether Immortal Realm!"
Within the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, all changes were under Li Fan's control. All thoughts of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm's sentient beings were also under his watchful gaze. Therefore, Li Fan could, to a certain extent, "foresee" the near future of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm. A faint smile appeared on his lips, and Li Fan satisfactory diverted his gaze.
He then thought of his own path to transcendence. "Sometimes, stepping out of the established framework and looking at problems from a different angle can yield surprising results."
As if sensing something, Li Fan's consciousness descended again into that dark starry space. He wandered within the boundless Myriad Manifestations The Dao Lattice, forgetting the passage of time. It was only after personally traversing every thread nine times that a flash of spiritual insight illuminated the surrounding darkness.
"The mountains and seas are boundless, how can one build a boat..."
"I have been desperately searching for an answer, but I forgot that the boat had already been built, and it's always been beneath my feet!"
"Leaving the Primordial means losing the Azure Nether Immortal Realm as a fallback? Then I'll find a way to bring the Azure Nether Immortal Realm into the vast lands!"
"The Azure Nether Immortal Realm is not only my sanctuary but also my vessel for crossing!"
At this moment, Li Fan's mind was suddenly enlightened. As if he had grasped everything, his laughter echoed throughout the Myriad Manifestations The Dao Lattice. Following his epiphany, inexplicable changes occurred within the Azure Nether Immortal Realm.
The heavens and earth trembled, and all things roared. The intense vibrations lasted for a full quarter of an hour. All living beings within felt a sense of impending doom. However, after the shaking subsided, this sense of crisis quickly dissipated. Within the heavens and earth, only the Azure Nether Heavenly Dao remained immersed in a feeling of dread. This was because it had keenly sensed that the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, which originally had its foundation within the possibilities of the 'Primordial,' was now completely "severing" ties with the Primordial.
If, originally, the Azure Nether Immortal Realm was like a house built on the ground of the Primordial, then upon the completion of the "severing," it would become a drifting ship. Although freer, it was also more perilous. The Azure Nether Heavenly Dao undoubtedly preferred safety. But Li Fan, the progenitor of Azure Nether, was the cause of all this. Despite his immense reluctance, it could only passively endure. For self-preservation, it instinctively unleashed numerous hidden potentials. Consequently, countless changes quietly arose within the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, all aimed at better adapting to an uncertain future.
For instance, the Azure Nether Immortal Realm began to actively differentiate into tentacle-like roots, extending from its foundation within Mount Shang to explore and anchor itself in the surroundings. Another example is that more and more Spirits of Heaven and Earth were summoned, converging near the Four Heavenly Gates. Even without having formally connected to the Infinite Sea, they were already sensing the infinite power, preparing for the future formal connection with the vast lands.
Furthermore, there were still residual, scattered Immortal Artifacts and fragments within the Azure Nether Heaven and Earth. In the past, the Azure Nether Heavenly Dao remained indifferent, "digesting" them slowly through the natural flow of the world. But now... Spirits of Heaven and Earth appeared near these Immortal Artifacts, collecting and imprisoning them, then actively "refining" them. Although these residual Immortal Artifacts were insignificant even as supplements to the current Azure Nether Immortal Realm, they demonstrated the Azure Nether Heavenly Dao's attitude to some extent.
Before the Great Heavenly Venerate Immortal Puppet, ripples surged. Within the shifting phantoms, the image of a white cat could be faintly discerned. It existed for only a moment before leaping towards a certain direction and vanishing without a trace.
Watching the faint white line adrift in the starry sky disappear into the depths of the Northern Star Sea, Li Fan’s gaze followed its trajectory.
"It's different from Cat Treasure's appearance, but its aura and fluctuations are extremely similar. Its direction of disappearance is..."
Li Fan followed Cat Treasure's trail, lurking deeper and deeper. When the white line revealed by the Manifest Character Art finally vanished, Li Fan had arrived before a peculiar structure in the starry sky. It resembled a planet covered in black metallic armor, silently suspended in place.
The origin of this black metallic armor was unknown, yet it possessed the ability to evade the immortal puppet's divine sense. Previously, outside the Northern Star Sea, during a divine sense scan, the Great Heavenly Venerate Immortal Puppet had not detected its existence. Only now, as he drew closer, did this planet reveal itself.
"It's not just the material that's special..."
Upon careful observation, Li Fan discovered an anomaly. This peculiar creation before him bore a resemblance to the current Azure Nether Immortal Realm. Its connection to the primordial possibility had become extremely fragile, as if it could break at any moment and drift adrift, like a solitary boat.
"Or rather, it is an immortal boat."
"Merchant Immortal Boat!" A strange glint appeared in Li Fan's eyes as he recognized the origin of this uniquely shaped planet. "Before, in Qin Zhuang's memories, I learned that Cat Treasure was a creation of the Merchant Immortal Boat. After I left the High Wall, the Merchant Immortal Boat had long since vanished. However, according to the memories of relevant individuals in the Northern Star Sea, the Sacred Merchant did indeed have creations similar to Cat Treasure. Qin Zhuang's memory was not in error."
"But the actual performance of those creations was far inferior to Cat Treasure, which had captured the Starving Immortal in an instant. Even dealing with ordinary True Immortals was a struggle. Qin Zhuang's cultivation was low, making him unable to discern the difference."
"I originally thought it was a mere coincidence. The Sacred Merchant had created items that resembled Cat Treasure in appearance. Now, it seems..."
Li Fan's interest was piqued. He sent a wisp of his divine sense to slowly approach the Merchant Immortal Boat ahead. Wrapped in its black metallic armor, the Merchant Immortal Boat seemed to exist in the interstices between reality and illusion. Even though his divine sense had reached its location, it could not establish contact, as if this black planet before him were merely an illusion. However, such camouflage and defensive measures were no match for Li Fan.
"As long as it hasn't detached from the 'primordial' possibility and leaped into the Mountains and Seas, it will inevitably be connected to the surrounding Great Daos."
In Li Fan's sight, the net of Great Daos suddenly revealed itself. All beings in the world were within this net. Although the Merchant Immortal Boat was like a dragonfly touching water, its contact with the net was extremely tenuous. However, with Li Fan's understanding of the primordial Great Dao, he could precisely discern the subtle distortions in the Great Dao traces that still connected to the Merchant Immortal Boat, however weak.
Following this thread, Li Fan soon pinpointed the true location of the Merchant Immortal Boat within the primordial possibility. Curiously, it didn't just exist in the Northern Star Sea. Instead, it was like countless scattered starlight, existing simultaneously in dozens of different star regions!
"The Merchant Immortal Boat is in a state of being both close to and distant from the primordial possibility, relying on dozens of support points for connection."
"And the black planet before me is one of those support points of the Merchant Immortal Boat."
"This structure is even more reasonable than the Azure Nether Immortal Realm's form, which resembles a flying boat. During the critical moment of detaching from its origin and leaping into the Mountains and Seas, these support points can be leveraged. It's easier to leave the primordial possibility and enter the Mountains and Seas, seeking other safe havens." Li Fan observed, his eyes lighting up. He committed this peculiar structure to memory.
Meanwhile, within the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, the Azure Nether Heavenly Dao sensed Li Fan's will and obediently cooperated, undergoing corresponding transformations. And in the shadows, the Dao One insect quietly gathered towards the newly formed tendrils of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, undergoing further modification.
The changes in heaven and earth were often incredibly slow, requiring millions or even billions of years. But when guided by a higher will and supported by sufficient energy, their transformation could be even faster than that of a single life form.
Without dwelling on another round of dramatic changes in the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, after the Great Heavenly Venerate Immortal Puppet deciphered the Merchant Immortal Boat's hidden secret, it attempted to project that wisp of divided consciousness into the black planet. The black metal covering the Merchant Immortal Boat's exterior seemed to have a significant inhibitory effect on divine sense. Even though this wisp of divine sense Li Fan had divided was close to True Immortal strength, it was almost weakened to the point of being unable to sustain its existence. Fortunately, the core within the divine sense was special, built upon the foundation of the Myriad Phenomena The Dao Lattice, which ultimately allowed it to break through the Merchant Immortal Boat's outermost defenses.
"It's not just suppressing divine sense."
"Its physical defense capabilities are also considerable. At the very least, beings below True Immortal realm cannot cause any damage to it."
"With True Immortal as the benchmark..." Li Fan understood that all the defensive measures deployed by the Merchant Immortal Boat were designed with 'Immortals' as the hypothetical enemy.
"This black metal, capable of warding off Immortals to a certain extent, does not seem to be an item from the primordial possibility."
"At the very least, among the remaining stars in the primordial possibility, only the Merchant Immortal Boat possesses this material." Although Li Fan had not traveled to every corner of the primordial possibility, with the control he had over the remaining Great Daos of the primordial realm through the 'Supreme Dao Book' left by the Script-Carving Immortal, he could accurately grasp them. The Dao principles involved in this peculiar black metal were not within the scope of the Supreme Dao Book!
"From another possibility?" Coupled with the appearance of Cat Treasure, which then vanished into the Merchant Immortal Boat, Li Fan already had a nascent suspicion. However, he needed confirmation.
The Great Heavenly Venerate Immortal Puppet’s divided consciousness penetrated the black metallic defenses, and its vision suddenly became bright. Countless dazzling stars constantly shifted and flowed, as if lost in an endless starry sky, making it difficult to discern direction.
Seeing this, Li Fan couldn't help but chuckle, "This formation is like bringing a knife to a sword fight in front of an expert." In an instant, Li Fan identified the correct direction among the immeasurable number of stars and broke through the defensive formation.
The final layer of defense that appeared next, however, surprised Li Fan. A narrow, dark corridor stretched straight into the distance. At the end of the corridor, a hunched figure seemed to stand. Li Fan assessed his surroundings: "Either I destroy this corridor and directly charge into the Merchant Immortal Boat, or I can only proceed along the corridor..." If his main body had come, he might have easily destroyed the Merchant Immortal Boat. But the consciousness divided at this moment did not possess such power. Thus, he concealed himself as much as possible and quietly traversed the corridor. The corridor held no other profound mysteries, and soon Li Fan arrived at its end. He also saw the figure guarding the end of the corridor clearly.
Beardless and hairless, appearing extremely aged, his face was etched with wrinkles like deep ravines, making him look somewhat terrifying. The old man sat on a rough yellowish wooden chair, hunched over, staring calmly at the corridor ahead. Only his eyes seemed to retain a spark of life, vigilantly monitoring the surrounding movements. Li Fan was unsure if the elder had discovered him, as the old man's eyes had clearly lingered on his location several times. Yet, for some unknown reason, he merely paused for a moment and showed no aggressive reaction, then turned his gaze elsewhere as if he hadn't seen anything. After Li Fan's divine sense drifted past the elder, he distinctly sensed the elder sigh in relief.
"This person is rather interesting." With that thought, having passed through three layers of defense, he finally entered the Merchant Immortal Boat. What met his gaze briefly stunned him. He was in a vast white space filled with numerous humanoid puppets. These puppets were all made of some kind of metal. Although they showed no Spirit Qi fluctuations, Li Fan could faintly sense their "heaviness."
"In terms of combat power alone, they are not inferior to ordinary Dao Integration cultivators."
"And..." Li Fan could sense that these humanoid puppets were relentlessly scanning this vast white space. Besides the passage Li Fan had come through, there were a total of eighty other passages, seemingly connecting to other star regions.
"These humanoid puppets likely share a consciousness and have a special material composition. Though individually weak, a large number of them could pose some trouble for ordinary True Immortals."
But Li Fan was no ordinary True Immortal. Thus, he openly bypassed their blockade under the watchful eyes of countless humanoid puppets. After leaving the white space, he officially entered the Merchant Immortal Boat. Unlike the scene of desolation Li Fan had witnessed in the Profound Heaven Boat, the interior of the Merchant Immortal Boat was filled with a vibrant scene of life. However, this so-called vitality, in Li Fan's opinion, had a strange quality.
For every inhabitant of the Merchant Immortal Boat he saw, one could more or less sense a part of their "living being" characteristics had been lost. A certain part of their body was replaced by a strange blue substance. This blue substance was neither metal nor wood, but seemed composed purely of light, possessing its own rhythm and emitting fluctuating waves. All inhabitants of the Merchant Immortal Boat no longer communicated verbally. With flashes of blue light, communication was completed, seemingly avoiding deception and lies. Each inhabitant of the Merchant Immortal Boat appeared to have an important task, moving with haste and solemn expressions.
Li Fan followed an inhabitant of the Merchant Immortal Boat whose blue transformation was most thorough into a crystalline structure. After passing through multiple verifications, this individual seemed to enter a space exclusive to himself. Blue light pulsed continuously. With no outsiders present, the blue light's fluctuations were several times stronger than in public. Li Fan could thus roughly sense the content of his thoughts.
"In ten more days, the parts for the 'Chenyi' model must be submitted."
"But we are still far from meeting the requirements from above." As this individual's thoughts flowed, hundreds of thousands of slightly different components appeared out of thin air before him. Though their shapes varied subtly, they shared a general form.
Li Fan looked for a long time but could not guess their specific use. This blue-robed inhabitant of the Immortal Boat, with a focused expression, tested these hundreds of thousands of components one by one. Then, with a slight shake of his head and a sigh, he waved his hand again, generating hundreds of thousands of components of different shapes. He conducted another round of tests. Li Fan could not tell how time was measured within the Merchant Immortal Boat, but he could clearly see that this blue-robed inhabitant of the Immortal Boat was becoming increasingly anxious.
"It doesn't matter, let's try it first." He suddenly let out a long sigh, discarding all other components and leaving only one.
"Level three immortal research, Sun Shengshen, requesting testing for Chenyi, component 18762." The blue light above his head flickered.
Shortly after, it seemed Sun Shengshen's request was accepted. Before him, a phantom image materialized out of thin air. Its appearance was that of an incredibly lifelike cat! Sun Shengshen inserted the component he had created into Cat Treasure's body. Cat Treasure's image continuously enlarged. In an instant, it magnified trillions of times. After a short while, on a macro level, the full form of Cat Treasure could no longer be seen. It was merely a scene of countless components piled atop each other. And within this, there was a vacant spot shining with blue light. Sun Shengshen placed the component he had created there. The scene instantly shrunk back to normal from an extremely minute scale. Cat Treasure then seemed to come alive.
"Testing the first function, replication ability." In the void before Cat Treasure, a tattered piece of clothing appeared. Although it was ragged, Li Fan keenly detected residual formation patterns on it. It must have once been a magical artifact. A blue beam of light shot from Cat Treasure's experimental eyes, locking onto the tattered clothing. Three breaths later, the light beam shifted to another blank area. The same creation slowly materialized within it. Sun Shengshen watched nervously as the two pieces of clothing floated up and were instantly decomposed into countless invisible particles. The two magical artifacts vanished together, leaving only a symbol. Below the symbol, there was a downward-pointing arrow. Although Li Fan had never encountered such a symbol before, just like True Immortal Sigils, upon seeing it, he instantly understood its meaning. It represented the number 0.0028. The moment the symbol appeared, Sun Shengshen was struck as if by lightning, his face turning deathly pale. The blue light on his forehead weakened, as if about to extinguish at any moment. After a long while, Sun Shengshen finally recovered. Gritting his teeth, he began the second test.
"Evolution." In the void, where the tattered clothing magical artifact had appeared before, a white snake appeared this time. Cat Treasure's eyes once again emitted light, locking onto the white snake. Within the light beam, the white snake was as if frozen, immobile. And when the light beam receded, the white snake let out a sharp cry, its body writhing incessantly, as if in extreme pain. And on its forehead, it seemed like horns were about to emerge from its flesh and blood, and its scales became more mystical. The white snake transformed into a dragon, which lasted for thirty breaths. After thirty breaths, the white dragon once again entered a frozen, static state. Like the clothing before, it was decomposed into countless tiny light particles. Shortly after, a symbol appeared before Sun Shengshen. This time, the arrow beside the symbol pointed upwards. Sun Shengshen couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. Li Fan saw clearly that this symbol represented 0.003.
"Next, it's the final test."
"Spirit Transformation." Cat Treasure's eyes once again emitted blue light. However, this time, the light locked onto Sun Shengshen himself!
Instantly enveloped by the blue light, as if suddenly realizing something, Sun Xingshen's face turned deathly pale. It was as if something terrifying was about to happen to him.
The beam of light lingered on him for three breaths before moving to an adjacent area.
The blue light surged like a tide, and soon, a figure was born within it.
Its physique, appearance, and even the expression on its face were exactly the same as Sun Xingshen's!
The blue light locked onto both the old and new Sun Xingshen, following the inspection process from the previous two times. Another symbol materialized in the void.
It represented 0.00041.
Beside the symbol, there was an upward-pointing arrow.
The moment the arrow appeared, both Sun Xingshens exhibited different expressions.
The original Sun Xingshen's face was ashen, his eyes filled with despair.
The newly born Sun Xingshen, however, secretly breathed a sigh of relief, a hint of fleeting luck in his eyes.
Time seemed to come to a standstill.
Under the blue illumination, the original Sun Xingshen instantly dissolved into countless invisible particles, disappearing without a trace.
The newly born Sun Xingshen then took over his work.
Li Fan keenly observed that a small portion of these particles attached themselves to this newly born Sun Xingshen.
He apparently had no memory of his previous cycle of reincarnation. After standing stunned for a moment, the blue light on his head began to flash, displaying the same words: "Another ten days, and the Chen Yi component will have to be submitted. But it's still quite far from the requirements from above."
What followed was a repetition akin to reincarnation.
Contemplation, designing new components, and then testing.
"Level Three Immortal Research, Sun Xingshen, applying for component Chen Yi, 18762 for testing."
However, in this particular experiment, the replica created by Cat Treasure, after testing, displayed a symbol representing 0.00036, accompanied by a downward-pointing arrow.
Therefore, this Sun Xingshen was spared.
"The efficiency of the spirit-transforming replication has decreased so much. Where exactly is the problem?"
Sun Xingshen looked at his replica, and the blue light attached to his head suddenly erupted. The light was like blades; the replica decomposed, and then was observed inch by inch.
After the blue light subsided, Sun Xingshen began the next round of component design.
Li Fan spent a full half-year in this space, witnessing over thirty cycles of reincarnation.
Sun Xingshen's life seemed to consist only of design and experimentation. Apart from fixed times for going out and relaxing, and interacting with other citizens of the Sacred Merchant, all other time was spent in this repetitive cycle.
And he remained completely unaware of his cyclical fate. Only in the instant before being engulfed by the blue pillar of light and about to be destroyed, did he awaken.
But this did not prevent a more capable replica from taking his place to conduct the next round of new design experiments.
"The three items in the experiment correspond to the three abilities demonstrated by Cat Treasure: 'Object Replication,' 'Life Simulation,' and 'Meridian Transformation.'"
"Sun Xingshen is only responsible for one of countless components of Cat Treasure. On the entire Immortal Merchant Boat, there are likely countless individuals like Sun Xingshen."
"By making minor improvements to each component, the efficiency of the created Cat Treasure is continuously advanced overall. The ultimate goal..."
"To approach, or even reach, the true Cat Treasure!"
Thinking of this, Li Fan became even more interested in the Lord of the Sacred Merchant.
It was a pity that although everyone on the Immortal Merchant Boat seemed able to communicate through thoughts and were equal, this was clearly just an illusion.
Li Fan had infiltrated the Immortal Merchant Boat for a full half-year. Besides monitoring Sun Xingshen daily, he had also explored other areas. All the immortal boat's creations he encountered were laborers in reincarnation, just like Sun Xingshen.
As for those who were truly responsible for the order of the Sacred Merchant, or those who had shaped this workflow, Li Fan had not seen a single one.
It was as if, despite being on the same Immortal Merchant Boat, these two groups lived in different worlds.
"These people are quite good at hiding."
After searching in vain, Li Fan's gaze finally fell upon the Cat Treasure creations that were omnipresent on the Immortal Merchant Boat.
"Seemingly, each laborer in reincarnation has a Cat Treasure in their space to participate in experiments at any time. In reality, all these Cat Treasure creations are the same one."
Returning to Sun Xingshen's location, as another round of experimentation began and the phantom of Cat Treasure fully manifested, Li Fan's consciousness quietly attempted to infiltrate it.
"Since it can clearly display three major functions, it means that even if the true Cat Treasure is not in this world, it must have some connection."
Li Fan's infiltration this time was extremely cautious.
Even though the Cat Treasure creation on the Immortal Boat was far inferior to the true Cat Treasure, it still possessed all the characteristics of Cat Treasure. The true Cat Treasure could instantly suppress Starving Immortals, while the imitation on the Immortal Boat could contend with ordinary true immortals. It was not to be underestimated.
After all, this was not Li Fan's true body that had come, but merely a strand of consciousness from the Great Heavenly Venerate Immortal Puppet.
If exposed, it would startle the Immortal Merchant Boat and be disadvantageous.
Li Fan's guess was correct.
The Cat Treasure creation before him did indeed have a faint, almost imperceptible connection to reality. However, this was limited to the moment its functions were activated.
At other times, even if the image of Cat Treasure was constantly displayed, it was merely a phantom projection.
The connection between the Cat Treasure creation's power and its true body was fleeting, yet Li Fan accurately captured it each time.
Instead of rushing in directly through this connection, he patiently witnessed thousands of descent and disappearance processes, ensuring that it would not suddenly change or contain any traps. Only then did Li Fan follow the power of the Cat Treasure creation's descent and disappearance, lurking to its true location.
A dark space.
Gazing into the distance, one could faintly see transparent boundaries like glass within this space.
An orange cat lay quietly in the void, deep in slumber.
Ninety-nine blue chains completely bound the cat.
One could vaguely see countless flowing symbols moving from the orange cat to the other end of the chains, which extended into the void.
And beside this sleeping black cat, another cat sat quietly.
This cat's appearance was identical to the Cat Treasure creation on the Immortal Merchant Boat.
It stared intently at its "companion" beside it, occasionally leaning in to sniff and observe. However, it seemed afraid of waking the orange cat and did not dare to get too close, maintaining a certain distance.
Li Fan had once meticulously carved countless wooden carvings of Cat Treasure to dispel his inner fear of it, and then burned them all.
This imprisoned orange cat, although its appearance was extremely similar to Cat Treasure, almost identical, Li Fan could tell the subtle difference with his intuition.
"Similar in appearance, yet not the same."
Li Fan's heart felt a little more at ease.
Neither the orange cat nor the Cat Treasure on the Immortal Boat seemed to notice Li Fan's infiltration.
They continued their original actions.
Every so often, the Cat Treasure on the Immortal Boat would attempt to imitate the orange cat's sleeping posture. Not only its form but also its appearance and even its expression began to change towards the other.
But for some reason, this learning and change could not last long. Almost every time, it lasted only a dozen breaths before the Cat Treasure on the Immortal Boat returned to its original state.
However, it showed no signs of giving up, diligently learning.
Li Fan noticed that each change made by the Cat Treasure on the Immortal Boat was closer than before.
"This should be the result of the efforts of countless Sun Xingshens."
"However, this cat..."
Li Fan had a strange feeling.
Although the Cat Treasure on the Immortal Boat was a creation imitating the true Cat Treasure, for some reason, its eyes seemed more lively than the true Cat Treasure's.
As if...
It were a human!
And soon, the changes that occurred with the Cat Treasure on the Immortal Boat completely confirmed Li Fan's guess.
After another round of change and learning, it seemed to feel a little tired.
The Cat Treasure on the Immortal Boat yawned, and then surprisingly transformed from a cat back into human form!
"I've been accustomed to staying in a cat's body for so long, I'm not quite used to human form," a refined young man, who looked about fifteen or sixteen years old, said with a self-deprecating smile.
As the young man returned to human form, blue figures appeared one after another in this area.
"Master!" The blue figures all bowed respectfully to the young man.
The young man merely nodded slightly, his expression calm.
"Have you received any news from that side?" the young man asked.
"The last time we communicated was more than half a year ago. They promised to send another one over, but we didn't see it. And there has been no further response from that side." one of the blue figures replied.
The young man frowned slightly, one of his ears instantly transforming into a cat's ear. After tilting slightly, the young man chuckled, "You don't need to speculate. it was sent. It's just that some problems occurred during its arrival, and it broke free."
The blue figures beside him flickered with blue light, appearing shocked.
The young man waved his hand and smiled, "Don't worry. With [Loquat] here, the new one won't escape. It should be hiding somewhere on the boat."
The blue figures were extremely shocked upon hearing this and repeatedly said, "We have failed our duty, please punish us, Master."
"Heaven-Stealing Cat is extraordinary. Even if it appeared before you openly, you might not be able to detect it. If it wishes to hide, how could you possibly know? What fault is yours?" the young man said calmly.
"If Heaven-Stealing Cat didn't have such power, why would I go to such lengths, even to the point of learning from it myself?"
The surrounding blue figures all looked ashamed and lowered their heads.
The young man himself was unfazed, "Let's go and meet this newcomer."
With a wave of his large hand, a rift instantly appeared in the space.
The young man stepped out, and the others followed.
Li Fan also quietly attached himself to one of the blue figures and left.
However, before leaving, Li Fan seemed to sense that the imprisoned orange cat named Loquat trembled slightly.
"It's not an illusion."
"This is interesting," Li Fan mused inwardly.
The place the young man led them to was completely different from the area where Sun Xingshen and the others were located.
Thousands upon thousands of buildings, like stars, floated in the starry sky.
From a distance, the style of these buildings was somewhat similar to those on the Immortal Merchant Boat.
Among the beings living there, some had blue bodies, but the vast majority were normal humans.
The moment the young man appeared in the starry sky, they all sensed his presence.
"Welcome, Holy Lord!"
They exclaimed in unison, bowing their heads.
"Since you have the courage to come here, why hide?" the young man sneered, speaking to a verdant great tree floating in the starry sky.
Li Fan could tell that unlike the Ruo Wood, this tree did not contain life force. Instead, it contained death qi. However, the death qi had condensed to such an extreme that it appeared vibrant and full of life.
As the young man spoke, the leaves of the tree rustled.
A moment later, a black and white cat jumped down from the top of the great tree.
The black and white cat sniffed, as if sensing something. It let out a low growl at the young man, then crouched low, preparing to pounce.
The young man, at that instant, transformed into the appearance of the trapped orange cat.
The black and white cat was momentarily stunned by this.
"Attack!"
The transformation lasted only an instant before the young man returned to his human form.
And the blue figures around him did not need his prompting. With tacit understanding, they had already begun their attacks, even before he spoke.
An empty garment, yet it moved as if it were a true cultivator, unleashing streaks of black thread. Although most of these black threads were absorbed and assimilated by the black and white cat the moment they approached, a small portion survived and fell upon the black and white cat, weaving it into clothing.
A broken suona played high-pitched notes, drowning out all of Cat Treasure's sounds. It not only muffled its sounds but also dimmed the light emanating from the black and white cat's eyes.
A scarred wooden stick, appearing as if it would break at any moment, was swung, and countless transparent figures flew out from it. These figures all wore expressions of pity, and though they had lost their eyes, they precisely targeted the enemy, launching a suicidal attack without fear.
An ordinary stone, as if it could appear in any river, was thrown. Although not aimed directly at the black and white cat, it always landed precisely on its head.
...
The inhabitants of the Immortal Merchant Boat unleashed all their techniques.
There were no divine abilities or spells, only strange and peculiar objects.
Yet, under the siege of these bizarre artifacts, the black and white cat was unable to muster even a sliver of resistance. All its attacks were inexplicably neutralized, and it could only endure passively, its roars even suppressed by the suona.
This bizarre sight sent a chill through Li Fan, who was secretly observing.
"These things..."
"They are imbued with Great Daos that I have rarely, if ever, seen. They are from other possibilities."
"And they are not weak!"
Seeing this, Li Fan instinctively became even more cautious in hiding himself.
He recalled the conversation between the Lord of the Sacred Merchant and the citizens of the Sacred Merchant.
"The Immortal Merchant Boat has assistance from other possibilities?"
"Cat Treasure is suspected to be one of the Heaven-Stealing Cats. The other side is capable of capturing and sending a Cat Treasure, so their strength must not be underestimated. But why have they chosen to help the Immortal Merchant Boat? What is their motive?"
The author is shamelessly requesting nominations for a divine work on Qidian. Gratitude.
This precise moment's Cat Treasure was clearly much weaker than what Li Fan had seen in past reincarnations.
Even though the artifacts wielded by the Merchant Immortal Boat's crew were extraordinary, with the power it displayed leaping up to suppress the Starving Immortals, it should not find itself in such a sorry state.
Being beaten down by the Merchant Immortal Boat's crew, the Black and White Cat's situation seemed to worsen. However, Li Fan noticed that although the Black and White Cat appeared to be severely suppressed by the Immortal Boat's crew, it had not actually sustained any real injuries.
As for the youth referred to as the "Sacred Lord," aside from transforming into an orange cat at the very beginning, he had made no other moves. He simply watched the unfolding events in the arena.
"Although the Merchant Immortal Boat's crew's attacks are fierce, they are ultimately irrelevant to capturing the Cat Treasure. The key likely lies with this one," Li Fan thought, recalling the blue chains that had suppressed the orange cat, and pondered.
Li Fan's intuition had always been quite accurate.
After being beaten for some time, the Black and White Cat, though in pain, was surprisingly unharmed. It began to adapt to the attacks from the Merchant Immortal Boat's crew's artifacts. Its low growls slowly grew in intensity, rivaling the sound of trumpets and drums. Its black and white fur gradually bristled. Its eyes were fixed on the Immortal Boat's crew members who were now beating it, flashing with ferocity.
Just as the situation was about to turn, the Sacred Lord finally made his move.
His method of attack was quite peculiar.
He transformed into a cat once more, but this was not the previous, bait-like orange cat. Instead, it was a pure illusory cat composed of blue light. The blue light rippled and swayed, creating a dreamlike and disorienting effect. Its size was hundreds of times larger than the normal Cat Treasure.
"Meow~"
With a low meow, the blue illusion exploded into billions of fine threads, which surged towards the Black and White Cat.
Unlike its reaction to the previous attacks, the Black and White Cat now clearly felt fear. Its fur stood on end, its back arched. It let out sharp, explosive cries, repelling all incoming attacks.
Its claws suddenly swiped towards a nearby spot. The large tree, condensed from death qi, where it had previously hidden, was instantly shattered. It seemed as if the Cat Treasure had absorbed it. The blackness on the Black and White Cat's body grew significantly deeper.
Simultaneously, the Black and White Cat's tail lightly swept towards a distant area.
Li Fan vaguely saw that tens of thousands of the Sacred Merchant's people instantly lost all their life force, absorbed by the Black and White Cat.
In a flash, after absorbing a large amount of life and death qi, the Black and White Cat's pupils turned black and white. The Black and White Cat then fluttered, resembling a monk's robe. It then sat cross-legged in the void of the battlefield, as if it were human.
It pointed a finger forward in the air.
In the next moment, an endless supply of life and death qi surged from the Black and White Cat's body. Or rather, its gesture completely stirred the fundamental principles of life and death that already existed in the world.
The Great Dao of Life and Death was the bedrock for the existence and development of all things. Stirred by the Black and White Cat, it was as if a storm had appeared out of nowhere, distorting the life and death of all things.
All sorts of artifacts were scattered by the storm. Billions of blue threads were forced to reveal their original forms.
The Black and White Cat, however, sat motionless in the center of the storm.
It watched as the living perished and the dead were annihilated within the storm.
The Merchant Immortal Boat's crew, though possessing a unique life form, were still within the scope of "living beings." Caught off guard, they were swept away by the storm and perished.
Only the Sacred Lord, transformed into the blue light cat, survived.
The situation had dramatically reversed in an instant, yet not a trace of panic could be seen on the face of the blue light cat. Even as the storm of life and death threatened to spread outwards and engulf the entire starry sky,
It calmly looked at the Black and White Cat in the center of the storm. The blue light projection of the Sacred Lord instantly expanded a hundredfold, engulfing the entire range of the life and death storm.
Within the storm, blue threads flashed like lightning. They were not annihilated by the storm of life and death but, with the passage of time, grew stronger.
Gradually dyeing the chaotic region blue.
The storm of life and death continued to spread outwards, forcing Li Fan, who was hiding his consciousness, to retreat again and again.
"This divine ability has quite the feline characteristic to it."
"An attack at the Great Dao level, shaking the foundations of order. If it were allowed to spread unchecked, without anyone intervening, it could even swallow an entire possibility..."
The black and white storm of life and death had swept across almost the entire starry sky.
Finally, the once vibrant Merchant Immortal Boat had turned into a desolate wasteland.
Only a hundred or so life signatures survived this calamity.
However, the dense blue threads within the storm, resembling a celestial net, and the Black and White Cat, bound and imprisoned in the center, explained the identity of the ultimate victor of this battle.
The storm subsided, and the blue threads slowly retracted.
The Black and White Cat met the same fate as the orange cat, being suppressed and imprisoned.
The young master of the Sacred Merchant reverted to his human form and looked at the now silent and desolate starry sky before him, showing no emotional reaction.
The next moment, an unexpected change occurred.
An inexplicable fluctuation suddenly descended, sweeping across the entire space.
Then, beings that had vanished and passed away all returned to their original forms.
Within mere moments, life reappeared in this starry sky!
At this moment, a faint smile finally appeared on the Sacred Lord's face.
"This is..."
Witnessing the dramatic turn of events, Li Fan was inwardly shaken.
Because this scene was extremely familiar.
"It's very much like Return to Truth."
"But there's no aura of the Transformation of Truth and Falsehood."
"That fluctuation just now, it came from..."
Li Fan looked up towards the space above.
The Sacred Lord and the resurrected citizens of the Immortal Boat began to study their harvest from this event.
However, Li Fan did not return with them. Instead, he quietly flew towards the location where he had sensed the fluctuation.
Although it was not directly above the spatial structure, Li Fan, with his extremely keen perception, successfully found the source of the fluctuation.
A snow-white skeleton lay askew.
Its hollow eye sockets gazed towards the Merchant Immortal Boat below.
Li Fan felt a faint sense of danger emanating from this skeleton.
He did not approach, merely observing from a distance.
With his vast knowledge, he was still unable to discern the fundamental nature of the Great Dao contained within this skeleton.
But without a doubt, it was this skeleton that had "restored" the annihilated Immortal Boat in an instant.
"The Transformation of Truth and Falsehood is the creation of something from nothing. This Dao, however, reverts things to their original state."
"Even under the Transformation of Truth and Falsehood, the status of this Dao is extremely high. More importantly, I can sense that it is not an external entity, but a Dao that was present from the very beginning, from 'Primordial'."
"And it is controlled by the Merchant Immortal Boat?"
"Judging by its aura, it seems to have been here for a long time."
Li Fan recalled Xuan Shang's description of the Merchant Immortal Boat.
"The Merchant Immortal Boat escaped from an experimental field guarded by observers from the Immortal Realm."
"As an NPC, their ability to escape the control of the Immortal Realm already speaks volumes about their extraordinary nature."
"It seems that the Merchant Immortal Boat, as the losing side in the internal conflict, has far more profound foundations than the Merchant Immortal Boat which was their adversary, though they may not realize it."
Li Fan held the Supreme Dao Scripture. In theory, he possessed information on all existing Great Daos in the Primordial Era. Yet, the Dao principles manifested by the skeleton before him, much like the Dao of Script-Carving, did not appear within it.
"Understanding this Dao will elevate my comprehension of the transformation between truth and falsehood to a new level," Li Fan felt a premonition surge within him.
However, he did not act rashly to seize it. This immortal skeleton was undoubtedly of immense importance to the Merchant Immortal Boat. Yet, there was no defensive measure surrounding it. Even the blue light projection of the Sacred Merchant Lord was absent.
"This can only mean that the skeleton's own power surpasses the sum of all defensive capabilities the Merchant Immortal Boat can muster. There's no need for any defensive preparations." The faint sense of crisis lingering in his heart never subsided.
Li Fan stared intently for a long time, unable to ascertain whether the skeleton before him was alive or dead. After a moment of contemplation, Li Fan made up his mind. The current situation was beyond the capabilities of the Great Heavenly Venerate Immortal Puppet. He had to act personally.
"For safety's sake, I naturally will not easily step beyond the The Great Barrier. However, I can still send out the Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice."
With a subtle shift of his consciousness, the Azure Nether Immortal Realm vibrated silently. The invisible net that enveloped it began to penetrate and spread towards the outside of the wall. Li Fan was no stranger to the Star Sea outside the The Great Barrier. In his previous life, he had even collaborated with the Dao Bearer to establish the Star Sea-High Wall system. Especially at the current point in time, the Star Sea The Dao Lattice had not yet been established. Thus, the secret erosion by the Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice proceeded exceptionally smoothly.
However, this star system was still in a chaotic era where True Immortals and cultivators coexisted. The further one moved away from the The Great Barrier, the weaker the support from the Azure Nether Immortal Realm became, and the easier it was to be detected. Li Fan did not blindly expand his reach, focusing his efforts solely on the Merchant Immortal Boat's location.
Based on his reconnaissance during this period, the entrance to the Merchant Immortal Boat's passage in the Star Sea constantly shifted. However, perhaps because the recent capture and research of the black and white cats had consumed most of the Merchant Immortal Boat's energy, this particular entrance Li Fan had discovered showed no signs of changing. Thus, the tendrils differentiated from the Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice were able to infiltrate smoothly.
It's worth noting that the elder guarding the entrance to the passage seemed to have sensed the arrival of the Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice. The expression on his face shifted ever so slightly, yet as before, he ultimately chose to act as if nothing had happened.
"This person is rather interesting."
Li Fan did not engage him, and the Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice extended all the way, merging with the differentiated consciousness. Within the tendrils of the Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice, a phantom of Li Fan slowly took shape as it writhed.
"No matter how high the status of a Great Dao, it cannot escape the fate of merging with mountains and seas."
Li Fan gazed at the immortal skeleton before him, his line of sight accompanied by the nascent Ink Slaughter as its vanguard. Like fierce wolves and tigers, it rapidly closed in. After a hundred years of incubation within the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, infused with the rhythm of the Great Dao of Longevity, the nascent Ink Slaughter appeared in the world for the first time. Even Li Fan himself was not fully aware of its power.
The black dots of Ink Slaughter, like a surging tide, heavily enveloped the immortal skeleton ahead. Li Fan then manipulated the Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice, sealing off the surrounding space to ensure that even if a violent upheaval occurred here, the Merchant Immortal Boat would not be able to detect it immediately.
The Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice acted like a mirror, reflecting everything in its surroundings. Li Fan keenly sensed the faint connection between this immortal skeleton and the outside world. However, it was merely a faint connection.
"It seems the Merchant Immortal Boat's utilization of this skeleton is not very high. Perhaps they are merely mechanically triggering its Dao principles."
As Li Fan pondered this, the tide of Ink Slaughter had completely engulfed the side-lying immortal skeleton.
"Hmm?" Li Fan was taken aback. In his expected scenario, even with the nascent Ink Slaughter's strength, this immortal skeleton would not have succumbed so effortlessly. With its ability to continuously rewind and restore itself, it should have at least put up a fight for a while.
"Why is this happening?" Li Fan frowned and recalled the nascent Ink Slaughter. Where the side-lying immortal skeleton had been, it was indeed empty. The Ink Slaughter should have consumed the skeleton. Strangely, despite being ingested, the Ink Slaughter seemed to have swallowed only air. It remained unchanged.
"The nascent Ink Slaughter can not only devour and annihilate all Great Daos, but it can also restore the devoured Great Daos, transforming them into materials for weaving the Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice." Li Fan lightly stroked the constantly shifting ink color beside him, confirming that this ability of Ink Slaughter had not disappeared.
"So..." Realizing something, Li Fan refocused his gaze on the spot where the vanishing side-lying immortal skeleton had been. He began counting time in his mind. Ninety-nine breaths later, without any warning, the skeleton that had been completely swallowed by Ink Slaughter suddenly reappeared. It was still lying on its side. However, this time, the empty eye sockets of its skull were not looking down at the Merchant Immortal Boat but at Li Fan!
Sensing the sudden chill in Li Fan's heart, the Ink Slaughter beside him spontaneously surged forth, positioning itself in front of Li Fan to protect him. Though extremely vigilant, Li Fan waited for a long time but did not receive the anticipated counter-attack. After observing for a while longer and confirming that this bizarre immortal skeleton posed no threat, Li Fan released the Ink Slaughter once more, sending it surging towards the skeleton.
The result was the same. The skeleton was swallowed without resistance. Yet, after ninety-nine breaths, it reappeared out of thin air, its gaze still fixed on Li Fan. Li Fan snorted coldly and tried again. This time, the Ink Slaughter's shadow continuously covered the area where the skeleton was, not receding even when the immortal skeleton disappeared. As the ninety-nine breaths neared their end, Li Fan held his breath, carefully observing the changes within the Ink Slaughter's shadow. The skeleton did not reappear in the area occupied by Ink Slaughter. Yet, Li Fan felt a sense of unease. He suddenly turned around, only to discover that the immortal skeleton had, at some unknown time, appeared beside him. Its posture had changed; no longer lying down, it had risen and was now seated. Its bone-covered right palm supported its skull, as if it were scrutinizing Li Fan with interest!
Li Fan instinctively retreated. He stopped only when he reached a safe distance within his mind. The immortal skeleton made no move to stop him, its empty eyes calmly observing Li Fan. Li Fan could now confirm that the skeleton before him was alive! Or rather, it existed in a peculiar and incomprehensible state that could not simply be defined by life or death.
"Greetings, Senior!" Li Fan, with a thick skin, cupped his hands slightly in greeting, completely omitting any mention of his earlier aggressive attack. The immortal skeleton naturally showed no reaction, appearing as nothing more than a mere skeleton. The scene fell into a silent stalemate.
Li Fan believed that if he retreated now, this immortal skeleton would not stop him. However, to leave empty-handed after stumbling upon such a treasure trove felt deeply unsatisfactory.
"Since there's no immediate threat, let's probe a bit further." He no longer worried about the immortal skeleton's transformations, merely directing the nascent Ink Slaughter shadow to engulf it repeatedly. Then, over and over again, he watched the skeleton regenerate from nothingness.
"Ink Slaughter is supposed to simulate the tribulation of merging mountains and seas. Yet this skeleton can ignore the power of Ink Slaughter and repeatedly recover. How is this achieved?" Even after observing the skeleton's reappearance hundreds of times, Li Fan could not fathom it.
"It defies all logic." Li Fan even wondered if the nascent Ink Slaughter had weakened. However, the evidence was before him: no matter how inconceivable it was, there had to be a principle behind its existence. "Theoretically, Ink Slaughter can devour all Great Daos in the mortal world. However, there is one Dao that can ignore Ink Slaughter..."
Li Fan found it utterly baffling. After all, "Ink Slaughter" was the "answer" that the people of the Immortal Realm had placed great hope in to counter the great tribulation of the merging of mountains and seas. Ever since Li Fan had coincidentally rediscovered the power of the Ink Slaughter Immortal Soul, it had been almost unfailingly effective and invincible.
Yet now, this skeletal remains hidden within the Merchant Immortal Boat could disregard the invasion of Ink Slaughter! If Ink Slaughter resisting in a stalemate was something Li Fan could barely accept, the current situation, where it was almost completely suppressed, was something Li Fan couldn't comprehend at all.
"Either this Dao exists beyond the mortal world, transcending mountains and seas."
"Or else..."
The Ink Slaughter dark clouds churned, like an enraged hunting hound, vowing to devour the immortal skeleton. However, Ink Slaughter's actions were destined to be in vain. It was swallowed by the dark clouds and disappeared, only to quietly reappear shortly after. This cycle repeated.
Li Fan suppressed the doubts in his heart for the time being and patiently continued to observe. This skeletal remains contained Dao Principles, and its celestial standing, though high, could never transcend mountains and seas. Having cultivated through reincarnation until now, Li Fan was certain he possessed this discerning eye. Then why exactly could it be immune to the erosion of Ink Slaughter?
Watching the scenes of reincarnation unfold before him, Li Fan was immersed, losing track of time. Suddenly, he felt a stir in his heart. He stared at the churning ink sea before him and mused, "That which Ink Slaughter cannot devour, apart from things beyond its own capability..."
"The remaining thing is... itself."
"Could it be..." Li Fan's thoughts returned to the first time he met the Grand Master Tiandu. With the help of the countless phantoms within the Grand Master's body, Li Fan had understood the two cornerstones of Ink Slaughter: Tai Yi and Eternity. It was the interplay of these two divine forces, change and immutability, that had created a power capable of resisting the fusion of mountains and seas.
"Back then, I tried to use Ink Slaughter to kill the Grand Master. But he easily negated it with two sentences. 'Please, Master, disperse. Please, Uncle-Master, disperse.' Tai Yi is the teacher of the Boundless Unity, and Eternity is the Uncle-Master of the Boundless Unity. 'Uncle' implies seniority. Although Eternity is not one of the Three Sages, being called Uncle-Master by the Boundless Unity means his strength and status are not insignificant."
"The Great Dao contained within this skeletal remains before me is not 'Tai Yi'."
In the blink of an eye, Li Fan recalled the Merchant Immortal Boat, which had just been completely destroyed, instantly restoring itself under the gaze of the skeletal hollow. His heart. Finally, he had an answer.
"The Great Dao of Eternity..." Before he could discern it, no matter how he observed, he couldn't see its true nature. But after recognizing its origin, it was as if layers of disguise had been brushed away from the skeletal remains.
Before him was no longer a skeletal form. Instead, it revealed its true form: a middle-aged man with a smiling face, a round countenance, and kind eyes! However, he appeared to be in deep slumber, his eyes tightly shut. He seemed utterly unconcerned with anything in the external world.
"I once had contact and gained insights into the two Daos, 'Tai Yi' and 'Eternity,' through the Grand Master. But that was merely what I perceived. Just as I mistook Tai Yi for Illusory Life, my understanding of 'Eternity' was also flawed. That's why, even with Eternity before me, I didn't recognize it."
Li Fan looked at the round-faced middle-aged man not far away. In a daze, he felt as if he were witnessing an existence that remained unchanged from ancient times to the present, an eternal presence. He sat there quietly, as if he had condensed time and space together, unmoved by the passage of time around him.
The Great Dao of Eternity was undoubtedly one of the most supreme Great Daos in the Primordial Era. Just by observing it, countless insights seemed to surge into Li Fan's mind. Li Fan's comprehension was already not weak. Now, with the Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice and the Supreme Dao Book as his aids, he had a congenital advantage in comprehending all the Daos of the Primordial Era.
Yet, while observing "Eternity," even though countless insights could arise at any moment, these insights were like fragile bubbles, lasting only for a moment before silently bursting and disappearing. No matter how hard Li Fan tried, the result remained unchanged. The faint smile on the round-faced middle-aged man's face seemed to silently remind Li Fan that the Dao of Eternity belonged, and would forever belong, only to him.
Finally realizing this, Li Fan, not one to overstep his bounds, decisively ceased his attempt at enlightenment for the time being. He waved his hand and put away Ink Slaughter, but he did not retreat from this space. After some observation, he became even more certain of his earlier judgment.
"Although Eternity is still alive, its state is somewhat strange." Li Fan narrowed his eyes and continued to observe for another half a day before he could somewhat understand this peculiarity.
"The Dao of Eternity still exists. However, the True Immortal who attained the Dao of Eternity..." "His consciousness seems to have dissipated. What maintained his recent actions was merely instinct." "What stands before me is less a 'True Immortal of Eternity' and more the 'Great Dao of Eternity' itself. However, it's a version modified, or rather, integrated by the True Immortal who attained the Dao, unlike the original Great Dao of Eternity."
Although he couldn't fully understand the reason for this bizarre scene, Li Fan had some guesses. "It's likely related to 'Eternity' itself." "If there were fluctuations of personal consciousness, it would be difficult to maintain a true state of eternity. Only by completely merging one's will into the pure Great Dao could the premise of eternal existence be established. In some cultivation worlds, the highest realm for cultivators is not ascension, but merging with the Heavenly Dao of the world." "This alternative form of 'Dao Integration,' while allowing cultivators to transcend themselves and become as powerful as the world, would extinguish their will and turn them into machines that maintain the operation of the Heavenly Dao." "The current situation of Eternity is somewhat similar to this form of Dao Integration."
After observing for a long time, Li Fan, through several experiments, managed to confirm his judgment. "It has no independent offensive capabilities, but it consistently maintains its own Dao characteristics." "It will react to external stimuli. There's no mistake about it." Thus, Li Fan, who had been startled by the sudden manifestation of the Great Dao of Eternity, began to feel ambitious again. In a sense, the "Eternity" before him was a materialized Dao Principle, and this Dao Principle was highly independent and powerful, incapable of being comprehended by others.
"But it can be stimulated and used." Recalling the scene where Eternity restored the destroyed Merchant Immortal Boat, Li Fan's eyes lit up. "With this in hand, it's equivalent to having the protection of a small Return to Truth. No wonder the Merchant Immortal Boat could survive the great tribulation of the Immortal Realm's destruction and always be ahead of everyone else. Escaping the The Great Barriers, escaping the Primordial Era. It's precisely because they had Eternity as a fallback that they had the confidence to attempt various seemingly extremely dangerous and irrational experiments."
Although Li Fan harbored ulterior motives towards the Great Dao of "Eternity," successfully stimulating its power, like the Merchant Immortal Boat, was not an easy task. The Merchant Immortal Boat had possessed Eternity for who knows how many years, and now, they could only make it open its eyes and restore the Merchant Immortal Boat. Li Fan, a newcomer, and due to Eternity's characteristics, couldn't comprehend it. To reach the level of utilization as the Merchant Immortal Boat in a short time seemed like wishful thinking.
After trying numerous methods without any practical effect, Li Fan changed his approach. The immortal skeleton of Eternity was solitary, forming its own entity, indestructible and immutable. However, since the Merchant Immortal Boat could utilize the power of Eternity to recreate the destroyed boat, it indicated a certain connection between the space of the Merchant Immortal Boat and this immortal skeleton of Eternity.
"Since I can't study it myself, I'll learn by stealing." Unable to comprehend the Great Dao of Eternity, Li Fan was confident he could unravel the mysterious connection forged by the Merchant Immortal Boat. With a slight shift of his mind, the Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice, led by Ink Slaughter, reappeared. This time, its target was not the immortal skeleton of Eternity, but everything else in this space besides the immortal skeleton of Eternity.
The ink tide surged, sweeping through inch by inch, ensuring nothing was missed. Like waves sifting through sand, as the dark clouds churned, everything hidden in this space was revealed. Li Fan thus saw through the methods of the Merchant Immortal Boat. What was used to forcefully establish a connection with the "Dao-ified" Eternity, making the Merchant Immortal Boat's space attract Eternity's gaze, was actually a prayer mat! The prayer mat looked unremarkable, as if woven from purple bamboo.
"Huh? This prayer mat seems somewhat familiar?" After a moment of daze, Li Fan quickly found its origin in his memory. It was the prayer mat that Grand Master Tai Yi sat on in the vision of Grand Master Tiandu! Compared to the memory from the Grand Master's vision, this prayer mat seemed to have endured many tribulations, becoming much more worn. However, that unique rhythm had ultimately not changed. As Li Fan stared at it for a long time, he seemed to see a blurry figure of "Tai Yi" on this prayer mat!
The cushion floated serenely, as if the Sage Lord of Primordial Beginning himself were present!
Even Li Fan's heart trembled uncontrollably upon seeing the phantom image.
"No wonder the Merchant Immortal Boat could attract the attention of the 'Eternity'," he mused.
Suppressing the instinctive tremor that coursed through his body, Li Fan carefully examined the purple cushion.
"How could something belonging to the Sage Lord of Primordial Beginning appear in the Lower Realm?"
According to the memories of the Grand Master of Heavenly Capital, the Sage Lord of Primordial Beginning might have foreseen the inevitable doom of the Primordial Realm, which was destined to be engulfed by the Dao Erasure. Like the other two Sages, he had retreated from worldly affairs, choosing not to interfere further with matters of the Primordial Realm.
However, when the Sage Lord of Primordial Beginning departed, all his belongings within the Palace of Primordial Beginning remained untouched, as if he had left behind only a phantom image to guard them.
His disciple, the Grand Master of Heavenly Capital, had continued to serve this phantom image as his master, just as before.
This continued until the vast tide of Dao Erasure completely consumed the Primordial Immortal Realm. In his panic to escape, the Grand Master of Heavenly Capital, guided by the phantom, discovered the Ink Slaughter Origin hidden beneath the Dao Origin State of the Xuanhuang Realm.
"At that time, the Grand Master was only concerned with his own escape and did not have the time to take any of the numerous items in the Palace of Primordial Beginning. After all, to him, apart from the phantom of Primordial Beginning, everything else was ordinary."
"But for others, it was not so. As one of the three Sages of the Immortal Realm, Primordial Beginning held an incomparably noble status. Any item from his palace could be an invaluable treasure. Especially those that were by the Sage Lord's side..."
"It seems that at the critical moment when the Dao Erasure was imminent, someone not only failed to flee but also infiltrated the deserted Palace of Primordial Beginning and plundered it."
Li Fan couldn't help but feel a sense of curiosity towards this audacious individual.
"The cushion, obtained at such great risk, is here, yet its owner has vanished without a trace. Could it be that they met with misfortune?"
Li Fan was certain that there was no area within the entire Merchant Immortal Boat that he had not yet explored. The two Cat Treasures and the Eternal Immortal Remains were the greatest secrets hidden within the Merchant Immortal Boat.
"Perhaps the Eternal Immortal Remains are here due to this person's involvement."
"Only the Lord of the Sacred Merchant knows the answer."
Li Fan temporarily set aside the idea of confronting the Sacred Lord and kept his focus on the Eternal Immortal Remains.
The Great Dao of Eternity might play a crucial role in Li Fan's subsequent plans.
"If aided by the power of Eternity, when the Azure Nether Immortal Realm collides with the Mountains and Seas, we will have more time for buffering," Li Fan pondered, his own form and appearance simultaneously transforming.
Moments later, he had changed from his original appearance to that of the Grand Master of Heavenly Capital's Dao page!
Not only his physique and appearance but also the power of the 'Infinite' that surged and manifested within him was the innate 'Infinite' power of the Grand Master!
"There was Primordial Beginning before the Immortals, and the Infinite existed even before Primordial Beginning..."
Li Fan murmured softly, smiling as he bowed deeply towards the Eternal Immortal Remains before him.
"Greetings, Esteemed Uncle!"
The smiling, round-faced man suddenly opened his eyes.
His gaze shifted from the cushion of Primordial Beginning below to Li Fan.
As he was being scrutinized by the Great Dao of Eternity, Li Fan remained completely calm. After all, his current state could hardly be called a "disguise."
The true Grand Master of Heavenly Capital had been suppressed by him and transformed into a Heavenly Pillar. Now, the true 'Infinite' was manifested within the Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice!
Only the core had changed.
However, it was clear that the 'Eternity' that had merged with the Dao could not distinguish between the two previous Infninites. In its eyes, the person before it was its long-unseen junior nephew.
Although there were no gestures like nodding, Li Fan felt the "preferential treatment" from the other party.
A warm power enveloped Li Fan.
Like a straw cape donned in a storm, the moment he was protected by the power of Eternity, Li Fan felt an unprecedented sense of peace emerge in his heart.
It seemed as though, even if the Dao Erasure were to descend, he would have no cause for worry.
"This is not merely an illusion. The Great Dao of Eternity can indeed resist the Dao Erasure to some extent."
Li Fan extended his hand and gently caressed the invisible "outer garment" that adorned him.
However, his gaze drifted into the distance, beyond the Primordial Possibility.
"To be able to call the three Sages brothers, they must not be weak. Another existence that spans across many possibilities. Even if they have not yet reached the realm of the three Sages where all worlds exist, they are not far off."
"However, this 'All Selves Unifying' of the Great Dao of Eternity is somewhat different from the Black Heavenly Physician, Evil Su Bai, and others I've encountered before."
Through the mantle of Eternity he now wore, Li Fan could vaguely sense the Eternal Great Dao shining brightly in other possibilities. It was like a silken thread, spanning across the Mountains and Seas, connecting various possibilities.
After gazing for a long time, he withdrew his gaze and looked again at the round-faced man before him, who had already merged with the Dao.
"The Dao Integrators of Eternity in other possibilities are not him."
"Instead, they are all sorts of strange and varied beings. Perhaps a stubborn stone, perhaps the strongest in a realm, or perhaps an evergreen tree."
"But their ultimate fate is the same: merging with the Great Dao of Eternity and fully integrating into it."
"When all possible existences give rise to an Eternal being, that will be the moment the 'Great Dao of Eternity' is truly forged."
At this thought, Li Fan felt a faint chill rise from the depths of his heart.
"Perhaps at that time, the forged Great Dao of Eternity will be able to rival the Mountains and Seas to some extent."
Having understood the power of the Great Dao of Eternity, Li Fan's resolve became even firmer.
In the guise of the Grand Master, he bowed again, slightly: "This place is humble, I hope 'Uncle' will deign to move."
"So that Nephew may attend to you."
The statement "The Infinite existed even before Primordial Beginning" was not merely the Grand Master's boast.
Compared to the cushion left by Primordial Beginning, the 'Infinite' junior nephew clearly held greater significance in Eternity's heart. As soon as Li Fan spoke, the round-faced man, without any hesitation, transformed into a ball of light and attached himself to Li Fan.
As long as Li Fan returned to the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, he could take the Great Dao of Eternity, the greatest treasure of the Merchant Immortal Boat, back with him.
This seemed incredibly easy, almost like a joke. However, it must be understood that if Li Fan had not possessed the power of the Infinite, he would have been completely incapable of completing this task.
Even if he had utilized the transformation of True and False, the result would have been the same.
"This is the art of specialization, applying the right remedy to the right ailment."
To avoid any unforeseen complications, Li Fan did not delay. He swiftly retracted the tendrils of the Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice that had infiltrated, and with the Great Dao of Eternity in tow, he rapidly retreated.
Before leaving, Li Fan specifically left behind the "outer garment" that Eternity had bestowed upon him earlier.
This would serve as an empty shell of Eternity to deceive the people of the Merchant Immortal Boat.
Just as Li Fan thought his theft had gone completely unnoticed and he was about to leave the Merchant Immortal Boat, he heard a shout.
"Senior, please take me with you!"
The old gatekeeper suddenly exclaimed.
At the entrance of the merchant immortal boat, the elder without beard or hair, who had been sitting on a plain yellow wooden chair, suddenly stood up. His stooped posture straightened, and without waiting for Li Fan's consent, he rapidly approached as the Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice retracted.
His plea, "Senior, please take me along!" was directed at Li Fan, yet the elder's gaze was fixed on the Eternal Great Dao within the Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice. His eyes, so dark they seemed devoid of any light, held a complex expression. There was an irrepressible longing mingled with a hint of restraint.
The round-faced man, representing the Primordial Eternal Great Dao, appeared as if he hadn't seen the elder at all. His demeanor remained unchanged from beginning to end. However, Li Fan did not ignore him.
Halting his movement, Li Fan surveyed the elder and asked, "You are not a citizen of the Sacred Merchant?"
The elder's gaze finally shifted from the Eternal. He bowed slightly to Li Fan and replied with solemnity, "No, no. I implore Senior to understand. I came to the merchant immortal boat many years ago with the sole purpose of following the Eternal's path. Now that the Eternal has moved, I naturally must follow."
Li Fan's interest was piqued. The Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice enveloped them both, withdrawing towards the Azure Nether Immortal Realm within the The Great Barriers. The elder offered no resistance to the net's embrace, allowing Li Fan to act as he pleased.
On the journey back, he answered Li Fan's questions truthfully and without reservation.
"When did you arrive at the merchant immortal boat?"
"It was a long time ago; I no longer recall precisely. However, back then, the immortal boat was not yet an immortal boat, but a Grotto-heaven within the Cultivation World. Later, the Grotto-heaven detached itself from the world and fled, thus transforming into the Mystic Merchant Immortal Boat. Subsequently, the immortal boat drifted through the star sea, its location uncertain. Eventually, due to internal disagreements, it split into two during a civil war. The victors became the Merchant, and the defeated, the Mystic. I then followed the divided Merchant Immortal Boat, passing through the The Great Barriers to arrive in this new star domain..." the elder recounted, his words unhurried.
"You are not a True Immortal, with ordinary mortal eyes, how can you perceive the Eternal Great Dao?" Li Fan observed clearly. Although the elder before him was quite mysterious, he carried no aura connected to the Mountains and Seas. He was a pure mortal cultivator, which was precisely why Li Fan felt at ease allowing him to approach.
"To let Senior know, I hail from the realm of the [Divine Witches]. By nature, I possess a keen insight into all the Great Daos. Therefore, I was able to discern the Eternal Dao, hidden in plain sight." the elder replied with great humility.
"Realm of the Divine Witches?"
Li Fan was slightly taken aback. An image immediately appeared in his mind: twelve solemn palaces stood majestically in the sky, arranged in a circle, dominating the world's firmament. Each palace enshrined a statue, while countless cultivators on the ground, like ants, prostrated and prayed.
With a flip of his hand, Li Fan produced the Azure Nether Orb and asked, "Do you recognize this object?"
After only a brief moment, the elder recognized the item from his homeland. His emotional reaction was even greater than when he had witnessed the Eternal Great Dao being taken away. "This... this is the Azure Nether Sacred Orb?"
The elder wished to examine it further, but Li Fan had already retrieved the Azure Nether Orb.
"I hope Senior will forgive me; looking at this object brings back memories, and I have become somewhat discomposed," the elder said with a sense of loss.
"Tell me about it," Li Fan prompted.
"The Azure Nether Sacred Orb is one of the twelve Sacred Artifacts of my Divine Witch Realm. The Twelve Sacred Artifacts were forged by the Twelve Witch Gods, who scoured all realms for their Great Daos and melted them into their own vital blood. The Twelve Witch Gods existed before the Immortal Realm was even created. Each one possessed unimaginable supreme power, not inferior to that of a True Immortal. It is said that after the Immortal Realm was born, in order to glimpse the secrets of the Immortal Realm, the Witch Gods sent the Sacred Artifacts as their substitutes into the Immortal Realm. From then on, they opened the path to ascension for the countless beings of the Divine Witch Realm."
"Later, a Great Tribulation descended, and the Immortal Realm collapsed. The Divine Witch Realm could not avoid this catastrophe. The Twelve Witch Gods joined forces to save the world, buying the beings of the realm precious time to escape. I was fortunate enough to escape with my life by following the teleportation channel opened by the Witch Gods..."
"When the Witch Gods opened a passage, could it lead to the inside of this sealed The Great Barrier?" Li Fan chuckled softly, interrupting him. At this moment, the Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice, carrying them and the Eternal Great Dao, returned to the Azure Nether Immortal Realm.
However, faced with Li Fan's question, the elder was unable to answer. The moment he saw the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, the elder from the Divine Witch Realm froze as if turned to stone, standing motionless.
Cultivators from the Divine Witch Realm, through the resonance of their divine souls with the Great Daos, could manipulate and even replace them. Therefore, the instant he entered the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, the elder perceived that this realm, with its lofty heavens and vast earth, was filled with a sky-high and profound Great Dao, teeming with vibrant life. It was far from comparable to the desolate star sea outside.
The elder had never been to the Immortal Realm, but judging by this realm, it might not be inferior to the former Immortal Realm! He greedily looked around, as if every corner of the Azure Nether Heaven and Earth was filled with rare treasures. As he observed, his extremely aged face slowly began to regain its youthful appearance.
While the elder was observing the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, Li Fan was simultaneously observing the elder. Having already brought the Eternal Great Dao to the highest point of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm's firmament and settled it properly, Li Fan, now with considerable interest, carefully scrutinized this cultivator from the Divine Witch Realm.
It was evident that he was comprehending the Dao. However, the process was different from that of ordinary cultivators. Li Fan could see that in the short time since entering the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, the elder's understanding of the various Great Daos in the world had not deepened. His rejuvenation was because he was directly absorbing power from the countless Dao principles within the heaven and earth.
As the parents of the Azure Nether, Li Fan could keenly sense that the Great Dao of the Azure Nether Heaven and Earth had weakened by a fraction due to this cultivator's absorption. Even though the amount absorbed was minuscule, it had undeniably occurred.
"This is somewhat similar to the newborn Ink Slaughter's ability. The stolen ability is much weaker, but in an instant, he can simultaneously lock onto all interwoven Dao principles in the world..."
"He truly has some tricks up his sleeve." With a cold snort, Li Fan directly severed the elder's connection to the Azure Nether Great Dao.
As if his eyes were instantly blinded and his throat forcefully choked, the Divine Witch Realm cultivator let out a scream. He quickly realized that his impolite actions had angered Li Fan, and he immediately knelt on the ground, repeatedly kowtowing to beg for forgiveness.
"It was not my intention; it was an uncontrollable instinct." "Please, Senior, do not be angry, do not be angry!"
Li Fan could tell the elder was not lying. However, the peculiar constitution of this Divine Witch Realm cultivator did indeed pique his curiosity. Disregarding the elder's wails and pleas, Li Fan suppressed and sealed him. He then sent a wisp of his divine sense into the elder's body to observe him closely.
As if entering the Azure Nether Orb once more, the twelve palaces standing tall in the firmament reappeared before Li Fan's eyes.
The hall enshrined twelve Witch Gods. Eleven of them were hidden within a gray mist, their true appearances obscured. The remaining one, with three eyes and four arms, bore a serene expression. Its two side eyes resembled deep, unfathomable cold pools, while its central vertical eye seemed to reflect the myriad beings of the Divine Witch Realm.
The cultivator guarding the entrance to the passage of the Merchant Immortal Boat was one of these myriad beings within the Witch God's eye!
Li Fan faced the so-called Witch God without fear. Despite being named a "God," as Li Fan stood before it, his figure could not be reflected in its eyes. Li Fan observed carefully. After some study, he concluded: "Although the twelve Witch Gods have perished, the Witch God Seats left within the beings of the Divine Witch Realm have not dissipated. The cultivators of the Divine Witch Realm can activate these seats, dedicating to and worshiping different Witch Gods, often choosing only one. Upon activation, they can borrow the power of the Witch God to a certain extent. Comprehending the Great Dao and drawing power from it is merely the most basic ability."
Li Fan attempted to project his divine sense into the Witch God Seat above the Azure Sky. However, to him, these grand structures appeared to be mere illusions, nonexistent. He passed right through them, unable to enter. He could only discern the various abilities gained by Divine Witch Realm cultivators after worshiping the Witch Gods through their memories.
"The Three-Eyed Witch God, Cang Mingxu, presides over life and death and reincarnation in the Divine Witch Realm. That is why this Divine Witch Realm cultivator named Wu Xin could live to an old age without dying. He can capture souls, perceive grudges, and hear impending disasters..."
"All of these, while not exceedingly powerful, possess the advantage of being attainable through a single act of worship. They become unique 'skills' for oneself and can be integrated into one's cultivation techniques, complementing each other."
"The countless Witch God Seats projected by the Witch Gods within the beings of the Divine Witch Realm seem like a dispersion of their power. In reality, they are somewhat similar to anchor points. Even if a Witch God perishes, as long as any being from the Divine Witch Realm survives in the mortal world, through continuous procreation and worship, these Witch Gods have a chance of resurrection."
"The Divine Witch Realm was created by the twelve Witch Gods working together. All the laws within the realm are controlled by these gods..."
Li Fan vaguely felt that the Divine Witch Realm, glimpsed in Wu Xin's memories, bore a striking resemblance in some aspects to the Azure Nether Immortal Realm he had meticulously crafted. However, the Azure Nether Immortal Realm's status was far superior to that of the Divine Witch Realm, and Li Fan was the sole master of the Azure Nether. Yet, the Divine Witch Realm had a very early origin and had been passed down for tens of billions of years, offering Li Fan much to learn from.
For instance: While beings might remain loyal to the Witch Gods within the Divine Witch Realm, how could their persistent loyalty to the Witch Gods be ensured when they left the Divine Witch Realm, journeyed to other worlds, or even ascended to the Immortal Realm? The answer lay in the Witch God Seats within their beings.
A Witch God Seat was essentially a projection of the Witch God's power, combined with the being's life origin. With each increase in the Divine Witch Realm cultivator's strength, the Witch God Seat would become more solidified and bind more deeply with the cultivator. Should a cultivator betray a Witch God, it would be akin to betraying the very foundation they had painstakingly built since their cultivation began. At best, their cultivation would be destroyed; at worst, they would perish, even True Immortals not being an exception.
Furthermore, due to the favor of the Witch Gods, the lifespans of the beings in the Divine Witch Realm were extremely long. However, the Divine Witch Realm was not connected to the Sea of Mountains and Seas and did not possess infinite attributes. To ensure the sustained prosperity of the Divine Witch Realm, every ten million years, it would undergo a "reboot."
This was a world-ending tribulation brought about by the combined will of the twelve Witch Gods. Below the Witch Gods, all beings were equal and had to face the tribulation. Among billions of living beings, only ninety-nine individuals with the most fortune and power could survive. The next era of civilization would then begin with these ninety-nine. In this manner, like a constant sifting of sand, through successive reboots, the "aptitude" of the Divine Witch Realm cultivators showed a stable upward trend.
Of course, there were those who dared to defy this cruel cycle of extinction, but in the face of the twelve Witch Gods' will, all resistance was in vain.
...
"The Azure Nether Immortal Realm is the foundation for my crossing of the Sea of Mountains and Seas. It indeed requires diligent management. Previously, I was too benevolent. My methods were akin to laissez-faire. Although the time has been short and no issues have arisen due to my strong control, it might not be the case in the future."
"After all, all sorts of crooked figures have tried to meddle in the Xuanhuang Realm."
Li Fan was a humble person. He did not hesitate to acknowledge the strengths of others and would promptly learn from advanced experiences.
"The beings of the Azure Nether only understand the dramatic changes of heaven and earth, but not the Azure Nether Parents behind them."
"It is precisely during the reflection of 'Eternity' onto the Azure Nether that I shall proclaim my divine name."
Li Fan's divine sense withdrew from Wu Xin's body. He looked towards the Eternal Great Dao seated in the firmament. After seven days of proactive adjustments, the overall state of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm had been brought to its optimal condition. Li Fan once again materialized the Grand Master's illusory form.
"This realm was crafted by my junior nephew. If my elder cousin is satisfied, he may reside here permanently."
A moment later, the round-faced man slowly opened his eyes upon hearing this. In that instant, the Azure Nether Immortal Realm seemed to be frozen, entering a state of momentary stillness. The round-faced man closed his eyes, and the ice sealing was broken.
This was followed by continuous, intense tremors. The heavens and earth roared, and anomalies appeared in the sky. However, what was displayed was not the scenery used within the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, but rather the visions the Eternal Great Dao had witnessed in other possibilities.
As the round-faced man opened his eyes, and "Eternity" was being inscribed, Li Fan, as the lord of the Azure Nether, was also cautiously vigilant. Although Eternity now possessed almost no will of its own, acting solely on instinct and mechanically, it was still an entity capable of traversing the Sea of Mountains and Seas. Li Fan needed to take precautions to prevent its influence in the Xuanhuang Realm from surpassing his own, thus becoming the new lord of the Azure Nether.
As Eternity descended and influenced the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, a mysterious figure exuding immortal energy also appeared in the minds of all Azure Nether beings. Nearly instantaneously, all beings within the Azure Nether learned the identity of this figure: the source of the Xuanhuang Realm's anomalies, the Azure Nether Parents of Heaven and Earth.
The Primordial Azure Nether World-Governing Majestic Venerable!
Irresistibly, a feeling of reverence and a desire to kneel arose in the hearts of all beings. Their bodies, uncontrolled, trembled slightly within the Azure Nether Heaven and Earth, and they slowly bowed. As they knelt, the figure in their hearts transformed from illusory to tangible, truly solidifying. It was like a divine statue erected in their spiritual consciousness, perceptible at any moment with a mere thought.
To worship and bow before the Majestic Venerable was akin to facing countless Great Daos of heaven and earth. A single kowtow was worth more than three years of Dao comprehension! Unfortunately, after a single bow, the Sage Lord's divine statue turned illusory, requiring sincere faith in one's heart to reconsolidate.
The advent of the "Primordial Azure Nether World-Governing Majestic Venerable" instantly altered the landscape of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm. Within half a day, over a hundred Grotto-heaven stars appeared. And the Azure Nether Immortal Realm's first "Soul Transformation" cultivator also emerged!
This first cultivator to reach the Soul Transformation realm was none other than Su Bai!
Above the celestial canopy, the Heavenly Benevolence Star erupted with a radiance thousands of times brighter than usual, like a second great sun, casting the sky of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm into a blinding white.
All stars vanished, only the Heavenly Benevolence remained!
As all beings in the Azure Nether Immortal Realm looked up in awe, a thin line shot up from this dazzling star, piercing the sky, and ascended straight towards the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, beyond the heavens!
If the phenomena of the Heavenly Benevolence Star could be sensed by the beings of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, then the events unfolding beyond the heavens were beyond their comprehension.
They could only watch the Heavenly Benevolence Star shine, gazing upward and silently awaiting the outcome. The dazzling light, comparable to the great sun, lasted for a full hour. As the radiance began to recede and the thin line heading towards the heavens gradually returned, a colossal, majestic figure suddenly materialized above the celestial canopy.
This figure was so grand that the entire sky of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm could not contain its form. Only its upper half could be seen seated. Before all beings could comprehend the true identity of this magnificent figure, their bodies instinctively knelt.
Then, all beings understood who it was.
The Primordial Azure Nether World-Governing Majestic Venerable!
All beings trembled, their souls aflame. It was as if they had witnessed the Dao, their thoughts frozen by terror, yet their bodies felt as if they were being drawn in and disintegrated by the appearance of the Venerable’s projection. They knew this was not an illusion, but the manifestation of the Azure Nether Venerable’s overwhelming power, which they, as mere mortals, could not withstand. It was like ice destined to melt under the sun’s gaze. In the presence of the great "Primordial Azure Nether World-Governing Majestic Venerable," beings were less than ants. Even a slight fluctuation of the Venerable’s aura would be enough to obliterate them, turning them into nothingness.
The reason they were still alive was that something stood between the Azure Nether Venerable and the mortals. It was a boundless scroll, unfurled and floating in the void. Initially, the scroll was empty, but now, it bore its first name.
Su Bai!
Originally, a name was merely a designation. You could be called Su Bai, I could be called Su Bai, anyone could be called Su Bai. But the moment this name appeared on the "God Conferment Roll," the designation "Su Bai" became unique in all of heaven and earth. It was, and could only be, that shining star in the heavens, the Heavenly Benevolence Star. All individuals in the world who had previously shared the name Su Bai had vanished like dust, leaving no trace of their existence. Even their closest relations had no memory of them. In the future, there would never be another Su Bai. This was the manifestation of reaching the Soul Transformation realm in the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, attracting the gaze of the Saint Venerable and earning an eternal name!
Of course, earning an eternal name was merely the most direct perceptual change for outsiders after reaching the Soul Transformation realm. The earth-shattering transformations occurring within one’s own body were known only to the individual.
The majestic, grand projection of the Saint Venerable finally began to dissipate slowly. Without the radiance of the Saint Venerable illuminating them, the God Conferment Roll, though still floating beyond the heavens, was hidden from the sight of all beings. Only cultivators in the Nascent Soul realm, who had transformed their bodies into stars, could vaguely perceive its trace. This further intensified their ambition to cultivate. Those who could achieve this realm possessed an innate pride. Since Su Bai could ascend to Soul Transformation, why couldn't they? With the birth of the first Soul Transformation cultivator in the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, the emergence of the second and third was not far behind. Su Bai, as if acting as a bridge, had shortened the vast chasm between the Nascent Soul and Soul Transformation realms in the Azure Nether Immortal Realm. Other cultivators, displaying their unique abilities, strived to become the second person on the God Conferment Roll.
Su Bai, however, felt no joy in achieving Soul Transformation. Instead, his face was etched with pain, and he was consumed by deep self-recrimination.
"After the changes in the heavens and earth, the number of living beings has likely multiplied countless times. How many of them shared my name… they all died because of me." Su Bai’s face turned pale, his body trembling uncontrollably.
"Venerable, do the strong disregard the lives of the weak? Can the strong do as they please? Is this truly right?" After a long while, Su Bai emerged from his guilt and remorse. He then couldn't help but wonder this question in his heart. He tilted his head towards the heavens beyond the sky, directly questioning the Azure Nether Saint Venerable.
However, he received no reply from the Saint Venerable. Instead, he learned an unexpected piece of information that further paled his face and chilled his heart.
"The Azure Nether Tribulation? The heavens and earth will be reopened, and all beings will perish. Only those whose names are inscribed on the God Conferment Roll will escape this calamity…" Su Bai felt as if struck by lightning. He should have felt fortunate to be on the God Conferment Roll, free from calamity. But the thought of countless beings below turning to ashes in the coming tribulation filled him with suffocation.
"Is there no way to stop this tribulation?" he asked instinctively.
The Saint Venerable remained silent. Only the cold God Conferment Roll hung in the sky, reflecting the countless beings of the Azure Nether.
"There must be a way. There has to be a way…" Su Bai muttered to himself, his gaze gradually shifting from confusion to determination as he stared beyond the heavens. His thought was simple: if he could face the Azure Nether Saint Venerable in person, perhaps he could persuade Him to retract the decree of world annihilation.
"Only by achieving Dao Integration can one cross this invisible boundary."
"Dao Integration…" Su Bai narrowed his eyes, sensing the countless Great Daos within heaven and earth once more. This time, his desire to advance further was a thousand times stronger than before.
…
"As expected, Su Bai is still Su Bai." Li Fan, who had witnessed Su Bai’s entire transformation, sneered. "Wanting to save the world, but can he save everyone? Even if the Azure Nether Tribulation is averted, there's the Mountain and Sea Tribulation. His own strength is mediocre, yet he worries about everything else." Li Fan naturally felt no sympathy for Su Bai. However, he would not prevent Su Bai from accelerating his cultivation and fully extracting his potential by changing his mindset.
"With the incorporation of the Eternal Great Dao, the solidity of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm has increased by at least thirty percent. Moreover, this effect will grow as more names are added to the God Conferment Roll." In fact, this was an unexpected bonus. After Li Fan, under the guise of "Tai Yi," attracted the attention of "Eternity" and received a fleeting glance towards the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, a trace of its eternal attribute was imprinted upon the world. Eternity then closed its eyes. Li Fan was quite satisfied with this outcome. He then proceeded to project the divine image he had assumed into the hearts of all beings in the Azure Nether Immortal Realm. As for the subsequent breakthroughs of some cultivators to Soul Transformation and their inscription of names on the Azure Nether God Conferment Roll, it was all within Li Fan's plan. However, to Li Fan’s surprise, after Su Bai ascended to the God Conferment Roll, Eternity, which had supposedly closed its eyes and ceased to concern itself with worldly affairs, opened its eyes once more! Although the duration of its gaze was much shorter than when Li Fan had initially invoked it, it further added a touch of eternity to the Azure Nether Immortal Realm.
"I wonder if Eternity reopened its eyes because of 'Su Bai,' or merely due to the emergence of sheer genius in this world." "However, once the next person on the God Conferment Roll appears, it should become clear." Li Fan's divine sense swept across the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, pinpointing potential candidates. Most were as expected. However, one individual was a slight surprise to Li Fan. Although this person was currently only at the Foundation Establishment realm, Li Fan estimated that he might even rank within the top three on the God Conferment Roll.
"This speed of cultivation and Dao comprehension…" "It wasn't like this before. Did it only manifest just now?" "Is it because of Eternity's intervention? Or…?" This person, who had captured Li Fan's attention, was a thin man named Zhang Shangzhi. Despite appearing upright and righteous, a trace of inexplicable gloom flickered in his eyes from time to time. Upon closer examination of his inner heart, Li Fan understood why this person's Dao comprehension talent had suddenly skyrocketed. The so-called Dao comprehension talent was essentially the affinity with various Great Daos. Before this, Zhang Shangzhi's Dao comprehension talent was mediocre, and even now, it remained so. The reason for the earth-shattering change in an instant was the formal manifestation of the "Primordial Azure Nether World-Governing Majestic Venerable!" The Azure Nether Venerable was Li Fan, the parents of the Azure Nether, the greatest Dao in this world, the Dao above the Dao. And Zhang Shangzhi had an excellent affinity with Li Fan! He was ruthless in achieving his goals, never trusting anyone from the bottom of his heart, cold and unfeeling like a machine… These many traits, even his thought patterns and behavioral principles, were almost identical to Li Fan's. If Li Fan hadn't known for certain that there were no blood relatives of his in the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, he would have almost believed Zhang Shangzhi was his own descendant. Understanding the truth of the matter, Li Fan couldn't help but be amused. Zhang Shangzhi's rapid cultivation advancement was purely due to "good luck," resembling Li Fan. "Outside the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, he would be useless. After all, he doesn't possess Reflection, nor does he have Infinite Spirituality," Li Fan said with a slight shake of his head. He did not intend to pay too much attention or deliberately interfere. The Heavenly Dao is unpredictable; everything will take its course. After settling the Eternal Great Dao in the Azure Nether Immortal Realm and intending to return to the Merchant Immortal Boat to retrieve two cat treasures, Li Fan was reminded of something by Zhang Shangzhi's situation. "The Azure Nether and the Mountain and Sea share the same principles." "So-called talent might just be similarity to certain existences." "The Great Dao originates from the Mountains and Seas, and the Mountains and Seas come from the so-called Creator God…"
"Perhaps the so-called differences in talent among cultivators in the Mountains and Seas are, to some extent, similar to that of the [Creation God]," Li Fan mused leisurely.
With Eternity's presence, the Azure Nether Immortal Realm became more stable, and in turn, it fed back into Li Fan. Within the Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice, it was as if a fine gold had been implanted, creating a stable support structure. Even when extended far beyond the The Great Barrier, there was no significant attenuation.
Thus, when Li Fan re-entered the Merchant Immortal Boat this time, the Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice, carrying his own phantom, could unleash nearly half of his true strength.
"Although Eternity forms its own path, one that others cannot comprehend, it can still be borrowed."
"It's like adding rare treasures during the process of artifact refining or pill concocting."
With this thought, Li Fan once again infiltrated the Sacred Merchant.
The personnel of the Merchant Immortal Boat were still engrossed in studying the newly captured Cat Treasure. Moreover, with the eternal "outer garment" Li Fan had left behind as a cover, they had not even realized the loss of the [Great Dao of Eternity].
However, the mysterious disappearance of Wu Xin, who was responsible for guarding the entrance of the Merchant Immortal Boat, did cause a stir. After all, Wu Xin had been on the Merchant Immortal Boat for countless years, a veritable elder. The Lord of the Sacred Merchant personally investigated the scene but was unable to ascertain the true reason for his disappearance.
After much deliberation, the Lord of the Sacred Merchant merely ordered a change in the location of the entrance passage, rather than sealing all entrances.
This provided Li Fan with another opportunity to infiltrate.
Skillfully navigating to the space where the Cat Treasure was imprisoned, the situation was vastly different from when Li Fan had left.
The orange cat was still firmly bound by countless blue chains. Beside it, the black and white cat, captured later, moved freely.
It paced around the orange cat, occasionally sniffing and letting out soft meows.
The orange cat, however, seemed indifferent to its "companion." Its eyes were tightly shut, and it remained motionless.
At times, a burst of orange-yellow light erupted from its body, forcefully resisting the restraint of the blue chains and pushing back the black and white cat that approached to sniff.
Li Fan subtly sensed that this cluster of orange-yellow light contained an unparalleled warm vitality. If the black and white cat's power was the cold power of the Great Dao of Life and Death, then the orange cat's body was pure condensed vitality. Because the gathered vitality was so immense, its external manifestation of power even surpassed that of the black and white cat.
As the orange cat was forced to unleash its orange-yellow light, countless faint blue symbols simultaneously flashed within the surrounding space of the Merchant Immortal Boat, stealing the life force from the orange-yellow light.
Following this, Li Fan saw that the black and white cat had acquired several strands of orange-yellow fur.
"This black and white cat is likely not the true body of the Cat Treasure, but a transformation of the Lord of the Sacred Merchant," Li Fan mused to himself.
As Li Fan had predicted.
With orange and black and white hues appearing on its body, the black and white cat's form suddenly flickered with a strange light. It continuously shifted between a human body and a cat's body.
Finally, with a muffled groan, the Lord of the Sacred Merchant revealed its true form.
The orange cat, which had been lying still, suddenly opened its eyes. Its posture lowered, and it let out a low growl that sounded like a roar towards the Lord of the Sacred Merchant. The countless blue chains around it seemed unable to restrain it, shaking violently. Some chains even shattered directly, dissolving into countless specks of light.
It was evident how intensely the orange cat hated the Lord of the Sacred Merchant.
The Lord of the Sacred Merchant, however, remained quite calm. With a gentle wave of its hand, layer upon layer of colorful light barriers sealed and enveloped the orange cat, eventually forming a sphere of light that completely contained the Cat Treasure. The disturbance ceased.
Following this, figures began to appear one after another, the members of the Sacred Merchant who were researching the Cat Treasure.
"As expected of one of the seven prototypes of Heaven-Snatching, [Loquat]'s power is far stronger than [Bai Qian]. It only took us a few days to analyze Bai Qian, but we have been completely stumped by [Loquat]." The Lord of the Sacred Merchant looked at the tightly wrapped sphere of light with immense emotion.
"The reason why the research on Bai Qian was so smooth this time is inseparable from the previous analysis of Loquat. It's a pity that it's almost impossible to capture a third Cat Treasure. If we had another Heaven-Snatching Cat for us to study..."
The Lord of the Sacred Merchant chuckled: "Who says it's impossible?"
The people around were stunned: "Ever since the last time, we've lost contact with them. They must have been retaliated against. Either they have perished, or they fled in panic. Without their help..."
"The Heaven-Snatching Divine Cats roam through the various possibilities of the Mountains and Seas, each with its own role. Although their responsibilities are distinct, there are subtle hidden connections among all the Heaven-Snatching Divine Cats. Now that we have two Cat Treasures in hand, we can naturally follow the clues and find more Cat Treasures." The Lord of the Sacred Merchant said confidently.
"But..." The inhabitants of the Immortal Boat exchanged glances, most of them showing hesitation.
"The Heaven-Snatching Divine Cats are vengeful. Capturing two of them without being discovered by them is already a great fortune. If we act again, perhaps it won't be so..."
The Lord of the Sacred Merchant waved his hand: "I am mindful of our limitations. Although the Tai Wei Sacred Dynasty is terrifying, it is merely one of the major forces in the Mountains and Seas, with the Sacred Emperor as its supreme ruler, distinct from other powerful beings. While we are no match for the Sacred Dynasty, there are many in the Mountains and Seas who can rival it. Our act of capturing Cat Treasures is precisely our pledge of allegiance to them!"
The inhabitants of the Immortal Boat then realized: "Sacred Master, have you already made contact?"
"The Dao Erasure is approaching. Even with the protection of Eternity, it is unlikely to last long. What else can we do if we don't make plans? Did not the previous generations of Sacred Masters risk their lives to cross over to other possibilities, precisely to seek a sliver of hope?" The Lord of the Sacred Merchant said with a solemn expression.
Upon hearing this, the inhabitants of the Immortal Boat became extremely excited, with some even shedding tears on the spot.
Amidst their sincere praises, Li Fan finally learned that after the Merchant Immortal Boat broke free from the The Great Barrier and narrowly escaped the world-ending catastrophe of the Immortal Ruins.
The entire Immortal Boat maintained a strong sense of crisis.
Upon learning the truth of the Immortal Realm's destruction through some means, they became even more determined to escape this land affected by the Dao Erasure.
Later, the first Sacred Master of the Immortal Boat, the one who led the Mysterious Merchant Immortal Boat to escape the Cultivation World, found a method to cross over to other possibilities. However, the safety of those possibilities was unknown.
Thus, he voluntarily went alone to investigate and explore.
From then on, this became a tradition of the Merchant Immortal Boat. Every generation of Sacred Masters bore the responsibility of exploration, actively venturing into different possibilities to find relatively safe ones.
Among them, some never returned, while others were still alive.
Only within the Sacred Merchant was there a method to contact these predecessors. Therefore, the other inhabitants of the Immortal Boat knew little about matters beyond the original possibility.
It was precisely because of the self-sacrificing exploratory efforts of the successive generations of Sacred Masters that the Merchant Immortal Boat, even though it had not yet left its original location, had gained a basic understanding of the infinite possibilities within the Mountains and Seas.
Perhaps, they even knew more than Li Fan.
Li Fan, eavesdropping nearby, nodded secretly: "Building upon the lingering achievements of a hundred generations. This is the true foundation of the Merchant Immortal Boat. No wonder they were able to successfully escape before the destruction of the Primordial Era."
Li Fan stared at the Lord of the Sacred Merchant, who was boasting nearby. The urge to thoroughly examine his cranial memories was almost uncontrollable.
In his view, this Lord of the Sacred Merchant was undeniably a living map.
As if sensing Li Fan's malicious intent, the Lord of the Sacred Merchant's grand discourse suddenly stopped. He frowned and looked around suspiciously.
However, he could not detect the source of the fleeting unease in his heart.
"Could it be the Cat Treasure's anomaly?"
The Lord of the Sacred Merchant, feeling uneasy, carefully inspected the orange cat Loquat. He found no signs of it breaking free. As Li Fan's malicious thoughts subsided, his inner unease gradually faded.
He then returned to the previous topic: "That [Tai Wei Sacred Emperor] attempts to expand the Sacred Dynasty to encompass all of the Mountains and Seas. Thus, he mirrors his own power onto countless possibilities within the Mountains and Seas. Anything that bears a resemblance to his shape will be influenced by him, becoming what is known as a Sacred Emperor."
"If, by chance, a Heaven-Snatching Cat is carrying out a mission in this possibility, the Sacred Emperor will receive assistance from the Heaven-Snatching Cat, with a high probability of unifying the possibility and establishing a Sacred Dynasty. At that moment, the [Tai Wei Sacred Emperor]'s true consciousness will awaken, and the pseudo-Sacred Emperors influenced by the mirroring will ascend to become true ones."
The Lord of the Sacred Merchant slowly explained the methods of the [Tai Wei Sacred Emperor]. The Immortal Boat inhabitants listening nearby were filled with awe.
"We originally thought that the Heaven-Snatching Cats were already a heaven-snatching boon. Now it seems that these creations are merely a part of the vast Sacred Dynasty's many schemes."
"Compared to the Tai Wei Sacred Dynasty, a colossal entity, we on the Immortal Boat are like mere ants. Yet, we repeatedly dare to bite off pieces of this behemoth. This is truly too dangerous!"
The Lord of the Sacred Merchant listened to the discussions below. Once everyone's emotions had calmed, he continued: "That Tai Wei Sacred Emperor is indeed powerful. But his actions are somewhat too domineering. Most of the powerful beings in the Mountains and Seas have gone to the [Other Shore] to unite and jointly discuss how to deal with the Dao Erasure. Even those unwilling to participate are merely carving out a territory of their own and maintaining a distance from the Other Shore."
"This Tai Wei Sacred Emperor not only has no intention of joining the Other Shore but also acts according to his own will, expanding the Sacred Dynasty without regard for consequences. It is said that he has clashed with the powerful beings in the Great World of the Other Shore multiple times, accumulating many enemies."
"We are not yet qualified or capable of venturing to that Great World of the Other Shore. However, for those who are at odds with the Tai Wei Sacred Emperor, there are possibilities that are safe for a considerable period of time..."
The Lord of the Sacred Merchant smiled slightly, appearing utterly confident.
This led the inhabitants of the Immortal Boat to praise him repeatedly.
"However, before we present the Heaven-Snatching Cat as a pledge of allegiance, we should still strive to complete our research on it as much as possible, even if we cannot fully analyze it, we must reach the limit of our capabilities."
"After all, living under someone else's roof is never a proper path. Regardless, only the power that we ourselves can control can serve as capital for survival. Everyone, don't forget how the Mysterious Merchant Immortal Boat escaped from its homeland back then." The Lord of the Sacred Merchant said solemnly.
...
"Tai Wei Sacred Emperor? Sacred Dynasty?" Li Fan listened to the discussion among the boat's inhabitants, and the image of Li Ping reappeared in his mind.
"So that's how it is. I was mistaken."
"The birth of the Sacred Emperor and the Cat Treasure's closeness were not because the original [Li Fan] still existed in other possibilities. It was because the clone I evolved, the Sacred Emperor clone, had a strong affinity with the Tai Wei Sacred Emperor, and thus, was influenced by him indirectly."
Recalling, Li Fan indeed remembered. The Sacred Emperor clone's loss of control was not sudden but gradual. In fact, the Cat Treasure was initially indifferent to the Sacred Emperor. Only as their interactions increased did it become more affectionate and even obedient.
"The Tai Wei Sacred Emperor, seated in the Sacred Dynasty, mirrors countless possibilities. Even within the The Great Barriers erected by the Mound Guardian, one cannot escape his influence. His strength is truly evident." Li Fan was secretly astonished.
"This method of cultivation by the Tai Wei Sacred Emperor is also a form of 'all selves unifying.' However, compared to Evil Su Bai and Black Heavenly Physician's method of devouring other selves from different possibilities, it is even superior!"
"It's not just about the self. It's about similar existences, all falling within the scope of fusion. And it's not just a single individual being devoured, but entire Sacred Dynasties as units..."
Li Fan could almost imagine that if the Tai Wei Sacred Emperor truly succeeded in making his Sacred Dynasty spread throughout the Mountains and Seas, he might even possess a power comparable to that of the Mountains and Seas themselves.
"However, doing so would deprive other powerful beings of their living space. Even if the Mound Guardian and Zi Yi are upright, it would be difficult for them to bow to the Tai Wei and become his subjects."
The Great Dao of Eternity, the Tai Wei Sacred Emperor, and these newly discovered powerful beings in the Mountains and Seas further broadened Li Fan's horizons.
"As expected, in the infinite possibilities of the Mountains and Seas, it's not surprising to see any kind of powerful being emerge."
"But on the other hand, every being that reaches the pinnacle of the Mountains and Seas has their own unique characteristics and walks a path different from others..."
As Li Fan pondered, the inhabitants of the Merchant Immortal Boat, after a brief respite, resumed their research on the Cat Treasure.
This time, the orange cat Loquat's resistance was even stronger.
The blue chains binding it trembled more violently, seemingly on the verge of shattering at any moment.
But the Lord of the Sacred Merchant remained unfazed.
Disregarding the imminent collapse of the entire Immortal Boat.
He was accustomed to the various situations that arose during experiments. In his eyes, with the protection of the Great Dao of Eternity, even if the Merchant Immortal Boat turned to dust in an instant, it could be restored in the next.
Thus, he not only did not stop but also continued to draw energy from the Merchant Immortal Boat, intensifying the confrontation with the orange cat.
The onlookers on the Immortal Boat were already accustomed to this.
There was no trace of fear on their faces.
Only the joy of transforming the power of the Heaven-Snatching Cat into their own.
Finally, the intensity of the power struggle reached its critical point.
A wave of destruction that annihilated everything erupted.
The pitch-black darkness lifted, and in a moment, an unspeakably dazzling radiance was released. Wherever it passed, it annihilated like a raging storm, turning everything to ash in an instant.
"Eternity!"
Witnessing the billions of lives of the Merchant Immortal Boat disappear before his eyes, the Lord of the Sacred Merchant felt no panic. He simply uttered the word, "Eternity," with a calm expression.
One breath. Two breaths. Three breaths.
As the bursting radiance gradually dimmed and subsided, the scene the Lord of the Sacred Merchant had anticipated—the Merchant Immortal Boat restored to its former state—did not materialize.
Doubt began to creep onto the Lord of the Sacred Merchant's face.
However, he didn't immediately consider the possibility of the Great Dao of Eternity failing.
Instead, he called out "Eternity" once more.
His only response was the desolate, silent void before him.
Panic began to grip the Lord of the Sacred Merchant's heart.
He repeatedly shouted the word, even holding the Primordial Yi Futon and personally approaching the Eternal Immortal Remains.
His body trembled as he pointed to the spot where the Merchant Immortal Boat had once been.
The Eternal Immortal Remains naturally offered no response.
The Lord of the Sacred Merchant finally realized what had happened, but he was utterly incapable of accepting it. His sanity began to slip, and he even started attacking the Eternal Immortal Remains.
"You bastard, you bastard, you bastard..."
"Restore it for me!"
Endless blue symbols surged from his body, like a torrential storm, crashing towards the Immortal Remains.
This strike, born of the Lord of the Sacred Merchant's rage, caused the silent, starlit sky to tremble once more. Like a massive stone dropped into still water, ripples of blue light echoed outwards.
And the Eternal Immortal Remains, which had existed within the Immortal Boat for millions of years and formed its very foundation, suddenly exploded like a phantom bubble in this turmoil, disappearing without a trace.
The Lord of the Sacred Merchant stood there, completely stunned.
The Great Dao of Eternity could not possibly be so easily defeated by him. His power was nowhere near that level. Therefore, there was only one explanation.
The bone that he had just destroyed was not the "[Eternity]"!
The true Eternal Immortal Remains had vanished at some unknown time!
Almost instantly, the Lord of the Sacred Merchant connected this to the recent inexplicable disappearance of the Immortal Boat's gatekeeper: Wu Xin.
Eternity had been hidden within the Immortal Boat for millions of years without incident. Now, it disappeared simultaneously with Wu Xin...
"Ahhhhhhh!"
The Lord of the Sacred Merchant's eyes turned crimson with extreme rage. Countless familiar faces flashed through his mind. The thought of having destroyed the entire Immortal Boat and its billions of inhabitants with his own hands nearly shattered his consciousness under the weight of immeasurable guilt and self-reproach.
"Wu Xin, I will kill you! I will kill you!"
"Kill, kill, kill, kill!"
In mere moments, the once strategically brilliant Lord of the Sacred Merchant descended into madness. Only the desire to kill Wu Xin and exact revenge remained in his mind.
However, Wu Xin had already been suppressed by Li Fan within the Azure Nether Immortal Realm.
No matter what methods the Lord of the Sacred Merchant employed, he could not find a trace of him.
Thus, his fury grew into an impotent rage, driving him to destroy everything within his sight.
Dazed and disoriented, he left the space where the Merchant Immortal Boat had been and headed towards the Star Sea of the North.
The massive disturbance caused by the destruction of the Merchant Immortal Boat had already attracted the attention of cultivators in the Star Sea of the North.
When the two sides met, a bizarre battle ensued inexplicably.
The Lord of the Sacred Merchant, having lost all reason, was merciless to everyone. The cultivators of the Star Sea of the North, caught completely off guard and suffering heavy losses, were also enraged. They united, vowing to kill this madman.
"That’s why I say, never place too much importance on external things. My entire family died in a battle between Kou Hong and Dao Xuanzi back then, and I moved past it with a smile. If I had been consumed by grief and despair, would I be where I am today?" Li Fan commented, watching the unfolding spectacle from a distance, his words devoid of empathy.
Although the Lord of the Sacred Merchant had gone mad, the information about various possibilities within the realm of mountains and seas that lingered in his mind was still of great value. Li Fan would not let him off so easily.
"Let them fight. When both sides are injured, I will deal with them all at once."
Neither the Lord of the Sacred Merchant nor the Star Sea of the North could be easily defeated and suppressed.
Li Fan temporarily withdrew his gaze and looked towards the original site of the Merchant Immortal Boat.
After the violent explosion, the entire expanse of space had become a desolate wasteland, with nothing seeming to remain.
But Li Fan knew that the two Heaven-Snatching Cats, Pipa and Bai Qian, had not escaped.
They were still hidden in this area.
"Come out," Li Fan revealed his hidden form and said softly to the empty space.
The two Heaven-Snatching Cats remained unresponsive.
Li Fan chuckled, playing hide-and-seek with him...
With a grab of his hands, the entire expanse of the surrounding starfield was sliced off and transformed into a square cage.
As the Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice rapidly retracted, Li Fan, carrying this cage and the Cat Treasures within it, returned to the Azure Nether Immortal Realm.
He left behind only a divine sense to monitor the situation in the Star Sea of the North, ready to intervene at any moment.
As if sensing the distinct environment of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm compared to the ordinary starfield, the two concealed Heaven-Snatching Cats leaped out the moment they arrived.
"This way of hiding..." Li Fan's eyes flickered.
The Heaven-Snatching Cats' bodies seemed to completely dissolve, blending with their surroundings and becoming a part of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth, thus achieving perfect concealment.
Even though Li Fan knew they were hiding there, he couldn't distinguish them.
But this camouflage of the Cat Treasures was clearly not suitable for the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, so they revealed their flaw as soon as they entered.
"However, this doesn't mean they can't hide here. It just requires some time to adapt..."
Li Fan observed the orange and black-and-white Heaven-Snatching Cats before him. He noticed their bodies were undergoing changes at a terrifying speed, adapting to the Azure Nether Immortal Realm's environment.
Li Fan had only seen such adaptability in the newly born Ink Slaughter.
"Pipa's adaptation speed is even faster than Bai Qian's."
"So these are the so-called seven original forms of Heaven-Snatching Cats."
The two Heaven-Snatching Cats nestled together, warily watching Li Fan from a distance.
As their bodies began to slowly integrate into the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, Li Fan, as the "parents" of the Xuanhuang Realm, began to find these two cats increasingly pleasing to the eye. If Li Fan felt this way, how much more so would the Heavenly Dao of the Azure Nether feel?
The invisible hostility condensed in heaven and earth towards foreign invaders inexplicably dissipated.
The two Heaven-Snatching Cats easily transitioned from outsiders to the favored children of the realm.
This was clearly the effect of the Cat Treasures' self-evolution.
"If Heavenly Physician had possessed such a method back then, there would have been no need for the Heavenly Demon's reincarnation," Li Fan remarked with some amazement as he witnessed every subtle change.
Only he, as the "parent" of the Xuanhuang Realm, knew how incredible the Cat Treasures' transformation was.
Back in the Star Sea of the North, because they were in the lower realm's starfield, the Heaven-Snatching Cats' strength was merely at the Nameless True Immortal level. But now...
It was as if a cultivator had ascended to the Immortal Realm during broad daylight. The Heaven-Snatching Cats were rapidly transforming, their auras exceeding that of ordinary Nameless True Immortals.
Furthermore, this increase showed no signs of stopping, seemingly aiming to ascend towards the realm of transcendence!
"Instead of saying they progressed this much in such a short time, it's more like the limit set for Heaven-Snatching Cats when they were created was at this level. They are merely returning to their original form now."
"Given that they were entrusted with such an important task by Sacred Emperor Tai Wei, to be deployed to other possibilities, it's not surprising they possess transcendent strength. After all, transcendence is defined as the ability to traverse mountains and seas and freely travel to other possibilities."
"However, it's only the same realm. The Heaven-Snatching Cats' traversal is more like using a makeshift method. Compared to transcendent cultivators, their actual combat power would surely be far inferior."
The Heaven-Snatching Cats were adapting to the environment and integrating into the Azure Nether Immortal Realm.
Meanwhile, Li Fan was also using the Azure Nether Immortal Realm to perceive the two Heaven-Snatching Cats before him.
Just as he had seen through the true nature of the Merchant Immortal Boat's Eternal Immortal Remains, as his understanding of the Cat Treasures' essence deepened, the images of the orange and black-and-white Cat Treasures before him began to change.
Their fur receded, their skin dissolved, their bones vanished.
At their core lay two plants!
Or rather, medicinal ingredients!
This corresponded perfectly to their names.
One was Pipa, the other Bai Qian!
Boom! The images of the two medicinal ingredients exploded in an instant, and Li Fan felt a slight dizziness in his head.
After a moment, he vaguely saw a figure standing tall.
Its stature was immense, its face obscured. It held Pipa and Bai Qian, or perhaps other medicinal ingredients, in its grasp.
Upon closer examination.
All the medicinal ingredients that passed through its hands were instantly transformed, acquiring various miraculous properties that were previously unimaginable.
Before the figure lay countless medicinal ingredients.
Among them, seven shone the brightest.
"The seven original forms of the Heaven-Snatching Cats, so they are the Seven Marvelous Medicines of Heaven-Snatching..." Li Fan realized with sudden clarity upon sensing this scene.
Since their essence was medicinal ingredients, the Cat Treasures' greatest function was naturally related to medicine.
Their so-called abilities of simulating living beings and replicating items were merely the most basic capabilities endowed upon the Cat Treasures after their creation.
The true wonder of the Heaven-Stealing Cats truly lived up to their name.
They perceived the world from a Heaven's perspective.
The medicinal effects of past herbs on the human body, when transformed into Heaven-Stealing Cats, correspondingly affected the heavens.
The cycle of life and death for all things, like the breathing and circulation of heaven and earth. Bai Qian regulated life and death, smoothing the natural order.
In the Primordial Era, there was the Great Sage Jing Fen, who codified the passing and extinction of the Dao, ensuring the Immortal Realm's eternal existence. However, the True Primordial Rebirth Cauldron and the True Primordial Cauldron, with a single dose of [Bai Qian], could achieve nearly half the efficacy of the Great Sage Jing Fen.
The Great Dao ascended, without beginning or end. Pipare severed the Dao's life, nurturing all things. In the Xuanhuang Realm, there was a tree named Ruo Wood, which governed the life force of the world. Yet, Ruo Wood's vitality originated from the Xuanhuang Realm itself. When the Azure Nether flourished, Ruo Wood naturally thrived without worry. But if the Azure Nether weakened, Ruo Wood would also wither and decay. However, the vitality of [Pipare] was severed from the Dao itself. Stepping beyond the limitations of a single possibility, wherever the Great Dao flowed, Pipare could sever the Dao and give birth.
A single dose of [Pipare] could preserve a world's vitality for myriad ages!
Li Fan was shaken by the effects of the Heaven-Stealing Oddities and couldn't help but look at the other medicinal ingredients.
The magnificent figure standing before countless medicinal ingredients was undoubtedly the Sacred Emperor Tai Wei. As if sensing Li Fan's probing gaze, His form shifted slightly, His gaze meeting Li Fan's.
Time seemed to freeze in that instant, coming to a standstill.
Perhaps it was due to Li Fan's habitual bestowed divine protection of [Illusion is True], or perhaps [Reflection] was currently dormant and the power of the Great Dao of Longevity had been expelled from Li Fan's body.
In any case, the Sacred Emperor Tai Wei did not detect Li Fan's peculiarity from that fleeting glance.
Yet, He did not sever Li Fan's line of sight.
He even seemed to smile faintly, waving a grand hand, generously allowing Li Fan to gaze as much as he pleased.
The scene before him suddenly magnified a millionfold.
Countless Heaven-Stealing Oddities, densely packed like continuous dark clouds, covered his entire field of vision.
Not just ordinary medicinal ingredients, but even the dazzling Seven Marvelous Medicines of Heaven-Stealing that Li Fan had seen before were numerous and uncountable among them!
Only then did Li Fan realize.
What he was seeing were vast tracts of medicinal gardens! Each type of Heaven-Stealing Oddity was planted by the Sacred Emperor Tai Wei in its corresponding garden. Endless and magnificent!
The Sacred Emperor Tai Wei, relying on the endless divine medicines cultivated in these gardens, forged and established the Sacred Dynasty Tai Wei, spanning mountains and seas.
The reason for displaying His secrets so generously when facing Li Fan's scrutiny was due to Imperial demeanor!
"This is not the Sacred Emperor Tai Wei at all; He's practically the Azure Emperor!"
Li Fan's heart almost got lost in this boundless ocean of divine medicines. He found that deep within his heart, there was a subtle inclination to be won over by the Sacred Emperor Tai Wei's presence.
He quickly and proactively broke off his prying gaze.
After a long while, his emotions finally calmed down slightly.
"I never expected the Sacred Emperor Tai Wei to be so powerful. Just from me peeking at one of His countless medicinal ingredients through the Xuanhuang Realm for an instant, He could simultaneously sense my situation."
"He knew that I had suppressed and imprisoned the two Heaven-Stealing Cats. But..."
"The Sacred Emperor Tai Wei simply didn't care."
"Heaven-Stealing Oddities are innumerable in the Sacred Dynasty Tai Wei..."
The gap between Li Fan and such a powerful cultivator as the Sacred Emperor Tai Wei was concretely revealed. Li Fan couldn't help but feel a faint sense of defeat.
He even developed thoughts of "surrendering."
At Li Fan's current level of cultivation, his heart was like a clear mirror; the origin and destination of all his thoughts were completely under his control. Li Fan naturally knew that this was a display of deterrence by the Sacred Emperor Tai Wei, and one of the reasons why He deliberately showed him the [Sacred Emperor's Medicinal Garden].
"If it were an ordinary person, just this one glance would probably cause them to completely surrender to the Sacred Emperor's might and willingly seek refuge with the Sacred Emperor Tai Wei."
"Even transcendents might not be able to avoid such an influence."
"Fortunately..."
A faint cold glint flashed in Li Fan's eyes. He quickly crushed and eliminated the myriad anomalous thoughts in his heart, restoring his normal composure.
"Although the Sacred Emperor Tai Wei is powerful, He has not yet reached the same level as the Mountains and Seas. I, who can abandon the Great Dao of Longevity, which is comparable to the Mountains and Seas, why should I be intimidated or enticed by you?"
He let out a cold snort. Not being a match for the Sacred Emperor Tai Wei did not prevent Li Fan from laying his hands on the Sacred Emperor's medicinal ingredients.
Knowing the nature of the Heaven-Stealing Cats, Li Fan acted without reservation.
"Ink Slaughter!"
Dark, ominous clouds rolled in, heavily encircling the two Heaven-Stealing Cats.
As if sensing the approach of mortal danger, the fur of the two Heaven-Stealing Cats bristled, and they let out continuous growls. As the Ink Slaughter dark clouds continued to press closer, they realized they were unable to resist its erosion.
After a moment of hesitation, the two Heaven-Stealing Cats finally made a decision.
With a powerful cry, the two Heaven-Stealing Cats transformed into black and white intermingled, orange-yellow balls of light.
The two light orbs approached each other, held their positions for a moment, and then rapidly merged.
The black and white halos merged into the orange-yellow, not diluting its color but making it even more dazzling.
"This is using medicine to supplement medicine, allowing Heihe to advance further!"
Li Fan was also knowledgeable in medicinal principles. Witnessing the transformation of the two Heaven-Stealing Cats before his eyes, he soon understood the reason.
At the same time, Pipare, after consuming Bai Qian, also re-transformed.
In its orange-yellow fur, there were now black and white stripes. Its overall size had also increased by several times.
It no longer resembled a cat, but rather a newborn tiger!
Facing the tide-like assault of the Ink Slaughter dark clouds, Pipare was undaunted. With a soft roar, it unleashed a large amount of life-giving yellow light, forming a protective barrier that temporarily held back the Ink Slaughter's encroachment.
Seeing the Ink Slaughter's setback, Li Fan was not alarmed but delighted.
"This is it, relying on the Dao Erasure Tribulation while traversing the Mountains and Seas? By using medicine to supplement medicine, Pipare, this Heaven-Stealing Cat, has truly reached the realm of transcendence."
Protected by its orange-yellow glow, Pipare charged through the Ink Slaughter dark clouds, showing a clear intent to break through the encirclement. Even though the Ink Slaughter dark clouds churned like boiling water, they could not overwhelm it for the time being.
If not for the Xuanhuang Realm supporting it, Pipare would have probably broken free from the Ink Slaughter's blockade long ago.
"While it cannot completely negate the Dao Erasure Tribulation, it possesses enough strength to find a safe haven before being engulfed by Dao Erasure."
"This is the most basic principle of traversing Mountains and Seas."
"The stronger one's power, the longer they can remain within Dao Erasure, and the more at ease their traversal of Mountains and Seas will be."
Li Fan recalled the magnificent Dao path displayed by the purple-clad figure previously, and the solitary sail of a transcendent remnant fished up from the Star Sea of Guang Wu. Comparing these with the scene before him, all the past incomprehensible matters now erupted in his mind like a torrent.
Facing Pipare, who possessed the realm of transcendence, Ink Slaughter was at a disadvantage. However, its ability to devour and analyze had not waned.
A vast amount of medicinal knowledge about the Heaven-Stealing Oddities and Pipare unfolded in Li Fan's mind.
"This can be seen as Pipare's path of transcendence."
"Unfortunately, this principle only applies to medicine and cannot be used for people."
Despite its extreme limitations, Li Fan still cherished it as a rare insight, carefully contemplating it in his heart.
"Although I cannot personally utilize Pipare's medicinal principles, I can integrate them into my Xuanhuang Realm through the Medicine King Scripture of Dao Refining!"
"Since it is a medicinal ingredient, no matter how extraordinary, it is still merely a medicinal ingredient. Returning to its proper place is its destiny!"
Pipare, as one of the Seven Original Forms of Heaven-Stealing, truly possessed an endless supply of severed Dao vitality. It rampaged through the Ink Slaughter dark clouds for a full thirty-three days, showing no sign of weakening.
Meanwhile, Li Fan, through Ink Slaughter's absorption, had mastered Pipare's medicinal principles almost completely.
At this, he coldly pointed at the orange cat within the dark clouds. The Ink Slaughter churned, instantly transforming into a colossal pill furnace!
Although it was merely a change in shape, the restrictive effect on Pipare seemed to increase hundreds of times over.
The once infinitely vital and swift orange cat appeared to have its limbs bound, its previous speed gone. It struggled to break free with extreme slowness.
Furthermore, the surrounding orange-yellow light that protected it, instead of being as steadfast as before, now swayed precariously as if it might shatter at any moment, like leaves buffeted by a strong wind.
The Ink Slaughter Pill Furnace stood tall in the Xuanhuang Realm, beyond the heavens.
Li Fan personally presided over the process. First, he invited the Eternal "Uncle-Master" to cast a glance.
Then, with a flourish of his brush, he inscribed a phantom scripture, which he then cast into the Ink Slaughter Pill Furnace.
This scripture was the Primordial Beginning of Mountains and Seas, obtained from Shan Hua in his previous life!
The Primordial Beginning of Mountains and Seas was a reflection of Sage Lord Tai Yi's observations of Sage Lords Lian Shan and Gui Hai as they created the Immortal Realm from nothingness. It contained both the principles of mountains and seas, and the Dao of Tai Yi.
The foundation of Ink Slaughter was precisely [Tai Yi] and [Eternity].
Now, under Li Fan's direction, both foundations were further strengthened. Although it was not comparable to the direct intervention of the two great cultivators, it was equivalent to a certain degree of "borrowing" their power.
Like oil poured onto a raging fire, the power of the newly formed Ink Slaughter expanded several times over in an instant.
The pill furnace solidified, lifelike, as if transmuted from the ethereal to the real.
The black ink intensified, instantly suppressing the last traces of orange-yellow within the furnace.
Facing the enhanced, renewed Ink Slaughter, even Pipare, in its transcendent state, could only be suppressed!
The renewed Ink Slaughter was born in the Xuanhuang Realm.
However, after being strengthened by the two origin powers, it had already subtly surpassed the constraints of the Xuanhuang Realm.
Fortunately, Li Fan, as the conductor, could withdraw the support of Eternity and Tai Yi at any time. Otherwise, after devouring Pipare, it might have further progressed and consumed the Xuanhuang Realm as well.
"It is akin to seeking an advantage from a tiger, but it is a necessary measure."
Li Fan's trump card was not just Ink Slaughter. With a mere thought, countless tiny, pulsating black dots scattered throughout the Xuanhuang Realm converged towards the heavens beyond the heavens.
Compared to the visible dark clouds of Ink Slaughter, these black dots were only visible to Li Fan.
These were the Dao One Insects!
"Ink Slaughter is, after all, a creation of others. It has many uncontrollable factors and hidden dangers."
"However, the Dao One Insects were truly created by me from nothingness, nurtured and developed."
"Pipare can devour Bai Qian, and Dao One can devour Mountains and Seas. Ink Slaughter takes the form of Dao Erasure..."
"Dao One can transform into Ink Slaughter!"
As Ink Slaughter transformed into a pill furnace, focusing on refining the Heaven-Stealing Cat within,
Unbeknownst to it, the Dao One Insects outside the furnace were also attempting to erode it!
Li Fan could see that the assimilation progress of the Dao One Insects was extremely slow.
But their actions were not in vain.
Li Fan quietly shared his insights into the Dao of Ink Slaughter with these Dao One Insects, slightly accelerating their assimilation speed.
However, the Ink Slaughter perceived by the Dao One Insects was vastly different from the Ink Slaughter seen by Li Fan.
Therefore, Li Fan's assistance had only a negligible effect.
"However, it matters little. As long as it has begun, it is half a success."
Li Fan continued to urged Ink Slaughter, focusing its attention on dealing with Pipare, creating more space for the Dao One Insects' erosion.
And Ink Slaughter did not disappoint.
Black smoke billowed, completely engulfing the last remaining traces of Pipare within the furnace.
Next, as Li Fan had predicted.
After completely devouring Pipare, Ink Slaughter did not stop there.
The pill furnace expanded, intending to engulf the heavens beyond the heavens of this Xuanhuang Realm.
Fortunately, Li Fan was prepared and timely withdrew the support from Eternity and Tai Yi.
Deprived of the sustenance of the two origins, the expanding Ink Slaughter immediately returned to its original state.
The anomaly ceased.
Under Li Fan's gaze, it finally calmed down.
The dark clouds churned, expelling wisps of orange-yellow light.
These evolved into an orange-yellow, condensed pill, almost golden in color.
"So this is Pipare's severed Dao vitality."
A strange glint appeared in Li Fan's eyes.
He played with it in his hand for a long time, but did not consume it. Instead, he crushed the pill of severed Dao Pipare into pieces. Then, he scattered it throughout the Azure Nether heaven and earth.
On that day, a blazing sunset that illuminated half the sky appeared in the Xuanhuang Realm. It did not dissipate even when the moon was high in the sky.
From then on, the nurturing of vitality in the Xuanhuang Realm quietly changed.
The sentient beings in heaven and earth were unaware of this, as neither the quantity nor the quality of vitality had changed significantly thus far.
"When calamities descend, the difference will become apparent."
"Even if I were to bring forth world-ending disasters, annihilating all beings except those named on the Investiture of the Gods, if I did not deliberately manipulate it and allowed the Xuanhuang Realm to recover on its own, it would only take about three years from utter desolation to become vibrant with life again."
A terrifying vision of the Xuanhuang Realm's recovery, enhanced by the severed Dao vitality, flickered in Li Fan's eyes.
"Severed Dao, Severed Dao."
"From where is this severed vitality harvested?"
Li Fan looked towards the region beyond the Xuanhuang Realm.
Within his senses, there was indeed a faint, ethereal vitality, like celestial music, drifting from afar.
However, it arrived without any sign, its source completely untraceable.
After observing for a long time, Li Fan's heart gradually found an answer.
"It is not stolen from other possibilities, but severed from the Great Dao itself."
"It originates from the flow of [Dao Birth and Dao Death]..."
"As long as the Great Dao endures and does not fall into a state of annihilation, this Pipare's severed vitality can continuously acquire life force."
"So this is the nature of Heaven-Stealing Oddities..."
Recalling the countless other medicinal ingredients in the [Sacred Emperor's Medicinal Garden], Li Fan once again gained a clear understanding of the strength of that arrogant Sacred Emperor Tai Wei.
Although the Azure Nether Immortal Realm lacked innate "Path Intercepting Life" principles, Li Fan, through the Medicine King Scripture of Dao Refining and using the Loquat as medicine, had imbued it with such abilities. The modifications at the Great Dao level were almost like innate creation. Initially, there might have been some friction. However, as time flowed, it would naturally become an integral part of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm's circulating Heavenly Dao.
"Using the Dao as medicine, refining the Dao with medicine. The Great Emperor Tai Wei's technique bears a slight resemblance to Sun Piaomiao's Path Refining Medicine King Scripture. However, Sun Piaomiao viewed it as the root of cultivation, whereas, in the eyes of Great Emperor Tai Wei, the myriad medicinal ingredients in his medicinal garden were merely tools. The foundation of the Sage Emperor's path was his supreme Sacred Dynasty, which spanned mountains and seas..."
Compared to the grand Tai Wei Sacred Dynasty, the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, crafted by Li Fan, was insignificant. Yet, Li Fan felt no sense of crudeness.
"Though the Azure Nether is small, it possesses infinite possibilities. The Sacred Dynasty is vast, yet its Dao path is already predetermined."
"To be on par with the Mountains and Seas, I will undoubtedly have to battle many powerful individuals in the Other Shore's Great World in the future. Whether I can truly take that final step remains unknown. As for my Azure Nether Immortal Realm..."
Li Fan extended his palm, examining a tiny black spot that had quietly appeared on it. It was the Dao One Insect, which had secretly absorbed and assimilated a portion of the Ink Slaughter's power. Ink Slaughter had successfully refined the Loquat, and to prevent being detected, the Dao One Insect's covert assimilation had temporarily ceased. Although it had only silently absorbed for just over thirty days, the Dao One Insect's internal structure had undergone a drastic transformation compared to before.
The most significant change, to the point of being a qualitative shift, was the Dao One Insect's method of devouring external substances. Before emulating Ink Slaughter, its assimilation method still bore the characteristics of "biological" feeding. It was like a worm chewing or a cultivator absorbing and refining. But after they emulated Ink Slaughter, the Dao One Insect's devouring technique had leaped to near "annihilation." Its feeding efficiency and devouring capacity had increased by dozens of times. Furthermore, due to the Dao One Insect's inherent characteristic of constantly evolving, its assimilation capabilities were rapidly improving at an astonishing rate, surpassing Ink Slaughter, whose abilities were largely fixed and required external stimuli for further advancement.
"The current Dao One Insect swarm can almost be considered a close relative of Ink Slaughter."
"Tai Yi and the power of Eternity enhance Ink Slaughter. Therefore, they should also be effective for the Dao One Insect swarm." With this thought, Li Fan threw the "Primordial Beginning of Mountains and Seas" and the condensed outer shell of the power of Eternity towards the Dao One Insect swarm. Numerous black dots swarmed forward, slowly engulfing both items. Unlike Ink Slaughter, which was instantly enhanced, the transformation of the Dao One Insect swarm was slow and steady.
Calling them "insects" was merely a habitual term from Li Fan; they had no relation to actual insects. The spirits and monsters of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm were not living beings but manifestations of the world's power. The Dao One Insect swarm's essence was essentially another form of power, cultivated within the Azure Nether Immortal Realm as a container, with properties extremely similar to Ink Slaughter. Because they were born within the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, they were under the control of Li Fan, their Azure Nether creator.
"The Dao One Insects have not yet completely absorbed the essence of Ink Slaughter."
"I need to find something for Ink Slaughter to do, to divert its attention as much as possible." In the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, and even within the realm of primordial possibilities, the newly formed Ink Slaughter was almost invincible, with few rivals. To find a suitable opponent, one had to look beyond the realm of primordial possibilities. However, given the current level of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, it was insufficient to support Li Fan's safe passage across the Mountains and Seas. Therefore, Li Fan's first thought was the Fishing Pond, or rather, the Mountains and Seas Fishery.
However, after careful consideration, Li Fan ultimately decided against targeting the Fishing Pond for now.
"After all, the Fishing Pond can connect to the Mountains and Seas, and the Fishing Immortal behind it possesses no small amount of power. Just as I could glimpse the Tai Wei Sacred Dynasty through the Loquat, and be seen by Great Emperor Tai Wei, when I look at or use the Fishing Pond, I am destined to be perceived by that Fishing Immortal."
"For a short time, I might still be able to use Illusory True as a cover. But in the long run, the risk of exposure will increase exponentially. What I need is a method to stably capture things from beyond the primordial..."
Li Fan then recalled the salvaging methods he had witnessed in the Guang Wu Star Sea in his past life. By strategically distributing Heavenly Pillars with varying load-bearing capacities, weak points were created to attract the descent of Dao Erasure. This formed annihilation depressions, hoping to draw in any drifting objects within the Dao Erasure. Li Fan had successfully replicated this method in his inter-realm reincarnation within the Reflection Panel.
"However, the salvage results are too unstable. If luck is not on my side, even after a hundred years, I might gain nothing. Instead, the risk of being devoured by Dao Erasure would merely increase."
"Fortunately, the Guang Wu Star Sea has paved the way for me. Besides the Dao Epoch Projections and the transcended remnants, there should be many items from beyond the primordial there..."
"When the first Dao Integration cultivator is born in the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, and True Immortals are listed on the Investiture of the Gods, the Azure Nether Grand Expedition can officially commence."
As Li Fan pondered this, his thoughts instantly focused on Xuanyuan Tuo. This Doctrine Transmitter Heavenly Venerate, almost forgotten by everyone in the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, had consistently captured Li Fan's attention. It was known that before the Azure Nether Heavenly Domain's drastic changes, the Doctrine Transmitter was already at the Dao Integration realm. With the Azure Nether's sublimation and transformation into an Immortal Realm, the Heavenly and Earthly Essence, "Golden Arbiter," within him had become tens of millions of times stronger than before. Yet, the Doctrine Transmitter's strength had remained stagnant.
In theory, the moment Li Fan's seal was broken, the Doctrine Transmitter should have been exploded by the surging power within him. But now, not only had the Doctrine Transmitter not perished, but he had also, as if with a gentle push, maintained control over the Golden Arbiter, which had undergone metamorphosis alongside the Xuanhuang Realm. Although, in Li Fan's perception, it was extremely precarious, as if guided by countless fine threads, any slight movement of the Golden Arbiter risked breaking the control. However, this degree of control undeniably existed. In a sense, the current Doctrine Transmitter was effectively the first Dao Integration cultivator of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm.
"But this is only within his current state of tranquility."
"Once the balance of enlightenment is broken, the Doctrine Transmitter will instantly turn to dust and vanish. This is why he remains in seclusion, completely motionless."
While in a state of potential imminent demise, the Doctrine Transmitter was not panicked. Instead, he was using this special "Dao Integration" realm as a stepping stone to seek a true path to Dao Integration.
"This is a clear case of 'succeed or perish.' Such immense pressure, yet he treats it with such ease," Li Fan secretly marveled. He was indeed worthy of being called the Doctrine Transmitter Heavenly Venerate who had suppressed the Azure Nether for ten thousand years in later generations.
"Only to prove Dao Integration, not to prove Longevity." This was the most profound thought Li Fan could perceive swirling around the Doctrine Transmitter's heart. It was precisely this belief that guided him, allowing him to still control the Golden Arbiter through the faint connection established in the past.
Li Fan had a premonition that the Doctrine Transmitter was currently grappling with some form of internal conflict. After a deep probe, Li Fan understood the source of the Doctrine Transmitter's indecision.
"So, he already has a method in mind for a stable Dao Integration. However, if he adopts this method, he will henceforth be confined to Dao Integration within the Azure Nether, and will be unable to surpass the Azure Nether's Heavenly Dao in the future. The 'New Law' method of defying heavenly principles and merely controlling earthly affairs will no longer be possible..." Understanding the Doctrine Transmitter's thoughts, Li Fan couldn't help but chuckle.
"He has clearly realized this point, yet he remains indecisive at the precipice of taking the final step."
"It seems that like True Yang, the Doctrine Transmitter is unwilling to be inferior to others." But the method Li Fan envisioned was destined to clash with Li Fan, the creator of the Azure Nether, and as such, how could Li Fan willingly cede the Azure Nether Immortal Realm?
"If you truly choose that path, then do not blame me for being ruthless."
"Of course, if you let go of your obsession and are willing to become a lackey under me..."
"Then I will not be stingy and will even lend you a hand." Li Fan smiled faintly.
As if sensing Li Fan's thoughts, Xuan Yuan Tuo, who had been seated for a long time, finally made a decision in his heart. Letting go of his inner obsession, he let out a long sigh, and his entire demeanor became relaxed. He opened his eyes and slowly stood up. With his movement, the vast Heavenly and Earthly Essence, "Golden Arbiter," within him, far exceeding his capacity to bear it, showed signs of losing control and exploding. However, all the anomalies were inexplicably halted by two sentences softly chanted by the Doctrine Transmitter.
"Transform the Heavenly and Earthly Essence, and unite with the Dao with this body;"
"Solidify the principles of Heaven and Earth, and prove Longevity!"
These two simple sentences resounded like thunderclaps, echoing through the heavens and earth, growing louder and louder, ceaselessly resounding throughout the Azure Nether Heaven and Earth. The Heavenly and Earthly Essence, Golden Arbiter, showed no further signs of losing control and exploding. Because the Doctrine Transmitter, or rather, Xuanyuan Tuo, had now transformed into It! Clad in a golden, shimmering outer layer, the previously featureless Heavenly and Earthly Essence, Golden Arbiter, gradually revealed the Doctrine Transmitter's face. A moment later, the Doctrine Transmitter took a step towards the Golden Arbiter before him.
The two then merged into one! Before taking that final step, a fleeting hint of loneliness flashed in Xuanyuan Tuo's eyes, but it was suppressed instantly. Since the decision was made, there was no room for regret! A golden light shot straight up into the sky, reaching the Ninth Heaven. It pierced through the Investiture of the Gods ranking in the heavens and reached the Four Heavenly Gates. From each of the Four Heavenly Gates, a beam of light shot out, converging on Xuanyuan Tuo. The barrier between the outer heavens and the ground was shattered by this infinitely brilliant light. The beings on the surface could then witness the events unfolding at the Four Heavenly Gates.
Buzzing... A roaring sound from the Mountains and Seas echoed from outside the Heavenly Gates. The gates opened, and infinite immortal power, like a divine gift, cascaded down.
"Is this..."
"Immortality?" Xuanyuan Tuo stared blankly at the continuous landscape of mountains and seas that appeared before him. For some reason, despite having taken the step that countless people dreamed of, he felt no great excitement.
Not far away, Li Fan, hidden behind the scenes, let out a hearty laugh after a long absence.
"This is truly 'the Great Dao ahead cannot be tread upon'..."
"The Azure Nether Sacred Venerable is above!"
The Azure Nether Immortal Realm, though naturally lacking the Dao principles related to "Path Intercepting Life," possessed this ability. Li Fan, through the Medicine King Scripture of Dao Refining and the use of "Loquat" as an ingredient, bestowed this capability upon it.
This transformation at the Great Dao level was akin to innate creation. Initially, there might have been some awkwardness, but as time passed, it would naturally become an integral part of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm's circulating Heavenly Dao.
"To use Dao as medicine and refine Dao with medicine. This art of Sacred Emperor Tai Wei bears some resemblance to Sun Piaomiao's Medicine King Scripture of Dao Refining. However, Sun Piaomiao views it as the foundation of his cultivation, whereas for Sacred Emperor Tai Wei, the myriad medicinal herbs in his garden are merely tools. The foundation of the Sacred Emperor's journey is his supreme Sacred Dynasty, which spans across the mountains and seas..."
Compared to the magnificent Sacred Dynasty of Tai Wei, the Azure Nether Immortal Realm crafted by Li Fan was insignificant.
Yet, Li Fan felt no sense of inferiority.
"Though the Azure Nether is small, it holds infinite possibilities. The Sacred Dynasty is vast, but its path is already set."
"To stand equal with the inhabitants of mountains and seas, a future battle with many powerful beings from the Other Shore Great World is inevitable. Whether I can truly take that final step is also unknown. As for my Azure Nether Immortal Realm..."
Li Fan extended his palm, observing a small black dot that had quietly appeared on his palm.
It was the Dao One Worm, which had successfully absorbed and assimilated a portion of Ink Slaughter's power.
Ink Slaughter had successfully refined the Loquat. To prevent detection, the Dao One Worm's covert assimilation had temporarily ceased.
Despite only secretly absorbing for just over thirty days, the Dao One Worm had undergone a complete transformation compared to its past self.
The most significant change, arguably reaching a qualitative leap, was the Dao One Worm's method of consuming external substances. Before imitating Ink Slaughter, its assimilation method still retained characteristics of "biological" consumption, akin to a worm chewing or a cultivator absorbing and refining. However, after emulating Ink Slaughter, the Dao One Worm's method of devouring had elevated to a level of near "annihilation."
Its feeding efficiency and swallowing capacity had increased by several dozen times.
Furthermore, due to the Dao One Worm's inherent trait of continuous evolution, its assimilation abilities were advancing at an astonishing pace, far surpassing Ink Slaughter, whose abilities were relatively fixed and required external stimuli for further advancement.
"The current Dao One Worm swarm can almost be considered a close relative of Ink Slaughter."
"Tai Yi and the Power of Eternity enhance Ink Slaughter. Thus, they should also be effective for the Dao One Worm swarm." With this thought, Li Fan tossed the "Primordial Beginning of Mountains and Seas" and the condensed outer layer of the Power of Eternity towards the Dao One Worm swarm.
Countless black dots surged forward, slowly engulfing the two items.
Unlike Ink Slaughter, which was instantly enhanced, the transformation of the Dao One Worm swarm was slow and steady.
Although referred to as a "swarm," it bore no resemblance to actual "worms." The spirits and monsters within the Azure Nether Immortal Realm did not possess life; they were manifestations of the realm's power. Li Fan simply used the term out of habit.
The current essence of the Dao One Worm swarm was a different form of power, cultivated within the Azure Nether Immortal Realm as a vessel, possessing characteristics extremely similar to Ink Slaughter. As it originated within the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, it was under the control of Li Fan, its "parents" in this realm.
"The Dao One Worm has not yet fully absorbed the essence of Ink Slaughter."
"We need to find something for Ink Slaughter to do, to distract it as much as possible."
Within the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, and even within the Primordial Possibility, nascent Ink Slaughter was almost invincible, with few capable of posing a challenge. To find a suitable opponent, Li Fan had to look beyond the Primordial Possibility.
However, at the current level of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, it was insufficient to support Li Fan's safe traversal of mountains and seas. Therefore, Li Fan's first thought was the Fishing Pond.
Or, as it was known, the Mountain Sea Fishery.
After careful consideration, however, Li Fan decided to temporarily forgo the idea of the Fishing Pond.
"After all, the Fishing Pond connects to the mountains and seas, and the Fishing Immortal behind it is no trivial being. Just as I was observed by Sacred Emperor Tai Wei when I peered into the scenes of the Sacred Dynasty of Tai Wei through the Loquat, the moment I look towards or use the Fishing Pond, I am bound to be perceived by that Fishing Immortal."
"For a short period, illusion could provide concealment. But in the long run, the risk of exposure would exponentially increase. What I need is a method to consistently capture things from beyond the Primordial Possibility..."
Li Fan then recalled the salvage methods he had witnessed in the Guang Wu Star Sea during his past life. By distributing Heavenly Pillars of varying load-bearing capacities, weak points were deliberately created to attract the Dao Erasure, forming annihilation depressions, in the hope that drifting objects within the Dao Erasure would be drawn in.
Li Fan had successfully replicated this method in the Void Infinite Reincarnation within the Reflection.
"However, the harvest from salvage is too unstable. With bad luck, even after a hundred years, one might gain nothing. Instead, the risk of being devoured by the Dao Erasure would increase."
"Fortunately, the Guang Wu Star Sea has paved the way for me. Besides the Dao Epoch Projection and the Transcended Remnants, there should be many other things from beyond the Primordial Possibility there..."
"When the first Dao Integration cultivator is born in the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, and True Immortals are listed on the Investiture of the Gods, the Azure Nether Expedition can officially commence."
As Li Fan contemplated this, his thoughts suddenly focused on Xuanyuan Tuo.
This Doctrine Transmitter, almost forgotten by everyone in the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, consistently drew Li Fan's attention.
One must remember that before the Azure Nether Heavenly Realm underwent drastic changes, Dharma-Preachers were already at the Dao Integration realm. As the Azure Nether ascended and transformed into an Immortal Realm, the Heavenly and Earthly Essence within them, "Golden Arbiter," had become tens of millions of times stronger than before.
Yet, Dharma-Preachers remained at their previous strength.
Theoretically, the moment Li Fan lifted the seal, Dharma-Preachers should have exploded from the swelling power within them.
But now, not only had Dharma-Preachers not perished, but they seemed to be effortlessly controlling the "Golden Arbiter," which had transformed along with the Xuanhuang Realm's evolution.
In Li Fan's view, it was indeed precarious, as if guided by countless fine threads, where any slight movement of the "Golden Arbiter" risked severing the control.
However, this control did exist.
In a sense, the current Dharma-Preachers were the first Dao Integration cultivators in the Azure Nether Immortal Realm.
"But this is only within their current state of tranquility."
"Once the balance of Dao Comprehension is broken, they will instantly disintegrate into dust. This is also why they remain in perpetual seclusion, motionless."
Despite being in a state where they could perish at any moment, Dharma-Preachers were not panicked. Instead, they used this unique "Dao Integration" realm as a stepping stone, seeking a true method of Dao Integration.
"This is truly a case of 'succeed and become immortal, fail and become a ghost.' To face such immense pressure with such ease," Li Fan inwardly marveled.
As expected of the Doctrine Transmitter Heavenly Venerate who later dominated the Azure Nether for countless millennia.
"Only seeking Dao Integration, not Longevity."
This was the most profound thought Li Fan could perceive circulating in Dharma-Preachers' minds.
Guided by this belief, Dharma-Preachers were able to maintain control over the "Golden Arbiter" through the faint connection established in the past.
Li Fan had a premonition that Dharma-Preachers were currently in a state of internal conflict.
After a deep introspection, Li Fan understood the source of Dharma-Preachers' indecision.
"It turns out, they already have a method for stable Dao Integration in mind. However, if this method is adopted, they will be forever confined to Azure Nether's Dao Integration, unable to surpass Azure Nether's Heavenly Dao in the future. The methods of the New Law, which defied heavenly principles and only controlled earthly matters, would become unattainable..." Understanding Dharma-Preachers' thoughts, Li Fan couldn't help but chuckle.
"They have long realized this, yet they hesitate at the cusp of taking the final step."
"It seems Dharma-Preachers, like True Yang, do not wish to be inferior to others."
However, the ideal method Dharma-Preachers envisioned was bound to conflict with Li Fan, the "parent" of the Azure Nether. How could Li Fan willingly hand over the Azure Nether Immortal Realm?
"If you truly choose that path, then do not blame me for being ruthless."
"Of course, if you let go of your inner obsessions and willingly become my subordinate..."
"Then I will not be stingy and will lend you a hand," Li Fan smiled faintly.
As if sensing Li Fan's thoughts, Xuanyuan Tuo, who had been seated for a long time, finally made his decision.
He let go of his inner obsessions and sighed, his entire demeanor relaxing.
He opened his eyes and slowly rose.
As he moved, the immense Heavenly and Earthly Essence within him, the "Golden Arbiter," far exceeding his capacity to bear, instantly showed signs of losing control and exploding.
However, all the disturbances were inexplicably halted by two sentences softly chanted by Dharma-Preachers.
"To transform the Heavenly and Earthly Essence, and unite with the Dao through the self;"
"To solidify the principles of Heaven and Earth, and prove Longevity!"
With just two simple sentences, they resonated like thunderclaps, echoing louder and louder throughout the Azure Nether Heaven and Earth.
The "Golden Arbiter," the Heavenly and Earthly Essence, no longer showed signs of uncontrolled explosion.
This was because Dharma-Preachers, or rather, Xuanyuan Tuo, had now transformed into It!
Clad in a shimmering golden outer layer, the previously expressionless "Golden Arbiter" slowly revealed Dharma-Preachers' appearance on its face.
Moments later, Dharma-Preachers took a step towards the "Golden Arbiter" in front.
The two then merged into one!
Before taking the final step, a hint of imperceptible melancholy flickered in Xuanyuan Tuo's eyes. But it lasted only a fleeting moment before he completely suppressed it.
Having made his decision, there was no room for regret!
A golden light shot up into the sky.
It reached the highest heavens, piercing through the Investiture of the Gods and directly reaching the four Heavenly Gates.
From each of the four Heavenly Gates, a beam of light was emitted, converging upon Xuanyuan Tuo.
The barrier between the Outer Heaven and the ground was shattered by this infinite, dazzling radiance, allowing the beings on the surface to witness the events unfolding at the four Heavenly Gates.
*Buzz buzz buzz…*
A roaring sound from the mountains and seas emanated from beyond the Heavenly Gates.
The gates swung open, and infinite immortal power, like a divine blessing, poured down.
"This is..."
"Immortality?"
Xuanyuan Tuo gazed dazedly at the vast landscape of mountains and seas that appeared before him.
For some reason, despite having taken the step that countless people dreamed of, he felt no great excitement.
And not far away, Li Fan, hidden behind the scenes, let out a rare, hearty laugh.
"This is the true 'The Great Dao ahead is unapproachable'..."
"Azure Nether Sacred Venerable above!"
Li Fan's unrestrained laughter, only he himself could perceive within the entire Azure Nether Immortal Realm.
The attention of all living beings between heaven and earth was now focused on that radiant figure, isolated beyond the heavens.
The Four Heavenly Gates shone brilliantly, his sleeves fluttering, like a true immortal.
Standing proudly, above the myriad stars and the Investiture of the Gods.
"To embody the essence of heaven and earth, and unite with the Dao; to solidify the principles of heaven and earth, and attain longevity..." These two sentences continued to echo through the world, and as all beings looked up at the first Dao Integration cultivator in the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, someone finally recalled the identity of this figure.
"Doctrine Transmitter Immortal Venerable!"
Some wept uncontrollably, some found it hard to believe, some nodded excitedly.
"Even though heaven and earth undergo drastic changes, Doctrine Transmitter remains the same Doctrine Transmitter!"
Upon comprehending the Dao, he not only became the first to achieve Dao Integration and ascend to immortality, but also illuminated a path to immortality for all beings of the Azure Nether.
The method of Doctrine Transmission, when explained, was simple. It could be summarized in six words: If you cannot defeat it, join it.
The Xuanhuang Realm had undergone tremendous changes, its overall level leaping and elevating far too much.
The gap between heaven and earth and cultivators had been infinitely widened. The past cultivation methods of wanting to devour heaven and consume earth and ascend in one step were naturally no longer applicable.
Thus, Doctrine Transmitter changed his approach. Since he could not contend with it, he might as well surrender.
Become a part of the heavenly and earthly order. Utilize the vast power of heaven and earth to aid his own cultivation!
The old cultivation method emphasized the enlightenment of the unity of heaven and man. Between cultivators and the world, there was equality.
Doctrine Transmitter had once innovated a new method, employing a strategy of stripping skin and removing bones. Between cultivators and the world, there was antagonism.
But now, if this new method were adopted, the relationship between heaven and earth and cultivators would become one of subordination. And the first to surrender was the former leader of the antagonistic cultivators.
How could this not bring the Heavenly Dao of the Azure Nether a sense of surprise and joy!
In the blink of an eye, Doctrine Transmitter transformed into the essence of heaven and earth and instantly achieved Dao Integration. This was inextricably linked to his special identity as the first to surrender.
Under Li Fan's deliberate guidance, Doctrine Transmitter's two proverbs echoed into the hearts of every spiritual being in heaven and earth. Although a very small portion of cultivators instinctively rejected this method of rapid cultivation by becoming lapdogs of heaven and earth,
the vast majority quickly accepted it without any obstacles. And they deduced and understood the cultivation methods for various realms of Dao Integration from this.
The essence of all these methods was to surrender oneself to heaven and earth.
It could be foreseen that within a very short period, the cultivators of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm would experience a surge in realm breakthrough growth. And among the cultivators, there would naturally be two antagonistic factions: those who surrendered to heaven and earth, and ordinary cultivators.
The situation between the two sides was one of irreconcilable conflict, until one side completely disappeared.
With Li Fan operating behind the scenes, who would be the ultimate victor was already self-evident.
Above the sky curtain, the radiance from the Four Heavenly Gates gradually dimmed. But the Heavenly Gates did not immediately close, and the continuous mountain and sea scenery revealed within them was thus exposed to the eyes of all beings in the Azure Nether.
All beings were stunned, and then filled with longing.
In the Infinite Sea, on Mount Shang. Although at this moment, the world did not yet know their names, they instinctively felt their own insignificance.
The glimpses of mountains and seas revealed through the doors would become their lifelong pursuit.
The grand and magnificent gathering finally came to an end.
The Four Heavenly Gates slowly returned to their original state, disappearing from everyone's sight.
Just as all beings in the Azure Nether thought Doctrine Transmitter had completed his Dao Integration and ascension,
a magnificent figure, extremely familiar to the world, reappeared above the sky curtain.
Even though they had just witnessed the mountains and seas, the world had not knelt and worshipped. But now, as this figure appeared, all living beings in the Azure Nether bowed in submission.
For this figure was the Primordial Azure Nether World-Governing Majestic Venerable!
They did not bow to the mountains and seas, but only to the Sacred Venerable!
This belief had long been subtly ingrained in the hearts and minds of all beings in the Azure Nether.
The great deity descended to the mortal world once more. In comparison, Doctrine Transmitter, who had just ascended, was like an ant before him.
The Azure Nether Sacred Venerable extended a finger and gently pressed it towards Doctrine Transmitter's head.
Looking at the massive finger descending from above, like a mountain, Doctrine Transmitter seemed to understand something, and felt no fear in his heart. Instead, he accepted it calmly.
Under the gaze of all, the Sacred Venerable's finger touched Doctrine Transmitter's head.
Instantly, boundless light erupted from the Sacred Venerable's fingertips.
Except for Doctrine Transmitter, all other living beings in the Azure Nether Immortal Realm subconsciously closed their eyes.
They understood in their hearts that this was a gift from the Sacred Venerable to Doctrine Transmitter, and others were not qualified to witness it!
When the light dissipated, the Sacred Venerable's majestic figure had also disappeared.
However, the barrier between the earth and the world beyond the heavens had not completely receded. Everyone could vaguely see that in the vast expanse of the sky, within the Four Heavenly Gates, a magnificent palace seemed to have appeared.
The words "Immortal Expansion Dojo" were inscribed on it. It was bestowed by the great Azure Nether Sacred Venerable, in accordance with Doctrine Transmitter's name!
As everyone felt a sense of envy, a crisp voice of a young Dao page faintly came from the "Immortal Expansion Dojo."
"The Great Master has ascended to the ninth heaven, proving himself as the first immortal of the Azure Nether. The Sacred Venerable bestows his blessing, allowing him to bring ninety-nine others to ascend to the Heavenly Palace, equal in Dao with heaven!"
Upon hearing this, everyone was first slightly stunned. Then, their hearts felt as if they were suddenly grasped, and they began to beat violently uncontrollably.
The meaning of this voice was that Doctrine Transmitter could bring ninety-nine people with him to ascend to the immortal realm!
This was truly a case of "one person achieves Dao Integration, even their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven!"
Although it was clear that those who were brought along would undoubtedly have a significant gap compared to true Dao Integration ascenders, it was still an ascension to the ninth heaven!
It was immeasurably higher than being on the ground.
Without much hesitation, someone immediately knelt and shouted, "Doctrine Transmitter above, I am your former subordinate! When we were in the Cloudy Sea Marsh, I personally heard you expound the Dao!"
"Immortal Venerable, it's your subordinate! Now I am facing a life-threatening situation. If I cannot find a way to break through, I fear I will die tomorrow. I beg Immortal Venerable for mercy and to save your subordinate!"
"Immortal Venerable, it is truly wonderful to see you again. It has been many years since we last met, I thought you had already ascended..." The words were tinged with a slight sob, but there was no mention of being brought to ascend to heaven.
...
Thick dark clouds obscured the world beyond the heavens from the eyes of all beings, and the barrier between the sky and the earth reappeared.
All beings regretted, and Doctrine Transmitter, sitting in the "Immortal Expansion Dojo," looked at the constantly appearing images before him, feeling a headache.
In the Azure Nether world, all their inner prayers mentioning him, Doctrine Transmitter, could be perceived. Bewitched by the ninety-nine ascension spots, there were tens of millions of inner voices facing Doctrine Transmitter here.
And indeed, a significant number of them had some connection to him, having belonged to the Myriad Immortals Alliance in the past.
Even for Doctrine Transmitter, choosing among these ninety-nine seats became a dilemma for a time.
For the vast majority, Doctrine Transmitter did not think highly of them. And those he favored were mostly unwilling to remain within the dojo. Doctrine Transmitter did not want to force them.
"Heh, the first immortal of the Azure Nether, troubles are still unavoidable." Doctrine Transmitter chuckled to himself, mocking.
As he spoke, his gaze fell upon a young Dao page who stood by his side, serving him.
"Your Great Master's troubles are something countless people in this world wish they had, yet cannot attain," the Dao page immediately responded.
Doctrine Transmitter did not reply.
This young Dao page was a gift from the Azure Nether Sacred Venerable.
That single finger, in addition to bestowing this young Dao page, had also instilled a vast amount of knowledge and understanding about possibilities, Mount Shang, and the Infinite Sea into Doctrine Transmitter's mind.
At the same time, Doctrine Transmitter also saw a scene.
It was the scene where his "grandfather and ancestor" was expelled from the Azure Nether Immortal Realm by the Azure Nether Sacred Venerable.
"It seems to be a warning from the Sacred Venerable, to deter me from seeking a backer." Doctrine Transmitter shook his head slightly.
Since he had chosen the path of surrendering to cultivate, and had become the essence of the Azure Nether heaven and earth, he could no longer betray it.
"Your Great Master, please rest assured. Your wish, the matter of the former Heavenly Mysteries King's transmission, may still be achievable. You only need to take one more step." The young Dao page beside him seemed to be able to read his mind, and spoke out Doctrine Transmitter's inner thoughts.
At first, Doctrine Transmitter was somewhat startled, but then he remembered that this young Dao page was a gift from the Sacred Venerable, and he was no longer surprised.
In fact, besides being able to comprehend his thoughts, the young Dao page also knew many matters outside the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, and beyond the "Primordial" possibility.
If Doctrine Transmitter had any doubts, as long as he asked, the young Dao page would mostly answer.
However, regarding anything about the mysterious Azure Nether Sacred Venerable, the young Dao page remained silent.
After some exchange, Doctrine Transmitter had become accustomed to it.
"One more step, and that is to solidify the principles of heaven and earth, and thus prove longevity..." Doctrine Transmitter nodded and said softly.
"With your Great Master's current strength, connecting to the mountains and seas, you can leave the Azure Nether Immortal Realm on your own. Your strength and power are no different from a True Immortal in the past, but to traverse to other possibilities is still beyond your reach."
"Unless you become a part of the principles of the Xuanhuang Realm, becoming one with the immortal world, and using yourself as a boat, you can then traverse the mountains and seas..." The young Dao page, as if knowing everything in the Azure Nether world, spoke slowly.
Doctrine Transmitter nodded slightly. Although he was the first immortal of the Azure Nether, his understanding of this world was not as profound as the young Dao page before him, so he patiently listened to his explanation.
"I understand the principle, but to take this step is difficult, difficult, difficult!"
Even though he had pointed out the ultimate path for all beings, standing at the forefront of the existing journey, Doctrine Transmitter found an endless abyss blocking his way.
No matter what, he could not take the next step.
"The Great Dao of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm is as if naturally formed, without any flaws. To solidify it, you must either find its weak points or possess something that can surpass it. This..."
He deliberated for three days and three nights, yet Doctrine Transmitter still had no clue.
"I've just broken through; I can't be too hasty."
"It is too difficult to find answers within the Azure Nether Immortal Realm. Perhaps I should look beyond the Azure Nether..." Doctrine Transmitter gazed into the distance, thinking to himself.
With his current strength, standing at the pinnacle of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, his gaze could extend beyond the The Great Barrier to the starry sky outside the Azure Nether.
Ripples stirred, and light and shadow flickered, seemingly in intense turmoil.
Just as Doctrine Transmitter harbored thoughts of exploring, outside the Immortal Expansion Dojo, the Four Heavenly Gates, which had just calmed down, surprisingly began to shine with brilliant white light again!
Indeed, another individual had achieved Dao Integration and ascended!
Doctrine Transmitter did not expect the second immortal of the Azure Nether to arrive so quickly, and he couldn't help but look curiously.
"So it's Su Bai, the first person on the Investiture of the Gods." Upon a quick glance, Doctrine Transmitter suddenly understood.
He had long known of this person's exceptional talent.
He was already not far from Dao Integration. Now that his Dao path had been illuminated by himself, comprehending and elevating in the blink of an eye was logical.
"It's a pity, if not for the Sacred Venerable above, his potential would have been far greater."
After a moment of silence, Doctrine Transmitter thought to himself, "Mine too."
Before Doctrine Transmitter could ponder further, Su Bai had already completed his promotion.
Another dojo materialized out of thin air beyond the heavens.
It was named the "Benevolent Crossing Dojo."
Doctrine Transmitter was contemplating whether or not to greet this new colleague when Su Bai, already in a hurry, flew over and entered uninvited.
Doctrine Transmitter was stunned, then heard Su Bai say in a deep voice, "Fellow Daoist must know of the Azure Nether Reincarnation World-Ending Tribulation? Is there a way to avoid this calamity from befalling all living beings?"
"The Azure Nether Reincarnation World-Ending Tribulation?" Doctrine Transmitter was slightly taken aback.
After a moment, he reacted, "This was set by the Sacred Venerable. Although it destroys all sentient beings, it benefits the Azure Nether. How can it be avoided?"
Doctrine Transmitter shook his head.
He did not care much about the life and death of the sentient beings in the world.
"With the vastness of the Azure Nether, it still requires destroying sentient beings for its benefit. Is this not a flaw? If there is a method that benefits the Azure Nether without destroying sentient beings..."
"Is that not the method of solidifying the principles of heaven and earth?" Su Bai asked, word by word, looking at Doctrine Transmitter with intense eyes.
Doctrine Transmitter's eyes narrowed, and after careful consideration, he was still somewhat uncertain.
He secretly glanced at the young Dao page beside him, and seeing his expression, he finally understood.
"Fellow Daoist is indeed exceptionally intelligent."
"This is indeed a method to solidify the principles of heaven and earth!"
"If it can be achieved, attaining longevity and transcending the material world will be within reach!" Doctrine Transmitter could not help but praise.
Su Bai, however, shook his head. "I do not care about longevity or leisure. I only wish to save sentient beings from the suffering of reincarnation."
Doctrine Transmitter was speechless.
Although their philosophies differed, there was no need to argue against the other.
After a moment of contemplation, he asked, "Although we have both become True Immortals, compared to the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, we are but a drop in the ocean. To seek a method to benefit the world, I fear we are not capable and must look beyond the The Great Barrier."
"I have come to invite Dao Brother to journey with me." Su Bai bowed deeply.
Doctrine Transmitter smiled, "This is precisely what I wish for."
Just as Su Bai and Doctrine Transmitter formed an alliance, planning to search for opportunities beyond the The Great Barrier together,
The Azure Nether Sacred Venerable Li Fan was confronting a shadowy figure.
The evil aura was overflowing, and his eyes gleamed menacingly.
It was the Evil Su Bai, whom Li Fan had encountered in Su Bai's Eternal Residual Will!
The moment Su Bai achieved Dao Integration and ascended to the mountains and seas, this individual sensed his existence and arrived instantly, wanting to capture and refine this possibility of himself.
Fortunately, Li Fan was prepared and intervened in time.
"Hand him over, and I will spare your life," Evil Su Bai said coldly.
Seeing that the other party did not attack directly but issued a verbal threat first, Li Fan knew that his "deterrence" had taken effect.
"How do you find my Azure Nether Immortal Realm, senior?"
Li Fan did not respond directly but shifted the topic, asking.
Evil Su Bai was actually drawn in, his gaze turning towards the world before him.
A hint of solemnity gradually appeared in his eyes.
"You possess such strength before even entering the Seas and Mountains. With time and proper training in the Seas and Mountains, your future is indeed promising. However…"
Evil Su Bai’s tone turned cold as he continued, "Assistance from others can be a ship or an oar, but to truly transcend, you must ultimately rely on yourself!"
"You..."
"Do you possess anything unique to yourself?"
His chilling whisper echoed in Li Fan's ears, like a demonic incantation. Simultaneously, a strange gleam flickered in Evil Su Bai's eyes.
Li Fan's heart was involuntarily drawn in.
As their eyes met, a wave of dizziness washed over Li Fan, and he found himself in an unfamiliar space.
The surroundings were a void, with only Li Fan and Evil Su Bai standing opposite each other.
"When everything outside is gone, how will you fight?"
Su Bai's sinister voice echoed around them.
He had clearly seen through the many inheritances and profound legacies within the Azure Nether Immortal Realm. However, he did not wish to lose face in front of Li Fan. Fighting within the Azure Nether Immortal Realm would inevitably cause damage. Thus, he had directly pulled Li Fan into this mental space for their confrontation.
"Kid, watch closely. I won't hold back here."
Before he finished speaking, Su Bai’s figure split. One became two, two became four, and four became eight... In an instant, countless illusory projections filled the desolate void.
Each Su Bai bore a different expression—some compassionate, some smiling, others with calm eyes.
Around them, scenes from various possibilities flickered into existence. In some, the Immortal Realm still stood, and Su Bai was an Immortal Minister of the Immortal Domain. In others, Su Bai remained a mere mortal, yet he cherished all beings and was revered by his people. All these manifested Su Bai figures were undoubtedly benevolent.
Only the Evil Su Bai, clad in black, stood out amidst the countless illusory figures. He stood in the center, as if at the pinnacle of a celestial gathering.
The myriad possibilities displayed around the countless Su Bai figures gradually converged and connected under the will of the central Evil Su Bai. Like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea, or earth and stone piling up to form mountains.
In mere moments, Li Fan was surrounded by what appeared to be mountains and seas!
The momentum of the mountains, the might of the seas – it was almost indistinguishable from the scenes of the Infinite Sea and Mount Shang that Li Fan had witnessed before!
"Or rather, 'almost' indistinguishable from the scenes of mountains and seas I can perceive, not the actual mountains and seas."
"If he could devour all his other selves across all possibilities and reach the state of Unifying All Selves, then even the word 'almost' would be unnecessary."
"Manifesting the image of mountains and seas with his own power. Is this the true state of transcendence..."
Facing the mountains and seas, Li Fan remained extraordinarily calm. Despite the grand display from Evil Su Bai, he felt no fear.
Firstly, this was merely a mental space. The clash of wills between them would not affect reality, regardless of victory or defeat, life or death. His bluff, using a "borrowed banner as a tiger's skin," had some deterrent effect.
Secondly...
Li Fan had already clashed with Evil Su Bai before. Although the process had been somewhat convoluted, the ultimate outcome had been Li Fan instantly slaying Evil Su Bai. This had occurred within the eternal lingering thoughts left by Su Bai in the Xuanhuang Realm.
"Even though the power of the techniques Evil Su Bai is using here far surpasses what was left in the eternal lingering thoughts, they are fundamentally the same before me."
The roar of mountains and seas, like a raging storm and surging waves, pressed in inch by inch. It seemed Evil Su Bai had deliberately done this, intending to crush Li Fan's will with this slow, increasing pressure.
But Li Fan remained unfazed, laughing heartily amidst the mountains, seas, wind, and rain, "Senior, have you heard of 'Words Become Law'?"
"This junior is untalented. Most of my strength comes from divine abilities!"
His smile vanished, and Li Fan spoke word by word with sternness, "The wind and rain are about to come? Then, 'The wind and rain shall cease'!"
His clear voice echoed through the manifested mountains and seas of Evil Su Bai. It was as if an invisible hand gently pressed down amidst the mountains and seas. The previously fierce howling instantly subsided, becoming almost inaudible. Although a few winds and waves remained in the mountains and seas, they were no longer a threat.
Witnessing this scene, all of Su Bai's faces displayed an uncontainable look of shock.
Before they could react, Li Fan spoke again, "While the scenery of mountains and seas is beautiful, it's rather unsightly. Please disperse."
Within the mental space, the continuous mountains and seas froze for a moment.
Then...
The mountains collapsed, the seas vanished. Along with the countless Su Bai figures that had manifested the image of mountains and seas, they all dissipated into thin air!
*Boom!*
The mental space instantly shattered, and both Li Fan and Evil Su Bai were instantly returned to reality.
Although Evil Su Bai’s face remained outwardly calm, his heart was turbulent like a stormy sea.
"What was that just now?"
"My manifestation of mountains and seas… it just vanished inexplicably, without any ability to resist? Even in a mental space, a clash of wills, it..." Evil Su Bai was speechless, his eyes wide with disbelief.
He had sought guidance and sparred with Mound Guardian and the Three Sages before. He, Su Bai, would not have been so utterly defeated even before these Sages who could traverse the Eternal Void!
"But my defeat just now is a fact. Doesn't this mean that the theoretical upper limit of this kid's potential achievements surpasses even Mound Guardian and the Three Sages?"
"'Words Become Law'? Does such a divine ability exist within the Seas and Mountains? Capable of influencing the Seas and Mountains?"
"This..." Evil Su Bai was stunned by his own thoughts. Although it seemed unbelievable, given the various phenomena he had witnessed in this so-called Azure Nether Immortal Realm, it suddenly made sense.
"No wonder those old guys were so generous," Evil Su Bai suddenly understood.
While Evil Su Bai was inwardly shaken, Li Fan was also quite solemn.
"The gap in strength is still too large. And Return to Truth is currently dormant. Even in the mental space, when I used 'Truth into Falsehood,' I had to employ two steps to eliminate it."
Li Fan, of course, did not possess any divine ability called "Words Become Law." The method he used to defeat Evil Su Bai was the same as when he encountered the eternal lingering thoughts: it was the transformation of "Truth into Falsehood."
Based on the eternal lingering thoughts left by Su Bai in the Xuanhuang Realm, his understanding of Evil Su Bai, and the initial fluctuations of "Truth into Falsehood" that Li Fan released in the mental space, Li Fan was certain that Evil Su Bai was unaware of the existence of "Truth into Falsehood."
For something outside his comprehension, even if Li Fan displayed it in front of Evil Su Bai, he naturally would not be able to discern what divine ability it was. And the ability to instantly dissipate the manifested image of mountains and seas seemed to fit the description of "Words Become Law."
"Firstly, we are within the Azure Nether Immortal Realm. Secondly, I have a sufficiently thorough understanding of Evil Su Bai. That's why I dared to use 'Truth into Falsehood.'"
"Before other transcendent powerhouses, I cannot be so rash."
With their thoughts diverging, they remained in a standoff for a moment.
Finally, Su Bai broke the silence with a cold, evil laugh.
"Not bad. You have, more or less, passed the test."
"You are now qualified to formally enter the Seas and Mountains."
"Since that is the case, I will leave this body here for now. When we officially meet again in the Seas and Mountains, I will reclaim it." Evil Su Bai looked at the Azure Nether Su Bai, who was with the Doctrine Transmitter and felt a sudden sense of unease, and said this.
With that, his figure slowly faded, as if about to depart.
"Senior, please wait." Li Fan called out to him.
"Hm?" Evil Su Bai looked at Li Fan, his expression indifferent.
"Senior, please accept this item."
As Li Fan spoke, he reached out, summoned the Starving Immortal transformed into the Heavenly Pillar, and handed it over.
Evil Su Bai was slightly taken aback.
Eyes narrowed, the evil Su Bai appraised the object in his hand.
The light and shadow distorted and shifted, and the image of the towering Heavenly Pillar gradually receded, revealing the starving immortal sleeping peacefully within.
Evil Su Bai looked at the other party, his expression subtly complex.
"It seems you're sensible," Evil Su Bai didn't refuse Li Fan's suggestion. After a moment of silence, he said faintly.
His form faded and gradually disappeared. In the blink of an eye, he had already left the possibility of the 'Primordial'.
Just as he arrived, he left without a sound.
Li Fan stared at the sky screen for a long time before he was sure that the other party had truly left. He couldn't help but breathe a slight sigh of relief.
Even with the backing of the Xuanhuang Realm, at his current strength, confronting a transcendent expert like evil Su Bai still put him under considerable pressure.
Especially after losing his greatest life-saving trump card, Return to Truth.
"Fortunately, the outcome is not bad."
As his spirit relaxed slightly, the countless Dao One Insects secretly hidden within the Azure Nether Heaven and Earth, which had been on high alert, returned to their normal state. They reconverged near the four heavenly platforms, increasing their adaptability to the Mountains and Seas.
Due to the premature contact with Su Bai's eternal relic, evil Su Bai was undoubtedly the most suitable transcendent expert to be the first true contact in the Mountains and Seas.
Although he exuded an aura of intense evil, he was not insane or devoid of intellect. Therefore, Li Fan could use the manifested powers of the Great Dao of Longevity and the Grand Alchemical Medicine of Tai Wei to intimidate and counterbalance him.
And even if Li Fan's plan failed and he was forced to fight evil Su Bai head-on, within the home territory of the Xuanhuang Realm, with the new Ink Slaughter, Dao One Insects, and the True and False Transformation as trump cards, Li Fan was confident he could fight evil Su Bai.
However, the final outcome might be rather brutal, but survival should not be an issue.
This was also why Li Fan's move seemed to be a risky gamble.
The risks were extremely high, and the rewards were naturally extraordinary.
Most importantly, Li Fan gained a clear understanding of his current strength.
As the saying goes, one does not know the height of the heavens without climbing high mountains, nor the depth of the earth without standing by deep streams. Li Fan had personally experienced the Mountains and Seas several times in the past, but he had only infiltrated and glanced at them lightly, not truly crossing over.
He did not have a precise and clear understanding of the immense pressure faced when crossing the Mountains and Seas. Without the means of Return to Truth to return to his original state at any time, the Xuanhuang Realm's collision with the Mountains and Seas would leave no room for error. Even a slight misstep could turn the Xuanhuang Realm to dust, and Li Fan would be severely injured, if not killed.
"Using evil Su Bai as an anchor point, I can both glimpse the Mountains and Seas and gauge my own strength."
"Even with the Xuanhuang Realm's accumulated foundations, it is still not qualified to safely cross the Mountains and Seas as an immortal boat."
As if sensing Li Fan's thoughts, the Dao One Insects' assimilation and learning became even more vigorous.
"Relying solely on the evolution brought about by the Dao One Insects is too slow."
"The current main problem of the Mystic Immortal Boat is that its hull is not strong enough. Although the materials used to build the immortal boat are all rare and sturdy, they have not completely fused with each other. It is as if they are merely piled together roughly, with many gaps between them."
"Under normal circumstances, it would be fine. Even I could not detect these gaps. But once the pressure from colliding with the Mountains and Seas is encountered, these gaps will become the culprit that causes the immortal boat to disintegrate in an instant."
"There are two methods to solve this problem. First, find more materials to fill all the gaps completely. Second..."
"Is to reforge the Azure Nether Heaven and Earth. Every cycle of world-ending tribulation is an opportunity for a complete remake."
With Li Fan's current insight, as long as he identified the crux of the problem, he could quickly devise a solution. Although his current realm was confined before the Transcendent realm, his understanding far surpassed his strength. In a sense, Li Fan was like those legendary powerful beings who reincarnated with their memories.
However, in reality, his advanced knowledge came from continuous accumulated cycles of reincarnation.
"I will do both."
"Within the Supreme Dao Scripture, true immortals still exist. I must capture them all and turn them into materials to fill the Xuanhuang Realm."
"I myself must further comprehend the principles of alchemical pills and refine the Azure Nether to an even greater extent."
The orange cat sleeping on Li Fan's shoulder flickered, its form shattering and reforming into a dose of loquat paste mixed with white phenyl.
"To transform the Dao into medicine and use medicine to illustrate the Dao, bypassing the refining process, is truly marvelous."
"How did that Sacred Emperor accomplish this?"
Although Li Fan had absorbed the Sacred Medicine of white phenyl, he still had only a vague understanding of the principles behind its formation. He began to study it meticulously.
"If I can emulate the Sacred Emperor..."
"The Xuanhuang Realm may undergo another qualitative leap," Li Fan's eyes gleamed.
Theoretically speaking, the path to transcending the Mountains and Seas requires forging one's own Dao path.
Li Fan's method of using the Xuanhuang Realm as the immortal boat can also be seen as his unique path to transcendence, and one that can draw upon the strengths of many.
"However, it seems that transcendent beings in the Mountains and Seas are rarely like me."
"I wonder if there are any drawbacks to this approach."
A fleeting thought crossed Li Fan's mind.
Although he had a vague premonition, he didn't seem to care much.
After all, Return to Truth had only fallen into a dormant state, not completely disappeared.
"First, I will leave the Mountains and Seas to observe the wonders. If there are indeed too many drawbacks, I will lie low until Return to Truth awakens and start anew..." Li Fan looked at the Xuanhuang Realm before him, his thoughts in turmoil.
After a long time, he suppressed his scattered thoughts and his gaze turned to beyond the The Great Barrier. "The room has been tidied up to a passable extent, and I can tentatively invite my esteemed guest inside."
The recent events near the The Great Barrier in the Star Sea of the North flashed into his perception.
The Lord of the Sacred Merchant, driven mad by the destruction of his Immortal Boat, was now at his last breath under the siege of the Immortals of the Star Sea of the North.
However, he possessed some unknown treasure that kept his last breath clinging to him.
The Lord of the Sacred Merchant's soul remained intact, and he would occasionally counterattack, biting at the Immortals of the Star Sea of the North.
While a berserk attack from an irrational individual made it difficult to kill true immortals, it could still inflict severe injuries.
"An unkillable nameless true immortal is indeed quite troublesome."
"If he cannot be suppressed and sealed, he can only be avoided. But unfortunately, the foundation of the Star Sea of the North is right here, surrounded by the Annihilation Lands. Heh heh..." Li Fan admired the Lord of the Sacred Merchant. But what interested him more was the other party's life-saving method.
Li Fan had seen the Lord of the Sacred Merchant endure a full-force attack from Chaos without dying on more than one occasion.
Li Fan was well aware of Chaos's strength. Within the Nameless Realm, surrounded by immortal power, it could transform almost all the Great Daos in the world into the primordial state of Chaos. Its destructive power was close to Dao Erasure.
Yet, after being eroded by Chaos's immortal power, several lights flashed on the Lord of the Sacred Merchant's body, and he expelled the Chaos immortal power in moments.
And not only Chaos's immortal power.
The attacks from other nameless true immortals in the Star Sea of the North were similarly neutralized by the constantly flashing light on the Lord of the Sacred Merchant's person.
Apart from Chaos, Benevolent Transformation, and other true immortals whom he knew from his previous life, there was one more figure who particularly caught Li Fan's attention.
Although his name was still within the Supreme Dao Scripture, it was almost imperceptibly blurred, as if he were about to disappear at any moment.
His corresponding Dao path was the character 'Cone'.
His method of dealing with enemies was not by manifesting cone-like objects to harm them, but by taking the meaning of "no place to stand a cone."
The reason why the frenzied Lord of the Sacred Merchant remained near the Star Sea of the North was precisely due to this 'Cone Immortal's' restriction. The range within which he could move seemed to be fixed within that small area, and he could not leave it no matter what. Even with his unfathomable life-sustaining methods, he would eventually be worn down and killed by the Immortals surrounding him.
After all, the Lord of the Sacred Merchant was not a true immortal and did not have the augmentation of the Infinite Sea and Infinite Power. Moreover, the flashing light on his body that neutralized and expelled the immortal power of other true immortals seemed to be weakening further.
"The Lord of the Sacred Merchant's life-saving methods should be related to the Sacred Merchant martyrs who explored other possibilities."
"With information from other possibilities within the Mountains and Seas, this Lord of the Sacred Merchant cannot fall into the hands of others."
Li Fan's heart stirred, and the lurking will he had left in the Star Sea of the North began to rapidly approach the Lord of the Sacred Merchant.
Other true immortals were of no concern. As long as Li Fan fully manifested his strength and leveraged the power of the Xuanhuang Realm, he could suppress them all in an instant.
However, the newly encountered 'Cone Immortal', whose name was quickly disappearing from the Supreme Dao Scripture, made Li Fan involuntarily vigilant.
"This Cone Immortal's strength should not be weak. In the time node thousands of years later in my previous life, I did not see this person in the Star Sea of the North, nor did I ever hear of him. The possibility of his death is not high, but..."
Li Fan carefully sensed the aura of the Great Dao of 'Cone' that was isolating the Lord of the Sacred Merchant, his brow furrowed. "With his current strength, he has not yet reached transcendence. He must have escaped to other possibilities using means like the World-Crossing Profound Coffin."
"As for why no one remembers him..."
"The reason is the same as why his name is fading from the Supreme Dao Scripture."
"No place to stand a cone refers not only to others but also to himself. This is a rather extreme Dao path, one that is not tolerated by heaven and earth, and therefore transcends all and is invincible."
Although this Dao was bizarre, it could not escape Li Fan's discernment. In just a short period, Li Fan had already grasped its profundity.
"Even though he has not reached the realm of transcendence, Cone Immortal's strength is indeed not weak. Moreover, this Dao is special and incompatible with other Dao paths. If I were to integrate it into the Xuanhuang Realm, it would be detrimental to its stability."
Li Fan had no intention of confronting him directly; he only wanted to rescue the Lord of the Sacred Merchant.
But events did not unfold as he wished.
Even with the assistance of the Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice, Li Fan's consciousness could not get any closer to the Lord of the Sacred Merchant after reaching a certain distance.
It was as if the Great Dao of 'Cone' had truly isolated the Lord of the Sacred Merchant from the Primordial possibility.
"Then you can't blame me."
"Although this Dao cannot be integrated into the Xuanhuang Realm, it can perhaps be forged into a sharp weapon."
Outside the Azure Nether Heaven, a sharp glint flashed in Li Fan's true form's eyes.
His figure flickered, and in the next moment, he had already arrived outside the The Great Barrier, within the Star Sea of the North.
He was not the only one arriving.
As the parents of the Azure Nether, wherever Li Fan went, the might of the Xuanhuang Realm followed.
Thus, it was as if a dark cloud was pressing down. The sky above the Star Sea of the North was like a gathering of millions of immortal soldiers.
The Immortals who were fighting the Lord of the Sacred Merchant paused in their movements.
Full of surprise and uncertainty, they all looked up at the sky.
"Everyone, do you... feel an inexplicable pressure?"
"This feeling of impending doom, could it be that Dao Erasure is imminent!"
"Fellow Daoists, be careful!" The Immortals' expressions all changed.
Just as they were stunned, a giant palm suddenly materialized in the void, pressing down on the Immortals.
Wherever the giant palm passed, cracks appeared. Countless wisps of black energy, as if finding an opening, surged forth. It was evident that the pressure accompanying this palm strike had directly pierced the limit that the lower star sea could withstand, attracting the tribulation of Dao Erasure!
After the black energy descended, for some unknown reason, it did not attack the giant palm but instead swept towards the Immortals of the Star Sea of the North.
Thus, it appeared as if the giant palm was carrying an endless stream of Dao Erasure black energy, crushing down upon the Immortals!
If it were just the giant palm alone, perhaps the assembled true immortals would have united to resist it.
But with the omen of Dao Erasure, and the rolling black energy representing the tribulation of world destruction...
The true and nameless true immortals below, like ants, scattered in panic, with no intention of resisting!
And so, the assembled Immortals were dispersed by Li Fan's palm strike!
Only the Great Dao of 'Cone' that was trapping the Lord of the Sacred Merchant seemed to be holding its ground and had not dispersed.
But before the magnificent giant palm, the 'coning' only lasted for three breaths before it was shattered.
However, to Li Fan's surprise, although the confinement was broken, the Great Dao of 'Cone' itself did not dissipate.
Instead, it turned into a sharp, piercing cone that dug deeply into Li Fan's giant palm.
Or rather, into the Xuanhuang Realm itself!
Sensing the intrusion of an external object, Ink Slaughter instantly arrived, intending to assimilate and transform it.
The Great Dao of 'Cone' was still within the Mountains and Seas, so naturally, it could not escape Ink Slaughter's assimilation.
But Ink Slaughter's absorption speed was unprecedentedly slow.
It was like a tough, unyielding stone; although it could be chewed, it would also chip a few teeth!
"This Dao is truly interesting," Li Fan said, pleased rather than angered.
He had thought that he had already recognized all the true immortals in the Primordial realm. He had not expected to encounter such a pleasant surprise today.
Under the guidance of his will, Ink Slaughter further intensified its assimilation.
At the same time, the Dao One Insect differentiated. Some parts once again learned and evolved Ink Slaughter, while others worked together to assimilate this 'Cone' Great Dao that had penetrated the heaven and earth.
Through this, Li Fan gained a deeper understanding of this 'Cone' Great Dao.
This immortal had pushed the artistic conception of "no place to stand a cone" to its extreme, completely isolating himself from the outside world. Although there was a close connection between the individual and the Primordial possibility they were in, with this Cone Immortal, it was as if a bottomless chasm existed, as if separated by different possibilities.
"No wonder it's so tough to deal with."
"To touch him is almost equivalent to undertaking a journey of crossing."
Through the absorption and transformation by the Dao One Insect and Ink Slaughter, the gaps created by the Great Dao of 'Cone' were rapidly shrinking.
Li Fan also vaguely saw the 'Cone' Immortal.
A small, solitary figure, appearing to be only about five or six years old.
He was quietly watching Li Fan from a distance.
The closer he got, the more Li Fan felt the other party's repulsion.
“It’s not directed at me, but rather it rejects the mortal world, and everything in the Sea of Mountains, in fact.”
“This Great Dao of the [Cone], when fully developed, might be able to carve out a niche for itself from the Sea of Mountains!”
“But that’s merely theoretical. To reach such a realm requires years upon years of effort, never faltering for a moment. Even the slightest oversight could lead to the ruin of ten thousand years of painstaking cultivation.”
“It’s not a path ordinary people can cultivate.”
As the Ink Slaughter’s corruption deepened, Li Fan’s understanding of the Great Dao of the Cone grew, and he couldn’t help but shake his head slightly.
At the same time, he grew closer to that solitary figure.
The figure across from him, however, showed no panic. Instead, he bowed deeply towards Li Fan from afar.
Li Fan was slightly taken aback, but after a moment, he suddenly realized that, for some unknown reason, the distance between him and the other person had inexplicably increased!
The distant, solitary figure, which he could almost see clearly before, had become blurry once more.
Li Fan stood frozen, savoring the experience. Through the feedback from the Dao One Worm and the Ink Slaughter, he understood why this phenomenon occurred.
It was precisely: “A courtesy of one foot, requires a courtesy of ten feet in return!”
Li Fan suddenly understood: “This is another path. It is precisely because of this divine ability that he was able to cultivate the Great Dao of the Cone to its current realm so smoothly.”
“If he only cultivated it alone, he might not even be able to reach the Nameless Realm at this point.”
The Cone Immortal’s divine ability of “A courtesy of one foot, requires a courtesy of ten feet in return!” was unleashed in an instant. Neither the Dao One Worm nor the Ink Slaughter sensed its Dao fluctuations.
However, Li Fan was unconcerned. As long as he continued to approach the other party, for self-preservation, the Cone Immortal would have to use it again.
As expected, when Li Fan’s distance to the Cone Immortal became close again.
The solitary figure bowed once more.
The illusion before Li Fan’s eyes flickered as if it were a hallucination. Li Fan felt as though the other person, constantly flickering, had instantly escaped from being within reach to the edge of the horizon.
It was as if an extremely socially anxious person, upon seeing a stranger approach, would immediately flee in disarray.
Li Fan almost laughed in frustration.
And in this brief exchange, the Cone Immortal had fully understood Li Fan’s incomprehensible “learning” ability.
Therefore, he wisely abandoned the idea of competing with Li Fan for the position of Sacred Merchant Lord.
With three consecutive bows, he completely vanished from Li Fan’s sight.
Only the Sacred Merchant Lord, having lost his reason, remained standing there.
“The Great Dao of the Cone, combined with that divine ability. His speed of escape is truly too fast. And it’s not just pure speed that enables him to escape, but rather the pressure I exert. In other words, the stronger my strength and the higher the pressure I bring, the faster he can escape from me.”
“It’s like a spring.”
“Currently, there is no particularly effective method to deal with him…” Looking in the direction the Cone Immortal had fled, Li Fan did not pursue further, deciding to let him go for now.
As long as the Cone Immortal did not leave the Primordial, with the [Supreme Dao Scripture] in hand, Li Fan could always lock onto his location from afar.
“To capture him, a special method is needed. For example, a desperate situation where there is no retreat… a realm of Dao Erasure…” Li Fan’s eyes flickered, and he retracted his gaze.
He looked at the target of his journey.
The Sacred Merchant Lord was indeed completely abnormal. Even though the Cone Immortal who had restrained him had already left, he still remained within the designated area.
He waved his hands at the void, squandering the last remnants of his strength.
“Come here!” With a grab towards the Sacred Merchant Lord in mid-air, Li Fan intended to suppress him in the Azure Nether Immortal Realm.
As expected, although the Sacred Merchant Lord was almost drained of energy, his protective measures were still in place.
A flash of white light, and Li Fan felt all his attempts to approach the other party’s The Dao Lattice being neutralized by an unseen force, leaving his grasp empty.
“It’s not that it has truly disappeared, but rather…”
Any part of the Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice was like a tentacle, an extension of Li Fan’s power. He could faintly feel that this part of him still existed.
It was just no longer in the Star Pivot Sea. It wasn’t even in the Primordial.
Instead…
“It was transferred to another possibility?”
Li Fan tried to perceive the specific situation on the far end through the disappearing power of the Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice. But separated by countless mountains and seas from the Primordial, he could only sense some vague images even with his full effort.
Under a gloomy sky, disordered items were piled up for miles. The entire world resembled an endless junkyard, with no end in sight.
A portion of the Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice, after arriving here and losing the support of Li Fan’s main body, could barely stay airborne and directly fell to the surface, becoming one more piece of the endless mountain of trash.
Instinctively, the Ink Slaughter within the Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice began to devour everything around it.
Although the things gathered in this world seemed to be useless trash, their composition was surprisingly exquisite.
Not only was the Ink Slaughter able to devour them with ease, but the degree of self-enhancement after devouring them was also far greater than it was in the [Primordial].
The connection with the junkyard world was intermittent. However, it was generally confirmed that the portion of the Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice transferred there was thriving.
Li Fan, therefore, allowed that portion of power to develop on its own.
“I just don’t know if the Sacred Merchant Lord’s defenses are always transferred to the same destination.”
Thinking this, Li Fan, as instructed by the Ink Slaughter, once again surged towards the Sacred Merchant Lord.
This time, it was still silently neutralized, not existing in the Primordial possibility.
But it did not go to the junkyard world; instead, it went to other, even more distant possibilities.
So distant that Li Fan even lost perception of that portion of the The Dao Lattice.
Although theoretically they still existed, they had exceeded the range of Li Fan’s control, making them no different from being lost. Moreover, Li Fan was quite wary of such uncontrolled situations.
After pondering for a moment, he gave up on further probing with the Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice.
He simply used other Daos he mastered to launch a continuous, saturated assault.
Layer upon layer of immortal formations replaced the blockade of the Great Dao of the Cone. Endless sword light ignited from within the formations, nullifying the Sacred Merchant Lord’s last vestiges of power.
Demonic sounds echoed, and a massive illusory pill cauldron slowly took shape, enveloping the Sacred Merchant Lord.
At this moment, the Sacred Merchant Lord was like a sandbag, enduring Li Fan’s tempestuous and unrestrained onslaught.
His protective measures, which transferred attacks, ultimately had a limit to their capacity.
The previous siege by the immortals of the Star Pivot Sea had already consumed most of it. After Li Fan’s continuous saturated assault, it finally reached its limit.
Like a bursting star, it turned into specks of white light and finally dissipated.
Without this protective measure, the Sacred Merchant Lord was no different from a mortal before Li Fan.
In an instant, he was suppressed and confined within the Azure Nether Immortal Realm.
Li Fan nodded in satisfaction and surveyed his surroundings. The immortals of the Star Pivot Sea had long since scattered.
Only a few nameless True Immortals who had previously held onto some hope for the Sacred Merchant Lord, after witnessing Li Fan’s thunderous methods of first repelling the Cone Immortal and then breaking through his defenses, completely abandoned their intentions and fled in hasty retreat.
“Escape… but where can you escape to?” Li Fan chuckled softly.
But he did not pursue. Even though he had grasped all the escape routes of the various immortals.
Li Fan planned to leave these individuals to the Dao Integration True Immortals of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm who were about to emerge, as training targets.
The Star Pivot Sea was merely an appetizer before the main course. The Guang Wu Star Sea, further beyond, was Li Fan’s true objective for his expedition.
With a thought, Li Fan returned to the Azure Nether Immortal Realm.
Beyond the heavens, he began to attempt to infiltrate the Sacred Merchant Lord’s thoughts.
Beside him, the orange cat, Loquat, manifested its form and, after several meows, uttered merciless mockery towards the Sacred Merchant Lord.
In a short time, their roles had been reversed.
However, the Sacred Merchant Lord no longer even felt anger.
When Li Fan entered his mind, he saw the moment when the Merchant Immortal Boat was destroyed before.
Time seemed to be frozen at this instant.
The Sacred Merchant Lord repeatedly relived that moment, overwhelmed by regret and powerlessness.
“His thoughts were completely occupied by the desire to save the Merchant Immortal Boat, to the point that even his past memories were submerged and difficult to explore.”
“If that’s the case…”
Li Fan snapped his fingers lightly.
As the Merchant Immortal Boat was once again engulfed by the explosive light, and the Sacred Merchant Lord cried out “Eternity!”
The Merchant Immortal Boat, which had clearly vanished, reappeared in the void!
The experimental space that had imprisoned the Cat Treasure, as well as the various structures within the Immortal Boat, including every citizen of the Immortal Boat, were exactly as they had been before!
Looking at everything before him, the deranged Sacred Merchant Lord was inexplicably stunned.
“It… it’s back?”
Tears, as if of their own accord, rolled down his cheeks. It took him nearly half a day to slowly recover from his stupor.
He still found it difficult to believe. The Sacred Merchant Lord repeatedly traversed every corner of the Merchant Immortal Boat, gazing at the familiar people, events, and objects from his memories.
He found no flaws.
Everything was as real as could be.
“Could it be that what just happened was merely a nightmare?”
“It’s a heavenly warning, telling me that even the Great Dao of Eternity cannot be relied upon too heavily.” The Sacred Merchant Lord felt a sense of dizziness.
“I remember now. In fact, the Sacred Ancestor had warned me about this long ago. Before he left, he specifically instructed that besides the Great Dao of Eternity, there must also be a trump card for survival. When the Immortal Boat split in the past, it was actually subtly caused by the Sacred Ancestor’s influence. Otherwise, even if there were disagreements about the plan to crash into the The Great Barrier, how could the Merchant Immortal Boat, with all its power under the Sacred Ancestor’s control, have split?”
“If the Merchant Immortal Boat is completely destroyed, you can return within the The Great Barrier and find the Profound Heaven Immortal Boat. In the deepest part of the Profound Heaven Immortal Boat’s treasury, the initial backup of the Merchant Immortal Boat is hidden. Similarly, in our Merchant Immortal Boat, there is a backup from when the Profound Heaven Immortal Boat was split. As the saying goes, the Profound is inseparable from the Merchant, and the Merchant is inseparable from the Profound. Separated in two star fields, as long as either the Profound Heaven Immortal Boat or the Merchant Immortal Boat survives, the Merchant Immortal Boat will exist eternally.”
“Furthermore, the The Great Barrier where the Profound Heaven Immortal Boat is located is much safer than the Star Pivot Sea. With the many treasures they obtained when they split, they will surely be able to develop in peace, which is equivalent to the Merchant Immortal Boat always having a fallback.”
“This secret was only known to the successive Sacred Lords. But over the years, the Immortal Boat’s reliance on and abuse of the Great Dao of Eternity grew more severe. And no matter what calamity occurred, Eternity could restore the Immortal Boat to its original state. Over time, even the successive Sacred Merchant Lords gradually forgot the life-saving measures left by the First Generation Sacred Lord…”
“In my daze, I saw the Immortal Boat destroyed. My mind broke down, and I almost forgot about this matter.”
“Fortunately, it was just an illusion.” The Sacred Merchant Lord muttered to himself.
“Could it be that this is a sign from the First Generation Sacred Lord, urging me to return to the wall?”
“Right…”
He thought of the situation within the The Great Barrier, and it seemed to trigger some keywords. A string of long-buried memories surfaced in the Sacred Merchant Lord’s mind.
“Before the First Generation departed, he also mentioned that if the Merchant Immortal Boat was completely destroyed in a desperate situation, then one should return to the ancestral land.”
“The Merchant Immortal Boat was transformed from a Grotto-heaven in the ancestral land. The Immortal Boat Grotto-heaven, and all its citizens, except for the First Generation Sacred Lord, exist as backups in the ancestral land’s world.”
“It is a testing ground created and monitored by True Immortals of the Upper Realm.”
“When the Sacred Ancestor led his people to escape, the defense mechanisms within the testing ground were triggered, and the ancestral land has been sealed ever since. According to the Sacred Ancestor’s speculation, that testing ground is quite special. Unless it is affected by the Tribulation of Dao Erasure, ordinary calamities will not be able to influence it.”
“Strange. Why are these past memories… surfacing today…” The Sacred Merchant Lord was somewhat bewildered.
After a moment of dazed contemplation, he looked at the vibrant Immortal Boat space and comforted himself: “It seems the recent illusion has shaken me too greatly.”
“We have forgotten the importance of being prepared for danger in times of peace for too long.”
After regaining clarity for only a moment, the Sacred Merchant Lord was once again lost in memories of the past.
¤¤CΟ
…
And in reality, within the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, the Sacred Merchant Lord had been in a state of motionless stupor from the beginning, immersed in the illusory world Li Fan had woven for him.
Li Fan had thoroughly investigated the Merchant Immortal Boat before. With his current strength, it was possible to create a lifelike illusion to deceive the Sacred Merchant Lord.
“Even if there are any flaws, he will likely convince himself to ignore them.”
Li Fan commented indifferently.
The Sacred Merchant Lord’s memories indeed contained many valuable things.
Apart from the arrangements made by that Sacred Ancestor within the The Great Barrier, there was also extensive information transmitted back by successive Sacred Merchants who had explored other possibilities.
“A total of twenty-eight possibilities are involved.”
“These are safe places where Dao Erasure did not cause world-ending calamities.”
“In fact, if the situation were inferior to the [Primordial], the Sacred Merchant Lords would not have transmitted specific details.”
Li Fan briefly perused the states of these possibilities.
Even a small change in the river of history would lead to a completely different outcome in the future. These possibilities were vastly different from the Primordial Li Fan inhabited.
Among them, the one that most interested Li Fan was the one where countless lower realms were absorbed by the Immortal Realm, and the Immortal Realm successfully withstood the tide of Dao Erasure.
The turning point occurred after the previous Immortal Emperor of the Immortal Realm, Emperor Zhaiyang, abdicated. The successor was not Emperor Tianluo, but Emperor Xuanyi.
Unlike Emperor Tianluo, who was ambitious and sought to resolve the calamity of the Dao Erasure throughout the Immortal Realm in one decisive move, Emperor Xuanyi's goal from the outset was clear. He aimed to concentrate all available resources and power to ensure the survival of the nine central star domains of the Immortal Realm. Other star domains of the Immortal Realm, and even the countless cultivation worlds in the mortal realm, were considered expendable.
Emperor Xuanyi's strategy proved remarkably effective. The nine central star domains of the Immortal Realm, like a raised highland, stood firm against the surging tide of Dao Erasure. Although this came at the cost of countless submerged star domains below, it at least secured a temporary victory.
Compared to the many star domains of the Immortal Realm, the fate of the countless cultivation worlds in the lower realms was somewhat better. Their power level was too low to even qualify as sacrifices, thus they were preserved until the last moment. Subsequently, they were absorbed into the Immortal Realm. Not only did they no longer have to worry about the calamity of Dao Erasure, but the mortals of the lower realms also benefited from this misfortune, ascending and achieving immortal status in a single step.
The new Immortal Realm needed to absorb the lower realms for a simple reason. Although the calamity of Dao Erasure had been temporarily overcome, Emperor Xuanyi did not relax. He knew that the calamity had not truly disappeared. As the process of Dao Erasure deepened throughout the Mountains and Seas, it was highly likely to surge back at some point in the future. The countless worlds absorbed from the lower realms were a measure for preparing for this. Compared to the vast star domains of the Immortal Realm, these worlds were as fragile as dust. This meant they were more sensitive to the arrival of the calamity. Therefore, they could serve as an early warning system for the impending Dao Erasure. When great tribulations approached, the attached worlds would be the first to be destroyed. Based on the number and speed of destruction of these attached worlds, the Immortal Realm could gain an early assessment of the power of the Dao Erasure that would follow.
"This Emperor Xuanyi is more reliable than Emperor Tai," Li Fan mused inwardly, nodding. "Even his warning method is something I can learn from. But I wonder, with countless possibilities in the Mountains and Seas, surely there must be many others like Emperor Xuanyi who successfully resisted Dao Erasure. Why don't others simply learn from them? I imagine that even if the Immortal Emperors couldn't traverse the Mountains and Seas, they should possess the ability to observe other possibilities..."
"Could it be that because the circumstances in each possibility are different, there is no universal solution for salvation?"
Among the twenty-eight possibilities, twenty-six were quite similar to the [Primordial] realm Li Fan currently inhabited. As for the other two...
One possibility involved all living beings abandoning their physical bodies and existing as pure spiritual entities. Without the constraints of a physical form, they could freely attach themselves to the Great Dao of the Mountains and Seas, making it easier to survive the calamity of Dao Erasure.
The other possibility was extremely bizarre. It seemed that the course of history had deviated very early on, and the Immortal Realm did not even exist. There was only a vast, wild, and boundless starry sky. This starry sky itself was connected to the Mountains and Seas, possessing extremely vigorous life force, and capable of resisting the calamity of Dao Erasure to a certain extent. Even some of the desolate star skies swallowed by Dao Erasure could slowly regain their vitality. Consequently, although the inhabitants of this wild starry sky were much weaker than immortals, they could survive the erosion of Dao Erasure with much less effort.
"However, it seems this wild starry sky is extremely hostile to cultivators. The martyrs of the merchant ship who infiltrated it had to cripple their own cultivation to barely survive there. He speculated that the stronger a cultivator was, the greater the backlash from heaven and earth they would suffer there. If a True Immortal were to venture there..." Li Fan estimated that with the wild starry sky's ability to resist Dao Erasure to some extent, anyone without transcended power would likely either perish or be crippled upon entering.
"In reality, this wild starry sky itself can be seen as a powerful being connected to the Mountains and Seas. I just don't know what happened in the past that led to the non-existence of the Immortal Realm. Logically, the three Sages, Lian Shan, Gui Hai, and Tai Yi, should exist in all realms..." Li Fan felt a flicker of doubt. "However, it's also possible that the information transmitted by the martyrs of the Sacred Merchant is inaccurate. After all, with their strength, they might not have been able to fully comprehend the truth of the entire possibility."
Li Fan shook his head slightly. Among these twenty-eight possibilities, the martyrs of the Sacred Merchant were like tall, bright lighthouses. If one possessed the ability to traverse the Mountains and Seas, by following the subtle direction, one could básicamente reach their destination smoothly. Li Fan had also found a method in the memories of the Lord of the Sacred Merchant for the martyrs to travel to other possibilities on their own: a crystal-clear eyeball, like a diamond! The light projected from this eyeball seemed to span across the Mountains and Seas. With one charge, it could send a consciousness to another possibility. However, this extraordinary item, which could be considered a supreme treasure of the Sacred Merchant, had pitifully weak defensive capabilities. It was fragile and could not even withstand the impact of a Nascent Soul cultivator's power. Therefore... it was highly probable that it had completely vanished with the destruction of the Sacred Merchant.
Li Fan couldn't help but feel a slight regret, never expecting such a treasure to exist within the Sacred Merchant. However, it was merely regret. Once the Azure Nether Immortal Realm was fully established in the future and could serve as a World-Crossing Immortal Ship, Li Fan could explore the Mountains and Seas himself. Knowing the situation of the places he might visit in advance was merely a convenience.
"Besides, powerful beings at the Transcended realm should possess means to observe the possibilities within the Mountains and Seas, right? Otherwise, how could they precisely locate their destination in the vast Mountains and Seas?" Li Fan pondered. "Even if I reached the Transcended realm through a clever method and the path ahead is unclear, I can still use these twenty-eight coordinates of the Sacred Merchant as a guide, rather than being completely lost."
The path Li Fan was currently treading was likely unique in all of the Mountains and Seas. Other transcendent powerhouses, and even the Sages, could not serve as a reference for Li Fan. Everything required him to take one step at a time and observe as he went.
After processing the information about possibilities beyond the Primordial outside the mind of the Lord of the Sacred Merchant, Li Fan refocused his attention on the details within the Primordial.
"Ancestral Land."
"If my guess is correct, the so-called Ancestral Land should also be within the High Wall, in the Kōroka Dojo."
"However, my heritage from the Mound Guardian has given me intimate knowledge of the worlds within this experimental space, and there is nothing that matches the description of the Ancestral Land in his memory."
Li Fan's consciousness entered the control area of the Kōroka Dojo again, searching and examining it to ensure nothing was overlooked.
"When the Merchant Immortal Ship fled, defensive measures were activated. The Ancestral Land entered a sealed state. Perhaps this is the reason?"
Li Fan inspected it meticulously once more. His gaze swept back and forth across the familiar light screen composed of countless divided square spaces. This time, Li Fan's focus was not on the areas that flickered with light, but on those that were completely black, the starry skies that Li Fan had originally believed had become dead lands.
"These black starry skies are regions that have already been engulfed by the calamity of Dao Erasure. With my familiarity with Dao Erasure, I wouldn't make a mistake. Otherwise, I wouldn't have failed to discover the so-called Immortal Ship Ancestral Land for so long."
Li Fan observed them one by one this time. Once, twice... From a common sense perspective, no matter how deeply the Immortal Ship Ancestral Land was hidden, it shouldn't have escaped Li Fan's meticulous scrutiny. Yet, Li Fan had an implicit premonition. The Immortal Ship Ancestral Land might be unusual. Therefore, he patiently searched back and forth, leaving no detail unchecked.
His divine sense enveloped all the black spaces for a continuous period of one hundred days. Suddenly, in one of the locations, an almost imperceptible fluctuation occurred. It vanished in an instant. If Li Fan hadn't been watching intently, he would likely have overlooked it.
"What is this..." A sharp glint flashed in Li Fan's eyes. "A disguise that mimics the aura of being engulfed by the calamity of Dao Erasure?!" "To think that with Ink Slaughter as my trump card, I would one day be tricked by Ink Slaughter!"
Li Fan was both surprised and delighted. He immediately sent a trace of his divine sense into this black starry sky. But to his astonishment, as soon as his divine sense entered, it vanished instantly, as if swallowed. Immediately after, wisps of black energy inexplicably emerged around Li Fan's main body.
"This..." "It's not a mere disguise, but the genuine calamity of Dao Erasure! My divine sense rashly entered, and Dao Erasure has followed the connection between my divine sense and main body to find me!"
Li Fan's hair stood on end, and he instinctively unleashed the [Illusion is True] divine ability. The approaching black energy of Dao Erasure instantly lost its target. However, they did not become confused and instead turned towards the outer heavens of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm. It was as if the not-yet-fully-constructed Immortal Ship had been riddled with holes by vermin. The surging Dao Erasure was slowly pouring in through these holes.
"The holes are still small now, and can be salvaged. If they become larger..." "My Azure Nether Immortal Ship will sink before it even sets sail!"
Li Fan's heart tightened, and he hastily instructed Ink Slaughter and the Dao One Insect to mend these holes. As for himself, he quickly flashed to the Star Pivot Sea. According to the clues in the Supreme Dao Scripture, he captured and suppressed several True Immortals, as well as the three nameless beings [Noble Wealth], [Immovable Rock], and [Wordless], to serve as fillers for the Heavenly Pillars. After considerable effort, he barely managed to quell the Dao Erasure.
Half a day later, Li Fan surveyed the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, ensuring there were no signs of Dao Erasure's spread. He then wiped the cold sweat from his brow and breathed a sigh of relief. He looked at the new Heavenly Pillars that had appeared in the world and sighed, "Originally, I planned to let these individuals be used by the Azure Nether Dao Integration cultivators for practice. But now, necessity dictates otherwise."
Since regaining his memories in this life, he had never suffered such a great loss. Li Fan's expression turned somewhat grim as he looked again at that black, star-filled expanse within the Kōroka Dojo. It was completely dark, engulfed by Dao Erasure.
"The strange fluctuation I sensed earlier was definitely not mistaken."
"So, it was only a momentary opportunity?" Li Fan narrowed his eyes, focusing intently, waiting for that fluctuation to reappear. This time, he waited for more than 150 days. With preparations made in advance, Li Fan observed the changes completely. It was as if a black curtain was being lifted, revealing normal, white, vital light within. It lasted for only a fleeting moment before the black curtain began to fall again. Li Fan seized the opportunity and sent his divine sense into it.
In the silence of a petrified world, where life seemed to have been turned to stone, Li Fan entered the Ancestral Realm of the Immortal Boat. However, this stillness was fleeting. Like a spring breeze, the world began to awaken from its dormant state. Light returned, and all things revived, filling the realm with a renewed clamor and vitality.
The beings of the Immortal Boat Ancestral Realm appeared to possess a clear understanding of their petrified predicament. Upon their miraculous revival, they collectively knelt, offering songs of gratitude to their deities.
This world was not vast, even smaller than the Xuanhuang Realm before its ascension. Li Fan's divine sense instantly swept across it, revealing the truth behind these so-called deities.
Every hundred years, a cataclysmic tribulation would emerge, threatening to annihilate all life and even the realm itself. In their despair, benevolent deities, moved by great compassion, devised a unique method of salvation. Before the tribulation struck, these deities would petrify all beings and the world itself, shielding them from the disaster. Once the tribulation passed, they would revert to their former state.
It remained a mystery how the inhabitants of the Immortal Boat Ancestral Realm initially perceived this seemingly insane plan. Yet, after enduring countless petrifications to evade tribulation, the beings of this world had grown accustomed to the recurring hundred-year upheaval.
"The flow of time in this realm is different from the outside," Li Fan mused. "One year here is equivalent to only about one day in the Azure Nether Immortal Realm. However, the situation here is the opposite of what I observed outside. When the world turns the dark hue of Dao Erasure, it is teeming with life. But when it displays the white, life-giving light, the realm is in a state of petrified silence."
Li Fan's gaze drifted upwards, towards the celestial canopy. There, a colossal consciousness swirled, the very architect of these anomalies. "Colossal" was merely a relative term, applicable only to the other inhabitants of the Immortal Boat Ancestral Realm. Compared to the divine sense Li Fan had bifurcated, it was insignificant.
Without the need for caution, Li Fan plunged directly into the heart of the matter. As vitality surged back into the world, the "deity" fell into slumber. Despite any protective measures in place, it could not stop Li Fan from accessing its memories. Countless images flooded his mind.
The genesis of all these events could be traced back to the transgression of the Mystic Merchant Immortal Boat. Originally intended as observational data, it had escaped its experimental enclosure, triggering an emergency response that isolated and sealed off this particular experimental field. The original overseer of this world was punished and reduced to ashes. Under normal circumstances, the Rotted Stone Dojo would have quickly dispatched a new overseer. However, with the advent of Dao Erasure, the dojo had been abandoned. Thus, the Immortal Boat Ancestral Realm fell into a state of isolation.
Ironically, the period without the interference of the dojo's influence marked the most rapid development for the Immortal Boat Ancestral Realm as a whole. Various factions united, diligently researching the reasons behind the immortal boat's escape and the world's recurring cataclysms. They ultimately uncovered the startling secret: their world was, in fact, an experimental field set up by the Immortal Realm.
Who would willingly be a lab rat? Naturally, they sought to break free from this fate, just as the Mystic Merchant Immortal Boat had. They began to study and decipher the immortal restrictions and formations hidden within the world. Without any internal divisions, all sects and factions worked in unison, transforming immortal power for their own use. The overall strength of the cultivators in the Immortal Boat Ancestral Realm thus surged. However, they were still far from breaking through the sealing techniques of the Rotted Stone Dojo.
At this critical juncture, Dao Erasure descended. Strictly speaking, the Immortal Boat Ancestral Realm did not face the true, world-destroying tide of Dao Erasure. Residing within the Rotted Stone Dojo, supported by the semblance-of-existence phantoms, they only encountered mere droplets splashed from the collision between Dao Erasure and these phantoms.
Even so, the "Dao Erasure" was more than the Immortal Boat Ancestral Realm could withstand. The once boundless and vast world, with its countless grotto-heavens like scattered stars, was largely swallowed in an instant. A small portion, in their terror, desperately held on. Fortunately, their prior collective research into the immortal formations and restrictions of the Rotted Stone Dojo allowed them to activate residual formations, providing them with the means to confront "Dao Erasure," much like the Immortal Realm had done in the past.
In the ensuing years, the surviving beings of the Immortal Boat Ancestral Realm, driven by their will to survive, exhausted every possible method and resource in their quest for a way to endure under the shadow of Dao Erasure. Perhaps it was in the crucible of despair that human potential could truly be unleashed. The cultivators of the Immortal Boat Ancestral Realm had, astonishingly, discovered a potential method of coping.
Li Fan observed the slumbering consciousness before him. This consciousness was not that of a single being but a fusion of countless individual minds. Each consciousness represented a cultivator of exceptional talent from the Immortal Boat Ancestral Realm.
"These cultivators have each comprehended and practiced their own Great Dao, all distinct from one another," Li Fan realized. "Each cultivates a different path, interwoven like a The Dao Lattice. This The Dao Lattice can bear the immense weight of Dao Erasure!"
"Although these mortal cultivators' comprehension of Dao Principles is far from that of True Immortals, they are not facing the true tide of Dao Erasure. Therefore, theoretically, if more and more cultivators, sacrificing themselves and joining this amalgamated consciousness, continue to do so, there might indeed be a chance of success."
"It is a pity, however..." Li Fan's gaze pierced through the fused consciousness, reaching its inner core. There, it seemed, lay a tiny void. Wisps of blackness were seeping out, gathering like a trickling stream.
"Dao Erasure is not a static, unchangeable entity. On the contrary, Dao Erasure is cunning, almost as if it possesses its own consciousness. Initially, it was merely scattered droplets, but the true Dao Erasure, with its all-pervasive nature, has slowly infiltrated through these faint traces."
"The people of this world failed to realize this, or perhaps, by the time they noticed, it was already too late." With reinforcement, the once weak droplets began to grow, showing signs of evolving into a true deluge. This level of disaster was beyond the capabilities of mortal cultivators, no matter how talented.
"Yet, even in such dire circumstances, they managed to find a way to survive..." Li Fan’s praise was genuine. "Though it was merely a desperate measure born out of necessity."
The final desperate attempt of the Immortal Boat Ancestral Realm did not escape Li Fan's perception. They had adopted a strategy of redirection rather than direct confrontation. They would lure and gather the encroaching Dao Erasure to a single point. With the collective intent of the masses, they forged a dam and a The Great Barrier as a bulwark. When the dam reached its limit, they would deliberately detonate it, diverting the calamity to other spaces within the Rotted Stone Dojo.
The flash of light Li Fan saw in the outside world was caused by the explosion of the collective consciousness dam.
"I knew it. The Collapsed Blossom Dojo is supported by the phantom of Mound Guardian, so it shouldn't have fallen so quickly. So, these people were the ones causing trouble..."
As the current true master of the Collapsed Blossom Dojo, Li Fan was not angered by this. What truly concerned him was the abnormal state of the Ancestral Realm of the Immortal Boat.
Even with collective protection, the collision between the consciousness dam and the Dao Erasure would bring nearly world-ending disaster to the Ancestral Realm of the Immortal Boat. Therefore, a portion of the assimilated consciousness's power had to be diverted to petrify the world, ensuring its safety.
Every act of world salvation was an immense drain on the assimilated consciousness.
Within a hundred years, when the next Dao Erasure accumulated to its limit, there must be enough successors, willing to sacrifice themselves, to merge their consciousness. This was essential to ensure the strength of the assimilated consciousness. Otherwise, the Ancestral Realm of the Immortal Boat would face the fate of extinction.
Previously, Li Fan learned from the Dao Bearer that the total "potential" of a single possibility might be fixed. Every time a peerless talent emerged, a portion of the potential pool would be depleted. The number of strong individuals that could be born within a single possibility was limited.
This principle could be applied to a world.
Even a world as peculiar as the Xuanhuang Realm did not have an abundance of powerful figures and rising prodigies in every era. Historically speaking, after a period of flourishing cultivation, a world would inevitably enter a trough. Only after many years, with the birth of an unparalleled prodigy, would a new era be heralded.
Under normal circumstances, the ancestral heritage of the Immortal Boat's Ancestral Realm could not sustain the continuous emergence of so many prodigies for such an extended period.
The flow of time in the Immortal Boat's Ancestral Realm was nearly a hundred times faster than the outside world. After the great tribulation descended, tens of thousands of years had passed within the Collapsed Blossom Dojo. Here, it was millions of years!
For millions of years, the phoenixes of talent had never ceased, like moths to a flame, sacrificing themselves to save the mortal world.
Magnificent! Remarkable! Strange!
"Although this assimilated consciousness The Dao Lattice cannot compare to my Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice in all aspects, it does have its merits."
Li Fan's consciousness withdrew from the swirling dark clouds before him and surveyed the heavens and earth once more, hoping to uncover the reason behind the Immortal Boat's Ancestral Realm's enduring prosperity.
However, with his vision, even after several checks, he could not find any clues.
He even gained no insights from within the assimilated consciousness itself.
"The one who tied the bell must untie it. It seems that to find the answer, I must personally embark on a journey into this Ancestral Realm of the Immortal Boat!" After a moment of contemplation, an idea struck Li Fan.
"Demonic Rebirth!"
To fully uncover the secrets of this realm, a simple split of consciousness to infiltrate it would not work. Only by using the Demonic Rebirth secret art, similar to the Heavenly Physician of the past, could he deceive the Heavenly Dao of this world. By transforming into a genuine native, he might have a chance to unravel the mystery.
In the Ancestral Realm of the Immortal Boat, as the worship and prayer ceremony of countless beings to the "gods" concluded.
A new life was born.
In the Ancestral Realm of the Immortal Boat, in Linshan City, under the jurisdiction of the Yin Yang Demon Vanquishing Sect.
His surname was Li, and his given name was Fan.
All infants born on the Day of Divine Revelation were adopted by the City Lord and personally nurtured.
There was a legend that beings born on this day would receive divine favor and have boundless prospects. Past experiences and heritage largely confirmed this.
Thus, from a young age, Li Fan, along with these divinely favored children, received meticulous training from the City Lord of Linshan City.
They did not disappoint the City Lord's expectations. Including Li Fan, there were seventy-two people in total.
More than half of them formally entered the Qi Refining realm before their first birthday.
Whether one could reach Golden Core Perfection by their first birthday was a crucial dividing line. Only those who met this requirement had the value to continue being cultivated as divinely favored individuals. Those who failed would lose their preferential treatment. However, with the City Lord's support, their lives would be worry-free.
A total of thirty-nine infants were accepted into the sect by the Immortal Masters of the Yin Yang Demon Vanquishing Sect for formal cultivation.
The Yin Yang Demon Vanquishing Sect was one of the five major immortal sects in the world, dedicated to vanquishing demons and eradicating evil.
What was a demon? What was evil?
Those who did not obey were demons. Those who did not show respect were evil.
Disciples of the Demon Vanquishing Sect had to kill a specific number of demons and fiends each year during their cultivation journey to retain their status as disciples.
When disciples of the Demon Vanquishing Sect traveled the world, malevolent spirits trembled in fear at their mere mention.
Among the divinely favored disciples, Li Fan's talent was considered top-tier.
At one and a half years old, he formally established his Golden Core and received the direct guidance of the Demon Vanquishing Sect's Sect Master.
A scroll containing the cultivation experiences and enlightenment insights of countless past predecessors of the Demon Vanquishing Sect, the "Heavenly Tome of Demon Vanquishing," was forcefully imprinted into his mind.
A total of thirteen divinely favored disciples received the anointment. Only six of them survived the impact of the Heavenly Tome and retained their sanity.
With the blessing of the Heavenly Tome, Li Fan's cultivation speed became even more rapid.
At three years old, he formally formed his Golden Core and descended the mountain to vanquish evil.
A three-year-old child who sets out to vanquish evil sounds like a jest.
But in the Yin Yang Demon Vanquishing Sect, it was a common occurrence.
After Li Fan received the Sect Master's personal inheritance, the "Sword of River and Mountain's Grief," he was unceremoniously flung tens of thousands of miles away. He would only be permitted to return to the mountain after killing ten thousand demons.
The journey back of ten thousand miles required a path paved with the blood of malevolent spirits.
Li Fan traveled the world with his sharp sword, patrolling the mortal realm. Any creature exhibiting demonic tendencies would be struck down with lightning speed.
When he successfully returned to the mountain sect half a year later, the Sword of River and Mountain's Grief was already stained crimson with blood.
The Sect Master took the Sword of River and Mountain's Grief. The sword's crimson hue slowly coalesced into the two characters "Li Fan," which were engraved onto its blade, emanating an eerie glow.
Li Fan then saw that besides his own name on the sword, there were hundreds of other names densely packed on it. All were written in blood, with varying degrees of redness.
"Ranked in the top three." A flicker of joy flashed in the eyes of the Sect Master of the Demon Vanquishing Sect. He formally accepted Li Fan as his personal disciple.
After taking the Sect Master as his teacher, Li Fan received further preferential treatment.
Most importantly, he was able to spar and exchange knowledge with disciples from other immortal sects.
"Do you know what 'sparring' means?" the Sect Master asked, stroking his beard.
Li Fan solemnly replied, "To determine victory and defeat, and also to decide life and death. That is sparring."
The Sect Master showed a look of relief.
In five years, Li Fan sparred nearly a thousand times with disciples from other immortal sects, without a single defeat.
He gradually became an undefeated legend among the disciples of the five major immortal sects.
After another exhilarating victory, he finally broke through to the Nascent Soul realm.
After reaching the Nascent Soul realm, he could no longer bully the junior disciples of the Immortal Boat. Instead, he had a new target.
Guided by a mysterious figure in black, the newly promoted Nascent Soul disciples from the five great immortal sects gathered in a blessed grotto-heaven.
Within the grotto-heaven, ancient formations and relics were scattered, exuding a palpable aura that made one's heart palpitate.
According to the mysterious figure, these relics were all the work of immortals.
They would be confined here for ten years.
Ten years later, the restrictions within the relics would erupt on schedule. If they could not decipher the mysteries of the immortal restrictions, their only fate would be a tragic death.
This was the trial they had to undergo after advancing to the Nascent Soul realm.
Facing an existential peril, the disciples of the immortal sects remained outwardly calm. None clamored to return to their sects. To them, life and death were ordinary matters. Being able to stay here peacefully for ten years was already an immense fortune.
In the sealed grotto-heaven, there were no master's instructions. Everything relied on individual comprehension.
Some formed factions to study together, while others, preferring solitude, immersed themselves in solitary research.
Conflicts occasionally erupted, and many perished in these clashes.
However, for the most part, everyone was engrossed in studying the relics of the immortal realm.
Just as they believed they would truly remain in this sealed grotto-heaven for ten years.
On a certain day in the sixth year, the grotto-heaven suddenly rumbled and shook. As they were bewildered, a long-lost light from the outside world shot down from the sky.
It shone upon Li Fan.
The eyes of the celestial prodigies from the five great immortal sects all turned to Li Fan, their faces filled with disbelief.
The mysterious figure in black who had led them into the grotto-heaven reappeared.
Staring at Li Fan, he muttered, "Generation Fifty-two. This result is acceptable. Hopefully, another one will be added."
The celestial prodigies were even more shocked upon hearing the black-clothed figure's words. They had thought Li Fan's premature deciphering of the immortal secret was already incredibly defying. However, he only ranked fifty-second in previous generations. What kind of monstrous beings were those in the first fifty-one ranks?
As their hearts churned with shock, they heard the black-clothed figure speak again.
"As for the rest of you..."
"Go back and undergo reincarnation for your trials."
"May you be reborn into a better family next time, with higher comprehension."
The black-clothed figure only took Li Fan with him. All the others were buried in the collapse of the grotto-heaven.
Li Fan silently watched as the grotto-heaven, which had devoured over a hundred celestial prodigies from various sects, was transformed into a black pill in the hands of the black-clothed figure.
"Eat it," the black-clothed figure said indifferently, tossing the pill over.
Li Fan did not hesitate and swallowed it in one gulp.
Instantly, a surge of inspiration flashed through his mind, myriad thoughts erupting. They were all from the thoughts and insights of those celestial prodigies in the grotto-heaven. Although their progress in deciphering the immortal relics was not as advanced as Li Fan's, their insights still held value.
Five years of seclusion, combined with the grotto-heaven and the assimilation of celestial prodigies into a pill.
Li Fan broke through to the Soul Transformation realm in one go.
Before he could rest, Li Fan was taken by the black-clothed figure and soared towards the Nine Heavens.
The fierce winds were sharp, seemingly capable of erosion. The protective Spirit Qi was useless, causing Li Fan's cheeks to sting.
After a short while, traces of blood began to flow from various parts of his body.
Li Fan merely squinted slightly, casually wiping away the blood and keeping pace with the black-clothed figure.
He continued to ascend towards the heavens.
It seemed endless, with the resistance increasing with altitude.
Only after crossing a certain threshold did Li Fan's vision suddenly expand.
A majestic purple palace, like an immortal's abode, stood atop the clouds.
The people within the palace were all busy, seemingly indifferent to other matters.
Li Fan followed, arriving at the central hall of the palace.
In the hall stood not a statue of anyone, but a peculiar device.
Surrounded by countless rings, the projected light displayed the myriad beings below.
"This is the 'Heaven-Gazing Divine Ring.' Within it, you can witness all the secrets of the heavens and earth."
"But do not be greedy. Remember, even if you see myriad great Daos before you, you can only choose one."
"Go." The black-clothed figure rarely offered any advice, then pointed to the Heaven-Gazing Divine Ring before him.
He did not explain the consequences of failure.
Li Fan had no other choice and approached the divine ring step by step.
The closer he got to the divine ring, the faster the light and shadow within it seemed to jump. His blood churned within his body, as if it would explode at any moment.
Li Fan endured the discomfort and slowly stepped into the light and shadow.
The moment his body was engulfed by the divine ring's light and shadow, Li Fan felt as if he had completely vanished.
As if he had transformed into one of the rings, all people, events, and objects in the world unfolded before his eyes.
Who they were, their names. What experiences they had in their lives, their innate talents, their divine abilities, all became clear.
As for events, from the breaking of the boundary of the Profound Merchant Grotto-heaven and the sealing of the world, all that had happened in the world, in detail, replayed before his eyes.
As for objects, their superficial appearances were dissected inch by inch, revealing their underlying foundations and the Dao principles they represented.
As expected of the Heaven-Gazing Divine Ring, with its assistance, Li Fan, at the Soul Transformation realm, could peer into the principles of a realm.
However, as a mortal with flesh and blood, his body gradually began to struggle.
The light and shadow formed by heaven and earth gradually became ethereal, and the circular images of the ring began to appear.
Li Fan knew it was time to make a choice.
However, he did not look back at the world's myriad phenomena. Instead, his gaze was fixed on the revealing Heaven-Gazing Divine Ring.
"If I can obtain this object, wouldn't that be equivalent to obtaining the world?"
"Why seek what is far away when it is near?"
A realization dawned upon him. He resolutely abandoned the myriad phenomena he had witnessed with the aid of the divine ring.
He resolutely focused on the Heaven-Gazing Divine Ring, attempting to comprehend its principles.
If it were a completely unfamiliar wonder beyond his comprehension, Li Fan would certainly be unable to decipher it in such a short time.
But Li Fan discovered that the essence of the divine ring was not unfamiliar to him. Although he had never formally encountered it before, since the Qi Refining stage, principles closely related to it had appeared in his cultivation journey.
It was as if the entire world was, in reality, transformed by this Heaven-Gazing Divine Ring, and his cultivation path was like using his own body as a hand to touch and perceive a part of the divine ring.
As his thought sparked to life, the divine ring before him transformed from ethereal to solid. The oppressive feeling that followed vanished, for Li Fan had truly become one of the countless parallel rings within the Heaven-Gazing Divine Ring!
His vision blurred, and Li Fan found himself in a pitch-black space.
Innumerable figures sat in a circular staircase, facing the center.
To Li Fan, the newcomer, they merely nodded in acknowledgment.
Then, they continued to focus their gaze on the center.
There, although nothing concrete could be seen, Li Fan keenly sensed that it was even darker than other places.
Even...
The darkness of the entire space originated from here.
"This is..."
"Dao Erasure?"
A word flashed through Li Fan's mind inexplicably.
Subsequently, like a chain reaction, it triggered Li Fan's original memories.
Without any of the figures present noticing, Li Fan's eyes underwent a subtle change.
"Finally awake. The selection process for cultivators in this world is rather interesting, even somewhat brutal."
"All other beings can be sacrificed at any time, solely for the purpose of cultivating true prodigies who can enter this place at the fastest pace."
"The Ancestral Realm of the Immortal Boat was extremely xenophobic, and there was Dao Erasure within. If one forcibly intruded, the consciousness would self-detonate. Not only would nothing be gained, but Dao Erasure would be drawn again. Only through this method could its mysteries be comprehended."
Twenty years had passed in the Ancestral Realm of the Immortal Boat, while only two months had passed in the outside world. For these secrets, Li Fan felt it was worth it.
In the state of being within the womb's mystery, Li Fan might have taken some effort to comprehend the scene before him. However, now that Li Fan's true consciousness had awakened, he instantly understood the biggest secret of this place.
"Dao Erasure is uncontrollable. Even a tiny bit appearing in the world would cause world-ending tremors, like waves after waves, ceaselessly. Yet here, Dao Erasure is so calm. Unbelievable..."
If Li Fan's previous encounters with Dao Erasure were like towering waves by the sea, then within the Ancestral Realm of the Immortal Boat, surrounded by the wills of countless cultivators transformed into rings, Dao Erasure was like an extremely tranquil pond.
"The fused will of the Ancestral Realm of the Immortal Boat, rather than being a dam or a The Great Barrier, is more like steps outside a pond. It shouldn't have the ability to resist Dao Erasure. However..."
Li Fan found an empty spot and sat down, imitating other cultivators.
The previously pitch-black space instantly became bright. The thoughts and whispers of all cultivators present echoed clearly and ceaselessly. As far as the mind could reach, one could observe.
And above the Dao Erasure that everyone was surrounding, myriad light spots of different colors floated!
They illuminated the normally desolate and dead aura of the Dao Erasure tribulation, revealing a different kind of vitality.
Li Fan's divine sense came into contact with these light spots floating above the Dao Erasure. In a daze, he saw visions of countless worlds being born and dying.
Then he understood.
"The nature of Dao Erasure does not change. The reason for the lack of violent tremors is that the contact between Dao Erasure and the entire Ancestral Realm of the Immortal Boat has been divided into these countless small worlds."
"Although they appear illusory, they are actually materialized from the wills of the heaven-blessed talents of this place. In a sense, they are no different from real worlds. A target is created in the void, actively allowing Dao Erasure to devour it. Breaking it down into countless pieces and dispersing it reduces the impact when Dao Erasure strikes."
Li Fan instantly comprehended the survival method painstakingly crafted by the Ancestral Realm of the Immortal Boat over a million years, through the efforts of countless generations.
"The Xuanhuang Realm can also learn from this."
"With this defensive measure, the impact of the collision with the Mountains and Seas in the future will be greatly reduced, and the chances of successfully crossing the Mountains and Seas will increase."
"However, these worlds used as buffers, transformed into wills, are destined to be sacrificed. I cannot do this. And with the scale of the Xuanhuang Realm, the required world wills are tens of thousands of times that of the Ancestral Realm of the Immortal Boat. If cultivated from scratch, it would take too long..."
Li Fan's heart stirred, and he had already made up his mind: "Let me show my boundless mercy and save you all from this endless cycle of reincarnation nightmares!"
In the space of fused wills, the Li Fan who had infiltrated the body suddenly burst forth with boundless light. While illuminating the desolate and secluded place, it also attracted the attention of all figures present.
Everyone looked closely and saw a magnificent world, faintly discernible in the light.
Four Heavenly Gates stood tall in the sky. Cultivators' bodies were like stars, adorning the void. On the vast land, there was a scene of flourishing vitality.
Compared to this magnificent world, their own worlds instantly paled in comparison.
"To be born in this world, how fortunate!" As soon as this thought arose, it spread like a virus, instantly infecting all the cultivators present.
Their gazes were fixed on the vision of the Xuanhuang Realm above Li Fan's head, and for a moment, they even forgot to pay attention to the Dao Erasure in the center.
As if sensing their inner desires, the illusory scene suddenly produced a glowing circle shaped like a door.
The infiltrated Li Fan took the lead, flying into it.
After a burst of light and shadow distortion, he actually entered that magnificent immortal realm!
This scene instantly caused shock within everyone.
"What... what is going on?"
However, before they could ponder their doubts, thoughts like "How fortunate," "This is a divinely bestowed opportunity to attain the Dao," "Regret for a lifetime if missed," and "The example is right before us, no need to hesitate" swept through them like a storm.
At that moment, one-tenth of the figures present, in a daze, followed Li Fan into the light and shadow.
"No! Little..." someone alerted, wanting to cry out a reminder. But the moment they opened their mouths, their expressions changed drastically. As if they had become someone else, they also slowly walked into the illusory passage.
Even though this was the essence of the Ancestral Realm of the Immortal Boat's million-year inheritance, it could not withstand the incitement of a powerful figure like Li Fan.
In a few breaths, a large portion of the cultivators in the fused wills had been forcibly extracted by Li Fan.
As for those who were still stubbornly holding on, Li Fan had no intention of letting them go. He personally took action and guided them one by one into the Xuanhuang Realm.
Without these chosen prodigies maintaining the world of wills, acting as sandbags to withstand the Dao Erasure, the Dao Erasure, which was originally as calm as a pond, began to churn violently as if it had been boiled.
The Ancestral Realm of the Immortal Boat instantly fell into a precarious state.
The Azure Nether light and shadow manifested on Li Fan's body instantly expanded, enveloping the entire Ancestral Realm of the Immortal Boat.
Before the out-of-control Dao Erasure could completely consume the Ancestral Realm of the Immortal Boat, he transferred all of them to the Xuanhuang Realm.
In the Kōroka Dojo, the block of space representing the Ancestral Realm of the Immortal Boat became completely desolate and dark, with no more sparks of life.
And in the Xuanhuang Realm, there was a new batch of outsiders.
However, after arriving in this homeland that they could not have imagined even in their dreams, these outsiders quickly became even more devout than the original inhabitants of the Xuanhuang Realm.
In the Ancestral Realm of the Immortal Boat, there were already "divine beings" for salvation, worshipped by millions for a million years.
It was just that now, the so-called "gods" had materialized.
Thus, the people of the Immortal Boat quickly changed their beliefs, becoming fanatical followers of the "Primordial Azure Nether World-Governing Majestic Venerable."
After all, they were truly saved from a world that could be destroyed at any moment.
Li Fan forcibly divided the vast fused will of the Ancestral Realm of the Immortal Boat, transforming it into countless figures.
"These chosen prodigies, let alone compared to Su Bai or the Dharma-Preachers, are not even as good as those on the Azure Nether Investiture of the Gods."
"But they have their own unique value. If the Dharma-Preachers are the helmsmen and sailors on the Azure Nether Immortal Boat, then these people are like airbags scattered around the hull, serving as buffers. The more, the better..."
"There is no longer a place for them in the heavens. Then let them go to the Azure Nether land!"
These illusory figures immediately obeyed, flying to various parts of the Xuanhuang Realm.
They became "Earth Gods," "Mountain Gods," "River Dukes," and so on, in charge of different regions.
While promoting and maintaining the great image of the Azure Nether Sacred Venerable, they used the methods of the Ancestral Realm of the Immortal Boat to select suitable seedlings within their jurisdictions, providing Li Fan with a continuous supply of qualified buffer wills.
To avoid affecting the normal cultivation of the Xuanhuang Realm, they often chose from the wills of those who had died or were about to have their souls scattered.
"This is the Dao of the Yin God."
"Yin and Yang proceed in parallel, protecting the Immortal Boat without harm."
Li Fan sat high in the sky, and with a single thought, caused immense changes in the heavens, earth, and the mortal world.
This was the majesty of being the Azure Nether Sacred Venerable.
The addition of the Yin God cultivation system seemed to be a great tonic for the Xuanhuang Realm.
Li Fan clearly felt that this great elixir, the Xuanhuang Realm, had become more stable and harmonious.
The originally scattered small cracks on the Immortal Boat were slowly being filled.
The entire Xuanhuang Realm showed signs of completeness.
This was an unexpected gain for Li Fan.
"I only did it casually, but I didn't expect such an unexpected reward."
"It seems that such a Dao path should have existed between the Mountains and Seas. However, due to some reason, it has disappeared. Now I have restored it..."
"It seems that ancient boats are more suitable for sailing between the Mountains and Seas." Li Fan looked towards the vast expanse beyond the Azure Nether Heaven, towards the continuous Mountains and Seas.
His gaze seemed to pierce through the Dao Erasure, resisting the infinite mortal world that had already been swallowed.
"When I first entered the Infinite Sea, I didn't know how to conceal myself and was indeed exposed, attracting the attention of an existence at the bottom of the Infinite Sea. That deep sea region, condensed from unimaginable ancient possibilities..."
"Perhaps only sufficiently ancient ships can sail into it."
"Hm?" Just as Li Fan was contemplating the secrets of the Mountains and Seas, a subtle anomaly from the Xuanhuang Realm's land interrupted his thoughts.
According to common sense, as the Azure Nether Sacred Venerable, Li Fan, who was high above, should not be attracted by mortal ants.
However, upon witnessing what happened on the great land at this moment, Li Fan was overjoyed, as if he had drunk a bowl of iced plum juice on a scorching summer day.
He had not felt such comfort for a long time.
The cause of this was the devout people from the Immortal Boat.
In the Xuanhuang Realm, although everyone revered the Primordial Azure Nether World-Governing Majestic Venerable, due to the recent upheaval in the world, most cultivators were still struggling to survive. In fact, influenced by the past concept of cultivators transcending the mundane, people placed more hope in their own cultivation breakthroughs.
Temples worshipping the Azure Nether Sacred Venerable were not actually numerous on the Azure Nether land.
But after this group of people from the Immortal Boat arrived, things changed. In their eyes, the temples and statues of the Sacred Venerable were indispensable, even more important than their own lives.
Wherever they went, temples of the Sacred Venerable sprang up.
In addition to the traditional title of "Primordial Azure Nether World-Governing Majestic Venerable," other titles also emerged.
Such as "Primordial Heavenly Origin Azure Nether Venerable Father" and "Primordial Azure Nether Sacred Heavenly Opening Great Sage," and so on.
Although for Li Fan himself, these had no lasting impact, as the names of Azure Nether Father and Mother flowed among the beings of heaven and earth, Li Fan keenly sensed that his connection with the Xuanhuang Realm had become invisibly closer.
"As the saying goes: 'When the Father gives birth, Heaven and Earth last forever; when the Mother gives birth, Heaven and Earth last eternally.'"
"It is because of my parents that the Xuanhuang Realm has achieved this today. Even if you can transcend and cross the Mountains and Seas in the future, you must always remain beneath my feet." Li Fan said indifferently.
A faint, almost imperceptible rumble echoed through the Azure Nether heavens and earth.
As if in response.
With a trip to the Ancestral Realm of the Immortal Boat, the Xuanhuang Realm reached the stage of transcendence at a faster pace than expected.
"Perhaps, after devouring the Guang Wu Star Sea, it will be truly complete."
A sharp glint flashed in Li Fan's eyes as he looked towards the distant star sea.
After Li Fan's sweep, the Star Sea of the North was no longer a threat. The remaining scattered True Immortals could be easily suppressed by the Dao Integration True Immortals within the Xuanhuang Realm.
"Just in time, the path to the Guang Wu Star Sea is submerged by Dao Erasure. Let's test the quality of my Immortal Boat!"
This was the Azure Nether Immortal Boat's first formal collision with Dao Erasure, and it was also a prelude to colliding with the Mountains and Seas.
Li Fan naturally attached great importance to it.
He set the date for a hundred years later, and at the same time, with a slight movement of his mind, he slightly relaxed the Azure Nether Heaven and Earth's suppression on cultivators.
Cultivation became easier, and within a few days, almost a star ascended from the land.
The sparse Azure Nether starry sky gradually became brilliant with starlight.
And the names on the Azure Nether Investiture of the Gods also increased day by day.
However, the number of dojos in the Outer Heavens did not increase significantly.
As the first two cultivators to reach Dao Integration, their relationship was very close.
Especially earlier, the two had ventured out together to explore the Star Sea of the North.
Although they did not find the method of longevity they sought, their horizons were greatly broadened by battling several True Immortals.
"Brother Tuo, can you feel the recent anomalies in the world? Could it be that the so-called world-ending tribulation is coming?" Su Bai asked worriedly in a hushed voice.
Chuán Fǎ smiled and shook his head: "Brother Su, do not worry. I think it is that one who is restless and seeking action."
He pointed to the sky above and whispered.
Su Bai's eyes widened, and then he understood. However, the worry on his face did not lessen, but rather increased: "Even so, for the beings of Azure Nether, it is still a disaster, not fortune."
"We have already explored everything around the Guang Wu Star Sea. There is no path forward, nowhere to go. If changes occur again, I fear..."
Chuán Fǎ and Su Bai exchanged glances, a trace of shock in their hearts: "Ride the wind and waves, and cross the Dao Erasure!"
The dojo fell into silence for a moment.
After a long time, Chuán Fǎ spoke again: "Although all beings suffer, for us heavenly beings, it is a rare opportunity once in ten thousand years. Not only can we travel to other star domains, but more importantly, we can step out of this realm and closely observe the ripples of Dao Erasure!"
"Brother Su, you must understand that in the past, only transcendent powerhouses had such opportunities."
Su Bai nodded: "I understand this principle. With Brother Tuo's talent, you might be able to comprehend the Dao by observing Dao Erasure and take that final step."
Chuán Fǎ chuckled: "In terms of talent, Brother Su, you are no less than me!"
Su Bai's expression remained unchanged, tacitly admitting. He did not show pride, but whispered: "But I always have a premonition. If we truly take that step, the outcome might not be good."
Chuán Fǎ was startled by his words: "Brother Su, what are you saying? I have no such feeling in my heart."
Su Bai frowned, hesitating several times before finally shaking his head: "I cannot explain it clearly. It is just that whenever I recall the sudden heart-pounding feeling that day, strange images always flood my mind..."
Su Bai detailed his unusual premonition.
Chuán Fǎ thoughtfully observed, as if he understood something.
Because of his ancestors, the Heavenly Mysteries King, and the mysterious "Grandfather," the Doctrine Transmitter knew more about possibilities beyond the Azure Nether than other Dao Integration cultivators in the Azure Nether.
"Brother Su's current situation, it's as if he's sensing other possible versions of himself. The impact is so great, even..."
"Transcendent powerhouses?"
The Doctrine Transmitter understood. This was a path outside the cultivation system of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, a realm he could not reach and had no choice but to give up. His ancestor, Xuanyuan Hong, was a strong cultivator of this realm.
For a moment, the Doctrine Transmitter looked at Su Fan before him, his heart a mix of emotions.
However, recalling the fear that Su Fan felt from time to time, the Doctrine Transmitter vaguely understood that the existence of other versions of himself in the Transcendent realm might not be a good thing.
After careful consideration, the Doctrine Transmitter revealed everything he knew to Su Fan.
Unexpectedly, Su Bai's state of mind became calm after learning all this.
"So that's how it is," he said calmly, exhaling a long breath.
"Other me..."
"If I am not mistaken, when all my selves meet, one will inevitably be devoured. And right now, I am the weak one being eaten. All the fear in my heart comes from this."
The Doctrine Transmitter nodded slightly.
"If that's all, then there's nothing to fear. At worst, I'll just stay here my whole life and not go out," Su Bai said with a carefree laugh.
"The world we are in is already vast enough. Perhaps we can't explore it fully even if we spend our entire lives here. Why would we yearn to go further and step into the Sea of Mountains? Human desires are endless. Who knows if there are other Seas of Mountains beyond the Sea of Mountains? Where will it end?"
"Moreover, I have a vague premonition. As long as we are within the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, we might not need to step out ourselves to see the entire Sea of Mountains." Su Bai said faintly.
The Doctrine Transmitter was stunned at first, unable to immediately grasp Su Bai's meaning. However, after a moment of thought, he slowly reacted, "Perhaps your premonition is correct."
The two of them, with great tacit understanding, did not look up, but instead gazed at the gradually emerging dojos in the "Heaven Beyond Heaven." They sensed an atmosphere of impending change.
A hundred years passed in the blink of an eye.
The changes in the Azure Nether Immortal Realm were not many. The names on the Investiture of the Gods were almost all filled, the stars in the sky had increased, and the dojos and palaces in the "Heaven Beyond Heaven" had already taken considerable shape.
On this day, the number of Azure Nether Dao Integration cultivators who ascended to Immortality reached the extreme of ninety-nine.
The names on the Investiture of the Gods exceeded a thousand.
The stars in the sky were countless.
Li Fan sat in the center of the Azure Nether, looking at the World-Crossing Immortal Boat he had built with his own hands. The satisfaction in his heart was indescribable.
The feedback effect of the "Sitting Heaven Art" was still present. Moreover, because his connection with the Azure Nether Immortal Realm had deepened, the power he received in the past century was even greater than during the Xuanhuang Realm's sublimation.
A phantom flickered in his palm, displaying the current scene of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, now filled with Immortals.
"With these feedback phantoms, the Azure Nether Immortal Boat is like having an inexhaustible supply of backup repair energy. Even if a certain area is damaged, as long as the overall structure of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm remains, I can restore it instantly."
"Crossing mountains and seas, my grasp has increased by several more points."
"Now that the time has come, let's see how the Immortal Boat fares against the tide of the Sea of Mountains."
Li Fan stood up abruptly, as if standing at the bow of the Immortal Boat, his gaze fixed on the distant Guangwu Star Sea, beyond the Annihilation Land.
"Riding the wind and breaking the waves begins today!"
Within the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, it remained as steadfast as ever. As if there were no changes compared to the past.
However, in reality, the entire world had transformed into a boat along with the Kōroka Dojo, and had begun to move slowly.
From the very beginning, it had stirred up tremendous waves!
Although the Star Sea of the North had been swept clean by the Immortals of the Azure Nether over the past century, it was still a place where life gathered. Now, as the Azure Nether Immortal Boat set sail, the Star Sea of the North was like ice in front of the ship's bow.
It was easily shattered.
Although it was better than the destruction caused by the Dao Erasure, it would likely take millions of years to nurture life again.
After shattering the Star Sea of the North, they reached the boundary of the Life Star Sea.
The way forward was blocked, but Li Fan waved his hand and drove the Azure Nether Immortal Boat forward.
The speed increased, and it violently collided with the void boundary!
The Azure Nether Immortal Boat flickered with phantoms.
The immense world then disappeared, leaving behind only a desolate and ruined Star Sea of the North.
Without the support of the Mound Guardian phantoms, this area of space could no longer withstand the pressure of the Dao Erasure.
The Dao Erasure reacted swiftly, and wisps of black energy soon emerged from various parts of the Star Sea of the North.
It seemed that this starry sky would not witness the revival of life.
At this moment, the Azure Nether Immortal Boat seemed to have plunged into a storm, its hull shaking violently, appearing on the verge of collapse!
Li Fan vaguely recalled that in his previous life, Zi Yi had merely made a casual swipe, and had forcefully carved out a path in the void swallowed by the Dao Erasure.
He walked through the void of the Dao Erasure with ease, without any danger.
However, when Li Fan attempted to cross the Sea of Mountains himself, the situation was entirely different.
Even though, theoretically speaking, with the current configuration of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, it was absolutely possible to cross safely.
But that was only theory.
The Azure Nether Immortal Boat, facing the Dao Erasure for the first time, encountered various situations that had not appeared in the previous deductions.
The most obvious was the all-pervasive erosion and impact of the Dao Erasure.
The Azure Nether Immortal Realm was only close to perfection, not truly perfect. Although Li Fan had filled the cracks in the hull as much as possible through various means, they had not been completely eliminated.
The moment they entered the Dao Erasure, corrosive power seeped into the Immortal Boat through these cracks.
The sky of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm instantly became as if covered by a black cloth, darkening and losing its light.
Not only in the sky, but in all corners of the world, countless tiny black fissures appeared simultaneously, exuding a terrifying aura.
This was the sign of the Dao Erasure's devouring!
As the master of the Azure Nether Immortal Boat, Li Fan, though alarmed, did not panic. He quickly ordered Ink Slaughter and the Dao One Worm to try and fill these fissures.
At the same time, he crushed a phantom in his palm.
Endless energy surged out from the shattered phantom, rushing to all parts of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, like lightning, illuminating the dimmed Azure Nether Immortal Realm.
With the rapid replenishment of backup energy, the Azure Nether Heaven and Earth began to rapidly evolve, regenerating the areas devoured by the Dao Erasure.
The fissures in the world gradually shrank. The anomalies seemed to be on the verge of disappearing.
However, these patching and sealing actions could not fundamentally stop the erosion of the Dao Erasure. And the Azure Nether Immortal Realm still had imperfect cracks.
After being temporarily repelled, the Dao Erasure quickly returned.
In different parts of the world, new and numerous corrosive black gaps appeared.
With the experience of the first wave of confrontation, Li Fan became even more composed. He methodically proceeded with the repairs.
Thus, amidst this exchange, the sky of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm continuously alternated between darkness and brightness.
"One does not know one's own crudeness without entering the Sea of Mountains."
"I thought the Azure Nether Immortal Realm was close to perfection, but upon entering the Dao Erasure, there are still so many flaws. Fortunately, I was well-prepared."
"And..."
Ink Slaughter and the Dao One Worm, on whom Li Fan had placed great hope, while quickly adapting to survival in the Dao Erasure, were also attempting to repair the small cracks in the Immortal Boat.
"The fewer the cracks, the smaller the storm."
"With a perfect hull, crossing will be worry-free."
The Azure Nether Immortal Realm was not a problem for now, but the condition of the beings within was not optimistic.
Crossing the Dao Erasure meant they were officially within the Sea of Mountains.
As a result, in the world of alternating light and darkness, illusory manifestations of majestic and continuous mountains and seas appeared from time to time.
Infinite Sea, Mount Shang.
These were things Li Fan had gradually become accustomed to.
For the beings in the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, they were still awe-inspiring existences.
More than nine-tenths of the lives, upon seeing the Sea of Mountains for the first time, were instantly annihilated due to their inability to withstand the pressure of the Sea of Mountains.
They disappeared and perished too quickly, their residual consciousnesses not even being preserved by Heaven and Earth. There was no possibility for them to even cultivate again in the form of Yin Gods.
The once vibrant Azure Nether Immortal Realm instantly became desolate.
Seeing such a tragic scene, Li Fan, as the parent of the Azure Nether, showed no emotional fluctuation on his face.
In his opinion, these lives, unable to withstand even the first wave of storms, were of no value to him.
If they died, they died.
With a single thought, new and numerous lives were quickly regenerated.
What was truly worth paying attention to were the beings who had survived and possessed sufficient strength to serve as crew members or sailors.
Although they had barely managed to preserve their lives, the vast majority were in a state of extreme panic before the frequently appearing illusory phenomena of the Sea of Mountains.
"What... what precisely are these?"
"In such a vast Sea of Mountains, I am not even an ant! Not an ant!"
"The sea overturns, the mountains collapse. They are about to crush us!"
"Is this what it looks like beyond the Azure Nether? Great Venerable above, Great Venerable above..."
Terror, fear, and panic consumed their minds. Countless fantasies swirled in their heads.
Even though they tried their best to remain calm, they could not fully protect their minds. Inevitably, they became deranged.
And it was as if they had fallen into a swamp; the more their fear of the Sea of Mountains grew, the deeper they sank. Initially, they could barely resist, but eventually, they would be completely lost.
Just as all beings were in terror and despair before the might of the Sea of Mountains, unable to find peace,
A grand and majestic figure reappeared in the sky of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm.
It was the "Primordial Azure Nether World-Governing Majestic Venerable"!
Unlike before, this time, the Venerable looked down, a hint of sorrow flashing in his eyes, and let out an inexplicable sigh.
His voice boomed like thunder, continuous and echoing throughout heaven and earth.
The Venerable's immense figure emitted a boundless warm light.
The sound and light converged, as if providing a warm sanctuary for the surviving beings. The terrifying illusory phenomena of the Sea of Mountains in their minds gradually disappeared.
Those who gradually regained their sanity wept tears of joy, kneeling on the ground and praising the Venerable's merits.
However, they did not know that Li Fan had only acted to save them out of consideration for the stability of the Immortal Boat. These beings, who could not face the might of the Sea of Mountains on their own, had been placed on a list of those who could be discarded at any time.
When they officially entered the Sea of Mountains and faced the impact of the Dao Erasure, requiring some buffer, it would be their time to contribute.
"Those who did not retreat in the face of the Sea of Mountains' might numbered seven hundred and sixty-two."
"Those who could face it with equanimity numbered one hundred and sixty-seven."
"And those who felt a surge of courage and met the challenge head-on were as many as seventy-six."
"Very good, this is the foundation of our Azure Nether Immortal Boat."
Being able to perceive the hearts of the Azure Nether beings at any time, Li Fan was quite satisfied with the current results.
Although they were under the protection of the Immortal Boat and the Sea of Mountains they saw was not the true Sea of Mountains, these individuals had met the basic mental requirements for crossing the Sea of Mountains.
"However, this is only the first wave of storms."
"The real tribulation is yet to come."
Li Fan thought to himself.
If crossing the Dao Erasure were this simple, then countless Transcendent powerhouses would have emerged from the Sea of Mountains over the years.
From his understanding of the Dao Erasure, Li Fan knew that the Dao Erasure was extremely cunning and possessed its own offensive consciousness.
When it detected foreign objects floating in the Dao Erasure, it would soon launch a more ferocious assault.
Until it completely devoured them.
"The longer we persist in the Dao Erasure, the harder it is to survive."
"With countless tides and waves, one moment of weakness can negate all previous efforts!"
"Fortunately, the journey this time is not too long."
Li Fan's prediction was correct.
After a period of relative calm, the erosion of the Dao Erasure did not subside; instead, it became even more ferocious.
Not only were anomalies rampant throughout heaven and earth, but the entire world began to shake violently uncontrollably.
Mountains collapsing and rivers changing course were mundane events.
More significantly, large numbers of stars plummeted from the sky.
This was a phenomenon caused by cultivators of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm at the Nascent Soul realm, unable to withstand the pressure and perishing.
Under normal circumstances, upon reaching the Nascent Soul realm, one would become immortal and exist alongside the Azure Nether Heaven and Earth. However, the situation now was that the Azure Nether Heaven and Earth itself was in a state of crisis, and the Grotto-heaven regions refined by Nascent Soul cultivators were unfortunate enough to be engulfed by the Dao Erasure.
Naturally, they had no chance of survival.
Only those on the Investiture of the Gods and those in the Dao Integration realm could survive safely under the protection of the Azure Nether Immortal Boat.
"The storms are indeed becoming quite fierce."
Li Fan stood between heaven and earth and said so.
This crossing could be considered quite a desperate struggle.
"Constantly repairing, we consumed three Azure Nether Immortal Boat phantoms."
"But fortunately, we persevered and did not disintegrate."
"Even the overall state of the Immortal Boat remains intact. Once we leave the Dao Erasure, it will instantly recover its full strength."
"Most importantly, this initial trial exposed all the flaws of the Immortal Boat. When we return to shore, after I refine it again, the Immortal Boat will be truly perfect."
Li Fan was quite satisfied with the results of this crossing experiment.
"We will rest and resupply here!"
The Guangwu Star Sea had been reached.
The Azure Nether Immortal Boat arrived in the Guang Wu Star Sea.
A single stone stirred a thousand waves!
The colossal immortal boat, which appeared without warning, struck with great force, causing the entire starry sky to tremble violently.
In an instant, dozens of radiant lights streaked out from the depths of the Guang Wu Star Sea, approaching to investigate.
The aura emanating from each of these figures was indistinguishable from that of a True Immortal!
"In my previous life, the Purple Robe swept through the Guang Wu Star Sea, leaving behind over three hundred True Immortal Purple Talismans. And then there were those unnamed guardians of the embankment."
"Within the Xuanhuang Realm, there are only ninety-nine True Immortals. However..."
"The advantage lies with us!"
Li Fan waved his hand, and a sky-piercing pillar of light instantly rose along the border of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, directly separating this small space from the Guang Wu Star Sea.
The Guang Wu True Immortals who flew over to investigate reached the edge of this barrier, only to find themselves as if they had encountered an insurmountable chasm, unable to advance even half a step further.
Simultaneously, within the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, ninety-nine Dao Integration cultivators flew out in unison, meeting the Guang Wu True Immortals head-on.
Without so much as a word, they unleashed their full-power killing moves from the outset.
The Azure Nether Dao Integration cultivators, empowered by the Xuanhuang Realm's "momentum" and drawing upon the interconnected infinity of the Four Heavenly Gates, achieved the "Immortal" realm.
The true strength they could wield was actually somewhat weaker than that of true Immortals, especially when they left the Azure Nether Immortal Realm.
But at Li Fan's signal, the Azure Nether Immortal Boat suddenly erupted with infinite light and phantom images, instantly enshrouding the battlefield of immortals. In an instant, they were fighting on their home turf, while the Guang Wu True Immortals were suppressed by the Azure Nether Heaven and Earth.
With their strength waxing and waning, and an advantage in numbers, the battle was not without suspense.
Upon reaching the Immortal realm, cultivators were generally not easily killed or subdued. Typically, even if they could not win, they could escape and preserve their lives.
However, the Azure Nether Dao Integration cultivators were all wielding the "Immortal Binding Locks" bestowed by the Azure Nether Sacred Venerable. Once restrained by these locks, even True Immortals would instantly become like mortals, losing all their divine abilities and magical powers.
Therefore, in this initial encounter, the Azure Nether Immortal Realm forces achieved an easy victory with little effort.
At Li Fan's signal, the first batch of captured Guang Wu True Immortals were all imprisoned within a nine-story exquisite Azure Nether Pagoda manifested in the Heaven Beyond Heaven.
After all the captives were confined, the pagoda's gate slammed shut. A moment later, the Azure Nether Pagoda began to emit large amounts of Azure Nether Qi outwards.
Half of this Azure Nether Qi dissipated into the heavens and earth.
The other half, however, flew directly towards the Dao Integration cultivators.
As the Azure Nether Qi entered their bodies, fragmented cultivation memories and insights into the Dao from various True Immortals instantly flooded the minds of these Dao Integration cultivators.
While not complete, these scattered fragments were undoubtedly a great boon to these cultivators who had just entered the Immortal realm.
"Thank you, Sacred Venerable, for your compassion!" they uttered with sincere gratitude.
Following the Sacred Venerable's instructions, they seized the time to digest the gains bestowed by the Azure Nether Pagoda.
The so-called "Immortal Binding Locks" were, at their core, crafted from the Power of Boundless Unity and refined with various immortal formations. Although the refining methods were relatively simple, even somewhat crude, their power level was too high. They possessed an inherent restraint against ordinary True Immortals.
The exquisite Azure Nether Pagoda within was filled with Ink Slaughter and Dao One Insects.
Once True Immortals were imprisoned within, the Ink Slaughter and Dao One Insects would devour them, feeding the True Immortal foundation back to the outside world.
"This is what is called 'fighting to sustain the war.'"
The sustenance provided by over thirty True Immortals was, for the current Azure Nether Immortal Realm, merely negligible.
After suffering such a significant loss all at once, the Guang Wu Star Sea was clearly taken aback. There was no further movement for a long time.
They didn't even send anyone to probe.
However, it was evident that they would not let this matter rest.
Li Fan also took advantage of this time to activate the Azure Nether Immortal Boat's anchor, seeking to establish a foothold within the Guang Wu Star Sea as much as possible.
Calling it an anchor was, in reality, the Azure Nether Immortal Realm transforming areas belonging to the Guang Wu Star Sea into its own. Countless invisible Dao One Insects at the edge of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm madly flew out, gnawing at everything outside.
These Dao One Insects were like awakened Azure Nether boundaries.
At a visible speed, a layer of gray "armor" formed around the Azure Nether Immortal Boat.
"The immortal boat needs further refinement to reach its perfect state. These are the materials required for that refinement."
"Of course, this alone is far from enough."
In the Heaven Beyond Heaven, above the Azure Nether Pagoda, a colossal transparent furnace reappeared, visible only to Li Fan.
With a gentle gesture, the furnace instantly expanded outwards, enveloping the entire Azure Nether Immortal Boat.
With a flash of yellow light, the Loquat leaped onto the top of the furnace, protecting the immortal boat.
The wisps of Azure Nether Qi emitted by the Azure Nether Pagoda, along with the starry sky devoured by the Dao One Insects in the outside world, converged and merged within the furnace.
They transformed into wisps of misty energy, drifting towards the Azure Nether Immortal Boat, revealing numerous weaknesses within the Dao Erasure.
While overseeing the refinement, Li Fan's gaze occasionally drifted towards the depths of the Guang Wu Star Sea.
"After such a long time, there's still no movement..."
"It's not due to fear, but rather a desire to achieve victory in one decisive blow."
Just as Li Fan predicted.
After more than half a day of calm, a streak of light, speeding from the depths of the Guang Wu Star Sea, arrived.
In an instant, it reached the Azure Nether border, outside the surging barrier of light.
The streak of light stopped, revealing its true form within.
It was a pearl that appeared utterly unremarkable.
"As expected, it's you, the Dao Epoch Projection Orb!"
As this thought flashed through Li Fan's mind, endless light and shadow, from the ancient past to the eternal future, encompassing all possible paths of cultivation and divine abilities used by all sentient beings, erupted within this light and shadow.
A dazzling, brilliant radiance enveloped the Azure Nether Immortal Realm.
At this moment, with the full power of the Dao Epoch Projection Orb unleashed, it could easily destroy an entire possibility!
However, since Li Fan had long known of the Dao Epoch Projection Orb's existence, how could he not be prepared?
"Although the divine abilities are vast, a single boat can navigate them."
Facing the onslaught of projected divine abilities from countless different prodigies, Li Fan's expression remained unchanged. He calmly watched as the Azure Nether Immortal Realm was struck fiercely by countless projections simultaneously.
Similar to when it entered the Dao Erasure before, the Azure Nether Heaven and Earth vibrated violently.
This time, it wasn't a massive, intense tremor, but rather like being struck by billions of hailstones at once.
The sound of countless small, dense explosions mingled with the occasional deafening roar. The entire world was submerged in this cacophony.
It was like being caught in a torrential downpour.
The Azure Nether Immortal Boat inevitably suffered damage.
But under the augmentation of the Eternal Great Dao and the feedback phantom of Li Fan's Heaven Sitting Art, all losses existed only for a fleeting moment, and were then rapidly repaired.
Not only that.
The "imprints" left within the Xuanhuang Realm by these Dao techniques and divine abilities were also recorded by the massive furnace enveloping heaven and earth.
The more powerful the divine ability or technique, the deeper the damage inflicted upon the Xuanhuang Realm, and the more obvious the imprint left behind.
Therefore, it was easier to replicate.
With a casual wave of Li Fan's hand, in the Heaven Beyond Heaven, besides the Investiture of the Gods scroll that recorded countless names, another long scroll slowly materialized.
It was as if countless brushes were writing furiously upon the scroll.
The divine abilities recorded within the Dao Epoch Projection Orb were all replicated onto this scroll.
"The Dao Epoch Projection can only be used once."
"Whereas my 'Scroll of Myriad Daos' can be used repeatedly."
Li Fan extended his hand, and a phantom image of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm in his palm floated towards the scroll.
What was originally a recorded phantom image quickly solidified after absorbing the Azure Nether phantom.
Occasionally, bolts of lightning flashed, emitting an extremely dangerous aura.
The divine abilities contained within the Dao Epoch Projection Orb were not inexhaustible.
After pouring down like a torrential rain for a full three years, they were finally depleted.
And when the Azure Nether Immortal Realm emerged from the engulfing light and shadow, completely unharmed, the Guang Wu Star Sea fell into complete silence.
Before they could even react, a heavenly script floated and arrived.
The heavenly script stretched for hundreds of millions of miles, seemingly encompassing the entire Guang Wu Star Sea.
With a flash of light, endless phantom images of divine abilities emerged from it.
Like a torrential downpour, it instantly submerged the Guang Wu Star Sea.
"With his own method, I shall return it to him!"
Li Fan chuckled, and crushed another Azure Nether phantom image in his palm.
He threw another heavenly script!
The rainstorm intensified, becoming a pitch-black expanse that completely obscured the original appearance of the Guang Wu Star Sea.
Occasionally, there were fluctuations in aura, as if struggling to break free from the projected divine abilities.
Li Fan immediately added another heavenly script.
After casting nine heavenly scripts in succession, the Guang Wu Star Sea completely lost all signs of resistance.
And this continuous downpour of divine abilities lasted for twenty years.
When Li Fan finally withdrew his divine abilities, the Guang Wu Star Sea was a desolate and scarred landscape.
Life was extinguished, replaced by an aura of desolation and destruction.
Ruined walls and collapsed buildings were everywhere, and only a few towering pillars remained, all of them scarred.
With a thought from Li Fan, the Azure Nether Immortal Realm cultivators, who had been on the verge of bursting, surged out.
They began the cleanup of the battlefield.
Given the current state of the Guang Wu Star Sea, even if any unnamed survivors remained, they would undoubtedly be in a state of severe injury and near death.
It would not be difficult for the Azure Nether cultivators to subdue them.
¤¤￠ o
Li Fan paid no attention to these trivial matters. He headed directly for the embankment of the Guang Wu Star Sea.
As expected, the middle-aged man he had met once before, who was suspected to be the leader of the Guang Wu Star Sea, also appeared here, ragged and staggering.
Sensing Li Fan behind him, the middle-aged man's eyes filled with hatred: "We have no enmity, why do you strike such a deadly blow?"
"To possess treasure is already a sin. To hold a supreme treasure and not use it is an even greater transgression!"
Li Fan said this coldly.
He didn't even bother to ask the man's name and suppressed him with a casual wave.
"After all, he is an unnamed existence, not to be wasted."
"Let me see, his Dao is 'Restoration.'"
"Heh..."
Li Fan shook his head, unconcerned.
He then focused his attention on the center of the Guang Wu Star Sea's embankment, which was now severely damaged.
The bombardment of the nine heavenly scripts seemed to have had no effect on the Dao Erasure gathered there. Instead, the increasingly strong Dao fluctuations seemed to be making the Dao Erasure even more active.
"I don't sense the aura of that Transcended Remnant."
"Even the Rat Emperor isn't here."
"The Rat Emperor is hard to say, but judging from the expression of 'Restoration' just before death, the Transcended Remnant should have already been salvaged by them at this point."
"As for why it's not here..."
"It's likely been returned to the Mountains and Seas to lure other drifting foreign objects."
Li Fan carefully sensed the Guang Wu embankment again.
Indeed, amidst the surrounding remaining celestial pillars, he found faint, almost imperceptible connections, like silken threads, extending into the central Dao Erasure.
"If I hadn't had the previous experience of crossing the Dao Erasure, I might have found it difficult to detect these 'threads'."
"They should also be crafted from the remnants of Transcended beings or those who failed in their transcendence."
After some judgment, Li Fan reached out and gathered these threads into his hand.
Then, with a gentle pull...
The other end of the threads remained stubbornly still.
Li Fan was not embarrassed. He tossed these threads into the Azure Nether Immortal Realm.
Dense swarms of Dao One Insects were responsible for connecting the threads to the Azure Nether Immortal Realm.
Then, amidst the roaring of heaven and earth, with the power of the entire Azure Nether Heaven and Earth, they finally managed to slowly drag the threads.
But in an instant, Li Fan felt a tremendous force of resistance from the other end of the threads.
Li Fan narrowed his eyes and instantly crushed dozens of Azure Nether Immortal Realm phantoms.
His power surged, and the Azure Nether Immortal Boat exerted immense force, dragging out the object from the Dao Erasure vortex beneath the embankment!
It was the remnant of the Mountain Sea Solitary Sail that Li Fan had seen once before.
However, compared to when he saw it previously, this corpse was more complete.
This was the second Transcended expert Li Fan had encountered, besides Evil Su Bai. Even though the opponent was dead, Li Fan did not dare to be careless.
Furthermore...
Another object was attached to his body.
A black box, neither jade nor gold, was adhered to the head of the Transcended Remnant.
The areas where they touched seemed to have merged into one.
It looked bizarre, as if a person had grown a black box for a head.
"In my previous life, I never saw this thing."
Li Fan was unsure if his premature retrieval had somehow altered things.
But regardless of what was contained within the black box, with the Transcended Remnant before him, Li Fan was determined not to let it go.
Because, rarely, he felt the stirrings of "Return to Truth" again.
"Hungry..."
This was the faint fluctuation emanating from Return to Truth.
In his previous life, when he saw the Mountain Sea Solitary Sail within this Transcended Remnant, Return to Truth had shown a subtle desire to devour it.
Seeing it again this time, even though it was in deep slumber, it still transmitted a message to Li Fan.
"Perhaps, if Return to Truth can devour it, it can awaken from its slumber."
This thought flashed through Li Fan's mind, and he hesitated no longer.
He directly released the Ink Slaughter to test it.
Rolling dark clouds enveloped the Transcended Remnant and the black box.
However, the Ink Slaughter, which had always been effective, suddenly hit a wall.
It was as if it had bitten onto a steel plate. Although the Ink Slaughter could devour, its speed of consumption...
And the expenditure was enormous.
Without making much progress in its devouring, the Ink Slaughter clouds themselves were consumed by more than half.
This was a situation that had never occurred before.
"As expected of an existence that could drift through the Mountains and Seas' Dao Erasure until now."
Perhaps it was the extreme similarity between Ink Slaughter and Dao Erasure that triggered the defense mechanisms of the transcendental remains and the black box. Peculiar changes then rapidly unfolded within both.
The black box’s once smooth surface suddenly sprouted numerous protrusions, resembling countless distorted and pained faces. As if stimulated by something, they churned madly, attempting to burrow into the head of the remains.
Meanwhile, the transcendental remains seemed oblivious to the black box's intrusion. It only exhibited reactive changes to Ink Slaughter's assault.
Accompanied by a biting wind that seemingly came from nowhere, a solitary sail ascended with the wind. The Ink Slaughter's dark clouds were instantly repelled by an immeasurable isolating force. If before it felt like gnawing into solid steel, then with the appearance of this solitary sail, an insurmountable barrier was erected between it and the remains. Previously, it could slowly gnaw away, exchanging eight thousand of its own for a hundred of the enemy's. But now, it was completely unable to harm the other party!
The Vast Light Star Sea, which had gradually fallen into a state of turmoil and impending destruction due to the sudden demise of numerous immortals, abruptly regained its tranquility with the appearance of this solitary sail. It was as if all the storms within the mountains and seas had been drawn to it. In the star sea, only this sail rustled; all other places were eerily silent.
"This is the Dao of Transcendence…." Li Fan stared intently at the solitary sail manifested within the remains, murmuring to himself. This was the second time Li Fan had witnessed its existence. Due to his personal experience of crossing the Dao Erasure, Li Fan's understanding of this solitary sail was even more profound this time.
"However, this banner is clearly much newer than what I saw in my previous life." "Logically, a mere ten thousand years should not have corroded the Dao of Transcendence so quickly," Li Fan's gaze narrowed slightly, and he turned his attention to the black box adhering to the remains' head.
As the Ink Slaughter clouds approached, the myriad writhing faces that appeared on the black box now resembled countless woodworms, attempting to bore into the solitary sail. The solitary sail, capable of traversing mountains and seas and resisting Dao Erasure, was naturally impervious to such woodworms. However, this skeletal remnant was not truly a transcendent expert. While it possessed transcendent power, it was now merely a corpse. Even if it could withstand the attacks of billions of woodworms, it could not completely repel all their encroachments. And with just one woodworm managing to slip through… Li Fan observed that a multitude of ferocious faces were gathering within the tiny holes of the solitary sail.
"This black box can actually corrupt others' Dao of Transcendence," Li Fan exclaimed in surprise. "Perhaps the black box lacks the ability to traverse mountains and seas, but by parasitizing the transcendental remains, it can similarly survive the Dao Erasure." For Li Fan, the solitary sail before him was of great use for the Azure Nether Immortal Boat's journey across mountains and seas. How could he allow these woodworms to gnaw at it?
"Since Ink Slaughter is ineffective…" "Then let's try Dao One Insects!" The thought flashed through his mind, and the Ink Slaughter clouds retreated like a tide. In their place, an infinite expanse of transparent and invisible Dao One Insects surged forth.
This time, the situation was reversed. Without sensing the threat of Dao Erasure, the solitary sail within the transcendental remains gradually faded. Conversely, the black box seemed to clearly perceive the countless Dao One Insects surrounding it. The ferocious faces emitted continuous roars and bellows, as if issuing a challenge. Naturally, the Dao One Insects were not intimidated. They fearlessly charged towards the black box in unison, instantly overwhelming it like a tide. Li Fan clearly witnessed, the moment they touched the faces on the black box, a large number of Dao One Insects vanished into thin air as if evaporated. On the exterior of the black box, a few more faces appeared as a result!
"It can even absorb and transform Dao One Insects… this black box." Li Fan's eyes narrowed. Under his command, Dao One Insects continuously flowed from the Azure Nether Immortal Realm. "You like to devour? Then I'll let you eat your fill!" Unlike the nascent power of Ink Slaughter, Ink Slaughter required a certain period to recover its vitality after being consumed. However, as long as Li Fan willed it and had sufficient energy support, the Dao One Insects could grow exponentially. The consumption by a mere wooden box was utterly negligible for the swarm! Like moths to a flame, the Dao One Insects launched a relentless, suicidal assault on the black box. The principle was the same as the black box's erosion of the solitary sail. Even if the black box could block the vast majority of the swarm, as long as one Dao One Insect broke through the blockade and made contact with the surface of the black box, the swarm's attack efficiency would multiply. And with the support of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm's phantom projection in the palm of Li Fan’s hand, the Dao One Insect swarm had no need to worry about its own losses. With the balance shifting, the black box gradually began to falter. Its entire surface became occupied by countless horrific faces. New faces had no room to appear, and the black box, subjected to intense impact, vibrated incessantly. It was as if something was trying to break free from within the black box!
*Buzz buzz…* When the black box's high-frequency vibrations reached a certain threshold, it suddenly stopped. A faint light flashed, and all the numerous faces that had appeared on the black box's surface were purified, vanishing completely. The few Dao One Insects that had successfully infiltrated also disappeared entirely in this purification sweep. The black box returned to its original state, as if all previous efforts had been in vain. Not only that, but the very nature of the black box seemed to have undergone an inexplicable change. The smooth offensive of the Dao One Insects was blunted, as if facing something entirely different. It would now require a significant number of “corpses” to probe again. However, Li Fan feared nothing more than attrition! As long as Li Fan’s will remained unchanged, the Dao One Insects’ offensive would not diminish in the slightest. Slowly, the surface of the black box was once again filled with countless terrifying faces. The familiar scene replayed, a flash of faint light erupted, and everything returned to its original state. The black box transformed once more.
Yet, a smile appeared on Li Fan's face. Through these two observations, Li Fan had become certain that the purifying and self-transforming faint light emanating from the black box was a consumption of the black box itself with each activation. "Then let's see who has the deeper foundation." Li Fan let out a cold snort and crushed several Azure Nether Immortal Realm phantom projections in quick succession. Empowered, the Dao One Insect swarm's assault intensified. The faint light occasionally flashing and exploding on the black box appeared with increasing frequency. Li Fan watched from the sidelines, observing the clash of the two armies. "I wonder what the essence of this black box is. Its foundation seems to far surpass that of my Azure Nether Immortal Boat." "If not for the phantom power fed back by my Heaven-Sitting Art, I might truly struggle against it." Li Fan frowned slightly, and a tiny piece of woodchip floated to his fingertip. It was a small piece that the Dao One Insect swarm had managed to gnaw off the black box through their unremitting efforts. From the outside, the black box appeared uniformly obsidian black, but when peeled off and viewed in isolation, its color was as radiant as the azure sky. "Interesting." Li Fan tossed this piece of green light into the Azure Nether Immortal Realm and slowly refined it using the Dao Refining technique. As wisps of green qi rose from the piece of wood, they were absorbed by the world. The distance between heaven and earth within the Azure Nether Immortal Realm increased slightly due to this.
"The power of world growth?" The Azure Nether Heavenly Dao, which had long been completely subdued under Li Fan’s might and dared not express its sentience, now, for the first time in a long while, made a plea to Li Fan. It seemed this green qi was a rare and potent tonic for it, comparable even to the methods used during its previous ascension and sublimation. Since absorbing the green qi was beneficial to the Azure Nether Immortal Boat, the request was easily granted. The entire piece of green wood was thrown into the cauldron, and the alchemical fire instantly blazed. Misty green qi reappeared in the Azure Nether heaven and earth after a period of refinement. In this instance, there were no living beings within the Xuanhuang Realm who benefited. Only the Azure Nether heaven and earth itself absorbed it greedily, growing. And in Li Fan's eyes, both the deck and hull of the Azure Nether Immortal Boat gradually took on a faint green hue. As the material of the entire immortal boat changed, its sturdiness reached a new level. "This is just a tiny fragment from the black box." Li Fan stared at the remaining portion of the black box, his heart leaping. "If I could refine and absorb it all…" However, Li Fan was also keenly aware that haste makes waste. Even if he could refine the entire black box, he should not feed it to the Azure Nether Immortal Realm all at once. While strengthening the immortal boat was good, it had to be a gradual process. Suddenly becoming too powerful carried the risk of losing control. Furthermore, given the black box's mysterious nature, it might possess the ability to revive from its remains. He needed to be cautious and conduct further verification.
Subsequently, Li Fan directly channeled the green qi absorbed by the Dao One Insects into one of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm phantom projections within his palm. With the enhancement of the green qi, the phantom projection showed signs of gradual solidification. Everything within the world became lifelike, resembling a miniature sculpture, indistinguishable from the actual world. The Ink Slaughter dark clouds, which had been injured and retreated earlier, quietly appeared beside Li Fan. Li Fan fed this green wooden carving to the Ink Slaughter, hoping that its devouring and analytical abilities could help him understand the black box’s origins. If it were the complete black box, it might have been able to resist Ink Slaughter to a certain extent. However, this fragment, peeled off, was no match for Ink Slaughter. Smoothly, the Ink Slaughter dark clouds devoured the wooden carving. After a brief silence, the dark clouds churned incessantly, rapidly expanding by a noticeable margin in a short period. It was as if it had had a hearty meal, and only then did the feedback from Ink Slaughter belatedly arrive. A series of blurry images flashed through Li Fan's mind. It depicted a specific possibility being born from the mountains and seas. Countless possibilities existed within the mountains and seas. As the mountains and seas merged, these possibilities began to fade. But in the past, numerous possibilities had evolved from nothingness, stemming from the mountains and seas. Even the mountains and seas themselves were growing and changing. The possibilities evolved in different stages of the mountains and seas also differed significantly. It was akin to the growing rings of mountains and seas, which, to some extent, could reflect the state of the mountains and seas themselves.
"This green qi originates from the possibilities evolved during the primitive stages of the mountains and seas' wild growth." "There was no immortal realm there, nor even animals or humans." "All that could be seen were the most primal forms of life, pervasive green algae covering the world." "Yet their vitality was no less than that of ordinary True Immortals…" Li Fan saw that as the mountains and seas grew, this ancient possibility subsequently perished. But the green algae that covered the world did not disappear. Instead, they settled, were squeezed into the depths of the mountains and seas, and merged with other possibilities once more. Like an immortal phantom, they survived tenaciously, witnessing the birth and destruction of one possibility after another. Among all the possibilities they experienced, those that possessed vigorous life force, similar to themselves, were absorbed by them, becoming a part of them. Consequently, they evolved from simple green algae to possess more complex compositions. However, they were ultimately not a true Dao of Longevity. After an unimaginably long period, they also gradually declined from their peak. Each parasitic possibility’s destruction was a devastating blow to them. Not to mention that as the mountains and seas began to merge, even if they could escape the changes of the mountains and seas themselves, they could not evade the calamity of Dao Erasure. Since they could not find a solution themselves, driven by the survival instinct developed over countless years, they began to seek entities capable of surviving such a calamity. Transcendent experts within the mountains and seas. However, those capable of crossing Dao Erasure were not beings that ancient relics like them could contend with. Thus, they had to settle for second best, targeting the transcendental remains drifting within the mountains and seas. The solitary sail was not the first target they had parasitized and absorbed. Prior to this, they had successfully borrowed the power of seven drifting objects, and the newly discovered solitary sail was the strongest and most suitable for parasitism they had found. Everything was progressing smoothly. Until the transcendental remains of the solitary sail were forcefully pulled out of Dao Erasure by Li Fan.
… "Gleaming green to black, an ancient relic of the mountains and seas?" The life forms of these green algae were far less complex than that of humans; it was difficult to say they possessed true rational thought, only simple consciousness. Therefore, their memories were fragmented. However, Li Fan could still glimpse the primordial era of the mountains and seas from these broken images. "If I'm not mistaken, this stage of the mountains and seas should have just absorbed the so-called [Creator God]…" "Truly creating from nothingness, transforming the mundane into the miraculous." "Using every possibility that extends into the infinite future as the driving force for growth, causing the mountains and seas to transform and develop. This is entirely different from the cultivation methods of ordinary beings, and difficult for us cultivators to emulate." Li Fan seemed to see each possibility’s birth and disappearance as rings of growth generated within the mountains and seas. Countless rings, layered upon each other, successively adding up, eventually evolving into the boundless mountains and seas of today. "However, trees have an end, and mountains and seas also have limits." "When the mountains and seas themselves grow to a limit they can no longer support…" "The Dao Erasure calamity of merging mountains and seas begins." In Li Fan's vision, countless possibilities, representing the growth rings of the mountains and seas, turned to ash amidst the compression. The mountains and seas themselves also broke apart section by section. "The mountains and seas were originally continuous in the dimension of time, a single entity." "But due to the occurrence of the Dao Erasure calamity, they broke apart." "The fragmented parts are what is known as the Eternal Void Realm."
Before Li Fan’s eyes, the object, dark and profound, was the sediment of ancient artifacts from the Mountains and Seas, condensed from countless possibilities. It had long surpassed its initial form of green algae.
“It possesses no realm, cultivation, divine abilities, or spells. Merely relying on the powerful survival instinct forged over countless years, it can invade the transcended paths of transcendent powerhouses…”
“Truly remarkable!” Li Fan couldn’t help but exclaim.
Yet, this existence, which earned his highest praise, was now slowly transforming into nourishment for the Xuanhuang Realm’s further metamorphosis under the fearless assaults of the Dao One Worms.
It took a total of three years for the black box to be completely depleted, having fully charged and solidified sixty-seven illusory projections of the Xuanhuang Realm.
“With these reserves, the strength of the Azure Nether Immortal Boat’s hull can be elevated another notch. My confidence in traversing beyond transcendence will increase.”
Sixty-seven green wooden carvings lay in Li Fan’s palm. After a moment of contemplation, he crushed one of them.
He attempted to absorb the suffusing verdant energy directly with his own body.
After the absorption and transformation by the Dao One Worms, the consciousness of the ancient artifact from the Mountains and Seas had completely vanished, leaving behind only pure concentrated vitality.
Li Fan had already confirmed this on the Xuanhuang Realm, which was why he dared to absorb it with his main body.
“The Furnace of Creation, the Great Dao descends upon the body.”
As the verdant energy was slowly drawn in, a blush appeared on Li Fan’s cheeks. Furthermore, countless subtle rumbling impacts, akin to lightning strikes, emanated from all parts of his body.
With two major body-refining secret arts working in tandem, Li Fan sought to assimilate the abilities of the ancient artifact from the Mountains and Seas into his own being.
Although Li Fan’s current transcended path had been established as the Azure Nether Immortal Boat, as its progenitor, he possessed absolute control over this transcendent immortal boat he had painstakingly constructed. Furthermore, the prayers and worship of countless beings within the Xuanhuang Realm amplified this control daily. By the time he sailed this boat across the Mountains and Seas, the Azure Nether Immortal Boat would completely transform into his own Dao path.
But just like Return to Truth.
Before it truly became his own ability, there was always the risk of “losing” it at any moment.
Li Fan had to prepare for the unexpected, adding another layer of insurance for himself.
“Even if the journey across fails in the future, and the immortal boat is destroyed.”
“I can still survive with ease after leaping from the immortal boat.”
Every minuscule particle of his body seemed to transform into a sky-supporting, earth-shattering furnace.
The markings engraved on the furnace were left by the Myriad Phenomena The Dao Lattice, continuously absorbing the verdant energy of the ancient artifact from the Mountains and Seas, refining and transforming his flesh and blood.
It was as if he had consumed numerous potent spiritual medicines simultaneously. Li Fan felt an unending surge of vital energy and blood, his heart pounding as if it might leap from his chest at any moment.
Only by personally “tasting” it could he gain a truly concrete understanding of the vitality contained within the ancient artifact from the Mountains and Seas.
“This vitality is different from the vitality of Longevity.”
“It is more akin to adaptation, evolution, and survival.”
Li Fan’s current body already retained a trace of the Great Dao of Longevity.
Now, after absorbing this new power of life, Li Fan discovered that there was no conflict between the two.
Even…
The residual power of the Great Dao of Longevity, after being infused with the survival strength of the ancient artifact from the Mountains and Seas.
As if stained by the verdant color, it actually displayed a unique transformation.
Though still within the scope of the Great Dao of Longevity, it seemed to have opened a new branch, becoming distinct and extraordinary.
“This is…”
Li Fan, having almost fully “proven the Dao of Longevity,” understood “Longevity” second only to the Mound Guardian in all the Mountains and Seas.
Upon careful savoring, he understood the reason for the mutation of the longevity within his body.
“The Mound Guardian shared Longevity, not minding if his descendants would innovate and open new branches.”
“He even encouraged it, gathering under Longevity, allowing myriad flowers to bloom, each displaying their own divine abilities. When the Dao path matures, one could even detach from the main Dao path of Longevity, establish a new sect, and achieve a brand new Great Dao…”
“The Mound Guardian, truly lives up to the name of [Great Virtue].” Li Fan sighed.
To consider his disciples so thoroughly, the Mound Guardian was perhaps the foremost esteemed master in all the Mountains and Seas.
Absorbing the verdant energy from the ancient artifact of the Mountains and Seas was even beneficial in expelling the residual Great Dao of Longevity from his body. Comprehending this, Li Fan had no further reservations.
He pushed his body to its limits, absorbing and refining the verdant energy.
As long as one green wood carving was enough to satisfy his body-refining needs, it would not affect the strengthening of the Azure Nether Immortal Boat.
With sufficient raw materials, the body-refining processes of the Furnace of Creation Technique and the Great Dao Descends Upon the Body Technique would operate instinctively. Li Fan merely activated them and no longer paid excessive attention.
Instead, he focused his attention on the remaining objective of this harvest: the transcendent remains.
After removing the ancient artifact from the Mountains and Seas that clung to his head, the true appearance of this fallen transcendent powerhouse was finally revealed.
His facial features were as if he were alive, as if merely slumbering. Quite handsome, with an indescribable air of freedom between his brows.
Only a small, bloody hole on his forehead, gnawed out by the ancient artifact from the Mountains and Seas, was jarringly discordant.
Currently, without the Dao Erasure’s provocation, the transcendent true meaning within the transcendent remains did not manifest.
Li Fan did not act rashly, attempting to force out the solitary sail from the Mountains and Seas with Mo Sha.
“The Dao One Worms still need more time to adapt and evolve.”
Li Fan was patient.
It was both for himself and for Haizhen’s appeasement.
After the threat of the ancient artifact from the Mountains and Seas was eliminated, the solitary sail from the Mountains and Seas was fully exposed. Haizhen’s longing and desire for it surged like a tide, wave after wave, far more intense than when he had glimpsed it from afar the last time.
“Perhaps because in the previous life, Zi Yi was by his side, Haizhen had some reservations. But now, this transcendent true meaning belongs only to me.”
“Moreover, Haizhen is still in a severely injured and slumbering state, urgently needing this transcendent true meaning to repair its injuries.”
Li Fan understood, but he did not lose his composure because of this.
Unhurriedly, he waited for the Dao One Worms to thoroughly digest and adapt to the ancient artifact from the Mountains and Seas.
While waiting, the Azure Nether immortals, while cleaning up the battlefield of the Guang Wu Star Sea, also made unexpected discoveries.
Besides finding the Dao Sword and Dao Saber he had seen in his previous life, they also discovered three other powerful Dao Treasures that were not used in time.
They were a stone severed hand, a blood-stained and hole-riddled green robe, and a withered yellow branch.
All of them were remnants of other destroyed possibilities from outside the Xuanhuang Realm, preserved from the Dao Erasure.
Li Fan caught glimpses of the demise of three possibilities from these items.
However, in his previous life, he had marveled upon seeing the Rat Emperor’s memories.
Now, having seen so many, it was no longer surprising.
Although these items were powerful, they were useless to Li Fan now. He tossed them outside the Azure Nether Heaven, keeping them as backups.
With all preparations complete, Li Fan officially began his theft of the solitary sail from the Mountains and Seas.
This transcendent true meaning, even Zi Yi had personally made a trip in his previous life to retrieve it, indicating its value even to transcendent powerhouses. Li Fan treated it with utmost caution.
He sent all the Azure Nether immortals back to the Azure Nether Immortal Realm.
Li Fan, alone, faced the transcendent remains.
“Mo Sha!”
Li Fan’s thoughts stirred, and the Mo Sha dark clouds rolled in.
Instantly, as if carrying the aura of Dao Erasure, it forced out the solitary hanging sail from within the remains.
The solitary sail appeared, and the wind calmed.
It was as if an invisible giant hand pressed heavily upon the Mo Sha dark clouds, completely pacifying the churning, boundless dark clouds.
Mo Sha naturally wanted to resist, but no matter how it billowed and ebbed, it could not inflict the slightest harm on the solitary sail.
At most, it could cause the solitary sail to sway slightly.
Li Fan, using Mo Sha’s perspective, slowly observed the power of this solitary sail from the Mountains and Seas.
“Though the Mountains and Seas are distant, I shall traverse them with a single sail.”
“One who possesses such ambition and perseverance must be an earth-shattering prodigy. It’s a pity that they died silently amidst the Mountains and Seas.”
Unlike Zi Yi’s all-encompassing Great Dao, the solitary sail from the Mountains and Seas before him was not as overbearing or exclusionary.
Zi Yi’s displayed Great Dao was impenetrable unless personally permitted; however, from this solitary sail of the Mountains and Seas, Li Fan felt a sense of “shared passage.”
“If our paths crossed in the Mountains and Seas, and my light boat did not capsize. What harm is there in carrying you for a journey…”
A faint laugh seemed to echo in his ears, and Li Fan paused slightly.
“This person is quite heroic.”
“Even I wouldn’t refuse to befriend him.”
“It is a pity though…”
“I wonder, how exactly did this person die.”
A hint of doubt arose in Li Fan’s mind.
The solitary sail was not completely damaged.
It had sufficient residual strength to resist Dao Erasure, so it shouldn’t have died.
“Dao Yi…”
To probe this secret, this was the moment for the Dao One Worms to make their appearance.
The familiar scene unfolded once again.
Except this time, it was not the ancient artifact from the Mountains and Seas that was eroding the transcendent remains.
But an endless swarm of insects!
The erosion by the Dao One Worms was even more efficient than that of the ancient artifact from the Mountains and Seas.
*Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh…*
A series of howling sounds arose, and Li Fan’s vision blurred, as if he had fallen into a vast ocean.
Besides this ocean and a single lone boat, there was nothing else.
Occasionally, the surroundings were buffeted by raging storms, then calm, then lashed by torrential rain.
Yet, the lone boat sailed forward with unwavering stability.
“This is… the memory of the transcendent remains traversing the Mountains and Seas during their lifetime.”
Li Fan’s heart stirred as he examined it carefully.
The great ocean before him seemed endless.
The scenes in the memory were almost entirely repetitive, depicting nothing but a boundless ocean.
The original owner of the lone boat maintained a remarkably calm state of mind.
Conversely, Li Fan, the observer, gradually became restless.
Because this journey of traversal was taking an inordinate amount of time.
“This shouldn’t be so. Traversing to other possibilities, why would it take so long?”
Li Fan gazed into the distance, attempting to glimpse the traces of other possibilities in the Mountains and Seas.
After an indeterminate amount of time, Li Fan finally saw faint, blurry images in the distant horizon, likely representing other possibilities.
However, the lone boat seemed to completely disregard them, ignoring them entirely.
It continued to sail forward steadily.
“I have observed this; the owner of the remains couldn’t possibly not have seen it.”
“So…”
A moment later, Li Fan understood.
Ordinary possibilities were not what he sought.
What is transcendence?
To leave the ordinary mortal world and journey to the legendary Other Shore.
Li Fan gazed blankly at the boundless ocean before him.
Where, then, was the Other Shore?
Those he had encountered, like Zi Yi, Black Heavenly Physician, and Evil Su Bai, appeared and disappeared in an instant.
Li Fan had naturally assumed that the distance to the Other Shore was not far.
As long as one possessed the strength to traverse the Mountains and Seas, one could naturally proceed to the Other Shore.
However, it now seemed…
The reality was not so.
At this point, Li Fan had a vague guess about the cause of the solitary sail’s death.
But it still required his complete memory to confirm it.
As the Dao One Worms persistently infiltrated, the memories of the solitary sail surged like a tide.
Perhaps the owner of the solitary sail was truly an extremely peaceful person in life.
Li Fan felt no trace of hostility from it, but rather felt as if basking in a spring breeze, both his mind and body delighted, even when facing an endless ocean.
He sailed alone in the infinite sea, his heart open and unburdened by the lack of hope.
Even though this ocean was vast beyond imagination, Li Fan, from an observer’s perspective, gradually felt a sense of despair.
Yet, the solitary sail remained optimistic.
“At least, I saw and personally journeyed through this ocean.”
A light laugh echoed in his ears once more.
The solitary sail continued to sail forward, with no end in sight.
…
Li Fan, however, voluntarily withdrew from the solitary sail’s memory.
Not everyone possessed such broad-mindedness; at least Li Fan, in his current state, did not.
Especially after he already knew the solitary sail’s fate, knowing that there was no destination ahead.
Long immersion in the solitary sail’s memory even caused a faint sense of annoyance and hostility to arise within Li Fan.
His emotions became unbalanced, and killing intent began to stir, reminding him of his near demise when he had nearly lost himself reversing upstream in the River of Time.
“However, at least in those past temporal nodes, I had many familiar things. Like lighthouses serving as beacons, guiding my way.”
“But the solitary sail, sailing on the infinite sea, had nothing.”
“Only a vague direction…”
Re-entering the solitary sail’s memory, Li Fan did not opt for an immersive experience but rather skimmed through it, focusing only on important points.
The result was that there were no focal points.
Or, perhaps, the solitary sail that perpetually hung high was everything.
It wasn't until the Dao One Worms completely breached the defenses of this transcendent true meaning, and Li Fan grasped all the memories within, that…
The scene did not change much.
Until the solitary sail withered and died on the infinite sea.
Li Fan found it difficult to estimate how long this period had lasted.
It must have been an incredibly long time.
A time so long that even a powerhouse capable of calmly facing the Dao Erasure of the Mountains and Seas could not overcome.
“Transcendent powerhouses, yet their lifespans have an end?”
Li Fan first found it somewhat unbelievable.
At the same time, he truly understood the value of the Mound Guardian’s [Great Dao of Longevity] once more.
“However, the lifespan of transcendent powerhouses must be extremely long.”
“So…”
Li Fan’s mind was filled with a vague understanding.
The era in which the solitary sail powerhouse lived might have been the ancient period when the [Other Shore] was first established.
In that era, transcendent beings were few, and few knew where the Other Shore was.
One could only rely on a vague sense of direction in their hearts to travel there.
As pioneers, naturally, no one could guide them.
Thus, they were lost and drifted amidst the Mountains and Seas until this time.
The azure and black object before Li Fan’s eyes was the sedimentation of the Ancient Sea-Mountain Relic through countless possibilities. It had long surpassed its original form of green algae.
“It possesses no realm, no cultivation, no divine abilities, no spells. Relying merely on the potent survival instinct forged over countless years, it can invade the Dao of Transcendence of those who have transcended…”
“Truly remarkable!” Li Fan couldn't help but praise.
Yet, this existence that earned his highest commendation was now, under the fearless assault of the Dao One Worms, slowly transforming into nourishment for the Azure Nether Immortal Realm’s further metamorphosis.
It took a total of three years for the black box to be completely depleted, having consecutively charged and solidified sixty-seven phantom images of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm.
“With these reserves, the hull strength of the Azure Nether Immortal Boat can advance another tier. My chances of traversing to transcendence will be further bolstered.”
Sixty-seven green wooden carvings rested in Li Fan’s palm. After a moment of contemplation, he crushed one of them.
He attempted to absorb the azure energy slowly seeping from the wooden carving directly into his own body.
After being absorbed and transformed by the Dao One Worms, the consciousness of the Ancient Sea-Mountain Relic had completely vanished, leaving behind only a pure condensation of life force. Li Fan had already verified this point on the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, which was why he dared to absorb it directly with his main body.
“Furnace of Creation, Great Dao Descends Upon the Body.”
As the azure energy was absorbed, a flush of red appeared on Li Fan’s cheeks. He also heard countless tiny roars, like thunderclaps, echoing from various parts of his body.
With two paramount body-refining secret techniques working in tandem, Li Fan attempted to integrate the abilities of the Ancient Sea-Mountain Relic into his own.
Although Li Fan’s Dao of Transcendence was now firmly established as the Azure Nether Immortal Boat, he, as the progenitor of the Azure Nether, possessed absolute control over this transcendent immortal boat that he had personally crafted. Moreover, the worship of countless life forms within the Xuanhuang Realm caused this control to increase daily. By the time he sailed the boat to traverse the Sea-Mountains, the Azure Nether Immortal Boat would completely transform into his Dao path.
But just like the Return to Truth.
Before it truly became his own ability, it carried the risk of being “lost” at any moment.
Li Fan had to plan ahead, adding another layer of insurance for himself.
“Even if traversing fails in the future, and the Immortal Boat is destroyed.”
“I can still calmly seek survival after leaping from the Immortal Boat.”
Every minuscule particle of his body seemed to transform into a heaven-reaching and earth-supporting furnace. The imprints engraved on the furnaces were left by the Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice, ceaselessly absorbing the azure energy of the Ancient Sea-Mountain Relic to temper and transform his own flesh and blood.
As if he had ingested numerous potent spiritual medicines simultaneously, Li Fan felt his vital energy and blood churning uncontrollably, his heart pounding as if it would leap from his chest at any moment. Only by personally "tasting" it could he gain a truly concrete understanding of the life force contained within the Ancient Sea-Mountain Relic.
“This life force is different from the life force of Longevity.”
“It is more akin to adaptation, evolution, and survival.”
Li Fan’s current body already retained a trace of the Great Dao of Longevity. After absorbing this new power of life, Li Fan discovered that the two did not conflict.
In fact…
The remaining power of the Great Dao of Longevity, after being merged with the survival power of the Ancient Sea-Mountain Relic, was as if it had been dyed with azure, showing a unique change. Although still under the umbrella of the Great Dao of Longevity, it seemed to have opened a new branch, becoming distinct and extraordinary.
“This is…”
Li Fan, having almost fully “proven the Dao of Longevity,” possessed an understanding of “Longevity” that was second only to the Mound Guardian in the Sea-Mountains. After careful contemplation, he understood the reason for the transformation of Longevity within his body.
“The Mound Guardian’s sharing of Longevity did not preclude their descendants from innovating and opening new branches.”
“He even encouraged it, allowing numerous flowers to bloom under Longevity, each displaying its unique divine ability. When the Dao path matures, one can even detach from the main Dao path of Longevity, establish a new school, and achieve a new Great Dao…”
“The Mound Guardian truly lives up to the name, the ‘Virtuous.’ ” Li Fan sighed. To consider his disciples so thoroughly, the Mound Guardian was likely the foremost exemplary mentor in the Sea-Mountains.
Absorbing the azure energy of the Ancient Sea-Mountain Relic was even beneficial in expelling the residual power of the Great Dao of Longevity from his body. Upon realizing this, Li Fan cast aside all reservations. He pushed his body to its limit in absorbing and refining the azure energy. After all, a single Azure Nether wooden carving was sufficient for his body-refining needs, and it would not affect the strengthening of the Azure Nether Immortal Boat.
With sufficient raw materials, the body-refining of the Furnace of Creation and the Great Dao Descends Upon the Body techniques would operate autonomously through instinct. Li Fan merely activated them and ceased to pay them excessive attention. Instead, he focused his attention on the remaining objective of this harvest: that transcendent remnant.
After removing the Ancient Sea-Mountain Relic that was attached to its head, the true appearance of this fallen transcendent expert was finally revealed. Its features resembled those in life, as if it were merely in deep slumber. It was quite handsome, with an indescribable air of detachment in its brows. However, the small, bloody hole gnawed by the Ancient Sea-Mountain Relic in its brow was jarringly discordant.
Currently, without the Dao Erasure’s stimulation, the transcendent truth within the transcendent remnant had not manifested. Li Fan did not rashly use Ink Slaughter to force out that remnant’s Dao of Sea-Mountain Solo Sail.
“The Dao One Worms still need more time to adapt and evolve.”
Li Fan was patient. It was both a word to himself and a comfort to Return to Truth. After the threat of the Ancient Sea-Mountain Relic was removed, the Solo Sail of Sea-Mountain was fully exposed, and Return to Truth’s yearning and desire surged like a tide, wave after wave, far more intense than when it had glimpsed it before.
“Perhaps, because in the previous life, Purple Robe was present, Return to Truth had some reservations. But now, this transcendent truth belongs to me alone.”
“Moreover, Return to Truth is still in a severely injured and slumbering state, urgently needing this transcendent truth to mend its wounds.”
Li Fan understood this but did not act rashly. He calmly and unhurriedly waited for the Dao One Worms to completely digest and adapt to the Ancient Sea-Mountain Relic. Meanwhile, during the wait, the Azure Nether Immortals, while cleaning up the battlefield of the Guang Wu Star Sea, made unexpected discoveries. Besides finding the Dao Sword and Dao Saber that he had seen in his previous life, they also discovered three other powerful Dao treasures that had not been used in time. They were a stone severed hand, a blood-stained and hole-ridden azure robe, and a withered yellow branch. All were remnants from other possibilities outside the Xuanhuang Realm that had been shattered by the Dao Erasure.
From these three items, Li Fan glimpsed the processes of their potential demise. However, in his previous life, after reminiscing about the Rat Emperor’s memories, he had felt a sense of melancholy. Now, having seen so many, he was no longer surprised. Although these items were powerful, they were no longer useful to Li Fan. He tossed them towards the outer reaches of the Azure Nether Heavens for safekeeping.
With all preparations complete, Li Fan formally began the act of stealing from the Solo Sail of Sea-Mountain. This transcendent truth, which even Purple Robe had personally sought in his previous life, indicated its value, even to transcendent experts. Li Fan treated it with utmost caution.
He dismissed all the Azure Nether Immortals, sending them back to the Azure Nether Immortal Realm. Li Fan, alone, faced the transcendent remnant.
“Ink Slaughter!”
Li Fan willed it, and the Ink Slaughter clouds rolled in. Instantly, an aura akin to Dao Erasure forced out the solitary suspended sail within the remnant.
The solitary sail appeared, and the wind calmed. It was as if an invisible giant hand pressed down heavily on the Ink Slaughter clouds, completely stilling the previously churning, boundless dark clouds. Ink Slaughter naturally wished to resist, but no matter how it surged and ebbed, it could not harm the solitary sail in the slightest. At most, it caused the solitary sail to sway slightly.
Li Fan observed the power of this Solo Sail of Sea-Mountain through the perspective of Ink Slaughter.
“Though the Sea-Mountains are distant, I shall traverse them alone.”
“One with such ambition and perseverance is undoubtedly an astonishing prodigy. Unfortunately, to perish so silently amidst the Sea-Mountains.”
Unlike Purple Robe’s Transcendent Great Dao, the Solo Sail of Sea-Mountain before him was not so overbearing and exclusive. Purple Robe’s displayed Transcendent Great Dao, without his permission, was impossible for others to enter. However, from the Solo Sail of Sea-Mountain, Li Fan perceived a sense of "sharing the journey."
“If we meet by chance in the Sea-Mountains, and my small boat does not capsize, why not offer you a ride…”
As if a faint chuckle echoed in his ear, Li Fan paused slightly.
“This person is quite bold.”
“Even I would not refuse to befriend him.”
“Alas…”
“I wonder, how exactly did this person die?”
Li Fan couldn't help but feel a hint of doubt. The solitary sail was not completely damaged. It possessed sufficient residual power to resist Dao Erasure, so it shouldn't have died.
“Dao One…”
To probe this secret, this was the moment for the Dao One Worms to appear. The familiar scene unfolded once more. However, this time, what was eroding the transcendent remnant was no longer the Ancient Sea-Mountain Relic, but the boundless swarm of insects! The Dao One Worms’ erosion was even more efficient than that of the Ancient Sea-Mountain Relic.
Rustling sounds echoed. Li Fan’s vision blurred as if he had fallen into a vast ocean, with nothing but this ocean and a solitary boat. The surroundings alternated between violent storms, moments of calm, and continuous torrential rain. Yet, the solitary boat sailed forward with unwavering stability.
“This is… the memory of the transcendent remnant as it traversed the Sea-Mountains in its life.”
Li Fan's heart stirred, and he examined it meticulously. The vast ocean before him seemed endless. The scenes in the memory were almost entirely repetitive, depicting only the boundless ocean. The original owner of the solitary sail maintained a constant state of equanimity. Conversely, Li Fan, the observer, gradually lost his composure. Because this cross-sea journey seemed to be taking an unconscionable amount of time.
“This shouldn’t be. How can traversing to other possibilities take so long?”
Li Fan gazed into the distance, trying to glimpse the traces of other possibilities within the Sea-Mountains. After an unknown period, Li Fan finally saw faint, blurry images in the distant sky, likely other possibilities. But the solitary boat seemed to completely ignore them, as if it hadn't noticed them at all, continuing its steady voyage forward.
“Even I noticed it; the owner of the remnant couldn’t possibly not have seen it.”
“So…”
A moment later, Li Fan understood. Ordinary possibilities were not what it sought. What is transcendence? To leave the mundane world and journey to the legendary Other Shore. Li Fan gazed blankly at the boundless ocean before him. Where was the Other Shore? Those he had encountered, such as Purple Robe, Black Heavenly Physician, Evil Su Bai, and others, had come and gone in an instant. Li Fan had naturally assumed that the distance to the Other Shore was not far. As long as one possessed the strength to traverse the Sea-Mountains, one could naturally reach the Other Shore. However, it now seemed… the reality was not so.
At this point, Li Fan had a vague guess about the cause of the solitary sail’s death. But he still needed complete memories to confirm it. As the Dao One Worms persistently infiltrated, the memories of the solitary sail surged forth like tides. The owner of the solitary sail might indeed have been an extremely peaceful person in life. Li Fan felt no malice from it; instead, he felt as if basking in a spring breeze, his mind and body at ease. Even when facing an endless ocean, it was thus. He sailed alone in the infinite sea, his heart open-minded, undiminished by the hopelessness of the situation. Even though this ocean was broader than imaginable, Li Fan, from his observer’s perspective, felt a growing sense of despair. Yet, the solitary sail remained optimistic.
“At least, I saw and personally journeyed across this ocean.”
A faint chuckle sounded again by his ear. The solitary sail continued to sail forward, with no end in sight.
…
Li Fan, however, voluntarily withdrew from the solitary sail's memory. Not everyone possessed such an open and optimistic disposition; at least, Li Fan did not. Especially since he already knew the solitary sail’s fate, knowing that there was no endpoint ahead, it was inevitable. Prolonged immersion in the solitary sail’s memory even caused a nascent sense of irritation and malice to arise in Li Fan’s heart. His emotions became unbalanced, and murderous intent began to brew, reminding him of his near-misadventure while attempting to ascend the River of Time.
“However, in the past temporal nodes, I at least had many familiar things, like lighthouses and anchor points, serving as guides.”
“Whereas the solitary sail, navigating the infinite sea, had nothing.”
“Only a vague direction…”
Entering the solitary sail’s memory again, Li Fan did not choose an immersive experience but skimmed through it, focusing only on the key points. The result was that there were no key points. Or perhaps, the solitary sail, forever suspended above, was everything.
It was only when the Dao One Worms completely breached the defenses of this transcendent truth that Li Fan gained access to all the memories within. The scenes did not change much. It was not until the solitary sail withered and died in the infinite sea. Li Fan found it difficult to estimate how long this period was. It must have been an incredibly long time. It was a duration that even an expert capable of calmly facing Dao Erasure could not overcome.
“Transcendent experts, even they have an end to their lifespan?”
Li Fan was first incredulous. At the same time, he truly understood the value of the Mound Guardian's “Great Dao of Longevity” once again.
“However, the lifespan of transcendent experts must be extremely long.”
“So…”
Li Fan dimly understood. The era in which the solitary sail expert lived was perhaps the ancient period when the “Other Shore” was first established. In those days, transcendent beings were few, and few knew where the Other Shore was. They could only rely on a vague sense of direction in their hearts to navigate independently. As pioneers, naturally, no one could guide them. Thus, they became lost and drifted through the Sea-Mountains until this day.
"The Primordial Possibility might not hold on much longer," Li Fan declared, standing on the Azure Nether Immortal Boat and gazing into the distance. He had observed for a considerable time and reached this conclusion.
The situation in the Primordial Celestial Space was vastly different compared to ten years prior. Whether any life still existed was secondary; the most critical issue was the drastic decline in overall stability.
If the surviving life-bearing celestial spaces back then were like scattered islands, isolated and partitioned by the Sea of Dao Erasure, where occasional storms would rage and the islands could barely sustain themselves with their own defenses, then now, a terrifying, colossal tsunami was brewing on the Sea of Dao Erasure. It was almost a certainty that in the face of this all-consuming tsunami, all these islands would cease to exist.
"Fortunately, the Immortal Boat is nearing completion. Even if the Primordial lands collapse, it won't affect me."
Li Fan's actions of conquering the sea of stars, scavenging for resources, and refining the boat's body were proceeding smoothly. However, his comprehension of the Solitary Sail of Mountains and Seas was somewhat unsatisfactory. It wasn't due to any lack of talent on Li Fan's part, but rather the vast difference between his disposition and that of the solitary sail.
"If mountains and seas were to meet, my light boat would not capsize. What harm in carrying you for a spell..."
Li Fan savored the implied meaning of these words for a long time before shaking his head slightly. "Given my nature, I would at least charge a ticket."
Despite going against his innermost instincts, Li Fan was willing to change his mindset to thoroughly comprehend the transcendent meaning of the solitary sail.
"The resources scavenged by the Immortal Boat over the years are more than enough, even saturated. Next, I might as well try to be a good person."
On the Sea of Dao Erasure, winds and waves churned. Yet, the Immortal Boat, like a phantom, moved silently. Compared to the earth-shattering might displayed during every voyage ten years ago, its current safety and quiet passage demonstrated a more profound control over the Dao Erasure.
"As the saying goes, 'Great skill is unadorned!'"
Li Fan softly recited, and the moment he finished the word "skill," the Azure Nether Immortal Boat had already pierced through the Dao Erasure once more, arriving in a new remnant sea of life.
"This traversal through Dao Erasure took almost half a year."
"It's too far from the extinguished Guang Wu Star Sea and others; there's no communication between them. This is a completely unfamiliar realm..." Even with this realization, Li Fan's heart remained undisturbed. The closer he got to the state of transcendence, the more equal his perception of all beings became. Nameless, True Immortals, mortals – all were indistinguishable.
The arrival of the Azure Nether Immortal Boat went unnoticed by the beings in this sea of stars. They were currently engulfed in panic and despair as disaster suddenly descended.
This sea of stars had no name. In their understanding, they should be the sole surviving celestial space in the Lower Realm. When the Immortal Realm was destroyed, twelve True Immortals had collectively fled here. After many years, under the protection of the True Immortals, mortal civilization had not withered but flourished even more. Among the twelve True Immortals, half had even ascended to the Nameless realm. The True Immortals had attempted to locate traces of their companions but, despite their Nameless power, could not traverse the Dao Erasure. Trapped on this isolated island, they began seeking a way to escape the Primordial Possibility. However, before they could find any leads, the calamity of Dao Erasure suddenly spiraled out of control. Winds and waves began to rise, threatening to engulf them in an instant.
At this moment, the twelve True Immortals gathered once more to discuss their options. In this mortal sea of stars, their presence was so conspicuous that Li Fan, upon his arrival, saw them at a glance. Thus, he secretly began to observe them.
These twelve True Immortals seemed to have an excellent relationship. Even though six of them had achieved the Nameless realm, they hadn't divided into factions based on status. Instead, they had a different order. This was because the one they called "Elder Brother" was merely an ordinary True Immortal.
"Dao Erasure is truly unreasonable. According to our observations and deductions, it should have at least another ten thousand years of stability, enough for all of us brothers to become Nameless. But now... the situation has deteriorated far too quickly!"
"Dao Erasure, Dao Erasure. It reminds me of the terrifying scene when the Immortal Realm was destroyed by the sudden arrival of Dao Erasure."
"It was our carelessness. Think about it, weren't most of the Immortals in the Immortal Realm as optimistic as us back then? They even wanted to resist and tame Dao Erasure... No one expected it to come so quickly."
"Seventh brother is right. Dao Erasure is unpredictable; it cannot be reasoned with by conventional means. The current situation is likely the same as before; Dao Erasure has descended, and it's irreversible. The key is how to find a path to survival."
As the Immortals spoke, all their gazes turned to "Elder Brother."
The leader of the twelve True Immortals was a gnomish old man with snow-white hair and beard, his spirit vigorous. However, his physical appearance was like that of a child. When he spoke, his voice was a strange amalgamation of an old man's and a child's. "Our original plan was for us brothers to work together, all twelve of us achieving transcendence through shared effort, to find a glimmer of hope. The current situation makes that impossible. But we brothers swore long ago, not to be born on the same day of the same month, but to die on the same day of the same month. You six, who have achieved the Nameless realm, will certainly not abandon us."
"The only way forward is to take a gamble. If all twelve of us become Nameless, we have a sixty percent chance of survival. If only half achieve Nameless, the chances of survival plummet to ten percent..."
"Ten percent... that's high enough to try!"
"Indeed! If it fails, at worst, we perish in Dao Erasure. We've lived many years already, so it's worth it."
The twelve True Immortals were not daunted by the grim prospects, but instead became unusually excited, as if their survival rate weren't ten percent, but ninety-nine percent.
The old man coughed lightly, suppressing the others' fervent excitement. "Even so, we must find ways to increase our safety as much as possible."
"We have managed this sea of stars for tens of thousands of years; it has reached considerable scale. Although no one has achieved True Immortal status here, if utilized properly, it can add another five percent to our chances!"
Upon hearing this, the expressions of the others varied. Some were impatient, some were lost in thought, and some were eager and excited. But it was evident that no one voiced an objection, as the distinction between immortals and mortals was undeniable.
"Elder Brother, do you mean, just like before... complete destruction of true spirits?" the third of the twelve True Immortals asked.
The moment these words were spoken, the chamber fell into silence. The gnomish old man nodded heavily, implicitly agreeing.
"It harms the natural order, it harms the natural order."
"Actually, it's not impossible. We're leaving anyway, and this possibility likely has no future. Even if it blocks the path for those who come after, it doesn't matter."
After a round of exchanged glances, the decision was officially made. Besides the so-called "complete destruction of true spirits," the twelve True Immortals seemed to have other life-saving methods. One by one, they took out fragments of different colors and assembled them into a circular orb. Within the orb, a slow heartbeat could be vaguely heard, as if something were slumbering.
"This Primordial Creature, we brothers have nurtured it separately for tens of thousands of years. Although we haven't managed to hatch it, we've each gained some insights into divine abilities from it. It truly is a life that existed from the dawn of the Immortal Realm," the gnomish old man sighed.
"It's a lie to say we're not reluctant. It's a pity, but for this crossing, without its help, we likely wouldn't even have a ten percent chance. So, its sacrifice is necessary," the old man's words settled the matter. The other eleven, looking at the orb, all showed reluctance, but their opinions were unified in the face of such a treasure. No one objected.
"That's natural. No matter how wondrous, it's merely an external possession. Everything is secondary to our lives. If we lose this chance for transcendence, there will be others. But if we lose our lives, then all is truly lost."
"Alright, if that's the case, everyone act," the gnomish old man commanded in a deep voice. With that, he struck his own head fiercely.
The old man grunted, a flush appearing on his face. Simultaneously, the heartbeat within the orb faltered, as if it had also suffered a great injury. It wasn't only the old man and the orb; the other eleven, before they had even acted, seemed to have been affected by the injury. After a brief respite, once everyone had adjusted, the second brother continued. Their life forces seemed to be interconnected; if one was injured, the others would experience corresponding changes. Conversely, each of them possessed an extraordinarily vast life force. Although none had certified Dao principles related to longevity, their vitality was overflowing. After this circle of self-inflicted harm, none of them seemed to have suffered any significant impact. The orb in the center, however, was on its last legs. Its already slow heartbeat was about to stop. Faint cries could be heard from within.
"Let's deliver the final blow," the Immortals said, their expressions complex, but none held back.
However, just at this moment... a strange fluctuation suddenly descended, locking onto the orb. Moments later, under the watchful eyes of all, the orb vanished! Having been in an environment ruled by twelve True Immortals for too long, they had lost their vigilance towards "external enemies." Faced with this sudden anomaly, they all slightly froze. Their first reaction was not to suspect an alien invasion, but to look at each other. From this subtle detail alone, it could be seen that although the life forces of the twelve True Immortals were magically bound together, their hearts might not have been truly unified.
"Which fellow Immortal is playing this joke on us?" However, after being brothers for tens of thousands of years, they knew each other's character well. They quickly reacted, scanning their surroundings with shock and anger, searching for the thief.
"Fellow Immortal? Playing a joke?" In response came a faint cold snort. Without resorting to the theatrics of a phantom thief hiding in the shadows, Li Fan's figure openly appeared amidst the twelve True Immortals, who were surrounding the orb. He cast a condescending glance over everyone, his gaze finally settling on the orb in his hand, whose life force was now extremely weak. He clearly held the twelve True Immortals in contempt.
However, faced with Li Fan's audacity in taking what he wanted and his disdain, the twelve True Immortals present dared not speak out. This was because, with Li Fan's arrival, they all felt an immense, boundless mountain pressing down on their shoulders. This mountain was so heavy that even with the combined efforts of the twelve, they could barely move.
The twelve True Immortals were filled with indescribable fear. They knew that six among them had already achieved the Nameless realm. Nameless True Immortals could withstand Dao Erasure, yet facing the pressure from the person before them, they were struggling to resist. Recalling that no other True Immortal had been seen in this sea of stars for ten thousand years, and this person had suddenly appeared today... they understood Li Fan's identity.
"Transcendence..."
"The Heavens possess benevolent compassion. This Primordial being has endured a long, difficult journey to grow. You seek to hunt it down for your own selfish gain. This is not a virtuous act," Li Fan shook his head and gently tapped the orb. The orb, which had been severely injured by the twelve True Immortals, healed at a visible rate. Moreover, as if it had received immense nourishment, its heartbeat grew faster and clearer.
The twelve True Immortals' eyes widened. In just this brief moment, the orb's growth surpassed their tens of thousands of years of nurturing. Remember, this was with the combined efforts of all twelve of them, fueled by the power of the entire star sea! It was less than a single tap from this transcendent expert!
"Is this... transcendence?" the gnomish old man murmured, lost in thought. As if greatly struck, his expression became somewhat dazed.
While Li Fan continued to feed the orb with Azure Nether Wood Carvings and Ancient Sea-Mountain Relics, he said to the twelve True Immortals, "What you seek is merely survival in Dao Erasure."
"I still have ample strength; it's not impossible for me to give you a ride."
Li Fan's words were spoken softly, but to the twelve True Immortals, they carried the weight of thunder. Initially, due to Li Fan's forceful acquisition and the vast disparity in power between them, they had prepared themselves for death that day. They never expected the situation to turn around so suddenly, presenting them with a chance for survival.
"This... Senior, is what you say true?" the gnomish old man asked, disbelievingly.
Li Fan chuckled, "Traversing Dao Erasure is an incredibly arduous task in your eyes. To me, it's as simple as a calm sail." As he spoke, a solitary sail appeared in everyone's vision. It was like a sea-stabilizing needle, appearing solitary, calming the winds, and stilling the waves. Since the anomaly in Dao Erasure, the sense of impending doom that had constantly lingered in their hearts instantly dissipated upon witnessing the solitary sail of mountains and seas. The twelve True Immortals no longer harbored any doubt about Li Fan's strength. He was undoubtedly a transcendent expert!
"You cannot gaze upon this sail for too long."
"My Dao of Transcendence is not your Dao."
The twelve True Immortals were immersed in the vision of the solitary sail of mountains and seas displayed by Li Fan. After a short while, Li Fan deliberately withdrew the extraordinary phenomenon of the sail. He kindly reminded them.
"To seek transcendence, one must first forge their own unique path. You twelve acting as one is a passable method for crossing, but it's a substandard one," Li Fan commented indifferently. The faces of the twelve True Immortals dimmed slightly. The gnomish old man even gave a bitter smile, "When Dao Erasure first struck and the Immortal Realm was destroyed, if not for this method of 'symbiosis,' we would have long ago perished in the tide of Dao Erasure. How could we have had prospects for transcendence later on?"
"Being able to cross mountains and seas is already satisfying. We don't seek superiority or inferiority," the old man said, lowering his head.
"Having such an understanding is commendable," Li Fan praised faintly. The twelve True Immortals' expressions brightened slightly.
Li Fan concentrated his attention on the pulsating sphere of light before him. It resonated with an increasingly rapid heartbeat, as if on the verge of hatching at any moment. The twelve True Immortals, too, were curious about the true form of this Primordial Creature, which they had collectively nurtured for tens of thousands of years without its emergence. They too, observed it with quiet anticipation.
"Tell me about its origin," Li Fan asked calmly.
Under Li Fan's imposing presence, the twelve True Immortals dared not conceal anything, recounting the tale in full: "When the Immortal Realm still existed, we were all Immortals from the Zhuyu Star Domain. Within the boundless Immortal Realm, the Zhuyu Star Domain was a rather peculiar existence. Strictly speaking, it wasn't part of the true Immortal Realm. It was a barbarous star domain without an Immortal Minister, overlooked by every Immortal Emperor throughout their reigns..."
"Zhuyu Star Domain," Li Fan searched his memory for information about this place.
"That's the one rumored to harbor a terrifying creature, a territory of the Immortal Realm that was abandoned halfway through its development? But it seems to be just a legend. Until the dem_ise of the Immortal Realm, there was no evidence of this creature's true existence."
The dwarfish old man nodded repeatedly. "Senior is perceptive. Indeed, that terrifying creature never appeared from beginning to end. Thus, it gradually attracted True Immortals like ourselves who did not wish to be constrained, who didn't want to travel tens of thousands of miles. However, the Three Sages are indeed Three Sages. Their foresight is beyond our comprehension."
"That terrifying creature truly exists. It was in a deep slumber until the arrival of the Dao Erasure Tide, which awakened it..."
Recalling the scene they witnessed back then, the twelve True Immortals all displayed varying degrees of fear on their faces.
"Rather than saying the Zhuyu Star Domain was swallowed by the Dao Erasure Tide, it's more accurate to say it was buried in the confrontation between this terrifying creature and the Dao Erasure Tide."
"We couldn't perceive its entirety, only glimpsing fragments of it. It was as immense as mountains and seas, directly confronting the Dao Erasure Tide, and not yielding an inch..."
The dwarfish old man displayed the image of the terrifying creature's confrontation with the Dao Erasure in his memory. The monster's power was truly appalling.
"In the battle between the terrifying creature and the Dao Erasure, we were completely unable to intervene. We could only try our best to avoid it and survive. The fierce battle lasted for a good half-day, and then this stalemate spawned a larger scale of Dao Erasure."
"The Zhuyu Star Domain was instantly engulfed, and the terrifying creature's silhouette also gradually faded into the Dao Erasure. Only a shining sphere of light remained, still struggling arduously."
"Seeing this, we took it with us as we fled. After all, it was left by a creature capable of resisting the Dao Erasure, so it must be extremely valuable. It might even contain the Dao of Transcendence. And indeed, things unfolded as we expected. In the years spent in the Lower Realm, half of us were able to attain the Nameless realm, all thanks to this sphere of light," the dwarfish old man confessed exhaustively.
Li Fan frowned and interrupted him, "You were just ordinary True Immortals back then, how did you survive the Dao Erasure Cataclysm?"
The twelve True Immortals gave bitter smiles, exchanging glances before slowly revealing their secret: "To let Senior know, this is our greatest secret. The Zhuyu Star Domain was not fully developed. Therefore, it was one of the most easily eroded star domains by the Dao Erasure. The Immortals in the star domain, anticipating this, had researched various methods for survival within the Dao Erasure."
"Among these, 'True Spirit Destruction' was universally acknowledged as the most effective method. However..."
The dwarfish old man hesitated for a moment before continuing, "It was too detrimental, considered a forbidden technique. We only managed to unleash it together at the very last moment, when the Zhuyu Star Domain was almost completely engulfed."
"What kind of forbidden technique could allow True Immortals to resist the Dao Erasure? If it were truly that miraculous, why would the Immortal Realm have been destroyed?" Li Fan's tone carried a hint of suspicion.
"This matter is absolutely true, juniors dare not speak a single falsehood."
At that, the dwarfish old man slowly explained the 'True Spirit Destruction' technique.
Upon hearing it, a rather subtle expression flashed in Li Fan's eyes.
In essence, if the Dao Erasure was likened to a fire that burned everything, then True Spirit Destruction was a preemptive measure to defend against this inferno by setting the star domain ablaze beforehand.
The life force and existence of the starry sky were ignited, leaving only ashes. Even though these ashes would ultimately be consumed by the Dao Erasure, the rate of engulfment would be significantly reduced compared to that of a normal starry sky.
To a certain extent, these ashes left after the starry sky's incineration could even serve as crude wooden boats for traversing the Dao Erasure.
"We also knew a little about this True Spirit Destruction technique. We persisted until the very last moment before the Zhuyu Star Domain was destroyed. We had no other recourse and could no longer hold on. Thus, we chose to burn away all the remaining fragments of the starry sky..."
"Using these ashes to craft an escape vessel, we fled to the Lower Realm in a sorry state."
Li Fan could vaguely sense that the dwarfish old man was still holding back some truths. However, Li Fan was not one to dwell on such matters. He had little interest in the specifics of their survival.
What did capture his attention, however, was the 'True Spirit Destruction' technique itself, which seemed to be genuine.
Such a method, which inflicted ten thousand harm upon oneself to inflict eight hundred upon the enemy, was generally meaningless to employ. Its value only surfaced in extreme situations where immediate engulfment by the Dao Erasure was imminent.
But for Li Fan, it held significant reference value.
In fact, Li Fan himself had once unleashed a similar divine ability.
In his previous life, while trapped in the tribulation of the Three Dao Fusion, Li Fan chose a desperate self-detonation to save himself.
His immortal foundation and the Great Dao of Longevity transformed into fuel for an all-consuming fire. Infinite light ignited the primordial possibility and its surroundings.
In a true sense, it achieved the isolation of the Dao Erasure, burning mountains and filling seas.
"However, compared to my crude, brute-force ignition using power equivalent to mountains and seas, this True Spirit Destruction technique's ignition efficiency is far higher."
"Because this technique found the foundation of potential existence as its fuel..."
"True spirits. Or rather, potential and sentience."
Li Fan subtly circulated the technique within his body. He grasped it more quickly than any other divine ability he had learned, feeling an effortless mastery almost immediately upon initiation.
Simultaneously, Li Fan felt his spiritual senses screaming with warnings.
"With the slightest carelessness, a raging inferno would erupt instantly."
"This technique uses one's own sentience as the flame, the bait. One must first ignite oneself, using oneself as a conduit to ignite the potential surrounding them. Afterwards, one must extinguish their own flames as quickly as possible. If one is too slow, the only outcome is to be buried together in the sea of fire."
"Even with utmost composure and swift action, the consumption of one's own sentience is evident. With each use, one's potential is significantly diminished. Use it too many times, and one becomes a complete cripple..."
Li Fan narrowed his eyes, looking at the twelve True Immortals who seemed inexplicably uneasy, and suddenly understood: "The twelve of them co-existed, igniting the fire together. By sharing the burden, they could indeed minimize the loss of their own potential. Hmph, achieving this level means they knew more than just a little about 'True Spirit Destruction'."
"It's highly possible they were the creators of this technique. Their power back then must have been far greater. It was precisely because they used the True Spirit Destruction technique that their strength was greatly diminished," Li Fan instantly saw through the secret the twelve True Immortals had been hiding.
Perhaps the twelve True Immortals themselves never imagined that there existed someone in the world whose constitution was so perfectly suited to the forbidden technique of 'True Spirit Destruction'. After all, the cost of practicing this technique was one's own potential and sentience, making the price too steep. One seldom had more than a few opportunities for "practice."
Only those intimately familiar with the foundational theory of True Spirit Destruction could successfully execute it on their first attempt.
Normally, even after three or five consecutive attempts, one would not be able to ignite the potential. Instead, they would ruin themselves.
But Li Fan was an anomaly.
"This True Spirit Destruction is truly an unadulterated evil method. Who could have created it?" A hint of displeasure seemed to flicker across Li Fan's face.
"If my eyes do not deceive me, this evil method can ignite more than just a single possibility. It might even affect other potential existences."
The dwarfish old man quickly bowed his head. "Senior's insight is truly remarkable. Indeed, such a possibility exists. However, it is merely a possibility. Firstly, the Sea of Mountains is vast, but the potential of beings in this world is limited. The inferno often burns for a while, and after losing the fuel of true spirits, it will naturally extinguish itself."
"Secondly, there is the Dao Erasure between the Seas of Mountains. The Dao Erasure acts as a natural barrier, greatly inhibiting the spread of the fire. Take this star sea for example. If we were to ignite it, not only would it not affect single possibilities, but the flames would be confined to this small area..."
Li Fan smiled meaningfully. "You seem to have researched this technique quite thoroughly."
The dwarfish old man gave a bitter smile. "It was the only method of self-preservation, so we had no choice but to research it diligently."
Li Fan did not press further. "Since I have arrived, you no longer need to employ this evil technique. With just twelve of you, I am still capable of offering passage."
"However, the Sea of Mountains is boundless. Do you have a destination in mind?"
"Is it that Other Shore Great World, or perhaps the Tai Wei Sacred Dynasty? Or should we simply find the nearest possibility that has not yet been swallowed by the Dao Erasure and leave you there?" Li Fan inquired with great amiability.
Seeing that Li Fan genuinely seemed to be considering giving them a ride, the twelve True Immortals were filled with surprise and joy.
They exchanged glances, an unspoken conversation passing between them.
After a moment, the dwarfish old man spoke with trepidation, "Replying to Senior, we have heard of that Other Shore Great World. However, we have never heard of the Tai Wei Sacred Dynasty. May we ask Senior to introduce it to us?"
Li Fan readily agreed. "The Tai Wei Sacred Dynasty was founded by an unparalleled expert in the Sea of Mountains, the Tai Wei Sacred Emperor..."
As he spoke, he recounted the entire history of the Sacred Dynasty, leaving the twelve True Immortals enthralled.
"There exists such a mighty being in the Sea of Mountains. We were truly short-sighted in the past."
"However, this Tai Wei Sacred Emperor is far too domineering. We chose to live in the Zhuyu Star Domain precisely because we disliked being controlled."
"The Other Shore Great World..."
Li Fan interrupted their reverie. "The journey to the Other Shore is long. If you truly wish to accompany me, you must be psychologically prepared. The Sea of Mountains is vast, and the road ahead is arduous. Perhaps, by the time your lifespans expire, we will not have reached our destination."
The twelve True Immortals failed to grasp the earnestness in Li Fan's words.
They automatically ignored words like "arduous" and "long," and all declared they had made their decision.
In their view, with the long lifespans of True Immortals and Nameless True Immortals, no matter how far the Other Shore was, it should not take that long. They would certainly see the Other Shore within their lifetimes.
Staying here, however, was a certain death.
Compared to the forbidden technique of True Spirit Destruction, the survival rate of this solitary sail across the Sea of Mountains was clearly much higher.
Therefore, their choice was evident.
"If that is the case, then come aboard."
Li Fan said indifferently, and a solitary sail reappeared.
Beneath the solitary sail was a narrow, elongated wooden boat.
Though small, the twelve True Immortals could barely squeeze in.
"Everyone, if there are no objections, I shall depart?" Li Fan asked.
The twelve True Immortals nodded joyfully.
"Since that is so..."
As if a gust of sea breeze blew, the solitary sail instantly surged.
The cramped wooden boat vibrated violently. It seemed as if fierce winds and colossal waves were rising around them, threatening to swallow the small boat at any moment.
"Dao... Dao Erasure."
Feeling the familiar, terrifying aura that was etched into their memories, pervading the surroundings, the twelve True Immortals could not suppress a trace of fear on their faces.
What happened next filled their faces with not only fear but also a touch of shock.
"Oh, right. That True Spirit Destruction technique you mentioned earlier, though I heard the general idea, there are still a few uncertain points that need personal experimentation and verification. Since you are about to depart, this star sea can be given to me. It might as well serve as material for me to test it out."
"Hm?" The twelve True Immortals were stunned.
Before they could even react to Li Fan's words, Li Fan had already acted.
It was clear that Li Fan was not seeking their consent but rather informing them with a hint of amusement.
A sliver of flame illuminated the starry sky.
In an instant, it became a raging inferno. Infinite light spread in all directions from the flame as its center.
Moments later, this star sea was engulfed in blinding radiance!
"What a fire, what a vast expanse of fire!" Li Fan, standing on the solitary sail, exclaimed with admiration.
Below, the twelve True Immortals crammed into the wooden boat, their faces turning ashen, pale as paper.
"You... you..."
As if they had seen a ghost, their faces were filled with disbelief.
Their shock was so profound that they couldn't even utter a question for a moment.
They simply could not understand why this person could successfully execute the forbidden technique of True Spirit Destruction on his first try.
Even if this person possessed unparalleled talent, unmatched in the Sea of Mountains, and already had the ability to traverse the Sea of Mountains, why would he still expend his own sentience to ignite the surrounding star sea?
They knew that although they had also researched and employed the forbidden technique, it was out of a desperate need for survival.
But this person before them...
White flames stretched endlessly.
And Li Fan's face, illuminated by the flames, flickered, obscured and indistinct.
Li Fan focused intently on the sphere of light before him, its rapid pulsations suggesting it was on the cusp of hatching. The Twelve True Immortals, too, harbored curiosity about the true form of this Primordial Being they had collectively nurtured for tens of thousands of years without success, and they subtly observed it.
"Tell me about its origin," Li Fan asked calmly.
Under Li Fan's imposing presence, the Twelve True Immortals dared not conceal anything. They recounted their story: "When the Immortal Realm still existed, we were all Immortals from the Zhuyu Star Domain. Among the boundless Immortal Realm, the Zhuyu Star Domain was a peculiar existence. Strictly speaking, it wasn't truly part of the Immortal Realm. It was a savage star domain that lacked an Immortal Minister, and every Immortal Emperor had overlooked it..."
"Zhuyu Star Domain," Li Fan recalled information about this star domain from his memory. "Is that the territory of the Immortal Realm rumored to harbor a terrifying being, one that was only half-developed before being abandoned? Though, that seems to be just a legend. Until the destruction of the Immortal Realm, there was no evidence of this being's true existence."
The dwarf elder nodded repeatedly. "Your perception is keen, Senior. Indeed, that terrifying being never appeared from beginning to end. This gradually attracted True Immortals like us, who didn't wish to be constrained and travel tens of thousands of miles. However, the Three Sages are still Three Sages. Their foresight is beyond our comprehension."
"That terrifying being truly exists and was in a state of slumber until the Great Tide of Dao Erasure awakened it..."
Recalling the scene, a varying degree of fear flickered across the faces of the Twelve True Immortals. "Rather than saying Zhuyu Star Domain was consumed by the Great Tide of Dao Erasure, it was buried in the conflict between that terrifying being and the Great Tide of Dao Erasure."
"We couldn't discern its full form, only glimpsing parts of its shadow. It was as vast as mountains and seas, confronting the Great Tide of Dao Erasure head-on, and not losing ground..."
The dwarf elder projected the images from his memory of the terrifying being's confrontation with Dao Erasure. The monster's power was indeed fear-inducing.
"In the battle between the terrifying being and Dao Erasure, we couldn't intervene at all. We could only try to evade and desperately seek survival. The fierce battle lasted for almost half a day, and then this stalemate brewed an even larger-scale Dao Erasure."
"Zhuyu Star Domain was instantly engulfed, and the shadow of that terrifying being also slowly vanished into Dao Erasure, leaving behind only a shining sphere of light, still struggling desperately."
"Seeing this, we happened to bring it out with us while fleeing. After all, it was left behind by a being capable of resisting Dao Erasure, so it must be valuable. Perhaps it even contained the Dao of Transcendence. And indeed, things unfolded as we expected. In the years we spent in the lower realm, half of us achieved the Nameless realm solely due to this sphere of light," the dwarf elder confessed in detail.
Li Fan frowned and interrupted him. "You were merely ordinary True Immortals back then. How did you manage to survive the Great Tribulation of Dao Erasure?"
The Twelve True Immortals smiled bitterly, exchanging glances before slowly revealing their secret. "To tell you, Senior, this is our greatest secret. Zhuyu Star Domain was not fully developed. Therefore, it was one of the star domains most susceptible to Dao Erasure in the Immortal Realm. The Immortals in the star domain, anticipating this, had developed various methods and insights on how to survive within Dao Erasure."
"Among these, 'Complete Destruction of True Spirits' was recognized as the most effective method. However..." The dwarf elder hesitated for a moment before continuing, "It was too harmful and considered a forbidden technique. We only unleashed it together at the very last moment when Zhuyu Star Domain was almost completely swallowed."
"What forbidden technique could allow True Immortals to resist Dao Erasure? If it were so miraculous, why would the Immortal Realm have perished?" Li Fan's tone held a hint of suspicion.
"This is absolutely true, Senior. We would not dare to utter a single falsehood."
Presently, the dwarf elder slowly explained the technique of 'Complete Destruction of True Spirits.' Li Fan's eyes flashed with a subtle expression upon hearing it.
In essence, if Dao Erasure were likened to a fire that burned everything, then 'Complete Destruction of True Spirits' was akin to preemptively burning down the star domain to defend it against this conflagration. The vitality and existence of the starscape were ignited, leaving behind only ashes. Although these ashes would eventually be consumed by Dao Erasure, the process would be significantly slower compared to a normal starscape. To some extent, these ashes could serve as crude wooden boats for traversing Dao Erasure.
"We knew something about this 'Complete Destruction of True Spirits' technique back then. We held on until the very last moment before Zhuyu Star Domain was annihilated. We had no other options and could no longer sustain ourselves. Thus, we chose to burn away all the remaining intact starscape..."
"Using those ashes, we crafted a vessel for escape and made our way to the lower realm in a sorry state." Li Fan had a subtle feeling that the dwarf elder was not entirely truthful, but he was not one to dwell on such matters. He wasn't particularly interested in precisely how they survived. What did pique his interest was the 'Complete Destruction of True Spirits' technique, which seemed legitimate.
This method, which harmed oneself by ten thousand while damaging the enemy by eight hundred, generally held no practical value. It was only in extreme situations, where there was an impending possibility of being annihilated by Dao Erasure, that it became worthwhile. However, for Li Fan, it offered significant reference value. In fact, Li Fan had previously employed a similar divine ability. In his previous life, when trapped in the tribulation of the Fusion of Three Daos, Li Fan chose to self-detonate to save himself. His immortal foundation, the Great Dao of Longevity, became fuel for an all-consuming fire. Infinite light ignited the primordial possibility and everything around it, effectively isolating Dao Erasure and reshaping mountains and seas.
"However, compared to my crude method of forcibly igniting it with power equivalent to that of mountains and seas, this 'Complete Destruction of True Spirits' technique's ignition efficiency is far superior."
"This is because the technique found a way to use the foundation of potential existence as fuel... 'True Spirits.' Or, in other words, potential and spirituality."
Li Fan quietly circulated the technique within his body. Compared to other divine abilities he had learned, he grasped this one much faster. Even upon initial contact, he felt a sense of effortless mastery. Yet, simultaneously, Li Fan felt his spiritual intuition frantically warning him.
"With the slightest carelessness, a raging inferno could erupt instantly."
"This technique uses one's own spirituality as the flame, the bait. One must first ignite oneself, using oneself as a guide to ignite the possibilities present. Then, one must extinguish the internal flames as quickly as possible. If one is too slow, the only outcome is to perish together in the inferno."
"Even with composure and swift action, the consumption of one's spirituality is evident. Each use significantly diminishes one's potential. Multiple uses would render one a complete cripple..."
Li Fan narrowed his eyes as he looked at the somewhat uneasy Twelve Immortals around him, instantly understanding: "The Twelve of you coexisting and igniting the fire together, sharing the burden, could indeed minimize the loss of your own potential. Hmph, to achieve this level suggests you know far more than just a superficial understanding of 'Complete Destruction of True Spirits.'"
"It's highly possible that you are the creators of this technique. Your original strength must have been far greater. It was only after using the 'Complete Destruction of True Spirits' technique that your power was greatly diminished," Li Fan deduced their hidden secret in an instant. Perhaps these Twelve True Immortals never imagined that there would be someone whose physique so perfectly matched the forbidden technique of 'Complete Destruction of True Spirits.' After all, the cost of the technique was the consumption of one's own potential and spirituality, making the price of practice too high. There were rarely opportunities for "practice." Only those intimately familiar with the theoretical foundation of 'Complete Destruction of True Spirits' could successfully execute it on their first attempt. Generally, even after three to five consecutive attempts, one might not even ignite the possibilities, let alone refine oneself into waste. Li Fan, however, was an anomaly.
"This 'Complete Destruction of True Spirits' is truly an evil art. I wonder who created it," Li Fan's expression showed a hint of displeasure. "If I'm not mistaken, this evil art can ignite not just singular possibilities, but potentially even other existing possibilities."
The dwarf elder quickly bowed his head. "Senior's insight is truly piercing. Such a possibility does exist. However, it is merely a possibility. Firstly, the Sea of Mountains is vast, and the potential of living beings in the world is limited. The burning fire often stops on its own after a while, losing the support of the true spirit fuel."
"Secondly, between the mountains and seas, there is Dao Erasure. Dao Erasure acts as a natural barrier, greatly inhibiting the burning fire. Taking this star sea as an example, if we were to ignite it here, it would not even affect other possibilities; the flames would be confined to this small area..."
Li Fan smiled, indicating obliquely, "You seem to have studied this technique quite thoroughly."
The dwarf elder gave a bitter smile. "It was the only method of self-preservation, so one had no choice but to study it diligently."
Li Fan did not press further. "Since I am here, you no longer need to employ this evil art. Facing just twelve of you, I am still capable of giving you a ride."
"However, the Sea of Mountains is boundless. Do you have a destination?"
"That Other Shore Great World, or perhaps the Tai Wei Sacred Dynasty? Or would you prefer I simply drop you off at the nearest possibility not yet consumed by Dao Erasure?" Li Fan inquired amicably.
Seeing that Li Fan seemed genuinely willing to give them a ride, the Twelve True Immortals were overjoyed. They exchanged glances, their thoughts clearly communicating. A moment later, the dwarf elder spoke with apprehension, "Replying to Senior, we have heard of the Other Shore Great World. However, we have never heard of the Tai Wei Sacred Dynasty. May we ask Senior to introduce it to us?"
Li Fan readily agreed. "The Tai Wei Sacred Dynasty was established by a peerless expert in the Sea of Mountains, the Tai Wei Immortal Emperor..." He narrated the entire history of the Sacred Dynasty, leaving the Twelve True Immortals spellbound.
"There are such powerful beings in the Sea of Mountains. We were truly narrow-minded to have lived there."
"However, this Tai Wei Immortal Emperor is perhaps a bit too domineering. We went to Zhuyu Star Domain to live precisely because we disliked being controlled."
"The Other Shore Great World..." Li Fan interrupted their daydreams. "The journey to the Other Shore is long. If you truly wish to accompany me, you must be mentally prepared. The Sea of Mountains is vast, and the road ahead is long. Perhaps, by the time your lifespans end, we will not yet have reached our destination."
The Twelve True Immortals did not grasp the earnestness in Li Fan's words. They automatically ignored words like 'long' and 'distant,' and unanimously declared they were prepared. In their view, with the lifespan of True Immortals and Nameless True Immortals being so long, even if the Other Shore were incredibly distant, it shouldn't take that long. They were sure they would reach the Other Shore within their lifetimes. To remain here, however, was a certain death. Compared to the forbidden technique of 'Complete Destruction of True Spirits,' the survival rate of being a solitary sail on the Sea of Mountains was significantly higher. Therefore, their choice was evident.
"If that is the case, then come aboard." Li Fan said calmly, and the solitary sail reappeared. Beneath the sail was a cramped, narrow wooden boat. Though small, the Twelve True Immortals could just barely squeeze in.
"Everyone, if there are no objections, shall I depart?" Li Fan asked. The Twelve True Immortals nodded joyfully.
"In that case..." As if a sea breeze had blown, the solitary sail surged. The small wooden boat vibrated violently. The surrounding area seemed to be engulfed by raging winds and colossal waves, as if threatening to swallow the solitary boat whole.
"Dao... Dao Erasure." Sensing the familiar and terrifying aura engraved in their memories, emanating from everywhere, the Twelve True Immortals could not suppress a flicker of fear on their faces. What happened next caused their faces to show not only fear but also a hint of shock.
"Ah, you mentioned that 'Complete Destruction of True Spirits' technique earlier. Although I grasped the general idea, there are still a few uncertain points that require personal experimentation and verification. Since you are about to leave anyway, this star sea here, why don't you let me use it as material to test it out?"
"What?" The Twelve True Immortals were stunned. Before they could even react to Li Fan's words, he had already made his move. It was clear that Li Fan was not seeking their opinion but rather informing them with a hint of amusement.
A flicker of flame illuminated the starscape. In an instant, it spread like a wildfire. Infinite light, with the flame as its center, surged outwards. A moment later, this star sea was submerged in blinding radiance!
"What a fire, what a vast expanse of fire!" Li Fan stood on the solitary sail, marveling. Below, crammed into the wooden boat, the Twelve True Immortals' faces had turned ashen and pale as paper.
"You... you..." As if they had seen a ghost, their faces were filled with disbelief. Such was their shock that they couldn't even stammer out a question. They simply couldn't comprehend why this person could successfully execute the forbidden technique of 'Complete Destruction of True Spirits' on his first attempt. And even if this person possessed unparalleled talent, unmatched in the Sea of Mountains, why would he consume his own spirituality to ignite the starscape before him, when he already possessed the ability to traverse the Sea of Mountains? They, who had also researched and practiced the forbidden technique, had done so out of desperate necessity for survival. But this person before them...
White flames stretched endlessly. In the reflection of the flames, Li Fan's face flickered, his features obscured.
Compared to using the ability "True Spirit Destruction," igniting a single candle to dispel the cold within the Azure Nether Immortal Boat consumed almost negligible spiritual essence. For Li Fan, it posed no burden whatsoever, yet it protected the helmsman and crew aboard the Immortal Boat. Thus, he did it as a matter of course.
"This extreme cold... what exactly caused it?"
The warmth generated by the burning True Spirit Fire merely protected the beings within the Azure Nether Immortal Realm. Li Fan, as the Lord of Azure Nether, however, deliberately withdrew this protection, facing the biting cold and solitude of the mountains and seas head-on.
The Azure Nether Immortal Boat sailed through the darkness, silent and without a sound. The outside world seemed to have lost all sense of time. Li Fan stood tall on the solitary sail of the Immortal Boat, as if he himself were the darkness before his eyes.
Through the crossing of mountains and seas, time passed unnoticed. Within the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, seventy years elapsed in the blink of an eye. Ever since the Immortal Boat entered the Dao Erasure, the "variables" of the entire Azure Nether Immortal Realm seemed to have been locked in place. In these seventy years, not a single cultivator in the Dao Integration realm was born. This was not a restriction Li Fan intentionally imposed to conserve the Immortal Boat's resources but a consequence of the Immortal Boat's own transformation.
Immersed for a long time in an environment far removed from the mortal world, Li Fan slowly began to grasp the fundamental origin of the pervasive, clinging chill.
"Most beings born in the mountains and seas originate from the mortal world. When we beings leave the mortal world, we are thus far removed from the most basic environment that we rely upon for our creation, gestation, and cultivation. It is akin to a fish out of water, a bird grounded, or an underground creature suddenly exposed to sunlight."
"Because of this unsuitability, it leads to extinction. The Transcendent True Intent condensed by transcendent powerhouses, in a sense, is the ability to adapt and safely navigate such drastic changes."
"Although I possess infinite spiritual essence, I still feel this bewilderment and discomfort when I am far from the mortal world..."
"Infinite spiritual essence might be related to my transmigration and my original self. However, this body is indeed a native being from the mountains and seas," Li Fan mused silently.
On the Azure Nether Immortal Boat, almost all beings, including the twelve True Immortals who boarded last, could not escape this feeling of cold isolation. Only one exception existed. It was the unknown Primordial being that had slumbered in the ruins of the Zhu Yu Star Domain and was later jointly raised by the twelve True Immortals.
The energy consumption of the Primordial being was truly beyond imagination. For the past fifty years, it had been continuously fed without pause. More than a hundred Azure Nether wooden carvings had been crushed. Yet, true gestation of the Primordial being was still just a step away. Fortunately, Li Fan had recently sensed a subtle rejection of his offerings from it. This was not because it had become ungrateful before its birth, but because the Primordial being had reached the limit of what it could absorb during gestation and could no longer consume more!
Li Fan invited the twelve True Immortals to jointly witness the gestation of the Primordial being within the ball of light. After all, they had diligently helped raise it for tens of thousands of years.
It is worth noting that even after spending more than fifty years together in the crossing of mountains and seas, these twelve True Immortals had still not seen the true appearance of the Azure Nether Immortal Boat. From beginning to end, they were forced to huddle in the small wooden boat Li Fan had manifested. Relying on the solitary sail hoisted on the wooden boat, they were protected from the constant erosion of the Dao Erasure. They had not the slightest awareness that on the small wooden boat they inhabited, there existed another—an immeasurably vaster—Immortal Boat crossing the seas!
Most of their mental focus was dedicated to resisting the relentless surge of loneliness within their bodies. Any remaining capacity was seized to attempt to comprehend the Dao of "Crossing." Furthermore, the vast disparity in power between them and Li Fan made it impossible for them to discern the truth of the Azure Nether Immortal Boat.
At this moment, seeing Li Fan appear with the Primordial being, they were all slightly stunned. Only then did they react, looking at the light sphere from which the Primordial being was about to emerge with complex expressions.
"To be able to witness the birth of a Primordial being with our own eyes today is truly a blessing of three lifetimes."
"It was not in vain that we labored so hard in the past."
"It's just that we don't know if this Primordial being will remember us."
"Senior not only saved us from dire straits but also helped us fulfill our long-cherished wish. Your compassionate heart is truly admirable." The twelve True Immortals behaved with natural ease, showing no trace of resentment in their hearts.
Li Fan's gaze swept over them indifferently, causing a prickle of apprehension in their hearts. A deathly silence persisted in the grand hall for quite some time. Only then did Li Fan continue, "This beast should be coming out soon. Wait patiently."
The twelve True Immortals inwardly grumbled at Li Fan referring to the Primordial being as a "beast." However, they dared not express any dissent and could only nod and smile in agreement.
They waited for another nine years. For True Immortals, this was merely the time it took to close their eyes and comprehend the Dao, a fleeting moment.
On this day, faint fluctuations emanating from the light sphere in Li Fan's hand startled those on the wooden boat. A black fissure appeared in the center of the light sphere, as if a shell had broken. Instantly, boundless light and shadow erupted from this fissure, depicting the roaring of mountains and seas, and the birth of countless possibilities from destruction! As if directly facing the mountains and seas, those on the boat were immersed in this sight.
Yet, they failed to notice a black line, hidden within this light and shadow, hurtling towards the weakest of the twelve True Immortals. By the time the black line was mere inches away, this True Immortal, named Shi Qiweng, whose cultivation was in the Dao of [Nurturing], finally realized the sudden assault, but not before it was too late. Before despair could even register on his face, he was about to be pierced by this black line.
"A beast is still a beast!"
At this very moment, Li Fan's icy voice suddenly rang out. A hand, moving with incredible speed, intercepted and firmly grasped the black line.
*Roar!*
A sound like the collision of mountains and seas erupted from the black line. The twelve True Immortals felt thunderous booms in their ears, their heads reeling. Shi Qiweng, who was closest, bore the brunt of the impact; the Dao he had comprehended seemed to be on the verge of dissipating under this thunderous roar. Fortunately, the twelve True Immortals shared a common life force. With the other eleven sharing the burden, Shi Qiweng narrowly escaped with his life.
The terrifying nature of the Primordial being was thus evident. Yet, this beast could not move in Li Fan's grasp, only emitting threatening roars. Thus, the twelve True Immortals clearly saw the true form of the black line: it resembled a rounded wooden stick, with countless intricate yet non-repeating patterns faintly appearing upon its surface. At both ends of the wooden stick were faces. They were not like human faces, but simply expressions of black and white, constantly shifting and transforming, embodying the essence of "faces."
This Primordial being, rather than being a "being," seemed more like a refined artifact. Despite being newly born, its nature remained savage. Now trapped in Li Fan's hand, it struggled ceaselessly, unable to advance or retreat.
With roars like surging tides, the patterns on its body seemed to come alive, rapidly shifting and separating, congregating at both ends of the wooden stick. The Primordial being instantly split into two: one entirely black, the other completely white. The two, like twin serpents, coiled around each other, their heads and tails interlocked, spinning rapidly. In an instant, a Taiji diagram formed, swirling within Li Fan's palm. A mysterious force was born, as if someone had given Li Fan a heavy push. The grip that had held the Primordial being loosely, and it slipped away.
The Taiji diagram spun, its colors darkening, as if fleeing to another location. Outside the Azure Nether Immortal Boat, the previously calm Dao Erasure suddenly churned with winds and waves, as if a massive object had plunged into the sea.
"Not good, that beast is escaping!" the twelve True Immortals cried out in alarm. Li Fan merely sneered, flicking his fingers in the direction the Taiji diagram had fled. The clamor within the Dao Erasure intensified abruptly. Wave after wave of turbulent surges assaulted the Azure Nether Immortal Boat, subjecting those aboard to the greatest turbulence encountered since their journey across the mountains and seas. It was as if two ancient, monstrous beasts were fiercely battling underwater!
This sudden turn of events far exceeded the expectations of the twelve True Immortals. They stared intently at the void outside the ship, occasionally glancing at Li Fan, who remained remarkably composed. They wondered what kind of divine ability their senior was employing, to be able to capture an enemy within the Dao Erasure. It was truly unprecedented. The battle within the Dao Erasure did not last long. No matter how ferocious, it was, after all, in its nascent state. Soon, the commotion in the Dao Erasure gradually subsided, and the Taiji diagram quietly returned to the wooden boat. After much turning and spinning, it ultimately failed to maintain its form and reverted to its wooden stick shape. The patterns on the wooden stick seemed sparser than before, and the black and white expressions at both ends appeared listless.
"This object was born at the beginning of the world's creation, imitating the birth and evolution of the Great Dao..."
"However, it ultimately lacks sentience. It knows the form but not the essence, thus after such a long time, it remains in this state." Li Fan commented dismissively, tapping the wooden stick with his finger. The twelve True Immortals nodded in understanding.
It was Mo Sha who had intervened and retrieved the Taiji wooden stick from the Dao Erasure. After fifty years of contemplation and adaptation, Mo Sha had finally recognized its identity, completely severing itself from the pervasive Dao Erasure. It existed solely as "Mo Sha," the essence of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm’s Heaven and Earth, and Li Fan's subordinate! Unlike all other beings and powers in the mortal world of mountains and seas, Mo Sha entered the Dao Erasure with a sense of "swimming with the current, moving with ease." The corrosive power of the Dao Erasure had little effect on Mo Sha. In fact, if other entities were present, Mo Sha could even borrow the power of the Dao Erasure to confront them. The recent capture of the Taiji wooden stick was its first test. If it had contended with the Taiji wooden stick alone, without the surrounding Dao Erasure, it would have likely faced a fierce struggle. But with the aid of the surrounding environment, the "Dao Erasure," capturing it was a matter of moments.
Li Fan's ability to quickly discern the Primordial being's true nature was also thanks to Mo Sha. If the Dao Erasure were an boundless ocean, almost all beings in the mountains and seas would be unable to swim. A few transcendent beings would possess the ability to swim. But Mo Sha... was a fish born to exist in this ocean!
"Even if the Immortal Boat capsizes, with Mo Sha's rescue, we can remain safe and sound." Li Fan did not reveal Mo Sha's existence to the twelve True Immortals. After completing its mission, Li Fan ordered it to return to the Azure Nether Immortal Realm. Upon sensing Mo Sha's departure, the Taiji wooden stick, which had been severely injured and appeared on the verge of demise, instantly became lively again. However, Li Fan simply flicked his fingers a few times, suppressing its accumulated strength. Repeating this process, the Taiji wooden stick finally recognized the disparity in strength between them and became temporarily subdued.
"There are such wondrous beings in the mountains and seas."
"Primordial beings are often more ancient than the Immortal Realm itself, symbolizing the ancient Daos of the mountains and seas. It is said that a True Immortal once subdued a Primordial being and gained enlightenment from it. The moment of their transcendence to the Nameless realm was the pinnacle of their achievement."
"I believe the Taiji Dao manifested by this beast is not without merit..." The twelve True Immortals, who had witnessed Li Fan's subjugation of the Taiji wooden stick from beginning to end, marveled.
"However, Senior is already powerful enough. This wooden stick doesn't seem to be of much help to you." Upon Shi Qiweng's remark, silence fell upon everyone on the boat. Shi Qiweng realized the impropriety of his words and was about to offer an apologetic smile.
However, he heard Li Fan calmly state, "Indeed, this item is of little use for my Dao."
"However, it will be of considerable use for this journey."
The twelve True Immortals, not understanding, watched as Li Fan once again tossed the Taiji wooden stick, which had only begun to recover some strength, into the Dao Erasure. The Taiji wooden stick seemed disbelief, frozen in place for a moment. Then, as if awakening from a dream, it madly fled into the depths of the Dao Erasure.
"Senior, this..." The twelve True Immortals were about to question when they suddenly felt that the small wooden boat beneath them was sailing faster for some unknown reason. Upon closer inspection, they discovered that fine black threads seemed to be connected from the Taiji wooden stick fleeing into the Dao Erasure to the hull of the boat! It was because of these connections that the Taiji wooden stick, like a tow rope, pulled the wooden boat rapidly through the Dao Erasure.
"It can still be used like this?" The twelve True Immortals were all astonished.
"Although Primordial beings possess immense vitality, they ultimately cannot survive in the Dao Erasure for long."
"Therefore, when trapped in the Dao Erasure, they instinctively seek 'food' to sustain themselves."
"Primordial beings are unique existences in the mountains and seas. Their perception of possibilities and life force far surpasses that of us cultivators. Lost in this vast Dao Erasure, we struggle to discern direction. They, however, might sense the presence of sustenance far away."
Li Fan stood at the bow of the boat, feeling the Azure Nether Immortal Boat slowly change direction, drawn by the Taiji wooden stick, a strange expression on his face. Recalling Li Fan's act of incinerating the original possibilities without hesitation, the twelve True Immortals felt a chill rise within them. They had been promised passage to the Other Shore Great World, but it now seemed... Subdued by Li Fan's might, the twelve True Immortals dared not voice any dissent, only praising Senior's unfathomable abilities in unison.
The Taiji wooden stick, in its panicked escape, pulled the Immortal Boat forward for forty days. Just as it was about to be depleted and vanish into the Dao Erasure, Li Fan rescued it in time.
The Tai Chi wooden staff was on its last legs, its black and white ends growing as thin as paper. The patterns on the staff had almost entirely vanished, leaving only a few remnants. Having survived the ordeal, it became entirely compliant, eagerly awaiting Li Fan's Azure Nether phantom's feeding. It even showed a fawning expression. Only after a full meal did it slowly recover. However, its docility didn't last long. Just three days later, the Tai Chi wooden staff reverted to its old ways. Having realized the immense power of Li Fan, this time it didn't attack him again. Instead, it leaped out of the boat, fleeing towards the source of the "scent" it had sensed earlier in the Dao Erasure. It was completely unaware that the Azure Nether Immortal Boat was closely tailing it.
"Although this beast has sentience, its intelligence is truly not very high," the eldest of the Twelve True Immortals, a dwarf elder named Ruan Ruiyu, quipped upon seeing this. "As Senior said, beasts are just beasts," the others chimed in agreement. The Tai Chi wooden staff had a terrible memory. Each time it was tormented into near death in the Dao Erasure, it would immediately flee instinctively at any opportunity. It seemed there was something on the Azure Nether Immortal Boat more terrifying than the Dao Erasure itself. After a few initial jokes, the Twelve True Immortals finally realized something. Even if the Tai Chi wooden staff lacked high intelligence, its basic survival instincts of seeking advantage and avoiding harm shouldn't be absent. If the initial escapes could be attributed to a momentary lapse in judgment driven by desire, then repeated instances suggested otherwise. They all looked towards Li Fan, standing alone at the bow of the ship, his expression unfathomable, and a chill ran down their spines once more. The questions that were on the tip of their tongues were forcibly suppressed.
The Twelve True Immortals all felt a pang of regret for boarding this "pirate ship." They had been told it was sailing towards the Land of the Other Shore, but from what they had seen so far, Li Fan didn't seem eager to bring them there easily. However, they had no other choice but to remain on the boat and see it through to the end. Venturing into the Dao Erasure was a certain death. Resisting Li Fan might lead to a swifter demise. Despite their myriad bitter feelings, the twelve brothers could only bear it in silence.
Little did the Twelve True Immortals know, they had misunderstood Li Fan. It wasn't that he didn't want to take them to the Land of the Other Shore. It was simply that Li Fan himself didn't know where this so-called Other Shore was, or how to get there.
"Theoretically speaking, in this vast and boundless Sea of Mountains, there should be many beacon-like existences, guiding the specific direction of the Other Shore. New transcendent powerhouses merely need to persist in finding the nearest beacon, and then continue sailing towards the next one, eventually reaching the Land of the Other Shore."
"But for some reason, I've been drifting in the Dao Erasure for so long, yet I haven't seen any trace of a beacon."
"There are two possibilities. One is that I haven't condensed my own transcendent true intent, and thus cannot perceive the beacon even if it is right in front of me. This possibility is not very high, as the lone sail above my head is not for show."
"The other is that traversing the Sea of Mountains genuinely takes this much time. As I saw in the memories of my lone sail, without directional guidance, the time required could exhaust the lifespan of a transcendent powerhouse. And if there were clear directional guidance..."
"Even if the time were reduced a hundredfold, it would still be an unimaginably long period."
Li Fan was prepared for this. He didn't expect to reach the Other Shore anytime soon.
"When the purple-robed figure descended, they repeatedly mentioned not wanting to 'run errands' and not 'making this trip for naught.' This indicates that even in the eyes of an old transcendent powerhouse like them, descending from the Other Shore was not a negligible expenditure."
"But previously, when the Original Possibility repeatedly involved those transcendent powerhouses, they seemed to sense it instantly and descend..."
Riding the waves through the Dao Erasure, Li Fan felt a faint premonition. It seemed that in this vast Sea of Mountains, time itself didn't flow. Or rather, time only affected them. No matter how long they stayed here, it wouldn't impact any possibility in the mortal world. This seemed incredible, but having once traveled against the flow of the River of Time, Li Fan could somewhat understand the reason.
"Leaving the mortal world and entering the Sea of Mountains is like instantly leaping out of the River of Time. At that moment of leaping out, the River of Time seems to enter a state of relative congelation. It only resumes its flow when one re-enters."
"If we view the Sea of Mountains itself as a tree growing vigorously from bottom to top, then the various possibilities in the mortal world are the rings on the tree's trunk."
"The bottom represents the past. The top indicates the future."
"The rings representing possibilities are not merely on a plane. They are three-dimensional, penetrating the tree from top to bottom according to time."
"Originally, if the Dao Erasure didn't exist, the past and future of the Sea of Mountains were connected as one, complete. Those who could travel against time could freely and smoothly move between different positions on the tree, both up and down."
"But because of the appearance of the Dao Erasure, the Sea of Mountains tree has been severed in the middle."
"Even if one can travel against time, the range of movement is limited to the section of the trunk they are currently in."
"Furthermore, between the rings, what was once the trunk's tissue has been largely swallowed by the Dao Erasure. Ordinary beings can only survive within the lines of the rings."
"When I travel against the flow in the River of Time, it's from top to bottom, following the traces of the rings, moving vertically within the Sea of Mountains tree. Transcending to the Other Shore, on the other hand, means leaving the current ring and walking horizontally across the cross-section of the Sea of Mountains tree, resisting the Dao Erasure."
"Whether moving vertically or horizontally, it's confined within one section of the trunk."
"As for the Land of the Other Shore..."
Having personally traversed the Sea of Mountains, Li Fan had a concrete understanding of its structure. But even now, he couldn't fathom what the Other Shore truly was. "However, one thing is certain: the Other Shore is completely independent of the myriad possibilities within the Sea of Mountains."
"If I were to make a forced analogy, perhaps it could be seen as hollowing out a section of this trunk from top to bottom, creating a place."
"A place where one can reach all temporal nodes of all possibilities, without needing to experience the River of Time or cross the Dao Erasure..."
"If it truly possesses such capabilities, then it truly deserves the name 'Other Shore.'"
Li Fan envisioned the state of the Other Shore, his thoughts churning. Meanwhile, the Tai Chi wooden staff, frantically fleeing in the Dao Erasure, after dozens of attempts, finally led the Azure Nether Immortal Boat to a place where life force converged! It wasn't a complete possibility. It was an immortal coffin floating on the Dao Erasure! Not knowing how long it had been drifting, the surface of the immortal coffin had turned completely black. Even from a distance, Li Fan and the Twelve True Immortals on the wooden boat could faintly sense the ominous aura attached to it.
The Tai Chi wooden staff, however, was indiscriminate. Regardless of what was buried within the immortal coffin, it transformed into black and white Tai Chi, directly covering the drifting immortal coffin as if biting down hard. The black and white Tai Chi diagram spun rapidly, causing the light and shadow of the immortal coffin to twist and blur, slowly sinking into the vortex formed by the Tai Chi diagram. Although the immortal coffin's defenses were still intact, there were faint signs of it being swallowed by the Tai Chi diagram. Just as the Tai Chi wooden staff was about to swallow the immortal coffin, Li Fan pulled on a thread, forcibly dragging it back from the Dao Erasure.
Back on the Azure Nether Immortal Boat, it still gritted its teeth, refusing to let go of the immortal coffin. Li Fan flicked his fingers several times, disorienting the Tai Chi wooden staff and scattering the patterns on its body. Only then did it reluctantly release its grip. Hiding in a dark corner, it glared fiercely at Li Fan, who had snatched its meal. Li Fan, however, was unconcerned, quietly placing the immortal coffin before him. On the wooden boat, the Twelve True Immortals looked grave, unconsciously moving closer together.
"Senior, there seems to be something ominous inside this coffin," Ruan Ruiyu voiced as a reminder. "Ominous..." Li Fan chuckled, completely unfazed. He unsealed the coffin. Instantly, an infinite light erupted from within the coffin. Black energy accompanied by bloody light, emanating a chilling aura. A figure clad in bright yellow imperial robes, exuding an ineffable noble aura, suddenly appeared before Li Fan and the others. After a moment of silence, the figure coldly questioned, "Since you see this Emperor, why do you not bow?" "Immortal... Immortal Emperor?" Ruan Ruiyu stammered, stunned by the figure, then cried out involuntarily. Just as everyone's minds were shaken, the noble figure suddenly seized the opportunity to attack them. The robes on its body gradually became tattered. And its human head transformed into the head of a giant rat!
The Twelve True Immortals were captivated, about to become food for the rat's maw. "It was you after all." Li Fan, as if he had anticipated this, summoned a transparent furnace that rose up, forming a towering, encircling wall that sealed the Giant Rat Immortal within. The Twelve True Immortals, their hearts still pounding, looked at the monster in the furnace, which was gradually shedding its human form and completely transforming into the shape of a giant rat. Li Fan examined the old acquaintance before him, watching it struggle madly within the furnace, unable to break through the seal.
"It seems I truly haven't strayed too far from the [Original] realm."
"I'm still within the range that the Guang Wu Star Sea can salvage in the Dao Erasure. To be more specific, it's still within the coastal regions."
The Rat Emperor before him was no different from the one he had seen in his previous life. Its power was undeniable, having devoured an entire possibility. However, in the face of the current Li Fan, it was completely powerless. It was slowly refined in the furnace, becoming nourishment to reinforce the Azure Nether Immortal Boat. Li Fan watched expressionlessly as the Rat Emperor disintegrated in the furnace, turning into countless streams of light.
His mind, however, was contemplating other matters: "I attained the Heavenly Emperor's body, allowing me to reverse the flow of the River of Time. However, when I returned to ten thousand years in the past, the Heavenly Emperor of that past time node also disappeared. This proves that those who comprehend the [Inverse] principle become special existences attached to the River of Time, traversing up and down the Sea of Mountains tree."
"Transcendent powerhouses in the Other Shore might also possess this ability, perhaps by leveraging the special nature of the Other Shore. If they relied solely on their own paths, they probably couldn't achieve this."
"However, whether it's the Inverse Principle practitioner or the Transcendent, they should be unique existences within a severed section of the Sea of Mountains tree. No matter at which time node they perish, it's considered complete death. Even the so-called reversal of time cannot change this."
"As for Reflection..." Li Fan frowned slightly. "As a power comparable to the Sea of Mountains, it can directly reset the state of the Sea of Mountains tree. As long as it doesn't exceed the scope of the Sea of Mountains, it will be affected. However, I cannot yet confirm if the scope of Reflection's influence is limited to this section of the Sea of Mountains tree I'm currently in, or if it encompasses the entire Sea of Mountains..."
"There is a way to prove it."
"Mound Guardian!"
"In my previous life, the Mound Guardian was not within the Sea of Mountains, but in the Eternal Void Realm outside the Sea of Mountains tree. If Reflection did not affect him, then he would certainly retain some memories of my previous life and the Dao Bearer." Thinking of this, Li Fan's heart tightened.
"It seems that after heading to the Land of the Other Shore, even if Reflection awakens, I cannot use it carelessly. At least, until I clarify this, I should avoid exposing myself in front of those Sages." Li Fan certainly didn't dare to directly question the Mound Guardian for clarification. Even Purple-Robed and Dao Bearer, individuals who could come into contact with the Mound Guardian, might become triggers for Reflection's exposure. Dao Bearer was manageable, trapped within the Azure Nether Immortal Boat by Li Fan's 'sitting and discussing the Dao.' As for Purple-Robed, Li Fan had no control over them.
"I can only hope that Reflection's influence extends further."
"Otherwise, I might have to flee before I even reach the Other Shore." Li Fan tried to calm the sense of urgency in his heart.
Li Fan was not one to worry unnecessarily. However, based on his current deductions, knowing of Reflection's existence, the possibility of exposure arose. Thus, he had to make preparations for the future. "To abstain from eating for fear of choking is not wise, not going to the Other Shore is impossible."
"Blind optimism and making no preparations is also impossible." However, after assessing all the powers he could wield, Li Fan temporarily couldn't find a way to retreat unscathed in front of the Mound Guardian. "The Sages' only concern is the existence of the Sea of Mountains."
"The only thing that could make them slightly wary is my newly learned secret art, [True Spirit Incineration]."
"This technique..." Li Fan's eyes flashed with a brilliant light, and he made a decision: "I must make good use of it."
"Although the True Spirit Incineration technique has the effect of burning mountains and boiling seas, its drawback is that the true spirit fire spreads too slowly."
"Unless..."
"I am well-prepared. I will scatter seeds of fire in different possibilities and time nodes within the Sea of Mountains!"
"A single spark can start a prairie fire, and my infinite spirituality is enough for me to spread the seeds throughout the Sea of Mountains."
"At that time, with a single thought from me, the Sea of Mountains will burn."
"Although it's highly likely that before the Sea of Mountains is completely burned, the transcendent powerhouses from the Other Shore will join forces to extinguish it, and the spirituality I consume will become nourishment for the Sea of Mountains. However, a severely damaged Sea of Mountains may not survive the erosion of the Dao Erasure."
"The transcendent beings of the Other Shore... would not dare to gamble!"
"This deterrent should be effective." Li Fan pondered repeatedly, his unease gradually subsiding.
"It seems I need to make thorough preparations before heading to the Other Shore."
"Perfect. I'll proceed slowly, planting my hidden hand in each possibility I visit."
"Other transcendent powerhouses unite their myriad selves into one. As for me, I will start from one and reach ten thousand!"
"Heh heh..."
Immortal Realm, Qionglang Star Domain.
Tens of thousands of True Immortals gathered, many of them within the Nameless Realm.
"The Immortal Minister has been in seclusion continuously. We need to quickly find a solution."
"Nearby Star Domains such as Xuanque, Suibeng, and Doubiao have all been swallowed by the Great Dao Erasure. It seems our Qionglang Star Domain won't be far behind from destruction!"
"The key is, the Great Dao Erasure forms an impassable barrier. Our Qionglang Star Domain has become an isolated land. There is no escape and no way out."
"Everyone, everyone, please do not panic and cause chaos. I have already sent a message to the Immortal Minister long ago. He will come out of seclusion in the next few days and will organize the efforts to resist the tribulation..."
"A few more days? I think by the time he, Lin Zhaoye, emerges, we'll all be dead!"
"No, he must come out today. We must demand an explanation."
...
The scene was chaotic. The Nameless True Immortals could still maintain a semblance of composure. Ordinary Immortals, however, were already disturbed in their minds by the dire situation of being surrounded by the Great Dao Erasure, bordering on madness.
This was not solely due to the crisis of life and death, but also because, under the siege of the Great Dao Erasure, the Immortals slowly discovered that their "infinite" powers were also being affected.
This gradual erosion over time was, in a way, more terrifying than instant death.
In the center of the gathered Immortals, a group of Nameless ones were engaged in a decidedly different conversation.
"Fellow Daoists, have you heard any rumors about the 'Salvation Immortal Boat' today?"
"The Great Dao Erasure is upon us, disaster looms, and the Immortal Minister is not waking. This Salvation Immortal Boat is likely our only hope for survival. How could we not have heard of it? It's just..."
"This Immortal Boat's arrival is quite peculiar. We've never heard of it before."
"However, the claim that the Salvation Immortal Boat can traverse the Great Dao Erasure should be true. Although I haven't met the owner of the boat, I have encountered twelve Nameless individuals on board. To put it bluntly, any one of these twelve Nameless individuals is likely stronger than Lin Zhaoye."
"Brother Zhao, are you speaking the truth?"
"This is a matter of life and death. How could I speak rashly?"
"Even if the rumor of the Salvation Immortal Boat is true, the conditions for boarding are a bit too harsh. Either one must offer an ancient relic from the mountains and seas, or become a slave for 100,000 years. This..."
"Everyone, tell me, can we join forces and seize this so-called Salvation Immortal Boat?"
The Nameless individuals had been chatting amongst themselves, but upon hearing this, the room instantly fell silent.
Everyone turned to look at the speaker. It was a rather infamous Nameless True Immortal from the Qionglang Star Domain, "[Shuhū]". His cultivation path was related to instigating trouble and inciting others without restraint.
Anyone who followed [Shuhū]'s advice invariably met a terrible end.
Seeing the cold faces directed at him, [Shuhū] gave an awkward laugh, "My apologies, my apologies. It's just an old habit."
"At this critical juncture, some things cannot be said carelessly. The owner of this Immortal Boat is clearly a [Transcendent] expert. With the Great Dao Erasure upon us and the Immortal Realm breaking apart, with each star domain struggling for survival, in such a situation, the Salvation Immortal Boat is likely our only means of survival. Being a slave for 100,000 years is more acceptable than perishing."
"Moreover, although it is said to be 100,000 years of servitude, according to those twelve Nameless individuals, there are very few instances where they need to intervene. Not only can one, without transcending, personally experience the Great Dao Erasure and comprehend the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas, but there is also hope of being carried along to that legendary Other Shore Great World..."
After much discussion among the Immortals, the atmosphere became lively again. Many Nameless ones were clearly tempted.
"But, where exactly is this Salvation Immortal Boat now?"
The Nameless ones scanned the Qionglang Star Domain, trying to find any trace of the so-called Salvation Immortal Boat.
However, they found nothing.
Little did they know, within the dark clouds of the Great Dao Erasure surrounding the Qionglang Star Domain, a magnificent giant ship was anchored.
It was the Azure Nether Immortal World!
However, compared to before, the state of this Azure Nether Immortal World was somewhat strange.
It seemed crafted from mere phantom images, yet all living beings within the Azure Nether Heaven and Earth were entirely corporeal.
Liu Liangcai, one of the twelve True Immortals of the original possibility, had long since advanced to the Nameless Realm.
He arrived in the Outer Heavens of the Azure Nether Immortal World and reported his progress to Li Fan.
"So, this possibility is truly beyond saving?" Li Fan's voice, not revealing his true form, echoed from the distant horizon.
However, Liu Liangcai dared not show any disrespect and nodded with extreme solemnity, "As per my usual practice, I have gathered the usable populace. Ten years from now, when the Great Dao Erasure completely devours this possibility, the 'Ren Yin' Immortal Boat will be able to set sail again."
There was a long pause before Li Fan responded. Liu Liangcai's heart tightened, thinking Li Fan was displeased with the progress of his work, and he added, "If necessary, it will take five years. If we further agitate the Great Dao Erasure, we can accelerate the destruction of this possibility."
Only then did Li Fan reply, "I'll give you six months. Liangcai, you are ultimately too soft-hearted."
"I have already instructed you all: if you encounter a possibility that is still stable and prosperous, then quietly leave behind my phantom image and depart swiftly."
"If it is already targeted by the Great Dao Erasure and in a precarious state, then hasten its demise and gather usable people and things to strengthen the Immortal Boat."
"You have sailed in the mountains and seas for many years. Do you not know how vast they are, with countless possibilities? If each one were like you, dawdling, how much longer will it be until we complete our plan and sail towards the Other Shore?"
Though Li Fan's words were calm, cold sweat began to drip from Liu Liangcai's forehead.
"Six months... We will definitely set sail again in six months."
After saying this, Liu Liangcai felt a blur before his eyes and was instantly removed from the Outer Heavens of the Azure Nether.
As if a great burden had been lifted, he let out a long sigh of relief.
"The senior's might grows ever more terrifying."
Liu Liangcai's gaze shifted from the Azure Nether Immortal Boat to the outside, passing through the Great Dao Erasure and settling upon the Qionglang Star Domain.
"May my fellow Daoists perish, but I shall live. Please do not begrudge me..."
After only a moment's hesitation, Liu Liangcai made up his mind.
He still remembered the first time he personally caused the Great Dao Erasure to surge and engulf an entire possibility. Witnessing countless beings perish because of him, his heart felt as if it had endured endless heavenly retribution, and he was almost on the verge of collapse.
But later...
The more he did it, the more accustomed he became.
Muttering to himself, he bowed slightly to the Outer Heavens of the Azure Nether: "Please manifest the Ink Slaughter Sacred Body."
After a while, a black phantom image, as a response, quietly appeared in the world.
Without even looking, it plunged directly into the dark clouds of the Great Dao Erasure outside the Immortal Boat.
A moment later, the clouds churned and roiled as if a storm was gathering and descending, moving inch by inch towards the Qionglang Star Domain, which was already reduced to a mere corner.
"Your remaining time is not much," Liu Liangcai sighed softly.
...
And at this very moment, within the true Azure Nether Immortal Boat, Li Fan sensed that the Ink Slaughter had grown stronger again and nodded slightly.
Time had passed since he first set his plan to scatter the seeds of true spirits across the mountains and seas. For years, Li Fan had been diligently executing this plan.
Initially, it proceeded smoothly. With the Primordial Wood Staff, Ink Slaughter, and the Dao One Insect paving the way, the Azure Nether Immortal Boat could traverse different possibilities with ease, quietly leaving behind the seeds of true spirits.
But later, Li Fan discovered that while this method was indeed smooth, its efficiency was still too slow.
Despite being riddled with holes by the Great Dao Erasure, the mountains and seas were, after all, immensely vast.
At this pace, even if Li Fan lived his entire life, he would not be able to complete the plan of scattering true spirits across the threatening regions of the mountains and seas within his lifespan.
"To create a great fire that threatens the mountains and seas and the Other Shore, the initial sparks must cover at least one percent of the entire area of the mountains and seas. Only then, within the short period of my peril, can they ignite everywhere, and the fire of true spirits will burn mountains and boil seas."
"One percent of the mountains and seas may seem insignificant. However, for cultivators, it is an unimaginably vast number."
Only by personally experiencing it could one understand the "infinity" of the mountains and seas and the realm it represented.
Li Fan alone could never complete the set plan. Thus, he decisively changed his approach.
He utilized the feedback from the Heaven-Sitting Art to create phantom images of the Azure Nether Immortal World, crafting Azure Nether Immortal Boats with slightly weaker performance.
He then had the twelve True Immortals act as helmsmen, piloting these Immortal Boats to various corners of the mountains and seas in Li Fan's stead.
This was merely the first step.
Just as Li Fan had instructed Liu Liangcai earlier, the twelve True Immortals needed to wander through different possibilities, placing the seeds of true spirits.
Concurrently, they were to recruit useful individuals.
Following that, these newly recruited Nameless True Immortals would pilot new Azure Nether Immortal Boats to undertake another round of missions.
This cycle would repeat indefinitely.
"To date, I have nearly a thousand Azure Nether Immortal Boats under my command, sailing through different corners of the mountains and seas."
"But even so, the completion of the plan is still nowhere in sight," Li Fan sighed softly.
"Fortunately, I have not been without gains."
As more and more seeds of true spirits were placed, Li Fan, situated within the Great Dao Erasure, could clearly perceive the "selves" from different possibilities across the mountains and seas.
These spiritual essences, scattered across the mountains and seas, were like his eyes and tentacles, helping Li Fan to more comprehensively perceive the world.
"If in the past I was like a blind man trying to understand an elephant by touching its parts..."
"Then now, there are tens of thousands of people helping me to touch it."
"Although the giant elephant is enormous, its true form is slowly revealing itself."
"Just as I predicted before."
In Li Fan's mind, once again appeared a scene like a hollowed-out, rotted log.
Countless red star-like points were distributed across various parts of the log.
Although they had not yet occupied the majority of the area, they had already taken on a significant scale.
"The more I see and feel, the stronger I become."
"Just like what Evil Su Bai and the others pursued, the 'All Selves Unifying,' each possibility I complete means I absorb the self from that possibility."
"From one to ten thousand, and from ten thousand back to one."
"Both paths lead to the same destination."
And precisely because Li Fan himself was growing stronger, the Heaven-Sitting Art could continuously generate feedback power, condensing new phantom images of the Azure Nether Immortal World. This allowed Li Fan's plan of scattering sparks to proceed.
Of course, this plan was not always smooth sailing.
The Azure Nether Immortal Boats created by the phantom images, without the guidance of the Solitary Sail of Mountains and Seas, were considerably less stable within the Great Dao Erasure. If the tides of the Great Dao Erasure were stronger, they risked capsizing at any moment.
However, even if a phantom Immortal Boat was engulfed by the Great Dao Erasure, Li Fan suffered no significant losses. The Nameless True Immortals acting as helmsmen were innumerable across the mountains and seas. Even if they all perished, he could recruit more at any time.
The true variable came from the changes in the Great Dao Erasure.
Initially, Li Fan did not feel much.
However, when more and more, approximately one hundred phantom Azure Nether Immortal Boats were capsized in the Great Dao Erasure, Li Fan finally sensed something was amiss.
Outside the true Azure Nether Immortal Boat, the tides of the Great Dao Erasure had inexplicably grown stronger.
Only then did Li Fan understand: each time the Great Dao Erasure engulfed an Azure Nether Immortal Boat, even if it only consumed a phantom image, it still gained some understanding of the Azure Nether Immortal Boat.
After over a hundred Azure Nether Immortal Boats were destroyed, the Great Dao Erasure's erosion of the true Azure Nether Immortal World had undergone a qualitative change, rising to a new level.
This was what Li Fan perceived.
"This is what makes the Great Dao Erasure truly troublesome."
Thus, compelled by necessity, Li Fan, while maintaining the plan of scattering true spirit seeds, also had to minimize the rate of Immortal Boat destruction. He did not aim for 100% safety for the Immortal Boats, but at the very least, he had to ensure that the growth rate of his own strength surpassed the growth rate of the Great Dao Erasure's erosion capabilities.
Otherwise, before he could even finish scattering the seeds of true spirits, he would perish in the Great Dao Erasure himself.
This was also why Li Fan had spoken so much and been so patient with Liu Liangcai earlier.
In the past, Liu Liangcai would have been thrown into the Great Dao Erasure by Li Fan long ago!
With Li Fan's change of attitude, the phantom Immortal Boats were bolstered by forces like Ink Slaughter and the Dao One Insect, greatly reducing the accident rate. Not only was the efficiency of placing Li Fan's true spirits greatly improved, but it also unexpectedly gave rise to the birth of many "Transcendent experts."
One must understand that these "apostles," carrying Li Fan's orders, spent only a negligible fraction of their lives on missions in different possibilities.
For the vast majority of the time, they sailed through the boundless mountains and seas, constantly facing the Great Dao Erasure.
In a sense, this was an excellent proving ground for comprehending the true intent of transcendence.
In ordinary possibilities, there was no such suitable environment that allowed these Nameless True Immortals to come into such close contact with the Great Dao Erasure and still be able to meditate on the Dao with peace of mind.
Those chosen by Li Fan as apostles were all beings with extraordinary talent within their respective single possibilities.
It was not surprising that some seeds of transcendence emerged from among them.
Li Fan had also made it clear to all the "helmsman apostles" that if they could achieve transcendence and reach the Other Shore without the Azure Nether Immortal Boat, they were free to go.
The ten-thousand-year agreement would be nullified.
Should they meet again on the Other Shore in the future, they might have the opportunity to sit and discuss the Dao.
Li Fan was not afraid of his plan to scatter true spirits being leaked, because apart from the original twelve True Immortals, these newly joined helmsman apostles did not understand the fundamental reason why the Immortal Boats sailed to different possibilities.
They merely thought it was a unique cultivation method of Li Fan.
As for the original twelve True Immortals, they were always firmly under Li Fan's control.
"The cultivation method of 'All Selves Unifying' is indeed efficient."
"If I were to meet Evil Su Bai now, I could contend with him head-on, even without the pretense of borrowing power."
The Taiji wooden staff lay dying, its black and white faces at both ends becoming as thin as paper. The patterns on its body had almost entirely vanished, leaving only a few remnants.
Having survived the calamity, it had become thoroughly docile.
It was eager to accept the offerings from Li Fan's Azure Nether phantom. It even put on a fawning expression.
Only after a full meal did it slowly recover. But it didn't remain docile for long.
Just three days later, the Taiji wooden staff reverted to its old ways.
Having realized the immense power of Li Fan, it didn't attempt to attack him again this time. Instead, it leaped out of the boat and fled towards the "scent" it had sensed earlier in the Dao Erasure.
It was completely unaware that the Azure Nether Immortal Boat was closely following in its wake.
"Although this beast possesses some intelligence, its wisdom is truly lacking," remarked Ruan Ruiyu, the eldest of the Twelve True Immortals, a dwarf elder, with a chuckle upon seeing this.
"As Senior said, a beast is just a beast," the others chimed in agreement.
The Taiji wooden staff's memory was truly poor.
Each time it was left nearly dead after being tormented in the Dao Erasure, it would instinctively escape into it as soon as an opportunity arose. It seemed there was something on the Azure Nether Immortal Boat that was even more terrifying than the Dao Erasure.
After their initial jesting, the Twelve True Immortals finally sensed something was amiss. Even if the Taiji wooden staff lacked high intelligence, its survival instinct of seeking advantages and avoiding harm wouldn't be entirely absent. One or two escapes could be attributed to temporary foolishness driven by desire. But for it to persist like this...
The group looked at Li Fan, who stood independently at the bow of the boat, his expression unfathomable. A chill once again ran through their hearts.
The questions that were on the tip of their tongues were forcibly suppressed.
All Twelve True Immortals inwardly regretted boarding this "pirate ship." It was said to be sailing towards the Other Shore Great World, but judging from their current observations, Li Fan didn't seem inclined to bring them there easily.
However, other than staying on the boat and seeing it through to the end, they had no other options. Venturing into the Dao Erasure meant certain death. Resisting Li Fan might lead to an even quicker demise. Despite their myriad bitter feelings, the twelve brothers could only bear it silently.
The Twelve True Immortals were unaware that they had misunderstood Li Fan on this point.
It wasn't that he didn't want to journey to the Other Shore Great World with them.
Rather, Li Fan himself didn't know where this so-called Other Shore was, or how to get there.
"Theoretically speaking, amidst this vast sea of mountains and rivers, there should be numerous lighthouse-like beacons, guiding the specific direction of the Other Shore. New transcendent experts would only need to persist in finding the nearest lighthouse, then continuously sail towards the next one, and eventually reach the Other Shore Great World."
"But for some reason, after drifting in the Dao Erasure for such a long time, I have yet to see any trace of a lighthouse."
"There are two possibilities: Either I haven't condensed my own transcendent true intent, and thus cannot perceive the lighthouse even if it's right in front of me. This possibility is not very high, as the solitary sail above my head is not just for show."
"Alternatively, traversing the mountains and rivers simply requires this much time. As seen in the memories of my solitary sail, without directional guidance, the time required could drain the lifespan of even a transcendent expert. But if there were clear directional guidance..."
"Even if the time needed were reduced by a hundredfold, it would still be an unimaginably long period."
Li Fan was mentally prepared for this.
He didn't expect to reach the Other Shore anytime soon.
"When the purple-robed figure descended, they repeatedly mentioned 'not wanting to help with errands' and 'not making this trip for free.' This indicated that even in the eyes of an established transcendent expert like them, traversing from the Other Shore wasn't an insignificant expenditure."
"But previously, when the original possibility repeatedly involved those transcendent experts, they seemed to sense it instantly and descend..."
Sailing through the Dao Erasure, Li Fan felt a faint premonition.
In this vast sea of mountains and rivers, it seemed time did not flow.
Or rather, the passage of time only affected them.
No matter how long they stayed here, it wouldn't influence any of the possibilities in the mortal world.
This seemed incredible, but having once traveled against the flow of the River of Time, Li Fan could vaguely understand the reason.
"Leaving the mortal world and entering the mountains and rivers is like instantly leaping out of the River of Time. The moment you leap out, the River of Time seems to enter a state of relative frozenness. It only resumes its flow when you re-enter."
"If we consider the mountains and rivers itself as a large tree growing exuberantly from bottom to top, then the various possibilities in the mortal world are like the rings on the trunk of the tree."
"'Down' represents the past. 'Up' indicates the future."
"The rings representing possibilities are not just on a plane. They are three-dimensional, extending up and down the tree according to time."
"Originally, if the Dao Erasure didn't exist, the past and future of the mountains and rivers would be interconnected and complete. Those who could travel against time could freely and smoothly move about in different positions on the tree, above and below."
"But because of the appearance of the Dao Erasure, the Tree of Mountains and Rivers has been severed mid-trunk."
"Even if you can travel against time, your range of movement is limited to the section of the trunk you are currently in."
"Furthermore, the tissues that originally belonged to the trunk between the rings have been largely devoured by the Dao Erasure. Ordinary beings can only survive within the thin lines of the rings."
"When I traveled against the flow of the River of Time, it was from top to bottom, following the traces of the rings, moving vertically within the Tree of Mountains and Rivers. Traversing to transcend, however, means leaving the current ring line and moving across the cross-section of the Tree of Mountains and Rivers, resisting the Dao Erasure as you go."
"Whether moving horizontally or vertically, you are confined within a single trunk."
"As for the Other Shore Great World..."
Having personally traversed the mountains and rivers, Li Fan gained a concrete understanding of their structure.
However, even now, he couldn't imagine what kind of existence the Other Shore truly was.
"But one thing is certain: the Other Shore is completely independent of the myriad possibilities within the mountains and rivers."
"If I were to force an analogy, perhaps it could be seen as hollowing out a section of this trunk from top to bottom, creating a venue."
"A place that allows smooth travel to all time nodes of all possibilities, without needing to experience the River of Time or traverse the Dao Erasure..."
"If it truly possessed such capabilities, it would indeed be worthy of the name 'Other Shore'."
Li Fan envisioned the state of the Other Shore, his thoughts churning.
Meanwhile, the Taiji wooden staff, fleeing madly in the Dao Erasure, had, after dozens of attempts, finally led the Azure Nether Immortal Boat to a place where life force converged!
It wasn't a complete possibility, but rather an immortal coffin floating above the Dao Erasure!
It was unclear how long it had been drifting, but the surface of the immortal coffin had turned completely black.
Even from a distance, Li Fan and the Twelve True Immortals on the wooden boat could vaguely sense the ominous aura attached to it.
The Taiji wooden staff, however, was indiscriminate. Regardless of what was buried within this immortal coffin, it transformed into a black and white Taiji, directly covering the drifting immortal coffin, as if biting down hard.
The black and white Taiji diagram spun rapidly, causing the immortal coffin's light and shadow to distort and blur, slowly sinking into the vortex formed by the Taiji diagram.
Although the immortal coffin’s defenses were still intact, there were subtle signs of it being devoured by the Taiji diagram.
Just as the Taiji wooden staff was about to swallow the immortal coffin, Li Fan yanked on the reins, forcibly dragging it back from the Dao Erasure.
Back on the Azure Nether Immortal Boat, it still held the immortal coffin firmly in its jaws.
Li Fan flicked his fingers a few times, making the Taiji wooden staff dizzy and scattering the patterns and lines on its body. Only then did it reluctantly release its grip.
Hiding in a dark corner, it glared fiercely at Li Fan, who had snatched its prey.
Li Fan, however, was unconcerned. He calmly placed the immortal coffin before him.
On the wooden boat, the Twelve True Immortals' expressions grew solemn. Unconsciously, they drew closer together.
"Senior, there seems to be something ominous within this coffin," Ruan Ruiyu reminded him.
"Ominous..." Li Fan chuckled, completely unfazed.
He unsealed the coffin.
Instantly, infinite brilliance burst forth from within the coffin.
Black mist, accompanied by blood-red light, exuded a chilling and terrifying aura.
A figure clad in bright yellow imperial robes, exuding an unfathomable presence, suddenly appeared before Li Fan and his companions.
After a moment of silence, this figure coldly questioned, "Since you see this Emperor, why do you not bow?"
"Immort... Immortal Emperor?" Ruan Ruiyu stammered, stunned by the figure's appearance, and then cried out in disbelief.
Just as they were all shaken, this opulent figure suddenly attacked them.
The robes on its body gradually became tattered.
Its human head transformed into the head of a giant rat!
The Twelve True Immortals were captivated, on the verge of becoming food for the rat's maw.
"As expected, it's you."
Li Fan, as if anticipating this, summoned a transparent furnace. It rose like towering, encircling walls, sealing the Giant Rat Immortal within.
The Twelve True Immortals, shaken and full of lingering fear, looked at the monster within the furnace, which was gradually losing its human form and completely transforming into a giant rat.
Li Fan observed his old acquaintance, watching it struggle madly within the furnace, unable to break free.
"It seems I truly haven't strayed too far from the [Primordial]."
"I'm still within the range that the Guang Wu Star Sea can salvage from the Dao Erasure. To be more specific, it's still considered coastal waters."
The Rat Emperor before him was no different from the one he had seen in his previous life.
Having devoured an entire possibility, the Rat Emperor's power was undeniable. However, in Li Fan's present state, it was completely incapable of retaliating.
It was slowly refined within the furnace.
Becoming nourishment to reinforce the Azure Nether Immortal Boat.
Li Fan, with a blank expression, watched the Rat Emperor disintegrate within the furnace, turning into countless streaks of light.
Yet, his mind was pondering other matters: "I've obtained the Heavenly Emperor, allowing me to travel against the flow of the River of Time. However, when I returned to the Heavenly Emperor ten thousand years ago, the Heavenly Emperor at that past time node had also vanished. This proves that those who comprehend the principle of [Inversion] become special existences attached to the River of Time, traversing up and down the Tree of Mountains and Rivers."
"The transcendent experts at the Other Shore might also possess this ability, though likely by leveraging the unique properties of the Other Shore. If relying solely on their own Dao paths, they probably couldn't achieve this."
"However, whether they are inversive entities or transcendent beings, they should be unique existences within a severed section of the Tree of Mountains and Rivers. Regardless of the time node where they perish, it counts as complete death. Even so-called temporal reversals cannot change this."
"As for the Return to Truth..."
Li Fan frowned slightly.
"As a power on par with the mountains and rivers, it can directly reset and restore the state of the Tree of Mountains and Rivers."
"As long as it doesn't exceed the scope of the mountains and rivers, it will be influenced by it."
"However, I cannot yet confirm whether the range of influence of Return to Truth is merely the section of the Tree of Mountains and Rivers I am currently in, or the entire mountains and rivers..."
"There is one way to verify this."
"Mound Guardian Gong!"
"In my previous life, Mound Guardian Gong was not within the mountains and rivers, but rather in the Eternal Void Realm, outside the trunk of the Tree of Mountains and Rivers. If Return to Truth did not affect him, then he must still possess some memories of my past life and of Bearing the Dao." At this thought, Li Fan's heart tightened.
"It seems that after reaching the Other Shore Great World, even if Return to Truth awakens, I cannot use it carelessly. At least, until I understand this matter clearly, I should try not to expose myself in the eyes of those Saints."
Li Fan naturally didn't dare to directly question Mound Guardian Gong for an explanation.
In fact, Zi Yi and Bearing the Dao, two individuals Mound Guardian Gong could interact with, could potentially become triggers for Return to Truth's exposure.
Bearing the Dao was manageable, being trapped within the Azure Nether Immortal Boat by Li Fan's "sitting and discussing the Dao."
As for Zi Yi, she was beyond Li Fan's control.
"I can only hope that the range of influence of Return to Truth is larger."
"Otherwise, I fear I might have to flee at the first sign of trouble before even reaching the Other Shore." Li Fan tried to suppress the sense of urgency in his heart.
Li Fan was not one to worry needlessly.
However, based on his current deductions, the existence of Return to Truth already presented a potential for exposure. He naturally had to make preparations for the future.
"To abandon the goal due to a small obstacle is unacceptable."
"Blind optimism and making no preparations is also unacceptable."
However, after reviewing all the powers he could wield, Li Fan had yet to find a way to escape unscathed in front of Mound Guardian Gong.
"Among the ranks of Saints, their only concern is the survival of the mountains and rivers."
"The only thing that could make them slightly wary is my newly learned secret art, [True Spirit Incineration]."
"This technique..."
A sharp glint flashed in Li Fan's eyes, and he made a decision: "I must utilize it well."
"Although the True Spirit Incineration technique has the effect of burning mountains and boiling seas, its drawback is that the True Spirit Fire spreads too slowly."
"Unless..."
"I am prepared beforehand. I will scatter the seeds of fire across different possibilities and time nodes within the mountains and rivers!"
"A single spark can start a prairie fire, and my infinite spirituality is enough for me alone to spread these seeds throughout the mountains and rivers."
"At that time, with a single thought from me, the mountains and rivers will burn."
"Although it is highly probable that the transcendent experts of the Other Shore will join forces to extinguish it before the mountains and rivers are fully engulfed in flames, and the spirituality I expend will also become nourishment for the mountains and rivers, a heavily damaged mountain and river might not survive the erosion of the Dao Erasure."
"The transcendent beings of the Other Shore... dare not gamble!"
"This deterrent should be effective."
Li Fan pondered repeatedly, and the unease in his heart gradually subsided.
"It seems I need to make thorough preparations before heading to the Other Shore."
"Coincidentally, by proceeding slowly, I can lay down hidden traps in every possibility I reach."
"Other transcendent experts are 'Many Selves Unite as One.' However, I will be 'One Becoming Many'!"
"Heh heh..."
In the Immortal Realm, within the Qionglang Star Domain.
Tens of thousands of True Immortals gathered, many of them Nameless Immortals.
"The Immortal Minister has been in seclusion the entire time. We need to find a solution quickly."
"The nearby Xuanque Star Domain, Suibeng Star Domain, and Doubiao Star Domain have all been swallowed by the Dao Erasure. It seems our Qionglang Star Domain isn't far from destruction!"
"The critical issue is that the Dao Erasure has created an impassable path, making our Qionglang Star Domain a closed-off land. There's no escape, no way out."
"Everyone, everyone, don't panic and disrupt yourselves. I already sent a message to the Immortal Minister long ago. He's replied and will come out of seclusion in the next few days to organize the resistance against the tribulation..."
"We only have a few days left! By the time he, Lin Zhaoye, comes out, we'll all be dead!"
"No, he must come out today and give us an explanation."
The scene descended into chaos. The Nameless True Immortals could still maintain a semblance of composure. However, ordinary Immortals, in their desperate situation surrounded by the Dao Erasure, had already lost their minds, teetering on the edge of madness.
This disturbance wasn't solely due to the life-or-death crisis. It was also because, under the siege of the Dao Erasure, the Immortals slowly began to realize that their "infinite" powers were being affected. This gradual erosion, which intensified with the passage of time, was, in a way, more terrifying than instant death.
In the center of the assembled Immortals, a group of Nameless Immortals convened. Their private discussions were of a completely different nature.
"Fellow Daoists, have you heard the rumors about the 'Salvation Immortal Boat' today?"
"The Dao Erasure is approaching, disaster looms, and the Immortal Minister remains unconscious. This Salvation Immortal Boat is likely our only hope for escape. How could we not have heard of it? It's just..."
"This Immortal Boat's arrival is quite peculiar. We've never heard of it before."
"However, the claim that the Salvation Immortal Boat can traverse the Dao Erasure should be true. Although I haven't met the master of the boat, I have met the twelve Nameless Immortals on board. To be blunt, any one of these twelve Nameless Immortals is probably stronger than Lin Zhaoye."
"Brother Zhao, is what you say true?"
"This is a matter of life and death. How could I speak carelessly?"
"Even if the rumors about the Salvation Immortal Boat are true, the conditions for boarding are quite harsh. Either offer an ancient relic from the Mountains and Seas, or become a slave for a hundred thousand years. This..."
"Fellow Daoists, what do you say? If we join forces, can we seize this so-called Salvation Immortal Boat?"
The Nameless Immortals had been chatting casually, but as soon words were spoken, the hall abruptly fell silent. Everyone's gaze turned to the speaker – it was "Shu Hu," a notorious Nameless True Immortal in the Qionglang Star Domain. His cultivation path was related to fanning flames and provoking others without any moral boundaries. Anyone who followed Shu Hu's advice invariably met a terrible end.
Seeing their cold faces, Shu Hu chuckled awkwardly, "My apologies, my apologies. It's just a habit of speaking."
"At this critical juncture, some words should not be spoken carelessly. The master of this Immortal Boat is clearly a Transcended expert. Now that the Dao Erasure tribulation has arrived, the Immortal Realm is falling apart, and each star domain is struggling for survival. In such circumstances, the Salvation Immortal Boat is likely our only hope of survival. Being a slave for a hundred thousand years is still acceptable compared to perishing."
"Moreover, although it's called being a slave for a hundred thousand years, according to those twelve Nameless Immortals, there are very few situations where they need to take action. Not only can you experience the Dao of Mountains and Seas with your non-transcended body by the Dao Erasure, but there's also the hope of being brought along to the legendary Other Shore Great World..."
After a period of discussion among the Immortals, the atmosphere became lively again. Many Nameless Immortals were clearly tempted.
"But, where exactly is this Salvation Immortal Boat now?"
The Nameless Immortals scanned the Qionglang Star Domain, searching for any trace of the so-called Salvation Immortal Boat. However, they found nothing.
They were unaware that amidst the dark clouds of the Dao Erasure surrounding the Qionglang Star Domain, a magnificent giant ship was anchored. It was the Azure Nether Immortal Realm! However, compared to its previous state, the Azure Nether Immortal Realm appeared peculiar. It seemed to be constructed from phantoms, yet all the beings within the Azure Nether Heaven and Earth were in a completely physical state.
Liu Liangcai, once one of the twelve True Immortals of primordial possibility, had long since ascended to the Nameless realm. He entered the Azure Nether Immortal Realm's Heaven Beyond Heaven to report his progress to Li Fan.
"So, this possibility is indeed beyond saving?" Li Fan's voice, not revealing his true form, carried faintly from the horizon.
However, Liu Liangcai dared not be negligent and nodded with utmost seriousness, "As per my routine, I have collected all usable populace. Ten years from now, when the Dao Erasure completely engulfs this possibility, the Immortal Boat Renyin will be able to set sail again."
Li Fan remained silent for a long time. Liu Liangcai's heart tightened, thinking Li Fan was displeased with his progress. He added, "Five years. If we stir up the Dao Erasure further, we can accelerate the destruction of this possibility."
Only then did Li Fan reply, "I'll give you six months. Liangcai, you are ultimately too soft-hearted."
"I have long instructed you all. If you encounter a possibility that is still stable and prosperous, then quietly leave behind my phantom and swiftly depart."
"If it has already attracted the attention of the Dao Erasure and is in a precarious state, then hasten its demise, gather usable people and things, and expand the Immortal Boat."
"You have sailed in the Mountains and Seas for many years. Do you not know how vast the Mountains and Seas are, with countless possibilities? If each one is like you, slow and hesitant, how long will it take for us to complete our plan and sail to the Other Shore?"
Though Li Fan's words were calm, cold sweat began to trickle down Liu Liangcai's forehead.
"Six months... Six months from now, we will definitely set sail again."
After saying this, Liu Liangcai felt a blur before his eyes and found himself outside the Azure Nether Heaven Beyond Heaven. He let out a long sigh of relief.
"Senior's might grows ever more terrifying."
Liu Liangcai's gaze shifted past the Azure Nether Immortal Realm and, piercing through the Dao Erasure, landed on the Qionglang Star Domain.
"Fellow Daoists perish, but I shall survive. Please do not blame me..."
After a moment of hesitation, Liu Liangcai made up his mind. He remembered the first time he personally orchestrated the surging Dao Erasure, engulfing an entire possibility. Witnessing countless beings perish because of him, his heart felt as if it had endured an endless divine punishment, and he had almost collapsed. But later... he did it more often, and gradually became accustomed to it.
He muttered prayers and bowed slightly towards the Azure Nether Heaven Beyond Heaven, "Please, Malevolent Slaughter Sacred Body."
After a long while, a black phantom appeared silently in the world as a response. Without a glance, it plunged directly into the dark clouds of the Dao Erasure outside the Immortal Boat.
Moments later, the winds and clouds churned as if a storm had descended, inching its way towards the Qionglang Star Domain, which was already on its last leg.
"Your remaining time is not much," Liu Liangcai sighed softly.
...
Meanwhile, within the true Azure Nether Immortal Realm, Li Fan sensed that the Malevolent Slaughter had grown stronger again and nodded slightly.
He didn't know how much time had passed since he first established the plan to scatter True Spirit seeds throughout the Mountains and Seas. For years, Li Fan had been diligently executing this plan. Initially, things went smoothly. With the Taiji Wooden Staff, the Malevolent Slaughter, and the Dao One Insect paving the way, the Azure Nether Immortal Boat could pass through different possibilities with ease, quietly leaving behind True Spirit seeds.
However, Li Fan later discovered that while this method was smooth, its efficiency was still too slow. Even though the Mountains and Seas were battered and riddled with the erosion of the Dao Erasure, they were still too vast. At this rate, even if Li Fan lived his entire life, he would not be able to complete the plan of scattering True Spirits that posed a threat to the Mountains and Seas within his lifetime.
"To create a great fire threatening the Mountains and Seas and the Other Shore, the initial sparks must cover at least one percent of the entire Mountains and Seas. Only then can they ignite everywhere in a short period when I am in danger, burning mountains and boiling seas with the fire of True Spirits."
"One percent of the Mountains and Seas, though seemingly insignificant, represents an unimaginably vast number for cultivators."
Only through direct experience could one comprehend the realm represented by the "infinity" of the Mountains and Seas. It was impossible for Li Fan alone to complete the predetermined plan. Thus, he decisively changed his strategy. He used the feedback from the Heaven-Sitting Art to create a slightly weaker phantom of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm. He then had the twelve True Immortals act as helmsmen, replacing Li Fan, to pilot these Immortal Boats to various parts of the Mountains and Seas.
This was only the first step. As Li Fan had instructed Liu Liangcai just now, the twelve True Immortals needed to traverse different possibilities and plant True Spirit seeds. Simultaneously, they were to subdue useful individuals. Subsequently, these newly recruited Nameless True Immortals would pilot new Azure Nether Immortal Boats to carry out the next round of missions. This process would repeat continuously.
"To date, I have nearly a thousand Azure Nether Immortal Boats under my command, sailing in different corners of the Mountains and Seas."
"Even so, the completion of the plan is still a distant prospect." Li Fan sighed softly.
"Fortunately, I have not been without gains." As True Spirit seeds were placed, Li Fan, situated within the Dao Erasure, could clearly sense the "selves" from different possibilities in the Mountains and Seas. These scattered spiritual essences in the Mountains and Seas were like his eyes and tentacles, helping Li Fan to observe the Mountains and Seas more comprehensively.
"If in the past I was like a blind man feeling an elephant."
"Now, it's like tens of thousands of people are helping me feel it."
"Although the giant elephant is huge, its true form is slowly being revealed."
"Just as I predicted."
In Li Fan's mind, an image of a termite-eaten piece of wood reappeared. Countless red star-like points were distributed across its surface. Although they did not occupy the majority of the area, they had already formed a considerable presence.
"The more I see and feel, the stronger I become."
"Just like the 'Thousand Selves Unifying' that Evil Su Bai and the others pursued, every time I complete the placement in a possibility, it means I absorb the self from that possibility."
"From one to ten thousand, and from ten thousand back to one."
"Different paths leading to the same destination."
It was precisely because Li Fan himself grew stronger that the Heaven-Sitting Art could continuously provide feedback, condensing new phantoms of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm. This supported Li Fan's plan of scattering sparks. Of course, this plan was not always smooth sailing. The phantom-built Azure Nether Immortal Boats, without the anchoring presence of the Lone Sail of Mountains and Seas, were far less stable in the Dao Erasure. If the Dao Erasure's storms became more intense, they risked capsize at any moment.
However, even if the phantom Immortal Boats were swallowed by the Dao Erasure, Li Fan suffered no significant losses. The Nameless True Immortals serving as helmsmen were countless throughout the Mountains and Seas. Even if they all perished, he could recruit more at any time. The real variable lay in the changes of the Dao Erasure itself.
Initially, Li Fan didn't feel much. However, when about a hundred phantom Azure Nether Immortal Boats capsized in the Dao Erasure, Li Fan finally sensed something was amiss. The waves of the Dao Erasure outside the true Azure Nether Immortal Realm had inexplicably intensified. It was then that Li Fan realized: each time the Dao Erasure swallowed an Azure Nether Immortal Boat, even though it only engulfed a phantom, it still gained a deeper understanding of the Azure Nether Immortal Realm. After over a hundred Azure Nether Immortal Boats were destroyed, the Dao Erasure's corrosive effect on the true Azure Nether Immortal Realm had qualitatively increased. This was what Li Fan perceived.
"This is the truly troublesome aspect of the Dao Erasure."
Therefore, Li Fan was compelled to not only maintain the plan of scattering True Spirit seeds but also to minimize the rate of Immortal Boat destruction. He didn't expect the Immortal Boats to be a hundred percent safe, but at the very least, he needed to ensure that the growth rate of his own strength surpassed the growth rate of the Dao Erasure's corrosive capabilities. Otherwise, before he could even finish scattering the True Spirit seeds, he himself would perish in the Dao Erasure.
This was also why Li Fan had spoken so patiently to Liu Liangcai earlier. In the past, Liu Liangcai would have long been thrown into the Dao Erasure by Li Fan!
With Li Fan's change in attitude, and with the support of forces like the Malevolent Slaughter and the Dao One Insect, the accident rate of the phantom Immortal Boats greatly decreased. This not only significantly improved the efficiency of placing Li Fan's True Spirits but also unexpectedly catalyzed the birth of many "Transcended experts."
One must understand that for these "apostles" carrying Li Fan's commands, the time spent on missions in different possibilities occupied only a negligible fraction of their lives. For the vast majority of the time, they sailed through the boundless Mountains and Seas, constantly facing the Dao Erasure. In a sense, this was an excellent place for comprehending the True Intent of Transcendence. In ordinary possibilities, such suitable environments that allowed these Nameless True Immortals to come into such close contact with the Dao Erasure while still being able to meditate were nonexistent. The individuals Li Fan chose as apostles were all exceptionally talented beings within their respective possibilities. It was not surprising that some seeds of transcendence emerged from among them.
Li Fan had also made it clear to all the "helmsman apostles" that if they could achieve transcendence and reach the Other Shore on their own without the Azure Nether Immortal Boat, they were free to go. The ten-thousand-year agreement would be void. Perhaps they could discuss the Dao together again on the Other Shore in the future. Li Fan wasn't afraid of his True Spirit scattering plan being leaked because, apart from the original twelve True Immortals, these newly joined helmsman apostles did not know the fundamental reason why the Immortal Boats sailed to different possibilities. They simply thought it was Li Fan's unique cultivation method. As for the original twelve True Immortals, they remained firmly under Li Fan's control.
"The cultivation method of 'Thousand Selves Unifying' is indeed efficient."
"If I were to meet Evil Su Bai again now, even without using the pretense of borrowing power for deterrence, I could at least exchange a few blows with him head-on."
“Crossing the Mountains and Seas? Devouring the Mountains and Seas, transforming the Mountains and Seas!”
“Devour! Devour! Devour…”
In Li Fan’s eyes, the Mountains and Seas were no longer a continuous illusion, but rather like delicious food that exuded a fatal attraction.
The black qi that shot up into the sky was the seductive aura emanating from the Mountains and Seas themselves!
It was the ancient taste of the Mountains and Seas!
Just like when he was a mortal cultivator and first saw the Ink Slaughter. An intense craving, originating from the depths of his soul, was suddenly born, and then it sought to completely dominate Li Fan’s consciousness.
It had nothing to do with cultivation realm or strength, and it ignored innate talent or disposition. As long as one still possessed "desire," it would be ignited by the black fragments and amplified countless times, leading to greed for the Mountains and Seas.
Cultivators within the Mountains and Seas already harbored a certain yearning for them. If they were further enticed, any hidden desires in their hearts would almost certainly be ignited. The higher one’s strength, the more likely they were to pose a substantive threat to the Mountains and Seas, and the more so would this be!
Just as Li Fan was thinking now: “Everything I slaughter, everything I kill, can be transformed into my food. Now that the true spirit fire seeds have spread throughout the Mountains and Seas, all it takes is a great fire to turn them into a sea of crimson flames!”
“Blazing fires, ashes filling the sky. Delicious, delectable…”
The more he thought, the more Li Fan felt his plan was likely to succeed, and the more impulsive he became.
“Should I really try it?” A dangerous glint flashed in Li Fan’s eyes.
One of these myriad divided consciousnesses, having been bewitched and persuaded, actually attempted to send a signal of rebellion to his main body.
“Calm down.”
However, at this moment, an icy voice reappeared in Li Fan’s mind.
It was like a distant echo of the bewitching voice, completely unaffected by it.
This voice originated from Li Fan himself!
This Li Fan, who remained clear-headed, was transformed from the dense swarm of Dao One Insects.
It was his main body, sensing something was amiss, ordering the Dao One Insects to the rescue.
Although it was only a strand of divine sense, under the current circumstances, it was actually more clear-headed than Li Fan’s divided consciousnesses.
This was the effect of the Dao One Insect swarm constantly adapting to the madness and temptation brought about by the black fragments!
With the reminder from the Dao One Insect consciousness, Li Fan’s consciousness at this location instantly woke up from its dazed state.
Strictly speaking, he had not been completely bewitched just now.
After all, he had repeatedly rehearsed the idea of attempting to burn the Mountains and Seas in his mind several times before. But each time, Li Fan had ultimately rejected it.
Even without the Dao One Insect consciousness this time, he would likely not have truly attempted to “devour the Mountains and Seas.”
But it was undeniable that Li Fan had indeed been somewhat influenced by this black fragment.
As a result, he had temporarily lost the ability to consider the future and the overall situation, focusing only on the immediate gains and losses, as if his eyes had been blinded.
With the calibration and assistance of the Dao One Insect swarm’s consciousness, Li Fan finally calmed down completely, no longer swayed by the constant bewitching voices in his ears.
After the insect-transformed consciousness completely swallowed the source of the bewitchment, the Mountains and Seas in Li Fan’s vision finally returned to their normal appearance.
But the faint “fragrance” emanating from the Mountains and Seas had not completely disappeared.
Instead, it still persisted.
Li Fan looked at his hand, at the black fragment that had already been digested by the Dao One Insects.
Its physical form no longer existed in the mortal world, but the outline of the fragment still depicted its original appearance.
He clenched his right hand, but his hand grasped empty air. All five fingers passed straight through the fragment, as if its existence were merely Li Fan’s hallucination.
“In the eyes of the Dao One Insects, they have completed their mission. The black fragment has disappeared. However…”
Li Fan pondered, summoning a True Immortal Apostle from the Azure Nether Immortal Boat moored in the Dao Erasure. He finally confirmed that, apart from Li Fan, no one else could see this “invisible” fragment.
Furthermore, this invisible fragment only existed attached to Li Fan.
No matter where Li Fan went, it would always follow.
“Does it pose any threat?”
Li Fan gently stroked the invisible fragment in his hand.
He was currently just one of myriad divine senses. If he encountered an uncontrollable situation, this divine sense could instantly dissipate itself, cutting off any possibility of it affecting his main body.
This was a contingency plan Li Fan had formulated from the very beginning when he dispatched countless Azure Nether Immortal Boats to all corners of the Mountains and Seas, so he was not worried about the safety of his main body.
The instructions from his main body also allowed him to research it with peace of mind.
Now, he had no more reservations.
“If I’m not mistaken, even after the Dao One Insects evolved over many years, they only managed to consume the outer shell of this black fragment. Its true core is not on the same level as the current Dao One Insects, which is why they were blind to it.”
“And the reason I can see it…”
Li Fan already had a vague guess in his heart.
“I possess Return to Truth, and by chance attained the Great Dao of Longevity. I have even personally experienced the tribulation of the three Daos merging. These are all things on par with the Mountains and Seas. Therefore…”
“The owner of this black fragment is probably an existence on the same level as the Mountains and Seas?”
Li Fan narrowed his eyes, pondering carefully, but still could not draw a conclusion.
The Mountains and Seas were vast and boundless, yet he encountered something that could be compared to them so quickly and by chance?
Given Li Fan’s nature, it was inevitable that a trace of suspicion would arise in his heart.
But upon closer consideration, many years had passed since the Primordial Destruction and his initial journey across the Mountains and Seas.
During these years, the myriad Azure Nether Immortal Boats had almost traversed every corner of the Mountains and Seas. Time and space had accumulated to a certain extent. Discovering a fragment left behind by an existence on par with the Mountains and Seas did not seem like a coincidence, but rather an inevitability.
“With my large-scale exploration, as long as there are fragments left by existences on par with the Mountains and Seas in the mortal world, I will almost certainly find them.”
Li Fan suppressed the doubts in his heart.
He began to carefully study the invisible fragment beside him.
Only he could observe the fragment’s existence, and his research could not be assisted by others. Fortunately, it was just a divine sense that could be discarded at any time, so there were no worries.
“The first step is to find a way to have substantive contact with this fragment.”
Although the invisible fragment surrounded Li Fan, he could not truly touch it, whether by touching it or using his divine sense. Even when Li Fan used the methods of the Dao Refining Medicine King Scripture to place it in a grand furnace, he could not perceive its existence.
“For an existence on par with the Mountains and Seas, one can only see, touch, and comprehend it by being on the same level as the Mountains and Seas.”
Li Fan suddenly recalled his experience when he comprehended the Great Dao of Longevity in his previous life.
As the true disciple of Mound Guardian, Cheng Dao, who cultivated tirelessly for eons, his comprehension of "Longevity" was not as profound as Li Fan’s momentary cultivation while sitting. This was precisely because Li Fan possessed Return to Truth and, to some extent, was on the same level as the Mountains and Seas.
“Although Return to Truth is currently dormant, I can still utilize some of the transformations between truth and falsehood to barely achieve being on the same level as the Mountains and Seas.”
“However, the information of this fragment is unclear. If I were to act so rashly, I might repeat the same mistake and bring about a disaster like the tribulation of the three Daos…”
After careful consideration, Li Fan had an idea.
“Why not borrow Mound Guardian’s Great Dao of Longevity again?”
Over the years, during his discussions with Cheng Dao, Li Fan had indirectly confirmed that Mound Guardian was indeed within the Eternal Void Realm. Even if he were to activate the residual power of Longevity within his body, Mound Guardian would not be able to return immediately if he sensed it.
“Moreover, according to Cheng Dao, the Mountains and Seas are boundless. There are likely quite a few people who have obtained Mound Guardian's Longevity Seed. Perhaps Mound Guardian even urgently hopes that someone will truly inherit his mantle in these Mountains and Seas. This way, he can proceed to more ancient Mountains and Seas without any worries.”
After much deliberation, Li Fan no longer had any reservations.
After a brief communication with his main body, a surge of vitality inexplicably emerged from within him. His body, which had become incredibly solidified after consuming the possibilities of the Garbage Mountain, now became indistinguishable from his true body due to the appearance of this power of Longevity.
Even Li Fan himself found it difficult to distinguish the difference between his current form and his main body.
Adjusting his posture, he brought the surrounding invisible fragment before him. Li Fan spat out a mouthful of blood, its boundless vitality, like a surging river, inundating the fragment.
As expected, the invisible fragment, which had shown no reaction to any other external existence, finally changed upon contact with the power of Longevity.
Countless lines appeared within the fragment, resembling mirrors.
Each mirror reflected the scene of the continuous Mountains and Seas.
What shocked Li Fan most was that the Mountains and Seas in the mirrors were not unified!
In other words, the integration of the Mountains and Seas had not yet reached its current extent.
Now, the Mountains and Seas were intertwined, with each containing the other, making it difficult to distinguish their boundaries.
Li Fan could even clearly see the countless possibilities floating and sinking at the edge of the Infinite Sea, crashing against the Mountains and Seas above, turning into spray and dust!
“This is the state of the Mountains and Seas when they first began to merge, as depicted in the Allegory of Mountains and Seas!”
Li Fan’s heart stirred as he attempted to see more clearly.
However, as the power of Longevity he expelled gradually disappeared,
the fragment returned to its normal appearance.
“How is this possible? The power of the Great Dao of Longevity is disappearing so quickly?”
Li Fan’s heart immediately became alarmed.
He knew that it had taken him considerable effort to expel the power of Longevity from his body. He had continuously sprayed blood, nurtured the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, and it had taken decades of continuous effort to achieve any effect.
Theoretically speaking, the power of Longevity contained in the mouthful of blood Li Fan had just expelled should have lasted for a million years without dissipating under normal circumstances.
But now…
“The fragment is absorbing it.”
Li Fan stared at the invisible fragment, which seemed no different from before, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
Perhaps it sensed that Li Fan was of the same kind.
The fragment’s attachment and adherence to Li Fan became even closer.
Without deliberate prompting, the fragment would actively “follow” Li Fan.
Li Fan hesitated for a moment before finally deciding to continue.
With another infusion of the power of Longevity, the initial scene of the merging Mountains and Seas reappeared within the fragment.
This time, with Li Fan prepared, he saw more clearly.
“There are living beings in the Mountains and Seas!”
“Born from the sea, attempting to ascend the mountains…”
Although these were only rapidly flashing fragments, Li Fan could still glimpse what was recorded in the Allegory of Mountains and Seas left by Sun Pianmiao.
Waves crashed against mountains, and countless civilizations and living beings turned into dust.
But in the Infinite Sea, new civilizations would always be born.
Continuously exploring and conquering the Mountains and Seas.
It was like a cycle, or perhaps a predetermined fate.
Once again, after the Mountains and Seas trembled and civilizations were annihilated.
The Mountains and Seas fell into a rare period of tranquility.
However, something extraordinary happened.
The Infinite Sea seemed to boil, and as countless possibilities evaporated, a terrifying roar faintly echoed from the depths of the seabed.
It wafted upwards towards the Mountains and Seas above, resounding continuously among the peaks.
It was like a symphony of Mountains and Seas, magnificent, resplendent, and deeply moving.
It was a wondrous scene that words could hardly describe.
Li Fan stared blankly at this scene, only regaining his senses long after the imagery within the fragment had disappeared.
“This is only what the invisible fragment recorded.”
“What truly played out in the Mountains and Seas back then must have been incredibly spectacular.”
Li Fan let out a long sigh.
He now understood what he had seen in the fragment just now.
It was the communication between the Infinite Sea and the Mountains and Seas above!
“If described in human language, it would be the dialogue between ‘Mountains’ and ‘Seas’ that I saw in the Allegory of Mountains and Seas before.”
“However…”
“The communication between Mountains and Seas was by no means limited to this.”
“This was the tendency of the Upper Mountains and the Infinite Sea to merge, as well as their mutual resistance to this destined union. And also…”
Even with Li Fan’s current knowledge, it was difficult to decipher even a fraction of its meaning.
But just by faintly hearing the echoes from the Mountains and Seas, Li Fan felt his comprehension of the essence of the Mountains and Seas constantly improving.
His enlightenment efficiency surpassed that of drifting in the Dao Erasure by thousands, even tens of thousands of times.
After all, one was a macroscopic overview, while the other was being lost in the infinite microscopic interior. The two perspectives were fundamentally incomparable.
“If I can comprehend the principles within, then transcending through my own power…”
“Will be a piece of cake!”
Li Fan was immersed in the majestic roar of the Mountains and Seas, unable to extricate himself.
Unfortunately, the scenes recorded in this invisible fragment seemed to be limited.
Afterward, even though Li Fan continuously infused it with the power of Longevity, the fragment only displayed repetitive imagery.
This disappointed Li Fan somewhat.
“It’s probably not hiding something intentionally, but rather that it truly only recorded this segment of the scene.”
“From my perspective from the outside, it only takes a dozen seconds to fully play the recorded scene. But if measured by the time scale of the mortal world…”
“It probably spans billions of years.”
“That’s a history far longer than Mound Guardian’s lifespan.”
Although Mound Guardian attained the Great Dao of Longevity, the time point he occupied was already the late stage of the merging of Mountains and Seas.
Compared to the extremely long lifespan of Mountains and Seas, it only occupied an extremely insignificant portion.
“This fragment has managed to survive from the beginning of the merging of Mountains and Seas to the present day.”
“Just how…”
Although no new images appeared, Li Fan still chose to continue infusing it with the power of Longevity.
Because he had discovered that as the power of Longevity was continuously infused, low murmurs gradually emanated from the fragment.
Unlike the previous bewitching voices, this time, it was the fragment attempting to communicate.
The people of the [Black] Dynasty had long since grown accustomed to life and death. For the future of their dynasty, they could readily sacrifice themselves at any moment, whether as individual possibilities or as the collective sum of their existence across the mountains and seas.
It was for this very reason that the Mountain and Sea Sacrifices of old had the audacity to stake the lives of all beings in the dynasty on a seemingly ethereal plan. For they knew that even if only one person of the [Black] Dynasty remained, as long as they awaited the Dawn of the Stars and successfully completed the sublimation, the [Black] Dynasty could be rebuilt beyond the mountains and seas!
What they hadn't anticipated was how quickly and tempestuously the calamity would strike.
The plan had barely begun when the Tide of Dao Erasure swept through the dynasty like a tsunami, engulfing everything.
"The mountains and seas seem to have perceived our actions and specifically obstructed us..."
Even as a mere fragment, the Mountain and Sea Sacrifice still harbored resentment over the dynasty's destruction. He earnestly declared this to Li Fan.
Furthermore, he meticulously recounted the time and scale of the disaster, emphasizing how utterly unreasonable it was.
Initially, Li Fan dismissed it as the Mountain and Sea Sacrifice's one-sided narrative, twisted by his unwillingness to accept the loss of his dynasty. However, as he listened, he began to notice the peculiar details.
The Calamity of Dao Erasure was, in essence, the fusion of mountains and seas.
This implied that the scale of Dao Erasure generated in the early stages of fusion should have been far less significant than what was described. But the calamity that devoured the [Black] Dynasty...
"At that time, the [Black] Dynasty was spread across all mountains and seas, yet the Dao Erasure should have only occurred in the areas where the mountains and seas were beginning to merge," Li Fan thought, his expression growing solemn.
In the countless years he survived as a fragment after the calamity, the Mountain and Sea Sacrifice had used his remaining consciousness to ponder the reasons behind it all. Ultimately, he concluded that the consciousness of the mountains and seas had detected the plan of the [Black] Dynasty's beings to transcend.
This, in the eyes of the mountains and seas, was an utter betrayal. Hence, they had delivered their punishment. This was the explanation.
This also explained the intense desire to swallow mountains and seas that Li Fan had felt when he first encountered the fragment.
While the beings of the [Black] Dynasty seemed innocent, upon deeper reflection, they were born from the mountains and seas. Now, as the mountains and seas faced a calamity, they offered no support, made no contributions. Instead, their first thought was to surrender to an unknown entity beyond the mountains and seas...
Even if the mountains and seas were no match for the [Stars], couldn't they at least deal with their parasitic offspring?
"It's understandable," Li Fan mused, shifting his perspective. "If this assumption is correct, it serves as a warning. The Boundless Sea and Mount Shang are great entities with their own wills, not mere playthings. When I undertake the act of burning mountains and boiling seas in the future, I may have to guard against the retaliation of the mountains and seas."
Though he thought this, Li Fan didn't show it. Instead, he posed a question to the Mountain and Sea Sacrifice. The [Black] Dynasty was indeed destroyed by Dao Erasure, but Dao Erasure was a force that even the mountains and seas couldn't control. If the mountains and seas wished to punish the [Black] Dynasty, they could have done so in countless ways. Why choose a method that would invariably harm themselves?
Upon hearing this, the Mountain and Sea Sacrifice's incessant ramblings abruptly ceased. He remained silent for a long time.
Ultimately, he had eliminated all other possible culprits and arrived at the mountains and seas as the sole option. In truth, there was no sufficient or reasonable basis for this conclusion.
"My brother, in my humble opinion, perhaps the destruction of the [Black] Dynasty was merely an accident," Li Fan said with a sigh. "Such a large-scale Calamity of Dao Erasure, capable of shaking the very foundations of the mountains and seas, must have involved beings on par with the mountains and seas, perhaps even the [Stars] beyond them. The mountains and seas entered a period of turmoil. Although they ultimately endured the calamity with their profound heritage, the [Black] Dynasty, a floating vessel amidst the mountains and seas, could not survive..."
"Afterward, the mountains and seas grew weaker, and the fusion accelerated," Li Fan calmly elaborated on his conjecture.
The Mountain and Sea Sacrifice of the [Black] Dynasty listened in silence. Clearly, Li Fan's explanation was more plausible than his own original theory. However, he found it difficult to accept that the demise of his dynasty and the deaths of countless beings were merely an accident.
"Or perhaps, not an accident, but an inevitability."
"If the mountains and seas couldn't protect themselves, how could their lifelong inhabitants survive?"
"The deceased are gone. My brother, you should let go of everything and look towards the future."
"You survived by chance and were fortunate enough to be rescued by me. Isn't this fate? Perhaps you bear the mission of restoring and rebuilding the [Black] Dynasty."
"To call upon the Dawn of the Stars, to complete what was left unfinished, to transcend beyond the mountains and seas..."
The Mountain and Sea Sacrifice, who had spent his days observing the mountains and seas and lacked extensive experience with intrigue, gradually found himself persuaded by Li Fan's reasoning, especially after establishing trust.
"Even if you consider the mountains and seas your enemy... Open your eyes and look at the surrounding mountains and seas. Dao Erasure erodes everywhere, and the mountains and seas are in a precarious state. Hasn't your great enemy already been avenged?"
Sensing the shift in the Mountain and Sea Sacrifice's emotions, Li Fan felt that he had, to some extent, convinced him. However, deeply ingrained beliefs accumulated over countless years wouldn't be easily overturned.
Fortunately, Li Fan was persistent. While occasionally nourishing him with the power of Longevity to aid his recovery, he tirelessly engaged in a form of brainwashing, urging him to let go of unnecessary hatred and focus on the future.
As the saying goes, a rope can saw through wood, and water drops can wear away stone.
One year, ten years, a hundred years, a thousand years, ten thousand years...
As Li Fan's plan to sow the seeds of true transformation was nearing completion, the grievances of countless years accumulated by the fragment against the mountains and seas finally dissipated.
A brilliant white light erupted from the fragment. When the light faded, a figure appeared—the Mountain and Sea Sacrifice! He was no longer human in appearance. Instead, he was entirely sea-blue with slender limbs. His facial features, though human-like, bore distinct differences. Most notably, his head was transparent, with a blue luminescence flowing within like seawater, revealing dazzling and fantastical lights that shimmered simultaneously.
"My friend, allow me to formally introduce myself. My name is Xiao Wangsheng."
Li Fan clearly saw gentle hues flickering within Xiao Wangsheng's head. He smiled faintly and cupped his fists. "Congratulations, my brother, on your rebirth and transformation."
A faint trace of bluish sadness flickered within Xiao Wangsheng's head. "I must also thank you, my friend, for your tireless assistance."
The two had forged a deep friendship through their long exchanges, and Li Fan didn't hesitate to ask about Xiao Wangsheng's future plans.
"The dynasty has fallen. Without the support of countless subjects, the plan to summon the Dawn of the Stars must change," Xiao Wangsheng mused for a moment before speaking slowly. He gestured into the distance. "I can faintly sense a large gathering of powerful beings there. Many of them are even comparable to my former peak strength. If I can persuade them to join the plan..."
Li Fan narrowed his eyes, following Xiao Wangsheng's gaze. It led precisely to the Other Shore Great World! He couldn't help but offer a wry smile and recount the current state of the mountains and seas to Xiao Wangsheng once more.
"Oh? Is that the Other Shore?" Xiao Wangsheng nodded. "It's much weaker than I imagined."
Xiao Wangsheng spoke with confidence. In his past life, there were nearly a thousand Mountain and Sea Sacrifices, and he was only one of the younger ones. The longer a Mountain and Sea Sacrifice could persist in their transformed state, the more powerful they were, indicating the strength of the Mountain and Sea Sacrifices of that era.
"The Ancient Temples were powerless against the calamity of the mountains and seas. Even if these people in the Other Shore claim to be saving the world, their plans are ultimately futile," Xiao Wangsheng shook his head, offering his critique.
"Perhaps it's because the true powerhouses of the Other Shore have already traversed the Eternal Void Realm and journeyed to even more ancient pasts," Li Fan explained to Xiao Wangsheng.
Having heard the deeds and performances of figures like the Mound Guardian, Sage Lords Lian Shan, Gui Hai, and Tai Yi, Xiao Wangsheng finally retracted his condescension.
"Just like you, Brother Xiao, the beliefs of the people in the current era cannot be easily changed. If we go to them directly and try to persuade them to execute the plan of the Dawn of the Stars, we will undoubtedly be rejected outright."
"We must proceed cautiously..."
Xiao Wangsheng was completely unaware of the current era's inhabitants. Hearing Li Fan speak this way, he found some merit in it. He then inquired, "What is your plan, my brother?" In his eyes, Li Fan was now an ally, a "comrade-in-arms" on the same side. After all, Li Fan had personally witnessed the Dawn of the Stars, and had almost been lost within it. Based on Xiao Wangsheng's experience, anyone who had personally experienced the power of the [Stars] would unswervingly execute the plan of the Dawn of the Stars. Because besides relying on the [Stars], no other method could ensure survival through this great calamity threatening the mountains and seas.
Li Fan smiled slightly. "The best way to persuade someone is to first integrate into their group. Genuinely consider their well-being and help them realize the flaws in their current choices. Once all unworkable answers are eliminated, the only remaining option will be our plan."
"We won't have to persuade them; for their own survival, they will first persuade themselves."
Upon hearing Li Fan's words, Xiao Wangsheng's mind was instantly filled with a swirling, dust-storm-like fascination.
"Your plan is brilliant, my friend!"
"But how are we to join this so-called Other Shore?" Xiao Wangsheng subconsciously still considered himself a being from an ancient civilization, with inherent invisible barriers separating him from the current inhabitants of the mountains and seas. He instinctively felt that integrating into the collective of the Other Shore was almost impossible.
However, Li Fan replied with a chuckle, "The Other Shore has no entry restrictions. As long as you can reach it, you are a member of the Other Shore. Of course, this is merely superficial integration. To truly become part of their core and possess the ability to change their perceptions, you will need to make certain contributions."
Although Li Fan had not yet truly set foot in the Other Shore, he had encountered many Immortals from there. He could roughly guess the organizational structure of the Other Shore.
"As long as we can reach it? That simple?" Xiao Wangsheng was somewhat taken aback.
"Traversing the mountains and seas is a common occurrence for you, Brother Xiao. However, for the vast majority of beings today, it is something they may never achieve in a lifetime. Even I need to construct a Profound Yellow Immortal Boat to make the journey," Li Fan sighed, his emotions not at all feigned.
"Brother Xiao, please assist me in returning to my main body. It is time for us to set sail for the Other Shore," Li Fan bowed to Xiao Wangsheng.
Xiao Wangsheng nodded. With Li Fan providing the directional guidance, Xiao Wangsheng's gaze easily pierced through the endless obstacles of mountains and seas, spotting Li Fan's main body standing at the prow of the Profound Yellow Immortal Boat, offering a slight smile. After a nod of acknowledgment, he waved his sleeve, enveloping the ethereal immortal boat beneath him, and strode forward.
For current cultivators, understanding the Transcendent True Intent is necessary to traverse the mountains and seas. But for an ancient being like Xiao Wangsheng, moving freely through the mountains and seas was an instinct. Even carrying the burden of an ethereal immortal boat was not difficult for him.
Riding the wind and waves, they sped through the mountains and seas. The true Profound Yellow Immortal Boat, sensing the rising currents, began to tremble slightly. However, after countless years of refinement and reinforcement, the Profound Yellow Immortal Boat could already ignore such waves with ease.
A figure shot out from the tide of Dao Erasure. The ethereal Immortal Boat merged with the Profound Yellow Immortal Boat. Xiao Wangsheng then stood before Li Fan's main body. An unspoken understanding already existed between them, and no further words were needed.
Maneuvering the Profound Yellow Immortal Boat, they set course towards the Other Shore. If they were to travel at the normal speed of an immortal boat, it would likely take hundreds of thousands of years to reach their destination. But now, with Xiao Wangsheng standing at the prow, acting as the guide, he pulled the entire Profound Yellow Immortal Boat forward with his own strength. The immortal boat's speed increased by more than ten thousand times!
Li Fan could see that this was not simply due to Xiao Wangsheng's immense power, but rather a natural, innate talent for traversing the mountains and seas. Li Fan humbly sought to learn from Xiao Wangsheng. Xiao Wangsheng naturally did not hesitate to teach him.
"For the people of the dynasty, this is an innate skill, but it still requires postnatal learning and improvement."
"However, it was a matter of learning before their first year of age," Xiao Wangsheng smiled slightly as if recalling an amusing anecdote from the past. But he quickly realized that the dynasty of his memories no longer existed, and his smile vanished. He then began teaching Li Fan earnestly.
"The so-called Transcendent True Intent, while enabling passage through mountains and seas, ultimately involves arduous travel as an external force."
"In reality, we are beings of the mountains and seas, originating from them. Using the power of the mountains and seas to traverse the mountains and seas themselves—how could there be any resistance?" Xiao Wangsheng attempted to help Li Fan comprehend the principle of assimilation with the mountains and seas. However, this matter, which seemed incredibly simple to him, was something Li Fan couldn't grasp.
Xiao Wangsheng could only console him, "Perhaps the passage of time has changed things, and beings are different now."
Li Fan, however, recalled something and asked, "In this current era, within a single possibility, there is the concept of potential. The strength of cultivators that can be produced in a certain possibility has a definite upper limit."
"I wonder, in ancient times, was there such a thing as 'potential' among the mountains and seas?"
"Potential?" Xiao Wangsheng seemed to find Li Fan's words difficult to understand.
"In the dynasty, there were indeed occasional cases of one or two individuals who couldn't fully perceive the Mountains and Seas, those with disabilities. However, firstly, they had the help of our Mountain and Sea Sacrifices to recover. Secondly, with hundreds of millions of people in the dynasty, their absence had no impact.
"But I've never heard of a large-scale situation of disabilities occurring within a single possibility..."
It was no wonder Xiao Wangsheng kept referring to them as "disabled." In his view, anyone who couldn't synchronize with their counterparts across all possibilities was essentially "disabled."
Li Fan didn't argue, but mused in his heart: "If spiritual essence is viewed as a quantifiable resource, then the spiritual essence of the people of the [Black] Dynasty, in its universality, far surpasses that of the current inhabitants of the Mountains and Seas."
"Both were nurtured from the Mountains and Seas, yet there is such a disparity..."
"It seems that the Mountains and Seas themselves have also suffered significant damage in the Dao Erasure Tribulation."
Li Fan didn't continue this topic with Xiao Wangsheng, instead shifting to discussing precautions for when they entered the Other Shore.
"Apart from our ultimate goal of instigating the immortals of the Other Shore to support the Star Gazer plan, it's best not to hide anything else. Even your origins, Brother Xiao..."
"Even though this is the final era, already being devoured by Dao Erasure, the possibilities within the Mountains and Seas remain infinite, and any situation could arise. Survivors of ancient civilizations like yourself, Brother Xiao, are not particularly rare. And among the people of the [Black] Dynasty, apart from yourself, there are no other survivors. As long as you don't reveal any flaws, you don't need to worry about the risk of our secrets being exposed."
"Those who can travel to the Other Shore are all gifted with extraordinary talent and possess immense willpower and broad minds. Their perspectives cannot be altered in a short period. It may take a considerable amount of time to achieve results. Brother Xiao, do not be impatient..." Li Fan advised repeatedly, feeling somewhat exasperated.
"My friend, rest assured, I possess sufficient resolve for this," Xiao Wangsheng stated solemnly.
Li Fan wasn't genuinely concerned for the other party's well-being; he was merely finding an excuse to delay Xiao Wangsheng. The effort he had expended in "reviving" Xiao Wangsheng was precisely to ensure an additional layer of security upon entering the Other Shore.
He had sparred with Xiao Wangsheng before. He was indeed a powerhouse from ancient times who had mutated to be on par with the Mountains and Seas. Even though the current Xiao Wangsheng was merely a fragmented remnant, his strength was not to be underestimated. Even the fire of true spirit that ignited possibilities could hardly harm him. In Xiao Wangsheng's own words, only a catastrophic collapse and annihilation of the Mountains and Seas could truly threaten him, or powerful forces like [Star] that transcended the Mountains and Seas. Other than that, standing within the Mountains and Seas, he was virtually invincible.
"In the past, most of the Mountain and Sea Sacrifices were not skilled in combat. This was because within the Mountains and Seas, there was no one who could rival them. With a mere thought, they could eliminate their opponents. What need was there to study techniques?" Xiao Wangsheng explained.
"This is indeed a case of brute strength suppressing all other methods!" Li Fan remarked with a sigh, having tried various methods without posing any threat to Xiao Wangsheng.
Although Xiao Wangsheng had nothing to teach Li Fan in terms of techniques or divine abilities, his occasional clashes with beings of similar standing to the Mountains and Seas greatly honed Li Fan's adaptability when facing the Mountains and Seas. Gradually, the howling sounds from the continuous Mountains and Seas no longer caused such mental agitation. Li Fan found himself becoming increasingly able to remain calm, like the Mound Guardian, gazing at the sea while sitting on the mountain.
In truth, during the years of the True Spirit Transformation plan's execution, with the phantom Azure Nether Immortal Boat traversing every corner of the Mountains and Seas, Li Fan's strength had been increasing at an unimaginable rate day by day. His own consciousness now covered one percent of the current Mountains and Seas. Although he hadn't yet reached the level of "All Selves Unifying," he was not far from the concept of a true "Transcendent" powerhouse in the Other Shore.
This was because Li Fan differed from other powerhouses who pursued the Dao of "All Selves Unifying." For beings like the Black Heavenly Physician and Evil Su Bai, their other selves across different possibilities could be strong or weak. The strong might reach the realm of the Nameless True Immortal, while the weak might not even attain the True Immortal realm. After all, against the backdrop of Dao Erasure's rampant spread, the destruction of the Immortal Realm and the severed path to ascension were highly probable outcomes. Devouring their other selves who failed to become True Immortals yielded only a limited degree of improvement.
However, for Li Fan, the phantom selves he had subtly dispatched possessed at least a certain level of strength comparable to True Immortals, assuring a baseline. Especially with the support of the peculiar structure of the Myriad Forms The Dao Lattice, he could also instantly lend a portion of his main body's power to his phantom selves, which were situated far away in the Mountains and Seas. Furthermore, these phantom selves, residing in different possibilities, could continue cultivating by plundering resources within those possibilities. The improvement in each individual point led to an overall enhancement. It could be said that if Li Fan hadn't intentionally concealed his true strength, his current rate of power increase could have multiplied severalfold. This was the result of efficient cultivation achieved through unified will and coordination, like that of the people of the [Black] Dynasty. The power accumulated with each breath was something that could not be attained even with tens of millions of years of effort in a single possibility.
"This is also why the Transcendent realm represents a truly qualitative leap compared to ordinary Nameless True Immortals, allowing the infinitude of the Mountains and Seas themselves to become part of one's own foundation..." Li Fan recalled his initial encounters with Evil Su Bai and the Black Heavenly Physician, which truly felt like comparing a mayfly to a bright moon.
"No wonder Transcendent beings are so indifferent to matters within a single possibility."
"Everything you see is merely an insignificant part of my vision."
However, Li Fan also sensed that this rapid increase in power, by leveraging the infinite possibilities of the Mountains and Seas, had a distinct limit. Once this limit was surpassed, the improvement gained from expanding new possibilities would rapidly diminish. And Li Fan had now officially touched this boundary. This was why, after scattering his phantom selves across approximately one percent of the Mountains and Seas, a point sufficient to ignite the Great Fire of True Spirit at any time, Li Fan abandoned further expansion and instead focused on the true reason for evolution on the Other Shore.
"To advance further and reach the realm of saints like the Mound Guardian, who can traverse the Eternal Void Realm, I don't know what method would be required." Regarding this, Li Fan's knowledge remained completely blank. He would likely have to wait until he reached the Other Shore to find the answer.
Although his strength had undergone a leap, Li Fan did not become complacent. He clearly understood that the method he employed was purely a shortcut. Compared to the "All Selves Unifying" of the immortals on the Other Shore, his foundation was extremely unstable. At the very least, for beings like the Black Heavenly Physician and Evil Su Bai, even if the Mountains and Seas collapsed and most possibilities were annihilated, their strength would remain unaffected. However, for Li Fan, the disappearance of each possibility where his phantom selves resided would diminish his strength by a fraction. Without even being affected by the Dao Erasure Tribulation, if a Transcendent powerhouse were to act and systematically eliminate each possibility, Li Fan would almost be instantly reduced to his original state. Without needing to engage Li Fan in direct combat, they could inflict critical damage upon him. Furthermore, apart from igniting the Mountains and Seas in a mutual destruction scenario, Li Fan had no counter-method.
"The Transcendent with the fastest growth in strength is also the most easily killed Transcendent," Li Fan wryly remarked to himself.
In addition, what made Li Fan most aware of his limitations was that all of this could not be preserved or recorded by the Reflection.
"Reflection exists only within the main body. Even with the Dao Origin function, it is limited to the Azure Nether Immortal Boat's domain."
"Once Reflection awakens, this grand vision I've painstakingly built over countless years will vanish in an instant."
"I'll have to accumulate again."
"My true strength is merely that of a Transcendent who has adapted to the turbulence of the Mountains and Seas."
This was the predicament Li Fan currently faced, a predicament that even the awakening of Reflection could not resolve.
"The accumulation of so many years is only enough for one grand expenditure. Therefore, I must maximize the advantages brought by my current powerful strength."
"I even need to borrow strength from others, to leverage as much as possible," Li Fan subtly glanced at Xiao Wangsheng beside him, then followed his gaze.
"I hope to find other ownerless Transcendent True Intentions on the Other Shore."
"Only the awakening of Reflection is my true reliance."
Whether it was Li Fan's bad luck or the Transcendent True Intentions were truly that rare, the Azure Nether Immortal Boat had spread across one percent of the Mountains and Seas. Yet, apart from the solitary sail on the sea of Mountains and Seas encountered at the very beginning, Li Fan had not found any other Transcendent True Intentions. Therefore, despite the passage of a long time, the awakening of Reflection remained distant. Clearly, Reflection's injuries were not something that could be healed by time alone; they required nourishment from external forces.
"A greater possibility is that powerhouses on the Other Shore regularly patrol the Mountains and Seas, actively collecting and salvaging ownerless Transcendent True Intentions. That's why I've found nothing." Recalling the solemnity with which the purple-robed figure collected the solitary sail in his previous life, Li Fan couldn't help but think so.
...
"My friend, look ahead quickly!" Amidst the prolonged silence, Xiao Wangsheng suddenly spoke.
Without the need for his reminder, Li Fan had already realized through the tremendous shock the Azure Nether Immortal Boat had encountered that they were not far from the Other Shore. Just as waves become more apparent when approaching the coast, the impact of Dao Erasure in this region was far more intense due to the existence of the [Other Shore]. The Azure Nether Immortal Boat had not experienced such violent jolts for a long time. Fortunately, it had been refined by Li Fan to be sufficiently sturdy, preventing it from disintegrating in this tempest.
Li Fan stood firm at the bow, gazing into the distance. A colossal wall of light stretched across his vision. Li Fan was certain that this wall of light did not exist in the Mountains and Seas he had seen before. Instead, it suddenly appeared after the Azure Nether Immortal Boat passed through the tide of Dao Erasure. Li Fan extended his hand, feeling the warm radiance emanating from the light wall, and a sense of familiarity washed over him. During his wanderings through the Mountains and Seas, although he hadn't observed the light wall of the Other Shore, its radiance had almost shone in every corner of the Mountains and Seas. It was formless and intangible. Before Li Fan had truly seen the Other Shore, he couldn't comprehend its pervasive existence. Only now, truly witnessing the Other Shore and recalling his past experiences, could he belatedly realize it.
"One can only perceive what one knows; without knowledge, one cannot see it."
"This method feels somewhat familiar..."
Li Fan, his thoughts racing, almost instantly thought of the many relics left behind by Sun Piaomiao. The method Sun Piaomiao used to conceal his secrets shared a striking similarity with the nature of the Other Shore's radiance.
As Li Fan's thoughts churned, the Azure Nether Immortal Boat continued to advance. Upon reaching a certain proximity to the light wall, the surrounding winds and waves abruptly subsided. As if traversing through the void, just as the Azure Nether Immortal Boat was about to collide with the light wall of the Other Shore, a clear female voice suddenly resounded.
"Wait."
Within the light wall, overlapping images appeared. A giant eye quietly emerged, fixated on the Azure Nether Immortal Boat and the countless beings within it. The boat's forward momentum was halted, and it stopped. Li Fan, however, remained composed and spoke loudly, "Junior has endured countless hardships and searched the Mountains and Seas extensively, finally reaching the land of the Other Shore. Do I dare to ask if I have offended you? Senior, why do you block my path?"
"To reach this point indicates you have the qualifications to join the Other Shore. However... everyone else arrives alone, as a single individual. Someone like you, bringing a whole entourage, is a first from the Mountains and Seas."
"The Dao of Carrying a Boat, is it... I need to ask." The giant eye, devoid of any emotional fluctuation, replied simply before disappearing from the light wall.
Li Fan appeared to be waiting patiently, but inwardly, his heart was stirred. At first, he hadn't recognized it. But as the eye spoke more, Li Fan was startled to realize that its voice bore a striking resemblance to "Starving Immortals"!
"Could it be that I've encountered an acquaintance as soon as I arrived at the Other Shore?"
"Fortunately, the Starving Immortal sealed within the Azure Nether Immortal Boat and transformed into a Heavenly Pillar, long ago given to Evil Su Bai. Otherwise, I might have faced some trouble."
Xiao Wangsheng was unaware of Li Fan's inner thoughts, merely staring at the light wall. After a long while, he suddenly transmitted, "My friend, this light wall... there are some theories about it."
"Oh? Brother Xiao, please elaborate."
"When I see the light wall, it's as if I see the Mountain and Sea Sacrifices of the past," Xiao Wangsheng whispered. "Or perhaps, I see the Mountains and Seas themselves."
Hearing this, Li Fan couldn't help but narrow his eyes. However, with his current perception, he could not yet discern the appearance of the Mountains and Seas from it.
Xiao Wangsheng continued, "If my guess is correct, this light wall is formed by the combined power of numerous beings on par with the Mountains and Seas. Some of them have fallen into slumber, but most remain active. However... they don't seem to be within this particular Mountain and Sea."
"But regardless, the foundation of this Other Shore is far stronger than I imagined."
Li Fan and Xiao Wangsheng waited on the bow of the immortal boat for a long time. It wasn't until thirty days and nights had passed within the Azure Nether Immortal Realm, and the eye of the Starving Immortal reappeared, that news arrived.
"Although your situation is very complex, after deliberation by the sages, you are still permitted to enter the Other Shore."
“Once we meet the Sages, you can move freely,” the Starving Immortal stated plainly, leaving no room for negotiation. “However, this applies only to you personally. Your boat that ferries across, the `Boat of Crossing`, must remain within the `Nexus of Formlessness`. As for you…”
The Starving Immortal’s colossal eyes then shifted to Xiao Wansheng. “Remnants of the Mountains and Seas have dedicated living areas within the Other Shore. Most of the Other Shore is also accessible with freedom. There aren't as many restrictions.”
This time, it was Xiao Wansheng’s turn to be stunned. He hadn't expected that with just a glance, this being with the massive eyes could discern his origin.
“It seems my friend was right,” Xiao Wansheng mused, “if we want to safely blend into the Other Shore, it’s best not to conceal anything.”
Li Fan reacted more swiftly, seizing the opportunity. “From your words, Senior, it seems there are many other Remnants of the Mountains and Seas like my friend within the Other Shore?”
The Starving Immortal chuckled, as if it were no secret. “’Many’ might be an overstatement. However, compared to transcendent powerhouses like us, these Remnants of the Mountains and Seas have fundamental differences. They find more common ground with each other, so we arranged for them to live together.”
Li Fan nodded, understanding dawning on his face. “Thank you for your guidance, Senior. We both understand and are willing to accept all regulations within the Other Shore.”
“Excellent. That saves me the trouble of explaining further,” the Starving Immortal replied. Strangely, a hint of regret lingered in its voice.
A beam of light shot out from the colossal light wall, locking onto the `Azure Nether Immortal Boat`.
In a moment of disorientation, Li Fan found the scene before him abruptly change. Above, countless streams of purple energy surged from rifts in the void, transforming into luminous bridges connecting various places. These bridges seemed to lead to different regions, and fleeting glimpses of rapidly changing scenes could be perceived beyond them.
A figure stood silently beside him, bearing a striking resemblance to the Starving Immortal, perhaps nine-tenths similar. The instant Li Fan saw this face, a look of astonishment, expertly feigned, appeared on his. But he quickly suppressed it, bowing deeply as a cover. “Greetings, Senior!”
The Starving Immortal, however, possessed keen perception and asked playfully, "You've met me before?"
Li Fan gave a wry smile and spoke truthfully. "Senior truly has eyes like a torch. In my original potential timelines, I indeed shared a karmic connection with you. I even sealed you into a pillar to become a Heavenly Pillar, to counteract the Dao Erasure…"
A flicker of apprehension crossed Li Fan's face as he recounted the entire story, including his decision to hand over the sealed Starving Immortal to Evil Su Bai.
Upon hearing of his counterpart’s tragic fate, the Starving Immortal of the Other Shore showed no anger. Instead, it calmly stated, "Upon entering the Other Shore, all past karma is nullified. Do not worry. Regardless of any past grievances between us, they are all wiped clean once you join the Other Shore. You can rest assured. I will absolutely not trouble you over this. As for the 'me' you mentioned…"
The Starving Immortal of the Other Shore’s brow furrowed as it looked in a certain direction. "Su Bai… Hmph!" Clearly, after obtaining the Starving Immortal Heavenly Pillar from Li Fan, Evil Su Bai had not returned it to the Other Shore but had kept it for himself.
“Let’s go. I will take you to meet the Sages,” the Starving Immortal of the Other Shore said, its expression returning to normal with composure, not delving further into the matter.
As it spoke, one of the countless purple energy bridges in the sky suddenly sprang to life, swooping down and stopping before them.
“The Other Shore is divided into many different regions. It is vast and boundless. Even for us transcendent experts, traveling by ourselves would take considerable time. That’s why we need the assistance of these `Guiding Rainbow Bridges`.”
As they stepped onto the purple energy bridge, Li Fan felt the surrounding scenery distort and warp. Yet, the subtle tremors and resonant sounds, like the communication of mountains and seas, could be faintly heard, as if they were rapidly traversing through mountains and seas. However, while inside the guiding rainbow bridge, no discomfort was felt regardless of the drastic changes outside.
Li Fan noticed, however, that Xiao Wansheng’s complexion had become visibly abnormal since stepping onto the guiding rainbow bridge.
“This purple energy bridge…” Xiao Wansheng transmitted with great difficulty, “It seems to be crafted from those who are of the same `Mountain and Sea Compatibility`.”
The Starving Immortal of the Other Shore seemed to understand the transmitted message. "Strictly speaking, they are `Mountain and Sea Qualified Individuals`. Just as a bird flies in the nine heavens and a fish leaps in the sea, due to their innate abilities, these creatures are more efficient at traversing and roaming within mountains and seas than most beings in the Other Shore. Therefore, the Sages borrowed their bodies to create these guiding rainbow bridges for the convenience of immortals traveling to and from the Other Shore."
Despite this explanation, Xiao Wansheng’s complexion did not improve. In his view, these `Mountain and Sea Qualified Individuals` were almost indistinguishable from his own kind, the `Mountain and Sea Sacrifices`. In the past dynasty, they were beings of immense reverence, yet now they were reduced to mere mounts…
“This Other Shore is more perilous than I imagined!” “No wonder my friend kept nagging me with warnings.” Xiao Wansheng then fell into a prolonged silence, only occasionally responding to the Starving Immortal of the Other Shore’s tidbits of information about the Other Shore.
“In truth, theoretically speaking, I wouldn’t need to explain this in such detail. Anyone who can reach the Other Shore on their own can exchange all necessary information with me in an instant. However, you have not yet met the Sages. Most of the information about the Other Shore cannot be revealed to you.
“Once you have received the approval of the Sages, you will naturally understand everything about the Other Shore,” the Starving Immortal of the Other Shore explained idly.
Li Fan, with a hint of curiosity, inquired, "Senior, I've been hearing you mention `the Sages`. What exactly are these `Sages`…?"
“The Sages, naturally, are the venerable ones. Beings who traverse the `Eternal Void Realm` and journey to the previous epoch of Mountains and Seas – they are what we call Sages. Before departing, these Sages leave behind a trace of their consciousness within the Other Shore. This consciousness is devoid of any personal emotions, solely dedicated to the continuation of the Other Shore and the Mountains and Seas. To this day, there have been nine Sages in the Other Shore. The collective of their residual consciousnesses is what we refer to as `the Sages`,” the Starving Immortal of the Other Shore explained with a serious expression.
“And their approval?” Li Fan’s expression turned slightly subtle.
“Each encounter is unique. However, as long as one meets the Sages and returns alive, the trial is considered passed.” Sensing the fleeting expression on Li Fan’s face, the Starving Immortal added, "But do not worry, the Sages are extremely benevolent. In the countless eons since I took on the role of `Guardian of the Dao`, there have only been two instances of trials failing and punishments being meted out by the Sages. Even those individuals, who were truly wicked, did not perish. Instead, they were condemned to labor day and night within the `Eternal Heavenly Steps` of the Other Shore to atone for their sins.”
The Starving Immortal of the Other Shore did not elaborate on the specific nature of these `Eternal Heavenly Steps`, but its tone indicated that imprisonment there would certainly not be a pleasant experience.
Hearing the Starving Immortal’s words, Li Fan, though regaining his composure, felt a knot of tension tighten in his heart. Although he had anticipated facing trials upon arriving at the Other Shore, the thought of facing a combined test from nine powerhouses, equivalent to the Three Sages, still filled him with a measure of solemnity.
“I hope the `Method of Illusion and Reality` can protect me. If that fails, I’ll have to use the Mountains and Seas as leverage to secure my departure.” He could still clearly sense the True Spirit Fireseeds he had planted throughout the Mountains and Seas even after entering the Other Shore, which brought him a measure of reassurance.
Compared to Li Fan’s churning thoughts, Xiao Wansheng had completely calmed down. In his view, the transcendent method of `Dawn of the Stars` initiated by the Dynasty was the only means to save everything. Since they could be called Sages, they must inherently be reasonable. “A method that can truly save everything… it’s unlikely they would refuse it. Perhaps we don’t need to subtly influence their thinking; maybe directly meeting the Sages and explaining the pros and cons will be enough to win them over.” As a being who had survived since the ancient era of the Mountains and Seas, Xiao Wansheng had his own ideas. Although Li Fan was his savior and friend, he wouldn't act merely like a puppet, blindly following his instructions. In Xiao Wansheng’s opinion, after the fall of the former Dynasty, as the sole survivor of the `Mountain and Sea Sacrifices`, the mission to complete the `Transcendent Mountain and Sea Plan` and perpetuate the Dynasty’s legacy superseded all else. Xiao Wansheng’s resolve slowly solidified. Li Fan, however, remained unaware of this subtle shift within him.
After an unknown duration on the guiding rainbow bridge, the scenery changed once more.
“I won’t be going in,” the Starving Immortal’s voice echoed in Li Fan’s ears. “Continue onward. The Sages are just ahead!” Li Fan’s attention, however, was already captivated by the extraordinary sight before him. It was as if he had returned to the world of Mountains and Seas, surrounded by an endless panorama of its landscapes. But unlike the past, where he was a solitary, insignificant individual lost within the Mountains and Seas, and vastly different from the solitary view the `Mound Guardian Duke` recalled in his memory of `Sitting on the Mountain, Gazing at the Sea`, Li Fan now seemed to be floating above the Mountains and Seas, suspended in the sky. He gazed down upon the ever-changing landscapes. Each ripple was a condensation of countless possibilities. On the serene and majestic Mount Shang, one could vaguely discern the vast Immortal Realm, resembling a sea of stars. And the black energies intertwined throughout the Mountains and Seas, like winding dragons, were the `Dao Erasure Tribulation`, devouring them! The fusion of Mountains and Seas, and the rampant `Dao Erasure`—this scene appeared before Li Fan in an unprecedentedly vivid manner. Li Fan could not only clearly perceive the destructive threat of the `Dao Erasure` but also comprehend the Dao of Mountains and Seas.
“This perspective… it’s somewhat akin to the legendary `Stars`.” “It’s not a realm I can reach. It is…” “The Sages!” Xiao Wansheng had already vanished from his side. Li Fan found himself alone in this space. He took a deep breath, gradually calming himself, and walked forward with newfound resolve. On the Mountains and Seas, time seemed to have no meaning. Li Fan took step after step, yet the sights, sensations, and feelings remained unchanged, almost creating the illusion of standing still. However, through years of planting True Spirit Fireseeds, Li Fan had cultivated extraordinary patience and perseverance. “Since the Sages are just ahead, as long as I keep walking, I will surely see them.” This wasn't because Li Fan had a change of heart and placed such trust in the Starving Immortal of the Other Shore, whom he had only just met. It stemmed from rational deduction. The Other Shore, as the last hope for many beings in the existing Mountains and Seas, gathered countless transcendent powerhouses to save them. It would not possibly play tricks on a newcomer transcended being like himself. “Otherwise, the Other Shore could not have been established, nor would it have endured to this day.” Li Fan walked calmly forward, heedless of the passage of time. After an unknown period, until all other thoughts in his mind had subsided, leaving only the single, pure thought of moving forward, the surrounding scenery shifted abruptly once more. A circular formation surrounded and enveloped him. Nine figures stood upon the luminous ring, all gazing at Li Fan within the circle. In that instant, Li Fan felt as if he bore the weight of Mountains and Seas! His body and spirit were instantly crushed into countless fragments. This transformation occurred so swiftly that Li Fan, still caught in the obsession of "moving forward," had no time to react! He saw himself shatter into countless fragments, like starlight. However, within this circular formation, a mysterious force seemed to maintain Li Fan’s "wholeness" even in this shattered state. As Li Fan gradually recovered, a sense of foreboding began to creep into his heart. Even under the `Method of Illusion and Reality`, this feeling persisted. Because Li Fan sensed that in the moment he was shattered, a ripple passed through the nine figures outside the luminous ring. With the Sages' power, what could cause them to collectively experience emotional fluctuations…? “True Spirit Fire, burning the Mountains and Seas. Hahaha, interesting!” A hearty laugh echoed, causing Li Fan’s heart to plummet to the abyss. This statement had completely exposed the truth of his boundless spiritual essence! Li Fan no longer bothered with pretense; his expression instantly turned grim. The Sages’ methods far surpassed his imagination. All his preconceived notions of eloquent speeches, cunning schemes, and strategic maneuvering—all were utterly useless! The moment they met, the Sages had already pulverized Li Fan’s existence into countless light particles. Then, they had examined him. Any past experience, any secret, any thought—all were exposed at that moment! “To pry into someone’s privacy and still call yourselves Sages?!” It was as if his clothes had been torn off, leaving him completely exposed to scrutiny. Li Fan exclaimed in righteous indignation. Facing Li Fan’s angry accusation, the Sages showed no emotional response. “`Sages`… is a respectful term given by outsiders. In truth, we are merely a group of pitiful souls aspiring to save the world. The Other Shore is built upon the collective efforts of countless individuals and concerns the critical survival of the entire Mountains and Seas. Naturally, we cannot allow any hidden threats within. Privacy… is trivial in the face of absolute survival.” “However, these words, coming from your mouth, are rather amusing.” … Voices echoed from all directions. Li Fan, who had been consumed by rage, gradually calmed down. “You saw my boundless spiritual essence?” “And what else?” The Sages replied, “When truth becomes false, and falsehood becomes true. The two words, `Return to Truth`, you've given `It` a fitting name.” Li Fan could no longer contain himself; his mind felt as if it detonated.
“The Reflection,” Li Fan's greatest trump card, had always been his most guarded secret. This was especially true after he learned of ancient legends in the Immortal Realm hinting at a treasure akin to “The Reflection,” a supposed savior's artifact. Fearing its theft, Li Fan had gone to great lengths to conceal its presence within him.
However, he never anticipated that the moment he faced the Sages, "The Reflection" would be exposed! His eyes turned bloodshot, a profound sense of alarm and betrayal washing over him as he warily eyed the nine Sage figures standing outside the radiant halo. Though his mind reeled, Li Fan maintained his composure, keenly grasping the hidden meanings within the Sages' words.
"They?" "You've known about 'The Reflection' for a long time? What exactly is it?" Li Fan instinctively demanded.
The Sages offered no reply, instead simultaneously pointing at Li Fan's body, now shattered into countless fragments. "Ahhhhhh…" A blinding radiance erupted from each of his billions of fragments, as if something were being forcibly extracted. The very foundation of his existence crumbled, and inexpressible agony consumed Li Fan's consciousness, preventing even a curse. He could only let out primal screams of pain.
As the extraction continued, a spectral silhouette flickered across Li Fan's myriad fragments. With each flash, the apparition became clearer, while Li Fan's fragmented form began to blur and fade, like ice melting in the sun.
"Incinerate... Mountains... Boil... Seas..." Li Fan's thoughts fractured, as if he were enduring endless torment in Hell. His only means of resistance, igniting the vital true spirit flames scattered across the land, proved impossible.
Sensing Li Fan's despair, the Sages spoke with chilling indifference: "Though the Other Shore resides within the mountains and seas, it can be considered a separate existence, detached from them. Moreover, you are currently within the confinement created by our divine senses..."
"How can your thoughts possibly be transmitted?" To quell any further struggle and facilitate the extraction of "The Reflection," the Sages momentarily paused their torture.
"A bunch of curs, die together!" However, wracked by agony, Li Fan couldn't comprehend their words. The instant his thoughts cleared, overwhelming rage engulfed him. Roaring, he commanded the true spirit flames to ignite. But his command vanished into the void. Below the halo, the world of mountains and seas remained tranquil, save for the occasional sound of colliding Dao Erasure energies, like distant waves. Li Fan, refusing to yield, shouted his command again and again, his voice like a trapped beast's lament echoing within the light observed by the Sages. They watched silently, observing Li Fan's frantic struggles.
After an immeasurable time, as if his strength had been utterly depleted, Li Fan finally quieted. "Hehehehe..." "What will be my fate after you extract 'The Reflection'?" he asked with a weak, bitter laugh.
"Rest assured, we will not take your life. If you are willing, there is a place for you within the Other Shore. If you are unwilling, the myriad possibilities of the mountains and seas are yours to explore. We will not impede you in the slightest."
"Aren't you afraid I'll burn down these mountains and seas once I'm out?" Li Fan challenged fiercely.
"Even if you incinerate all the mountains and seas, what can it compare to the power of 'The Reflection'?" It was only in losing it that Li Fan truly understood how precious what he once possessed truly was. No one in the mountains and seas understood the power of "The Reflection" better than he did. No matter the myriad changes that transpired, with a single thought from "The Reflection," everything could be restored. Now, Li Fan, who had merely witnessed its power, was about to become one of its subjects. Without "The Reflection," what was he but like the ants he had once considered mere NPCs?
Li Fan's expression became vacant, and he fell silent, allowing the Sages to proceed. Outside the halo, the figures once again pointed their fingers in unison. "The Reflection" continued to be forcibly extracted from Li Fan's body. Immersed in endless pain, his consciousness descended into eternal oblivion.
When Li Fan next regained awareness, he found himself outside the halo, no longer within the Sages' sight. The nine figures' gazes were now fixed upon a jade tablet at the center of the halo. "That... is 'The Reflection'?" This was the first time Li Fan had seen its true form, and he stared, lost in a trance. The jade tablet appeared smooth and featureless on both sides, devoid of any symbols or patterns. Yet, Li Fan vaguely perceived countless figures shifting and changing, some possessing an aura of immense power despite their indistinct forms, while others seemed vaguely familiar. Countless figures were condensed and converged upon this small jade tablet.
For reasons unknown, the Sages wore expressions of profound complexity. Li Fan fully expected that his infinite spiritual essence would be extracted to fuel "The Reflection." To his surprise, the Sages casually uttered, "You may go," and expelled him from the halo's space.
Seeing Li Fan's sudden appearance, the Starving Immortal of the Other Shore paused, startled. "So soon?" He continued with a smile, "See? I told you there was no need to worry..." His words were cut short as his gaze met Li Fan's blood-red eyes. Despite the Starving Immortal's superior strength, his divine soul momentarily faltered, interrupting his speech. However, he remained unfazed. Transcended beings, having just undergone the Sages' trial, were typically prone to emotional instability. The Starving Immortal was accustomed to this.
After Xiao Wang Sheng emerged, equally distraught, the Starving Immortal escorted them to the "Myriad Phenomena Heaven," the resting place for transcended beings on the Other Shore, before departing. Li Fan, consumed by the grief of losing "The Reflection," wandered aimlessly, oblivious to his surroundings. Though he yearned to reclaim "The Reflection" from the Sages' grasp, the combined divine senses of the nine Sages were simply too powerful. Li Fan was no match for them.
"Even if I expose 'The Reflection' to the world, the Nine Sages, with their strength, can disregard it. Moreover, with 'The Reflection' in hand, they can instantly restore everything, no matter how much turmoil I create." He, who had always been the master of "The Reflection," had now become its subject. Li Fan finally understood the helplessness felt when confronting "The Reflection." Despair gnawed at him, and he spent hundreds of years in the "Myriad Phenomena Heaven," lost in his grief. Time flowed by, yet his thoughts remained tethered to the day he lost "The Reflection." He relived the encounter with the Sages countless times, savoring his own powerlessness.
"I transmigrated here, believing that with the aid of 'The Reflection,' I could attain eternal freedom and longevity. Little did I know..." Li Fan scoffed inwardly. Suddenly, he froze. "Transmigrated... since I transmigrated..." Replaying the scene of his interrogation by the Sages, Li Fan murmured, "Something seems... off."
"The Sages saw my infinite spiritual essence, and they saw that I carried 'The Reflection.' Why did they completely overlook my transmigration?" The identity of a transmigrator was a secret Li Fan considered as important as "The Reflection" itself. Yet, the Sages seemed oblivious. "My homeland is vastly different from these mountains and seas. Even with the Azure Nether Immortal Boat traversing countless realms, I never found anything similar. If the Sages had witnessed it, they could never have overlooked it..." "But it's right here in my memories. Why couldn't the Sages, who can peer into everything, discover it?" Li Fan frowned deeply, a seed of doubt planted, which rapidly grew.
As he meticulously replayed the events, Li Fan uncovered more suspicious details. "My infinite spiritual essence is undeniably astonishing. Even if the Sages obtained 'The Reflection,' they would need spiritual essence to activate it. Even if their spiritual essence were as potent as mine, there's no reason they would simply let me go. With the methods they displayed, turning me into a literal machine for extracting spiritual essence wouldn't be difficult." "Yet, the Sages only..." "Mentioned my plan to burn down the mountains and seas."
Li Fan's head snapped up as he gazed again towards the Sages on the Other Shore. After a long silence, he surveyed his surroundings, the fabric of his current existence. "There are too many contradictions." "They wanted to showcase their power, but their actions and their theories are at odds." "It's as if..." Li Fan held out his palm. "They pushed their deduction and simulation to its absolute limit."
"Simulation..." This keyword triggered a buried memory. It was from when he had first awakened, suffering from amnesia, drawn to the shimmering characters on a screen. Faced with several choices, he hesitated before deciding to initiate another simulation. Subsequently, he found himself a month in the past, progressing from a mortal to the Grand Tutor of Great Xuan, then to the Xuanhuang Realm. There, he encountered Emperor Tai Tian and was sent back in time. Ten thousand years ago, he regained his memories. He then painstakingly developed the methods to become a transcended being, eventually reaching the Other Shore.
The scenes of this life flashed through Li Fan's mind. The passage of such immense time left him feeling sluggish and disoriented. Yet, he clung to a critical realization: "Something is wrong, wrong, wrong..." "Previously, 'The Reflection' could be activated. But when I re-entered the simulation, falling into the River of Time and attempting to use 'The Reflection' to save myself, it failed." "What...?" Like a lightning strike, the fog dissipated. Connecting this with the Sages' inability to perceive his memories before transmigration, Li Fan felt he was on the verge of an answer.
"Could it be like this?" Li Fan murmured, stunned. He recalled once trapping the Heavenly Physician with an Immortal-grade illusion formation. But when the Heavenly Physician faced the Starving Immortal of the Immortal Ruins, the illusionary formation failed to replicate the true might of a True Immortal, ultimately being seen through. "The current situation is exactly the same." "Except, what I'm experiencing isn't an illusionary formation." "It's a simulation by 'The Reflection'!" "It's not that the true Nine Sages are incapable of seeing my pre-transmigration memories. It's that the Nine Sages within this world manufactured by 'The Reflection' cannot!" "Or perhaps, 'The Reflection' itself cannot," Li Fan's eyes gleamed. "'The Reflection's' temporal backtracking has a limit, only extending back to the moment I transmigrated into this world. Before that, my existence was a blank slate to 'The Reflection'!" "My transmigrator identity, and even my infinite spiritual essence, are variables that transcend this simulation. Thus, when it touches upon the mountains and seas, reaching the simulation's limit, it can only gloss over these aspects..."
His heart, previously deadened by the loss of "The Reflection," began to beat anew. Li Fan fixed his gaze intensely on the direction of the Sages. "No wonder the process of 'The Reflection' awakening was so arduous. Even after traversing countless realms, I couldn't complete it. For a long time, I felt it was just beyond reach... even after arriving at the Other Shore." "And when faced with the Nine Sages' extraction, 'The Reflection' offered no resistance." Thoughts surged like an overflowing spring. Li Fan's eyes regained their vibrancy. "Verifying this is simple. I just need to face the Sages again."
"This world of mountains and seas is almost indistinguishable from reality." "The Sages are the only flaw." "Even if this is just my delusion, it's inconsequential. The Sages are benevolent; they likely won't hold it against me!" With this thought, Li Fan headed directly for the "Platform of Facing the Sages."
However, he was intercepted by the Starving Immortal. "For those on the Other Shore, there is only one opportunity to face the Sages upon their initial arrival. To meet them again requires significant contributions to the Other Shore." Li Fan gazed at the Starving Immortal, sensing the fluctuating aura around him, and ultimately chose to back down.
Returning, Li Fan forced himself to calm down and ponder, "This simulation is vastly different from my past experiences." "Perhaps it's due to the merging of the three Daos." "Without 'The Reflection,' it feels unlike what truly happened in 'reality'." "Yet, in this life, I've often felt premonitions from my spiritual senses warning me. Like when I traveled against the current in the River of Time..." "It feels like if I were to perish here and now, I would truly be gone forever." "Indistinguishable from reality." "Even realizing that I am currently in a simulation, extricating myself from it is no easy feat." "The Nine Sages are the sole exit."
Li Fan chose to lie low for the time being. He began inquiring about the recent changes in the Other Shore and the mountains and seas over the past century. Whether it was the inclusion of "The Reflection" that exceeded the simulation's capacity, thus blurring its effects, he couldn't say. The Sages obtained this extraordinary treasure, yet their demeanor remained unchanged. This further solidified Li Fan's judgment.
"But how do I truly withdraw from this simulation?" Li Fan frowned slightly.
It was impossible to commit suicide directly.
This simulation was not ordinary; all signs indicated that death within the "simulation" would likely result in true death, obliterating one's existence.
Although Li Fan couldn't find a solution immediately, he was no longer desperate or anxious.
"Since it's a simulation, it means things haven't reached an irreversible point. As long as I return to reality, Return to Truth will come back, and all difficulties will be resolved."
At this moment, having lost Return to Truth, Li Fan longed more than ever to possess this treasure that could defy fate.
Simultaneously, after this ordeal, some of Li Fan's thoughts had subtly shifted without him even realizing it.
"One cannot discuss ice with a summer insect. People cannot imagine things beyond their perception. Even though I had made reasonable estimations of the Saints' power on the Other Shore, when I finally stood before them, I had no power to resist at all."
Recalling his experience within the Nine Saints' halo, Li Fan couldn't help but feel a lingering fear, even knowing he was in a simulation.
"If there hadn't been the trial of facing the Saints, perhaps I could have come to the Other Shore. But now, with the Saints present, all newcomers to the Other Shore must pass their scrutiny..."
"Without finding a way to deal with the Saints, going to the Other Shore would be a certain death."
If someone had warned Li Fan before he came to the Other Shore, he would have scoffed. At most, he would have taken even Return to Truth's warnings very seriously.
He might have thought that after thorough preparation, he would still embark on the journey to the Other Shore. Much like Li Fan in this simulation.
After all, before facing the Saints, Li Fan, who had scattered the seeds of his true spirit across the mountains and seas, felt his preparations were extremely secure.
"The gap between a Saint and a cultivator at the Transcendence realm is incredibly vast. Especially in the Other Shore, where the Nine Saints are gathered."
"In the past, as a mortal, I could still struggle when facing a True Immortal and use Return to Truth to turn the tide in critical moments."
"But now, before the Nine Saints, I have no room for resistance."
Li Fan endlessly replayed the moment he faced the Saints and his body and soul were torn into countless fragments. He repeatedly tried to deduce a way out but could find none.
"The Saints' power surpasses the scope of my current understanding."
"The figures of the Nine Saints hang above the mountains and seas, like the mysterious [Star] in the Allegory of Mountains and Seas. If my guess is correct, the Saints' power has likely reached a level comparable to the mountains and seas themselves. The Nine Saints working together could, to some extent, transcend the mountains and seas. Even this is just my inference from their performance that day. The true strength of the Nine Saints is almost unfathomable."
"And I, who need the Azure Nether Immortal Boat to cross the mountains and seas..." Li Fan shook his head slightly.
He had completely clarified the immense gap between himself and the Saints of the Other Shore.
"With this gap, any schemes, threats, divine abilities, or magical techniques... are all jokes. Even Return to Truth is useless."
Li Fan suddenly seemed to understand the reason for this simulation's abnormality.
"Could it be Return to Truth's warning?"
"At the end of my previous life, due to a moment of carelessness, I triggered the tribulation of Three Dao Fusion. Although I narrowly survived, it likely caused significant damage to Return to Truth."
"Return to Truth knows my temperament clearly and can even deduce what I will experience when I eventually go to the Other Shore. Faced with the power level of the Saints on the Other Shore, once danger arises, it cannot save me. It might even be subdued by the Saints itself. Thus, it used this method to make me understand completely..."
Understanding this, a wave of indescribable emotion surged through Li Fan's heart.
Return to Truth, his unfailing treasure that had grown with him and seemed omnipotent, could no longer protect him.
From now on, he would have to find a way to overcome the trial of facing the Saints himself.
"Or... I could hide within the mountains and seas forever and never enter the Other Shore."
The moment this thought arose, Li Fan swiftly extinguished it.
With Return to Truth in hand, to become a perpetual coward was never an option for Li Fan.
"I have come this far from the fallen immortal land of Great Xuan. It doesn't mean I cannot find a way to counter the Saints!"
Li Fan's confidence, crushed by the Nine Saints of the Other Shore, slowly began to rebuild.
"The Other Shore is the creation of the Saints. Since I cannot find a way to exit this simulation for now, I might as well study the Other Shore thoroughly. Perhaps I can glimpse some clues from these creations of the Saints."
Li Fan tidied his thoughts and, for the first time in a hundred years since arriving at the Other Shore, began to wander.
The area he was currently in was called [Myriad Phenomena Heaven].
It was a place where many transcendent powerhouses on the Other Shore resided.
Within Myriad Phenomena Heaven, with a single thought, one could manifest the world in their mind. And it required no personal expenditure, relying entirely on Myriad Phenomena Heaven's own evolutionary capabilities. Myriad Phenomena Heaven seemed boundless, with worlds created by the transcendent powerhouses on the Other Shore scattered like stars.
However, Li Fan could sense that only a minority of these star-like worlds were truly presided over by transcendent powerhouses.
"Myriad Phenomena Heaven is vast and empty. Most transcendent beings are either in the mountains and seas, pursuing the path to sainthood, or in other regions of the Other Shore." Li Fan concluded after observing for a while.
Without spending energy to manifest his own dwelling world, Li Fan moved his mind, summoning the Guiding Rainbow Bridge, preparing to observe other regions of the Other Shore.
Within Myriad Phenomena Heaven, a streak of purple qi materialized out of thin air, forming a guiding bridge.
The comings and goings were silent.
If Li Fan hadn't been constantly vigilant, he would have hardly noticed its movement.
"Perhaps I should have realized the Saints' power when I first saw the Guiding Rainbow Bridge." Li Fan sighed inwardly.
Those who could create paths for so-called Qualified Individuals of Mountains and Seas, how weak could the true creators of the Other Shore be?
Next, he intended to head to [Eternal Heavenly Steps] to investigate further.
Before leaving, Li Fan felt a sudden impulse and went to find Xiao Wangsheng first.
He hadn't seen him in a hundred years, yet Xiao Wangsheng remained exactly as he was when they left the Nine Saints' halo.
It seemed he had been more struck by the event than Li Fan had losing Return to Truth, and had not yet emerged from his dejected state.
"Brother Xiao, there are no insurmountable hurdles. Why are you still like this!" Li Fan patiently consoled him.
After all, Li Fan was Xiao Wangsheng's savior, and they had conversed for an incredibly long time.
After a long silence, Xiao Wangsheng finally spoke with bitterness: "The Dynasty Mountain and Sea Officials all believed that by relying on the Star's Gaze, we could transcend the mountains and seas. However, that day, when I truly faced the Star through the power of the Saints..."
"I realized it was a complete mistake!"
A hint of irrepressible terror appeared on Xiao Wangsheng's face.
He shared his experience in the Nine Saints' halo that day with Li Fan.
In a daze, it seemed he was back in that dark, abyssal space. Outside the circle of light, nine figures stood tall.
The pain of Return to Truth being extracted seemed to strike again. Li Fan instinctively shivered.
Fortunately, it was just a reactive response.
This time, he was an observer, witnessing the scene.
The Nine Saints of the Other Shore were already suspended above the mountains and seas.
But as the Nine Saints pointed together, Xiao Wangsheng, within the halo, seemed to be drawn upwards. Slowly raising his head.
Thus, he could see higher.
A lone star hung high, like the eye of a god, looking down upon all beings in the mountains and seas!
As his gaze directly met the star, Xiao Wangsheng's vision was once again filled with the sight of his former dynasty turning to ash, and even the collapse of the mountains and seas!
Even under the Saints' protection, Xiao Wangsheng's recently reformed body began to decay.
His body developed small holes, as if corroded by Dao Erasure, without any warning.
Xiao Wangsheng was filled with terror, like a drowning man struggling for help, wanting to avert his gaze from the star.
But his eyes seemed to be fixed, unable to move.
His body turned a strange purple-black.
More and more Dao Erasure holes appeared on Xiao Wangsheng's body.
He was about to completely dissipate within the mountains and seas.
At this moment, the Nine Saints' halo erupted with dazzling light, filling Xiao Wangsheng's vision and isolating the lone, high-hanging [Star].
Only then could Xiao Wangsheng avert his gaze.
Even though directly facing the Star was something he had desperately sought.
"The infinite changes of the mountains and seas are but a fleeting moment in the [Star]'s eyes."
"To attempt to probe the Star's mysteries with our perception of time is no different from suicide."
With the Saints' faint words, Xiao Wangsheng's injuries were fully healed.
The figures of the Nine Saints dimmed, but he could not escape the ordeal of facing the Star.
He had been lost for a hundred years.
And it was visible that he would continue to be lost.
"We were wrong, my friend. Our thoughts were all wrong."
"An ant trying to shake a great tree, laughable and overconfident!"
"Laughable and overconfident!"
Xiao Wangsheng refused Li Fan's invitation to explore the Other Shore together.
He merely resumed his role as a Mountain and Sea Official within his own simulated dynasty world in Myriad Phenomena Heaven.
Li Fan did not force him. Seeing Xiao Wangsheng immersed in his "role-playing," he quietly departed.
"When the real becomes the false, and the false becomes true."
"In the midst of these truths and falsehoods, who can truly distinguish?"
With a sigh of emotion, Li Fan stepped onto the Guiding Rainbow Bridge, heading towards the Eternal Heavenly Steps.
This journey was slightly different from the previous one.
During the transit, fragments of scenes from the mountains and seas occasionally erupted from the purple qi bridge.
Like waves stirred up by a boat racing across the water.
Li Fan casually caught a few fragments. It was as if he was rapidly traversing the mountains and seas himself.
"With these fragments, one can comprehend the path of transcendence. For cultivators who have not yet transcended, these are undoubtedly treasures of immeasurable value. But for those who have already transcended and condensed their own paths, their value is not great."
"Yet, they are perfect for me."
Li Fan did not feel much surprise. He merely comprehended them as they came.
After all, if he couldn't find a way to leave this simulation, he might be trapped in the Other Shore for the rest of his life. He would have plenty of time to comprehend them slowly.
And if he managed to leave, he could always return later to comprehend the path of transcendence.
The Guiding Rainbow Bridge sped on, stirring up waves of mountains and seas, oblivious to the passage of time.
One day, as the solid purple qi beneath his feet suddenly dispersed, Li Fan finally reached his destination.
A river, all too familiar, flowed down from the Ninth Heaven.
Roaring and surging, without end.
"This is..."
"The River of Time?"
Having struggled against its current in the past, Li Fan recognized the river's true nature at first glance.
"It's not an illusion. It's a solidified manifestation of the actual River of Time, formed by unfathomable power."
"Passing through this area of light and shadow, one can truly fall into it."
Li Fan marveled inwardly.
What drew his attention even more were the ancient blue stone slabs floating above the river!
Like steps, traversing through all of time!
Li Fan instantly understood the meaning of the Eternal Heavenly Steps.
"On the Other Shore, not all transcendent powerhouses have comprehended the path of [Inversion]. If they wish to travel to different time nodes in the mountains and seas, they need the help of these Eternal Heavenly Steps."
Li Fan scanned the vast River of Time, trying to find the creators of these Heavenly Steps.
"Starving Immortals once said that two transcendent powerhouses who failed the Saints' test were imprisoned here."
"My plan of burning mountains and boiling seas was forgivable in the eyes of the Saints. I wonder what kind of heinous acts these two committed."
Li Fan wished he could see and learn from them.
However, what appeared to be a mere river stretching from heaven to earth was, in reality, filled with infinite details discernible upon closer inspection of each section. Like endless mountains and seas, it was impossible to survey it all in a short time.
But apart from escaping the simulation, Li Fan had no other goals at the moment. He settled by the River of Time, patiently observing.
Previously, after absorbing the power of the Heavenly Demon within the Doctrine Transmitter's body, Li Fan felt his path of inversion had advanced. However, he hadn't had the chance to verify it in the River of Time.
Now, by the riverbank, bathed in the fragments of time occasionally spurting forth, he confirmed his judgment.
"It seems the Heavenly Demon indeed has a deep connection with the River of Time. Perhaps both are [Qualified Individuals] of the river."
The term [Qualified Individual] refers to a being whose existence is perfectly adapted to their environment.
The Guiding Rainbow Bridge was constructed by Qualified Individuals of Mountains and Seas, enabling rapid traversal.
And Li Fan's effortless feeling when facing the temporal fluctuations generated by the River of Time after absorbing the Heavenly Demon was proof that the Heavenly Demon was a Qualified Individual of the river.
"Perhaps not to the point of free and arbitrary travel, but it's much stronger than the usual path of inversion."
"Even if I haven't comprehended the path of inversion, I can traverse it without the aid of these Eternal Heavenly Steps."
As he mused, a thunderous roar suddenly echoed from the illusory image of the River of Time.
Li Fan focused his gaze and saw that one of the blue stone slabs, which had been suspended outside the river, had inexplicably fallen into it, splashing countless fragments of time.
Fe.
This also caused countless intricate currents within the river to change course.
Li Fan keenly noticed that accompanied by the falling stone slab was a figure plunging into the river.
"The Eternal Heavenly Steps are consumables, after all. They are worn down after being used by transcendent beings for traversal." Li Fan mused.
It's impossible to commit suicide.
This simulation is no ordinary one; all signs indicate that death within the "simulation" would likely lead to true annihilation.
Although finding a solution would take time, Li Fan was no longer despairing or anxious.
"Since it's a simulation, it means things haven't reached an irreversible point. As long as I return to reality, Return to Truth will come back, and all difficulties will be resolved."
At this moment, having lost Return to Truth, Li Fan yearned more than ever to possess this heaven-defying secret treasure again.
Simultaneously, after this turn of events, some of Li Fan's thoughts had subtly shifted without him realizing it.
"As the saying goes, one cannot discuss ice with a summer insect. People cannot imagine things beyond their cognitive scope. Even though I've done my best to reasonably estimate the power of the Sages of the Other Shore, when I finally stood before them, I was utterly powerless to resist."
Recalling his previous encounter within the Nine Sages' halo, even knowing he was in a simulation, Li Fan couldn't help but feel a lingering fear.
"If there wasn't the trial of facing the Sages, perhaps I could have come to the Other Shore. But now, with the Sages present, all newcomers to the Other Shore must pass their scrutiny..."
"Without finding a way to deal with the Sages, going to the Other Shore would be a sure path to death."
If someone had warned Li Fan before he came to the Other Shore, Li Fan would have scoffed. Even if Return to Truth had warned him, Li Fan would have at most taken it very seriously.
He would have thought that after "sufficient" preparation, he would still embark on the journey to the Other Shore. Much like Li Fan in this current simulation.
After all, before facing the Sages, Li Fan, who had scattered the seeds of his true spirit throughout the mountains and seas, felt his preparations were extremely sound.
"The gap between a Sage and a cultivator at the Transcendence realm is truly unimaginable. Especially in the Other Shore, where nine Sages gather."
"In the past, as a mortal, I could still struggle against a True Immortal, using Return to Truth in critical moments to turn the tide."
"But now, before the Nine Sages, there is no room for resistance whatsoever."
Li Fan repeatedly recalled the moment he faced the Sages and his body and soul were split into countless fragments. He replayed it countless times, yet could not find any method to break free.
"The power of the Sages surpasses the scope of my current understanding."
"The figures of the Nine Sages, suspended high above the mountains and seas, resembling the mysterious [Star] in the Allegory of Mountains and Seas. If I'm not mistaken, the power of what are called Sages has likely reached the level of being comparable to the mountains and seas. The Nine Sages acting in concert could, to some extent, surpass the mountains and seas. In fact, this is merely my inference from their performance that day. The strength of the Nine Sages is almost unfathomable."
"And I, to cross the mountains and seas, need the Azure Nether Immortal Boat..." Li Fan shook his head slightly.
He had thoroughly understood the vast disparity between himself and the Sages of the Other Shore.
"In the face of such a gap, any schemes, threats, divine abilities, or profound arts... are nothing but a joke. Even Return to Truth is useless."
Suddenly, Li Fan seemed to understand the reason for this simulation's abnormality.
"Could it be Return to Truth's warning?"
"At the end of my previous life, I inadvertently triggered the tribulation of Three Dao Manifestations due to a moment of carelessness. Although I survived by chance, I likely caused Return to Truth to be harmed."
"Return to Truth knows my temperament well and can even deduce what I will experience in the future when I go to the Other Shore. And at the power level of the Sages of the Other Shore, once danger arises, it cannot save me. In fact, even it would be subdued by the Sages. Thus, it used this method to make me understand completely..."
Upon realizing this, a peculiar feeling surged through Li Fan.
The indispensable artifact, Return to Truth, which had accompanied him throughout his growth and seemed all-powerful, could no longer protect him.
From now on, he would have to find a way to pass the trial of facing the Sages himself.
"Or... hide within the mountains and seas forever, never entering the Other Shore."
The moment this thought arose, Li Fan actively extinguished it.
With Return to Truth in hand, yet choosing to be a perpetual coward. This was absolutely not a choice Li Fan would make.
"I was able to reach this point from the Immortal-Severing land of Great Xuan. Who's to say I can't find a way to counter the Sages!"
Li Fan's confidence, which had been crushed by the Nine Sages of the Other Shore, slowly began to rebuild.
"The Other Shore is the creation of the Sages. Since I currently can't find a way to exit the simulation, why not study this Other Shore thoroughly? Perhaps I can glean some clues from these creations of the Sages."
Li Fan recollected himself and, for the first time in a hundred years after arriving at the Other Shore, began to wander.
The area he was currently in was called [Myriad Phenomena Heaven].
It was a dwelling place for many transcendent experts in the Other Shore.
Within Myriad Phenomena Heaven, one could materialize worlds based on their thoughts with a single intent. And these worlds evolved without requiring any effort from the user, relying entirely on Myriad Phenomena Heaven's own evolutionary power. Myriad Phenomena Heaven seemed endless, with worlds created by transcendent experts of the Other Shore scattered like stars.
However, Li Fan could sense that very few of these star-like worlds were truly presided over by transcendent experts.
"Myriad Phenomena Heaven is mostly empty. Most transcendent beings are either in the mountains and seas, pursuing the path to sainthood, or in other regions of the Other Shore."
After observing for a while, Li Fan drew this conclusion.
Without choosing to expend energy to manifest his own dwelling world, Li Fan willed it and summoned the Guiding Rainbow Bridge, preparing to observe other regions of the Other Shore.
Within Myriad Phenomena Heaven, a streak of purple energy materialized out of thin air, forming a guiding bridge.
The transit was silent and traceless.
If Li Fan hadn't been constantly vigilant, he would have barely noticed its movement.
"Perhaps I should have realized the power of the Sages when I first saw the Guiding Rainbow Bridge."
Li Fan sighed inwardly.
If they could create paths for transportation using those known as "Qualified Individuals of Mountains and Seas," how weak could the true creators of the Other Shore be?
Next, he intended to explore [Eternal Heavenly Steps].
Before departing, Li Fan's heart stirred, and he first sought out Xiao Wansheng.
He hadn't seen him for a hundred years, yet Xiao Wansheng was exactly as he had been after leaving the Nine Sages' halo.
It seemed the blow he received was even greater than Li Fan losing Return to Truth, as he still hadn't recovered from his dejected state.
"Brother Xiao, there's no obstacle that cannot be overcome. Why are you like this!" Li Fan patiently consoled him.
Li Fan was, after all, Xiao Wansheng's savior, and they had even had a very long conversation once.
After a long silence, Xiao Wansheng finally spoke with bitterness, "The Dynastic Mountain and Sea Observers all believed that with the help of the 'Star Gazer,' we could transcend the mountains and seas. However, that day, when I truly faced the Star through the power of the Sages..."
"I discovered how utterly wrong we were!"
A trace of uncontrollable terror surfaced on Xiao Wansheng's face.
He shared his experience in the Nine Sages' halo with Li Fan.
In a trance, it was as if he had returned to that deep, dark space. Outside the halo, nine figures stood tall.
The pain of Return to Truth being stripped away seemed to strike again, and Li Fan instinctively shivered.
Fortunately, it was just a reflexive reaction.
This time, he was an observer, watching the scene unfold.
The Nine Sages of the Other Shore were already suspended above the mountains and seas.
But as the Nine Sages pointed, Xiao Wansheng, within the halo, seemed to be drawn forward. He slowly raised his head.
Thus, he was able to see higher.
A solitary star hung high, like the eye of a god, looking down upon all beings in the mountains and seas!
As his gaze met the Star head-on, Xiao Wansheng's eyes seemed to see the annihilation of the ancient Dynasties and even the collapse of the mountains and seas!
Even under the protection of the Sages, Xiao Wansheng's body, which had only recently been reformed, began to decay.
Numerous small holes appeared on his body without warning, as if corroded by Dao Erasure Qi.
Xiao Wansheng was filled with terror, struggling and crying for help like a drowning man, trying to avert his gaze from the Star.
But his eyes seemed to be tightly fixed, unable to move.
His outer appearance turned a strange purplish-black.
The holes of Dao Erasure on Xiao Wansheng's body grew more numerous.
He was on the verge of completely dissipating within the mountains and seas.
At this very moment, the Nine Sages' halo erupted with a dazzling light, filling Xiao Wansheng's vision and isolating him from the solitary [Star] suspended above.
Only then could Xiao Wansheng avert his gaze.
Even though facing the Star was something he had desperately sought.
"The endless changes of the mountains and seas are but a fleeting moment in the eyes of the [Star]."
"To try to comprehend the mysteries of the Star with our perception of time is no different from suicide."
In the Sages' faint words, Xiao Wansheng's injuries were all healed.
The figures of the Nine Sages dimmed, but he couldn't emerge from the experience of facing the Star.
He had been lost for a hundred years.
And visibly, he was continuing to be lost.
"We were wrong, my friend, we were both wrong."
"An ant trying to shake a great tree, laughable and arrogant!"
"Laughably arrogant!"
Xiao Wansheng refused Li Fan's invitation to tour the Other Shore together.
He simply resumed his role as a Mountain and Sea Observer in the Dynasty's world he had created with a single thought in Myriad Phenomena Heaven.
Li Fan didn't press him. Watching Xiao Wansheng immersed in his "role-playing," he quietly departed.
"When truth becomes false, and false becomes true."
"Truth or falsehood, who can tell the difference."
With a sigh, Li Fan stepped onto the Guiding Rainbow Bridge and headed towards Eternal Heavenly Steps.
This time, the journey had a slight change compared to before.
During the transit, fragments of images, containing scenes of mountains and seas, sporadically erupted from the purple energy bridge.
Like waves stirred up by a speeding boat on the water, they scattered like blooming spray.
Li Fan casually captured a few fragments, feeling as if he were rapidly traversing through the mountains and seas.
"With these fragments, one can comprehend the Dao of Transcendence. For cultivators who have not yet transcended, these are undoubtedly treasures of immeasurable value. But for those who have already transcended and condensed their own Dao paths, their value is not great."
"Yet, they are perfectly suited for me."
Li Fan didn't feel much surprise; he merely absorbed the insights with a sense of spontaneous discovery.
After all, if he couldn't find a way to leave this simulation, he might be trapped in the Other Shore for the rest of his life. He had plenty of time to slowly comprehend.
And if he could leave successfully, he could always return later to comprehend the Dao of Transcendence.
The Guiding Rainbow Bridge sped onward, stirring up waves of mountains and seas, the passage of time forgotten.
On this day, as the solid purple energy beneath his feet suddenly dispersed, Li Fan finally reached his destination.
A river, incredibly familiar, descended from the Ninth Heaven.
Rushing and roaring, it flowed endlessly.
"This is..."
"The River of Time?"
Having once struggled against its current, Li Fan recognized the true nature of the river before him at first glance.
"This is not an illusion. It is the concretization of the truly existing River of Time, solidified here with unfathomable power."
"Passing through this light and shadow, one can truly descend into it."
Li Fan marveled inwardly.
What drew his attention even more were the ancient, weathered bluestone slabs floating above the river!
Like steps, they spanned across ancient and modern times!
Li Fan instantly understood the significance of Eternal Heavenly Steps.
"Not all transcendent beings in the Other Shore have comprehended the Dao of [Inversion]. If they wish to travel to different temporal nodes within the mountains and seas, they require the assistance of these Eternal Heavenly Steps."
Li Fan scanned the vast River of Time, attempting to locate the entity that forged these Heavenly Steps.
"The Starving Immortal once mentioned that two transcendent beings who failed the Sages' scrutiny were imprisoned here."
"My plan of burning mountains and boiling seas is considered forgivable by the Sages. I wonder what heavens-condemning deed these two committed."
Li Fan truly wished to witness and learn from them.
However, it was impossible. The river, which appeared to be merely a section from heaven to earth, actually contained infinite details within each part upon closer inspection. Like endless mountains and seas, it was difficult to explore completely in a short time.
But besides finding a way out of the simulation, Li Fan had no other goals at the moment. He simply stood by the River of Time, patiently observing.
Previously, after absorbing the power of the Heavenly Demon within the Doctrine Transmitter's body, Li Fan had felt an improvement in his path of reversing the Dao. However, he hadn't had the chance to verify it in the River of Time.
Now, standing by the riverbank, bathed in the temporal fragments occasionally bursting forth, he confirmed his judgment.
"It seems the Heavenly Demon is indeed closely related to the River of Time. Perhaps it is a [Qualified Individual] of the River."
The so-called [Qualified Individual] refers to a being whose existence can fully adapt to its environment.
The Guiding Rainbow Bridge was constructed by the Qualified Individuals of Mountains and Seas; it could quickly traverse the mountains and seas.
And Li Fan's newfound ease in the temporal fragments generated by the River of Time after absorbing the Heavenly Demon was proof that the Heavenly Demon was a Qualified Individual of the River.
"Perhaps I haven't reached the point of freely traversing it, but I am much stronger than those who travel against the flow of the Dao."
"Even if I haven't comprehended the Dao of Inversion, I can still navigate it without the help of these Eternal Heavenly Steps."
As he thought this, a thunderous rumbling suddenly echoed from the phantom form of the River of Time.
Li Fan focused his gaze and saw one of the bluestone slabs, which had been suspended outside the river, inexplicably fall into the river, splashing countless temporal fragments.
This event further caused the myriad intricate directions of the river to change.
Li Fan keenly perceived that along with the falling bluestone slab, a figure seemed to have plunged into the river.
"Eternal Heavenly Steps are consumables after all. After being used by transcendent beings for transit, they are worn out," Li Fan mused.
A crisp bell chime sounded in Li Fan's ears, lingering like an echo.
Since entering the Other Shore, various anomalies had occurred. These included the discovery of the secret of infinite spirituality, the deprivation of Return to Truth, and the realization amidst despair that it was all a simulation… All these intense emotions had quietly faded with the echoing chimes.
Li Fan's heart had found a peace it hadn't experienced in a long time.
Even the faint joy of discovering this Transcendent True Intent and finally having a path to escape the simulation had vanished.
Absolute tranquility, free from any personal emotions, allowed for a more comprehensive and rational analysis.
"The Bell of Tribulation and Steadfast Will…"
As the bell's resonance echoed, its ancient name surfaced in Li Fan's mind.
Along with it came a torrent of light and shadows, depicting the life and deeds of this fallen transcendent expert.
Li Fan, after a brief perusal, couldn't help but exclaim, "It was an unbroken path, devoid of any turmoil. From Foundation Establishment to Dao Integration, from True Immortal to the Nameless Realm. This person navigated all setbacks and tribulations with composure and steady steps."
"Even after departing from his original possibilities, he faced the continuous waves of Dao Erasure in the infinite mountains and seas with unwavering equanimity. Even at the most perilous moments, when Dao Erasure had already consumed more than half of his body, he remained unshaken."
"In truth, this person possessed emotions and desires, but with immense willpower, he dissolved all distracting thoughts. His steadfast will aided him through countless tribulations…"
Slowly opening his eyes, Li Fan emerged from the immersive visions. His expression grew solemn as he declared, "Transcendent of all things, devoid of self and ego. I am not his equal!"
"Fan Wunian…" Li Fan committed the name of the fallen transcendent expert to memory. He then solemnly put away the ancient bell, the Bell of Tribulation and Steadfast Will, preparing to return to the Other Shore.
This time, his journey to the Other Shore would not be like before, aimlessly searching through the mountains and seas like a headless fly.
Having already visited the Other Shore and gained the Nine Sages' approval, he could now faintly glimpse its shadow by gazing towards the heavens from any corner of the mountains and seas. It was like the great sun in the sky, radiating boundless warmth. Li Fan merely had to follow the direction of the light to quickly return to the Other Shore.
Li Fan leaped, returning to the mountains and seas. Looking back, the original possibility had become precarious due to the demise of numerous True Immortals, on the verge of being swallowed by Dao Erasure at any moment.
"The ending is irrelevant."
Li Fan's heart remained unmoved. Without a backward glance, he flew towards the Other Shore.
Under the influence of the massive tidal wave he stirred while crossing the Dao Erasure, the precarious possibility finally collapsed. Countless lives and True Immortals were annihilated in an instant.
But this was merely an insignificant splash of waves in the vast mountains and seas.
The Bell of Tribulation and Steadfast Will continued to chime, clashing with the tsunami of Dao Erasure. The Dao Erasure seemed to crash against an invisible barrier, being repelled entirely.
Li Fan walked on the waves, an image of effortless grace.
Even without the Azure Nether Immortal Boat's assistance this time, his journey across was far smoother than his first exploration of the mountains and seas.
The feeling of isolation and coldness from being distant from the mortal world was gone. Even when facing the threat of Dao Erasure, Li Fan remained calm and composed. It was as if Dao Erasure was no longer a fatal crisis for him, but rather a series of immense opportunities!
"Once I escape this simulation and return to reality, I will immediately acquire this ancient bell, the Bell of Tribulation and Steadfast Will. Even among the thousands of stone tablets in the Forest of Mountains and Seas' Interconnectedness, this Transcendent True Intent is undoubtedly of the highest quality."
"I wonder… how did Fan Wunian perish in the first place?"
Empowered by the ancient bell, Li Fan's return speed was much faster than anticipated.
As he traversed the mountains and seas at high speed, he constantly felt the warm radiance of the Other Shore shining upon him. It not only illuminated his direction but also increased his speed in crossing Dao Erasure.
"This must be the Immeasurable Light Chain."
"The faster I traverse, the greater the auxiliary effect of the light chain."
"That scroll depicting mountains and seas, which I vaguely glimpsed within the light chain that day, was likely drawn by a Sage. Its power permeated the entire mountain and sea…"
On this second journey through the mountains and seas, Li Fan's conviction deepened. The Nine Sages, and the Other Shore they guarded, in a sense, transcended the mountains and seas.
"But only this segment of the mountains and seas I am currently in."
"From what I learned from the illusory mortal form of the River of Time within the Other Shore, this segment of the mountains and seas, from its inception to its end, would not exceed five hundred thousand years at most. This is but a drop in the ocean compared to the vast time span of the mountains and seas."
"The complete mountains and seas possess countless times more power than the segment we inhabit. Even so, it has been shattered by the catastrophe of Dao Erasure."
"To completely resolve the disaster of Dao Erasure, even the Nine Sages are powerless," Li Fan realized.
Time held no meaning within the mountains and seas.
When Li Fan returned to the Other Shore, the collapse of the possibility containing the ancient bell, the Bell of Tribulation and Steadfast Will, within the illusory mortal form of the River of Time had only just occurred.
Li Fan clearly saw that because of that ripple, the course of the surging river had undergone a subtle change. Countless possibilities were affected.
But this aligned with the four words: "The ending is irrelevant."
The two dark abysses at the beginning and end of the river remained silently standing.
Letting the river flow ceaselessly, they remained unaltered.
Taking a deep breath, Li Fan proceeded to the Forest of Mountains and Seas' Interconnectedness. With a hint of reluctance, he handed over the ancient bell, the Bell of Tribulation and Steadfast Will. "A pity, Return to Truth is not in my possession now. Otherwise, borrowing the ability of the 'Transforming Heart,' I could have mastered its power myself."
As the ancient bell left his hand, it seemed to sense the myriad Transcendent True Intents above, similar to itself. It instantly erupted with a faint green glow and ascended.
A bell chime echoed through the stele forest, igniting the surrounding stone tablets to glow in unison.
From the sky, a finger descended.
It lightly pressed upon the ancient bell.
The bell's chime was instantly frozen. Then, the ancient green bell transformed into the shape of a stone tablet and flew into the myriad steles within the Forest of Interconnectedness.
The spectral finger vanished, leaving only lingering echoes.
Li Fan then chose to hand over the solitary sail from the mountains and seas.
Compared to the Bell of Tribulation and Steadfast Will, this solitary sail caused far less commotion.
There was only a minor resonance among the surrounding transcendent stone tablets, and no finger suppressed it from the sky.
The solitary sail flew into the Forest of Interconnectedness and magically transformed into a stone tablet.
After submitting two Transcendent True Intents, Li Fan received a flash of information in his mind.
His accumulated "Merit" was now sufficient to meet the Nine Sages once!
The "Merit" spoken of in the Other Shore had no quantifiable data, but its utility was immense.
Besides the opportunity to meet the Nine Sages, its primary use was to gain a "privilege" in various areas of the Other Shore.
For instance, within the Forest of Mountains and Seas' Interconnectedness, one could, through the Nine Sages' judgment, find the stone tablet of Transcendent True Intent with the highest potential for re-enlightenment. Furthermore, for a period, one could have exclusive access to the insights from that stone tablet.
Or, by utilizing the observational capabilities of the "Nexus of Life and Death Tides," one could approach the Eternal Void Realm closely. If one were truly trapped within and unable to escape, regret would be futile as death would claim them before they could even lament. Through observation from the Nexus of Life and Death Tides, one could ascertain the remaining gap to successfully traverse the Eternal Void Realm.
…
Beyond its uses within the Other Shore, Merit could also be exchanged for rare items from other factions, such as the Sacred Fortune Grand Medicine refined by the Tai Wei Sacred Emperor!
"The so-called Sacred Fortune Grand Medicine is essentially no different from the Loquats and Bai Qians I encountered before. However, the materials used for its refinement are not the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas, but the fortune of the Sacred Dynasty! It is said that the vast fortune accumulated by the continuously expanding Sacred Dynasty, which spans across the mountains and seas, can even aid one in achieving the Sage position."
"The Sacred Fortune Grand Medicine is not easy to refine. Even the Tai Wei Sacred Emperor has limited stock. What the Merit can be exchanged for in the Other Shore is naturally a portion that the Nine Sages exchanged with the Sacred Emperor at a certain cost. Moreover, the Nine Sages explicitly stated that what is exchanged is not a complete dose of the Sacred Fortune Grand Medicine, but a pill divided into nine parts by them. Even so, the Immortals of the Other Shore eagerly sought this efficacious medicine…"
"If it weren't for the pressing need to escape this simulation, I too would have chosen to accumulate more Merit and obtain a dose of the Sacred Medicine to taste," Li Fan suppressed his surging desire and connected his divine sense to the Immeasurable Light Chain.
Perhaps due to the blessing of his own accumulated Merit, the scroll depicting mountains and seas that Li Fan saw this time was clearer than before. It depicted the continuous landscapes of mountains and seas.
And the massive sphere of light hovering above the mountains symbolized the Other Shore!
As Li Fan's divine sense connected with this sphere of light, information about himself emerged. His past experiences, and even his thoughts at those moments, were laid bare in meticulous detail.
At this moment, Li Fan felt as if he had returned to that instant of being scrutinized by the Nine Sages. Even knowing it was a simulation, a surge of nameless anger welled up within him.
But clearly, this was not the time to lose his temper. Li Fan suppressed his anger, and after all his information had been displayed, he turned his attention to the Merit data.
A white circle, resembling the Nine Sages' ring, represented one portion of Merit.
The Merit Li Fan acquired from retrieving the two Transcendent True Intents combined barely amounted to a little more than one portion.
"Exchange for the opportunity to meet the Nine Sages."
Upon confirmation, the white circle suddenly dimmed.
Simultaneously, Li Fan realized that he could now meet the Nine Sages at any time.
"Return to Truth calls this a simulation, yet it is almost indistinguishable from the events that actually occurred in the mountains and seas."
"Only my infinite spirituality and Return to Truth's own intervention would cause events to occur beyond the simulation's tolerance. This is the key for my escape."
"Now that Return to Truth is controlled by the Nine Sages, its influence is deliberately obscured. To break through this loophole…"
Li Fan mentally reviewed the plan he had already settled upon.
Despite having a ninety-nine percent certainty of success, he still felt apprehensive at the crucial moment.
"If the plan fails, I fear I will be humiliated by the Nine Sages once again. It will be much harder to meet the Nine Sages next time. I might even be killed on the spot by them…"
His expression flickered with indecision. At the critical juncture of taking this final step, Li Fan hesitated.
Firstly, the psychological shadow cast by the Nine Sages previously was too profound, and had not yet subsided.
Secondly, Li Fan had now completely lost Return to Truth's protection. If he perished within the simulation, his actual self would also die, just like any ordinary transcendent cultivator. Facing the Sage's might, and undertaking actions that could endanger his life, would naturally lead to indecision.
But Li Fan did not hesitate for long.
As if he could hear the faint hum of the ancient bell, the Bell of Tribulation and Steadfast Will, Li Fan's expression gradually became resolute.
"After much deliberation, this is the only way to escape this simulation."
"Moreover, the probability of success is so high. Why am I so fearful!" Li Fan chuckled self-mockingly.
"When I first entered Great Xuan, as a mortal without any treasures, I wasn't this hesitant!"
"Meeting the Nine Sages!" Li Fan looked up at the sky of the Other Shore and declared with unwavering determination.
As if divine beings in the high heavens cast their gaze down.
The scene before Li Fan's eyes instantly changed.
Below were continuous mountains and seas, and above, a solitary star hung high.
Before him stood the Nine Sages, surrounded by a halo of light!
Nine figures remained silent, merely observing Li Fan.
Li Fan took a deep breath, calming himself. Then, he asked in a deep voice, "May I dare to ask, Nine Sages, do you truly wish to save the mountains and seas?"
"We ourselves have sacrificed life and death, advancing wave after wave to the Eternal Void Realm, precisely to save the mountains and seas from the Dao Erasure. We are even willing to sacrifice our own lives, so why would we refuse?" a voice of a Sage responded calmly.
"May I dare to ask again, Nine Sages, does Return to Truth still exist?" Li Fan spoke with resonant clarity, surveying the Nine Sages around him.
The simulation of Return to Truth was rooted in reality.
Even if its influence could be obscured, Return to Truth would always appear where it was supposed to be. The Nine Sages, having obtained Return to Truth, would never relinquish it to anyone else.
The figures of the Nine Sages rippled slightly.
But ultimately, they replied, "It exists."
"If Return to Truth exists, why do you not use it to save the mountains and seas?" Li Fan questioned.
"After a hundred years, have the Nine Sages ever utilized Return to Truth? Not even once!"
As this question was posed, Li Fan's heart seemed to clench.
He feared the Nine Sages would be enraged and descend upon him with punishment, or that they would reply that Return to Truth had been activated multiple times, but he was simply unaware.
However, to his relief, the Nine Sages responded with silence.
Li Fan rejoiced inwardly and seized the opportunity, pressing on: "With the treasure of Return to Truth in hand, why do you ignore it and not use it?"
"Is it perhaps because the Nine Sages are merely residual consciousnesses, lacking the spirituality to utilize it?"
Before the Nine Sages could answer, Li Fan solemnly cupped his hands in a bow and slowly said, "If that is the case, then I, Li Fan, am willing to offer my own infinite spirituality for your use, in order to save the mountains and seas!"
His voice boomed like thunder, echoing endlessly within the halo.
The figures of the Nine Sages trembled as if struck by a tsunami.
This time, the Nine Sages could no longer respond with silence.
Li Fan's request was full of righteousness.
He was even willing to sacrifice himself to enable the Nine Sages to use Return to Truth.
If this were reality, the next step would undoubtedly be the Nine Sages extracting Li Fan's infinite spirituality and utilizing Return to Truth.
One step at a time, they would save the mountains and seas.
But…
This was within the simulation of Return to Truth!
In uttering these words, Li Fan was genuinely prepared to become an extractor of infinite Spirit Qi himself. If his conjecture were wrong, and this was not a simulation but true reality, then after such a grand declaration, the Sages, who had shown him mercy out of compassion, would surely not let him off the hook again.
Conversely…
Within the halo, an exceedingly peculiar atmosphere began to settle. The Sages remained silent, yet beneath this deathly quiet, a terrifying storm seemed to be brewing. As if constantly battered by surging tides, ripples emanated from the nine towering figures of the Sages. The very space where the Sages resided also descended into violent turmoil. Rifts, like open wounds, spread out instantaneously. Even the halo encompassing Li Fan became distorted, as if on the verge of collapsing at any moment.
The power that bound Li Fan thus revealed a slight weakness, allowing Li Fan to break free from his state of being splintered into countless fragments. "It's going to succeed!" Li Fan rejoiced inwardly, seeing how the Sages' space was on the brink of shattering.
Yet, unexpectedly…
"Since this is your wish, we shall fulfill it."
"When the seas and mountains are restored and Dao Erasure is no more, we will release you and count your efforts towards saving the world!"
The cold words of the nine Sages, after a prolonged silence, suddenly pierced the air. As if doused with a bucket of ice-cold water, Li Fan's breath hitched, and a look of disbelief and shock contorted his face.
"Wait…"
Before he could finish his word, as if crushed by an unfathomable force, the halo, already twisted, shattered completely. It dissolved into countless light particles, scattering like snow in the wind! Li Fan, in utter panic, was fully exposed before the nine Sages. The pressure he endured was a hundredfold greater than before!
Li Fan had initially believed the halo in the Sages' space was a tool for them to analyze and observe those cultivators who entered. Now, with the halo shattered, Li Fan finally understood. This halo was meant to *protect* the cultivators who entered this place! The blurred appearances of the Sages were precisely due to this halo's interposition, allowing cultivators to stand before them with relative ease. But without the halo's protection…
In Li Fan's eyes, the figures of the nine Sages expanded with terrifying speed. Within moments, they transformed from beings of similar size to Li Fan into nine colossal giants whose forms he could no longer comprehend. The phrase "topping the heavens and encompassing the earth" barely scratched the surface of their immensity. The nine Sages standing together were like mountains and seas, surpassing the very scope of Li Fan's ability to "see"!
Just as one naturally knows the name of a mountain range when standing within it, Li Fan's mind was flooded with the titles of the Sages as he was enveloped by them!
Mountain Link!
Sea Return!
Tai Yi!
Mound Guardian!
Star Raft!
Karma Judge!
Chance Stealer!
…
With each Sage's name that flashed into his vision, Li Fan felt as though he was reliving the excruciating pain of having his Return to Truth extracted. Before he could even fully perceive the faces of the nine Sages, Li Fan's vision went black, and he fell into unconsciousness.
"Is this… my final outcome?"
In a daze, Li Fan seemed to witness numerous illusions. He appeared to have experienced countless different endings for the seas and mountains, witnessing the disintegration of the Other Shore, the shattering of the mountains and seas, the temporary retreat of Dao Erasure… and so on. These scenes, seemingly real yet illusory, blurred together.
But in all these worlds, there was no trace of Li Fan, not even the qualification to exist as an ant. He was purely an observer. Or perhaps… fuel for the restarting of the seas and mountains?
Yet, in this seemingly desperate situation, Li Fan felt an unexpected calm. There was no fear, no regret, and no hatred. Besides his peculiar observational nature playing a role, the more significant reason was that, in all the scenarios he witnessed, the ultimate fate of the mountains and seas was destruction. One cycle of reincarnation after another was merely a futile struggle. Li Fan even felt a sense of pity and relief that he was not caught in such a hopeless cycle. The reincarnation of mountains and seas continued endlessly, an unending river of countless light-years, swallowing Li Fan whole.
…
After an unknown period, a voice Li Fan recognized with extreme familiarity echoed in the darkness.
"【This simulation has concluded】"
Like a pebble dropped into still water, ripples spread out, gradually awakening Li Fan's frozen consciousness. "This voice, it's so familiar." "It's…" "What was it again?"
"【Do you wish to overwrite the results of this simulation onto the current seas and mountains?】"
Ignoring Li Fan's bewilderment, the voice continued indifferently. These additional words, like small stones repeatedly cast into the water, not only created numerous tiny ripples but also splashed countless water droplets! Ultimately, they roused Li Fan's long-dormant memories.
"Return to Truth! That's right, this is Return to Truth's voice!"
As if breaking free from an icy grip, the extreme joy within him, like a warm flame, awakened Li Fan. He tasted, with ravenous eagerness, the feeling of rediscovery. He savored every word Return to Truth spoke, repeating them again and again. After a long while, Li Fan finally recovered.
"It's over… the simulation is over?"
Like a bolt of lightning, it split the darkness, illuminating his surroundings. Li Fan, as if surfacing from the depths of the water, could finally breathe freely. "What exactly happened at the last moment of my previous life? My plan seemed to have failed. And then I was truly treated as a machine for extracting infinite Spirit Qi…" Li Fan shivered uncontrollably. "But why did I manage to escape the simulation?" Although safe, Li Fan's heart was still shrouded in a thick fog.
"【Do you wish to overwrite the results of this simulation onto the current seas and mountains?】"
Return to Truth's frigid voice interrupted Li Fan's confusion at the opportune moment. "Hmm?" Li Fan was once again taken aback. "Overwrite the results of this simulation onto the current seas and mountains?" He carefully savored the meaning of this sentence. Unlike any option that appeared after a previous Return to Truth, this was a completely new one. The meaning was not difficult to grasp, but it was so incredibly unbelievable that Li Fan struggled to accept it. He instinctively sought confirmation from Return to Truth.
"A single thought of true or false, illusions transform with the heart."
"Seas and mountains are boundless, overturned in an instant."
Return to Truth responded with only sixteen characters. Upon receiving Return to Truth's affirmative confirmation, Li Fan’s thoughts paused, deeply shaken. He then realized that his current state was peculiar. Previously, when he actively initiated Return to Truth and selected a corresponding anchor point, he would awaken in the chosen timeline. But now… his surroundings were dark, and the space seemed to contain nothing but himself.
"Only when I make a choice will anything change."
"And here, I am absolutely safe."
Understanding this point, Li Fan did not rush to make a choice. Disregarding Return to Truth's repeated prompts, he carefully contemplated the matter. "The result of this simulation…" "It should refer to everything I experienced in my previous life." Recalling his final fate of being turned into an infinite Spirit Qi extractor by the nine Sages, Li Fan couldn't help but shudder.
"Overwrite onto the current seas and mountains. This should mean turning my simulated experiences from false into true, making them reality." Li Fan repeatedly pondered the eight characters: "A single thought of true or false, illusions transform with the heart." He understood a little about the transformation between truth and falsehood. If past Return to Truths executed "making the false true," turning his experiences into nothingness and returning to a predetermined anchor point, then this time, Return to Truth was executing "making the true false"! Although it was merely a simulation, Return to Truth could, with unfathomable power, transform illusion into reality!
"I can create things from nothingness using the 'making the false true' technique. How could Return to Truth not be able to?" "I should have realized this long ago!" But this was followed by an uncontrollable doubt. "Overwrite the simulation results onto the current seas and mountains. Does this 'seas and mountains' include the Other Shore? Or, more specifically, will the Sages within the seas and mountains be affected and perceive this?" "If the Sages cannot be affected, then the moment Return to Truth activates the overwrite, the Sages will notice it. But if Return to Truth can even deceive the Sages…" Li Fan's mind became a chaotic mess.
"Although Return to Truth possesses great power, the Sages’ strength is also at the pinnacle of the seas and mountains. Most importantly, the nine Sages, working together, could forcibly extract Return to Truth from my body." "Once Return to Truth is lost, I will have no chance of turning things around." Having experienced setbacks in the simulation, Li Fan now had a clear understanding of himself. Without Return to Truth's assistance, the Transcendent realm was his limit. To advance further and become a Sage was virtually hopeless. Not to mention, accompanying the loss of Return to Truth would be his tragic fate of becoming an infinite Spirit Qi extractor.
His thoughts churning, Li Fan finally calmed down after a long while. He attempted to inquire with Return to Truth, but received no response. "Regardless, the results of this simulation are too terrible. Even if Return to Truth's omnipotence can affect the Sages, based on the simulated outcome, the Sages will undoubtedly realize the existence of Return to Truth and my infinite Spirit Qi." "This simulation result must be discarded." With this thought, Li Fan took a deep breath and looked at the continuously flashing line of light before him. He decisively chose "No."
The glowing characters dispersed into a curtain of light Li Fan was all too familiar with. A faint light began to glow outside the dark space. Then, the light grew steadily brighter, and reality completely engulfed the space. Moments later, Li Fan had returned to his original dwelling in Great Xuan, within the Xuanhuang Realm, during his mortal years. All the previous experiences felt like a dream. It had been too long, and Li Fan himself felt a sense of disorientation. It took nearly half a day for him to adapt.
"This time, although it was a simulation, it was no different from experiencing it firsthand." Li Fan stretched his limbs, unaccustomed to his frail mortal body. "The current time node is anchored at 1 year. Return to Truth has completed one charging cycle, but it was activated by a forgetful me, initiating a simulation instead of resetting the seas and mountains and returning to the predetermined anchor point." "Now, the simulation is over. Since I did not choose to overwrite the results onto the seas and mountains, I have gained nothing and wasted a chance from Return to Truth." "No, strictly speaking, the gains from this simulation are immense. Not only did I successfully verify a path of transcendence for myself, but I also probed the details and risks of the Other Shore." "If I had recklessly ventured into the Other Shore without this simulation, the outcome would have been like in the simulation, leading to eternal damnation. This simulation was initiated by a forgetful me, which was a fortunate accident." "Or perhaps… it was Return to Truth's deliberate intention."
Li Fan's heart stirred, and he internally summoned Return to Truth. The Return to Truth panel, unseen for a long time, reappeared before Li Fan after a series of flashes. After experiencing the tribulation of the Three Dao Merging, the information on the Return to Truth panel seemed to have been wiped clean, becoming empty. The anchor points, bound items, and so on, had all disappeared. Only the basic information about Li Fan and Return to Truth's abilities was displayed. However, Li Fan felt little regret. He stared at the somewhat sparse Return to Truth panel and gradually began to understand.
"The predetermined anchor point was wiped out by the tribulation of the Three Dao Merging, so Return to Truth's activation had no specific target. Thus, it initiated what had never been done before, a true 'simulation'." "No…" "Besides this, there are other factors." Li Fan suddenly noticed the specific condition of his current mortal body. "The power of the Great Dao of Longevity originally stored within has completely vanished." "Was it consumed as the cost for Return to Truth's simulation?" Li Fan gradually understood. "If a simulation were to be initiated without the support of energy like the power of the Great Dao of Longevity, which is on par with the seas and mountains, what would happen?" "I only need to wait for Return to Truth to finish charging, and the answer will be revealed." Li Fan sat down, waiting patiently, unhurriedly. Although in a mortal body, Li Fan was not much weaker than when he was in his True Immortal state. Not to mention his comprehension of the transformation between truth and falsehood, he could now suppress ordinary True Immortals with ease purely based on his control over the Transcendent True Intent. Therefore, even in an environment without any guarantees, Li Fan's mindset remained incredibly stable.
Until Return to Truth completed its charging. Li Fan attempted to activate Return to Truth again. He could clearly feel the message transmitted by Return to Truth. "Return to Truth must have also transmitted messages before, but in my forgetful state, I didn't notice them." "There are two options: the first is to return to the anchor point from 1 year ago, the initial one. As for the second option, it is to initiate another simulation. However, due to the lack of sufficient energy for its actuation, this simulation's effect cannot be compared to the previous one. What I experienced last time was indistinguishable from reality, and I could even overwrite it onto reality. But this time, if I force a simulation…" "Not only will the experiences in the simulation deviate from reality, but more importantly, the simulation results cannot affect reality." "And the crucial point is the energy required for the simulation."
"Great Dao of Longevity, the power of Mountain and Sea Compatibility."
The answer was obvious. Only a power that was compatible with the mountains and seas could support a "simulation" that was also compatible with the mountains and seas.
"But how can that be easy? In my previous life, even among those on the Other Shore, perhaps only the Nine Sages had traces of relevant sources. For me to steal power from the Nine Sages?" Li Fan's eyelids twitched instantly.
This was not only due to the psychologically damaging experiences with the Nine Sages, but also because of the tribulation of the Three Dao Fusion that had just occurred.
It was almost predictable that even if Li Fan managed to obtain the Mountain and Sea Compatibility energy, due to the "Reflection" in effect, it would most likely trigger the Three Dao Fusion tribulation again.
Neither Li Fan nor Reflection wanted to see this situation repeat.
"Unless I can resist the temptation of Three Dao Fusion with astonishing perseverance. With my current resolve, I'm still a bit short."
"Tribulation of Steadfast Will… After the trials in the last simulation, Li Fan, who had a good understanding of himself, almost instantly thought of this Transcendent True Intent that could help pacify all desires within the heart."
"I already know where it might be, so finding it won't be difficult. But this one is not enough of a safeguard. This lifetime, during my renewed cultivation, I still need to strengthen my state of mind as much as possible, to the point where I can face the Nine Sages with an unchanged expression. Moreover, it would be best to have a contingency plan. If I still lose control and insist on executing Three Dao Fusion, I will forcefully interrupt the process…" Since he could foresee what would happen after obtaining the Mountain and Sea Compatibility energy, Li Fan could naturally plan many preemptive measures.
The worries about the future had seen a glimmer of hope, but finding the Mountain and Sea Compatibility energy, which was similar to the Great Dao of Longevity, still seemed to have no clues.
"I can't possibly 'milk' Old Man Shou Qiu again, can I?" Li Fan shook his head slightly, quickly dismissing the thought.
From the current situation, the scope that Reflection could influence and cover was only the "current" mountains and seas.
It should not include the Eternal Void Realm where the Nine Sages resided.
"After finally escaping Old Man Shou Qiu's gaze, how could I possibly jump back in so easily?"
"I need a foolproof plan."
In his study, Li Fan fell into deep thought.
The current situation was that with Li Fan's current strength, as soon as he entered the sight of the Nine Sages, his secrets would be instantly exposed. Therefore, he needed to use Reflection's simulation ability to find a way out of this predicament.
However, to activate Reflection's simulation, which could accurately deduce the fate of Saint-level powerhouses of the mountains and seas, it required the support of Mountain and Sea Compatibility energy.
This led to a vicious cycle.
After a long time, Li Fan finally thought of a possible answer.
"The Mountain and Sea Compatibility energy is not specifically made for the Sages on the Other Shore."
"The Sacred Fortune Great Medicine of the Sacred Emperor Tai Wei, which can foster the birth of a Sage, is definitely one such item. Furthermore…"
Li Fan couldn't help but recall the experience of Old Man Shou Qiu's ascension to sagehood.
"Old Man Shou Qiu was originally just a small guardian in the Immortal Realm. Although he had extraordinary talent and could observe the mountains and seas to gain enlightenment, he was ultimately bound by his lifespan. He eventually submerged himself in the Infinite Sea."
"There, nearing death, Old Man Shou Qiu encountered fragments of the Great Dao of Longevity. Only then was he able to reverse his fate and have a chance to become a Sage."
"Therefore, theoretically speaking, the Mountain and Sea Compatibility energy might be obtainable from the infinite mountains and seas."
"Of course, this is only theoretical," Li Fan's eyes flickered.
Let alone Mountain and Sea Compatibility energy, even Transcendent True Intent was difficult to encounter even when searching the entire mountains and seas.
"Not to mention the Nine Sages, even among the many powerhouses on the Other Shore, they basically have the ability to turn the mountains and seas upside down. Over the years, even if there were remnants of Mountain and Sea Compatibility energy in the mountains and seas, they would have surely discovered it."
As Li Fan thought of this, his thoughts suddenly paused.
"Unless…"
"They, like Reflection, did not want to be discovered and would actively hide themselves."
Li Fan's eyes suddenly lit up.
"This means I'm not without a chance."
"The reason why the Sages on the Other Shore could achieve the realm of Sagehood was likely related to the Mountain and Sea Compatibility energy, and it was indispensable."
"Currently known: Lian Shan, Mount Shang. Gui Hai, Infinite Sea. Shou Qiu, Longevity."
"Tai Yi, an innate being, existed before the Immortal Realm was born. If there truly is Mountain and Sea Compatibility energy in the mountains and seas, he would definitely be the easiest to find."
"As for the Sages Xing Cha, Ye Pan, and Qie Ji, I only know their titles, and I have no information about them. I can only infer a little from their names."
"My guess is probably correct. The Other Shore did not have nine Sages from the beginning. There are still legends circulating in the Interconnected Forest of Mountains and Seas about attaining Sagehood. And most transcendent powerhouses are rarely seen on the Other Shore, wandering in the mortal world of mountains and seas. The stronger they are, the more so. It is probably not just for the sake of plundering Transcendent True Intent…"
Li Fan speculated that to attain Sagehood, "All Selves Unifying" might just be a prerequisite. To become a Sage comparable to or even surpassing the mountains and seas, Mountain and Sea Compatibility energy should be an indispensable material.
Although he had entered the Other Shore, Li Fan was still completely ignorant of how to advance further.
Those on the Other Shore also maintained a tacit silence, and no kind person stepped forward to guide Li Fan.
"I should have at least asked the Nine Sages for advice during the simulation," Li Fan shook his head regretfully.
"Even if my guess is correct, it is still extremely difficult to truly find the Mountain and Sea Compatibility energy."
In the face of such a slim probability, luck became insignificant.
"Actually, with Reflection in my possession, I already possess the most crucial condition for becoming a Sage."
"As long as I continuously understand the 'True-False Transformation' and turn it into my own divine ability, even half of Reflection's power would be enough to calmly face the Nine Sages."
"'A thought of truth and falsehood, illusions change with the heart. The mountains and seas are boundless, and can be overturned in an instant…'"
Li Fan savored these sixteen characters from Reflection's response, his heart filled with yearning.
"It's a pity that enlightenment in the Dao of Truth and Falsehood is not that easy."
"Pondering under normal circumstances is like a reflection in a mirror, a flower in the water, utterly ineffective. Basically, only during the brief period after Reflection is activated is the efficiency the highest."
After indulging in his thoughts for a long time, Li Fan returned to reality with a sigh.
The scope involved in the "True-False Transformation" increased with his knowledge. When he had only encountered the Xuanhuang Realm, Li Fan felt like he had roughly grasped the threshold of the True-False Transformation.
But later, as his vision gradually expanded to the Abyssal Star Sea, Primordial Possibilities, and even the mortal world of mountains and seas and the Other Shore, he realized how ridiculous his previous feelings were.
"The mountains and seas are boundless, the Other Shore is transcendent. To what extent must the understanding of True-False Transformation reach to overturn it with a single thought?" Li Fan felt a sense of powerlessness.
In the end, the True-False Transformation was based on the understanding of the fundamental basis of things.
As a True Immortal, Li Fan could create and destroy the Xuanhuang Realm with a single thought. In his view, everything within the Xuanhuang Realm could naturally achieve "a thought of truth and falsehood, illusions change with the heart."
But the mountains and seas, and the Other Shore, were beyond his scope of understanding. Therefore, the True-False Transformation was beyond his ability, and he was powerless.
"There is indeed a path ahead, but the path ahead is dim."
Li Fan, for a time, did not know what to do next.
The prompt from Reflection reappeared.
Li Fan gazed at the two options before him. His myriad thoughts slowly subsided.
"Inaccurate simulations are not only useless but a deadly poison. If one misjudges the strength of the Nine Sages and dives headfirst into the Other Shore, they will truly be beyond redemption."
"Without a doubt, I will not choose this until I find the Mountain and Sea Compatibility energy."
Understanding this, Li Fan's mind stirred, and he canceled the thought of activating Reflection.
Then, he tried to ask Reflection for guidance, hoping it could point him in the right direction.
Reflection remained silent.
Li Fan knew that the other party could definitely sense his thoughts and did not give up. He continued to ask persistently.
And he explained his predicament.
"The strength of the Nine Sages is truly terrifying. Even with your help, it is still quite difficult for me to contend with them!"
"Alternatively, I could just be a local emperor within the Xuanhuang Realm, inside the High Wall, and never leave Primordial. I can quietly wait for them to complete the salvation of the mountains and seas."
"After all, with you here, I can wait safely forever."
Reflection remained silent.
"At the very least, you have to tell me what you want."
"To save the mountains and seas? Or to restore your own strength?"
"With the Sages before me, and without more assistance, I truly cannot do it," Li Fan shrugged, his expression indifferent.
Outside the house, his aunt, who had seen Li Fan talking to himself through the crack in the door, looked worried and hurried to find the village witch doctor.
Li Fan, of course, noticed this but paid no attention, continuing to confront Reflection.
If it were before, it would have been fine if Reflection did not respond, and he would have assumed Reflection could not hear him.
But after the maliciously activated simulation by Reflection, Li Fan was now certain that Reflection was far more "rational" than he had imagined.
And with his current divine sense strength, there was no situation he could not withstand Reflection's thoughts.
Therefore, he had to persistently communicate further with Reflection. He had to get an answer!
It was partly to seek an explanation for the torment he had suffered in the previous simulation.
And partly to squeeze more assistance from Reflection.
Li Fan secretly glanced at the completely blank Reflection panel.
The two divine blessing skills, "Illusion is True" and "Moving with the Flow," were clearly listed.
They seemed out of place.
They had not disappeared because of the "Three Dao Fusion" tribulation. In fact, "Moving with the Flow" was awakened during the simulation.
However, they still existed.
This was enough to show that they existed solely because of Reflection's existence.
"Since that's the case, Reflection can definitely provide more support."
"There was a faint familiarity with Reflection in the Infinite Sea, and a subtle connection with 'Star' outside the mountains and seas…"
"There are too many secrets that are not being told," Li Fan snorted coldly and lay back on the bed.
He lay there motionlessly.
Even when his aunt returned with the witch doctor to force-feed him talisman water, he did not refuse.
He drank it down cleanly.
From then on, except for necessities, he hardly left his room.
He spent his days sleeping.
Twenty-three years later, his aunt passed away from exhaustion.
Li Fan was too lazy to prepare food for himself and shouted, "Reflection!"
Instantly, he returned to Anchor Point 1 year.
"Continue," Li Fan snorted coldly, declaring.
Inwardly, he was slowly savoring the subtle mystery of Reflection's activation just now.
"Either you actively tell me more."
"Or I will continue to comprehend the True-False Transformation. It may be slow, but there will come a day when I completely absorb you."
Reflection still did not respond, and Li Fan was too lazy to waste more words.
He once again resumed his hermit-like life.
Another twenty-three years later, his aunt passed away.
"Reflection!"
Reflection activated once more.
"Reflection!"
"Reflection!"
"Reflection!"
…
Twenty-three years in the mortal world was just an instant for Li Fan.
Just like his hundred lifetimes of Foundation Establishment in the past, Li Fan used Reflection over and over again.
Apart from using this opportunity to comprehend the True-False Transformation, he also wanted to wear down Reflection's temperament.
This was because Li Fan was certain that Reflection attaching itself to him must have a corresponding purpose.
And his current behavior of "giving up" was definitely contrary to Reflection's purpose.
"If you're not in a hurry, I'm even less so."
"If you have the ability, find someone else!"
Li Fan ate the meal his aunt made with satisfaction and said this inexplicably at the dinner table.
His aunt had become accustomed to Li Fan's spontaneous mutterings.
She also knew that he wasn't talking to her, so she pretended not to hear and silently cleaned the dishes.
Reflection remained silent as well.
Li Fan simply stopped asking.
He would wait for twenty-three years to pass, then immediately use Reflection to begin the next cycle.
Hundreds of thousands, millions of times, he repeated the monotonous life.
Initially, Li Fan found it a bit boring.
But later, he gradually got used to it.
Twenty-three years to analyze the True-False Transformation.
Activate Reflection, and then repeat the cycle.
Besides this, there was no other content in his life.
Everything in the Xuanhuang Realm, the people and things within the High Wall, the many secrets of Primordial, even the mountains and seas and the Other Shore.
All of this was cast aside by Li Fan.
He no longer inquired about it.
"What does the survival or demise of the mountains and seas have to do with me?"
Adhering to this principle, Li Fan lived day after day, year after year, in his small hut.
He didn't know how much time had passed when he activated Reflection again.
Something slightly different happened.
Among the three options to save, the third line of characters, which he had never chosen before, indicating that a close person would inherit his memories, was flashing brightly.
It seemed to be reminding Li Fan to choose it.
"Hmm?" Li Fan's eyes narrowed.
Given his personality, he would never have chosen this option.
However, now, it seemed that Reflection had compromised and initiated a change.
Why not give it a try? Li Fan thought this and chose the only suitable candidate.
His aunt, who had diligently taken care of him for countless twenty-three-year cycles.
A moment later…
As if waking from a nightmare, his aunt's forehead was covered in cold sweat. She looked at her own body and the familiar yet strange surroundings with disbelief.
Meanwhile, Li Fan's face showed a look of joy.
"It can actually be done this way!"
"This simulation involves the simulated memories of a person closely related to myself..."
"Furthermore, these memories can be inherited by that person."
Li Fan savored the description of the third option repeatedly, a look of understanding dawning on his face.
"The Reflection panel information, such as my previously bound items and divine abilities, are not arranged randomly," he mused. "They are ordered according to a specific sequence, like the order of binding or the difference in power."
"Following this logic..." Li Fan reread the three options.
"Three choices: items first, cultivation second. Inheritance of memories third."
"If it were me, using the divine ability of True and False Transformation to replicate cultivation would be more difficult than replicating items."
"This difference in difficulty doesn't change regardless of the item's rarity or the cultivation realm's height. It's simply due to their fundamental difference. An object is, after all, just an object. Whereas cultivation is something more profound and mysterious, involving the power of the Infinite Sea and Mount Shang."
"And the third item, inheriting memories..."
"Its difficulty, or perhaps its value, surpasses that of inheriting cultivation!"
"In fact, the fact that this option is on par with inheriting items and cultivation is telling."
"I had overlooked it all along."
In his previous life, all of his Aunt's memories surfaced in Li Fan's mind. From the initial anchor point to her eventual demise. Every thought and memory during that time was perfectly grasped by Li Fan.
From another perspective, it was as if Li Fan himself had experienced the entire simulation process of the last life, from the perspective of his "Aunt."
His Aunt had no secrets left from Li Fan.
And with the exchange of perspectives, his Aunt's heartfelt, unwavering love for "Li Fan" moved him slightly.
When he felt his Aunt's final concern before her death, still worrying about whether the shut-in Li Fan could eat well, Li Fan's heart, which had become extremely cold through countless cycles of Reflection, couldn't help but stir.
But these ripples only lasted for a moment before quickly dissipating.
An iceberg formed over ten thousand years couldn't be melted by a momentary candle flame.
Li Fan suppressed these unnecessary emotions and focused on the key changes brought about by the third option.
Because Li Fan had chosen for his Aunt to inherit the memories of the previous life, he could now clearly sense the subtle changes in her.
Before this, his Aunt had been a mortal with extremely poor cultivation talent. Even reaching the Qi Refining realm would have been a lifelong struggle.
But now...
She was finally capable of officially cultivating!
It was as if the Aunt of the previous life and the Aunt of this life had overlapped and merged!
"An increase in spiritual essence! The medium for simulated memories is actually spiritual essence!"
A strange light flashed in Li Fan's eyes. In an instant, he understood the crux of the matter. "Spiritual essence cannot be created out of thin air. Even with Reflection, it cannot manifest from nothing. Therefore, in essence, this extra spiritual essence is expended by me. Just like how the activation of Reflection consumes my infinite spiritual essence."
Even though it was his own choice, Li Fan still felt a slight discomfort upon comprehending this.
After all, depleting himself to benefit others was something he had never done before.
"But perhaps, this is the key to breaking through the deadlock!" Thinking this, Li Fan could only forcefully endure it.
Having inherited the memories of the previous life, his Aunt spent more than half a day to finally calm down completely.
She quietly approached Li Fan's room and peered through the crack in the door at her nephew, who was still sleeping peacefully on the bed. Tears of excitement welled up in her eyes.
After gazing for a long time, she finally made up her mind.
"This time, I can't let Little Fan suffer with me anymore."
"At the very least, I can let him eat more meat and fish."
With Li Fan's current strength, sensing her thoughts was not difficult.
Li Fan seemed to see this benevolent woman, in her countless cycles of rebirth, gradually increasing her understanding of the world, eventually stumbling upon the secrets of cultivation.
"However, Aunt's knowledge is limited, and she doesn't have my strong motivation for cultivation. I still need to lend her a hand!" Li Fan smiled slightly, revealing a profound and unfathomable smile.
With the memories of the previous life, his Aunt cleverly evaded the village chief's brother's covetousness for their ancestral land, successfully protecting her property.
She always helped villagers solve disasters at critical moments.
She even secretly colluded with the witch, using tales of ghosts and gods to predict a great drought in Jiangnan four years later. She successfully helped the villagers survive the disaster, thereby establishing her authority in their hearts.
In the future, she led the villagers through one natural disaster after another, gaining widespread fame and even alerting the government officials.
Even the county magistrate humbly visited, not to inquire about the common people's affairs, but about matters of ghosts and gods.
With a few pointers from his Aunt, the magistrate achieved remarkable political achievements, and after a few years, he was promoted to prefect. In return for her favor, he reported his Aunt's virtuous reputation to the Emperor.
His Aunt was thus bestowed the title of a Lady of the Imperial Decree, completing her leap from commoner to official.
From then on, she lived without worry for food and clothing. Just as his Aunt was about to fulfill her long-held wish, Li Fan, for some unknown reason, fell gravely ill at this crucial juncture.
His Aunt invited many renowned physicians to treat Li Fan, but his condition continued to worsen day by day. His body grew increasingly emaciated, and he eventually succumbed to his illness and died.
A white-haired mother sending off her son, his Aunt was heartbroken and turned white-haired overnight.
Two years later, his Aunt, consumed by grief, followed him in death.
The people of the prefectural city mourned together. Every household set up an ancestral tablet for his Aunt, revering her as the "Spirit Mother of World Protection."
"Reflection!"
A soft murmur echoed through the darkness. The moonlit reflection shattered and reappeared.
His Aunt woke up from a nightmare once more.
However, this time, a greater sense of confusion and doubt flickered in her eyes.
Li Fan was also impacted by his Aunt's memories.
The ripples in his calm state became even more frequent.
Having fully inherited his Aunt's memories and lived a lifetime from her perspective, Li Fan deeply felt the piercing pain of a white-haired mother sending off her son.
This was one of the most intense emotions a living being could experience, like a giant stone being thrown into a calm lake, creating waves.
Even though Li Fan quickly suppressed this emotion, he still frowned slightly.
During the simulation, he could naturally manipulate everything from the perspective of an observer, detached and serene.
But when the memories of a participant became something he had to experience himself.
The situation became somewhat different.
"Doing this, is it..."
The thought had just surfaced when it was extinguished in the formless.
"Without experiencing all sorts of suffering, how can one achieve steadfastness in pursuing the Dao?"
Li Fan looked at his Aunt, who was slowly recovering, and his expression turned cold again.
"Let me see the change in your spiritual essence this life."
"As expected, it has increased. Your cultivation potential can now barely touch the threshold of the Foundation Establishment realm."
Li Fan nodded slightly.
"This is only the third inheritance overlay. One can imagine that if there are more..."
"Creating a Transcendence expert by my own hand is not impossible!"
"Even further, ascending to the Saint realm..."
"By their means, I can probe the reality of the Sages on the Other Shore. This is the key to breaking the deadlock!"
"I don't have to fear losing control. I only need to hide and wait until everything settles down, then activate Reflection to obtain their memories..."
Hope was within reach, and Li Fan was overjoyed.
However, after a moment, he suddenly frowned. "But there are many issues to consider. The method of inherited overlay is like alchemy. Once started, it cannot be abandoned until a successful trial. '
"Unless the overlaid spiritual essence can be preserved in the Reflection space through some special method..."
Thinking this, Li Fan's thoughts paused, as if awaiting the answer from Reflection.
Unfortunately, after providing the prompt for the third option, Reflection seemed to have been angered and refused to provide any further information. There was no reaction.
Li Fan didn't mind. "Since there's no way to preserve the overlaid spiritual essence, I can only continuously use Reflection and inheritance to continuously elevate the target's spiritual essence and potential until they reach the Saint realm!"
"This is the 'Saint Creation Plan'!"
"There are several precautions that I need to pay close attention to."
"As I thought before, once the Saint Creation Plan begins, it cannot be stopped midway, otherwise, all efforts will be in vain. How can I ensure that the target will always remain under my control through repeated cycles of reincarnation? As the target becomes stronger and stronger, how can I ensure that I won't be discovered by them?"
"Once discovered, even if I can Reflection with a single thought, all past efforts will be wiped out in an instant. Even I would be heartbroken."
"Therefore, before officially launching the plan, I may need to restore my own strength to the Transcendent realm, possessing the qualifications of an overseer."
"Furthermore..."
Li Fan scanned his own body with his divine sense.
"The Saint Creation Plan, the continuous overlay and increase of the target's spiritual essence, comes at the cost of depleting my infinite spiritual essence. Although I have infinite spiritual essence, but..."
"The Sea of Mountains is also called Infinite, yet it was still swallowed by the Dao Erasure. Sometimes, infinite is not truly infinite. This is something I need to pay close attention to. If the cost is too great, I may need to find another method."
"And then..."
At this last point, Li Fan's expression also changed subtly.
A hint of fear even appeared in his heart.
The dread was even greater than the previous fear of his infinite spiritual essence being depleted.
"The target reincarnates to become a Saint, but at the same time, I also have to bear the impact of their memories."
"..."
Although unwilling to admit it, Li Fan also vaguely realized in the depths of his heart that after fully accepting the memories of a participant, he could no longer treat them as mere NPCs.
Instead, they became flesh and blood, individuals who were vivid, concrete, and truly existed.
Although he didn't know what specific impact this would have on him, the unknown was precisely what Li Fan feared most.
"Regardless, the plan must proceed."
"After all, this is what Reflection has decreed, and it's the only path to breaking the deadlock that I can find."
"The Sages on the Other Shore..."
Li Fan's expression turned indifferent again, his gaze looking beyond the Primordial Possibility, as if seeing into the Other Shore.
In this life, Li Fan interrupted the Saint Creation Plan targeting his Aunt.
Instead, he began by restoring his strength.
Just as before, he forged the Azure Nether Immortal Boat and broke free from the Primordial Possibility.
After finding the Transcendent True Intents like Lonely Sail and Tribulation Bell, he hid within the Sea of Mountains and Rivers, no longer advancing towards the Other Shore.
After a long period, he almost completely comprehended the essence of these two Transcendent True Intents.
His strength had almost reached the peak possible for a Transcendent realm that did not enter the Other Shore but wandered within the Sea of Mountains and Rivers.
With a single thought of Reflection, he returned to anchor point one.
Li Fan chose to preserve his cultivation.
Then, a new anchor point fell into place!
"This will be the starting point for my future Saint Creation Plan."
The descent of a Transcendent expert was like stirring up immense waves in the Primordial realm.
But all the turbulence was confined by Li Fan within half a foot of himself.
Indetectable to others.
Li Fan's eyes narrowed as he looked at his Aunt. "Next, let's continue."
"Bai Shuyue."
Bai Shuyue was naturally his Aunt's name.
It was given by the village scholar, unlike ordinary women's names.
At this moment, after Li Fan softly called her name in his heart, Bai Shuyue once again began her cycle of Reflection and reincarnation.
Just as before.
Saint Creation Plan, First Life: Li Fan stayed at home in bed for twenty-three years, Bai Shuyue died of exhaustion.
Saint Creation Plan, First Life: Reborn Bai Shuyue endured hardships and ensured Li Fan had food and clothing. However, she ultimately sent off a white-haired son and died in sorrow.
Saint Creation Plan, Third Life!
Bai Shuyue, now awake, still looked at the sleeping Li Fan on the bed through the crack in the door, a gentle expression flashing in her eyes.
"Little Fan, Aunt will definitely find a way to cure you."
The innocent Bai Shuyue naively believed that Heaven had given her the opportunity to be reborn countless times precisely so she could save her pitiful nephew.
Therefore, her heart was unwavering.
In the following years, Bai Shuyue, guided by her foreknowledge, continuously expanded her influence. She also taught herself medical books, attempting to find a way to cure Li Fan's "strange illness." In her previous life, she had consulted many famous doctors, but none could cure Li Fan. This life, she would find her own way.
"Even if Little Fan's illness is incurable, I won't give up. I'll dedicate my life to studying medicine. After all, I don't know how many times this kind of rebirth can repeat." Although this life had just begun, Bai Shuyue already felt a sense of urgency.
In her previous life, Bai Shuyue had experienced the stark difference in resources between a commoner and an official. For a mere commoner, even finding and reading medical books was not easy. Therefore, in this life, to gain as much "official power" as possible, she set her sights on the future Emperor.
Although she was a woman, Bai Shuyue knew the principle that supporting a rising dragon was the greatest merit.
First, she created immense influence within the prefecture by invoking ghosts and gods.
Then, in the fifth year, amidst a refugee crisis, she saved the family of Prince Langya.
In the sixteenth year of her reincarnation, Bai Shuyue genuinely possessed a talent for playing the mystic. After successfully "predicting" the natural disasters that would plague the realm for the next few years, her standing within the Prince’s Mansion grew daily.
Furthermore, Bai Shuyue largely detached herself from worldly affairs, spending her days engrossed in books. She would only offer counsel at crucial moments. This behavior led Prince Langya to trust her even more.
Most importantly, such a mysterious figure possessed a fatal vulnerability: her frail, bedridden nephew. Prince Langya witnessed firsthand the profound importance Bai Shuyue placed on Li Fan. With the resources of the Prince’s Mansion, providing for Li Fan alone, let alone a hundred or a thousand like him, for their entire lives was a trivial matter! Thus, a garden was specially constructed to house Li Fan.
One day, Prince Langya sought advice from Bai Shuyue regarding his future. Hidden behind a light veil, amidst swirling mists, Bai Shuyue slowly replied, "Your Highness, your fate already bears the mark of supreme destiny. You need only await the opportune moment, when the hidden dragon emerges from its lair. Do nothing else."
'Do more, err more,' she added.
Prince Langya pondered for a long while before cupping his hands and withdrawing.
Three years later, an imperial decree was issued from the capital. Before his demise, the Emperor unexpectedly abdicated his throne to Prince Langya, a man who had always kept a low profile. Amidst the surging undercurrents of various powers, Prince Langya, forewarned by Bai Shuyue, was already prepared. While others were still searching for his trail in Jiangnan’s Langya Prefecture, he, with three hundred elite guards, had already appeared within the palace. With the speed of lightning, before any faction could react, he successfully ascended to the throne, ushering in the Xuanjing era.
The world marveled at Emperor Xuanjing's decisive actions, which, they believed, resolved the internal crisis without bloodshed. Only a select few knew that the enigmatic woman within the Prince's Mansion, and now the Imperial Palace, was the true mastermind behind it all.
"Though the imperial throne is secured, the realm remains unsettled. Calamity lurks, and vigilance is paramount," Bai Shuyue stated, handing a piece of paper to Emperor Xuanjing. Following the names on the slip, Emperor Xuanjing dispatched covert investigations, which indeed uncovered signs of impending rebellion and treason. Thus, he struck preemptively, wielding the executioner's blade to crush all dissent in its infancy. Emperor Xuanjing's ruthless actions struck fear into the hearts of the court. The existence of the mysterious Bai Shuyue, rumored to possess supernatural abilities, finally became known to the officials. With all hidden intentions suppressed, stability temporarily settled upon the court.
Meanwhile, Bai Shuyue could finally devote her full attention to researching a cure for Li Fan's peculiar illness. Just as in her previous life, Li Fan's strange ailment struck on schedule. Despite her preparations and countless hours studying medical texts, Bai Shuyue found no method to cure her nephew. She couldn't even alleviate his suffering, only watch helplessly as Li Fan grew weaker each day. Emperor Xuanjing, upon hearing of this, summoned the imperial physicians to jointly diagnose Li Fan. However, they were all equally helpless.
As in her previous life, Bai Shuyue witnessed Li Fan’s death with her own eyes. This time, however, Bai Shuyue had gradually grown accustomed to it. Gone was the overnight transformation to white hair; she quietly collected Li Fan's remains. After Li Fan’s passing, Bai Shuyue bore no further attachment to worldly affairs, dedicating herself entirely to the study of medicine. Even when Emperor Xuanjing repeatedly sought her counsel on matters of the supernatural, she merely demurred. When Emperor Xuanjing, growing increasingly enraged, threatened her own life, she calmly refused. Emperor Xuanjing was pushed to his limits but ultimately spared Bai Shuyue's life. He instead ordered her palace to be sealed, forbidding any outsiders from entering. As long as she had medical texts, Bai Shuyue was content.
The palace gates remained sealed for thirty years. Thirty years later, Bai Shuyue found herself nearing the end of her life. On this day, the long-sealed wooden doors creaked open once more. Emperor Xuanjing, also with white hair, slowly approached Bai Shuyue. After dismissing all attendants, he looked at the frail, elderly Bai Shuyue. The cure for longevity he had intended to ask for, he found he could not utter.
"You, who understood the ways of spirits and deities, have met the same fate," Emperor Xuanjing said with a wry smile. Bai Shuyue remained silent.
"Have you found a method to treat his illness?" After a long pause, Emperor Xuanjing asked, looking at the piles of medical texts surrounding Bai Shuyue, which, though mountainous, were neatly arranged.
"Mortal methods may struggle to cure his affliction," Bai Shuyue finally spoke, her voice hoarse.
Emperor Xuanjing gazed at Bai Shuyue with hope, anticipating her next words.
"However, immortal secret arts are not something mortals can easily comprehend," Bai Shuyue said with a hint of dejection. Emperor Xuanjing was stunned. He let out a few bitter laughs, waved his hand, and turned to leave. This time, the palace gates were not sealed shut. Yet, Bai Shuyue showed no intention of leaving. Sensing the imminent end of her life, Bai Shuyue felt a profound peace. She lay quietly on her bed, losing consciousness.
"Return to Truth!"
The fourth iteration of the Saint Creation Plan. This time, Bai Shuyue no longer confined herself to conventional medicine. Instead, she shifted her focus to obscure remedies and unorthodox witchery. Since ordinary methods could not cure Li Fan, Bai Shuyue resolved to take a different path.
"My dear, be good. Listen to your aunt and drink this bowl of medicine," Bai Shuyue said, holding a bowl of foul-smelling, black liquid and presenting it to Li Fan. Li Fan pinched his nose and drank it down. Half a day later, his face turned ashen, and he died from bleeding from all seven orifices. Bai Shuyue stared blankly at Li Fan's corpse, a flicker of remorse in her eyes.
"Return to Truth!"
"The progress is too slow. In the end, I am merely a mortal. It seems I must find a way to quicken the pace."
The fifth iteration of the Saint Creation Plan! This time, Bai Shuyue adopted a multi-pronged approach, drawing on the strengths of various disciplines. She developed a method that successfully extended Li Fan's life. Utilizing Prince Langya's influence, she gathered numerous young, robust individuals and extracted their vital blood, infusing it into the ailing Li Fan. This vital blood, carefully chosen by Bai Shuyue to avoid clashing with Li Fan's fate, indeed nourished him, improving his complexion. This was a historic breakthrough! Bai Shuyue was overjoyed.
However, prolonging Li Fan's life required a substantial amount of vital blood from young adults. Although Prince Langya's power ensured that a few such individuals were readily available, forcibly extracting people's vital blood for medical treatment was a shocking and unprecedented act. Worse still, somehow, word of this leaked, becoming public knowledge. The populace was outraged, officials were indignant, and the Emperor was furious. Under duress, Prince Langya had no choice but to hand Bai Shuyue over to take the blame. Fortunately, Bai Shuyue, ever vigilant, had established informants throughout the Prince's Mansion, and receiving news beforehand, she fled hastily with Li Fan. Although they evaded capture, she became widely known throughout Great Xuan as a "demon." They were forced to hide in remote mountains and forests.
With Bai Shuyue's accumulated medical knowledge from countless reincarnations, spanning a century, they managed to survive. However, the harsh environment of the wilderness, coupled with the lack of vital blood for sustenance, gradually worsened Li Fan's originally healthy body.
"It seems I must learn from this lesson. I need to establish my own influence and not place all my hopes on others," Bai Shuyue mused silently as she fed Li Fan a dose of medicine and watched her nephew drift to sleep. Bai Shuyue no longer expected him to last much longer and had largely abandoned the idea of a cure. Instead, she took Li Fan on leisurely travels, living a life vastly different from her past ones.
Just as she expected Li Fan to succumb soon, and she was about to begin her next reincarnation, they stumbled upon a cave.
"Auntie, I feel more comfortable staying here," Li Fan said, which surprised Bai Shuyue immensely. This was a development that had never occurred in their previous reincarnations. She immediately began a thorough examination of the cave. It appeared to have once been someone’s dwelling, though little remained. Only a piece of stone emitting a peculiar aura and a jade slip were left. Bai Shuyue, who considered herself knowledgeable, was utterly bewildered by these two items. Though she didn't know what the stone and jade slip were, she was certain they would be of help to her nephew's condition. As if seeing a glimmer of hope, Bai Shuyue decided to reside in the cave, attempting to decipher the secrets of the jade slip and stone. Alas, she achieved nothing until Li Fan’s death.
After cremating Li Fan's remains and carrying them with her, Bai Shuyue solemnly stored the two items and roamed the realm, seeking anyone who might possess knowledge. However, she found no one. Just as Bai Shuyue’s life was nearing its end in this iteration, a widely discussed rumor reached her ears: Immortals had descended from the east, bringing divine punishment, turning the capital of Xuanjing into ruins, resulting in countless deaths!
Bai Shuyue was shocked. This was an unprecedented event in her long cycle of reincarnations. "How could this be?" Bai Shuyue was initially perplexed, then a sudden realization dawned. "Why is my lifespan this time inexplicably far exceeding my previous lives?" "This year is… Fifty years later? I've lived for so long without realizing it?" Bai Shuyue was astonished, and then she quickly retrieved the strange objects she carried. The jade slip remained unchanged. However, the jade stone… it seemed to have shrunk slightly compared to when she first discovered it. Bai Shuyue's heart filled with a premonition. She decided to head towards Xuanjing City to gather more information about the immortals, while also trying to further "absorb" energy from the jade stone. Regrettably, before she could return to the capital, her lifespan had run out.
"Return to Truth!"
The sixth iteration of the Saint Creation Plan. This time, with a clear objective, Bai Shuyue was no longer bewildered. Before her nephew's illness manifested, she ventured into the deep forest and retrieved the jade slip and stone. She entrusted the jade stone to Li Fan for him to wear close to his body, while she continued to study the jade slip. "If my guess is correct, these two items are possibly from immortals," Bai Shuyue mused, idly playing with the jade slip in her hand. "Perhaps I will learn more from the two immortals who descend in fifty years." Suddenly, Bai Shuyue's expression grew serious. For some reason, she felt the jade slip in her hand seemed different compared to the previous iteration. Yet, she couldn't pinpoint the exact difference. But Bai Shuyue was certain this was not her imagination!
With the potent jade stone providing an early extension of his life, Li Fan lived longer in this iteration than in any previous one. Bai Shuyue was deeply comforted. However, Li Fan did not live to see the arrival of the immortals and still succumbed to his illness. Only then did Bai Shuyue begin studying the stone, which was now only a small fragment. "It seems to contain some inexplicable energy." Bai Shuyue closed her eyes and could feel that the peculiar substance contained within the stone... she could actually sense it. Could it be… activated? After hundreds of attempts, Bai Shuyue successfully drew the Spirit Qi from the spiritual stone into her body. Instantly, Bai Shuyue's appearance rapidly aged. Her already limited lifespan was instantly consumed. Bai Shuyue died in stunned disbelief.
"Return to Truth!"
"Still too slow!"
"But I cannot rush. The path of Saint Creation, ten thousand reincarnations, must be flawless."
"Otherwise, the plan will be ruined on the eve of dawn!"
Li Fan's voice echoed in the darkness.
The seventh iteration! Due to the terrifying experience at the end of the previous life, Bai Shuyue harbored a sense of dread towards immortal artifacts this time. However, to save Li Fan's life, she ultimately chose to continue their study. She temporarily avoided contact with the spiritual stone. Instead, using the method from the previous life to activate the energy within the spiritual stone, she attempted to activate the jade slip. At that moment, Bai Shuyue suppressed her inner fear, prepared for her immediate aging. But the anticipated disaster did not occur. Instead, a passage of text appeared in Bai Shuyue's mind.
"I tried this before as well. But back then, the jade slip showed no reaction."
"It seems my intuition was correct." Although she didn't know what the changes in each reincarnation signified, it appeared to be a positive development from her current perspective. Bai Shuyue carefully read the content of the jade slip. Her expression gradually turned to shock.
"The Minor Five Elements cultivation technique? What is this…?" Bai Shuyue took a deep breath to calm herself. After regaining her composure, she continued to read. From her extensive studies, Bai Shuyue found the cultivation technique understandable, despite some obscure terminology.
"The five elements of Spirit Qi in heaven and earth can all be absorbed into the body to strengthen the five internal organs…"
"Medical texts do indeed categorize the five elements within the organs, but Spirit Qi of the five elements?" Bai Shuyue frowned slightly.
"Spiritual energy, Spirit Qi…" She thought back to the spiritual stone. "According to the cultivation technique, Spirit Qi is indispensable for practice."
"But from my previous experiences, Spirit Qi seems to be a deadly poison to me…" Bai Shuyue was at a loss. Ultimately, she could only place her hope on the two immortals who would descend in fifty years.
Time flowed swiftly. On this day, two streaks of light descended from the horizon like shooting stars, their thunderous arrival echoing through the world.
"Dao Xuanzi! Do not push your luck too far!"
...
Bai Shuyue, hidden far away in a safe location outside Xuanjing City, gazed at the two figures in the sky, feeling an inexplicable surge of emotion. This was the first time she had truly witnessed immortals. However, she did not rush to greet them, patiently waiting. Bai Shuyue knew that these two immortals were about to engage in a fierce battle, and that would be her opportunity to make her appearance. "I hope it works." Bai Shuyue’s gaze secretly swept across the surroundings of Xuanjing City. She had not been idly waiting during those fifty years.
In every corner of the capital city, the myriad poisons collected by Bai Shuyue during her travels were buried deep. The most crucial among them was the "Blood Droplet," concocted with human essence and blood as its primary ingredient. Once triggered by an explosion, it would burst forth, scattering into a vast expanse of blood mist.
Indeed, after fifty years of research, Bai Shuyue had reached an astonishing conclusion: her inability to absorb Spirit Qi from spirit stones was not because the energy itself was toxic. Instead, humans experienced a strong mutual repulsion with Spirit Qi, akin to a potent poison. This toxicity far surpassed any other poison in the world. Through a series of experiments, Bai Shuyue had verified this fact.
"I just don't know how much effect it will have on Immortals," she mused. The celestial beings' conversation drifted down from the heavens, and Bai Shuyue silently committed every word to memory.
"Land of Fallen Immortals, Golden Core cultivation method."
"Celestial-Mortal Miasma..."
"It's merely a desperate struggle for a sliver of survival!" Amidst maniacal laughter, a fiery dragon descended from the sky, engulfing the capital city.
The continuous explosions echoed through the heavens. The once grand capital city, like a mere toy, was instantly reduced to rubble. Even though she had foreseen what would happen, the sheer power displayed by the two Immortals with their every gesture sent shivers down Bai Shuyue's spine.
At the same time, the effect of the "Blood Droplet" exceeded all expectations! As fire and blood painted the sky, a thick mist of blood surged upwards, as if condensing the resentful souls of hundreds of thousands of innocent citizens from the capital. It climbed towards the heavens!
Dao Xuanzi and Kou Hong were caught off guard, enveloped by vast swathes of blood mist. Both let out muffled groans. Bai Shuyue held her breath, observing intently.
A moment later, two figures, one after the other, burst forth from the blood mist and fled westward!
"Their speed is significantly diminished! And..."
"They seem to be on the verge of collapse!" Bai Shuyue did not rush to pursue. Although gravely wounded, the speed at which Immortals fled was still beyond the reach of a mortal like her. However, she had already established informants across the Great Xuan territory. As long as the Immortals remained within the Great Xuan, she would undoubtedly find them! These informants were all people Bai Shuyue had saved during her fifty years of practicing medicine, and they were loyal and dependable.
After waiting for half a day, a carrier pigeon arrived from the horizon, bringing news of the Immortals' whereabouts. A horse-drawn carriage carrying Bai Shuyue slowly set off, following the trail of the celestial beings.
Three months later.
"Elder Bai, according to the investigation by our brothers, the two Immortals eventually disappeared into this mountain range." A man in black, with a look of guilt, knelt on one knee and reported to Bai Shuyue. "However, the Black Water Mountain stretches for hundreds of miles and is uninhabited. Our brothers have done their best, but we still haven't..."
"It's alright," Bai Shuyue interrupted, gazing at the deep, dark forest ahead. "Tell them all to return. I will find them myself from now on."
The man in black was slightly taken aback. He saw Bai Shuyue walk step by step into the mountain forest. After a moment of hesitation, he ultimately chose not to follow. He knew that Elder Bai was a woman of her word. Moreover, the task of tracking Immortals was indeed terrifying...
With her medical skills having reached the pinnacle, Bai Shuyue had no trouble surviving in the wilderness. More importantly, she could clearly sense the fluctuations of Spirit Qi left by the two Immortals as they fled. In this boundless mountain range, their trail indicated a clear direction.
"They haven't left this mountain range yet, perhaps they are gravely wounded and recuperating. But who knows when their injuries will heal completely..."
"I must hurry." A resolute expression flickered across Bai Shuyue's brow as she swallowed a black pill. A few breaths later, an unusual flush of red appeared on her cheeks. This pill, at the cost of her life force, greatly enhanced her mobility.
Following the direction indicated by the residual Spirit Qi, Bai Shuyue pressed onward.
Fifteen days later, three hundred miles deep into the Black Water Mountain, in a mountain canyon.
"The Spirit Qi traces stopped here."
"And ahead... there's a fluctuation of Spirit Qi."
As she was about to face Immortals, a sense of trepidation inevitably welled up in Bai Shuyue's heart. But in the next instant, she suppressed her doubts. She slowly approached.
Water gurgled nearby. A man sat cross-legged, eyes closed, by a grave not far from the stream. Bai Shuyue recognized him at a glance as Kou Hong, one of the two Immortals. However, he was no longer the middle-aged man she saw before. His hair was white, and his face was covered in wrinkles, appearing as if he were on his deathbed!
"Could this be the effect of the Celestial-Mortal Miasma?" Bai Shuyue was inwardly shocked and simultaneously glanced at the grave next to Kou Hong. "It can not only injure Immortals, but also destroy them?"
A mortal's approach could not possibly escape Kou Hong's senses. He instantly opened his eyes, his gaze locking onto Bai Shuyue. In that moment, Bai Shuyue felt her body stiffen, unable to move. Fortunately, seeming to discern that Bai Shuyue was merely a mortal with no threat, Kou Hong soon closed his eyes again.
"A mere mortal, why have you pursued me to this place?"
As a healer, Bai Shuyue could detect the lack of strength in Kou Hong's voice. However, she was a woman, and he was an Immortal; she was no match for him. After weighing her options, she took out the last remaining spirit stone she possessed and bowed her head, saying softly, "My lifelong pursuit has been to cultivate immortality and longevity. Alas, I have searched the world but found no true immortal method. The other day, I heard that two Immortals appeared in the capital..."
Kou Hong was not interested in Bai Shuyue's words, his gaze fixed on the spirit stone in her hand. He levitated it towards himself, a flicker of surprise flashing in his eyes. "Supreme-Grade Spirit Stone?" After fiddling with it for a moment, he showed delight. "Although only a trace of its residual power remains, it is enough for me to recover from my injuries." He looked at Bai Shuyue and asked, "Where did you find this spirit stone?" He seemed to have some belief in Bai Shuyue's story.
"Reporting to the esteemed Immortal, this stone was found by this old woman in a mountain tomb," Bai Shuyue replied truthfully.
"Besides this spirit stone, was there anything else?" Kou Hong quickly asked.
"Um..." Bai Shuyue feigned recollection. After a while, she replied, "It seems there were no other special items. Oh, right, there was also a jade slip. However, it had no writing inscribed on it, nor did it possess the peculiar aura of this stone."
Kou Hong rejoiced. "Where is that jade slip?" For someone who possessed a Supreme-Grade Spirit Stone, any jade slip they carried must be extraordinary. "Indeed, after surviving a great calamity, one is bound to find fortune! Although I was severely injured by the Celestial-Mortal Miasma in this conflict, as long as I can break through to the Golden Core realm, my lifespan will be extended by several hundred years!" He immediately stopped meditating, flashing to Bai Shuyue's side.
Bai Shuyue was both excited and somewhat frightened. "Reporting to the esteemed Immortal, that jade slip is not as useful as the spirit stone, so I did not carry it with me. It is stored at my home..."
Kou Hong's eyebrows lifted. "Take me there." He grabbed Bai Shuyue and ascended into the sky, saying sternly, "Point the way!"
Having reincarnated through several lifetimes, this was Bai Shuyue's first time ascending into the sky. Her thoughts momentarily went blank. It was only under Kou Hong's urging that she slowly regained her senses and pointed in the direction.
Riding the wind, soaring through the nine heavens. Kou Hong and Bai Shuyue flew through the sky.
"Your aptitude..."
"It's quite good." On their journey, Kou Hong examined Bai Shuyue's body and said with some surprise. "It's a pity that you are too old, and the Celestial-Mortal Miasma is deeply entrenched. Your path to cultivation is hopeless."
Bai Shuyue's face showed disappointment upon hearing this.
"But do not worry. In consideration of this jade slip and the jade tablet, I will bestow upon you a cultivation method. Although you cannot cultivate, it will undoubtedly help extend your lifespan." Kou Hong said.
"Thank you, esteemed Immortal, for your compassion!" Bai Shuyue said gratefully.
The distance of several thousand miles was covered in half a day!
"My home is just below!" The appearance of Immortals caused the local populace to panic, and they all dropped to their knees.
Kou Hong descended with Bai Shuyue into a courtyard. He scanned it with his divine sense, quickly locating where the jade slip was stored. He strode in and eagerly began examining its contents. "Minor Five Elements Technique?"
"It actually leads directly to Dao Integration?" Kou Hong exclaimed in shock.
"Esteemed Immortal, this old woman has a nephew..." Seeing the extraordinary nature of the jade slip she had presented, Bai Shuyue seized the opportunity to inquire.
Having stumbled upon a Dao Integration cultivation method, Kou Hong was in a good mood. After a moment of contemplation, he reluctantly withdrew his divine sense from the jade slip. "Take me to see him."
Bai Shuyue was overjoyed and led Kou Hong to Li Fan's bedside. Kou Hong took a look and frowned. "Hmm?"
"Do you have any idea, esteemed Immortal?" Bai Shuyue asked hopefully.
"Uh... this..." Kou Hong hesitated.
Bai Shuyue could naturally perceive Kou Hong's meaning and found it difficult to accept. "Even an esteemed Immortal cannot cure my nephew's strange illness?"
Kou Hong coughed lightly. "It's not that I cannot cure it, but I do not know its source. If I were to infuse him with Spirit Qi, his illness would disappear. However, all mortals have the Celestial-Mortal Miasma within them. Without expelling the miasma first, infusing Spirit Qi would instead harm him."
"I plead with the esteemed Immortal Master to bestow upon us a method to expel the miasma..." Bai Shuyue knelt and begged.
The "Five Spirits Qi Sensing Method" was not a secret, and Kou Hong had no reason to refuse. "However," Kou Hong cautioned, "even if the miasma is expelled, without the support of Spirit Qi, one cannot embark on the path of cultivation while trapped in this Land of Fallen Immortals."
"I only wish to preserve my nephew's life." Bai Shuyue expressed her heartfelt gratitude upon receiving the method. "Your grace in saving my nephew's life is unforgettable. Please, stay at my home for a few more days..." Kou Hong hesitated for a moment, considering that his injuries were not yet fully healed, and finally agreed. His spirit stone reserves were sufficient, and he spent his days studying the "Minor Five Elements Technique."
"What a shame. Had I known there was a Dao Integration cultivation method here, I wouldn't have engaged in such a fierce battle with Dao Xuanzi."
"However, with a Dao Integration method in hand, I can now consider selling that 'Thousand Machine Jade Circumference Chapter.' Breakthrough to Soul Transformation is within reach..."
While Kou Hong was immersed in pleasant fantasies about the future, he was oblivious to the fact that Bai Shuyue had already quietly shed the miasma from her body.
"It seems it wasn't as difficult as he made it out to be?" Bai Shuyue began to harbor doubts about Kou Hong. "There are many cultivation realms: Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul. Kou Hong is merely at the Foundation Establishment stage, belonging to the most insignificant existence in the entire cultivation world. No wonder he couldn't cure my mortal child..." Bai Shuyue's mind raced. During this period, although Kou Hong was engrossed in comprehending the Minor Five Elements Technique, Bai Shuyue had managed to glean some basic knowledge of the cultivation world.
"It seems that to truly save mortals, I must journey to the cultivation world."
"Kou Hong cannot take people across the Great Formation of Fallen Immortals, and my child is frail; he wouldn't withstand such arduous travel..." After much deliberation, Bai Shuyue made a decision. She re-infused her prepared essence and blood into her body, causing the miasma that had begun to fade to reappear.
Seven days later.
"What? Another place suspected to be an Immortal's tomb has been discovered?" Kou Hong was both surprised and delighted. "Hurry and take me there!" With the precedent of the Supreme-Grade Spirit Stone and the "Minor Five Elements Technique," Kou Hong believed this without reservation. He even had Bai Shuyue lead the way.
"I have already ordered people to seal off the surrounding area of the tomb." Unaware of Bai Shuyue's deception, Kou Hong's attention was solely focused on the tomb of the cultivator he had yet to meet. Upon arriving at the destination, he rushed in impatiently.
Inside the tomb, dozens of men in black were already stationed. To Kou Hong, these mortals were no different from ants. He ignored them and merely scanned the tomb with his divine sense.
"Hmm? It seems there's nothing special?" Just as Kou Hong was feeling disappointed, he suddenly noticed that the tomb's Dragon-Sealing Stone had inexplicably fallen. The men in black around him simultaneously drew their long sabers and ferociously attacked him. Amidst his surprise, Kou Hong found it somewhat amusing. With a flicker of flame, he reduced the dozens of men in black within the tomb to ashes. However, what he didn't expect was that wisps of blood mist, accompanied by the deaths of the black-clothed men, surged out from various parts of the tomb!
"Celestial-Mortal Miasma?!" Kou Hong's expression changed drastically. Before he could react, continuous explosions erupted from outside the tomb simultaneously. The bloody mist completely enveloped the area.
Three days later.
Inside a dungeon, the barely breathing Kou Hong was bound and tightly secured. He was extremely weak, as if he could die at any moment. In fact, if Bai Shuyue had not kept him alive, Kou Hong would have perished long ago.
"I have told you everything I can. Please, release me." Being schemed against and imprisoned by mortals was undoubtedly a great humiliation for Kou Hong. His heart was filled with despair.
Bai Shuyue nodded. With a wave of her hand, all the silver needles that pierced Kou Hong's body returned to her grip. Kou Hong's life force slowly began to dwindle.
Simultaneously, an illusory phenomenon of a cultivator's demise descended from the sky.
"Finally..."
"I see hope." Bai Shuyue's cultivation speed was even faster than she had anticipated. Relying solely on Kou Hong's spirit stone and belongings, she had reached the peak of Qi Refining in just three months.
"However, to advance further, I will require Heavenly and Earthly Marvels."
"Things not found in the Land of Fallen Immortals." Bai Shuyue traveled east to the edge of the Abyssal Ruins, gazing into the deep abyss below. Without hesitation, she leaped down.
At the peak of Qi Refining, she naturally could not break through the Great Formation of Fallen Immortals on her first attempt. Bai Shuyue's consciousness vanished into the Abyssal Ruins.
"I truly must thank you, Kou Hong, Dao Xuanzi."
"Return to Truth!" Li Fan's voice rang out faintly.
The Saint Creation Plan, eighth life! The resurrected Bai Shuyue first retrieved the Supreme-Grade Spirit Stone and the jade slip. Then, she rapidly cultivated to the peak of Qi Refining.
"It's not my imagination."
"This time, cultivation has become much easier." Bai Shuyue was dazed and speechless.
"Each rebirth increases my cultivation talent. If I undergo countless cycles of reincarnation, won't longevity be within reach?" Bai Shuyue had never dreamed of reaching the Longevity realm.
From beginning to end, all she desired was to save the life of her unfortunate nephew.
For mortals, a cultivator in the Qi Refining stage was already an "Immortal Lord"!
With a few minor tricks, Bai Shuyue managed to awe the entire village. After Li Fan was settled, despite her heart filled with reluctance, Bai Shuyue once again set off alone to explore the Immortal Execution Great Formation.
This time, armed with the experience from her previous life's attempt to break the formation, Bai Shuyue successfully traversed the outermost layer of gale-force winds, saw through the illusionary light, crossed the inverted layer, and carefully avoided the burning flow layer. Ultimately, she perished in the profound ice layer.
The ninth rebirth!
"According to Kou Hong, after the profound ice comes the lightning storm and darkness."
"It's close, even easier than I imagined," Bai Shuyue felt exhilarated.
Perhaps it was due to the accumulated cultivation talent from continuous cycles of rebirth, which had reached a considerable level. The Immortal Execution Great Formation, described by Kou Hong as extremely perilous, didn't seem as difficult to break through?
She didn’t understand formations at all, yet she managed to pass through more than half of it guided purely by instinct.
Bai Shuyue stood at the edge of the Abyssal Ruins again. This time, however, she didn’t rush to break the formation. Instead, she observed from afar.
Although she lacked formal tutelage, after prolonged observation, Bai Shuyue truly discerned some understanding!
"So, this is what a formation is," Bai Shuyue mused, then leaped down.
She weaved through like a streak of light, her progress unstoppable.
She reached the deepest dark layer of the Immortal Execution Great Formation!
Within the boundless darkness, Bai Shuyue sensed the presence of many terrifying, unknown creatures. However, they seemed to harbor no ill will towards her.
After a brief pause, she hesitated no longer.
She flew towards the light at the bottom.
Upon feeling the incredibly abundant Spirit Qi surrounding her, Bai Shuyue knew she had finally arrived in the Cultivation World!
Not blinded by her temporary success, Bai Shuyue followed her plan. She found the Myriad Immortals Alliance cultivators stationed on the nearest island and applied to join.
She did not conceal her origins from the mortal world, merely stating that she had received guidance from a wandering immortal and a gift of spirit stones, which had fortunately set her on the path to immortality.
He Zhenghao smilingly welcomed Bai Shuyue to Myriad Immortals Island. "You're a bit old, but at least it's not too late. If you work hard, there's still hope for Foundation Establishment. Once you establish your foundation, your future will be vastly different."
"I know it's difficult for you to be alone. Here are five hundred contribution points. Take them. They'll help you get started. You can return them when you have a surplus later."
For a newly arrived Qi Refining cultivator, five hundred contribution points were certainly not a small amount and would save a lot of trouble. Bai Shuyue quickly expressed her gratitude.
Afterward, Bai Shuyue settled down on Myriad Immortals Island, setting her sights on breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage.
"Kou Hong said that one needs at least Golden Core stage to pass through the Immortal Execution Great Formation. I, however, believe Foundation Establishment late stage should suffice."
Her realm and insights had already met the requirements for breaking through. The only thing lacking now was the rare item needed for Foundation Establishment.
While diligently accumulating contribution points, Bai Shuyue also paid attention to any news of cultivators discovering Foundation Establishment rare items in the wild.
"Foundation Establishment rare items often require four to five thousand contribution points to exchange. If I had to save for several years for each one, it would take too much time. It's best if I can find one in the wild."
Three years later, after practically sleepless cultivation, Bai Shuyue finally exchanged for a Life-Infusing Lotus in the Heavenly Profound Mirror.
She successfully advanced to the Foundation Establishment realm!
He Zhenghao immediately sent his congratulations. After a simple reply, Bai Shuyue continued her cultivation without interruption.
As it turned out, the various breakthrough materials required by the new method were the biggest limitations for Bai Shuyue.
In seven days, she broke through to Foundation Establishment mid-stage.
In ten days, she broke through to late stage.
In just one month, Bai Shuyue had reached Golden Core Perfection!
"If only my cultivation could always be this fast."
"This Doctrine Transmitter Heavenly Venerate doesn't seem like a good person. He created a path and then insisted that everyone in the world follow it..." Bai Shuyue grumbled inwardly.
"It's time I went back. I wonder how my nephew has been doing all these years."
Bai Shuyue used the remaining contribution points to buy a flying boat and several defensive talismans, preparing to return to the Great Xuan.
By chance, she encountered He Zhenghao.
Seeing Bai Shuyue, He Zhenghao's eyes lit up, and he offered his congratulations repeatedly.
Bai Shuyue didn't understand why He Zhenghao was so excited, but he had been helpful before, so she couldn't show displeasure.
Upon hearing that Bai Shuyue intended to return to the mortal realm to bring her nephew over, He Zhenghao voluntarily offered to accompany her.
"Don't worry, fellow Daoist Bai. I'm very familiar with this process. It will be foolproof! You can leave the future reception and recommendation to the Myriad Immortals Alliance to me!"
After some hesitation, Bai Shuyue agreed to He Zhenghao's request.
With the combined efforts of two Foundation Establishment cultivators, the journey was uneventful. Li Fan was successfully brought to the Xuanhuang Realm.
Since he wasn't yet a cultivator, he was temporarily settled on Glazed Island.
"Strange, I don't see any serious illness in your nephew," He Zhenghao said, examining Li Fan's body carefully, shaking his head slightly.
"It's a difficult and rare ailment," Bai Shuyue replied with a hint of helplessness in her eyes.
"Don't worry, fellow Daoist. Once one enters the immortal path, a hundred ailments vanish. As long as we help this child cultivate successfully, he can defy fate. This time, when the Body Cleansing Spiritual Pool array opens, I will personally ensure his safety!" He Zhenghao patted his chest and promised.
Bai Shuyue thanked him again. "Fellow Daoist He's great kindness, I will repay you tenfold in the future!"
Half a year later, Li Fan died violently within the Body Cleansing Spiritual Pool array.
Upon hearing the news, Bai Shuyue flew over. Li Fan, who had been relatively healthy, was reduced to a pool of blood and flesh.
Facing the enormous pool of blood, He Zhenghao's face turned ashen.
Seeing Bai Shuyue's extremely grim expression, He Zhenghao's heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly explained, "Fellow Daoist, please accept my condolences, fellow Daoist, please accept my condolences!"
"It's all my fault. I thought I could help him overcome this hurdle, but I didn't notice he had reached his limit..."
After hearing He Zhenghao's account, Bai Shuyue took a deep breath, slowly calming herself.
"So, does that mean Fan'er has no talent for cultivation?"
He Zhenghao wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and nodded. "It should be so. After all, among all mortals, only a minority can embark on the path of cultivation."
Recalling that it was only through repeated rebirths that she slowly gained cultivation aptitude, Bai Shuyue sighed again.
"Relying on Fan'er himself seems impossible."
"I'll have to wait until my cultivation is higher before I can help him defy his fate."
Without Li Fan as a burden, Bai Shuyue dedicated herself entirely to cultivation.
It took her ten years to achieve Golden Core.
While accumulating resources to prepare for breaking through to Nascent Soul...
Heavenly calamities descended, and she died without knowing why!
"Return to Truth!"
"This life's progress is quite satisfactory."
"Fellow Daoist He has been a great help."
The tenth rebirth!
Bai Shuyue, having regained consciousness, still had traces of terror on her face.
She didn't even know how she had died in her previous life.
She only remembered losing consciousness inexplicably while cultivating in seclusion within the Heavenly Profound Mirror.
"Didn't they say the Heavenly Profound Mirror is absolutely safe?"
"As expected, the Myriad Immortals Alliance's words can't be fully trusted!"
Forcing herself to calm down, Bai Shuyue pondered how to proceed in this life.
"I can cultivate, but mortals cannot."
"If I were to forcefully alter his fate, I would need at least Soul Transformation realm cultivation."
"Furthermore, I can afford to wait, but Fan'er cannot. There isn't much time left for me, unless I redeem some longevity treasures..."
"But those are more expensive than cultivation methods, so it's not very practical."
At most, she had fifty-six years to break through from a mortal to the Soul Transformation realm.
It sounded almost incredible, but Bai Shuyue was very confident.
However, now her cultivation talent was sufficient. The only thing limiting her was the troublesome materials required for breakthroughs in the new method.
After looking after her nephew, whom she hadn't seen in a long time, for a month, Bai Shuyue once again returned to the Xuanhuang Realm.
She still requested He Zhenghao's introduction.
Although he had inadvertently caused Fan'er's death in the previous life, it was an unintentional mistake.
Overall, he had earned Bai Shuyue's trust.
With the information she had meticulously recorded in her previous life, Bai Shuyue's advancement path became smoother.
Foundation Establishment in one month, Golden Core in half a year.
Nascent Soul in ten years.
Bai Shuyue became a genius of Cloud Sea that the world marveled at.
She even attracted the attention of the Myriad Immortals Alliance headquarters.
And these ten years were not spent solely on cultivation, but on completing missions and earning contribution points!
"If not for the constraints of various resources, I could have been even faster!" Bai Shuyue thought bitterly.
Before Nascent Soul, she could indeed advance quickly.
However, the hurdle of Soul Transformation was not so easily overcome.
Firstly, the news of the changes in the world's genesis was mostly held by various factions within the Myriad Immortals Alliance and not leaked.
Secondly, when the changes occurred, the world would undergo drastic shifts, attracting the attention of surrounding cultivators, inevitably leading to fierce struggles.
"No matter what! Anyone who dares to block me..."
"Will die!" A cold glint flashed in Bai Shuyue's eyes.
Bai Shuyue simultaneously gathered information about the genesis of the world's changes and awaited the day when that inexplicable calamity would descend.
This time, she deliberately left Myriad Immortals Island in advance, heading to the fringes of Cloud Sea to hide.
She wanted to witness it firsthand.
Only when that streak of crimson figure appeared did Bai Shuyue completely understand the source of the calamity.
She was not afraid; instead, she rejoiced.
"I didn't expect it to be the Heavenly and Earthly Essence!"
"Doesn't this mean that as long as I can break through to Soul Transformation, there's a high chance I can reach Dao Integration realm?"
"The Dao Integration realm offers a greater probability of altering a mortal's fate."
Consumed by the blazing sea, Bai Shuyue perished under the might of Scarlet Flame.
"The accumulation of spirituality is more terrifying than I imagined."
"With your aunt's current talent, if resources were infinite, she could already prove herself as a True Immortal. And this is only after ten rebirths..."
"What about a hundred, or a thousand rebirths?"
In the desiccated seabed of Cloud Sea, Li Fan appeared beside Bai Shuyue's skeletal remains, his expression grave.
"Speaking of which, other people's spirituality is almost directly linked to cultivation talent."
"But in my case, infinite spirituality... it seems to be just spirituality."
"Why is that?"
Li Fan frowned, pondering deeply. After a long while, the words "Return to Truth" finally escaped his lips.
The eleventh rebirth!
With the accumulation from the previous ten rebirths, it took Bai Shuyue twenty years to finally complete the transformation to Soul Transformation.
This shook Cloud Sea.
Her terrifying cultivation speed ultimately attracted the attention of the Myriad Immortals Alliance headquarters.
"You want me to go to the Alliance Headquarters?"
Bai Shuyue's expression was subtle, but she couldn't refuse.
Upon entering the Alliance Headquarters, an illusion immediately appeared before her eyes.
It was the scene of Doctrine Transmitter Heavenly Venerate comprehending the new law!
"So, when he achieved enlightenment, he was not much younger than I am now."
"The new method is too troublesome to cultivate. He could create a new method, but I wonder if I can create another one for him?"
This thought flashed through Bai Shuyue's mind.
The reason for summoning Bai Shuyue to the Alliance headquarters this time was primarily to investigate her background.
After all, Bai Shuyue's cultivation speed was simply too fast.
Moreover, the way she obtained various breakthrough resources was too coincidental.
Initially, Bai Shuyue was concerned that her secret of continuous rebirth would be exposed.
However, after an examination by the Myriad Immortals Alliance, they found nothing.
This relieved Bai Shuyue greatly.
"However, this has served as a warning."
"These Dharma-Preachers can't see through me, but what about that elusive Doctrine Transmitter Heavenly Venerate? It is said that experts of that caliber have the ability to probe one's mind..." Bai Shuyue inwardly cautioned herself.
After a perilous but ultimately safe ordeal, she returned to Cloud Sea.
After much deliberation, Bai Shuyue decided to first attempt to alter Li Fan's fate.
She also invited Island Master Hong Xi to assist.
After a period of arduous effort, Li Fan finally shed his miasma-filled body and entered the Qi Refining realm.
Bai Shuyue was overjoyed. "The Heavenly Venerate's new method has no innate talent requirement. Since my nephew can refine Qi, as long as he has enough resources, he can reach Nascent Soul, then Soul Transformation, and then Dao Integration!"
As the saying goes, "If you get an inch, you want a mile." Since she had the ability, who wouldn't want more?
Bai Shuyue thought of the Scarlet Flame that would soon appear, and the greedy thoughts in her heart grew even stronger.
"Defeat Scarlet Flame, and prove Dao Integration!"
Bai Shuyue had witnessed the might of Scarlet Flame. To maximize her chances of success, she, along with Hong Xi, invited six other Soul Transformation cultivators and one Dao Integration cultivator to provide support.
As for who would ultimately seize Scarlet Flame, it would depend on each individual's abilities.
A vast net was slowly being set.
The moment Scarlet Flame descended, everyone unleashed their full power.
After a fierce battle, it was Bai Shuyue who delivered the fatal blow!
She became a Dao Integration Immortal Venerable!
As Scarlet Flame's power became a part of her, Bai Shuyue felt an unprecedented sense of satisfaction.
She gazed below at Li Fan, who also showed a happy expression due to her advancement, and a smile appeared on her face.
After this...
A figure cloaked in ink-black shattered the heavens and descended.
Instant kill, then consumed everything in the world!
"As expected, no matter how talented one is, they still have to go through this."
"My acting was quite good."
"Return to Truth!"
The twelfth rebirth.
Upon waking, Bai Shuyue felt that something was amiss with the Xuanhuang Realm.
The ink-black figure, what is it? Bai Shuyue was drenched in sweat. Even though much time had passed since her rebirth, she still hadn't fully recovered from the residual horror of her previous life.
"Could it be that the so-called essence of heaven and earth is merely bait to lure us Nascent Soul cultivators to our deaths? But that makes no sense. With the power of Dao Integration, Nascent Soul cultivators are like ants before them, a mere wave of their hand and they're dead. Why would they need bait?"
"Moreover, the ancient texts stating merging with the Dao through the essence of heaven and earth are not mere fabrication..."
Bai Shuyue pondered endlessly, unable to find an answer. She looked at Li Fan, who was still sound asleep in the room, a trace of guilt flashing through her mind. "I originally planned to bring my nephew to the Xuanhuang Realm to change his fate and extend his life. I never expected that he would live longer as an ordinary mortal in the Great Xuan pocket world."
After much deliberation, Bai Shuyue made a decision. This life, she would change her plan! Her cultivation speed would advance further. Nascent Soul in fifteen years! After helping Li Fan change his fate, she would directly send him back to the Great Xuan pocket world. She would establish a mortal dynasty, serving only Li Fan. She even left behind thousands of mechanical puppets to protect Li Fan.
"I've made arrangements to send enough spirit stones every ten years for five hundred years."
"Aunt... " Li Fan was moved to tears, yet his face also showed shame. "It's my fault for being useless and always dragging you down."
Seeing Li Fan's expression, Bai Shuyue felt great comfort in her old age. She patted Li Fan's head. "Don't worry, this is just a temporary measure. When I uncover the truth, I'll bring you out sooner or later. My nephew, how can he be confined to this pocket world forever!" The dominance revealed in her words was no longer something the simple woman from before could utter.
"Becoming an emperor, receiving the worship of millions. Nephew is already very satisfied," Li Fan said gratefully again.
Bai Shuyue smiled and said no more. She shot into the sky and left. Li Fan knelt on the ground, bowing, and remained there for a long time without rising.
Only after Bai Shuyue left Great Xuan did Li Fan return to his normal self. "While the superposition of spiritual essence is indeed terrifying, the Xuanhuang Realm is also exceptionally peculiar. Moreover, there are the restrictions of the Dharma-Preachers and the guard of the Starving Immortals. To break free from this predicament is likely not easy. Not to mention, the immortal path is already severed. Without Return to Truth, it's almost a fantasy to ascend Mount Shang."
In a flash of thought, Li Fan simulated countless outcomes for Bai Shuyue's fate in his mind. However, he never saw any possibility of her successfully escaping the The Great Barriers, let alone leaving the Primordial Realm, reaching the Other Shore, and transcending to sainthood.
"Unless..."
"The spiritual essence superposes to an extremely terrifying level, enough to disregard all these."
"I shall wait."
Although she was based in Great Xuan, everything within the The Great Barriers was within Li Fan's observation! Having learned from her previous life, Bai Shuyue naturally wouldn't dare to target Scarlet Flame again. But the truth behind that ink-black figure truly piqued her curiosity. So, she chose to sit back and watch the tigers fight. She secretly sold the news of Scarlet Flame's impending appearance, earning a large sum of contribution points. Afterward, Bai Shuyue waited and watched from afar outside the Cloudy Sea. Just as she had experienced in her past life, after Scarlet Flame was killed, Ink Slaughter descended and destroyed everything in its path.
"It's limited to the Cloudy Sea region." Bai Shuyue looked at the wriggling, malevolent shadows churning in the turbulent waters just within reach. She slowly began to understand.
"It seems that some secret is buried within the Cloudy Sea." Witnessing the demise of countless lives, Bai Shuyue could now remain indifferent. She quietly retreated.
In this life, she lived for another eight hundred years. By the time she died, she still hadn't found a breakthrough to Dao Integration. Yet, she wasn't the least bit anxious. "According to my inquiries, sixteen strands of essence of heaven and earth have descended in the past eight hundred years." Of these, the one most suitable for her and with the least competition should be [Crimson Flame]. "Sixty-two years after rebirth, it appeared below the great river in Lingze Prefecture, freezing ten thousand miles of water and turning the marshland into a snowy realm."
"Sixty-two years... to wait so long..." Although Bai Shuyue felt indignant, she couldn't find a faster way to achieve Dao Integration.
Thirteenth life! Before the Cloudy Sea was destroyed, Bai Shuyue searched within it, trying to uncover its hidden secrets. With meticulous searching, she indeed discovered many strange things. "The Cloudy Sea region, was it forcefully struck into the Xuanhuang Realm with a single palm? This place is alien, not native to the Azure Nether. No wonder the Heavenly Dao of Azure Nether insists on its destruction."
"In the vast Xuanhuang Realm, is the Cloudy Sea the only place like this? What exactly happened to cause this?" One mystery solved, and more questions arose in her mind, sending a chill down her spine.
"And Senior Yin's New Law..." "Establishing my foundation with myself." "During these sixty-odd years of waiting, I might as well ponder it. If I can transcend the limitations of the Dharma-Preachers..."
However, the difficulty of the New Law far exceeded Bai Shuyue's imagination. With her talent, after sixty years, she had gained nothing! This was the first time she doubted her own aptitude. "Is there such a law in the world? Even with the superposition of my ten lives, I can hardly move it an inch!"
But Bai Shuyue did not give up because of this. Her pondering over these sixty years made her vaguely feel that the New Law was not a dead end, but rather held great promise.
In the sixty-second year, Bai Shuyue successfully killed Crimson Flame and proved herself a Dao Integration Immortal Venerable! This shook the Myriad Immortals Alliance. With her Dao Integration status, her position and reputation soared. She no longer needed to scramble for cultivation resources and even had the qualification to learn various secrets about the Xuanhuang Realm.
Bai Shuyue brought Li Fan to the Xuanhuang Realm and helped him in his cultivation. The only living relative of a Dao Integration cultivator. Even though Li Fan was merely a mortal, the cultivators of the Myriad Immortals Alliance under Bai Shuyue's command dared not show him any disrespect. Li Fan lived a life of pleasure and indulgence. With a mortal body, he commanded female cultivators whose cultivation far surpassed his, living a joyous life. As long as her nephew was happy, Bai Shuyue didn't mind. She even actively helped him find suitable partners, wanting to add more descendants to the Li family. Unfortunately, it seemed to be a consequence of having her fate altered. Despite all her efforts, no offspring were born. Bai Shuyue let go of this desire, no longer forcing it.
This life seemed to be already perfect. But all this happiness ended once again with Li Fan's lifespan coming to an end.
"Aunt, I don't want to die..." At the verge of death, Li Fan's artificially maintained youthful appearance faded, revealing an aged face. Yet, he cried like a child. Seeing this, Bai Shuyue's heart ached, and in a daze, she seemed to return to the year she had just been reborn.
"Don't be afraid, Fan'er. Aunt will save you!" Bai Shuyue wanted to use rare treasures to extend Li Fan's life again, but it was ultimately futile.
"Aunt..." A tear streaked across Li Fan's face as he perished before Bai Shuyue once more. It was as if, in an instant, his life force drained Bai Shuyue's vitality and spirit. This powerful Dao Integration cultivator also grew old. A sense of powerlessness surged within Bai Shuyue.
"Everything was already so good..." With no further motivation, the heartbroken and weary Bai Shuyue passed away ten years later from melancholy.
"Return to Truth!" Li Fan, who had already died ahead of her, quietly spoke from the darkness. Although he no longer cared about mortal desires, occasionally indulging in them again was not bad. "It's just that my dear aunt seems to have encountered a bottleneck. Should I give her a push?"
"Never mind, I'll observe further. If any flaws are left behind and all is for naught, it would be bad."
The Saint Creation Plan, thirteenth life! The reborn Bai Shuyue remained still for a long time.
"After achieving Dao Integration, Longevity seems unattainable." Suddenly, she sighed. The closer she got to the Longevity realm, the more she could appreciate the terrifying power of the Doctrine Transmitter Heavenly Venerates. The vast chasm between Dao Integration and Longevity made Bai Shuyue doubt her ability to advance further. "Especially under the system of the Myriad Immortals Alliance, there are simply no opportunities for advancement from Dao Integration."
"I've heard, however, that the Five Elders Council..." "Perhaps this life, I should change my location?" After careful consideration, Bai Shuyue shook her head and rejected the idea. "The essence, should be the same."
"To break through this limitation..." "Perhaps the New Law is the only way." It took Bai Shuyue a year to regain her spirit. During her usual cultivation, she dedicated almost all her free time to deciphering the New Law. At the same time, she felt that relying solely on herself might not be enough. Thus, she shared her insights with Senior Yin. Bai Shuyue's talent astonished Senior Yin. Senior Yin was wholeheartedly convinced and willingly helped her analyze it. During their exchanges, he also revealed many secrets about the Xuanhuang Realm to Bai Shuyue. However, even with their combined efforts, the New Law made no progress.
Thirteenth life, fourteenth life, fifteenth life... When Bai Shuyue's reincarnation count surpassed the threshold of twenty, perhaps due to a qualitative change brought about by the superposition of spiritual essence, a flash of inspiration struck Bai Shuyue, and she finally glimpsed the path ahead.
"After establishing my foundation with myself..." "It's the Primordial Golden Core!" "Primordial, from which all things emerge, created by Supreme One, transformed by Yin and Yang." At this point, Bai Shuyue was far from the crude peasant woman she once was. Having perused countless ancient texts, her knowledge and understanding far surpassed most people in the Xuanhuang Realm.
"In the vast primordial chaos, originating from the innate, at the beginning of the boundless unity. Then Yin and Yang separated, Heaven and Earth were positioned, cycles of movement and stillness."
"Kan and Li reversed, fire ascends to the Azure Sea, refining the void. Tai Yi contains true forms, the Jade Tripod flows with pearls and condenses, divine transformations merge and connect..."
Thousands of years of experience, as if tempered by the fire of inspiration, finally unleashed an incredibly powerful force. It overturned the huge boulders blocking the path, revealing a smooth and broad road!
"With my nephew's talent, any overly difficult cultivation method would be unsuitable." "The saying goes that seeing one's nature leads to enlightenment. Establishing my foundation with myself, though feasible, is incredibly difficult to truly comprehend, let alone for mortals. Therefore, the initial entry barrier for cultivation must not be set so high."
"It can be divided and executed!" In Bai Shuyue's mind, myriad ideas converged and became clear at this moment. "Each stage of the New Law should be cultivated simultaneously." "Building the foundation during Foundation Establishment, cultivating the Golden Core during Golden Core stage, and even during Nascent Soul and Soul Transformation, one must continuously establish the foundation at each step. Only finally, is it truly 'Establishing my foundation with myself'."
"Similarly, the word 'Primordial' encompasses everything. It should be controlled from the absolute beginning of cultivation. Initially, it's just a nascent core. With each step forward, one must add more materials and refine further." "The same applies to each realm after the Golden Core!" "The New Law should be a cultivation method where all realms are cultivated simultaneously." "Every bit of progress in self-cognition, every enhancement in understanding the principles of heaven and earth, becomes the driving force for advancing the realm." "Like a galloping horse, forging ahead, never stopping, until..." "Upon reaching perfection, Foundation Establishment is complete, Golden Core is complete, Nascent Soul is complete... and finally, Longevity is achieved!"
Bai Shuyue dissipated her own cultivation, returning to the state of a mortal. Then, she began to walk the path of the New Law again. If she herself had no confidence in the cultivation method she created, how could her intention be clear? Bai Shuyue did not seek to fully know her true self, but rather, based on her current understanding of herself, she built her foundation. It was like carving a statue of herself from a mountain rock in a forest. Future cultivation would be a process of continuously reshaping and re-carving the statue.
With the statue of her Foundation Establishment carved, the next step was to achieve the Great Dao of the Golden Core. Twenty cycles of reincarnation, all the sights, knowledge, and experiences gathered in her mind, finally coalesced into a seven-colored Golden Core. It appeared between the eyebrows of her self-statue.
"This is the sum of all my insights into the world, harmonizing with the Dao, resonating with the Dao." "As I continue to reincarnate, my understanding will keep increasing. This Golden Core will become even more dazzlingly colorful."
A thought gave rise to the Golden Core. After the Golden Core was formed, the self-statue instantly became ten thousand times more vivid, as if it were Bai Shuyue herself.
"After the Golden Core comes the Nascent Soul." Bai Shuyue felt inspiration flowing like a gushing river, inexhaustible. Thus, she continued to deduce the next step. "The Nascent Soul, like an unformed embryo, resembles the primordial formation of Taiji. A person embraces the form of heaven and earth, holds pure essence, and is the most spiritual of all living beings..."
"Using my true self, I will deconstruct the world I perceive!" "However, most people are dull. Even with their own mortal bodies, they may not fully see and know themselves, how can they see the true world?" "The world is boundless and infinite. Regardless of its true appearance, it will inevitably change with the increase of realm and strength. Therefore..."
Bai Shuyue felt a sudden revelation. Within the self-statue, beneath the seven-colored Golden Core, at the position of the Zhongchong acupoint, a Nascent Soul appeared. However, this Nascent Soul was different from the Nascent Souls created by the Dharma-Preachers in their grotto-heavens, and also different from the classical Nascent Souls recorded in ancient texts. It was completely transparent, like a white wall, seemingly reflecting the world it perceived.
"Establishing my foundation with myself, the Primordial Golden Core. After this, comes the Spiritual Mirror Nascent Soul!" "When a treasure mirror is polished clean, it can only reflect a single room; when the heart mirror is polished clean, it can reflect the six directions! The more one sees, the wider the reflection. The vaster the world, the more concrete the reflection in the mirror becomes!"
Bai Shuyue's Lingjing Nascent Soul emitted a faint glow, flashing with the sights she had witnessed in the past twenty lifetimes. The self-statue, upon this reflection, also seemed to acquire a trace of "worldly" aura. Although Bai Shuyue, who had dispersed her cultivation and was re-cultivating, was only in the Nascent Soul state, with the formation of the statue, Golden Core, and Spiritual Mirror, her own aura rapidly returned to its peak within a short period. In the Nascent Soul state, she was comparable to someone in the Dao Integration realm!
However, a moment later... Bai Shuyue's life force, just as it reached its peak, suddenly began to decline. It turned out that her Dao comprehension had exhausted her spirit and soul!
The second rebirth, the twenty-first generation!
Establishing the Dao with Myself, Primordial Golden Core, Spiritual Mirror Nascent Soul…
Merely deriving the new cultivation method to the Nascent Soul realm had completely drained Bai Shuyue of her Spirit Qi. Even after one rebirth, she still felt utterly exhausted, as if she hadn't rested enough.
As a result, Bai Shuyue, in a rare display, spent several days recuperating in bed.
"Aunt, are you alright?" Li Fan asked with concern, holding a bowl of warm porridge he had personally cooked.
Bai Shuyue's spirit perked up, and she drank the porridge. "Nephew, do not worry. Aunt is just a little tired. I will be fine after a few days of rest."
Li Fan paused, a strange look on his face. "Why has Aunt's speech become so… classical?"
Bai Shuyue's heart jolted. She forced a dry laugh, covering her slip-up.
"It seems that what has changed within me is not just my spirituality, but also many other subtle things. Fortunately, the matter of continuous rebirth is too unbelievable. Nephew will not suspect anything in that direction…"
However, what made Bai Shuyue both amused and exasperated was that although her nephew seemed to have been fooled, he still secretly went to invite the village witch to "treat" her illness.
Looking at the bowl of talisman water offered by the witch, and Li Fan's hopeful gaze, Bai Shuyue felt helpless. But in the end, she drank the talisman water.
After the commotion, Bai Shuyue settled Li Fan down. She didn't rush into the Xuanhuang Realm but instead headed to the nearest spiritual mountain.
She sat down to meditate and seek enlightenment.
At the peak of Dissolution Mountain!
"To see the heart and awaken the nature, I establish my Dao. With a new rebirth, I am once again different from my past…"
Bai Shuyue sat by the cliff edge, gazing at the vast, boundless sea of clouds before her, and introspected herself.
It was as if an invisible blade, wielded by the heavens, carved profoundly mysterious trajectories in the void. A statue of Bai Shuyue's own likeness was slowly forming in the darkness.
Compared to the end of her previous life, this self-statue bore a greater resemblance to Bai Shuyue.
Within a few breaths, Bai Shuyue had already reached the peak of Foundation Establishment!
"This is the superiority of the new cultivation method. If I were still cultivating the techniques of the Heavenly Venerates, I would have to arduously search for Heavenly and Earthly Marvels. Although with the convenience of continuous rebirth, I could find increasingly better oddities, Earthly Wonders were already the limit. And most of them were controlled by the Dharma-Preachers. As for Heavenly Wonders, they were completely out of reach…"
"Moreover, even Heavenly Wonders might not be comparable to [Establishing the Dao with Myself]."
Bai Shuyue looked at the self-statue within her body with satisfaction and took a deep breath, clutching the Supreme-Grade Spirit Stone in her embrace.
Within her sea of consciousness, countless multicolored beams of light intertwined and shifted, soon transforming into a Primordial Golden Core.
The Supreme-Grade Spirit Stone instantly shrank by more than half its volume.
"Although this is an Immortal Execution Land, it's not entirely devoid of Spirit Qi. It's just that the quantity is too small, minuscule, and negligible," Bai Shuyue said, sitting at the mountain peak and scanning the entire Great Xuan pocket world.
"Huh? There are actually a few places with Spirit Qi fluctuations?"
Her figure flickered, and Bai Shuyue explored these locations.
"The tomb of Yi Xingzhi, a disciple of the Grand Origin Sect."
"The tomb of Qian Hong."
…
"These are all burial sites of cultivators who perished here."
"Apart from this item, nothing else holds value," Bai Shuyue said, shaking the Heavenly Lock treasure box in her hand.
"I wonder what is truly hidden within here."
Having been a Dao Integration cultivator in her past life, Bai Shuyue's standards were extremely high; ordinary treasures no longer caught her eye. However, after using the Heavenly Profound Mirror to unlock the Heavenly Lock treasure box and discovering the Dao-Melting Stone within, Bai Shuyue was somewhat excited.
"I never imagined my homeland held such a treasure."
She had long heard of the peculiar nature of the Dao-Melting Stone, but even as a Myriad Immortals Alliance Dao Integration cultivator, she had no way to obtain one. "A Dao-Melting Stone can increase deduction calculation power by several times. If used to assist in opening a Spiritual Mirror Nascent Soul…"
"The effect is extraordinary!"
Within Bai Shuyue's dantian, her Nascent Soul, with its mirror-like body, seemed to have been polished. In an instant, it became several times clearer. Furthermore, the world it reflected displayed greater detail.
The clouds in the sky, the grass on the ground, all moved with the wind, appearing as real as life.
Bai Shuyue was immersed in it, feeling as if the world had never been so bright before.
"If I had possessed this item in my previous life, I wouldn't have died from exhaustion," Bai Shuyue sighed with emotion after a long time.
"Pity it's only a low-grade one. If it were high-grade, or even the legendary Dao Dissolution Mother Stone, I wonder how much greater its help would be."
"However, it does remind me that within the Xuanhuang Realm, there are many treasures like the Dao-Melting Stone that can enhance comprehension. For example, the Dao Comprehension Pills of the Supreme Sect, the Heavenly Mysteries Spirit Enlightenment, and so on. Appropriately using external forces might yield twice the results with half the effort."
Bai Shuyue lingered in the Great Xuan pocket world, thoroughly scanning the entire realm. Finding nothing further, she then departed for the Xuanhuang Realm.
Not long after Bai Shuyue left, not far from where she had meditated on the mountain peak, a figure suddenly materialized!
It was Li Fan.
"Spiritual Mirror Nascent Soul…"
"The accumulation of spiritual essence from twenty rebirths is truly extraordinary. She has carved out a path completely different from what Su Bai and the Sacred Emperor had deduced."
"Su Bai merely proposed a vague framework, which we can ignore for now. The Sacred Emperor's deduction was likely influenced by the Tai Wei Sacred Emperor. The emphasis of the Sacred Dynasty rested solely on the Tai Wei Sacred Emperor. Therefore, his deduced new method completely disregarded transmissibility. But Aunt truly poured all her efforts into it for me…"
Li Fan chuckled and flicked a finger at the void ahead.
A phantom image of Li Fan appeared, mimicking Bai Shuyue's previous posture, facing the sea of clouds and sitting cross-legged.
Although it was a phantom, its flickering light and shadow made it appear no different from a flesh-and-blood body!
The phantom closed its eyes, its chest rising and falling with each breath, as if it were another Li Fan!
"True and false in a single thought, illusions transformed by the heart~"
Li Fan softly chanted, quite satisfied with his creation.
Through twenty rebirths, Aunt had transformed from a mortal into a Dao Integration cultivator. She had also deduced and comprehended three layers of the new cultivation method.
Naturally, Li Fan couldn't have gained nothing.
The quasi-real, quasi-illusory body before him was a creation he had made using the transformation of truth and falsehood.
"My body in its mortal state."
"Ignoring the existence of Return to Truth."
Li Fan walked around the quasi-real, quasi-illusory body a few times, nodding continuously.
"Apart from the influence of infinite spiritual essence, there is almost no difference between this and my true self."
"Even if I placed it before Aunt, she wouldn't recognize it as merely my creation."
"My understanding of spiritual essence is still too superficial. I'll set it aside for now."
"Using this body as an experiment, everything that happens within it can be reproduced in my body, intact and unharmed."
"Establishing the Dao with Myself…"
A faint light flashed in Li Fan's eyes as an invisible blade rapidly carved within the illusory Li Fan.
He was carving his own statue within a fabricated version of himself.
It seemed a bit peculiar, but with each carving, Li Fan's self-awareness seemed to deepen.
"Laughter and scolding are me, fear of death is also me."
"Worrying about the world is me, ignoring all living beings is also me."
"Extravagance is me, obsession with longevity is also me."
…
"Return to Truth, in essence, is merely an amplifier, focusing certain aspects of my personality and magnifying them infinitely, but it doesn't fundamentally alter them."
The scenes experienced in past rebirths flashed through Li Fan's mind.
His statue became increasingly angular and complex.
While Bai Shuyue could achieve Dao Establishment with Myself with a single thought, Li Fan's first step would require at least a hundred years.
But Li Fan was patient.
…
After returning to the Xuanhuang Realm, Bai Shuyue, as usual, first found Senior Yin.
Although she didn't mention her rebirth, she wholeheartedly taught him her newly comprehended cultivation methods. Senior Yin was so excited he danced with joy.
Having immersed himself in the new cultivation method for many years, he had been on the verge of a breakthrough. With Bai Shuyue's guidance, Senior Yin achieved enlightenment on the spot.
In just a few days, like Bai Shuyue, he had advanced to the Nascent Soul realm. The hidden injuries from his Foundation Establishment stage were also healed, and he no longer spoke with a wavering voice.
"Regarding the Dao-Melting Stone you mentioned, I might have some clues."
"I vaguely recall that the Grand Origin Sect still remains hidden within this realm, but their exact location…" Senior Yin scratched his head, unable to recall the specifics.
Bai Shuyue comforted him, "It's alright. The fact that they are still alive is good. As long as they are here, we can find them with some time. It is said that the Dao Dissolution Mother Stone possesses a deduction power billions of times greater than ordinary Dao-Melting Stones. With its assistance, perhaps I could easily perfect the new cultivation method."
Senior Yin agreed wholeheartedly.
"Besides the Dao Dissolution Mother Stone, you might also try other possible methods."
"For instance, the Enlightenment Infinite Wall, and the Mortal Becoming Divine Wall…" Senior Yin offered various suggestions.
Bai Shuyue sighed, "The Xuanhuang Realm is home to so many incredible wonders. It's truly unimaginable what the vast star sea beyond the Xuanhuang Realm must be like…"
Senior Yin shook his head. "Perhaps the entire star sea combined is not as magnificent as a corner of the Xuanhuang Realm."
Bai Shuyue was stunned.
Immediately, Senior Yin recounted the calamity that descended and the destruction of the star sea.
Bai Shuyue was deeply shaken. "Although I had heard of ancient calamities before, I always thought that after so many years, life would have revived beyond the Xuanhuang Realm. I never imagined…"
"Moreover, there are also Doctrine Transmitting Heavenly Venerates collecting fragmented realms and mending the Xuanhuang Realm."
The true face of the Xuanhuang Realm began to be partially revealed before Bai Shuyue. Bai Shuyue knew that the Xuanhuang Realm held countless secrets, but she firmly believed that with her ability of infinite rebirth, these secrets would rather become aids in breaking through the constraints of the Dharma-Preachers.
"One step at a time."
Within the Spiritual Mirror Nascent Soul's eyes, a miniature, mist-shrouded Xuanhuang Realm appeared.
Bai Shuyue's first destination was the Enlightenment Infinite Wall in Tianliang Prefecture.
"It is said that comprehending Dao before this wall has a certain probability of being drawn into it. Although the time flow within is different from the outside, posing the risk of dying of old age, the enlightenment bonus within far surpasses the Heavenly Mysteries Spirit Enlightenment by several times…"
"This is perfect for me!"
Bai Shuyue stared intently at the smooth stone wall before her. In a daze, she felt the stone wall's heartbeat.
"It's not my imagination."
Bai Shuyue reached out and gently touched it.
In the next moment, the scene before her changed, and she was drawn into the Infinite Wall.
Just as the rumors outside suggested, upon entering, she immediately felt a boost, as if her mind had become thousands of times more active.
Her accumulated knowledge and understanding from the past were reorganized and consolidated, converging towards the primordial Dao of heaven and earth.
But the price was a rapid depletion of her vitality.
As the saying goes, "If one hears the Dao in the morning, one can die in the evening." It was clear that cultivators immersed in enlightenment here would completely disregard this. They would allow their life force to drain away, engrossed in their pursuit of Dao.
This place was naturally beneficial to Bai Shuyue.
However, she saw something that others could not.
Above each cultivator's head, an invisible tentacle seemed to extend from the void, deeply piercing into the cultivator's mind, occasionally wriggling.
Accompanied by the entranced expressions of the absorbed cultivators, this scene appeared particularly bizarre.
It seemed that these tentacles were helping the cultivators within the Infinite Wall achieve enlightenment.
"Hm? You can see me?"
A soft whisper echoed beside Bai Shuyue.
Bai Shuyue was not startled; she merely nodded.
"Then, in your eyes, what do I look like?"
Bai Shuyue answered truthfully.
"Tentacles…"
The voice sounded somewhat dejected, then said, "It's not bad."
Hearing this seemingly comforting remark, Bai Shuyue became curious. "Is this not your original form?"
The voice chuckled. "A frog in a well sees only the small patch of sky above its head and believes that is all the sky is. A bird flying in the sky, though it sees the boundless firmament, also believes that to be the true appearance of the sky."
"In reality, what then?"
"There are heavens beyond heavens, and immeasurable mountains and seas, which mortals cannot comprehend…"
Although mocked as a frog in a well, Bai Shuyue was not angered. "From your words, Senior, you seem to have vast knowledge and can see sights that we cannot. Yet, why are you trapped here?"
"Trapped? What do you mean? I am merely feeding. Since I was thrown here years ago, cultivators have been continuously entering my belly. Sitting still and having food fall from the sky. When there are such good things, why should I bother working?" The voice said proudly.
"Feeding to your heart's content?" Bai Shuyue mused.
"Indeed. Just like you. Do you think your enlightenment is stimulated by me? In fact, I am merely accelerating the rate at which your life force depletes, concentrating all the thoughts you would have generated in a lifetime into this brief moment!"
"A lifetime, hundreds or even thousands of years of time, should have been accumulated, but it is being pre-paid. This is the truth of this place."
"You cultivators are mostly impatient. You could have achieved it yourself eventually, yet you always seek external help. This plays right into my hands!"
It seemed the voice hadn't spoken to anyone in a long time, as it ceaselessly explained to Bai Shuyue.
Meanwhile, the tentacle inserted into Bai Shuyue's head was continuously drawing her life force.
"Hm? Why, after hearing so much from me, is there no shock in your heart?" the voice asked, surprised.
Bai Shuyue stared at the tentacle above her head, which seemed to be changing shape, and suddenly smiled.
"It seems your knowledge is also limited."
Being scorned by a mere mortal, the voice did not sound particularly angry, but rather curious. "What do you mean?"
Bai Shuyue gave a weak smile and was about to answer when her head drooped, and no more words could escape her lips. She had, in fact, been drained of all life force by the tentacles!
The tentacles stirred them again, somewhat bewildered. Receiving no response, they retracted into the void with a hint of disappointment.
"I think Auntie was right. Your knowledge..."
"Is nothing special."
Just then, a voice abruptly echoed within the Enlightenment Infinite Wall.
The other individuals who were comprehending the Dao seemed oblivious.
However, the myriad of faintly visible tentacles trembled violently, startled.
"Who is it?"
The only reply was, "Return to Truth!"
While capable of putting on a divine pretense before her aunt, Li Fan's gaze had already pierced through the entity's true nature.
It was merely one of the many Immortal Artifacts cast into the Kōroka Dojo from the Immortal Realm in the past.
Li Fan casually annihilated countless such items.
"This sort of fortune should be left for Auntie."
During the twenty-second to twenty-fifth reincarnations of the Saint Creation Plan, Bai Shuyue spent most of her time in the Enlightenment Infinite Wall.
Utilizing its characteristic of absorbing life force to catalyze enlightenment, it shortened the duration of each life and accelerated the efficiency of deduction.
However, after entering the twenty-sixth reincarnation, Bai Shuyue temporarily abandoned the idea of entering the Infinite Wall for contemplation.
The reason was simple: her own accumulations from these past lives had been completely depleted.
Her mind was empty, naturally making further deduction impossible.
Although she still hadn't comprehended the latter half of the New Law Cultivation Technique beyond the Nascent Soul stage, Bai Shuyue already had a vague outline of the path ahead in her mind.
"The heavens and earth are boundless, the mountains and seas are infinite. What mortals perceive is confined to a tiny space. To exhaust the extremes of heaven and earth, one must broaden their horizons."
During her enlightenments within the Infinite Wall in these past few lives, Bai Shuyue would often engage in casual conversation with the tentacles. Relying on her precognitive advantage, she managed to gain the upper hand in sophistry.
Although she didn't know what the "mountains and seas" frequently mentioned in the Infinite Wall's dialogue referred to, Bai Shuyue had a subtle premonition that it didn't merely signify the mountains and oceans of the world.
But this did not prevent Bai Shuyue from applying what she had learned.
"As the Infinite Wall says, our perception is limited. Even if the Spiritual Mirror Nascent Soul can clearly reflect everything seen and felt, it is ultimately just a speck in the primordial chaos. Therefore..."
"One must allow their divine sense to roam beyond the physical, entering and exiting the Great Void. Within a single thought, the world; within a single thought, traversing the mountains and seas."
Even with a general direction vaguely forming, Bai Shuyue still had no clue how to achieve the state of "divine sense roaming the Great Void."
"Perhaps I can find answers to draw upon from the countless secrets of the Azure Nether's precious lands."
After leaving the Infinite Wall, Bai Shuyue first went to the Mortal Becoming Divine Wall, which was as famous as the Infinite Wall.
The wall depicted a mortal's illusory form ascending to divinity in a single step. Its graceful demeanor was indeed inspiring.
However, as Bai Shuyue gazed at the indistinct figure presented in the wall, she couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity.
"It's not an illusion."
"The power surrounding this figure, I have indeed encountered it before. And not just once?"
"What exactly..."
Bai Shuyue frowned and stood before the Mortal Becoming Divine Wall for a long time without moving.
This sort of thing happened often and did not attract others' attention.
Bai Shuyue stood there for half a month.
Within her Nascent Soul Spiritual Mirror, numerous scenes from her past flashed continuously.
Finally, Bai Shuyue found the answer.
And this answer far exceeded her expectations: "This sense of familiarity...it was from expelling the Celestial-Mortal Miasma from my body using the Five Spirits Qi Sensing Method during each rebirth!"
Bai Shuyue was astonished.
Most people had only one opportunity in their lifetime to remove the miasma from their bodies.
Either they succeeded and embarked on the path of cultivation, or they failed and were forever severed from the immortal path.
Therefore, it was difficult to notice the similarity between the power of the Celestial-Mortal Miasma and the figure in the Mortal Becoming Divine Wall.
However, Bai Shuyue had repeated this step more than twenty times!
Coupled with her continuously accumulating formidable talent, it was natural for her to perceive the connection.
"Could it be..."
"This mortal who becomes divine might be the originator of the Celestial-Mortal Miasma?"
"Why would he do such a thing?"
"If it weren't for this Celestial-Mortal Miasma, my cultivation and my nephew's cultivation wouldn't have been so difficult."
The events of more than twenty lifetimes flashed through Bai Shuyue's mind. Bai Shuyue instinctively harbored no goodwill towards this person.
Her intuition told her that this figure must hide a great secret.
"Furthermore, I think I've encountered him elsewhere."
A sense of alarm instinctively arose in Bai Shuyue's heart.
She was already someone who harbored the secret of rebirth. Now, to discover that a mysterious figure repeatedly appeared in various aspects of her life, how could she not be alarmed and fearful?
To resolve this hidden danger, Bai Shuyue began to pursue this mysterious figure.
Relying on her keen perception, she used the similarities between the Infinite Wall and the Celestial-Mortal Miasma as a medium. Following the clues, she searched for other related existences within the Xuanhuang Realm.
It was an eye-opener; upon searching, Bai Shuyue discovered that the Xuanhuang Realm was riddled with traces of this person!
Beneath Qi Ling Prefecture, ancient immortal art miasma was hidden, extremely dangerous. Within a peculiar pocket world inhabited by strange beasts, his residual sword energy was present.
The Essence of Heaven and Earth was deeply hidden within the foundation of the Xuanhuang Realm; within the Fallen Immortal Realm, his power was also faintly felt.
More crucially...
The Myriad Immortals Alliance Headquarters, the Divine Treasure Museum, and the remains of the first cultivator to die from Celestial-Mortal Miasma, treasured by Senior Yin, were all connected to this aura, stemming from the same origin!
"The one who created the Celestial-Mortal Miasma was him, and the first to die from it was also him. Could it be that his strength was insufficient, and after committing such heinous acts, he was retributed and backfired?" Bai Shuyue speculated.
However, after sharing this discovery with Senior Yin, Bai Shuyue received the correct answer.
"You mean, this person is both the Heavenly Venerate of the Old Law and the Heavenly Venerate of the New Law. And using his own life, he undermined the foundation of the Dharma-Preachers?" Bai Shuyue frowned.
As Su Bai's biggest fan, Senior Yin, clutching the rib bone in his arms, nodded with deep sorrow.
Bai Shuyue hesitated to speak.
"What utter nonsense about 'the immortal path cannot be trod,' and 'Doctrine Transmitter Heavenly Venerates are above all.' Even if the Doctrine Transmitter truly dominated an era, and could achieve the status of both new and old Heavenly Venerates, his talent must have been extraordinary. Why would he commit suicide without even the courage to fight, directly ending his life?" Bai Shuyue thought to herself.
However, out of consideration for Senior Yin, she did not voice her thoughts directly to him.
Despite reincarnating multiple times, Bai Shuyue still deeply cherished her own life and her nephew's.
After all, no one could be certain whether their rebirth would suddenly fail.
Living each life as if it were the last was the proper way to conduct oneself.
As if sensing Bai Shuyue's thoughts, Senior Yin solemnly said, "He must have had his reasons for doing so. I believe in him."
Looking at Senior Yin's resolute expression, Bai Shuyue was speechless.
"Oh right, when you were examining Su Bai's skull, did you feel anything special?" Bai Shuyue asked, attempting to change the subject.
"Of course! My blood and Qi surged, as if I could hear my own heartbeat. His gentle smile appeared before my eyes..."
"I'm not talking about that," Bai Shuyue interrupted Senior Yin's performance.
After a moment of thought, she said with some uncertainty, "It seems like some unique intentions are condensed upon it. It doesn't feel like just a simple skeleton."
Bai Shuyue pointed to the rib bone in Senior Yin's arms. "This thing, I don't feel that at all."
"Are you saying...Su Bai might still be alive?" Senior Yin became extremely excited.
Bai Shuyue said with some helplessness, "Perhaps. It's just a feeling."
"Your feeling must be correct. That's right, how could someone like Su Bai fall so easily?" Soon, Senior Yin convinced himself.
He stood up abruptly. "No, I must go save him! It's one thing if I didn't know, but since I do, I absolutely cannot let him remain there, displayed like a toy for others to inspect!"
Bai Shuyue quickly stopped him. "Don't be rash. Setting aside the fact that the skull is in the Myriad Immortals Alliance Headquarters with strict defenses, making it difficult to even enter, the museum director, who is unfathomably mysterious, is not someone you or I can deal with."
Senior Yin said fiercely, "I know that old fellow. He is strong, but extremely cautious. If we fight desperately and he cannot stop us, he will not fight us to the death. As for the Myriad Immortals Alliance Headquarters..."
"It's simple, I'll cause utter chaos and make the Myriad Immortals Alliance too preoccupied to deal with us!"
Bai Shuyue looked at him with suspicion. "You?"
Senior Yin patted his chest, guaranteeing, "Thanks to the New Law you created, Fellow Daoist Bai, I have recovered more of my memories."
"As I told you before, I am actually the lingering shade of souls from various consumed realms within the Azure Nether. To put it simply, I'm the discarded scraps that the Xuanhuang Realm disdained."
"However, even if they are scraps, when they accumulate and stir up trouble all at once..." Senior Yin let out a few cold snorts.
"When I descended into this world, numerous souls from various worlds gathered, and a region of the Xuanhuang Realm was enveloped by a strange power, transforming the laws of the Xuanhuang Realm into something akin to the nature of these souls. At that time, countless 'mes' rained down from the sky like raindrops."
"It took the Myriad Immortals Alliance considerable effort to quell this anomaly. And at that time, we only mobilized a fraction of our strength!"
"A centipede dies but never falls. The more fragmented realms the Xuanhuang Realm devours, the stronger we become. However, in the past, we were like scattered insects without a leader, unable to achieve anything significant. But now, I might be able to forcibly command them!" A strange aura gradually emanated from Senior Yin.
Bai Shuyue did not seem to be particularly bothered by Senior Yin's true identity.
If anything, her continuous cycle of rebirth was even more bizarre than his experience.
Furthermore, she was genuinely curious about the power that seemed to linger around Su Bai's skull, and even felt a subtle yearning in her heart.
After a moment of contemplation, she asked in a low voice, "What are the odds of success?"
"Thirty percent!" Senior Yin replied with a proud expression.
"Thirty percent... that's not a small chance." After pondering for only a moment, Bai Shuyue made up her mind.
Although she cherished her life, those who constantly reincarnated were also the least afraid of risking their lives!
After meticulous preparation, Bai Shuyue set the time for their action.
"Because of the Five Elements Great Grotto-heaven, the Myriad Immortals Alliance and the Five Elders Council will be locked in a major battle. You and I will secretly fan the flames, escalating the conflict. Then, on the outside, you will suddenly make your move, adding fuel to the fire. As for Su Bai's skull in the Divine Treasure Museum, leave it to me," Bai Shuyue instructed.
"Be careful with everything!" they said to each other, then waited for the opportune moment.
Senior Yin did not ask how Bai Shuyue knew that the Five Elders Council and the Myriad Immortals Alliance would clash over the Five Elements Great Grotto-heaven in the future.
At this moment, all he could think about was obtaining Su Bai's skull.
As Bai Shuyue had predicted, with the discovery of the Five Elements Great Grotto-heaven, a major battle was imminent.
Senior Yin and Bai Shuyue fanned the flames in their respective locations.
The situation became increasingly tense and fierce.
Seeing that the time was almost ripe, Senior Yin prepared to act. "Let you all taste the resentment we have accumulated over countless years!"
He gazed at the Xuanhuang Realm's firmament and let out several sinister laughs.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Green lightning bolts, appearing out of nowhere, flashed across the skies of the Xuanhuang Realm.
Like dragons, they cut through the firmament.
From the cracks, torrents of dark, sinister energy poured out.
In an instant, the Xuanhuang Realm was transformed into a spectral realm.
Corpse fragments rained down from the sky, and countless Senior Yins descended upon the world, laughing maniacally.
Though their attire and physiques varied, they all shared the same head.
"Xuanhuang Realm! Give me back my life!"
Their voices sounded like wails of the damned.
They launched indiscriminate attacks on any cultivators they encountered.
"Are these Outer Realm Demonic Invaders?"
This sudden occurrence caught the Myriad Immortals Alliance cultivators off guard.
They quickly organized defenses.
However, these Senior Yins feared neither death nor injury. As long as they were not completely pulverized, even a tiny residual fragment of their being retained its consciousness and could launch a desperate counterattack, making them extremely difficult to deal with.
More importantly, each of these Senior Yins possessed the strength of the Nascent Soul realm.
A single Nascent Soul could naturally be ignored.
But with them covering the mountains and plains, endless in number...
It was truly terrifying.
Even those in the Dao Integration realm had to temporarily retreat from the锋芒 of this offensive.
The Myriad Immortals Alliance's defenses gradually crumbled, and the Five Elders Council chose to remain as spectators.
The Dharma-Preachers finally chose to intervene.
At this moment, Bai Shuyue had successfully reached Su Bai's skull.
"Dissolution Disc!"
A treasure mirror appeared in Bai Shuyue's palm, emitting a faint green light that illuminated Su Bai's skull.
Wherever the green light passed, restrictions were broken one by one!
Bai Shuyue snatched Su Bai's skull and retreated rapidly.
For the smooth execution of her plan, Bai Shuyue had spent considerable effort to obtain a Dissolution Disc as a reward from the Myriad Immortals Alliance. Who would have thought she would use it moments later to steal an invaluable treasure from the Alliance!
A figure suddenly appeared, blocking Bai Shuyue's path.
Without a word, Bai Shuyue began to burn her entire essence and life force.
An ancient, simple statue manifested behind her, staring intently at the Emperor San Mo who blocked her way.
"Try and stop me!"
The Spiritual Mirror Nascent Soul resided in the statue's chest.
Its mirror-like body surprisingly revealed Emperor San Mo's true face!
Bai Shuyue's speed did not diminish. Emperor San Mo hesitated slightly before flashing aside to let her pass.
Upon creating a tremendous commotion, Elder Yin finally ceased his actions once the accumulated power of the Remnant Realm's spirits, built up over ten thousand years, was completely depleted. He then quietly retreated and rejoined Bai Shuyue.
The two stood side-by-side before Su Bai's skull. After the initial excitement subsided, Elder Yin finally calmed down. "A special intention?" Elder Yin couldn't discern any particularity in the skull before him.
However, Bai Shuyue grew more certain: "My previous judgment was not mistaken." The Spiritual Mirror Nascent Soul clearly reflected a faintly discernible figure within the skull! Simultaneously, the Primordial Golden Core seemed to sense something, and ten thousand rays of light instantly radiated from it, distorting towards Su Bai's skull. It was as if something within this skull possessed a fatal attraction to it.
Confident in her hypothesis, Bai Shuyue initially believed communicating with the figure within the skull would be simple. Yet, reality defied her expectations. For a full fifty years, she achieved nothing! It was as if the phantom hidden within the skull was merely her own illusion! Even Elder Yin began to lose faith, redirecting his main focus to deducing new methods.
But Bai Shuyue refused to yield. "It's right there, yet I cannot see it..." she mused. "However, this is only natural. Su Bai's skull has been displayed in the Divine Treasure Museum for so many years, viewed by countless cultivators. If it were so easily discovered, it wouldn't still be here."
"Since he won't come to me, I shall go to him!" Bai Shuyue, having reached the age of fifty, finally shifted her approach.
Another fifty years later, Su Bai's skull remained quietly placed. However, within the reflection of the Spiritual Mirror Nascent Soul, another figure suddenly appeared outside the skull: it was Bai Shuyue. "This is... seeing the world from a different perspective?" This phantom form was not real. It was a concentrated manifestation of Bai Shuyue's "observation" and "sensing" within a certain range around herself. This was a divine ability Bai Shuyue had developed over the past century to "see," which she called the Divine Pivot.
With a thought, the Divine Pivot phantom could fly into the sky or burrow into the earth. Its observations and perceptions differed greatly from normal sight or divine sense. What it touched and saw was closer to the essence of its Dao and principles, within the limits of Bai Shuyue's understanding. Of course, as Bai Shuyue's strength grew and her perspective broadened, the phenomenon perceived by the Divine Pivot would change even when wielding the same divine ability.
At this moment, the Divine Pivot phantom drifted gracefully and entered Su Bai's skull. Even before entering, Bai Shuyue felt a gentle energy emanating from within the skull. If the myriad realms were a sea with raging winds and harsh weather, then the skull was a reassuring haven. "Without the support of a physical body's energy, the Divine Pivot, under normal circumstances, could only last for thirty days at most. But within this skull..."
"Nourished by heaven and earth, and without aimless consumption, it can survive endlessly!" Su Bai's skull was not a place of deathly silence but a space radiating a warm yellow glow. Countless light fragments drifted and floated like ribbons. And not far away, a figure was warily observing Bai Shuyue. It was the very one she had been searching for over a century!
"Su Bai?" Bai Shuyue inquired.
"Su Bai?" the figure countered with a hint of confusion. This time, Bai Shuyue was somewhat taken aback. "Greetings, fellow Daoist. My name is Qiao Sidao." Qiao Sidao briefly recounted his journey, from his birth within the "Era" to his eventual escape after experiencing countless cycles of reincarnation.
The similarity of their circumstances caused Bai Shuyue to feel a moment of confusion and doubt. "Am I also trapped within a massive 'Era'?" But this question vanished as quickly as it arose.
"It's not that I'm avoiding you, fellow Daoist; it's a matter of helplessness," Qiao Sidao explained with a wry smile. "I am not a native of the Xuanhuang Realm, merely a wisp of consciousness. If I were to leave the protection of this skull, I would likely dissipate in an instant. Especially with your divine sense constantly enveloping the skull in your search for me, how could I withstand such a torment..."
Bai Shuyue finally understood. Although the person before her was not Su Bai, she was immensely delighted by their conversation. Qiao Sidao's experiences and insights from his countless reincarnations, while mostly inapplicable to the Xuanhuang Realm's reality, were not entirely baseless. They possessed genuine theoretical foundations and could greatly enrich and nourish Bai Shuyue's Primordial Golden Core. Her Golden Core was, after all, the summation of her perceptions of the world; the more she knew and saw, the more brilliant it became.
"Furthermore, Qiao Sidao's learning differs greatly from the inheritances of the Xuanhuang Realm and the Myriad Immortals Alliance. It is of great significance for me to deduce and supplement my knowledge." Bai Shuyue spent the remainder of her time in this life discussing the Dao with Qiao Sidao, losing all track of time.
More than nine hundred years passed... Suddenly, it felt as though the sky was torn open, and Bai Shuyue felt a sense of fatal crisis. However, before she could comprehend what had happened, she, and indeed most beings within the Xuanhuang Realm, had already died. In her dying moments, Bai Shuyue seemed to see a phantom image of an endless, rolling landscape of mountains and seas above her. "Heaven and Earth are boundless, mountains and seas are infinite." The words from the Enlightenment Infinite Wall echoed in her mind once more.
...
Black Heavenly Physician completed the retrieval of his past self in this particular possibility and did not leave immediately. Instead, he looked down at the world below with a sense of nostalgia. It was the Heavenly Law Realm, which was being reborn upon the husk of the Xuanhuang Realm, using the remains of countless worlds. "After countless millennia, I have finally achieved this," he mused. "It's a pity it has no meaning."
Despite his words, Black Heavenly Physician did not destroy his masterpiece in this timeline. Instead, he bestowed several golden needles to help stabilize the Heavenly Law Realm, addressing the numerous flaws that arose during its fusion and rebirth. "I am still too benevolent, too indecisive," Black Heavenly Physician sighed. "Without complete annihilation, how can there be true rebirth? Only after complete desolation can the flower of life truly blossom anew... All the living beings in the world are obstacles to the renewed gestation of vitality. If I were to eradicate them all, within three thousand years, the true Heavenly Law Realm would reappear, far superior to its current, unclassifiable state."
Wherever Black Heavenly Physician's gaze fell, all life in the world was extinguished. It made no difference whether they were in Foundation Establishment, Dao Integration, or Longevity realms. In this dying timeline, the Heavenly Physician was about to complete what he had abandoned in the past.
Suddenly, his gaze paused. He fixed his sight on a particular area of the world, a look of gravity on his face. He had never been so cautious, not even when facing the Annihilation of the Dao. "With your strength, fellow Daoist, why hide your face?" Black Heavenly Physician asked calmly.
"If I did not hide my face, how could I witness your pointless endeavor? The world is about to collapse, yet you are here, tidying up your old home in this crumbling realm, as if playing with a long-lost toy..." Li Fan sneered, revealing himself.
Upon hearing this, Black Heavenly Physician's expression slowly turned grim. "Not a cultivator from the Other Shore," he stated, examining Li Fan. Then... a black line tore through the sky. Not only the Heavenly Law Realm, which had only recently been partially repaired, but also the Star Sea beyond it, and even the primordial possibility, were ripped apart by this black line. They shattered into pieces. The tidal wave of Dao Erasure surged forth, engulfing everything in the primordial possibility.
Li Fan let out a muffled groan, looking at a black needle deeply embedded in his palm. Black Heavenly Physician, in his fury, had acted with incredible speed. Li Fan, who had not fought anyone since transcending, had suffered a minor setback. Upon entering his body, the black needle transformed into a mass of black energy, corroding Li Fan's body and even his transcendent true intent, like a black demonic wind sweeping across the sea, making his originally stable transcendent true intent fragile.
Although Li Fan quickly expelled the black energy from his body, Black Heavenly Physician had also perceived something strange about Li Fan. A sharp glint flashed in his eyes: "Summon all..." Before he could finish the word "Sages," the words "Return to Truth" in Li Fan's heart had already overshadowed everything.
Returning to the anchor point one year prior, Li Fan let out a sigh of relief. "That old guy is quite quick to react. I intended to seek a change of pace and perhaps catch a show, but I didn't expect to almost cause an accident. Black Heavenly Physician must have sensed I possess the Return to Truth, but knowing he couldn't deal with me, he immediately intended to summon the Sages... Unfortunately, this is not the Other Shore. It is the Xuanhuang Realm! The mountains are high and the seas are vast; even with nine Sages, they cannot arrive instantly!"
"However, Black Heavenly Physician's actions have further confirmed my judgment. Until I find a way to counter the Sages, I absolutely cannot go to the Other Shore to join the fun..."
"Aunt, you must persevere!" Li Fan placed his hopes on Bai Shuyue, who was currently sitting on her bed, recalling the end of her previous life. "What exactly happened at the end of my last life? The Xuanhuang Realm was torn apart as easily as a fragile piece of paper..." Even when she first encountered the Scarlet Flame Burning Sea, Bai Shuyue had not felt such dread. "Nine hundred years later, the Xuanhuang Realm was destroyed by an inexplicable calamity. But before that..."
In her previous life, Bai Shuyue had been immersed in absorbing Qiao Sidao's lifelong knowledge, paying no attention to external matters. However, based on her few interactions with Elder Yin, the Xuanhuang Realm should have been developing steadily, full of vitality. It shouldn't have been inexplicably destroyed. After pondering for a long time, she could not find a clue. Yet, she couldn't simply ignore this matter.
"As a mortal, I thought becoming a cultivator would allow me to live eternally with my nephew." "After finally establishing my foundation and cultivating, I realized I would only live a hundred years longer." "Now, with strength comparable to Dao Integration, I realize there is an even greater crisis ahead." "When will it ever end?" "I'm truly so tired..."
Having inadvertently glimpsed Black Heavenly Physician's descent, Bai Shuyue's mindset was affected. It had changed inexplicably compared to before. She lay on her bed, reflecting on herself and the meaning and value of her existence. She was enveloped in confusion and could not find her way out for a time. The only thing that brought her some comfort was that her nephew, thinking she was ill, had exceptionally taken care of her. He handled all the cooking and housework. He showed her concern and showered her with attention – something that had never happened in her twenty cycles of reincarnation!
"My nephew is truly pure of heart," Bai Shuyue sighed with great relief. "Even for the sake of my mortal nephew, I cannot remain so dejected." Bai Shuyue quickly regained her spirits. "Although that calamity was bizarre, the potential of the New Law is immense. If I can comprehend the Longevity Realm, I might be able to resolve it."
Having acquired Qiao Sidao's knowledge in her previous life, Bai Shuyue's foundation was now replenished. In this life, she returned to the Enlightenment Infinite Wall. She utilized the wall's unique abilities to extract her comprehension to its fullest extent. After gaining Qiao Sidao's accumulated experiences from his "Era," the image of the Infinite Wall in Bai Shuyue's eyes had indeed changed. The tentacles floating around her had become clearer, and she could faintly see iridescent scales shimmering on them. And in the void where the tentacles originated, she could catch glimpses of dim figures drifting past.
Bai Shuyue paid them no mind, engrossed in her enlightenment. As she pondered deeply, Bai Shuyue suddenly recalled the phantom image of rolling mountains and seas she had seen at the end of her previous life, just before her death. She couldn't help but ask, "Heaven and Earth are boundless, mountains and seas are infinite. What exactly do these mountains and seas refer to?"
Dozens of gently swaying tentacles abruptly froze. A massive head emerged from the void and floated above Bai Shuyue's head. The head had no facial features, only a single, enormous eyeball staring intently at Bai Shuyue. "Why are you suddenly asking about this?"
Having witnessed the terrifying scene of the primordial possibility being instantly annihilated, Bai Shuyue was unfazed by this minor spectacle. She calmly replied, "I've been having recurring illusions, seeing phantom images of endless mountains and seas beyond the heavens. If you hadn't constantly mentioned it, I would have thought it was my hallucination..." Before Bai Shuyue could finish speaking, the Infinite Wall shrieked as if its tail had been stepped on, "You're talking nonsense!"
Bai Shuyue glared at the large head before her with a strange expression. The Infinite Wall coughed and regained its composure. "Ahem. Stop speaking nonsense! Mountains and seas are not something you mortals can spy upon?"
"It's real," Bai Shuyue insisted, simultaneously showing the Infinite Wall the phantom image she had seen in her previous life. Beyond the heavens were boundless mountains and seas. Although it was merely a sketched phantom, lacking any substantial aura of mountains and seas, it still caused the Infinite Wall to panic. Its single eye widened, nearly pressing against Bai Shuyue's face. "A mere mortal, possessing the potential for transcendence?"
As if finding it unbelievable, the Infinite Wall circled Bai Shuyue, observing her thoroughly from top to bottom. Bai Shuyue silently committed the word "transcendence" to memory, letting the Infinite Wall examine her. When it finally stopped, she frowned and asked, "You still haven't answered my question. What is the meaning of the limited mountains and seas?"
"Knowing too much is not necessarily a good thing for you at this stage. However..." The Infinite Wall's large eyeball rolled around, and it finally made a decision. "I will help you cultivate!"
The tentacles continuously thrashed, splitting into nine and plunging into Bai Shuyue's mind.
Compared to a single tentacle, this almost increased the effect of enlightenment by fivefold.
However, Bai Shuyue acutely sensed that her lifespan was not being consumed.
Boundless Wall spoke with some distress, "Over tens of thousands of years, I've only managed to store a few thousand 'snacks.' This is likely enough for you to cultivate for a few decades..."
"Are you saying you extract lifespan from other cultivators to use for me?" Bai Shuyue finally understood.
"If a few thousand people can sustain me for a few decades..."
"Are there any requirements for talent and comprehension?" Bai Shuyue immediately pressed.
"None. Only the more lifespan remaining, the better. What is it?" Boundless Wall stared at Bai Shuyue with some surprise.
After a moment of thought, Bai Shuyue said, "I'll find a way!"
Having been reborn over twenty times and personally witnessing the destruction of the Xuanhuang Realm, ordinary cultivators' lives gradually became less significant in Bai Shuyue's eyes.
"If I am provided with enough support to reach Longevity, perhaps I can even avert that crisis of destruction..."
Thus, Bai Shuyue took up residence within Boundless Wall. Periodically, she would venture out to hunt and capture cultivators, providing a steady stream of lifespan for her enlightenment.
The efficiency of enlightenment under Boundless Wall's full support was truly terrifying. In nearly a century, she exhausted the accumulations from her previous life.
The shadow of the New Law's path to Soul Transformation was becoming clearer and clearer. Bai Shuyue was preparing to fully derive it with one concerted effort.
Just then, Boundless Wall suddenly trembled violently.
"This is bad, someone's attacking," Boundless Wall's massive head materialized, its single eye showing a hint of terror.
Bai Shuyue frowned slightly, "You're an Immortal Artifact, after all. You usually have such a terrifying aura. Why are you so cowardly when trouble arises?"
Having spent a century with Boundless Wall, Bai Shuyue had naturally learned a bit about its background. Since it was willing to share its "snacks" hoarded for ten millennia, Boundless Wall answered all her general inquiries truthfully.
However, regarding the truth of the Mountains and Seas, Boundless Wall consistently refused to divulge anything, claiming it would affect Bai Shuyue's Dao heart and hinder her cultivation.
Accused by Bai Shuyue at this moment, Boundless Wall felt no shame. "Immortal Artifact... there are countless Immortal Artifacts in the Xuanhuang Realm. The fellow attacking outside now, doesn't he possess two?"
Bai Shuyue was shocked, "What did you say?"
Looking outside, she saw a handsome young man cloaked in golden light, bombarding Boundless Wall relentlessly, as if determined to utterly destroy it.
As he attacked, the youth roared, "Return my father, return my father!"
Although he only possessed Soul Transformation cultivation, the golden light that enveloped the youth emanated an aura that made Bai Shuyue inexplicably apprehensive.
Boundless Wall could still hold on for a while, but the youth's strength seemed boundless and tireless. If this continued, the shattering of its barrier was a foregone conclusion.
"Who is his father?" Bai Shuyue said with some frustration.
She had always been careful in her pursuit of cultivators, never targeting those with significant backgrounds. Even the Myriad Immortals Alliance's authorities had noticed nothing, yet she was discovered by this youth who had tracked her all the way here.
"I found him!" Boundless Wall suddenly cried out.
Its tentacles stirred, dragging a pile of ghastly white bones to Bai Shuyue.
It had already been drained dry!
Bai Shuyue's eyes twitched, and she sighed, "Alas, I can only fight first. You should find an opportunity to escape."
Boundless Wall spoke with some distress, "I'm not like other Immortal Artifacts; once I'm rooted, I can't easily move. I can escape, but I fear I'll fall into a period of deep slumber."
"Better that than being blasted into pieces by this brat!"
"Alas, that's true."
Boundless Wall drooped dejectedly. Bai Shuyue, however, charged forward.
Under the illumination of her Spiritual Mirror Nascent Soul, she saw the true nature of the golden light emanating from the formidable youth.
It originated from his Immortal Bones!
Immortal Bones were not a metaphor. They were genuine bones of an Immortal.
As if a True Immortal had descended, mere mortals would tremble and lose all composure before his aura. Even though Bai Shuyue's strength and cultivation surpassed the youth before her, she still took considerable effort to stabilize her mind.
"The True Immortal aura within this youth isn't evenly distributed. It seems to grow from a certain point."
"The closer to his left hand, the more potent it becomes..."
In a moment of inspiration, Bai Shuyue locked her divine sense onto the youth's arm and pulled with both hands from afar.
A tearing force, disregarding space and time, instantly descended upon the youth.
This technique was a divine ability Bai Shuyue had conceived from observing the scene of the Xuanhuang Realm's destruction in her previous life, when the heavens outside the firmament collapsed, revealing the illusory form of the Mountains and Seas.
As if suppressed by countless mountains and flooded by the sea, the golden light on the youth instantly flickered like a candle in the wind.
"Reverse the heavens and earth!"
However, moments later, with the youth's furious roar, mountains overturned and seawater surged.
The tearing force originally applied to the youth was turned back, striking towards Bai Shuyue.
Bai Shuyue's expression changed slightly, and she quickly retracted her power, narrowly avoiding self-inflicted injury.
In the blink of an eye, the youth had locked onto Bai Shuyue's location.
The golden light flashed, rapidly closing in.
"Return my father's life!"
The youth glared with rage. Above his head, a black and white page radiating an ancient aura slowly unfurled.
As this page locked onto her, Bai Shuyue was instantly flooded with myriad illusions, all depicting various ways she met her own death.
Her Spiritual Mirror Nascent Soul's light flickered intensely. Utilizing the characteristics of her Divine Pivot, Bai Shuyue, in a flash, discerned the true nature of the Immortal Bones and the black and white page.
Heavenly Bone Hand!
Tome of Ten Thousand Deaths!
As Boundless Wall had said, they were born from Immortal Artifacts!
Even more...
Bai Shuyue vaguely sensed that the Heavenly Bone Hand was not merely an Immortal Artifact. Within the youth, as the Immortal Bones grew, a True Immortal seemed to be gestating!
"The Xuanhuang Realm truly hides its dragons and crouching tigers!" Bai Shuyue was inwardly astonished.
Despite being reborn over twenty times, Bai Shuyue's combat experience was scarce. Her unique divine ability had been deciphered, and she was now at a disadvantage.
Just as she was about to be suppressed by the youth, a strange cry suddenly rang out, "Brat, your father is here!"
A tentacle, entwined with a pile of ghastly white bones, rapidly flew out of Boundless Wall and fled towards the heavens.
The youth recognized the remains of his father, Ou Daozi, at a glance, and his eyes instantly split with rage.
Discarding Bai Shuyue before him, he hastily pursued the tentacle.
"Hurry and go!" Boundless Wall urgently shouted at Bai Shuyue.
Actually, Bai Shuyue had already made her escape before Boundless Wall's urging.
"No!"
From afar, the youth's heart-wrenching roar echoed. Bai Shuyue looked back and saw the tentacle, carrying the white bones, explode into smithereens, along with the remains.
Bai Shuyue's heart tightened, and she immediately accelerated her escape.
It wasn't until three full days later, when the sense of warning in her heart gradually subsided, that she stopped.
"You young whelp, bullying me too much!"
Having been reborn over twenty times, Bai Shuyue had never been forced into such a hapless state.
Although she had mistakenly captured the youth's father, the enmity was now forged...
"I don't believe I can't defeat you! It just so happens I haven't wielded an Immortal Artifact before."
"You haven't? Isn't that what I am?" Boundless Wall retorted indignantly on its own behalf.
Breaking free from its rooted state, Boundless Wall now revealed its original form: a piece of cyan jade tile with a relatively clear crack.
This was the first time Bai Shuyue had seen Boundless Wall's true appearance. "Thank you for this time."
"However... as an Immortal Artifact, your appearance is far inferior to others," Bai Shuyue commented.
Boundless Wall was furious, "What do you, a mere mortal, know? Have you ever heard the name of Tai Yi Sage Lord? I was on duty in the Sage Lord's Dao Palace back then! That pile of bones is, at best, an ordinary True Immortal. How can it be compared to me?"
"If you were a disciple of a Sage Lord, how did you end up in such a state?" Though she didn't know who Tai Yi Sage Lord was, given the title "Sage," his status must have been extraordinary, even in the Immortal Realm. Bai Shuyue attempted to use provocation to extract more useful information from Boundless Wall.
Boundless Wall indeed fell for the bait, "Even though the Sage Lord has departed, I was living quite well in the Dao Palace. All the Immortals in the heavens didn't dare to disturb me, and I enjoyed a peaceful life. Who knew that one day, a brazen thief would appear in the Dao Palace!"
"Not only did he rummage through everything, but he also... damaged the Dao Palace..."
Suddenly realizing its slip, Boundless Wall's words abruptly ceased.
It nervously mumbled to itself, "Great Master above, forgive your humble servant, Bi Bi, for failing to punish the thief..."
Then, it resumed its arrogant demeanor, commanding, "You only need to know that my background is terrifyingly immense!"
Bai Shuyue, seeing through its pretense, nodded and agreed with a smile.
"Since you are a disciple of a Sage Lord, do you know how to deal with that youth? Having suffered such a loss, wouldn't it tarnish the reputation of Tai Yi Sage Lord if you just let it go?" Bai Shuyue prompted.
"What you say does have some truth to it," Boundless Wall mused for a while, as if making a crucial decision.
A complex character suddenly appeared on the greenish-blue tile itself.
"This is..."
The character seemed to possess infinite magical power. With just a glance, Bai Shuyue's mind was captivated.
Her Primordial Golden Core shone brightly.
The dark, unknown area surrounding her self-sculpture seemed to be swept by a hurricane, revealing large swathes of blank space, ready for subsequent carvings.
Within her Spiritual Mirror Nascent Soul, Bai Shuyue seemed to behold the boundless Immortal Realm, a spectacular scene of countless Immortals arrayed like grains of sand.
"This is a True Immortal Script: 'Restrain.' It was a unique Immortal Script of the Celestial Court in the past."
"The youth's brute strength all comes from the Immortal Bones within him. This 'Restrain' character should be able to suppress him!" Boundless Wall declared with confidence.
"Then why didn't you use this 'Restrain' character just now?" Bai Shuyue asked.
Boundless Wall faltered.
"You wouldn't know, but this True Immortal Script is best wielded with Immortal Spiritual energy for optimal effect. Where would I have any remaining Immortal Spiritual energy?" Boundless Wall defended itself.
"I am a mere mortal, I don't have Immortal Spiritual energy either?" Bai Shuyue countered.
"Spiritual energy. Even if the effect is weaker, you should still achieve one percent of its efficacy. That should be enough to suppress the brat," Boundless Wall's eyes flickered.
"Could it be that wielding this True Immortal Script has side effects?" Bai Shuyue, not foolish, immediately detected the hidden meaning in Boundless Wall's words.
Facing Bai Shuyue's piercing gaze, Boundless Wall gave a dry laugh and finally revealed the truth: "Firstly, using a mortal body to wield a True Immortal Script is akin to a mortal approaching an immortal, a grave disrespect! It cannot unleash even a fraction of the True Immortal Script's true power, and you will definitely suffer a backlash."
"Secondly... the 'Restrain' character technique is not something ordinary True Immortals can use. Only those celestial officials appointed by the Celestial Court are qualified to wield the power of the 'Restrain' character. Furthermore, permission for this type of True Immortal Script power is passed down layer by layer from Immortal Emperors and Immortal Ministers."
"One can forcibly enact it through self-comprehension, but it will inevitably be sensed by the level above the Immortal Script. Especially if there are celestial officials nearby. Although the Immortal Realm has been destroyed and the Celestial Court ruined, this strict hierarchical system has not vanished but persists within these True Immortal Scripts..."
After Boundless Wall's lengthy explanation, Bai Shuyue finally understood: "You're afraid that if I use the 'Restrain' character technique, other True Immortals might sense it?"
Boundless Wall grunted, implicitly acknowledging this.
"The Immortal Realm has been destroyed, how can there still be Immortals in this world?" Bai Shuyue asked dazedly.
Boundless Wall rolled its eye, "Look at how many Immortal Artifacts remain within the Xuanhuang Realm, let alone Immortals?"
"Furthermore, that golden-light youth, no matter how much he boasts now. Once his Immortal Bones fully mature, he might not be himself anymore."
"Resurrection?" Bai Shuyue frowned slightly.
The methods of True Immortals were indeed beyond her imagination.
"Since using the 'Restrain' character technique carries such risks, why are you telling me about it?" After a moment, Bai Shuyue realized this and asked angrily, her brow furrowed, "Why are you telling me this?"
"Why can't I make myself clear? It's not risky for *you* to use it, it's risky for *me*. You, a mere mortal, even if a True Immortal senses it, why would they bother with you? It would be their loss to even glance at you. But for me, I..." Boundless Wall flitted up and down in the air agitatedly. Suddenly, it noticed a faint smile appearing on Bai Shuyue's lips, and its movements froze.
"How are you different? Tell me carefully," Bai Shuyue scrutinized Boundless Wall.
Boundless Wall chuckled sheepishly, "Heh, there's really nothing much different. After all, I'm an Immortal Artifact. If other True Immortals discover me, they'll just refine me casually..."
Bai Shuyue interrupted Boundless Wall, "It's definitely not that simple. Perhaps you have great use for mortals, but in the eyes of True Immortals, your value is merely average."
"However..."
Bai Shuyue's eyes narrowed. "You mentioned earlier that you were on duty outside the Sage Lord's palace. Later, the Sage Lord's Dao Palace encountered a thief, not only were many items stolen, but the Dao Palace itself was damaged..."
"Don't tell me... you also took the opportunity to steal something?"
The appendages continued to writhe, splitting into nine streams that simultaneously plunged into Bai Shuyue's mind.
Compared to just a single appendage, the enhancement to enlightenment was nearly five times greater.
However, Bai Shuyue keenly noticed that her lifespan was not being drained.
The Boundless Wall spoke with a hint of heartache, "Over tens of thousands of years, I've only managed to store a few thousand 'snacks.' This should be enough to support your cultivation for a few decades..."
"Are you suggesting that by extracting lifespans from other cultivators, I can use them for myself?" Bai Shuyue immediately understood.
"If a few thousand people can sustain you for decades..."
"Are there any requirements for aptitude and comprehension?" Bai Shuyue pressed on.
"None at all. It's just that the more lifespan remaining, the better. Why?" The Boundless Wall stared at Bai Shuyue with surprise.
After a moment of contemplation, Bai Shuyue said, "I'll find a way!"
Having been reborn over twenty times and witnessing the destruction of the Xuanhuang Realm firsthand, Bai Shuyue gradually came to see the lives of ordinary cultivators as less significant.
"If I am provided with enough support to attain longevity, perhaps I can even avert that impending crisis..."
And so, Bai Shuyue took up residence within the Boundless Wall. Periodically, she would venture out to hunt and capture cultivators, providing a constant stream of lifespans to fuel her enlightenment.
The efficiency of her cultivation, with the full support of the Boundless Wall, was truly terrifying. In just a century, she had exhausted the accumulation of her previous life.
The shadow of the New Law's path to Soul Transformation was becoming increasingly clear, and Bai Shuyue was preparing to formally deduce it in one go.
Just then, the Boundless Wall violently trembled.
"This is bad, someone's attacking!" A massive head materialized from the Boundless Wall, its single eye revealing a hint of terror.
Bai Shuyue frowned slightly, "You're an immortal artifact, after all. You usually speak with such arrogance, yet you become so timid when trouble arises?"
Having spent the past century with the Boundless Wall, Bai Shuyue had gradually come to understand its secrets. Since it was willing to share its "snacks" accumulated over ten thousand years, the Boundless Wall was quite forthcoming with information.
However, it steadfastly refused to reveal anything about the truth of the Mountains and Seas, claiming it would affect Bai Shuyue's Dao heart and hinder her cultivation.
Accused by Bai Shuyue, the Boundless Wall felt no shame. "Immortal artifact... there are plenty of immortal artifacts in the Xuanhuang Realm. Don't the attackers outside now possess two?"
Bai Shuyue was taken aback, "What did you say?"
Looking outwards, she saw a handsome young man bathed in golden light outside the Boundless Wall, relentlessly bombarding it as if determined to utterly destroy it.
As he attacked, the youth raged, "Give me back my father! Give me back my father!"
Although only possessing Soul Transformation cultivation, the golden light emanating from the youth exuded an aura that inexplicably unsettled even Bai Shuyue.
While the Boundless Wall could hold for a while longer, the youth's strength seemed inexhaustible, showing no signs of fatigue. If this continued, the destruction of the barrier was inevitable.
"Who is his father?" Bai Shuyue asked, a touch of frustration in her voice.
She had always been meticulous in her capture of cultivators, never targeting those with deep connections. Even the Myriad Immortals Alliance remained unaware, yet this young man had discovered her and pursued her all the way here.
"I found it!" The Boundless Wall suddenly shouted.
Its tentacles writhed, dragging a skeletal remains before Bai Shuyue.
It had already been completely drained.
Bai Shuyue's eyes twitched, and she sighed, "Very well, I suppose I'll have to fight first. You should find an opportunity to escape."
The Boundless Wall said with a hint of distress, "I'm not like other immortal artifacts. Once I'm rooted, it's difficult to move. I can escape, but I'm afraid I'll fall into a slumber for quite some time."
"It's better than being smashed to pieces by this brat!"
"Alas, that's true."
The Boundless Wall drooped dejectedly, while Bai Shuyue charged forward.
Under the illumination of the Spiritual Mirror Nascent Soul, she discerned the true nature of the golden light radiating from the imposing youth before her.
It originated from his immortal bones!
Immortal bones were not a mere metaphor; they were actual bones of an immortal.
As if a true immortal had descended, all mortal beings trembled and lost their composure in its presence. Despite Bai Shuyue's superior cultivation, she had to exert considerable effort to steady her mind.
"The true immortal aura within this youth is not evenly distributed. It seems to emanate from a specific point."
"The closer it gets to his left hand, the more intense it becomes..."
An idea struck Bai Shuyue. She focused her divine sense on the youth's arm and tore outwards with both hands.
The immense tearing force, disregarding space and time, instantly descended upon the youth.
This move was a divine ability that Bai Shuyue had conceived and comprehended from observing the scene of the Xuanhuang Realm's destruction in her previous life, when the heavens outside the sky shattered, revealing the illusory forms of the Mountains and Seas.
As if subjected to the crushing pressure of mountains and the deluge of the ocean, the golden light on the youth flickered violently, like a candle flame in the wind.
"Heaven and Earth Reversed!"
But moments later, with a furious roar from the youth, mountains inverted, and oceans surged upwards.
The tearing force originally applied to the youth was reversed, striking back at Bai Shuyue.
Bai Shuyue's expression shifted, and she quickly withdrew her power to avoid being injured by her own attack.
In that brief instant, the youth had locked onto Bai Shuyue's position.
With a flash of golden light, he rapidly closed in.
"Give me back my father's life!"
The youth glared, and above his head, a black and white book page emanating an ancient aura slowly unfurled.
As this page locked onto her, myriad illusions instantly materialized before Bai Shuyue's eyes, all depicting her various deaths.
The Spiritual Mirror Nascent Soul vibrated intensely. Utilizing the Divine Pivot's properties, Bai Shuyue, in a flash, discerned the true nature of the immortal bones and the black and white book page.
Heavenly Bone Hand!
Tome of Ten Thousand Deaths!
As the Boundless Wall had said, they were born from immortal artifacts!
Moreover...
Bai Shuyue vaguely sensed that the Heavenly Bone Hand was more than just an immortal artifact. As the immortal bones grew within the youth, it seemed a true immortal was being nurtured.
"The Xuanhuang Realm truly harbors hidden dragons and crouching tigers!" Bai Shuyue marveled inwardly.
Despite having been reborn more than twenty times, Bai Shuyue had fought in actual combat only a handful of times, her experience severely lacking. With her only divine ability deciphered, she was already at a disadvantage.
Just as she was about to be subdued by the youth, a strange cry suddenly sounded, "Kid, your father is right here!"
An appendage, entwined with skeletal remains, swiftly flew out from the Boundless Wall, escaping towards the heavens.
The youth recognized the remains of his father, Ou Daozi, instantly. His eyes split with rage.
He no longer cared about Bai Shuyue and immediately pursued the appendage.
"Hurry and escape!" The Boundless Wall urgently called out to Bai Shuyue.
Bai Shuyue had already fled in haste, not waiting for the Boundless Wall's urging.
"No!"
From a distance, a heart-wrenching roar echoed from the youth. Bai Shuyue glanced back, only to see the appendage, carrying the skeletal remains, explode into dust, along with the bones.
Bai Shuyue's heart tightened, and she hastened her escape once more.
It wasn't until three full days later, when the sense of warning in her heart gradually faded, that she finally stopped.
"You impudent brat, bullying me too much!"
Having been reborn more than twenty times, Bai Shuyue had never been pushed into such a desperate situation.
Although she had mistakenly captured the opponent's father, a deep animosity had now been forged...
"I refuse to believe I can't defeat you! It just so happens that I haven't had the chance to wield an immortal artifact before."
"Why not? Am I not an immortal artifact?" The Boundless Wall protested indignantly.
Having detached itself from its rooted state, the Boundless Wall reverted to its original form: a single piece of jade tile with a clear crack.
This was Bai Shuyue's first time seeing the true appearance of the Boundless Wall. "Thank you for this time."
"However... as an immortal artifact, your appearance is far inferior to others," Bai Shuyue commented.
The Boundless Wall became furious, "What do you, a mere mortal, know? Have you ever heard the name of the Supreme Sage Monarch? I served in the Sage Monarch's Dao Palace in my prime! That broken bone is, at best, an ordinary true immortal. How can it be compared to me?"
"If you were a subordinate of the Sage Monarch, how did you end up in this state?" Though Bai Shuyue didn't know who the Supreme Sage Monarch was, anyone worthy of the title "Sage" must have held an extraordinary status, even in the Immortal Realm. Bai Shuyue attempted to use provocation to extract more useful information from the Boundless Wall.
The Boundless Wall took the bait. "Even after the Sage Monarch's passing, I was safely residing in the Dao Palace, undisturbed by any immortal. I lived a peaceful life. Who knew that one day, a audacious thief would appear in the Dao Palace!"
"Searching high and low, not only that, but they also… damaged the Dao Palace..."
Suddenly realizing what it was saying, the Boundless Wall abruptly stopped.
It nervously muttered to itself, "Great Master above, please forgive Wall-Wall for being unable to punish the thief..."
Then, it regained its arrogant demeanor, imperiously declaring, "You just need to know that my origins are terrifyingly grand!"
Bai Shuyue, seeing through its pretense, smiled and nodded in agreement.
"Since you hail from the Sage Monarch's lineage, do you know how to deal with that young man? After suffering such a loss, to simply accept it would be to tarnish the Supreme Sage Monarch's reputation, wouldn't it?" Bai Shuyue prompted.
"What you say does have some truth to it," the Boundless Wall mused for a moment, as if making a difficult decision.
A complex character materialized on the Boundless Wall's jade tile body.
"What is this..."
The character seemed to possess an infinite magical power. Just a glance captivated Bai Shuyue's mind.
The Primordial Golden Core glowed brilliantly.
And the dark, unknown region surrounding her Fundamental Self statue seemed to be swept by a fierce gale, revealing vast expanses of blank space, ready for the next carving.
Within the Spiritual Mirror Nascent Soul, Bai Shuyue envisioned a magnificent scene of the endless Immortal Realm, with countless immortals arrayed like grains of sand.
"This is the True Immortal Seal Script: [Restrain]. It was a unique immortal script of the former Immortal Court."
"The brute strength of that brat all comes from his immortal bones. This [Restrain] character should be able to suppress him!" The Boundless Wall declared with confidence.
"Then why didn't you use this [Restrain] character earlier?" Bai Shuyue inquired.
The Boundless Wall faltered.
"You may not know, but for the best effect, True Immortal Seal Scripts should be activated with immortal Spirit Qi. Where can I possibly find any remaining immortal Spirit Qi within me?" The Boundless Wall defended itself.
"I'm just a mortal, I don't have immortal Spirit Qi either!" Bai Shuyue retorted.
"Spiritual energy. Using Spirit Qi, though the effect will be diminished, should still yield about one percent of its power. That should be enough to suppress that brat." The Boundless Wall's gaze flickered.
"Could it be that using this True Immortal Seal Script has some side effects?" Bai Shuyue, not foolish, immediately detected the hidden meaning in the Boundless Wall's words.
Under Bai Shuyue's intense gaze, the Boundless Wall gave a dry chuckle and finally confessed, "Firstly, for a mortal body to use a True Immortal Seal Script is a grave disrespect, approaching the immortal with mortal means! Not only will it fail to unleash the true power of the True Immortal Seal Script, but it will also inevitably result in a backlash."
"Secondly... the Restrain Character Technique is not something that ordinary true immortals can use. Only those immortal officials appointed by the Immortal Court have the authority to wield its power. Furthermore, permission to use this type of True Immortal Seal Script is granted in layers, from Immortal Emperors and Immortal Ministers downwards."
"One can indeed force its use through self-comprehension. However, it will inevitably be sensed by the supervising immortal on the next level. Especially if there is an immortal official nearby. Although the Immortal Realm was destroyed and the Immortal Court shattered, this strict hierarchical system has not vanished, but rather persists within these True Immortal Seal Scripts..."
After the Boundless Wall's extensive explanation, Bai Shuyue finally understood, "You're afraid that if you used the [Restrain] character, other true immortals would sense it?"
The Boundless Wall grumbled, implicitly admitting it.
"With the Immortal Realm destroyed, are there still immortals in this world?" Bai Shuyue asked dazedly.
The Boundless Wall rolled its eye, "Look at how many immortal artifacts remain within the Xuanhuang Realm. How many immortals do you think are left?"
"Moreover, that golden-light brat outside, no matter how much he's raging now, once his immortal bones fully mature, he might not be himself anymore."
"Resurrection?" Bai Shuyue's brow furrowed.
The methods of true immortals were indeed beyond her imagination.
"If using this [Restrain] character carries such risks, why did you tell me about it?" After a moment, Bai Shuyue realized something and asked with a stern gaze, "Why did you tell me?"
"Why can't I make you understand? The risk isn't in you using it. The risk is in *me* using it. You, a mere mortal, even if a true immortal senses it, why would they bother with you? They'd barely spare you a second glance, considering it their loss. But for me, it's different, I..." The Boundless Wall frantically flitted about in the air, then suddenly froze as it noticed a faint smile appearing on the corner of Bai Shuyue's lips.
"How are you different? Tell me carefully." Bai Shuyue scrutinized the Boundless Wall.
The Boundless Wall chuckled sheepishly, "Heh heh, well, there's nothing fundamentally different. I am, after all, an immortal artifact. If other true immortals discover me, they might simply take me and refine me..."
Bai Shuyue interrupted, "It's not that simple. You might be useful to mortals, but to true immortals, your value is likely ordinary."
"However..."
Bai Shuyue narrowed her eyes, "You just mentioned that you originally served in the Sage Monarch's Dao Palace. Later, when the Sage Monarch's Dao Palace was attacked by a thief, not only were many items stolen, but the Dao Palace itself was damaged..."
"Could it be that you took advantage of the situation and stole something as well?"
"With your talent, I can confidently hand it over to you." Though he said that, the large eyeball of the Boundless Wall still seemed somewhat reluctant.
Slowly and grudgingly, it revealed the "Snatch" character technique.
Seeing the Boundless Wall's reaction, Bai Shuyue felt a strange unease. It had already revealed important treasures like the Dao Palace's plaque, so there shouldn't have been any need to hide a mere True Immortal Sigils.
It was only after Bai Shuyue fully comprehended the "Snatch" character technique that she understood why.
With strokes like soaring dragons and dancing snakes, a golden, divine True Immortal Sigils instantly formed in the air.
The Boundless Wall's gaze flickered, and it had already retreated far away before the "Snatch" character technique even appeared.
"Miss Bai! We agreed this 'Snatch' character technique was for dealing with that brat with the yellow hair. Why are you using it on me now?"
Bai Shuyue didn't answer, but instead rapidly waved her other hand.
The "Restrain" character technique appeared in the air in an instant.
Like twin suns shining together, illuminating the Ninth Heaven!
The Boundless Wall's eyes widened in panic, and it retreated even further.
"Both the 'Restrain' and 'Snatch' characters are special scripts unique to the Immortal Court. They were used by the Immortal Court in the past to suppress immortals. When used together, they are like immortal soldiers and generals deploying to search for enemies. Their power is several times greater than any single character used alone."
"By using these two talismans, I can not only suppress and imprison the Boundless Wall, but also seize its hidden treasures. The Dao Palace's Sacred Plaque..."
At that moment, Bai Shuyue did entertain such thoughts. However, the memories of her many lifetimes spent with the Boundless Wall flashed through her mind. In the end, she refrained from acting.
"Humans are not plants, how can they be without feelings? In this lifetime, it has, after all, shown me kindness. I cannot be a person who repays kindness with enmity. When the next life begins anew, with no ties between us and no debts owed, then it will be time to act."
With this thought, the "Restrain" and "Snatch" characters wafted gently in the air and dissipated.
Bai Shuyue looked at the Boundless Wall, which was still hiding far away, and chuckled, "I was just testing my newly formed divine ability, trying out the feel of it. Why are you so nervous? You and I are sworn to each other, like life and death comrades, how could I possibly hurt you!"
The Boundless Wall observed for a long time, and seeing that Bai Shuyue showed no signs of attacking, it finally felt at ease.
It said with pride, "I was just testing you just now. Since I dared to teach you these two character techniques, I naturally have a way to break them. If you had really attacked me, humph..."
Whether it was true or not, Bai Shuyue silently kept its words in mind.
"Now that my divine ability is complete, it's time to seek revenge on that brat. To make us so miserable, it's simply outrageous!" The Boundless Wall was very excited. In its opinion, being humiliated by a mortal was absolutely unacceptable. It had to reclaim its honor, otherwise, it would be a disgrace to the name "in front of the Sage Monarch"!
Bai Shuyue, however, was very calm. "There's no need to seek him out. We just need to wait here and catch him like a rabbit waiting by a stump."
Bai Shuyue's premonition was correct.
Ou Shangtian seemed to possess a special tracking method, able to easily lock onto her and the Boundless Wall's location even from a great distance.
After ambushing and waiting for less than three days, they sensed Ou Shangtian's aura faintly appearing at the horizon, rapidly approaching.
However, strangely, just as Ou Shangtian was about to enter the ambush area, he stopped without any warning.
After a slight pause, he turned and fled without hesitation.
"Such a sharp intuition!" Bai Shuyue was greatly astonished and did not hesitate further. The two True Immortal character techniques were unleashed together.
Billions of golden chains and a pale hand suddenly appeared in the sky,
enveloping Ou Shangtian.
"Reverse the Heavens!"
A furious roar echoed, attempting to shatter the sealing power of the True Immortal character techniques. However, seemingly affected by the 'Snatch' character technique, Ou Shangtian's immortal bones within him rapidly retracted their radiance. His divine peculiarity vanished instantly, as if it had never existed. Empowered by the immortal bones, Ou Shangtian became utterly ordinary!
As if falling from the clouds to the earth, stripped of the power of the two immortal artifacts, Ou Shangtian was, without a doubt, successfully suppressed and captured by Bai Shuyue.
"Good, good, good! I'll let you brat chase again!"
The Boundless Wall, which had remained invisible during the battle, now proudly revealed itself, waving dozens of tentacles and incessantly jiggling the thoroughly bound Ou Shangtian.
"Later, I will slowly dig out your immortal bones, inch by inch!" The single eye pressed close to Ou Shangtian's face, the Boundless Wall chuckled while hidden.
"Kill me or skin me, as you wish! Don't think I'll be afraid of you two vicious villains!" Ou Shangtian was fearless and cursed them out.
The Boundless Wall, enraged, thrust five tentacles into Ou Shangtian's body and stirred them around.
Ou Shangtian was in so much pain he almost spasmed, but he gritted his teeth and endured, not letting out a single sound, let alone pleading for mercy.
This stubborn defiance further enraged the Boundless Wall, which resorted to even more cruel methods, determined to make this mortal boy submit.
In contrast, Bai Shuyue looked at Ou Shangtian's performance with a slight frown, her heart filled with a strange sense of daze.
"Vicious villains... I never thought that one day people would call me by such a name."
"Truthfully, we were in the wrong first, accidentally killing his father. To avenge a close relative is only natural. Moreover, even after suffering such cruel torture, this young man's will remains firm."
"Yes, he's really like Fan'er, a good child."
"Why not give him a swift end?"
With this thought, Bai Shuyue interrupted the Boundless Wall's torment.
The tentacles instantly drained Ou Shangtian's lifespan and extracted the two immortal artifacts from his body. Bai Shuyue then prepared to leave.
She intended to find a safe place to meticulously study her spoils.
However, she hadn't flown far when a strong sense of unease surged within her.
Scanning her surroundings with a startled gaze, she found no source for her disquiet.
And judging by the Boundless Wall's reaction, it was clearly not her imagination.
"Run quickly! It seems we've been targeted by something!"
Bai Shuyue's face darkened as she fled with all her might, but the unease in her heart only intensified!
Finally, nine golden needles descended from the sky, arriving in an instant.
They sealed Bai Shuyue off from all directions!
After a moment of stunned silence, Bai Shuyue reacted, attempting to use the True Immortal character techniques to defend herself.
Unexpectedly...
A pale hand silently appeared above her head.
It gently pressed a long golden needle into her Baihui acupoint.
The golden needle pierced her skull.
Her entire being seemed to freeze, her face caught in an expression of shock and panic.
Not only was her entire body unable to move, but her thoughts were also plunged into a frozen, static state!
The Boundless Wall, unable to care about their comradeship, let out a strange cry and attempted to flee.
But it was interrupted by a soft hum.
Two fingers gently pinched a roof tile.
The Boundless Wall trembled and struggled, and its jade surface revealed the faint outline of the Dao Palace's Sacred Plaque.
"Oh?"
With a voice filled with both surprise and delight, the Heavenly Physician slowly revealed himself.
He quickly tapped Bai Shuyue's surface with his fingers.
The Dao Palace's Sacred Plaque, which had been attempting to break free, trembled slightly and then subsided. The Boundless Wall itself, like Bai Shuyue, seemed to fall into a slumber.
Looking at the man and the jade tablet temporarily sealed before him, the Heavenly Physician appeared deep in thought.
Not long ago, he had been searching near the Great Wall of Broken Realms below the The Great Barrier for suitable fragments of cultivation realms. He hadn't expected to suddenly sense the fluctuation of True Immortal Sigils within the Xuanhuang Realm.
Although it wasn't the same one that caused the tragic incident in the Heavenly Law Realm back then, the Heavenly Physician decided to investigate.
After all, the Xuanhuang Realm was of great importance, and any mishap was unacceptable.
And shortly thereafter, sensing the appearance of a second True Immortal Sigils, the Heavenly Physician's return accelerated.
"The Xuanhuang Realm has been peaceful for a long time, and now two True Immortal Sigilss have appeared in such a short period... What exactly has happened?"
The Heavenly Physician was filled with doubt.
And when he arrived near the Xuanhuang Realm, the two True Immortal Sigilss happened to erupt again.
The Heavenly Physician then followed the trail and pinpointed the source of the True Immortal Sigilss.
"This jade tablet seems to be an object from the Immortal Realm. And that plaque that appeared on the jade tablet just now..."
"The Palace of Primordial Beginning?"
The Heavenly Physician's expression turned grave.
Although the Boundless Wall's origin was extraordinary, the Heavenly Physician's gaze was fixed on Bai Shuyue.
"In the last moment before being sealed by me, this woman's thoughts were peculiar."
"On the surface, she was both shocked and fearful, but deep down, she..."
The Heavenly Physician frowned and flew around the immobilized Bai Shuyue a few times, observing her.
"Unconcerned?"
"Does she have any other backup?"
The more the Heavenly Physician observed, the more he felt his intuition was correct.
As a row of golden needles of various lengths was laid out, the Heavenly Physician prepared to conduct a more thorough examination of Bai Shuyue.
"If the Heavenly Demon were still here, this wouldn't be so troublesome. Unfortunately, I need his power to suppress the Dharma-Preachers."
With this thought, the Heavenly Physician, needle in hand, was about to pierce Bai Shuyue's forehead.
Just as the golden needle was about to pierce,
a crisp snapping sound echoed through heaven and earth.
The Heavenly Physician's movements instantly stopped.
His expression, like that of Bai Shuyue before him, was frozen.
In fact, it wasn't just the Heavenly Physician.
The entire Xuanhuang Realm, with that soft sound, fell into a state of suspension.
Li Fan appeared on the scene.
Looking at the scene before him, he shook his head slightly. "Fortunately, I was vigilant back then. Otherwise, it would have ended in such a deadlock."
"But it's alright. Auntie, I'll help you!"
Li Fan supported the Heavenly Physician's hand and forcefully inserted the unpierced golden needle into him.
In an instant, many scenarios were filled in.
Then...
"Return to Truth!"
The Saint Creation Plan, twenty-eighth life!
Bai Shuyue awoke from a nightmare, unable to recover for a long time.
This time, the shock to her heart was even more profound than her first "rebirth."
She instinctively touched the top of her head, as if the pain there hadn't dissipated yet.
After the golden needle pierced, her consciousness went into a frozen state, so she didn't know exactly how she died.
But she still retained some vague images in her mind,
treated like a mere object, golden needles filling her entire body.
And later being dismembered into countless fragments...
Even the vague memories left from her previous life made Bai Shuyue's face instantly turn pale.
"Guk..."
Instinctively bending over, she vomited uncontrollably.
Her body trembled violently, unable to stop.
Several months passed, and she still hadn't recovered.
After all, although Bai Shuyue had accumulated spiritual essence over twenty lifetimes, making her immensely talented,
her experiences did not match her current talent.
While normal deaths before were acceptable, after experiencing the Heavenly Physician and undergoing all sorts of inhumane torture in her last life,
Bai Shuyue was terrified.
She no longer wanted to, dared not, nor wished to venture into the Xuanhuang Realm again.
"The Xuanhuang Realm is simply too dangerous and terrifying."
"It would be nice to just live as a mortal emperor in Great Xuan."
Once this thought arose, it spread like wildfire, impossible to extinguish.
Bai Shuyue didn't even dare to speculate on the true identity of the figure who appeared at the end of her last life.
She chose to bury her head in the sand and escape.
Li Fan's actions were naturally within Bai Shuyue's expectations.
After all, the images in Bai Shuyue's mind were planted by him personally.
"This is her inner demon."
"Once she overcomes this hurdle, the path ahead will be boundless, and nothing will be able to hinder her. From now on, no matter what dangers she faces, she will not despair but will bravely move forward."
"And if she cannot overcome it..."
"Heh heh, with my help, how could she possibly fail?"
To resolve Bai Shuyue's inner demon, Li Fan made his dramatic entrance.
Bai Shuyue was terrified. During the months she was bedridden, it was Li Fan, acting uncharacteristically, who painstakingly cared for her without complaint.
Bai Shuyue's complexion gradually improved.
But Li Fan, due to overexertion, grew thinner day by day.
However, he still forced a smile, not wanting Bai Shuyue to worry.
Until...
"Auntie, lunch is ready. I learned a new dish, bean rice and osmund stew. Come and try it quickly." Li Fan entered Bai Shuyue's room, carrying a wooden tray filled with dishes.
Bai Shuyue looked at him, her heart aching, and was about to speak.
But she saw Li Fan, his steps unsteady, fall to the ground.
The ceramic bowl shattered, the sound like a thunderclap exploding in Bai Shuyue's heart.
"Fan'er!"
The roles reversed. Now, it was Li Fan who was bedridden.
"This is due to overwork, a premature outbreak of the Heavenly Decay illness." Bai Shuyue, having mastered medicine, immediately saw the cause of Li Fan's illness.
A flicker of guilt crossed her mind: "If I hadn't been so panicked and unwilling to concern myself with the world around me, Fan'er wouldn't have ended up in this state this lifetime. He's only twenty years old!"
Bai Shuyue spent Li Fan's remaining time with him. Six months later, Bai Shuyue stood before Li Fan's grave, her face filled with grief.
She hadn't experienced the sorrow of a parent outliving their child for a long time.
And after this ordeal, Bai Shuyue finally understood that even after more than twenty cycles of reincarnation, the seemingly weakened familial affection remained as strong as ever!
Li Fan was still like her own flesh and blood nephew.
She was still the only relative he could rely on in this world!
"Fan'er, it's alright."
"Auntie will come to you soon."
Before Li Fan's grave, Bai Shuyue took her own life.
Initiating the twenty-ninth life of the Saint Creation Plan.
The fear of being sealed by an unknown powerful being was slightly alleviated with the second rebirth.
Upon seeing Li Fan, alive and well once more, Bai Shuyue felt a long-lost joy surge within her.
With her spirits lifted, Bai Shuyue embarked on the path of cultivation once again.
As it turned out, even with her previous life’s despondency, living only a few confused months. Her cultivation talent still increased with each rebirth.
A dangerous thought arose in Bai Shuyue’s mind: “If that’s the case, why don’t I commit suicide immediately after each resurrection? To quickly start the next life. This way, I can first increase my cultivation talent to an unimaginable level. Then, cultivation will naturally become as easy as eating and drinking. Deducing new methods will also be a matter of moments…”
Truth be told, Bai Shuyue was quite tempted.
In her past twenty-plus reincarnations, she had profoundly understood the benefits of exceptional cultivation talent.
The initial difficulty of cultivation was incomparable to that of the later twenty lifetimes.
Even now, Bai Shuyue found it hard to imagine what cultivation would be like once her talent increased tenfold, a hundredfold.
However, after careful consideration, Bai Shuyue ultimately abandoned this seemingly irresistible idea.
The reason was simple: Bai Shuyue’s rebirth was uncontrollable.
After each death and loss of consciousness, Bai Shuyue could not be certain if she would be able to revive in the next life.
Nor could she be certain how long this cycle of rebirth would continue.
“If, in reality, my rebirth has a limited number of uses, say fifty or a hundred times, and I use them all to stack talent. Without struggling for the future of myself and Fan’er, I might truly regret it then.”
“It’s better to take it step by step, solidifying my foundation. After all, although the path ahead is arduous, it has not reached a point where it is completely unnavigable.”
Bai Shuyue took a deep breath, calming the restlessness in her heart.
“If, in the future, I truly encounter a situation where there is no hope of breaking through, perhaps then I can adopt this method.”
Bai Shuyue did not rush to the Xuanhuang Realm. Instead, she habitually went to the peak of Dissolution Mountain to review the events of her second-to-last life.
“How was that mysterious expert, who used golden needles, attracted?”
“Could it be an elder of Ou Shangtian’s, coming for his junior?”
Bai Shuyue quickly dismissed this speculation.
“If that were the case, he would have appeared earlier, after I killed Ou Daozi.”
“It seems he was attracted by the fluctuations of the True Immortal Script I used.”
“Although the True Immortal Script is powerful, its movement is too conspicuous…”
Bai Shuyue privately estimated the time between her first use of the True Immortal Script and the appearance of the golden-needled expert.
“After using it, I need to relocate to a safe position as soon as possible. And I cannot use it again for a long time.”
“Until I find a way to counter that golden-needled expert.”
Bai Shuyue established a principle for her future actions.
“I wonder how the strength of this mysterious expert compares to the Doctrine Transmitter Heavenly Venerate of the Hidden Divine. Or perhaps, he is the Doctrine Transmitter Heavenly Venerate?”
“At the end of the second-to-last life, did the Boundless Wall escape at the end, or not?”
With this question in mind, Bai Shuyue went to visit it again.
Relying on the familiarity with the Boundless Wall accumulated over several lifetimes, coupled with her outstanding talent, Bai Shuyue regained its trust without much effort.
“What is your current strength? Before the Sage Lord, you should easily be able to block a True Immortal.” Bai Shuyue asked.
“Hahaha, of course!” The Boundless Wall boasted.
Seeing its arrogant demeanor, Bai Shuyue scrutinized it with a look of suspicion.
“What is with that look?” the Boundless Wall roared. “When I make a move, how could I possibly not even be able to stop an ordinary True Immortal?”
Bai Shuyue continued to stare, confronting it.
Slowly, the Boundless Wall’s imposing aura began to weaken. It admitted sheepishly, “Alright, when I was at my peak, I could indeed suppress True Immortals with ease. But now…”
“As you know, the Immortal Realm was shattered. To avoid disaster, I was forced to shed my Immortal Realm foundation. Moreover…”
The Boundless Wall lowered its voice, “I am suppressing the Sage Tablet of the Dao Palace within me. Even though the inscriptions on the Sage Tablet have long since departed, some spiritual essence remains. It naturally will not willingly be suppressed by me forever. Thus, I must divert a significant portion of my strength to contend with it.”
“With your immense talent, you should cultivate diligently. Do not provoke any major figures. Otherwise, I may not be able to save you.”
After the Boundless Wall said this, Bai Shuyue understood its predicament in the second-to-last life.
“Don’t worry, I won’t do anything that courts death.”
“Besides, the one I need to deal with now is still just a child.” Bai Shuyue looked into the distance.
In Guanglan Prefecture, Bao Yuan Mountain.
Bai Shuyue easily found Ou Daozi and Ou Shangtian.
Ou Shangtian, at this moment, was far from the heroic figure Bai Shuyue had seen in the previous life. Due to his immortal bones not being fully integrated with his body, he often suffered from agonizing pain and was extremely weak.
Bai Shuyue, acting as a senior, offered to treat Ou Shangtian’s illness.
Although Ou Daozi was skeptical, he had no choice but to accept, facing Bai Shuyue, whose strength far surpassed his own.
They brought Ou Shangtian back into the Boundless Wall, and together, they finally extracted the immortal bone from his body.
Exchanging the now healthy Ou Shangtian, Ou Daozi expressed his immense gratitude.
Meanwhile, the Boundless Wall was in an uproar.
“Good heavens, what a treasure!”
“It’s actually an immortal bone, and its rank from when the True Immortal was alive is not low!”
“Fortunately, it’s only a small piece of bone. Otherwise, I truly wouldn’t be able to suppress it!”
Having not seen an old friend from the Immortal Realm for a long time, the Boundless Wall was exceptionally excited.
It worked diligently, helping Bai Shuyue deal with this extremely dangerous immortal bone.
“Remember, do not let your consciousness come into contact with the bone at all. Although the True Immortal has fallen, their essence lingers. There must be a remnant of the True Immortal’s will within the bone fragments. It's possible it could possess a new body…”
Bai Shuyue already knew the power of the immortal bone and naturally did not act rashly, leaving all processing to the Boundless Wall.
After being digested and absorbed by the Boundless Wall, the immortal bone eventually transformed into two silver glowing characters.
“Turn” and “Pre.”
“Another True Immortal Script,” Bai Shuyue sighed, not as excited as the Boundless Wall.
“Though powerful, it’s unusable.” A sense of frustration rose within her.
“Why the long face?” The Boundless Wall noticed Bai Shuyue’s peculiar mood and asked.
After Bai Shuyue’s explanation, the Boundless Wall somewhat disdainfully remarked, “I didn’t expect you to be even more cautious than I imagined. However, caution prevents mistakes.”
“You are right, True Immortal Scripts are indeed a bit too ostentatious. But…”
After a moment of contemplation, countless tentacles stretched out from the void, rewriting the two True Immortal Scripts.
“If they transform like me, from immortal to mortal, they won’t be so eye-catching!” The Boundless Wall said proudly, looking at its creation.
Bai Shuyue examined the transformed “Turn” and “Pre” characters after the Boundless Wall’s modifications. Although their power had significantly decreased, their core characteristics remained unchanged.
They still retained the properties of altering the trajectory of power and predicting one’s own death.
“If you are still worried, you can fuse the Dao into the object and turn these two True Immortal Scripts into Dharma Artifacts! In their normal state, their power will remain below the True Immortal level. But in a dire situation, you can unseal them and reveal their true form,” the Boundless Wall rambled on.
“As expected of an artifact before the Sage Lord, you indeed have some tricks up your sleeve,” Bai Shuyue praised sincerely.
Transforming into mortals and fusing Dao into objects. Through these two methods, Bai Shuyue finally found a way to avoid attracting the attention of the mysterious golden-needled expert while greatly increasing her combat power.
Restrain, Snatch, Turn, Pre.
Understanding these four True Immortal Scripts greatly broadened Bai Shuyue’s horizons.
After this, Bai Shuyue settled down within the Boundless Wall, focusing on digesting her accumulated knowledge and striving to deduce the next new method.
However, she did not expect that after only fifty years, the Boundless Wall began to grow impatient.
“How can it be that after so long, your cultivation is still stagnant?”
“At this rate, when will you reach the Transcendent realm?”
Bai Shuyue also felt a sense of helplessness, “The immortal path is severed, and the method of transmitting Dao is blocked. I can only open a new path. Creating something from nothing, how can it be so simple?”
After a moment of silence, the Boundless Wall grumbled, “In any case, this pace is definitely not enough. It’s too slow, far too slow. Your ‘new new method’ has a terrifyingly high conception. Even in the Immortal Realm back then, it would be considered extremely outstanding, worthy of the Sage Lord’s attention. While your talent is high, it’s still not enough to deduce it to completion.”
“Let me think…”
After a long while, the Boundless Wall’s single eye swiveled, an idea forming. “The reason you are forced to innovate and create new methods is because the cultivation path in this realm is suppressed by the transmission of Dao. As long as there is transmission of Dao, you will not see the path forward. Correct?”
Bai Shuyue nodded.
“If that’s the case, then let’s leave this forsaken place!” The Boundless Wall excitedly waved its tentacles.
“As long as we leave here, there will be no cultivation restrictions. Then, I’ll lend you a hand, and perhaps in less than a hundred years, you’ll touch the Mountains and Seas and ascend to the Immortal Realm!”
“Leave… the Xuanhuang Realm?” Hearing the Boundless Wall’s suggestion, Bai Shuyue was slightly stunned.
She had never considered this before. “Didn’t they say that the starry sky was shattered, and besides the Xuanhuang Realm, all other worlds were destroyed and desolate?”
The Boundless Wall scoffed, “How is that possible? If the lower realms were truly that desolate, a single cultivation world couldn’t sustain them. When I came, I saw clearly. This place is vast, and there must be other places with life…”
Tempted by the Boundless Wall’s persuasion, Bai Shuyue was indeed swayed.
After all, the situation in the Xuanhuang Realm was truly perilous. If she could break free from its confines and find a pure land…
“But if it were that easy to leave the Xuanhuang Realm, many cultivators would have fled long ago. I’ve never heard of such a thing before.”
The Boundless Wall coldly sneered, “How can mortal cultivators be compared to an artifact before the Sage Lord? Rest assured, I will protect you and ensure your safe departure from this place!”
Seeing the Boundless Wall’s confident assertion, Bai Shuyue decided to trust it for the time being.
Her only concern was whether her rebirth cycle would still be effective after leaving the Xuanhuang Realm.
“Worrying is useless. Why not go out and see? If it’s truly not feasible, we can always return.” After a fierce internal struggle, Bai Shuyue finally agreed to the Boundless Wall’s proposal.
After another ten years of preparation, having absorbed enough cultivator lifespan.
The Boundless Wall’s radiance surged, transforming into a streak of green light that shot into the void.
Soaring to the Ninth Heaven, its speed was astonishingly fast.
In an instant, it reached the edge of the Xuanhuang Realm.
“How do you find it? I can’t guarantee anything else, but my ability to escape is top-notch.”
As it spoke, the Boundless Wall, with Bai Shuyue inside, completely departed the Xuanhuang Realm.
Looking at the shrinking point of light in the distance, Bai Shuyue’s heart was filled with complex emotions.
There was both reluctance and a sense of liberation.
Just then…
“Hmm? Something’s not right!” The Boundless Wall suddenly exclaimed.
Its green light surged again, and its speed increased further.
Bai Shuyue keenly sensed that the Boundless Wall’s flight trajectory had deviated significantly for some unknown reason!
“Is there a True Immortal comprehending the Dao nearby?”
The Boundless Wall’s surprised voice echoed, yet it did not seem overly panicked.
Revealing its true form, characters quietly appeared on the jade tablet.
The surrounding invisible suction force seemed to vanish as if conjured from thin air.
Returning to its normal course, the Boundless Wall did not slow down.
Instead, it accelerated again.
As if fleeing for its life.
Until two withered bony fingers materialized out of thin air.
They silently clamped onto the jade tablet.
No matter how hard the Boundless Wall struggled, it remained immobile.
“Audacious! I am an artifact before the Sage Lord, how dare you be so rude!”
Even when captured, the Boundless Wall’s arrogance did not diminish, and it continued to berate the Starving Immortal.
And Bai Shuyue within the Boundless Wall was not as optimistic.
“I knew I shouldn’t have believed its nonsense!”
After a wave of dizziness, Bai Shuyue found herself standing on a ruin.
In front of her sat a towering skeleton, bound by countless chains.
And the one who had clamped onto the Boundless Wall was none other than this being!
“An artifact before the Sage Lord…”
“It’s merely a piece of tile.” The Starving Immortal chuckled.
“Tile? What about a tile? Am I not an artifact before the Sage Lord? How dare you speak to me like that! In the past, how many Immortal Emperors respectfully…” As if its sore spot had been touched, the Boundless Wall, ignoring the power disparity, frantically shouted at the Starving Immortal.
“Noisy!” The Starving Immortal lightly tapped the Boundless Wall.
The Boundless Wall cried out in pain, its voice immediately reduced. However, it continued to curse in a low voice.
“Eh? You’re still carrying the Sage Tablet of the Dao Palace? No wonder…” After a brief inspection, the Starving Immortal appeared somewhat delighted.
As for Bai Shuyue, who was within the Boundless Wall, she was merely a mortal and was naturally ignored.
“That’s mine! How dare you!”
“I know your origin, you are merely a servant of ‘Inactive’! How dare you be disrespectful to me?”
Upon hearing this, the Starving Immortal’s movements froze.
To Starving Immortals, the deterrent of the title "Sage Lord" paled in comparison to "Inactive." After all, she had never personally met a Sage Lord. To her, the Three Sages of the Immortal Realm were merely ephemeral legends.
But [Inactive]...
He was truly her master! Even now, she stood only a step away from the realm of a Nameless True Immortal. Deep down, she still viewed Nameless as her true master.
Therefore, when Boundless Wall declared her an "immortal servant," Starving Immortals didn't get angry. Instead, she became intrigued.
“You can discern my origin?” Starving Immortals’ fingers, which had been pressed against Boundless Wall, loosened slightly.
Boundless Wall gasped for breath for a moment before regaining its arrogant demeanor. “Nonsense. The Sage Lords’ Dao Palaces connect the mountains and seas and reflect the Immortal Realm. Nothing, big or small, within the Immortal Realm can escape the Sage Lords' discerning eyes. Since I am from the Sage Lord’s front, how could I lack such knowledge?”
“When the Southern Immortal Heavenly Pillar suddenly collapsed, it was thanks to the timely intervention of True Immortal [Inactive] that a greater catastrophe was averted. It can be said that he alone extended the lifespan of the Immortal Realm for several epochs. How could I not know of such merit?”
“For this immense contribution, Immortal Inactive was enfeoffed nine great immortal domains. All creations and living beings within these domains were converted into his immortal servants. Although Immortal Inactive favored tranquility and freedom and did not restrain them, the limitations still exist! These immortal servants, until their cultivation surpasses their master, cannot shed their servant status. You, too, are currently in this situation.”
…
Boundless Wall spoke at length, ostensibly to prove its words were not false.
Starving Immortals did not refute it.
However, she did not release her grip on Boundless Wall.
“【Inactive】…”
“Even when he was present, he wouldn't meddle much in the actions of us immortal servants.”
“Let alone now, he has probably long since transcended and attained carefree freedom.”
“The more you know, the greater your value. Why would I be intimidated by your few words?” A suction force emanated from Starving Immortals’ hand.
Boundless Wall felt as if a colossal vortex had appeared outside. Not only its fragile jade surface, but also the treasures hidden within its core, including the Sage Palace's Dao plaque, all seemed poised to be sucked away by this vortex.
“This is truly a disaster!” Boundless Wall lamented inwardly.
However, Starving Immortals' strength approached the realm of a Nameless True Immortal; it was not something a mere immortal artifact could resist.
“Damn it, if only I had more time! Once I’ve fully digested everything within me, I might not be unable to shed my immortal artifact form and achieve true namelessness. This Inactive immortal servant would then be no match for me…”
In this moment of crisis, Boundless Wall’s thoughts raced, searching for a way to escape.
“Wait! You just said that your master has long since transcended and attained carefree freedom…”
“That is utterly mistaken!”
Suddenly, as if struck by an idea, Boundless Wall shouted repeatedly.
“Oh?” Starving Immortals was indeed interested in news about her master. Even if the immortal artifact before her spoke recklessly and contained falsehoods, Starving Immortals still paused her devouring process.
“Speak!”
“You must promise to spare my life! Oh, and also the mortal within me!”
Before Starving Immortals could reply, Boundless Wall added, “Don’t think you can get information by swallowing me. Let me tell you, besides the Sage Palace’s Dao plaque, there are quite a few other treasures within me.”
“If you push me too hard, and I detonate them…”
As if to bolster the credibility of its words, the surface of the Boundless Jade Wall became even clearer.
Beneath the Sage Palace’s Dao plaque, numerous items were arranged, emitting a soft glow. They were piled up like a mountain, with the Sage plaque resting at the very top.
Starving Immortals could clearly see that the vast majority of these items retained a trace of supreme aura.
She couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. “Did you… coincidentally plunder the Sage Lord’s Dao Palace during the Immortal Realm’s destruction?”
Boundless Wall cursed vehemently, “You’re the one who plundered! This is salvage protection, do you understand? At the time, the Dao Palace was attacked by thieves, and most of its restrictions were destroyed. Many of the sentient beings within the palace fled. Those that remained, even if left there, wouldn't fare any better. I took them with me so that if the Sage Lord reappears one day, it would be convenient to rebuild the Dao Palace.”
Boundless Wall spoke with righteous indignation, while Starving Immortals merely smiled silently.
Bai Shuyue, hidden within Boundless Wall, who had been frozen in fear and dared not move since Starving Immortals appeared, finally couldn’t help but roll her eyes upon hearing Boundless Wall’s words.
It called itself a "great master" in front of her, and a "little master" in front of a True Immortal.
It turned out that the reason Boundless Wall couldn't display its full strength was because it had "eaten too much" and was stuffed.
“There are hardly a few truthful words in what it says.”
If it weren't for the life-or-death situation, and if Boundless Wall hadn't thought of her, Bai Shuyue would have already plotted to torture it in various ways in every subsequent reincarnation.
The emotional fluctuations of a mortal naturally escaped Starving Immortals’ notice.
However, after careful consideration, she agreed to Boundless Wall’s request.
This was because Boundless Wall and the so-called "treasures" within it were, in fact, dispensable to Starving Immortals.
She was only one step away from attesting to the Dao and becoming Nameless. Having forged her own path, external possessions were no longer of great importance.
In comparison, she was more interested in the information about Immortal Lord [Inactive].
With this in mind, Starving Immortals spoke, “I will choose three treasures from what you hold within. Then, tell me what you know about my master. If they are true…”
“I will let you go.”
“Three pieces?!” Boundless Wall’s voice suddenly rose a few octaves.
“En?”
Boundless Wall’s voice softened again.
“Three pieces it is. Don’t go back on your word!”
Starving Immortals merely snorted coldly, her arrogant expression saying it all.
Seeing this, Boundless Wall finally felt at ease.
While feeling a pang of heartache as it scanned the treasures within itself, it organized its thoughts.
After a moment, it spoke, “Given True Immortal Inactive’s strength and talent, it would not be difficult for him to transcend and depart.”
“However, his repeated interventions to save the Immortal Realm from Dao Erasure are at odds with his Dao, [Inactive]. Each intervention was equivalent to a severe blow to his own Dao. Therefore…”
“It is highly probable that he did not leave.”
Upon hearing this, Starving Immortals’ expression changed drastically. Recalling the scattered information about her master she had collected over the years, Starving Immortals began to believe these words.
The logic was not complicated, but because [Inactive] was her master, who had always presented an invincible image to her, Starving Immortals had not considered this possibility.
“With my master's strength, he would not have perished in the catastrophe of the Immortal Realm’s destruction. In that case, perhaps my master is also in the Lower Realm?” At this thought, Starving Immortals’ heart stirred.
Just as one longs to inform their parents immediately upon achieving great success, Starving Immortals’ desire to attain enlightenment and break through her bottleneck was stronger than ever before.
“If Master sees me attain the Nameless realm, he will surely be surprised, right?”
Starving Immortals couldn't help but think so.
In comparison, the Dao Palace treasures within Boundless Wall seemed mundane and uninteresting.
“Be gone. Do not disturb my secluded cultivation.”
With a toss of Boundless Wall into the distance, Starving Immortals said coldly.
The restraining force vanished. Boundless Wall did not reply, fearing the other party might renege and demand more treasures. It accelerated to its maximum speed, fleeing in a sorry state.
Bai Shuyue, having survived the ordeal, finally let out a sigh of relief.
Although due to Boundless Wall's protection, Starving Immortals’ oppressive aura was less than that of the mysterious Golden Needle expert, being subjected to such helplessness so soon after leaving the Xuanhuang Realm made Bai Shuyue extremely uneasy.
She said weakly, “It’s still too dangerous outside. I think we should return to the Xuanhuang Realm. At least, if we're careful…”
Before she could finish speaking, Boundless Wall’s response made Bai Shuyue’s heart stop.
“Xuanhuang Realm? Where is there still an Xuanhuang Realm? That woman just destroyed it casually when she was awakened!”
Saying this, Boundless Wall showed Bai Shuyue the direction they came from.
The luminous cluster that had represented the Xuanhuang Realm had vanished.
The starry sky was pitch black and silent, with only a few tiny points of light remaining.
“Fan’er…” Bai Shuyue was completely stunned.
She could never have imagined that the destruction of the vast Xuanhuang Realm was merely a casual act for a True Immortal.
“Don’t think about going back for revenge now. Once we reach a safe place, we’ll focus on cultivating. Look, hasn’t the cultivation restriction disappeared? With your talent, you might even reach Transcendence before that woman. Then, you can help us get revenge!” Boundless Wall said gruffly.
Bai Shuyue, however, seemed not to hear. She was still reeling from the shock of the Xuanhuang Realm's destruction.
In her past reincarnations, at most, it was her own death. The annihilation of an entire world was a first for her.
After more than half a day, Bai Shuyue finally recovered.
Temporarily suppressing the thought of ending her life and starting anew, Bai Shuyue forced herself to calm down and began to comprehend the Great Dao within the pitch-black starry sky.
A moment later…
“Such a clear Great Dao!” Bai Shuyue was startled.
If comprehending the laws of the Great Dao in the Xuanhuang Realm was like looking through layers of mist, hazy and indistinct, then comprehending it in this starry sea was like directly observing an incredibly clear painting.
It was as if heaven and earth had suddenly become crystal clear.
“The difference is this vast?”
With a mixture of surprise and delight, Bai Shuyue immersed herself in an unprecedented state of enlightenment.
Then, she keenly sensed a subtle will emanating from this starry sky!
“This is…”
“The consciousness of the Star Sea?”
Bai Shuyue’s heart trembled violently.
This was a novel experience she had never encountered before. She had never imagined that the vast star sea beyond the Xuanhuang Realm could actually possess its own consciousness.
Thus, naturally, Bai Shuyue wished to engage in a deeper connection with it.
“Go there!”
Bai Shuyue pointed to a spot in the darkness.
“What for…” Boundless Wall grumbled, displeased.
However, at Bai Shuyue's repeated requests, it changed course.
As they slowly approached the center of the star sea, in Bai Shuyue's eyes, the previously dark star sea began to brighten.
She also keenly perceived a burgeoning vitality within this silent, dead star sea!
However, this wisp of vitality was still extremely weak. So weak that any further disturbance could extinguish it in its cradle.
This fragile, infant-like life reminded Bai Shuyue of Li Fan’s appearance when he was first born.
A natural sense of pity and affection arose within her.
*Buzz…*
It was precisely this peculiar emotion that allowed Bai Shuyue to make her first true contact with the original intent of the Abyssal Star Sea.
The boundless starry sky, once brimming with vitality, was now filled with an overall peaceful atmosphere.
However, occasional dark clouds would flash by. These were inexplicable disturbances originating from the Upper Realm.
Meteorites from the Immortal Realm were becoming increasingly frequent.
But this had no significant impact on the survival of the star sea itself.
Until that day.
The Immortal Path collapsed, the Star Sea was shattered, and calamity spread.
A figure, whose face and details were indiscernible, grew fainter and fainter.
It disappeared completely.
Only his light laughter echoed in this star sea, where disaster was about to unfold.
“What concern is it of mine…”
“What concern is it of mine…”
“Hahahaha…”
…
It was as if she had witnessed Li Fan's infancy being snuffed out in the cradle. A surge of anger welled up in Bai Shuyue’s heart.
It made her disregard the gulf between Immortal Arts.
She shouted towards the direction where the figure had disappeared, “Who are you!”
“Who are you?”
Bai Shuyue's voice reverberated within the Star Sea’s consciousness, echoing endlessly.
Like ripples expanding outwards.
The figure, which had completely vanished, actually reappeared, stimulated by the continuous ripples!
No longer laughing wildly, it simply looked at Bai Shuyue.
Its expression was somewhat inexplicable.
“Interesting.”
A faint voice sounded, like thunder in Bai Shuyue’s ears.
“This… this is not within the Star Sea’s memory, but it’s speaking to me?”
“How is this possible?”
A seemingly illusory existence from memory had materialized into reality.
This was a divine ability beyond Bai Shuyue's comprehension.
As if doused with a basin of cold water, her anger instantly extinguished.
Then, boundless fear surged forth.
She wanted to escape from the Star Sea's memory.
However, she found herself unable to move.
It was like the calamity of the Star Sea’s descent echoing from the past, as the figure appeared beside Bai Shuyue.
It attempted to gently caress her.
At this very moment…
“Aiya, aiya, aiya! It’s you, you scoundrel!”
Boundless Wall's voice, filled with extreme anger, suddenly echoed.
A plaque, like a flying sword, tore through space-time and descended, hurtling towards the figure's face.
Upon seeing the Sage Palace Dao plaque, the figure stirred slightly.
It cautiously scanned its surroundings.
Discovering the newcomer was merely a tile, it relaxed.
Before it could speak, several more streams of light, like a meteor shower, streaked towards it.
Their targets were all aimed at itself.
As they flew, they ignited into flames.
Amidst a series of explosions, the illusory space shattered into countless fragments, like glass dropped on the ground.
“A pity.”
“Dodged too far.”
As its form disappeared, it sighed lightly.
"Ah, alas, this time it's a real heavy loss..." The wails of the Boundless Wall echoed in Bai Shuyue’s ears.
Like the resounding peal of bronze bells, they slowly drew Bai Shuyue’s lost divine soul back.
As if waking from a great dream, she regained her senses from the terrifying experience she had just undergone.
Just as she was about to speak, she suddenly found that she couldn't utter a sound!
"Wuwuwu..." Terrified, Bai Shuyue instinctively reached up to touch her face, wanting to see what had happened.
It was better not to touch, but upon doing so, her heart was even more astonished.
She quickly used the Water Mirror Technique to check, and this time she finally confirmed it.
Her facial features and all her senses had completely vanished!
Even the entire curve and shape of her face were subtly similar to the figure she had encountered in the memory of the Star Sea's Origin True Intent!
"It's just losing your face, what's there to be afraid of? At least you kept your life." The comforting voice of the Boundless Wall arrived in time, calming Bai Shuyue’s heart.
"It's truly been a difficult time. I just escaped from that hateful woman, and then I encountered this great villain! I almost lost my underpants! I say, after you achieve transcendence in the future, you must repay me severely!"
"To save you, I've truly suffered a great injury. I'm not lying this time. You must be careful from now on..." The Boundless Wall chattered on, sighing.
Knowing the Boundless Wall's greedy nature, Bai Shuyue was moved by its willingness to give up the treasures in its belly to save her.
"Don't worry, if I ever achieve transcendence, I will definitely not forget your assistance." Bai Shuyue said very solemnly.
The Boundless Wall was overjoyed upon hearing this.
It did not know that Bai Shuyue's promise held more weight than it imagined, for Bai Shuyue's intention was not for this current life, but for every life since their meeting and in the future.
In adversity, their relationship deepened.
The Boundless Wall, carrying Bai Shuyue, rapidly fled, soon arriving at the edge of the Abyssal Star Sea.
Seeing the continuous ruins of worlds in the distance, Bai Shuyue was deeply shaken.
"As long as we cross the barrier ahead, we should be able to escape from here."
"However..."
"This barrier seems to have a dual guidance, pointing to different locations." The Boundless Wall observed for a moment, then fell into thought.
"Forget it, it's best not to attract unnecessary trouble. The most important thing now is to find a safe place to cultivate." Soon, the Boundless Wall reached a conclusion.
Without consulting Bai Shuyue, it charged towards the The Great Barrier.
A flash of green light, and they leaped across.
In the next instant, Bai Shuyue had left the Abyssal Star Sea.
"The Great Dao... seems to be a bit richer." Bai Shuyue keenly sensed.
However, due to the recent lesson, she was extremely cautious and did not directly try to comprehend the Dao. Instead, she observed carefully.
The Boundless Wall sped towards the vibrant lands in the distance.
"I knew it, there must be other places outside the Xuanhuang Realm suitable for cultivation!"
As the Star Pivot Sea drew nearer, the Boundless Wall became somewhat overjoyed.
"Cultivate well and achieve transcendence as soon as possible."
It cautioned Bai Shuyue.
Suddenly, for some unknown reason, the Boundless Wall's speed slowed down.
Countless fine lines, interwoven horizontally and vertically, appeared around them, like a giant net, blocking the Boundless Wall.
Before the Boundless Wall and Bai Shuyue could react, they plunged headfirst into the The Dao Lattice.
"An Immortal Artifact?" Accompanied by a cold snort, a transparent giant hand appeared in the void, instantly grabbing the Boundless Wall.
Having exhausted its foundation escaping from the Starving Immortals and He Gan Immortals, it could no longer struggle and was slowly suppressed by the The Dao Lattice.
"Damn it! How could this happen!" Before its consciousness vanished, the Boundless Wall wailed in anger.
Inside the Boundless Wall, looking at the layers of protective barriers about to shatter around her, Bai Shuyue sighed.
"It's too dangerous outside, I'd better stay in the Xuanhuang Realm honestly."
Her eyes flickered, and she had made up her mind.
Bai Shuyue committed suicide for the second time!
However, this reincarnation did not end here.
A flash of green light appeared, and the Boundless Wall, which had just been suppressed by the The Dao Lattice, instantly escaped.
It vanished without a trace in an instant.
The transparent giant hand looked around in surprise for a long time, but ultimately found no trace of the Boundless Wall.
In the center of the Abyssal Star Sea, where the Star Sea's Origin True Intent was most active.
The Boundless Wall suddenly reappeared.
"Hahaha, I knew my fate was not to die!"
The Boundless Wall, having regained its freedom, was ecstatic and very proud.
When it looked around, it was suddenly alarmed: "Bad! How did I get back here?"
Then, it let out an explosion: "Ah, why did you die like this, little girl! It's over, it's all over..."
Just as the Boundless Wall couldn't accept it and wailed incessantly, Li Fan quietly appeared beside his aunt's corpse.
Looking at the face that had been stripped of its features, he gently placed his hands on it.
"Presumptuous! Who are you, to dare to desecrate..." The Boundless Wall's words were cut short as if its mouth had been gagged.
It wasn't that Li Fan stopped him. Li Fan was examining his aunt's memories.
But upon seeing Li Fan, the Boundless Wall was so terrified that it couldn't speak.
Having seen countless True Immortals in the Immortal Realm, including past Immortal Emperors.
Its intuition told the Boundless Wall that the person before it was dangerous.
Extremely dangerous!
The Boundless Wall's intuition was exceptionally accurate. Its ability to survive the great tribulation of the Immortal Realm's destruction and even rob the Dao Palaces was inseparable from its intuition.
The reason it helped Bai Shuyue with all its might was because its intuition told it that Bai Shuyue was a good person. Helping her would yield tenfold rewards in the future! But it never expected Bai Shuyue to die so easily.
And then, to encounter someone so extremely dangerous...
"Don't see me, don't see me..." The Boundless Wall repeated in its heart, daring not to make a sound.
It was like the days when it lay motionless on top of the Primordial Yi Palace, long ago.
Li Fan naturally noticed the Boundless Wall's subtle movements.
However, he no longer needed to pay it any mind. If a Sage Lord were present, he would greet them with solemn respect.
It was merely a roofing tile used to build a Dao Palace by a Sage Lord in one of the countless possibilities...
To even acknowledge it would be beneath Li Fan.
"He Gan Immortal."
"Moral True Immortal."
"What does it have to do with me? What a 'Moral True Immortal'!"
Exiting his aunt's memories, Li Fan lightly brushed his hand, expelling the residual immortal energy’s influence.
The blank face slowly restored its original appearance.
The figure his aunt had encountered was precisely the Moral True Immortal who had transformed the previous Starving Immortal into a celestial pillar to resist the Dao Erasure Tribulation!
"The Immortal Realm is in turmoil, the Lower Realm probably won't hold out much longer. Someone has to step forward and hold up the Dao Erasure for everyone. Why can't it be you?!"
"Sacrificing the individual for the greater good. We survivors will remember you."
As the Moral True Immortal spoke these lofty words, he casually slew the old Starving Immortal.
Furthermore, upon arriving in the Lower Realm, he unleashed a world-ending catastrophe.
"With the strength of a Moral True Immortal, destroying the Lower Realm would have been as simple as waving a hand. However, he did not act personally, but instead inscribed numerous True Immortal Sigilss and utilized their power..."
Li Fan frowned slightly.
At the level of a Moral True Immortal, one would not do meaningless things.
"It seems to be related to his method of transcendence."
"And..."
With a thought, a statue appeared before Li Fan.
It was the Heavenly Mysteries Divine Statue, buried beneath Su Bai’s old home in the Xuanhuang Realm.
When Li Fan, out of carelessness, had touched it in the past, he had lost his face due to its influence, similar to his aunt’s encounter.
Li Fan's current appearance was also related to this.
"My previous guess was actually correct."
"He Gan Immortal is the Faceless Immortal. And also the Moral True Immortal."
"But..."
Li Fan fell into confusion.
The Faceless Immortal had once saved the life of the Heavenly Mysteries King, and they had even maintained contact after the Heavenly Mysteries King returned to the Xuanhuang Realm.
His actions were completely unlike those of an arbitrary Moral True Immortal.
Moreover, when Li Fan was still a mortal, he had used the Faceless Immortal's immortal power and successfully escaped under its influence.
If the Faceless Immortal were truly the Moral True Immortal, with the strength he displayed, the Li Fan of that time would have had no chance of escape.
"To find the answer..."
Li Fan looked at the Heavenly Mysteries Divine Statue before him, sent a wisp of his divine sense into it.
It felt like traversing a long stretch of darkness.
"Who?"
A wary voice sounded.
"An old friend of the Heavenly Mysteries King." Li Fan said casually.
"A friend of Xuanyuan Hong?" The voice on the other side sounded somewhat doubtful.
"He doesn't know me, but I know him, and I have received much help from him," Li Fan explained. This statement was not a lie.
"I see."
After only saying this, the other side fell silent.
It seemed somewhat wary of the unexpected appearance of Li Fan.
Li Fan did not mind and asked, "Your condition seems a bit unusual? Do you need help?"
"You? Help?"
"If Xuanyuan Hong is the purest and most genuine person I've ever met, then you are the most evil and wicked!" The Faceless Immortal sneered.
Li Fan's eyes narrowed slightly upon hearing this.
"It seems you have the ability to discern the nature of others."
The Faceless Immortal remained silent.
"You say I am the most evil and wicked person, but I disagree. Not to mention the two suppressed in the Eternal Heavenly Steps beyond the Other Shore. Just speaking of a Moral True Immortal I know, his actions are no less than mine! I truly cannot bear the title of 'most evil and wicked'!"
"It seems your divine abilities are not yet fully cultivated!" Li Fan laughed.
"..."
Like a pebble dropped into a calm lake, Li Fan could feel waves of emotional fluctuation emanating from the Faceless Immortal.
"So you've come to test me."
After a long time, the Faceless Immortal snorted coldly.
"The Moral True Immortal is no longer me."
"Whatever grudges you have, find him yourself."
"It has nothing to do with me!"
"It has nothing to do with me, what does it matter to me? You're still not admitting it?" Li Fan questioned sternly.
"No wonder. Originally, to thank you for saving his life, the Heavenly Mysteries King ordered many statues of you to be erected and commanded his followers to worship them. Later, he strictly ordered his subordinates to stop worshipping the Heavenly Mysteries Divine Statue..."
"It seems you discovered that you, your savior, are the culprit behind the catastrophe in the Lower Realm's star sea!" Li Fan mused.
"I said, that wasn't me!" The Faceless Immortal retorted indignantly.
"If the Moral True Immortal isn't you, then are you the Moral True Immortal?" Li Fan countered.
"..."
"No." As if hesitant, the Faceless Immortal paused for a while before replying.
"It seems you've encountered a problem in your cultivation." Li Fan realized.
"You may not know, but I am well-versed in the principles of Heaven and Earth. Even stubborn illnesses of the mountains and seas can be treated by me. If you have a problem, don't hesitate to speak. Perhaps I can help you." Li Fan said sincerely.
"Heh heh..." The Faceless Immortal would certainly not believe Li Fan's nonsense.
However, for some unknown reason, he still explained: "It's not exactly a problem with cultivation. It's just a necessary stage on the path to transcendence."
"I was once the renowned 'Moral True Immortal' in the Immortal Realm. The Dao, formless and shapeless, gives birth to Heaven and Earth, with a heart free from attachment. Virtue, broad and expansive, cultivates harmony, with no regrets in one's actions. Dao and Virtue are one, with the heart and mind as the root."
"I follow not worldly morals in the usual sense, but the principles that flow through Heaven and Earth. However..."
The Faceless Immortal sighed: "The erosion of Dao Erasure has caused the decay of Heaven and Earth. Even Heaven and Earth themselves can no longer flow properly. The 'Morality' I cultivate naturally developed various loopholes. To fix these loopholes, I began to seek solutions."
"I never expected to embark on an unforeseen path."
"Did your consciousness split and lose control?" Li Fan asked.
"It's far more than that. It's that Dao and Virtue have parted ways." The Faceless Immortal's words were filled with helplessness.
"Dao, Virtue, parted ways?" Li Fan savored these words.
"I am Virtue, and he is Dao. Dao and Virtue cannot be simultaneously pursued, thus we parted ways."
"He lost the constraints of Virtue, acting arbitrarily and without scruples. Using his own actions, thoughts, and behavior as Virtue, he achieved full attainment of Moral Perfection and advanced further."
"As for me..."
"His actions became my demonic obstacle. Virtue is no longer Virtue, hence I lost my face.
How can I pursue the Dao when I'm already struggling to cope? Compared to him, I have fallen behind by more than one level." The Faceless Immortal said with a hint of desolation.
Li Fan was not slow-witted. With the Faceless Immortal's explanation, he quickly understood.
But recalling his aunt's recent experience, he quickly found a flaw in the Moral True Immortal.
He couldn't help but laugh heartily: "I think you are trapped within the situation and do not truly understand!"
"What do you mean?" The Faceless Immortal asked in surprise.
"Moral and Virtue. Although they have parted ways, they are ultimately interdependent. Virtue is no longer Virtue, hence you lost your face. But what about Dao without Virtue?"
"I suspect that ultimately, you cannot escape the fate of being 'faceless'," Li Fan chuckled.
"If I'm not mistaken, that Moral True Immortal is likely also looking for you?"
The Faceless Immortal remained silent.
Li Fan's heart grew even more certain.
"The separation of Dao and Virtue might allow for temporary transcendence."
"But to truly achieve perfection, you will eventually need to reunite."
“True perfection…” the Faceless Immortal murmured, unable to hide the longing in his voice.
“What you said makes sense. But right now, he is strong and we are weak. If so-called [Perfection] truly requires us to reunite, I fear I would be the one hunted,” the Faceless Immortal replied.
“I suspect you already know this deep down, which is why you’ve been avoiding it,” Li Fan said, his words piercing the veil of secrets.
“As for him being strong and you being weak… you needn’t worry. With my assistance, that insignificant He Gan Immortal is nothing to fear.”
The Faceless Immortal had a clear understanding of the other self’s precise strength. Their communication was only through the Faceless Stone Statue at a distance. Therefore, he harbored some doubt about Li Fan’s confident demeanor: “The Moral True Immortal has long since transcended. What level of strength do you possess to have such confidence?”
Li Fan smiled, “I am merely a minor transcended being. The reason I say he is nothing to fear lies not with me, but with you.”
“Me?” The Faceless Immortal was momentarily stunned.
“The principle is to attack where the enemy must defend. With you present, I don’t need to search the vastness of the sea of mountains for him. I merely need to deliberately expose your trace, then set a trap and wait for him. With a planned approach against an unprepared opponent, victory is naturally assured,” Li Fan stated calmly.
“Why would you choose to help me? Do you have a grudge against him, or is it because of the Heavenly Mysteries King?” The Faceless Immortal was puzzled.
“Neither, neither. I simply wish to have a moment with this Moral True Immortal.”
Li Fan’s answer surprised the Faceless Immortal, leaving him in a long silence.
“Although he lacks virtue and is arrogant and lawless, his own morality flows towards perfection. He is extremely sensitive to any disharmony and malevolence from the outside. To scheme against him… it will be extremely difficult.”
“The more information you give me about him, the higher our chances of victory will be.”
Li Fan’s words left the Faceless Immortal speechless.
Not immediately agreeing to Li Fan’s proposal, the Faceless Immortal, after a period of silence, merely replied, “I need to consider this carefully.”
“No problem. It was just a fleeting thought of mine. When you’ve made up your mind, feel free to contact me again through this stone statue.”
“Oh, and one more thing…” As the aura from the stone statue began to dissipate, Li Fan suddenly asked again.
“When the Heavenly Mysteries Sect was destroyed and the Heavenly Mysteries King mysteriously disappeared, the head of your stone statue within the sect inexplicably cracked. Afterward, the Tian Beast sent a search message towards your location…”
“Do you know what happened to the Heavenly Mysteries King back then? And what message did he convey to you?” Li Fan’s gaze was profound.
The response was a prolonged silence.
“When he encountered a crisis back then, I did intervene to help. But the one who truly ensured his safety was someone else. As for what he told me…”
“That I cannot tell you.” After saying these words, the aura within the Heavenly Mysteries stone statue completely vanished.
Li Fan chuckled, “As expected of the ‘Virtue’ within the [Moral True Immortal].”
He casually put away the Faceless stone statue. In this lifetime, he wasn’t in a hurry to complete the Return to Truth. He would see if there was an opportunity to meet that Moral True Immortal.
“Don’t see me, don’t see me, don’t see me…” The Boundless Wall continued to frantically chant in its mind, praying for Li Fan’s departure.
And as if granting its wish, Li Fan flickered and vanished.
The Boundless Wall, which had frozen in place an instant ago, now instantly whisked away Bai Shuyue’s corpse and began to flee madly towards the The Great Barrier.
“I knew that this great me would ultimately turn misfortune into fortune.”
“But recently, my luck has truly been terrible, encountering danger repeatedly. I should find a safe place to hide for a while.”
“Upon crossing the star sea restriction, there will be a dual directional pull. Since the star sea outside the restriction is impassable, I’ll go elsewhere…” Having made up his mind, the Boundless Wall was in a desperate hurry to escape.
Just as the The Great Barrier came into view, a figure reappeared ahead, blocking its path.
It was Li Fan again!
The Boundless Wall’s heart tightened, and its movements abruptly stopped.
“Why has this ominous presence returned?”
“Don’t see me, don’t see me…”
With no other recourse, the Boundless Wall could only brace itself and mentally chant again.
However, this time, the incantation failed.
“I’m a bit curious, why are you treating her so well?”
“Looking at you, you don’t seem like the type to give without expecting anything in return. Although her talent is indeed outstanding, and she has hope for transcendence, that would be many years from now. To expend so much of your accumulated treasures for a vague future…”
“Could it be that in such a short time, you’ve developed genuine feelings for her?”
Li Fan flicked his finger, and the Boundless Wall fell into his palm.
The “she” in his words naturally referred to Bai Shuyue.
Although Li Fan no longer valued the Boundless Wall’s own worth, upon seeing it attempting to flee with his aunt’s corpse, he became interested in its motives.
He had seen through the Boundless Wall’s personality long ago. By all accounts, it would never make such a significant sacrifice for Bai Shuyue, who was still a mortal. Yet, it had done so…
When unusual things happen, there is often a hidden cause.
Although he was asking a question, Li Fan didn’t expect the Boundless Wall to answer honestly.
He tightened his grip slightly, and a faint glow permeated the Boundless Wall. All of its thoughts turned into flowing light, absorbed by Li Fan.
“Helping her a little, and receiving tenfold in return in the future. This intuition…” After comprehending the Boundless Wall’s motivation, Li Fan’s eyebrows rose slightly.
As the manipulator behind the scenes, Li Fan naturally knew that the Boundless Wall’s intuition was extremely accurate. Li Fan, whose premonitions were equally accurate, naturally became interested in the Boundless Wall’s “intuition.”
“One part of investment, ten parts of return. It is both accurate and inaccurate. Your aunt’s current talent is not enough to reach transcendence in this lifetime. Therefore, the probability of sufficient returns for the Boundless Wall in this lifetime approaches zero.”
“But the Boundless Wall’s intuition is so strong.”
“Could it be that its direct premonition of return is not for this lifetime. But rather…”
“For the subsequent tens of lifetimes after repeatedly using Return to Truth?”
Li Fan narrowed his eyes slightly. He couldn’t help but gently stroke the surface of the Boundless Wall.
At first glance, such a guess might seem absurd. Why would a mere tile used to build a Dao Palace be able to foresee the future after Return to Truth?
But… the very reason Li Fan could leap to such wild conclusions was also guided by his own intuition! He trusted his intuition implicitly.
“Infinite spiritual essence is the fundamental reason for Return to Truth attaching itself to me.”
“And my intuition is also extraordinary, yet I’ve never found a reasonable explanation.”
“This Boundless Wall might be the key to a breakthrough.”
“Premonitions reaching this extent?” Li Fan tapped the Boundless Wall repeatedly, contemplating in his mind. Such spiritual awareness seemed extremely rare in the Sea of Mountains. However, perhaps it was just difficult to detect under normal circumstances.
“With the infinity of the Sea of Mountains, it’s not uncommon for beings to have flashes of insight at crucial moments, relying on instinct to avoid misfortune and seek good fortune.”
“Avoiding misfortune and seeking good fortune, avoiding misfortune and seeking good fortune…”
Li Fan suddenly recalled Yin Yuzhen, the shopkeeper of the Heaven’s Treasure Pavilion on Glazed Island, whom he met when he first started cultivating. Although she was a mortal, she possessed the ability to avoid misfortune and seek good fortune. It was precisely because she fore-saw endless benefits in the future from helping Li Fan that she repeatedly gave him gifts without hesitation.
“A mortal body naturally cannot perceive that I possess Return to Truth. But it can point towards my future.”
“…”
Li Fan then recalled how, later, when he established the Moon Radiance Palace in Moon Radiance Lake and aggressively lent out money to accumulate contribution points, it eventually attracted the attention of a Dao Integration cultivator who came to clear things up. Yin Yuzhen also had a premonition of great fortune then. Indeed, the Dao Integration cultivator sensed the Devouring Yuan Rebirth Great Formation of Lan Yu and left at a crucial moment, saving their lives. At that time, Li Fan thought this great fortune corresponded to that event.
“Although they narrowly escaped death, it was still a perilous experience, far from being considered great fortune.”
“The true great fortune refers to…”
Relying solely on his own thoughts, it was almost impossible to find an answer. But if he followed his intuition and reasoned accordingly, Li Fan arrived at another seemingly unimaginable conclusion.
“This great fortune also points to me!”
“Before this, the Yin sisters were always under my control, being exploited by me. They were busy with the affairs of the Moon Radiance Palace every day, and although their cultivation talent gradually improved, they ultimately never progressed further.”
“But after this near-death escape…”
“I encountered that Nascent Soul cultivator. Despite being in the Foundation Establishment realm, I managed to kill him in a mutual destruction. That ended that lifetime.”
“My death, for Yin Yuzhen, was great fortune.”
“This is logical. It’s like a bird leaving its cage, or a tiger returning to the mountain. From then on, the sisters were no longer oppressed and enslaved by me.”
“But…” Li Fan paused slightly. “After I perform Return to Truth, everything in the Sea of Mountains is reset. Everything returns to the starting point.”
“Where does the great fortune come from then?”
“Am I overthinking it, or…” As if he had touched upon the secret of Return to Truth, Li Fan’s heart began to beat wildly for no reason. He re-organized his thoughts from the beginning, not relying on ordinary rational reasoning, but rather on his keen intuition. Li Fan arrived at another astonishing conclusion. When he performed Return to Truth, the original possibilities seemed to still exist and continue to develop in the direction of the river of time. However, this deduction was full of contradictions with Li Fan’s own experiences.
“Why is that?”
“Is Return to Truth really a reset of the Sea of Mountains?” Previously, Li Fan had no doubts about this. After all, those transcendent possibilities, those powerful beings who roamed the Sea of Mountains, all returned to their initial anchor points with his every “Return to Truth.” However, when his own intuition pointed to a completely contradictory conclusion, Li Fan was somewhat bewildered. Based on his current understanding of “intuition,” he couldn’t explain such a contradiction at all.
“Fortunately, I’ve discovered the underlying issue.”
“What a shame the Xuanhuang Realm has been destroyed in this lifetime, otherwise, I could have captured Yin Yuzhen and studied her carefully.”
“This Boundless Wall is also an object worthy of attention.” In Li Fan’s past reincarnations, beings with extremely keen intuition like himself were not common. The Boundless Wall’s inherent value was mediocre, but this intuition was likely rare in the Sea of Mountains.
“In other possibilities, do Yin Yuzhen and the Boundless Wall possess such intuition?”
“Or perhaps…” Li Fan suddenly narrowed his gaze. He had traveled through one percent of the Sea of Mountains, and countless possibilities existed where the Xuanhuang Realm was different.
“Perhaps, in these Xuanhuang Realms, there are no other Yin Yuzhens.”
“Just like me.”
“In other possibilities, Li Fan is not Li Fan.”
“Does intuition originate from [Uniqueness of the Sea of Mountains]?” Li Fan’s heart stirred.
“The current Sea of Mountains is not a complete Sea of Mountains, not [Infinite] in the true sense. It is a remnant, riddled with holes, eroded by Dao Erasure.”
“Theoretically speaking, there are indeed some beings who are unique to the Sea of Mountains.”
“This Uniqueness of the Sea of Mountains is similar to the perfect transcendent realm of ‘all selves unifying,’ but fundamentally different.”
“Perfect transcendence is strong *because* of the Uniqueness of the Sea of Mountains.”
“And these special beings are weak *because* of the Uniqueness of the Sea of Mountains.”
“Of course, I am not among them.”
“Although these beings are destined to have no connection to the path of transcendence, they have, by misfortune, awakened extremely peculiar divine abilities. Perhaps, every perfectly transcendent powerhouse possesses such an ability?” Li Fan did not know. The most crucial point was that this peculiar intuition sensed anomalies in the process of Return to Truth and reincarnation.
“It seems the operational mechanism of Return to Truth is not as simple as I imagined.”
“When truth becomes falsehood, falsehood becomes truth…” Li Fan repeated these seven words inwardly, secretly concealing his presence and releasing his finger from the Boundless Wall.
As if awakening from a deep sleep, the Boundless Wall remained stunned for a long time before finally regaining consciousness.
“I’m actually fine? That villain let me go?” The Boundless Wall was momentarily bewildered, then overjoyed. “As expected, this great me is blessed with good fortune!”
It scanned its surroundings and found Bai Shuyue’s corpse still there. It hesitated for a moment, struggling internally. Ultimately, it followed its instincts and, carrying the corpse, continued to flee towards the The Great Barrier.
“It should still be salvageable.”
Soon, the Boundless Wall, carrying Bai Shuyue, crossed the The Great Barrier again. This time, waves of azure light emanated from the Boundless Wall. Revealing its true nature as an Immortal artifact, it traversed into the abandoned Kōroka Dojo!
“Where is this?” The Boundless Wall scanned its surroundings, a little uncertain.
“It looks somewhat familiar…”
“Fortunately, there seems to be no threat here.” Muttering to itself, the Boundless Wall ventured deeper into the Kōroka Dojo. It reached the central control hub of the dojo. Looking at the various scattered objects, the Boundless Wall carefully identified them and rejoiced, “The facilities are still in good condition.” A profound azure light swept through the surrounding space. The previously still objects suddenly seemed to come alive, revealing spectral illusions of their past.
“Thus, and thus…” The Boundless Wall memorized the operating methods for each object, feeling extremely pleased with itself.
“This great me was chosen by a Sage Lord, so of course I have some tricks up my sleeve!”
As the Boundless Wall incessantly shifted, a miraculous sight instantly appeared on the walls of the Ransacked Dojo's cylindrical hall. Countless squares, each in one of three states – dark, dimly lit, or flickering – stood side by side. In mere moments, the Boundless Wall understood the meaning behind these diverse blocks.
"My intuition was correct! There are so many Seas of Vitality! I can just pick one to hide in and wait for the storm to pass."
The Boundless Wall, emitting a greenish light, swept across the cylindrical hall's walls, seeking a suitable target. Naturally, it also noticed the exceptionally conspicuous white circle. "Drawing a circle to create a prison. It's likely for delimiting and screening. This dojo was inexplicably abandoned. Could it be that the target has already been found?"
"Regardless, the Seas of Vitality within the white circle are superior in all conditions to those outside. I should prioritize them."
After careful selection, the Boundless Wall finally chose a peculiar world of mountains and seas! An infinite azure ocean stretched out, occupying the entire expanse of the starry sky. Its source, astonishingly, was a mountain peak no larger than a palm. Water flowed down from the mountain's summit, day and night, transforming into this vast sea!
"Although this mountain and sea is not *that* mountain and sea, its form, imagery, and meaning align with the legendary mountains and seas, naturally possessing an inexplicable profundity. Furthermore, this spring of vitality on the mountain's peak might be able to bring the young lady back from death!"
The Boundless Wall transformed into a blue light and entered the world. It headed directly for the summit. From the outside, the mountain within the mountain-sea world appeared to be merely a low peak. However, upon actually entering the realm, it was discovered that this mountain was tens of thousands of *zhang* tall. It only seemed small because, apart from the vast blue sea covering the starry sky, there were no other reference points.
The mountain was not short, and the water was certainly not a simple stream. It was like a great river or ocean, rushing and roaring with a thunderous din. This was not merely an audible sound but a resonance with the Great Dao's movements within this starry sky. Even the Boundless Wall, as it traveled through, was unavoidably affected. The rhythm of the water and sound felt like carving knives, attempting to etch marks onto the Boundless Wall's surface.
A faint glow flickered as the Boundless Wall blocked all anomalies and continued its ascent towards the summit. "Strange, I was clearly flying directly towards the mountain top, yet I descended to this mid-mountain position..." the Boundless Wall mused, entering a brief period of self-doubt as it slowly ascended. "Could it be that I've been damaged too severely and can't even maintain this level of precision?"
However, after flying towards the summit for a while longer, it finally realized: "This mountain peak belongs to someone?!" The Boundless Wall's flight halted abruptly. Amidst the roaring of the cascading spring water, it hesitated for a long time. Finally, the Boundless Wall gritted its teeth and decided to continue. "Before the Sage Lord, I borrow this precious land. I trust the owner of this place will not blame me."
The Boundless Wall possessed extraordinary foresight, naturally recognizing the sophistication of the restrictive barrier that had silently repelled it. "Though not a Transcendent, it's at least a powerful figure among the Nameless. This is truly bizarre. Even when the Immortal Realm existed, experts of this caliber were rare. How is it that after the Immortal Realm's destruction, this remote corner of the Lower Realm is suddenly teeming with them!" the Boundless Wall grumbled internally. "However... there should be little risk." As it flew, it observed, and the Boundless Wall eventually reached a conclusion. Its intuition was indeed incredibly accurate.
It was repelled nine times in a row by the restrictive barrier, yet the Boundless Wall persistently continued its upward journey. On the tenth attempt, the barrier finally ceased its activation. The Boundless Wall was then able to bring Bai Shuyue to the mountain's summit.
"Such abundant vitality..." the Boundless Wall looked at the tiny spring pool ahead, the source of the world's pervasive ocean, and was astounded by the immense vitality contained within. It also remembered to place Bai Shuyue's corpse on it. The corpse blocked the spring's opening, and the surging water flow gradually weakened, the roaring of the water gradually fading. As the mountain-sea starry realm fell into complete silence, no more water emerged from the summit. The self-contained cycle of the mountains and seas was broken. The vast vitality that had been condensed within the mountains and seas now slowly focused on Bai Shuyue's corpse. A mere mortal corpse, of course, should not have been able to suppress the spring's eye of this mountain-sea starry realm.
Seeing Bai Shuyue's body on the verge of being swept away by the spring water again, the Boundless Wall manifested its original form. It gently pressed down upon it. A divine stone descended, settling the mountains and seas. With Bai Shuyue's corpse as the core of the cycle, this mountain-sea starry realm entered a new balance.
"Alas, I hope this works," the Boundless Wall felt Bai Shuyue's body changing under the scouring of the immense vitality. "Hmm, it's fortunate I arrived in time; she wasn't completely dead yet. In a hundred years, she should be able to come back to life."
"It's a pity that I, this lord, won't receive any benefit from the spring's scouring. Young lady, when you prosper in the future, don't forget me!" the Boundless Wall muttered incessantly.
The Boundless Wall did not notice that the moment it and Bai Shuyue occupied the spring's eye at the summit, a divine sense had already turned its attention to them. This was naturally the master of this mountain-sea starry realm, Cheng Dao, the disciple enlightened by the Mound Guardian. However, Cheng Dao had already left this mountain-sea starry realm and was currently beyond the High Wall. He harbored no intention of monopolizing this precious land that had helped nurture his consciousness. Since another fated individual had found it and intended to use it for salvation, Cheng Dao did not drive them away. Of course, if it were ordinary, mundane items, Cheng Dao would certainly not have been so accommodating. The most crucial factor was that Cheng Dao sensed an aura from the Boundless Wall that originated from a Sage Lord of the Immortal Realm. Cheng Dao was a disciple before a Sage Lord. Naturally, he would show some deference. The phrase "before a Sage Lord" sometimes meant nothing, but at other times, it was worth more than a thousand gold pieces!
In addition to considering their background, as the hidden entity behind the Star Sea The Dao Lattice, Cheng Dao had also discovered that the Boundless Wall currently appearing in the mountain-sea starry realm was an immortal artifact that had recently appeared on the The Dao Lattice and then suddenly vanished after being detected. Based on the residual fluctuations from the The Dao Lattice at the time, Cheng Dao found that the person who helped the Boundless Wall escape then was no weaker than himself. With such strength, it was natural to resolve enmity rather than escalate it. Cheng Dao had always been principled.
...
Bai Shuyue lay quietly in the mountain-sea starry realm for over fifty years, her vitality gradually rekindling. The Boundless Wall, which had witnessed all the life-and-death changes, noticed something peculiar. "Her vitality has slightly recovered, and consciousness is being nurtured anew from its dissipation."
"However..."
"After enduring this life-and-death tribulation, her nascent consciousness shows no fear whatsoever?" The Boundless Wall gasped. One had to know, to experience death yet possess no fear of it was truly a rarity throughout history.
"Coupled with her heaven-defying potential..."
"My intuition was indeed correct!"
"Transcendence is within reach!"
As Bai Shuyue gradually returned from the brink of death, Li Fan finally received a reply from the Faceless Immortal.
"The Moral True Immortal is currently planning something of extreme importance," the message read. "If this can be stopped, it might, to some extent, bridge the gap in power between him and me."
The "him" Li Fan referred to was naturally the "Dao" component of the Moral True Immortal, He Ganxian.
The Faceless Immortal was truly cautious. After contemplating for over fifty years, he had no intention of revealing himself. Instead, he waited for an opportune moment, one that would allow him to test Li Fan's "sincerity" without exposing himself.
Li Fan's original objective was to confront He Ganxian, so he didn't dwell on this. He directly inquired about the so-called "opportune moment."
"The Moral True... He Ganxian acts according to his will. With no morals in his heart, all his actions and thoughts return to 'morality'." Perhaps because he felt the name Li Fan had given to the other part of himself was more fitting, the Faceless Immortal casually changed his designation.
"Although to outsiders, and even to myself, He Ganxian's actions often seem shocking and contrary to conscience, in his own eyes, what he does is immeasurably correct and beyond reproach."
"He Ganxian's conceptual understanding is supported by a self-consistent logic. Note that He Ganxian does not believe he is truly without morals. He actually possesses morals, but these morals deviate from the common understanding, existing solely within his own perception."
"For years, no outsider has managed to break through his perception. He acts according to what he deems correct, his morality flows and strengthens him, allowing him to continue enacting his ideology. For years, He Ganxian has been repeating this cycle, growing stronger like a snowball rolling downhill."
"But now, there is a prime opportunity to shatter his perception!" the Faceless Immortal explained in detail.
Sensing the subtle fluctuations from the Heavenly Mysteries Stone Statue, Li Fan mused, interrupting the Faceless Immortal. "You can actually detect He Ganxian's specific movements? It seems I underestimated you earlier."
"He Ganxian is not without morals, and the Faceless Immortal is not without Dao. You two are truly… interesting."
"As I said before, the division of morality and Dao is not as simple as splitting in two. The profound intricacies are known only to ourselves, unknowable to outsiders," the Faceless Immortal vaguely explained before detailing the perfect opportunity to intercept He Ganxian.
This opportunity involved the most fundamental core of He Ganxian's moral philosophy.
"The reason He Ganxian believes he possesses morals is that, in his eyes, he is the only one who can save the mountains and seas. Therefore, all other beings in the mountains and seas must yield to his existence. Even if it means their sacrifice, it is entirely justifiable."
"Thus, he can righteously destroy an entire possibility, all for a minuscule increase in his own power."
Upon hearing the Faceless Immortal's account, Li Fan's heart stirred. A thought flickered through his mind, and his eyes narrowed slightly. However, he showed no outward reaction, allowing the Faceless Immortal to continue.
"The foundation of all his actions rests on the belief that he will ultimately save the mountains and seas. If this delusion can be shattered, his self-perpetuating morality will be severed. Without you and I needing to intervene, his power will gradually decline with the passage of time."
"Currently, he is within another possibility in the mountains and seas, creating boundless slaughter, all to further increase his power. If he is defeated at this moment, causing him to lose his self-proclaimed confidence, he will be utterly crushed!"
Li Fan keenly grasped the crucial point in the Faceless Immortal's words: "At this moment... meaning, even if defeated ordinarily, it wouldn't shake his personal ideology. It must be at a critical juncture. So, is he comprehending the Dao now?"
"Precisely! Rather than saying he is comprehending the Dao, it's more accurate to call it **cultivation**. He Ganxian's cultivation method is far from ordinary. Although he has found a justification for slaughtering all beings, claiming it's all for the ultimate salvation of the mountains and seas, his heart still retains a shred of correct conscience. He knows that what he is doing is outrageous. He needs to reduce the influence of his lingering conscience on him as his strength grows."
"Specifically, he deliberately creates a karmic debt through slaughter. When his remaining sliver of conscience feels the weight of the slaughter he has caused, it will be filled with guilt and sorrow. He might even enter a period of uncontrolled state."
"However, after He Ganxian suppresses these negative emotions, he will return to normal. And, a portion of his remaining conscience will be consumed. When all his conscience is gone, he will have no weaknesses. And now, after years of cultivation, he has very little conscience left."
"Each cultivation session presents the best opportunity to stop him. I have tried to intervene before, but the power gap was too great..."
"You might as well go and investigate this possibility."
The Faceless Immortal sent a coordinate of a particular region within the mountains and seas, and then the fluctuation completely vanished. It was unclear what he was hiding from, but he was extraordinarily cautious.
"These two..."
"One is Dao, the other is Virtue."
After a moment of private contemplation, Li Fan followed the Faceless Immortal's guidance, leaped up, and departed from the original possibility. He set off to search for He Ganxian's trail within the mountains and seas.
It was quite a distance from the original. Fortunately, within the mountains and seas, there was no concept of time flow.
When Li Fan arrived at the destination possibility, he was met with a scene of destruction. He Ganxian stood amidst a shattered sea of stars, laughing maniacally, "What does it matter to me, what does it matter to me!" He was unmoved even as countless beings around him perished.
Li Fan could vaguely see that as he uttered these words, a pained expression flickered across his face, making him appear extremely conflicted. Yet, his body remained unyielding, watching the sea of stars, and even the possibility, shatter. Tears gradually dried, and his expression slowly turned resolute, even a little sinister.
All living beings were fleeing and wailing in despair. Li Fan, appearing abruptly and with such composure, was exceptionally conspicuous.
Without any preamble, his cold gaze locked onto Li Fan. "Die!"
As if a wooden door was creaking shut, Li Fan heard a sound in his ears. It wasn't an auditory hallucination, but the sound of the heavens cracking, caused by the simultaneous collapse of countless Great Daos! Accompanying the destruction of the possibility was a tidal wave of Dao Erasure Tribulation. The possibility, already plunged into an apocalyptic state, was further devastated in an instant by Li Fan's arrival. Naturally, Li Fan felt no guilt. Instead, he let out a soft shout, "Well done!"
Li Fan not only showed no intention of reprimanding the other party but even looked somewhat excited.
"After roaming through the Mountains and Seas, I've finally found someone who shares my aspirations!"
With that, Li Fan casually conjured a stream of flame.
The raging inferno instantly ignited the last remnants of possibility, burning them away! He Ganxian, who had been hostile, was stunned.
"I wish to overturn the Mountains and Seas. Will Fellow Daoist join me?" Li Fan earnestly inquired.
The final vestiges of possibility were consumed by the True Spirit's flame. The tide of Dao Erasure surged towards them. Above Li Fan's head, a solitary sail hung, warding off the encroaching Dao Erasure.
Meanwhile, He Ganxian's situation was peculiar. It seemed an invisible vortex surrounded him, channeling the Dao Erasure's erosion and, after a series of transformations, redirecting it to other regions within the Mountains and Seas. Naturally, innocent possibilities suffered as a result, but He Ganxian, having broken free from his state of Enlightenment, felt no guilt.
Amidst the chaotic currents of Dao Erasure, Li Fan and He Ganxian faced each other.
"Overturn the Mountains and Seas?" He Ganxian savored the words.
"The great tide of Dao Erasure flows. Prosper by following it, perish by resisting it! The Other Shore and the Sacred Dynasty are but like eggs striking a rock. Their futile struggles only add to the amusement!"
"Why not follow the grand trend, destroy the Mountains and Seas, and return to the Spirit Stars? When order is rebuilt in the future, perhaps you and I can be conferred Sainthood for our contributions!"
"Fellow Daoist, what do you say?" Li Fan declared with fervor.
Within the Mountains and Seas, an eerie silence seemed to descend. Only the surging waves of Dao Erasure silently devoured the innocent, unwitting possibilities caught in the crossfire.
"What kind of trash..."
Silently gazing at Li Fan, He Ganxian uttered this appraisal after a moment.
"Die!"
Seemingly bored with Li Fan's words, He Ganxian reached out towards Li Fan. Not only were the surrounding Dao Erasure and Li Fan's True Spirit Flame affected, forming a vortex-like cage, but Li Fan's mind was also flooded with his past actions in an instant.
Destroying the Azure Nether, the Abyssal Star Sea, the High Wall, the Star Sea of the North, the Primordial, igniting the Mountains and Seas… The scale of his calamities grew exponentially. The number of lives lost in the disasters increased exponentially. What were once mere numbers had now transformed into distinct faces, roaring with anger and surging in Li Fan's consciousness. It was as if vengeful spirits were claiming their due!
If Li Fan had harbored even a shred of guilt towards the countless souls he had slain, he would have been profoundly affected, his mind shaken, and ultimately consumed by these materialized vengeful spirits.
But… Li Fan watched these sudden, numerous vengeful spirits with utter indifference from beginning to end. His heart remained unmoved. There was even a hint of question in his eyes. It was as if the souls lost had no connection to him whatsoever! If He Ganxian's "What concern is it of mine?" represented a fierce conflict between his lingering conscience and his sense of self, then Li Fan's "What concern is it of mine?" was a simple question devoid of any emotional color.
He Ganxian still retained a trace of conscience.
So, what was Li Fan…?
Facing Li Fan, who seemed more like a "What concern is it of mine?" than himself, He Ganxian felt an inexplicable fear and instinctively wanted to escape. However, before him, the True Spirit Flame rose, blocking his path.
"Where are you going, Fellow Daoist? Do you truly believe the Mountains and Seas can be saved?" Li Fan thundered. His previous actions were all for this question. His voice, like a thunderclap, struck He Ganxian's heart. He Ganxian's body trembled violently.
"Can the Mountains and Seas be saved?" Li Fan pressed relentlessly.
The True Spirit Flame and the tide of Dao Erasure intertwined, a terrifying wave of annihilation spreading through the Mountains and Seas. Even if, at first, it only affected trivial possibilities, with each of Li Fan's interrogations, this terrible disaster spread with unimaginable speed. It was becoming an unstoppable force!
Trapped within the True Spirit Flame and the tide of Dao Erasure, with no escape despite multiple attempts, and witnessing the ever-spreading disaster, He Ganxian finally broke. He roared, "Of course, the Mountains and Seas can be saved! And the only one who can save them is I, the Moral True Immortal!"
Finally, Li Fan had forced out He Ganxian's deepest conviction. Yet, Li Fan remained relentless. "The Moral True Immortal? Who exactly are you?"
"Do you possess the Dao? Do you possess Virtue?" He Ganxian, enraged, did not answer, his gaze fixed on the encroaching flames and swirling energies that threatened to engulf the Mountains and Seas. He desperately tried to break free from Li Fan's blockade. However, his strength was already inferior to Li Fan's. The True Spirit Flame and the tide of Dao Erasure, forces capable of devouring the very Mountains and Seas, were now turned against him. Li Fan hadn't directly confronted him but merely used the power of burning mountains and annihilating seas to trap him. Despite all his might, He Ganxian was helpless, like a trapped beast in a cage, letting out pained cries.
"Do you possess the Dao? Do you possess Virtue?" Li Fan's questioning never ceased. Each word was like a sharp sword piercing He Ganxian's heart.
He Ganxian's eyes turned crimson, and even tears of blood streamed down his face. "I save the Mountains and Seas, how can I not have Virtue? I save the Mountains and Seas, how can I not have the Dao?"
The first "I save the Mountains and Seas" was an idea, a thought. The latter "I save the Mountains and Seas" represented concrete actions and measures.
Hearing He Ganxian finally utter this, Li Fan nodded in satisfaction. Then, a cold glint flashed in his eyes, and with a wave of his hand, the True Spirit Flame intensified. More possibilities were engulfed by the flames, the fire reaching the heavens, completely obscuring He Ganxian's vision. The Mountains and Seas vanished, replaced by a sea of flames. From He Ganxian's perspective, it was as if Li Fan was personally incinerating the Mountains and Seas before his very eyes.
Not only that, but Li Fan then sternly questioned, "The Mountains and Seas are being burned before your eyes. You... save the Mountains and Seas?"
"How can you possess the Dao?"
With a final, decisive blow. He Ganxian was struck by lightning, his body stiffening.
"Do I possess the Dao? Do I possess the Dao? Do I possess the Dao…" He muttered to himself. Finally, the flickering flames in his pupils provided the answer.
"The Mountains and Seas are burned, I have no Dao."
"I have Virtue, but no Dao."
"I have Virtue, but no Dao…"
The moment he uttered these words, He Ganxian's body became translucent. And behind Li Fan, another figure quietly materialized. However, Li Fan seemed to have anticipated its arrival!
"Because he lacks Virtue, he loses his face."
"Your lack of Virtue is not a consequence of He Ganxian's actions. You are truly without Virtue!"
"He Ganxian seemingly lacks Virtue, but in reality, he possesses it. For all his sins were committed in the act of saving the Mountains and Seas. If the Mountains and Seas are saved, all sins will vanish."
"The Moral True Immortal, the Moral True Immortal. He Ganxian is Virtue, and you…"
"Are the Dao!"
Clap, clap, clap. Rhythmic applause echoed from behind Li Fan. The faceless figure there was none other than the Faceless Immortal!
"A brilliant deduction!"
"I never expected you to discern our true natures. I had planned to use you to slightly impede his progress, but I never imagined you would do so much better."
"You've even managed to definitively label him."
"Truly remarkable!"
The Faceless Immortal, with evident enjoyment, lightly inhaled towards the dissipating He Ganxian. He Ganxian's ethereal form offered no resistance and was absorbed into the Faceless Immortal.
After a moment of stillness, the Faceless Immortal's aura swelled a thousandfold! It was as if a mortal had attained the Dao and ascended to the heavens in broad daylight! The once feeble Faceless Immortal, at the True Immortal level, now seemed to have not only inherited He Ganxian's cultivation but also undergone a qualitative transformation. From the Transcendent realm, he was charting a path towards Sainthood.
The two merged into one. He Ganxian, or perhaps the "Moral True Immortal," solidified. His voice changed, initially a duet, it slowly blended into a single, indistinguishable entity.
"After a hundred thousand years apart, I am finally complete today."
"Thank you, Fellow Daoist, for fulfilling this for me!"
Having achieved his Dao, the Moral True Immortal bowed to Li Fan!
"However, there is one point where you were mistaken."
"I am not the Dao, and he is not Virtue."
"Morality and Dao are separate, yet inseparable."
"The same applies to us."
On the Moral True Immortal's formerly ethereal face, features began to form. He gazed at Li Fan, a smile on his lips, and said, "Until we were finally 'defined,' I was the Dao, and also Virtue. He was Virtue, and also the Dao."
"It's just that we chose different paths of evolution."
"I abandoned Virtue, while he clung to it."
"However, the Dao I chose did not grant me the power I anticipated."
"Whereas the Virtue he steadfastly held, the pursuit of saving the Mountains and Seas at any cost, propelled his strength forward."
"Initially, I was at a disadvantage, about to lose this race. Never did I imagine…"
The Moral True Immortal spoke with immense emotion.
"The Moral True Immortal, the Moral True Immortal. Dao gives birth to Virtue, Virtue transforms into Dao. Morality and Dao are inseparable!"
"This is the foundation of our existence. Even as we evolved in different directions, this truth remained. If one completely loses the Dao, or completely loses Virtue…"
"The basis of their existence disappears. And their fate…"
The Moral True Immortal's smile vanished instantly. "Is to return to nothingness."
Facing a situation that seemed unexpected, Li Fan didn't panic. Instead, he curiously observed the newly-proven Moral True Immortal. "So, now, do you possess more Dao, or more Virtue? Did you achieve your Dao through Virtue, or through Dao?"
The Moral True Immortal shook his head. "Whether it is Dao or Virtue is not important. What matters is who can truly reach the end."
"The one who survives in the end is the true victor."
"The victor becomes a Sage."
A majestic aura emanated from the Moral True Immortal. Like a gust of wind, it instantly repelled the raging True Spirit Flame and the tide of Dao Erasure. Even as they conversed, the Moral True Immortal's aura had been constantly expanding. Now, as if breaking through some barrier, its intensity amplified hundreds of times over. The flames and the Dao Erasure that could consume the Mountains and Seas were suppressed by this aura of sainthood. A world-shattering radiance erupted from a corner of possibility, ascending into the heavens!
"Although you aided me in proving my Dao… however…"
The newly-ascended "Moral" True Immortal looked at Li Fan with a strange expression in his eyes. Without a word, his left palm descended like a collapsing heaven, directly suppressing Li Fan. He didn't even finish his sentence, giving Li Fan no time to react! Simultaneously, as if sensing the birth of a new Sage, the Other Shore, the Sacred Dynasty, and other regions within the Mountains and Seas turned their attention towards this event.
Despite this, the "Moral" True Immortal ignored everything, his focus solely on Li Fan.
"So… you Sages are truly detestable."
A hazy, curtain-like mist enveloped Li Fan, as if he existed in a state between reality and illusion. The palm of the Moral True Immortal, descending like the heavens, passed through Li Fan's body as if he were nothing. It caused no harm! The Moral True Immortal seemed to have anticipated this, merely casting a look of surprise at the mist surrounding Li Fan. He opened his mouth as if to speak, but ultimately remained silent. Instead, he began a solemn chant.
Constrained within the Moral True Immortal's palm, the world of the Mountains and Seas disappeared from Li Fan's vision. It was a scene mirroring He Ganxian's earlier predicament, trapped between the True Spirit Flame and the tide of Dao Erasure. What a cycle!
In Li Fan's eyes, only chaos remained. Black and white energies swirled from all directions, forming a vortex around Li Fan. As the vortex spun, the misty curtain rippled.
"Is this… the power of a Sage?"
"It's nothing more than this!"
Li Fan chuckled, his body becoming nine-tenths transparent under the veil of mist. Bai Shuyue’s thirty cycles of reincarnation were not in vain for Li Fan. With each return to truth, his understanding of the transformation between truth and falsehood deepened. "When the true becomes false, and the false becomes true." Li Fan had already achieved a small success in understanding these seven words. Coupled with the accumulation of these twenty-eight lifetimes, he had reached the threshold of a qualitative leap. This layer of mist outside his body was precisely the protection he had woven with the power of truth and falsehood. Shielded by the mist, he seemed to exist in a state of reality and illusion, making him impervious to even a Sage's attack!
Li Fan hadn't initially intended to push this divine ability this far; the mist could only last for three breaths. But after witnessing the "Moral" achieve sainthood, inspiration struck Li Fan like a burst of fireworks, igniting his mind. The scene of He Ganxian and the Faceless Immortal in the undecided state between Dao and Virtue particularly enlightened him.
Truth and falsehood, Dao and Virtue. In the grand scheme of things, they bore a striking resemblance. Li Fan's understanding was broadened, and he suddenly achieved enlightenment, enabling him to weave this protective mist. It was precisely this divine ability that allowed Li Fan to remain calm, even witnessing the birth of a Sage, rather than hastily returning to truth. Li Fan, facing the phantoms of the Nine Sages, had possessed no power of resistance. Having personally experienced the magnificent power of the Sages of the Other Shore, Li Fan was certain that the "Moral" True Immortal, who had just attained sainthood, was somewhat weaker than those true Sages. However, he had indeed reached an equivalent level. Without the protection of the power of truth and falsehood, Li Fan's Transcendent strength would have been like an ant before him, with no room for resistance.
But now… even though the cost of activating the power of truth and falsehood was extremely devastating, and his very existence was gradually fading, he had truly resisted the suppression of the "Moral"! Even as his protective mist was about to dissipate, Li Fan's situation, though seemingly precarious, was as stable as Mount Tai!
From the depths of the Mountains and Seas, streaks of light seemed to be approaching. Their aura appeared to be no weaker than that of the newly-ascended "Moral." His protective mist of truth and falsehood was almost entirely depleted.
"Return to truth!" Li Fan whispered to himself, gazing up at the "Moral" beyond the colossal black and white vortex.
Misty water vapor diffused from Li Fan's body, spreading outwards to cover mountains and seas!
Black and white primal energies intertwined, forming a massive vortex around what was labeled "Morality," attempting to manifest from the mist.
But it was all in vain.
The mist grew thicker.
Eventually, it engulfed everything around Li Fan, including the streams of light observed in his final moments.
Water curtains, layer upon layer of concealment. The world plunged into darkness.
Anchor Point: 1 year!
Having successfully returned to truth and evaded the killing intent of "Morality," Li Fan remained motionless for a long time.
He chose to retain the memories of his aunt from the previous simulation.
"The spring water, which contains the life force of the entire Mountain and Sea Star Realm, can indeed revive my aunt, who recently died with her body intact."
"However, this is a slow process, requiring at least a hundred years. In my previous life, only over fifty years had passed, and her consciousness had not yet fully awakened..."
Li Fan carefully reviewed his aunt's memories, ensuring there were no omissions, before choosing to let his aunt inherit them.
With the power of returning to truth in hand, everything was under control.
In this plan to create a saint, Li Fan held absolute initiative.
Bai Shuyue's possibility of discovering the truth behind the scenes was nearly zero.
At least, it was so before she became a saint.
...
Bai Shuyue felt as though she had a very long dream.
In the dream, she finally escaped from the faceless immortal and headed towards the sea of stars beyond the The Great Barrier. Then she encountered an unknown cosmic hand.
To avoid the fate of being imprisoned, she resolutely chose to take her own life.
"Oh, right. It wasn't a dream."
"It was my experience in my previous life." Bai Shuyue rubbed her temples, which ached vaguely.
"I don't know if it's my imagination, but it feels like this revival took longer than before."
"Could it be..."
Bai Shuyue's brows furrowed instantly, and her heart trembled.
"My number of rebirths is not infinite, is it?"
"This is absolutely not good news for me..." Bai Shuyue became somewhat worried.
Although Bai Shuyue was not a pessimistic person, infinite rebirths and rebirths with a limited count were completely different matters.
"I wonder what my rebirth count is related to. Does each rebirth consume something currently unknown? Will the number of times increase as my strength grows?"
Bai Shuyue's mind raced with uncontrolled thoughts.
Setting aside the revived Bai Shuyue, who had secretly resolved not to listen to the boundless wall's instigation anymore, about seeking ordinary cultivation grounds outside the Xuanhuang Realm, she decided to diligently cultivate within the Xuanhuang Realm. Judging from her past life's experience, the outside world was a hundred times more perilous than the Xuanhuang Realm!
Meanwhile, Li Fan, while playing the role of his aunt's good nephew, also recalled his final experiences from his previous life.
He had long suspected the true moral identity of the faceless immortal and He Gan Immortal. Therefore, he did not hesitate to use the True Spirit Incineration technique to force out He Gan Immortal's true identity.
However, Li Fan had originally wanted to witness He Gan Immortal and the faceless immortal's furious reactions after their identities were exposed. He never expected that...
The faceless and He Gan actually merged into one, successfully reaching sainthood!
Since when was becoming a saint so simple?
Although Li Fan did not yet know the secret to becoming a saint, "Being the only one in all realms" and "Having the same mountain-sea compatibility" should be the minimum requirements for a saint.
"If morality merges, one can attain sainthood."
"Does this mean that the faceless immortal and He Gan Immortal, after being separated from morality, were originally unique existences in all realms?"
After some thought, Li Fan seemed to have an epiphany.
"Indeed. If it were the original 'Moral True Immortal,' there might have been another him in other possibilities within the mountains and seas. However, the faceless immortal and He Gan Immortal were things that did not exist in the mountains and seas. They should be products hatched by the Moral True Immortal using the secret technique "Division of Morality." From the moment of their birth, they were unique in the mountains and seas."
"Others might have to arduously achieve the unification of all selves, but this Moral True Immortal completed it with a mere method..."
"However, being able to differentiate something unique to the mountains and seas, the method of 'Division of Morality' is inherently extraordinary."
Having resolved the first question, Li Fan was still baffled by the second one.
How did He Gan Immortal and the faceless immortal achieve compatibility with the mountains and seas?
After much deliberation, Li Fan could not find a reasonable explanation.
He could only speculate that it might be related to the peculiar state they were in.
"Morality and its two branches, though seemingly separate, were intrinsically linked, with each containing a part of the other. It was difficult to divide them."
"But I forcefully defined their attributes, leading to a complete separation of morality."
"It was as if the Great Dao collapsed and transformed, releasing an immense amount of energy in that instant. Just like the chain reaction I knew before transmigration..." Li Fan fell into wild imagination.
After all, Li Fan could only imagine the answer now.
The principle of becoming a saint was one of the greatest secrets in the mountains and seas. If Li Fan could uncover the secret of sainthood with just observation and simple contemplation, then the number of saints in the entire mountains and seas would not be so scarce.
"To find the answer, I need to start with the faceless immortal and the moral immortal."
"Although the faceless immortal is weak, he has always hidden himself well. It's difficult to find his trace, let alone capture him alive."
"As for He Gan Immortal... I already know that he appears at fixed intervals within that possibility. Perhaps I can ambush him in advance."
"Of course, all of this is under the premise that, with the activation of returning to truth and the reset of the mountains and seas..."
"The Moral True Immortal who achieved sainthood has been Demoted!"
In fact, Li Fan was not too worried about this.
If "Morality" still existed, with the power of a saint, no matter how vast the mountains and seas, He would have immediately located Li Fan.
But it had been so long since Li Fan activated returning to truth, and the mountains and seas remained quiet.
This was enough to prove that there was no saint named "Morality" in the current mountains and seas!
"The authority of returning to truth surpasses that of the mountains and seas."
"Or perhaps..."
"Returning to truth is not resetting the mountains and seas. Instead, it is..."
Recalling his intuition-based discovery, Li Fan harbored a new suspicion.
However, just like the secret of achieving sainthood through morality, it was merely a conjecture without any actual supporting evidence.
Li Fan could only suppress it in his heart for now.
After nearly thirty cycles of reincarnation, Li Fan's understanding of the transformation between truth and falsehood had taken a leap.
The water curtain and mist had managed to resist the suppression of the newly ascended "Morality."
Contending with a saint through transcendence.
This was truly an extraordinary feat in the mountains and seas. However, Li Fan did not become overly confident.
"Although the remnants left in the Other Shore were merely phantom images of saints, the combined power of the Nine Sages was far superior to the 'Morality' I witnessed."
"I could resist 'Morality,' but I might not be able to endure the phantom images of the Nine Sages. Therefore, the Saint Creation plan must continue."
"However... investigating the secret of the Moral True Immortal's path to sainthood can be carried out concurrently."
Li Fan left a phantom image in the Primordial Xuanhuang Realm and then stepped out, leaping into the possibility he had witnessed the moral saint's ascension in his previous life.
"He Gan and the Faceless Immortal cannot be underestimated. I need to be fully prepared in advance!"
Compared to the scene of destruction Li Fan had witnessed before, the current possibility was still full of life.
The most significant difference from the primordial possibility was the absence of the Mound Guardian.
The Immortal Realm was largely destroyed in the initial wave of Dao Erasure.
However, because of this, the Immortal Realm in this possibility had not been directly destroyed. Instead, it had narrowly survived in the form of scattered islands amidst the tide of Dao Erasure!
Li Fan had long known from his previous encounters with Dao Erasure that it seemed to possess its own unique consciousness.
The stronger the resistance, the more intense its offensive became. Conversely, if there was almost no room for resistance against Dao Erasure, it would remain relatively calm for a considerable period.
It would slowly encroach until the remaining areas were completely engulfed.
This was the situation in the scattered lower realm star seas that had survived the primordial possibility.
And in this possibility, the same applied to the Immortal Realm.
The Immortal Realm had been divided by Dao Erasure into tens of thousands of scattered islands, with the Three Sages absent, Immortal Emperors gone, and communication severed.
Even Nameless True Immortals were few and far between, let alone transcendent experts.
"Such a possibility holds no value for He Gan Immortal."
"Why would he come here to comprehend the Dao?"
He Gan Immortal's method of comprehending the Dao had been clearly explained by the Faceless Immortal: to use the disasters he personally caused to exhaust the remaining conscience within him.
This ensured that the fundamental "Morality" within him would not be affected by his actions.
"He Gan Immortal's place of enlightenment must have been carefully chosen."
"If my guess is correct, there must be someone or something extremely important here for He Gan Immortal, or perhaps the Moral True Immortal."
"However, the Moral True Immortal is not an indigenous inhabitant of this possibility."
The scattered immortal seas were not vast, especially for a transcendent expert like Li Fan.
Since he could not find any clues for the time being, he began a systematic search.
There was ample time to prepare before He Gan Immortal's arrival anyway.
It took Li Fan a full five years to finally discover something on one of the Immortal Realm islands that might be related to the Moral True Immortal.
"These features bear a striking resemblance to the 'Morality' after achieving sainthood."
"Could this be a descendant of the Moral True Immortal in this possibility?" Li Fan mused, observing a female True Immortal within a territory who was exceptionally rare for lacking immortal servants.
If, under the governance of the former Faceless Immortal, immortal servants were not regulated, then here, the beings who were originally immortal servants, due to the will of the island's owner, had shed their "servant" status.
Although not True Immortals, they enjoyed everything as if they were True Immortals.
They were even connected to the Infinite Sea and Mount Shang!
However, they had not ascended to immortality through their own efforts but solely through the bestowal of that female True Immortal.
Everything could lead to immortality!
These beings also showed great respect for her, but it was not the kind of respect a servant had for a master.
It was simply reverence born from receiving her kindness.
The female True Immortal, suspected to be a descendant of Morality, was also pleased with the attitude of the island's inhabitants. They mingled harmoniously, living together in a carefree manner.
It resembled a utopian paradise of carefree bliss.
"Returning to Truth inherited the name of Morality."
"But it's just a child's game," Li Fan sneered dismissively.
His emotionless gaze locked onto all the True Immortals on the island.
Instantly, it was as if a vast expanse had been frozen over for ten thousand miles.
The inhabitants of the island, including the female True Immortal, simultaneously entered a state of stasis.
From her mind, Li Fan confirmed her identity.
Although not a descendant of the Moral True Immortal.
She did have an intricate connection with him.
In this possibility, when the world-ending Dao Erasure descended, the Moral True Immortal had attempted, much like the original Mound Guardian, to turn the tide and save the beings from disaster.
Unfortunately, the Moral True Immortal's strength was insufficient to contend with such a magnitude of Dao Erasure.
He tragically died within the Dao Erasure.
However, the Moral True Immortal's death was not entirely in vain, as he had indeed saved many lives.
The female True Immortal on the island was one of them.
Although a long time had passed since that catastrophe, and most beings in the scattered immortal seas had forgotten the Moral True Immortal.
She had not.
She had even taken it upon herself to become the new Moral True Immortal, deliberately altering her appearance to resemble her benefactress.
She practiced "Morality!"
Saving and educating!
"But it's confined to this possibility. And it's involved in He Gan Immortal's enlightenment..."
At this moment, it was difficult to discern "Morality's" cultivation method.
Li Fan decided not to alert the enemy and hid in the shadows to observe.
Withdrawing his gaze, the frozen True Immortals on the island returned to normal.
They had not noticed Li Fan's arrival at all.
Their lives and actions continued as before.
Li Fan hid in the shadows, quietly setting up arrays, patiently waiting.
Until...
Vast black energies descended from the sky without warning.
Sweeping and spreading throughout the entire world.
This black energy did not possess tangible destructive power. Even if sentient beings came into direct contact with it, they would not suffer any harm.
However...
Their actions and thoughts would be altered by it.
Without any warning, they would turn their blades on those around them, even betraying their benefactors and attacking them collectively!
"Great kindness becomes great enmity, loss of virtue leads to the proliferation of the Dao..."
In this possibility, naturally, no karmic retribution occurred. After acting against their benefactors, these individuals not only suffered no retribution.
Instead, they advanced in strength as if they had absorbed an immortal elixir!
Those who had lost their virtue grew more powerful.
This led to boundless slaughter, spreading throughout the entire possibility.
Meanwhile, He Gan Immortal lurked above the scattered immortal seas, positioned at the core of the circulating black energies of morality.
Li Fan could sense that the majority of He Gan Immortal's attention was focused on that female True Immortal.
Even though the island had been overtaken by reverse morality and plunged into chaos, she still did not give up trying to save everyone.
However, insufficient ability was the sin of everything.
Her struggles and efforts were like a drop in the ocean.
He Gan Immortal had no intention of letting her off the hook.
Nor did he directly harm her.
Instead, he manipulated the black energies of morality, transforming the once idyllic and utopian island into a terrifying purgatory.
The female True Immortal could not perceive the existence of the black energies rampant in the world.
In her eyes, the people she had always interacted with harmoniously had inexplicably turned against her.
They became like irreconcilable enemies.
And she, as the island's mistress, became the target of everyone's attack.
No matter how much she tried to emulate "Morality," she ultimately would not let herself die in vain at their hands.
Thus, she fought back.
Her strength was far greater than that of the other True Immortals on the island.
In the chaotic battle, it was inevitable that some blows would be too heavy.
And with each drop of blood stained on her hands, the face she imitated from the Moral True Immortal would fade a little.
Slowly shedding the face of morality, reverting to her original appearance.
"The words 'Morality,' are not something you can bear."
He Gan Immortal's expression was one of desolation, as black energy raged like smoke.
Hearing He Ganxian's soft sigh, the female True Immortal, who had returned to her original appearance, looked utterly bewildered.
She scanned her surroundings, trying to locate the figure of her "savior."
However, the True Immortal of Morality ultimately did not reveal himself.
One leads to another, and after becoming accustomed to slaughter, the heart carries no burden, becoming almost instinctual. Within this island-celestial realm, the female True Immortal was practically invincible. In the past, other beings could survive the Calamity of Dao Erasure only because of her protection.
But now, their savior had transformed into a killing machine, mercilessly reaping their lives.
Under the influence of the mysterious black mist, these ants still swarmed towards the Island Master, undeterred by death.
Initially, a trace of unwillingness occasionally flickered across the female True Immortal's face. But as the slaughter progressed, her expression slowly grew calm.
Even a bit impatient.
And the True Immortal of Morality's murmuring words echoed at the opportune moment.
"Morality that is but a pretense, morality formed by the constraints of emotion and conscience, may endure for a time. But it cannot be maintained for an eternity."
"When swords are at your throat, when facing life and death, can you still speak of morality?"
"When misunderstood, when the world is your enemy, can you still speak of morality?"
"When lonely and misunderstood, when no one understands you, can you still speak of morality?"
"When the path ahead is dark, and there is no hope left, can you..."
"Still speak of morality?"
"Only those who can still practice morality are true [Morality]."
"Clearly, you are not." He Ganxian's voice carried a hint of dejection and mockery.
As if her true face, hidden beneath a mask, had been exposed, the female True Immortal was enraged, her expression gradually turning ferocious. Her immortal power rippled outwards, like thousands of sharp blades. She intended to destroy everything she saw before her.
But how could a True Immortal, surviving in a single possibility, ever touch He Ganxian, who had transcended?
The smoke-like morality mist remained unmoved.
However, after repeated slaughter, the rampant black mist gradually coalesced from its dispersed state.
Transforming into immensely thick pillars, stretching across the sea of stars.
Li Fan looked down from above, seeing clearly.
Inscribed upon these black heavenly pillars were the words: ["Morality"]!
The female True Immortal seemed trapped at the very center of a cage called [Morality]. No matter how hard she struggled, even if she bruised herself, she could not break free.
"Those who pursue [Morality] will ultimately be trapped by morality, and then suffer retaliation."
As if to confirm He Ganxian's words, the female True Immortal's body began to slowly turn pitch black, as if being corroded by the black mist.
She struggled, wanting to survive, to escape from the carbonized state.
But every attempt at self-rescue only pushed her faster towards the abyss of complete annihilation.
Before long, the female True Immortal had completely become a part of the morality black mist, integrated into the heavenly pillar that reached for the sky.
And with her demise, no living beings remained on this immortal island.
The world fell silent.
Only He Ganxian's concluding words echoed: "Only by making morality an instinct. Not pursuing morality, but becoming morality!"
Absorbing the lives of all beings on this immortal island, the heavenly pillar of morality, under He Ganxian's faint voice, expanded once more.
It instantly leaped across the Sea of Dao Erasure that divided the myriad immortal islands of this realm, engulfing this entire possibility.
Under the shackles of morality, billions of living beings welcomed the end of their world.
"You all died by killing each other."
"Your demise has nothing to do with me."
"Nothing to do with me?"
If the first phrase carried a hint of hesitation, the second "Nothing to do with me" was spoken with utter certainty.
Deep within He Ganxian's eyes, a faint glimmer of tears could be seen.
But his face was already as cold as ice.
He Ganxian silently observed the beings of this possibility.
Meanwhile, Li Fan, hidden in the shadows, quietly observed He Ganxian.
"He Ganxian never kills directly."
"Instead, he uses True Immortal Sigils, morality mist, or other methods to commit indirect murder."
"Although there is no direct causality, there is indirect causality. This behavior is not He Ganxian deceiving himself or others. It is..."
Li Fan, observing the extremely subtle changes in He Ganxian's demeanor and fluctuations in his aura, seemed to have an epiphany: "Burning away the remaining conscience, all that is left is instinct, all is morality. This is He Ganxian's cultivation method."
"However, in the process of burning away his conscience, his mind would also suffer intense shock. Using indirect methods of murder can form a psychological barrier, serving as a buffer."
"From the current situation, He Ganxian's remaining conscience is not much. With a few more such instances, he might truly achieve his perfect state of moral circulation. To gather the true meaning of morality with a divided self, and attain the noble status of a Sage."
Looking at the possibility of the immortal island below, its vitality gradually fading under the suppression of the heavenly pillar of morality, Li Fan's thoughts paused slightly.
"If it were just ordinary actions of burning away conscience, they wouldn't have helped He Ganxian so much."
"Otherwise, with limitless mountains and seas, he could have become a Sage with just a casual slaughter."
Within his sea of consciousness, Li Fan repeatedly savored the scene of He Ganxian refining this realm with morality mist, examining each moment.
"In the primordial possibility, this female Island Master must have had an unusual relationship with He Ganxian. In other words, her status in He Ganxian's heart was extremely important. Much like my aunt is to me."
"The more important she is, the greater the impact of her slaughter. The effect of burning away conscience would be even better."
Drawing from his own experience, Li Fan had somewhat deduced the reason why this possibility was so important to He Ganxian.
Whether it was the female Island Master, or He Ganxian, or even Li Fan, or any living being in the mountains and seas.
As they gradually adapted to slaughter, they would become accustomed to it.
And if they were indifferent, how could they burn away their remaining conscience?
"As conscience slowly diminishes, the threshold will become higher. Ordinary world-ending methods can no longer shake He Ganxian's heart in the slightest. Only by personally sacrificing someone extremely important to him, like adding fuel to the fire, can he break through the final barrier."
"Given He Ganxian's talent, he must have foreseen this scenario when his morality was divided. Thus, he deliberately saved these crucial moments for last."
"Marvelous!"
The True Immortal of Morality was indeed a peerless genius of the mountains and seas.
The events of his previous life had already proven the correctness of his path. Completing morality would lead to achieving Sage status.
He was ruthless to others and equally ruthless to himself.
His inner conscience was gradually being devoured and extinguished, and one could imagine the torment He Ganxian's heart must have endured throughout this process.
But once decided, he would proceed with unwavering resolve. No matter who or what, nothing could stop him.
"This is only the path He Ganxian is taking."
"What about the other half of the True Immortal of Morality, the Faceless Immortal?"
"I'm afraid his method of achieving Dao will not be much weaker than He Ganxian's."
Li Fan pondered silently, waiting for He Ganxian to finish this period of cultivation.
After the immortal island possibility was completely destroyed, He Ganxian swallowed the immense heavenly pillar of morality into his belly.
Then, he smiled lightly and was about to leave.
Li Fan finally spoke, "Fellow Daoist, please stay!"
He Ganxian looked at Li Fan, who had suddenly appeared, with extreme wariness.
The fact that he could hide here and escape his senses was enough to prove this person's strength.
And in He Ganxian's understanding, there seemed to be no such powerhouse in the mountains and seas.
Therefore, he became even more cautious.
However, he would not be scared away by Li Fan just like that. He Ganxian looked coldly at Li Fan, waiting for his next words.
"I see, Fellow Daoist, you also cultivate [Morality]?"
Upon hearing this, He Ganxian, who had been able to maintain his coldness, could not help but raise an eyebrow.
"Also?" He carefully examined Li Fan, observing him for a long time, yet he could not detect any trace of "morality" within the Great Dao.
But it was also as expected. He Ganxian was not far from achieving his Dao. If there were anyone else cultivating the same path in the entire mountains and seas, he would surely have sensed it.
And this person who appeared out of nowhere clearly did not fall into that category.
"Do you think I'm blind!" He Ganxian's voice slowly turned cold.
It seemed as if he would attack if they disagreed.
Li Fan, however, seemed oblivious to his malice and smilingly retorted, "Do you think I'm speaking nonsense?"
"Very well, observe if you will."
Li Fan pointed to a distant part of the mountains and seas, another possibility not far from the island-celestial realm.
"The heavens and earth there, suffering from the Calamity of Dao Erasure, are slightly less severe than the immortal island. The billions of living beings within are full of vitality, far exceeding this place."
With a light snap of his fingers, a wisp of flame suddenly appeared in the possibility Li Fan pointed to.
In just a moment, it spread like a wildfire.
Consuming the immortal realm and the sea of stars below.
This was not a grand spectacle for He Ganxian. His expression remained completely unfazed.
But what surprised him was that this person who had appeared out of nowhere was also indifferent.
He Ganxian scrutinized Li Fan again. He could feel that Li Fan was not a person with an evil heart, nor was he a madman who had lost his reason. Yet, he could so casually destroy a possibility.
Even as the flames spread beyond the possibility and gradually began to engulf larger areas of the mountains and seas, he showed no panic.
"Fellow Daoist, observe me, can I be called [Morality]?" Li Fan asked with a smile.
"No Dao, no virtue. Heartless, unjust." He Ganxian replied with just eight words.
Although he did not know the reason why Li Fan could remain so indifferent, out of confidence in his own cultivated path, He Ganxian still gave such a reply.
Li Fan sighed profoundly, "Fellow Daoist misunderstands me deeply! Actually, I am here to help you."
"Oh?"
"I have come specifically to assist you in achieving your Dao and attaining the noble status of Sage in the mountains and seas!" Li Fan said with utmost seriousness.
He Ganxian, who had been able to maintain his composure, could no longer hold back and let out a cold laugh.
"All nonsense, not a single true word. You are not weak in strength, and it's impossible for you to be toying with me for no reason? Are you perhaps trying to stall for time?"
"Are you his helper?" He Ganxian's expression changed as if he had realized something.
"Fellow Daoist worries too much. I merely encountered you by chance, observing your moral circulation, which has formed its own cycle. It seems you are only one step away from the final Sage status. Thus, seeing a worthy opponent, I could not help but reveal myself."
"If I've guessed correctly, the 'him' you mentioned is the other half from the [Division of Morality]. Is that not so?"
The moment the words "[Division of Morality]" were uttered, He Ganxian's expression completely shifted.
He stared intently at Li Fan, countless black mists swirling outwards like a vortex: "You still say you don't know him?"
The black mist, capable of driving all living beings in an entire possibility into deranged mutual slaughter, had no effect on Li Fan.
He continued calmly, "Though you appear to be an immortal without virtue, you are in fact cultivating virtue. While the other you is a truly heartless person, actually cultivating the Dao..."
Li Fan slowly recounted what he had deduced from his past life's experiences.
He Ganxian grew increasingly astonished and uncertain, his inner turmoil making it difficult to remain calm.
This was arguably the greatest secret he held.
Given that his Dao path was contrary to conventional understanding, after transcending, He Ganxian had not gone to the so-called Other Shore. Nor to the Sacred Dynasty, or anywhere else.
He had simply cultivated in solitude.
However, he had heard of the titles of the Sages of the Other Shore and the Sacred Emperor Tai Wei.
It was said that in the eyes of the Sages, only the survival of the mountains and seas as a whole mattered. And the lives within the mountains and seas, as well as ordinary possibilities, were not of great importance to them.
Only Sages truly possessed the qualification and power to save the mountains and seas.
Therefore, they occasionally assisted and enlightened those in the mountains and seas who had the potential to become Sages.
Could it be that this person was an incarnation of a Sage?
If not, how could he have accurately revealed his secret in one sentence? And also arrogantly claimed to help him become a Sage?
The more He Ganxian thought about it, the more he felt this possibility.
His tone also became somewhat more courteous: "May I ask, Fellow Daoist, where does the opportunity to become a Sage lie?"
"The path to Sage status does not lie with you, nor with me, but with him!" Li Fan reached out and pointed towards a certain part of the mountains and seas.
Although not explicitly stated, He Ganxian already understood where Li Fan was pointing.
"Morality was divided, yet morality was not separated."
"This peculiar characteristic is the fundamental basis for your ability to exist independently. If either side loses this characteristic..." Li Fan revealed a meaningful smile.
"It will become the qualification for the other side to achieve Dao!"
He Ganxian naturally knew that Li Fan's words were correct.
But morality was interdependent. Even the secret art of dividing morality from the past could not completely sever the two.
How could he easily make the other party "lose its characteristic"?
"The key lies in..."
"When virtue loses Dao, and Dao abandons virtue." He Ganxian was still pondering strenuously, but Li Fan had already revealed the heavenly secret in a single sentence.
"What you seek is to save the world. If you witness the mountains and seas being destroyed and are powerless to intervene, you will become [Without Dao]."
"As for what he seeks, it is to achieve Dao. If he witnesses the destruction of the mountains and seas and remains indifferent, he will be [Without Virtue]."
With just a few words, Li Fan struck He Ganxian with profound fear.
"No Dao! No Virtue!"
In He Ganxian's eyes, he saw a scene where the True Spirit Flame burned everything, and all mountains and seas were annihilated.
Faced with such a sight, he, due to his inability to act, would be proven "lost in Dao."
The other him, however, remained unmoved from beginning to end, thus being proven "lost in Virtue."
Morality was thoroughly divided, and his current state could no longer persist. His own existence might be difficult to maintain!
"A simple sentence revealed the method to eliminate [Moral True Immortal]. This person..."
"Even if not a Sage, he is not far from it!"
He Ganxian almost broke out in a cold sweat, now believing Li Fan's words by about fifty to sixty percent.
Perhaps, the other party was truly here to help him on the path to Sagehood.
At the very least, he was an ally, not an enemy!
Given the knowledge and power Li Fan had displayed, he truly had the potential to help the other Moral True Immortal eliminate him!
He Ganxian's demeanor became increasingly respectful: "Fellow Daoist speaks truly. But I wonder, what is your confidence level?"
"Calculating deliberately against a naive opponent... Ten percent."
"However, the one who tied the knot must untie it. The path to Sagehood still requires your personal endeavor."
"I can only offer reasonable suggestions," Li Fan said, his demeanor growing more serene as he perceived He Ganxian's psychological shift.
He Ganxian quickly nodded: "This is only natural!"
"My other self, though weak in strength, is extremely vigilant and hides very well. More importantly, he seems to have the assistance of an expert. I have probed him several times, but my attempts were inexplicably blocked."
"Furthermore, forcing him into a corner would be fatally damaging to me. How can I suppress him while ensuring my own safety?" He Ganxian continued to inquire.
"This matter is simple. Burning mountains and seas is not a true annihilation. It is merely a performance."
"You know it, but he doesn't. That is the most crucial difference."
"Using falsehood to deceive truth, using falsehood to achieve truth..."
For some reason, Li Fan paused mid-sentence, as if contemplating something.
He Ganxian became hesitant: "Fellow Daoist, is there a problem?"
"It is nothing. It's just... I suddenly thought of something else." After a moment of silence, Li Fan seemed to snap back to reality, and a wisp of flame appeared in his palm.
"What do you think of this flame?"
He Ganxian recognized this flame as the terrifying existence that had casually annihilated an entire possibility just moments ago.
Even from a distance, He Ganxian felt an irrepressible, heart-palpitating dread.
He had no doubt that this was a destructive power comparable to the Tribulation of Dao Erasure.
However, after observing it for a long time, He Ganxian could not ascertain the origin of this flame.
He could only offer an awkward compliment: "Fellow Daoist's divine abilities are truly profound."
Li Fan did not mind and began to explain his plan to He Ganxian: "I can use this flame, along with the Tribulation of Dao Erasure, to create a closed arena for you and him."
"To make the 'performance' as realistic as possible, I will burn a vast expanse of mountains and seas. Thus, within the arena, only scenes of vast mountains and seas, innumerable possibilities turning to ash amidst fire and water, will be visible."
"Your task is to confront him. And seize the opportunity to prove his 'lack of virtue.'"
He Ganxian gazed at Li Fan's palm. Within the flickering flames, it was as if he truly saw scenes of endless mountains and seas engulfed in a great fire.
He shivered involuntarily.
"Such a grand display, will it be alright?" he asked uncertainly.
Li Fan chuckled: "It is nothing, nothing! Though mountains and seas are vast, they are irrelevant to the ultimate outcome. As long as a new Sage can be created, all is well."
Such unwavering conviction and casual demeanor reassured He Ganxian considerably.
In the past, to extinguish the remnants of his conscience, he had also committed many world-destroying acts. But those were confined to specific, singular possibilities.
Compared to Li Fan's actions of casually burning large swathes of mountains and seas, his own were mere trifles.
Furthermore, Li Fan's magnanimity and uninhibited nature further convinced He Ganxian of his "Sage" status.
"You must be careful. To achieve the effect of deception, you must not only fool him but also fool yourself. My display of power, though nearly real, will be a clear flaw if you, within it, remain unmoved. It will not achieve the desired effect," Li Fan said slowly, staring at He Ganxian.
"Fool myself?" He Ganxian furrowed his brow slightly.
"Think carefully and prepare. I see that you still have some hesitation in your heart. When the time is right, I will seek you out again."
"Fellow Daoist, wait..."
Before He Ganxian could finish speaking, Li Fan's figure had already vanished from his sight.
Hidden within the mountains and seas, his whereabouts were unknown.
Only the flame in Li Fan's palm remained, burning continuously.
He Ganxian stood rooted to the spot for a long time, eventually slowly approaching the swirling flames.
An intense burning sensation assailed him, as if the very foundation of his existence was being ignited by the flames.
The black Qi of morality formed a vortex, enveloping the flame, attempting to extinguish it.
But the flame stood firm in the wind, unmoving.
Instead, the black Qi of morality was continuously consumed, becoming exceptionally thin in an instant.
"The true terrifying aspect of this flame is..."
"It seems capable of consuming my True Spirit?"
He Ganxian was suddenly startled, as if scalded. He recoiled violently, distancing himself from the True Spirit Flame.
His eyes revealed extreme apprehension.
"Using True Spirit as fuel, killing one thousand enemies while harming oneself eight hundred. This is undoubtedly a forbidden technique."
"Why does that person use it so effortlessly?"
Even if He Ganxian racked his brain, he would never have thought that there existed someone in the mountains and seas with infinite spirituality.
Therefore, after much deliberation, he could only conclude that Li Fan's True Spirit was exceptionally pure, far surpassing his own, and he did not care about such consumption.
"In the mountains and seas, only a Sage can operate so effortlessly." He Ganxian couldn't help but think.
If only one clue pointed to Li Fan's Sage status, He Ganxian might have doubted it.
But now, every unreasonable aspect displayed by Li Fan pointed to the same answer.
He Ganxian had no choice but to believe.
"I heard that Sages of the Other Shore can traverse the Eternal Void Realm."
"That is a void where the concept of [existence] no longer exists, the remnant after an entire span of mountains and seas has been swallowed by Dao Erasure."
"Utter emptiness."
"But if one can traverse and return from it, they can filter and bring back..."
"True Spirit."
"It is like a muddy mire formed from the sediment after the destruction of mountains and seas. Passing through it will taint one's own being with the mud."
"Perhaps it is precisely because of this that he can use the True Spirit Flame so recklessly."
He Ganxian was naturally envious of such a divine ability.
Unfortunately, though the ability was good, it could only be admired, not used.
Otherwise, no matter how talented he was, after using it once or twice, he would become just like everyone else.
"Other selves from different possibilities, when unified, can also increase one's True Spirit. However, the True Spirit foundation of selves in different circumstances is not the same. Moreover, during the process of unifying multiple selves, one cannot fully absorb the True Spirits of the other selves."
"The amount absorbed varies from person to person. The higher the conversion efficiency, the more likely one is to achieve sainthood."
"If, after absorbing all the selves from the remaining possibilities in an entire mountain and sea, one still hasn't glimpsed the opportunity to become a saint..."
"Then the hope is slim."
"Unless aided by powerful medicines like the Tai Yi Sacred Fortune Medicine, accumulated True Spirits brought back by saints returning from the Eternal Void Realm, or other sacred artifacts..."
After a period of leisurely contemplation, He Gan Xian's thoughts ultimately returned to Li Fan's proposed "arena" plan.
"To deceive him, and to deceive myself."
"He and I are one with each other by fate, and we sense each other's presence. The closer we are, the more accurate the sense. How can this be achieved?"
"Unless it's a genuine act. But if that's the case, I myself will be in danger."
He Gan Xian's expression was a mixture of joy and sorrow.
If Li Fan were someone familiar and trustworthy, he might have seriously considered it. But unfortunately, this person's origin was unfathomable, and his identity and motives were unclear.
The risk was simply too great!
For any other matter, the normally cautious He Gan Xian wouldn't even consider it. But it involved becoming a saint!
"A saint! The pinnacle of the mountain and sea. The ultimate strong being who can leap out of this mountain and sea."
"The reason I chose the Great Dao of Morality in the first place was for the goal of becoming a saint..."
Therefore, even though he knew the path ahead was fraught with peril, and might even be a trap.
He Gan Xian had never given up the idea of trying.
"He's right, I'm indeed not ready yet." Standing for a long time, hesitant and indecisive, He Gan Xian sighed with emotion.
In reality, it was not just He Gan Xian who was not ready.
Even Li Fan himself had not fully prepared.
Li Fan had witnessed the might of the Moral True Immortal after becoming a saint.
Even a newly ascended saint was not something that transcended beings could scheme against. In the face of an absolute power gap, any conspiracy or trickery was useless!
Li Fan certainly wouldn't overestimate himself and attempt an ant swallowing an elephant.
"The best outcome would be to refine both He Gan Xian and the Faceless Immortal simultaneously, and with their shared morality, achieve my great cause."
"However, the probability is very low."
"The Moral True Immortal was originally one. Now that they have split, if either side fails, the other side will absorb them much faster than an outsider like me."
"So, it's highly likely that one side will win in the arena and then ascend to sainthood."
Li Fan had long been psychologically prepared for this.
After all, his initial goal was to understand the secret of how fusing morality instantly made one compatible with mountains and seas.
If morality could do this, perhaps other Great Daos in the mountains and seas could too.
"Besides repeatedly observing the process of the Moral True Immortal's ascension, perhaps I can rely on him to tell me himself."
"He Gan Xian is a virtuous person. By helping him ascend, I would be showing him a debt of gratitude. Once he becomes a saint, the secrets of morality will no longer be useful. It wouldn't matter if he told me."
"The premise is that he cannot see the Return to Truth within me."
A wisp of blood flowed from Li Fan, converging into a human form in the void ahead.
Although it was merely blood shaped, it seemed to have gained spirituality the moment it formed. It first bowed to Li Fan.
Then it curiously looked around.
Li Fan used his finger as a brush, constantly writing on the blood person.
Torso, limbs, facial features.
Each was meticulously depicted.
"From today onwards, you will be Li Fan."
"When the true becomes false..."
"The false becomes true!"
As the final touch was placed, Li Fan's true body exhaled a stream of silvery mist towards the blood form in front.
As if flesh and blood were merging, after the mist was completely absorbed.
What appeared before Li Fan was another him!
Identical to Li Fan in appearance and soul.
Even if Bai Shuyue saw him, she likely wouldn't be able to tell which one was her beloved nephew.
This was not a simple clone technique, but a creation infused with the transformation of truth and falsehood, capable of passing as genuine!
It was like a new extension of his own body.
However, the Return to Truth had been separated.
In his past cycles, Li Fan had created numerous clones.
Sacred Emperor Li Ping, Li Bueren, and so on.
But this one before him was undoubtedly his masterpiece.
Li Fan examined it carefully and shook his head with a slight regret.
"It's still lacking something from the theoretical ideal state."
"It's the distribution of spirituality!"
"If I could retain the memory of Return to Truth and actively transfer a portion of my infinite spirituality to this clone, I might be able to achieve true self-replication and creation."
Li Fan felt no repulsion or fear in creating another self.
This was because his own infinite spirituality characteristic destined it to be inimitable.
Other clones, no matter how true, could not possess this unique trait that was unparalleled throughout the mountains and seas.
"Spirituality, potential. Or, perhaps, True Spirit."
"I don't know what it is yet."
"However, as I continually observe the cyclical changes of my aunt, I have vaguely glimpsed its traces."
"The transformation from truth to falsehood in Return to Truth, I can learn and imitate."
"This method of splitting spirituality, perhaps it's not impossible to learn!"
While Li Fan created and refined another version of himself to deceive He Gan Xian in the future, he also turned his attention to his aunt in the Xuanhuang Realm.
Although he had decided not to blindly follow the suggestions of the Boundless Mirror, Bai Shuyue had immediately found this wondrous artifact from the Sage's Dao Palace after her rebirth.
After some interaction, the two gradually returned to their optimal state of coexistence.
Surprisingly, even though they hadn't experienced life-and-death crises together in this lifetime, the Boundless Mirror's trust in Bai Shuyue remained undiminished.
Perhaps it was due to the Boundless Mirror's unique intuition.
After Bai Shuyue cultivated diligently within the Boundless Mirror for a hundred years, the Boundless Mirror, like in the previous lifetime, began to grow impatient.
"Too slow, too slow! It will take ages for you to transcend! Why not..."
Bai Shuyue completely ignored the Boundless Mirror's suggestion.
"Hey, why don't you believe me!" The Boundless Mirror became anxious as Bai Shuyue remained unmoved.
Bai Shuyue retorted, "Weren't you guarding at the Sage's doorstep before? How can you lack such patience? It's only been a hundred years."
The Boundless Mirror huffed, "Precisely because of the difficult times I endured in the past, I don't want to wait like this anymore."
"However, I understand your fear of the outside world. If you really don't want to leave the Xuanhuang Realm..."
The Boundless Mirror pondered for a moment, a clever idea forming in its mind.
"I can vaguely sense the aura of colleagues from the Tai Yi Palace here."
"Perhaps I can borrow their divine power!"
“I told you before, in the Dao Palace of yesteryear, the Young Master, the Futon, the Azure Lamp, and the Fly Whisk were the four most wondrous things,” the boundless mirror replied. “I’ve sensed a colleague’s aura here. It’s that Young Master!”
Bai Shuyue’s trust in the boundless mirror had waned considerably. She doubted, “Even if he truly is that person from the Taiyi Palace of yesteryear, surely you wouldn’t have had much interaction with him? To borrow his divine power… is it really as simple as asking?”
The boundless mirror cleared its throat, its enormous single eye scanning around. “If I were to approach him directly like that, it would naturally be impossible. Of course, methods must be employed.”
“That Young Master, he learned little of the Sage Lord’s abilities but adopted his temper perfectly. He’s always shouting nonsense like, ‘Taiyi came first, then Immortals, and Boundless preceded Taiyi.’ In reality…” The boundless mirror’s tone carried a hint of mockery. “All the Immortals respect him not for his own merit, but for the Sage Lord’s prestige. If he weren’t the Sage Lord’s disciple, no matter how special he might be, someone would have captured him long ago and refined him into an artifact. Yet, he struts around, blissfully unaware of this fact.”
Bai Shuyue was perplexed. “But, if this ‘Boundless’ dares to speak such grand words, he must possess some special abilities, right? He’s at least the Young Master of the Dao Palace, while you are merely a roof tile from its entrance. Do you really dare to scheme against him?”
Challenged by Bai Shuyue, the boundless mirror became displeased. “What do you know? I’ve disliked him for ages. It’s just that, due to the Sage Lord’s might, I’ve never dared to act, only contemplating it in my heart.”
“Now that the Sage Lord is gone…” The boundless mirror declared proudly, “To use a prepared mind against an unsuspecting one, to constrain this little Boundless, won’t it be a piece of cake?”
Bai Shuyue nodded. “Very well, I shall wait here and listen for your triumphant news. You may proceed!”
The boundless mirror’s expression froze. It pressed its manifested, massive head against Bai Shuyue, a playful grin on its face. “Although I have a brilliant plan, I cannot accomplish it alone. I need a helper.”
“Don’t rush to refuse yet, listen to me slowly.”
The image of the single-eyed head shattered, returning to its original form. Within the boundless mirror, a faint green light emanated, revealing a chaotic, undifferentiated state.
“Speaking of which, the Young Master does have the capital for his arrogance. Do you know what ‘Boundless’ is?”
“Born from the Dao, perfected before the Dao. Before all things, its value is immeasurable. The world we inhabit, with its myriad Great Daos, must yield to Boundless. Essentially, the Young Master doesn’t need to act; just standing there makes him an almost invincible being.”
As word after word of explanation unfolded, the proud and solitary figure of the Great Master Tiandu appeared within the shifting imagery of the boundless mirror. Boundless’s arrival seemed to unravel the chaotic heavens and earth. His ‘value’ was evident.
“Then you still intend to scheme against him? Isn’t that seeking your own demise?” Bai Shuyue frowned, staring at Boundless’s figure.
“Heh, continue listening. Although this is his greatest strength, it is also the source of his weakness. The Young Master’s value to the Great Daos of our world is naturally immeasurable. But what about the Great Daos of other worlds…”
“Have you ever heard the phrase, ‘I am a barbarian’?” the boundless mirror cackled.
Although Bai Shuyue didn’t grasp the phrase’s exact meaning, she was not foolish. After a moment’s thought, she understood. “You mean, Boundless’s preeminence is ineffective against the Great Daos of other worlds?”
“Precisely!” The boundless mirror responded, excitement evident.
The projected image suddenly showed a thick stone pillar descending rapidly towards the proud, solitary Boundless.
Boundless let out a yelp, his face contorted in terror as he instinctively reached out to block. But how could he?
Struck squarely, his form instantly shattered.
“Inside you, you have treasures from other worlds?” Bai Shuyue finally reacted.
“Hmph, hmph, hmph.” The boundless mirror let out a triumphant hum.
Then, it lowered its voice. “The Taiyi Sacred Palace was constructed by the Sage Lord himself. Most of the materials were sourced locally by the Sage Lord. However, some of the pillars were brought from other lands!”
“Originally, I didn’t know their origins.”
“But these pillars have been difficult for me to digest over the years, so I’ve made an educated guess.”
As the boundless mirror spoke, it slowly expelled a jade pillar radiating brilliant golden light. Though it was a broken piece, lacking a clear beginning or end, it was still thirty-three zhang long. The surface of the jade pillar seemed to have once been engraved with patterns, but over the years of digestion by the boundless mirror, they had become blurred. Nevertheless, the pillar’s sacred aura remained undiminished.
“This jade pillar is one of the main pillars of the 'Taiyi Hall' within the Sacred Palace. Although it was originally an inanimate object, it has absorbed the Sage Lord’s aura daily and thus developed a trace of sentience.”
“Try saying ‘small’ to it.”
Bai Shuyue complied. As if responding to her command, the jade pillar effortlessly transformed, shrinking into a jade staff of a fitting size. Although she knew no staff techniques, she could vaguely sense that merely by wielding it with its inherent power, even a simple swing would possess incredible destructive force.
In the Xuanhuang Realm, crossing the Dao Integration realm was a feat where mere contact meant death. However, Boundless was, after all, a disciple of the Immortal Realm’s Sage Lord. For Bai Shuyue, who was only at the mortal realm, to ambush him… even with the aid of a foreign object, the chance of success was minuscule.
“That’s why we need to cooperate!” Seeing Bai Shuyue’s continued hesitation, the boundless mirror persistently urged, “I will go to visit, using the excuse of seeing an old acquaintance. I’ll deliberately say something to shock his mind, and when he’s momentarily stunned, you’ll leap out from my belly and strike him on the head.”
“You must understand, the Young Master, relying on his innate characteristics, despises all other living beings from the bottom of his heart. He would never imagine I’d dare to launch a sudden attack. Furthermore, apart from the Dao of Boundless, his other divine abilities are rather ordinary. Practice this well, and once you get close, even if he reacts, he won’t be your match.” The boundless mirror vowed repeatedly.
Following this, the boundless mirror expounded at length on the benefits of Boundless. “If you can refine the Great Dao of Boundless, this realm's predicament can be resolved in an instant.”
“You can choose any suitable region for your cultivation, and no longer need to study the so-called ‘New Law’…”
Bai Shuyue, however, had a soft ear. After enduring the boundless mirror’s persuasion for many days, she finally agreed.
“This is the ‘Heaven-Overturning Staff Technique.’ I’ve forgotten where I learned it, but rest assured, it’s an extremely powerful divine ability. Coupled with the jade pillar I’ll give you, it truly possesses the might to overturn heaven and earth!”
“Of course, the most crucial part is the first strike. It must be fast, accurate, and ruthless…”
This staff technique was clearly no ordinary divine ability. It seemed to contain profound truths of controlling the Dao with a staff. With Bai Shuyue’s comprehension and the boundless mirror’s assistance, it took her a full three years to achieve minor mastery.
“Oh, right, to prevent you from being overwhelmed by the Young Master’s aura, it’s best to equip you with something as well.” Before parting, the boundless mirror scrutinized Bai Shuyue again, pondering. With that, it spat out a conical hat and a straw cloak. Bai Shuyue put them on. These two items appeared somewhat tattered and emitted an unpleasant odor, yet the boundless mirror regarded them with great fondness, far more so than the jade pillar.
“You must return these two items to me after the task is done,” it mumbled softly.
Bai Shuyue chuckled and nodded in agreement. As soon as she donned the hat and cloak, she felt as though the world around her had transformed. Having experienced various peculiar and bizarre deaths in past reincarnations, even the memory of being restrained by golden needles and vivisected, Bai Shuyue, living in the Xuanhuang Realm, was filled with profound unease. Even though she knew she possessed the ability to be reborn repeatedly, this awakening seemed to have spanned a longer duration, and the inherent uncertainties intensified her anxiety. But now… hidden beneath the conical hat and within the straw cloak, all that inner turmoil vanished! An inexplicable surge of confidence filled her heart. Even if torrential rain and floods raged outside, as long as she wore this attire, the world’s storms could not harm her!
“This…”
“This is not your imagination!” the boundless mirror exclaimed, sensing Bai Shuyue’s inner thoughts. “This hat and cloak were once worn by a frequent visitor to the Taiyi Sacred Palace. This person enjoyed observing the Dao Erasure swallowing the mountains and seas. He would often wear this hat and cloak, venturing directly into the tidal waves of Dao Erasure to witness the destruction of mountains and seas…”
A few simple sentences were enough to send shivers down Bai Shuyue’s spine. “These two items might be slightly worn from his prolonged use, but they still retain a trace of ‘Eternity’s’ residual charm. Withstanding the Young Master’s aura will be no problem!” the boundless mirror declared with utmost confidence.
“Eternity… Could it be the name of another Sage Lord?”
“No, no, no.” The boundless mirror quickly shook its head. “In this vast Immortal Realm, from the ancient past to the present, there are only the Three Sages. However, ‘Eternity’ might have been only half a step away from becoming a Sage, on par with the Sage Lords.”
“When the Taiyi Sage Lord was here, he would visit often. I even received enlightenment from him…” The boundless mirror seemed lost in thought, falling into an uncharacteristic silence for a moment. After a considerable pause, it regained its composure and continued, “These two treasures, having been frequently worn by Eternity, have thus been imbued with a trace of the Great Dao of Eternity’s resonance. The immense sense of security you feel upon wearing them originates from this!”
“These are truly my most prized possessions…” Bai Shuyue narrowed her eyes, recalling the dazzling display of treasures released by the boundless mirror when she faced the Faceless Immortal in her past life, wondering if these two items were among them. However, consumed by the urgency of escape at the time, she had paid no attention to such details. She could only assume, for now, that the boundless mirror was not lying.
Fully equipped, holding the jade pillar, Bai Shuyue calmed her mind and slowly practiced the Heaven-Overturning Staff Technique once more. Her state adjusted to its peak, and with all preparations complete, the boundless mirror swallowed her whole. Then, it transformed into a streak of light and silently sped towards the Dao Origin State of the Xuanhuang Realm.
“Hmm, at the cusp of action, you’re actually not nervous?” The boundless mirror asked curiously, sensing Bai Shuyue’s altered demeanor within its belly.
Bai Shuyue smiled but did not reply. “Even if we fail, it’s just a matter of trying again.”
Before long, they arrived within the territory of the Dao Origin State. As the boundless mirror slowly approached, an unassuming Dao Palace, previously hidden and unseen, materialized in the sky.
“Heh, he’s built it quite impressively. Really thinks of himself as a Sage Lord!” the boundless mirror muttered inwardly.
It emitted a beam of green light, directed towards the Heavenly Capital. “Before the Sage Lord’s gate, seeking an audience with the Young Master!”
The Heavenly Capital, which had remained motionless for millennia, awoke from its slumber upon sensing the aura emanating from the boundless mirror. The gates of the Dao Palace instantly swung open. The boundless mirror, intimately familiar with the Heavenly Capital’s layout, navigated with practiced ease to the deepest part, where the Great Master Tiandu, Boundless, resided. Pushing open the door, the boundless mirror’s gaze fell upon two figures, one large and one small. The smaller one was naturally the Great Master Tiandu. And the one seated before the Great Master was…
“My heavens, Sage Lord!” Even though the figure was incredibly indistinct, the boundless mirror, acting as a loyal guard dog, recognized its identity instantly. Its mind went blank, and it slumped to the ground.
Bai Shuyue, hidden within the boundless mirror’s belly, lacked a concrete understanding of Sage Lords and thus wasn't as terrified as the boundless mirror. Seeing its pathetic display, she couldn’t help but silently criticize. However, she dared not make a sound, lest they be discovered. She could only do her best to conceal herself, silently awaiting the opportune moment to strike.
“Rise, your Master departed long ago. This is merely an afterimage left behind,” the Great Master said to the trembling boundless mirror below, a hint of amusement in his voice.
“An afterimage?” A myriad of thoughts flashed through its mind. The boundless mirror, which had been prepared to have its intellect erased and be refashioned into a mere roof tile, froze upon hearing the Great Master’s words. An instant later, it felt an immense relief. “So it was just a false alarm!” With that thought, it felt a surge of annoyance. “You, Boundless, using the Sage Lord’s image to trick me into embarrassing myself!” It mentally cursed the Great Master countless times, but outwardly, it remained respectful.
“Please forgive my lack of decorum, Young Master!” This address to the Young Master pleased the Great Master greatly. It seemed to evoke memories of the time when the Sage Lord was present, and all the Immortal Emperors showed him utmost respect.
“The destruction of the Immortal Realm occurred a long time ago.”
“After such a long time, for us to meet again in the Lower Realm…” the Great Master mused wistfully.
“All thanks to the benevolence and protection of the Grand Master and the Young Master!” the boundless mirror replied, its face unblinking. The Great Master regarded it with some curiosity. “The sudden descent of Dao Erasure left me in a rather sorry state. How did you manage to escape unscathed and survive until now?”
The boundless mirror replied with a touch of flattery, “After cultivating under the Sage Lord’s tutelage for so many years, I’ve managed to retain some rudimentary survival skills. However, I suffered severe injuries, and it took me many years to recover. Upon waking, I sensed your aura nearby and immediately came to pay my respects.”
The boundless mirror’s words made sense, and the Great Master nodded slightly. He no longer pressed the matter. In truth, the reason he had awoken from his seclusion and opened his gates today was entirely due to the boundless mirror’s status as a former item of the Taiyi Sacred Palace. As for this humble tile itself… he truly didn’t think much of it.
“Time changes, and the world is impermanent. I never expected that after so many years, we would meet again in this grand Taiyi Palace.”
The Grand Master glanced at the Boundless Wall, observed it for a moment, and nodded slightly, “It seems you’ve managed quite well.”
The Boundless Wall chuckled, “All thanks to the blessings of the Young Master and the Master. Otherwise, how could I have achieved this? However, it’s still far inferior to you, Young Master. This Dao Palace is indeed magnificent. It’s quite reminiscent of the past!”
“It was merely a small undertaking, a convenience to reminisce. The Grand Master of Tiandu, also known as [Wu Ji], always enjoyed flattery when he was in the Immortal Realm. Despite everything he has experienced, this trait remains unchanged. Especially since the other party is an old acquaintance from the Taiyi Palace, it brings him a long-lost joy. He had initially intended to see them, send them away, and continue his cultivation. Now, however, he feels no need to rush.”
The Boundless Wall, through arduous effort and a torrent of flattery, made the Grand Master even more elated. Finally, the Boundless Wall, with its single eye twirling, looked towards the Taiyi phantom.
“Young Master, why is this Great Master’s phantom so lifelike? When I first saw it, my entire body went weak from shock.”
The Grand Master chuckled, “Master has detached himself from the world, yet he still left behind a phantom to support the collapsing heavens. Although it is merely a phantom, it still possesses a portion of Master’s divine power. Although you have made some progress over the years, to want to distinguish them at a glance… that is still wishful thinking.”
The Boundless Wall was filled with rage at the Grand Master’s words, but he maintained a respectful demeanor, continuing to listen.
“When Master was here, he represented the Great Dao of [Tai Yi] in this world. Now that Master has departed, only this phantom remains, yet it is still sufficient to represent [Tai Yi].”
“However, with the destruction of the Immortal Realm and the incompleteness of the Great Dao, the Dao of Tai Yi has also undergone corresponding changes…”
“Now, this [Tai Yi] is not the [Tai Yi] of the past.”
The Grand Master’s words were somewhat convoluted. However, both the Boundless Wall and Bai Shuyue within the Boundless Wall's belly understood him clearly.
The Boundless Wall stared intently at the Taiyi phantom, an uncontrollable greed rising within his heart. But the Sage Lord’s might, like an instinct, pressed down on his heart, making the Boundless Wall hesitate to act.
“With the Great Master’s divine power, since this phantom remains, surely you can also contact him through it?” The Boundless Wall asked, his voice filled with envy.
The Grand Master snorted, “What you say has some truth to it. However, it is based on the premise that Master wishes to ‘perceive.’ Precisely because Master’s true strength is too great, even if he normally departs and leaves only a phantom of himself, he can still sense everything around him through this phantom. This contradicts his original intention.”
“Therefore, he employed the method of [Detachment from the World], truly severing his existence in this world and completely dissociating himself. In reality, it is no different from perishing.”
“This phantom merely represents the [Tai Yi] of this world. It is not Master. If you truly wish to contact Master, instead of placing your hope in this phantom, it would be more effective to recite Master’s name a thousand times in your heart every day.”
The Boundless Wall was immediately relieved. “I see, then I am at ease.”
“Hm?”
The Boundless Wall’s reaction caught the Grand Master by surprise. As he was momentarily stunned, a figure leaped out of thin air. Holding a white staff, concealed within a straw cloak and a bamboo hat, they swung it down directly at him!
“Seeking death!”
The Grand Master laughed in extreme anger. He could hardly believe that a mere tile from the front section of the Taiyi Palace would dare to attack him.
“Could it be that I misjudged? It is not the true body, or has it been seized by someone else?” The Grand Master’s first thought was this.
Despite his shock, the Grand Master’s movements did not cease. “Having seen Wu Ji, why do you not disperse!”
The arrogance of being [Wu Ji] made him, even having foreseen Bai Shuyue’s action a moment earlier, refuse to dodge. He spoke calmly.
But in the next instant, he realized something was wrong. That staff seemed somewhat familiar; it was unaffected by the Great Dao of Wu Ji. And that bamboo hat, that straw cloak…
After comprehending the Great Dao of Tai Yi for many years, the Grand Master had manifested myriad aspects of the Great Dao within his mind. His past memories had become somewhat blurred.
But at this moment, the simultaneous appearance of the jade pillar, the bamboo hat, and the straw cloak awakened something deep within his past.
“Are these not all old artifacts from the Taiyi Palace?”
The Grand Master, filled with shock and anger, lost his composure and retreated rapidly. However, the person holding the staff pursued him like a persistent plague. The staff carried the might to overturn the heavens, drawing closer and closer to him.
“Presumptuous!”
Seeing that there was nowhere to retreat, the Grand Master’s inner ferocity was ignited. He pointed a finger at the person in the straw cloak, and instantly, hundreds of thousands of figures, like a rain of swords, shot forth. Each figure had a prototype found among the beings of the Dao Origin State. They were tools used by the Grand Master to comprehend the Great Dao of Tai Yi, and at this moment, transformed into divine abilities, they possessed world-destroying might.
Like a torrential downpour, they bombarded Bai Shuyue. If she hadn’t been protected by the Eternal Straw Cloak, she might have been reduced to ashes in an instant.
Despite the obstruction, the Heaven-Overturning Staff technique's momentum did not diminish. While swinging the staff, Bai Shuyue also noticed the countless figures that blocked her, blooming like fireworks.
“It seems each image corresponds to a certain Great Dao?”
“Tai Yi, born innately, deriving the Dao of all things…”
The comprehension accumulated from nearly thirty lifetimes of reincarnation was terrifying, so much so that Bai Shuyue, even while fighting, could dimly perceive various insights. Originally, these heavenly Dao shadows were obstacles. But after Bai Shuyue comprehended them, she could instantly turn them to her advantage. The initial resistance was immense, but as Bai Shuyue comprehended and adapted, she gradually found herself at ease!
In the eyes of the Grand Master, this scene was extremely terrifying. The person holding the staff opposite him seemed to understand all the Daos in the world, just like him. His killing moves seemed useless against her. He could only watch helplessly as the Heaven-Overturning Staff descended upon his head.
In a daze, the Grand Master recalled the events of the past. A True Immortal, who had not yet attained the nameless realm, found his way to the front of the Taiyi Palace through some unknown means. Although blocked by restrictions and unable to enter, he refused to leave, insisting on meeting the Sage Lord.
However, the Tai Yi Sage Lord had long since ceased to concern himself with the affairs of the Immortal Realm. The Grand Master stepped forward, intending to send him away.
“Immortal Elder, please do me a favor and inform them. Just let me see the Sage Lord.”
The person still refused to leave, even pulling out a jade slip, attempting to appease the Grand Master: “This is a staff technique I accidentally comprehended. It possesses the ability to overturn heaven and earth. Immortal Elder, if you peruse it, you will surely gain some insight…”
With the Grand Master’s discerning eye, he would not value the comprehension of a True Immortal who had not attained the nameless realm. The person’s attempt to appease him failed, instead enraging the Grand Master. He sent the jade slip flying to the ground with a slap and forcibly expelled the True Immortal.
“This staff technique… seems to be what was written in that jade slip?”
“Why did that person insist on meeting Master back then?”
Before his consciousness plunged into darkness, these were the thoughts that crossed the Grand Master’s mind.
…Ding!
Like the clang of metal against metal, it echoed continuously through the nine heavens. Bai Shuyue, wielding the jade staff, struck the Grand Master squarely between the eyebrows. Although the Grand Master was knocked unconscious, the jade pillar also suffered the recoil, instantly showing countless cracks.
“Quick, quick, quick! Before he wakes up, subdue him!”
The Boundless Wall was extremely excited, revealing its true form and emitting myriad beams of treasure light. Some transformed into ropes, binding the unconscious Grand Master tightly. Others seemed to be simply discarded, flying into a corner, as if simply making space to suppress the Grand Master.
A large crack appeared in the center of the Boundless Wall, like a gaping maw. Countless ropes were tied to the Grand Master, slowly pulling him into it.
“This Wu Ji isn’t dead yet?” Bai Shuyue grumbled.
“Although he is somewhat foolish, he is, after all, the Great Dao of Wu Ji! He wouldn’t die so easily from one strike from you. It’s just that his spiritual intelligence has been temporarily shaken, and he has lost consciousness.”
“Hurry and help me drag him into my belly, suppress him, and refine him slowly!”
“Hahaha, I never thought this brat would have such a day!”
The Boundless Wall cheered with delight, and Bai Shuyue quickly helped. The Grand Master was merely a boy, yet dragging him felt like moving a mountain. It took considerable effort to move him into the Boundless Wall.
The Boundless Wall emitted boundless light. The halos distorted and struggled, as if the Grand Master had already awakened and would break free at any moment. Bai Shuyue watched with trembling fear. Fortunately, perhaps due to years of gluttonous consumption, the Boundless Wall’s appetite had expanded. Eventually, the Grand Master’s struggles grew weaker and weaker, settling into calm.
“Are we safe now?”
“Temporarily. To truly digest him will take a long time, and it will require your assistance.” Perhaps due to eating too much, the Boundless Wall’s thoughts were affected, its responses were extremely slow and sometimes incoherent.
However, Bai Shuyue, having developed great tacit understanding with the Boundless Wall, could barely understand its meaning.
“Let’s go quickly, find a safe place.” The Boundless Wall could no longer move and urged Bai Shuyue to carry it away.
Pointing at the Taiyi phantom, who had witnessed the entire capture of the Grand Master without moving, Bai Shuyue hesitated, “What… about this?”
“I feel that this phantom’s value might even surpass Wu Ji’s.”
“Your feeling is not wrong. However, we should not covet the phantom of the Sage Lord.” The Boundless Wall, usually greedy, said this, surprising Bai Shuyue greatly. But since the Boundless Wall had spoken, Bai Shuyue would not harbor any greedy thoughts either. They fled in haste.
In Tiandu of the Dao Origin State, silence returned, as if death had fallen. Only the Taiyi phantom sat there silently. After an unknown amount of time, a figure arrived outside Tiandu. Its state was peculiar; it had no physical form, enveloped in a faint azure light. Like a feather, it slowly floated into Tiandu.
There was no obstruction. Following the memories of its past life, it went directly before the Taiyi phantom. The chanting that had disappeared due to the Grand Master's absence resumed. The azure feather, bathed in the Taiyi chanting, actually emitted a faint golden light!
…
Regarding the events in the Taiyi Palace, the Boundless Wall and Bai Shuyue were unaware. They were still fleeing at this moment, the Boundless Wall explaining to Bai Shuyue why it had abandoned the Taiyi phantom.
“Firstly, what Wu Ji said may not be true. He said it was merely a phantom, so be it?”
“What if the Great Master can sense everything happening around him through the phantom? Although I look down on Wu Ji, in the eyes of the Great Master, his position might indeed be more important. If I were to defy him, I fear I would face punishment.” The Boundless Wall muttered.
“Furthermore… too much greed leads to indigestion. The Great Dao of Wu Ji alone is enough for us to digest for a while. Too much, like the Taiyi phantom, would only confuse our minds.”
Bai Shuyue eyed the Boundless Wall suspiciously, “Are you sure you weren’t taken over by Wu Ji instead? These words don’t sound like something you would say. ‘Too much greed leads to indigestion’?”
“Heh. Do you think that I hid so many treasures before just to consume them all? Of course, that is partly the reason. But the main purpose is for reserves. Perhaps at a critical moment, they could save our lives.”
“If a better opportunity arises, we’ll replace them. If not, consuming them slowly is also acceptable,” the Boundless Wall said, shaking its head.
Recalling the methods the Boundless Wall used to save her from the faceless figure in her past life, Bai Shuyue nodded slightly.
“You’re going to consume and digest Wu Ji, and you’re not afraid of the Sage Lord’s punishment? You might be able to hide for a while, but you’ll have to face it eventually, right?” Bai Shuyue asked again.
“Who said I am truly going to consume Wu Ji?”
“I don’t want to become the new Wu Ji. The fundamental purpose is not to help you break through your cultivation barriers?” The Boundless Wall retorted, full of disappointment.
Bai Shuyue was stunned upon hearing this.
“I am merely going to imprison him in my belly for a while, borrowing his strength. When you transcend, I will let him go. And given his personality, he certainly won’t mention being captured by us…” The Boundless Wall said triumphantly.
“Try to grip me tightly.” The Boundless Wall suddenly said to Bai Shuyue.
Bai Shuyue reached out and gently stroked the Boundless Wall, which had taken on a strange color. A sense of chaotic emptiness arose in her heart.
“No wonder he had such arrogance… this is [Wu Ji]?” It wasn’t a matter of one Dao being stronger than another, but a generational suppression, like an elder looking down upon a junior.
Holding the Boundless Wall of Wu Ji, Bai Shuyue scanned the Azure Nether heavens and earth. She felt that all the restraints in the world, the interwoven net of heaven and earth, were no longer as unbreakable as before. It was as if with just a reach of her hand, she could tear them all apart!
“Perhaps we don’t need to find another safe place to cultivate.”
“Right here in the Xuanhuang Realm, we can disregard all rules,” Bai Shuyue suddenly spoke.
“This is the wondrous use of Wu Ji! What do you say, wasn’t I right? This is just the initial stage. Later, when Wu Ji compromises even more, we can borrow even more power.”
“So, stop researching that ‘New New Law.’ Focus on cultivating and breaking through as soon as possible.”
Upon hearing this, Bai Shuyue showed a rare hint of hesitation.
Bai Shuyue, despite her experiences, had not forgotten her dear nephew. A significant part of her motivation for developing a new cultivation method was for Li Fan's benefit. Moreover, Bai Shuyue had a premonition that this new, new method possessed potential and prospects surpassing ordinary cultivation techniques.
"The perspective of the Boundless Wall is limited to this lifetime," she mused. "But my ambition spans dozens, even hundreds, of future lives! I cannot possibly scheme for Infinite Unity before each lifetime's cultivation. It’s not only troublesome but also risks wasting a reincarnation opportunity if I fail. The new, new method... must not be abandoned!"
"However, this does not contradict my temporary cultivation of the old method to quickly advance my realm. With greater strength comes a different perspective, making the deduction of the new, new method much more efficient."
In an instant, numerous thoughts flashed through Bai Shuyue's mind. She then nodded to the Boundless Wall, saying, "Rest assured, I have my own considerations."
Setting aside the deduction of the new, new method for the moment, Bai Shuyue, with the aid of Infinite Unity's power, disregarded the laws of inversion enforced by the Doctrine Transmitter Heavenly Venerates within the Xuanhuang Realm and focused on her cultivation. As for resources, with the Boundless Wall's sponsorship, she had no need to worry.
The terrifying cumulative spirituality from thirty reincarnated lifetimes now became evident. After cultivating in seclusion for over ten days, Bai Shuyue felt an invisible barrier blocking her path. Ahead… there was no longer a way forward.
"According to ancient cultivation texts, I have now reached the end of mortal cultivation, the pinnacle of Dao Integration," she thought. "If seeking immortality is impossible, I must pursue longevity, either by harnessing the power of worldly laws or relying on rare longevity-enhancing treasures. The realm that billions of cultivators have dreamed of since ancient times, I have reached in ten days. Cultivation… is surprisingly easy."
Bai Shuyue looked up at the sky and let out a long sigh. To be honest, even she hadn't expected her cultivation speed to be so terrifyingly rapid. Upon emerging from seclusion, she couldn't quite process it.
The Boundless Wall, on the other hand, was utterly stunned. It, which had previously urged her to cultivate quickly, fell into an uncanny silence after witnessing Bai Shuyue's unrestrained cultivation speed. It even seemed to cower, subtly distancing itself, no longer as close as before.
Bai Shuyue found it amusing. "You devised every method to make me cultivate, and now that I've truly exerted myself, you're acting like this? What's the reason?"
The Boundless Wall grumbled, "I just suddenly thought of some terrifying things."
"Terrifying?"
"Perhaps, in other worlds, you are an incredibly significant figure. It's just that in this realm, you've been suppressed by the Xuanhuang Realm's unique environment, forcing you to remain a mortal. If, after transcending, you were to encounter your other selves…"
"Wouldn't that be like a lamb entering a tiger's den?" The more the Boundless Wall thought about it, the more sense it made to him. His expression grew increasingly gloomy, and he sighed like a frost-bitten eggplant.
"How would it be like a lamb entering a tiger's den?" Bai Shuyue asked, piqued. At this point, she still lacked a deep understanding of the truth of the Mountains and Seas, the concept of parallel possibilities, let alone the cultivation method of transcended powerhouses with unified selves.
The Boundless Wall briefly explained the concept, and Bai Shuyue's expression turned serious. "If that's the case, even after achieving transcendence, it wouldn't necessarily become safer? Instead, it might become more dangerous due to exposing oneself?"
"Generally speaking, those who reach the transcendental realm have no need to worry about such things. After all, even if there are infinite possibilities within the Mountains and Seas, it's extremely rare for multiple selves to achieve transcendence. But with your monstrous talent, it's hard to say," the Boundless Wall sighed. Exceptional talent was indeed a good thing, but perhaps if it was *too* exceptional, it wasn't necessarily a good thing. This was something the Boundless Wall hadn't considered before.
However, Bai Shuyue, knowing herself best, understood the origin of her heaven-defying talent. "If the other selves in other worlds didn't possess the ability for constant rebirth, they certainly wouldn't be like me," she thought, feeling somewhat reassured. Even with this knowledge solidifying, she decided not to reveal it to the Boundless Wall, maintaining an unnerving silence.
In the ensuing quiet, Bai Shuyue couldn't help but drift into thought, once again feeling curious about the truth behind her incessant rebirths. "If I keep being reborn, then what about my other selves in other worlds?" she wondered. "What kind of power is directing all of this?"
When she was merely a mortal, Bai Shuyue hadn’t felt much fear towards her constant rebirths, considering it a lucky ability. But now, standing at the precipice of immortality, she saw everything more clearly. It was a majestic power, beyond the reach and imagination of even True Immortals! The more she pondered, the more insignificant and powerless she felt in its presence.
Both the Boundless Wall and Bai Shuyue fell into a prolonged silence, but their reasons for dread differed. After a long while, the Boundless Wall finally broke the silence. "Damn it, I still trust my gut feeling. This shouldn't be a disaster; rather, it's a tremendous stroke of fortune!" he declared, gritting his teeth.
Bai Shuyue snapped back to reality and chuckled dismissively. "Let's take it one step at a time. I was just a tiny mortal at first, and now I've lived so many more lives. Even if I were to die suddenly, it would have been worth it. Why dwell on these thoughts?"
After this interlude, they formally discussed the method of ascending to immortality. "Immortals, unlike mortals, are distinguished by the 'Mountains and Seas.' Mount Shang grants the power of immortality; the Infinite Sea supplies endless sources..."
Like any being hearing the truth of the Mountains and Seas for the first time, Bai Shuyue was deeply awestruck. The might of immortals far exceeded her imagination. "No wonder the difference between immortals and mortals is like a chasm between heaven and earth," she mused inwardly.
The Boundless Wall continued, "Your current realm is sufficient. If the Immortal Court still existed, I could privately procure an Immortal Emperor's decree, and you would ascend instantly. However..."
"The Immortal Realm has been destroyed. Even with the knowledge I possess, it's likely useless now."
Bai Shuyue looked confused. "Just how much have you actually swallowed?"
The Boundless Wall rolled his eyes. "What do you know? Having provisions means peace of mind. If it weren't for my foresight in gathering so many resources in the past, how could I have escaped the Great Tribulation of the Immortal Realm's destruction?"
"Perhaps it's precisely because I've overeaten that my current strength is not as great as it once was," Bai Shuyue scoffed.
"There's some truth to that. But then again..." The Boundless Wall's large eyes rolled, and he said with a hint of pride, "The strength I pursue is fundamentally different from yours, cultivators. Ultimately, I am just a tile. Why would I seek out fighting and killing?"
In all their time together, this was the first time Bai Shuyue had heard the Boundless Wall speak like this. After considering his words, her eyes widened in disbelief. "Could it be that your ultimate pursuit is still..."
"Exactly! My desire is to become the foremost pillar of talent in the Mountains and Seas!" the Boundless Wall declared solemnly. "You must understand, in the days of the Taiyi Palace, I was above the Sage Lords! Ruling over Sage Lords, suppressing the Mountains and Seas – this is the lifelong pursuit of us pillars."
"All the resources I've consumed in the past have transformed into inner refinement, continuously advancing me towards my goal… Of course, external assistance is also crucial." The Boundless Wall's tone shifted abruptly, and he looked intently at Bai Shuyue. "If you can achieve transcendence and incidentally bring me to the legendary Other Shore... it would save me millions of years of hard work. You're not even a True Immortal yet, so you still need to strive."
With that playful remark, the oppressive atmosphere completely dissipated.
"Since the Immortal Realm no longer exists, how can I ascend?" Bai Shuyue asked again.
"Fleeting clouds obscure the eyes, preventing one from seeing the Mountains and Seas. To behold its visage..."
"Firmly grasp me!" the Boundless Wall suddenly said, releasing wisps of the Infinite Great Dao. He continued, "Using the remains of True Immortals from this world, we shall pave a path to ascend the mountain and traverse the sea!"
Bai Shuyue's heart trembled. To achieve the feat of slaying immortals with a mortal body should have been a fantasy. But with the Infinite Great Dao in hand, it was no longer impossible.
With the boundless aura that enveloped her, Bai Shuyue felt a surge of ambition. True Immortal, Nameless True Immortal, so what? Could she not slaughter them with mortal flesh?
Bai Shuyue's first thought was of the Starving Immortal outside the Xuanhuang Realm. However, the Boundless Mirror quickly dismissed this plan. "You have the ambition to slaughter immortals, but you must proceed step by step! That one is only a step away from the Nameless realm, and is a bit too strong for an initial sparring partner."
"Within the Xuanhuang Realm, there are many who have been reincarnated with immortal artifacts, essentially fallen immortals. You might as well spar with them first. Their cultivation realm doesn't matter; the main thing is to adapt and use your boundless power to break all techniques."
Upon hearing this, Bai Shuyue immediately thought of Ou Shangtian, whom she had encountered before. However, with her current strength, she stood at the pinnacle of mortals. Even without using her boundless power or the True Immortal Sigils, Ou Shangtian would not be her match. Choosing him as a target would be akin to a great dragon preying on a small snake.
Fortunately, the Boundless Mirror quickly resolved Bai Shuyue's concern: "Even if an immortal artifact has descended to the mortal realm, it cannot completely shed its immortal origins. As long as they are nearby, I can roughly sense them. Leave finding opponents to me!"
Having gradually grown accustomed to the Boundless Mirror's various magical abilities, Bai Shuyue nodded in agreement. One person and one mirror scoured the Xuanhuang Realm, searching the heavens and earth.
The first suitable opponent they found was named Azure Void. She was rumored to be a renowned beauty within the Myriad Immortals Alliance, so striking that even Bai Shuyue, upon first sight, marveled, "How could such a captivating creature exist in this world?"
"This young woman carries a fragment of the Great Yin Jade Pendant within her, originating from the Immortal Realm. She was born with a rare, supreme Yin and utmost gentle constitution, a cultivation prodigy. But she had half of an incomplete Great Yang raw jade implanted into her." The Boundless Mirror viewed her with a simple value system: "Is she tasty or not?" Human beauty was completely disregarded; it scanned her as if inspecting goods, commenting, "They are called Yin and Yang, but in reality, Yin and Yang are difficult to harmonize..."
"From what you say, 'Yin and Yang are difficult to harmonize' doesn't sound like a good thing?" Bai Shuyue frowned.
"Naturally! Someone is deliberately tormenting her! When the Yin and Yang imbalance acts up, she suffers from a burning heart. And this Yin and Yang energy is innate, born from the heavens. It is extremely difficult to resolve. She must have a male counterpart who holds the other half of the Great Yang raw jade to resolve it for her. Even if that person is a helpless mortal, she can only accept what comes, even asking for intimacy." The Boundless Mirror scrutinized Azure Void, its gaze stripping away all her secrets. "Furthermore, she cannot enjoy any of the benefits from the harmony of Yin and Yang during this process, all of it goes to the other half. Tut tut tut, mortals in the Xuanhuang Realm truly have a peculiar way of playing..."
"Enough!" Bai Shuyue interrupted the Boundless Mirror with a cold voice mid-sentence. Although she had lived alone for more than ten years and had forgotten about the joys of romance, she was still a woman and knew the torment such methods inflicted upon females. "Azure Void has achieved Dao Integration, yet she is still treated as a plaything. I suspect the mastermind behind this must be those Dharma-Preachers from the Myriad Immortals Alliance. Hmph!" Having served within the Myriad Immortals Alliance for several lifetimes, Bai Shuyue quickly pieced together the cause and effect.
While the two were communicating telepathically, Azure Void, who had been inexplicably blocked, had already launched a fierce attack. Enjoying fame among the cultivators of the Myriad Immortals Alliance, Azure Void's reputation was not solely based on her beauty. Her own strength was not to be underestimated.
Her accompanying Great Yin power, combined with the soul of Dao Integration, the Azure Hue, wove thousands of threads of dim light, capable of injuring and trapping enemies invisibly. The Great Yin was endless and inexhaustible. Even in a direct attrition, she had few rivals within the same realm.
But... she was no match for Bai Shuyue's staff. This was the first time Bai Shuyue had actively attempted to manipulate the power of the boundless Great Dao to fight an enemy. As if her abilities were suddenly stripped away, and the power of the Great Yin suddenly abandoned her, the myriad threads woven by Azure Void slowly dispersed in the air. Her hidden figure was also shockingly exposed. Bai Shuyue’s staff struck her between the eyebrows. Dazed, she stumbled to the ground.
Bai Shuyue looked at Azure Void, putting away her jade staff. Her expression slowly softened as she inquired about the identity of the person who had tormented her. However, Azure Void's words made Bai Shuyue's killing intent surge manifold. "This concubine does not know his specific identity. It is because each time, the person who brings the 'Yang half' is different. Sometimes it's a noble young master from a prominent family, sometimes an unknown minor cultivator, or even a beggar. Or, perhaps, like me, it could be a woman... And regardless of the opponent's cultivation realm, this concubine is unable to resist. Who would have known that the renowned Fairy Azure Void was actually like this? Perhaps, this is what he truly desires." Azure Void did not cry, as if she had long accepted her fate, narrating her story calmly.
Upon hearing the complete account, not only Bai Shuyue found it unacceptable, but even the Boundless Mirror was stunned: "My goodness, the mortals of the Xuanhuang Realm have truly bizarre methods!" A moment later, sensing Bai Shuyue's icy gaze, the Boundless Mirror quickly corrected itself: "Such manipulation of hearts is truly a path that leads to death!"
Although indignant, Bai Shuyue did not lose her head. She had the Boundless Mirror investigate further and confirm the truth of Azure Void's statement before making up her mind. "The next one I'll spar with will be the mastermind behind this." "Can you help me find him?"
Sensing Bai Shuyue's unprecedented rage, the Boundless Mirror dared not refuse. It helped extract the half-piece of Yang jade from Azure Void and swallowed it whole. After a while, it regurgitated a complete piece and handed it to Azure Void. "Young lady, absorb this jade again. With your cultivation, within a few years, you will naturally achieve harmony between Yin and Yang and will no longer be subject to others!" The Boundless Mirror coughed lightly and said gently.
Azure Void seemed in disbelief. Trembling, she accepted the Yang jade, feeling its familiar yet strange complete energy. Even after enduring countless hardships and never shedding a tear, she wept at this moment. She solemnly put away the Yang jade and bowed to express her gratitude for their life-saving grace. "Hmm, being a good person occasionally feels quite nice. Although I lost some of my stored goods." The Boundless Mirror shook its head.
"No longer subject to others..." Bai Shuyue's mind was replaying the Boundless Mirror's accidental remark. It seemed to have touched a sensitive chord within her, as if she were on the verge of uncovering some truth. However, the feeling was fleeting and disappeared before she could grasp it. The Boundless Mirror's next words pulled her back to reality: "The method of controlling people through the Yin-Yang jade has been broken. The painstakingly crafted toy has been damaged. The mastermind will surely be furious and come looking for us. We just need to wait patiently here."
"What if he doesn't come?" Bai Shuyue's eyebrows rose.
"Uh..." The Boundless Mirror glanced at Bai Shuyue and immediately presented a backup plan. "While refining the Yang jade, I captured the aura of its original owner. Although it was only a wisp, I can follow the clues to find the mastermind. It will just be a bit troublesome!"
"Even if I have to scour the entire Xuanhuang Realm, I will find this person. Otherwise, my intent will not be appeased!" Bai Shuyue clenched her jade staff, issuing a firm command. The Boundless Mirror quietly sighed and could only agree.
As Bai Shuyue had predicted, the hidden mastermind, for some unknown reason, did not come looking for Azure Void for a long time. He did not appear enraged by the destruction of his beloved toy.
"Find him!" With Bai Shuyue's command, the Boundless Mirror had no choice but to work hard. Fortunately, the Xuanhuang Realm was not that vast. After some effort, the Boundless Mirror quickly pinpointed the target. "It points to this void, it seems to be the headquarters of the Myriad Immortals Alliance."
"Can we get in?" Bai Shuyue asked, frowning. She knew that the Myriad Immortals Alliance headquarters was actually within the Heavenly Profound Mirror, protected by a prohibition from the Doctrine Transmitter Heavenly Venerates, making it extremely difficult to infiltrate.
"That won't trouble me! While the Profound Heaven Treasure Mirror is of high quality among immortal artifacts, how can it compare to the threshold of my Sage Lord?" the Boundless Mirror boasted proudly. However, it soon sighed quietly, "But, I'll have to expend some more of my stored goods."
"Don't worry, I'll find some treasures to feed you later." Bai Shuyue gave the Boundless Mirror a look. With Bai Shuyue's assurance, the Boundless Mirror was immediately relieved. A wisp of green light, like lightning, tore through space and instantly slipped into a crevice.
"By the way, you mentioned the Profound Heaven Treasure Mirror just now? I recall the Myriad Immortals Alliance's supreme treasure should be called the Heavenly Profound Mirror." As they smoothly infiltrated the Myriad Immortals Alliance headquarters, following the faint connection of the Yin-Yang jade to find the mastermind, Bai Shuyue suddenly realized something and asked.
"It is indeed the Profound Heaven Treasure Mirror. Although it has shed its immortal form and descended to the mortal realm, it cannot escape my discerning eye. I just don't know why it changed its name. Logically speaking, the name of an immortal artifact and its spirit are intrinsically linked and should not be arbitrarily changed." The Boundless Mirror was also somewhat puzzled and observed the internal space of the Heavenly Profound Mirror carefully.
"Hmm?" After a long observation, it truly found some clues. "Is this... a method of paper folding? A replica?" the Boundless Mirror exclaimed in surprise.
"Paper folding?" Bai Shuyue looked at the Boundless Mirror, somewhat confused.
"My goodness, I didn't expect that person to be in the Xuanhuang Realm as well?" The Boundless Mirror shivered, instinctively looking around, and immediately shut its mouth. Even though Bai Shuyue was extremely puzzled and repeatedly inquired, it did not say another word.
"It's not that I consider you an outsider, but some things are better left unsaid. Knowing about her offers no benefit to you. On the contrary, if I keep mentioning it, you might invite unforeseen disaster. Just as I wouldn't mention another person besides the Three Sages of the Immortal Realm. Sometimes, it is precisely these great powers that are the most formidable. After all, they are not truly Saints like our Sage Lord," the Boundless Mirror explained intermittently.
Knowing that the Boundless Mirror had its difficulties, Bai Shuyue did not press further. She merely suppressed the anger in her heart towards the cryptic explanations and continued to move forward. Within the Myriad Immortals Alliance headquarters, there were layers upon layers of spacetime, with countless spatial dimensions etched within. If fully unfolded, it would be hundreds of times vaster than the Xuanhuang Realm. The dwelling place of the Dharma-Preachers was in the deepest part of it. To avoid unnecessary trouble if discovered, the Boundless Mirror proceeded cautiously along its path.
Finally, after traversing into a fabricated pocket world, it finally found the mastermind. "This world looks ordinary. The master here doesn't seem to be playing such games..." the Boundless Mirror muttered. "But I'm definitely not wrong!" Sensing Bai Shuyue's displeased gaze, the Boundless Mirror immediately clarified. "It's right there!" A verdant light flashed, descending below and enveloping a seemingly young cultivator.
Being attacked by outsiders in his own world, this Doctrine Transmitter was shocked and enraged. But upon seeing Azure Void among the three attackers, he instantly calmed down. "Tsk tsk tsk, I never expected you, my toy, to become so capable. Not only did you break free from control, but you even came knocking on my door?" "What? Are you here for revenge?" the young Doctrine Transmitter said somewhat flippantly, with a hint of mockery in his tone.
Finally meeting the person who controlled her, Azure Void had myriad words she wanted to say. But upon hearing the young Doctrine Transmitter's words, the term "toy" echoed in her mind. She opened her mouth, but nothing came out.
"You're about to die and you still don't know it!" Bai Shuyue said coldly.
"Die?" As if hearing something extremely amusing, the young Doctrine Transmitter laughed wildly to the heavens. "Ignorant juniors, do you know that we Dharma-Preachers founded the Myriad Immortals Alliance with great merit and received the Heavenly Venerate's reward, gaining an immortal and indestructible body! With just you, you think you can kill me? If we Dharma-Preachers could be killed so easily, how could we maintain the foundation of the Myriad Immortals Alliance for thousands of years..."
"He's stalling for time." The Boundless Mirror, like watching a clown, calmly revealed the truth. "Perhaps he's waiting for some helper. In reality, he's not as shocked as he appears."
"You..." The young Doctrine Transmitter's expression changed drastically. Bai Shuyue also snorted coldly, "I know that. Although the Dharma-Preachers have become debauched and gradually lost their humanity, they are not foolish. Since we've already come this far, how could he underestimate us? Reinforcements..."
"I'm afraid it's too late!" Before her voice could even fall, Bai Shuyue had already unleashed the Heaven-Overturning Staff and swung it down towards the young Doctrine Transmitter. "Immortal and indestructible... You're just a parasite!" The power of the boundless Great Dao enveloped him. All external connections to the rules were severed in that instant. As if sensing something, the young Doctrine Transmitter's face suddenly showed horror. The next moment... flesh and blood blurred, and brains splattered.
"Disgusting!" Bai Shuyue withdrew her hand, looking at the thoroughly dead young Doctrine Transmitter, finally venting her anger. The Boundless Mirror, with its single large eye, scanned the bloody remains. "I know why Doctrine Transmitter Feng didn't come just now. He has too many toys like this. Even if one or two are broken, it doesn't matter. It's not worth the risk of coming personally."
Hearing that there were many more toys like him, and that the Dao Transmitters like Feng were already dead, Kong You's face showed a complex expression.
This was just for Dao Transmitter Feng alone. What about the other Dao Transmitters of the Myriad Immortals Alliance?
In this Xuanhuang Realm, how many people, throughout their entire lives, were unable to escape the fate of being mere playthings?
"It's good that it's destroyed," Bai Shuyue suddenly said, for no apparent reason.
Under the power of the Boundless Great Dao, Dao Transmitter Feng died silently. The blood that sprayed all over the ground had already cooled, yet the other Dao Transmitters and the Doctrine Transmitter Heavenly Venerates remained completely unaware.
But when Bai Shuyue retracted her Boundless power, the Myriad Immortals Alliance Headquarters was immediately thrown into great turmoil.
"It's time to go," Bai Shuyue glanced at the Boundless Wall.
Green light enveloped the three of them, and they silently vanished, just as they had arrived.
There's no need to dwell on the various events within the Myriad Immortals Alliance.
After placing Kong You in a safe location and continuing her search for trial opponents, Bai Shuyue had been somewhat unhappy since their separation.
The Boundless Wall was puzzled: "Didn't you already kill the Dao Transmitter Feng behind the scenes? Why are you still so unhappy?"
"Besides, frankly, I never expected you to step in for that little female cultivator."
"In the cultivation world, it's the survival of the fittest, there's nothing much to say. Even I have taken the lives of many people. But..." Bai Shuyue frowned deeply.
"Killing in an instant is different from tormenting and playing with someone like this."
"I don't know why, but after seeing Kong You's plight, an inexplicable anger rose within me. It was as if..." Bai Shuyue carefully replayed the emotions she felt at that moment.
Although her inner turmoil had already calmed down, the sudden impulse had been too intense. Bai Shuyue still felt as if she was immersed in it.
As if on the verge of grasping something crucial, at that very moment, the Boundless Wall shouted loudly, interrupting her thoughts.
"Bad! Someone is chasing us!"
Before the words even fell, a figure had already descended.
A frail-looking young man, with a hint of lingering handsomeness on his face. He stared at Bai Shuyue and the Boundless Wall with a look of calm mixed with killing intent.
The moment Bai Shuyue saw him, she couldn't help but think of her nephew. The Boundless Wall, on the other hand, seemed to encounter other pillars of the Taiyi Palace from the past.
Their vigilance, contrary to expectations, completely dissipated.
But soon, the Boundless Great Dao subtly flowed, dissolving the strange power that had enveloped them.
"Hiss, we were almost deceived by the other side. This peculiar characteristic..." The Boundless Wall protected Bai Shuyue, distancing themselves from the suddenly appearing youth as he carefully discerned.
He vaguely felt that he had seen a similar kind of power in a certain immortal artifact in the Immortal Realm long ago. But he resided in the Taiyi Palace and had seen countless immortal beings. This immortal artifact was not particularly outstanding, so he couldn't recall it for a moment.
"It's no wonder overeating ruins the brain!"
Compared to the rapid thoughts of the Boundless Wall, Bai Shuyue was much calmer.
The jade pillar in her hand reappeared, pointing at the person before them: "Are you here to avenge Dao Transmitter Feng?"
"Originally, yes. Now, no longer," the youth's answer was beyond Bai Shuyue's expectations.
He smiled, cupped his hands, and said: "With the cultivation of you two seniors, you certainly wouldn't attack without reason. Feng must have done something that deserved death, hence his demise. He deserved to die, so why should I avenge him?"
Bai Shuyue snorted lightly, her expression softening slightly.
"However, I am acting under the order of a Heavenly Venerate to manage all affairs of the Myriad Immortals Alliance. Feng, as one of the Dao Transmitters, died so inexplicably. Although it has no substantial impact on the stability of the Myriad Immortals Alliance, if the Heavenly Venerate were to inquire, I would still need to provide an explanation..." The youth bowed respectfully to Bai Shuyue and the Boundless Wall.
"I hope you two seniors can tell me the cause and effect."
Bai Shuyue hesitated for a moment, feeling that what the other party said made some sense. So, she recounted the events and questioned him: "Is this how you manage the affairs of the Myriad Immortals Alliance? Speaking of which, you hold such status, who are you..."
"Dao Transmitter Jiang?"
Bai Shuyue slightly narrowed her eyes, recalling this Dao Transmitter whom she had only heard of by name but never seen.
"Oh my, I remember now, it's him!"
"No wonder, even with the protection of the Boundless Great Dao, we were still slightly affected by him," the Boundless Wall exclaimed again.
Upon hearing this, Bai Shuyue finally jolted awake.
In front of this stranger, she had been far too accommodating.
One moment they were enemies locked in a standoff, yet after a few words from him, their inner vigilance had been dispelled. And they had agreed to his request almost without any hesitation.
The Boundless Wall quickly began to explain the origin of Dao Transmitter Jiang's innate characteristic of "Everything is like me."
"A long time ago, there was a 'Hundred Knowledge Immortal' in the Immortal Realm, who claimed to know all the secrets of the Immortal Realm, past and present. Even the secrets of Immortal Emperors and Sage Lords were not beyond him. At first, the Immortals thought his words were exaggerated, but after the Hundred Knowledge Immortal wrote extensively and produced a 'Secret Record of the Immortal Emperors,' no one in the entire Immortal Realm disbelieved him!"
"The Secret Record of the Immortal Emperors? What is that?"
"If I knew, I probably wouldn't be lying on the roof of Taiyi Palace so peacefully! It was likely some forbidden content involving the private lives of successive Immortal Emperors. The moment it was released, it caused the Immortal Emperors to fly into a rage and order the Hundred Knowledge Immortal to be apprehended."
"This action by the Hundred Knowledge Immortal even angered a Hidden Emperor who had been in seclusion for many years. He personally intervened and forcibly erased the 'Secret Record of the Immortal Emperors,' which had already spread among the Immortals, from their memories..."
"What happened afterwards?" Bai Shuyue asked.
"What else could happen? His extremely arrogant behavior even angered a Sage Lord. Naturally, he was captured and suppressed. It was only then that the world understood the reason why the Hundred Knowledge Immortal was called 'Hundred Knowledge Immortal'."
"It wasn't because of the Great Dao he cultivated, but because he crafted an immortal artifact called 'Like My Heart's Desire'."
"Living beings are naturally wary and defensive of others. However, they have no such defenses against themselves. It was by utilizing this principle that the Hundred Knowledge Immortal spent the first half of his life gathering countless treasures to create such a heaven-defying immortal artifact, 'Like My Heart's Desire'."
"'We living beings, moving within the Great Dao, are all like shadows of the Great Dao. And 'Like My Heart's Desire' can achieve the effect of imitating a shadow with a shadow! Transforming into the shadow of a Dao shadow! Upon seeing it, one would instinctively feel a sense of closeness, even mistaking it for themselves... It is extremely insidious, and even Immortal Emperors could not escape its influence. The shadow of 'Like My Heart's Desire' covered almost the entire Immortal Realm, revealing almost everyone's inner thoughts. Such malicious conduct meant that everyone wanted him dead. Even after he was suppressed, not a single person was willing to speak up for him. After many years, his deeds had almost completely vanished from people's memories."
"If it weren't for my extensive knowledge, I would have almost forgotten about this incident."
The Boundless Wall slowly recounted a past event.
Bai Shuyue, however, frowned as she listened.
"Are you sure you haven't misremembered?"
"Misremember? How is that possible? Don't doubt this grandpapa's memory!" The Boundless Wall finally referred to himself as "grandpapa" for the first time, greatly angered by Bai Shuyue's doubt.
"But I always feel that there are many inconsistencies in the story you've told, and some parts are even contradictory..." Bai Shuyue murmured.
"It's an illusion, absolutely your illusion!?" the Boundless Wall insisted confidently.
Bai Shuyue was firm in her judgment: "The shadow of a Dao shadow, everything is like me. This ability is indeed incredible, but what does it have to do with the name 'Like My Heart's Desire'? You said he angered a Sage Lord. Although I haven't seen a Sage Lord's true face, I know they possess supreme divine abilities. Even if multiple possibilities of destruction were to occur, it might not be worth the Sage Lord's attention. How could such a trivial matter of leaked privacy incite the Sage Lord's wrath? And also..."
"Be careful, be careful," Bai Shuyue's reminder made the Boundless Wall slowly realize the inaccuracies in his memory. But he quickly understood something, shivered, and hurriedly stopped Bai Shuyue from continuing.
"I understand now! This Hundred Knowledge Immortal is a 'Heinous Sinner of Mountains and Seas'!"
"Heinous Sinner of Mountains and Seas?"
"It refers to a person who has committed such heinous crimes that even after the Dao Erasure crisis ends and the world is rebuilt, they can never be pardoned! It is said they will be eternally suppressed in the depths of the Other Shore, unable to be free for all eternity..." The Boundless Wall whispered.
"Good heavens, how could fragments of such an evil person's immortal artifact end up in the Xuanhuang Realm? This is not good. Let me think, why did I escape to the Xuanhuang Realm in the first place? Was it truly a coincidence?" The Boundless Wall's expression became somewhat terrified, and he fell into a monologue.
Bai Shuyue, however, was still deep in thought, unable to connect 'Like My Heart's Desire' with the grave crime of 'Heinous Sinner of Mountains and Seas'.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Dao Transmitter Jiang, who had seen their expressions constantly shifting and their gazes sweeping over him, felt an inexplicable sense of dread.
He said solemnly: "Seniors, please rest assured, I now understand the full story. Feng indeed deserved to die, and even disgraced the name of a Dao Transmitter. The Myriad Immortals Alliance will not pursue this matter. In fact, we should thank you for helping the Myriad Immortals Alliance eliminate a parasite!"
"Seniors, your previous admonishment was valid. I have indeed been too lenient with other Dao Transmitters. Perhaps I truly need to rectify things..."
With that, Dao Transmitter Jiang was about to leave in a hurry.
"Wait!" the Boundless Wall called out to him.
"Let me take a good look first!"
Dao Transmitter Jiang didn't know what the Boundless Wall wanted to look at.
But it was probably related to his innate special ability.
Although he instinctively wanted to refuse, a green light had already enveloped him.
He was shocked and wanted to resist with force, but it was like being trapped in quicksand; he couldn't use any of his strength.
He could only let the other party examine him thoroughly.
Dao Transmitter Jiang felt bitter in his heart but could do nothing.
He could only push his 'Everything is like me' characteristic to its limits in a desperate attempt to protect himself.
"What are you looking for?" Bai Shuyue asked, watching the Boundless Wall's erratic movements.
"I'm trying to see if I can find his memories from when he came to the Xuanhuang Realm from this fellow," the green light on the Boundless Wall continued to ripple.
His tone had become unprecedentedly serious.
"I always thought that my and Young Master's arrival in the Xuanhuang Realm was a coincidence. But during my and your thorough search of the Xuanhuang Realm recently, I have discovered traces of so many inscrutable powers..."
"And this is just the tip of the iceberg! It's truly hard to imagine what else this small Xuanhuang Realm is hiding. That's why I'm scared and must confirm it again."
The green light flickered, revealing the life of Dao Transmitter Jiang. From the thousands of years he managed the Myriad Immortals Alliance, to when he was an ordinary mortal and became a disciple of a Dao Transmitter, down to his innocent childhood. Although not every detail was revealed, most of his past was exposed to Bai Shuyue and the Boundless Wall.
Although Dao Transmitter Jiang couldn't move, his face turned red with shame and humiliation.
However, the prime instigator, the Boundless Wall, was not interested in these facts at all.
The green light continued to shine, seeking to probe into events from even further back.
The time taken for this probe was longer than all the previous ones combined.
The image on the Boundless Wall showed a long period of darkness.
After an unknown amount of time, the Boundless Wall seemed to have become "thinner" due to immense consumption.
Finally, there was a change.
The Dao Erasure tide swallowed mountains and seas; the Immortal Realm shattered, and Immortals died like ants.
Horrifying scenes seemed to transport the Boundless Wall back to the time when the great tribulation descended.
The Boundless Wall's body trembled uncontrollably from fear.
The Immortal Realm shattered, and a fragment of light broke free from its confinement and escaped the cage.
Like a shooting star, it streaked across the disintegrating Immortal Realm, doing its best to avoid the relentless onslaught of the Dao Erasure tide.
After continuous travel, it finally escaped the Immortal Realm and arrived in the lower star sea.
However, as if sensing something or being drawn by something, it suddenly changed direction while flying smoothly in the lower star sea.
It headed towards where the Xuanhuang Realm was located!
During this period, it seemed to be evading pursuit, as the light itself underwent inexplicable changes.
Until it completely merged into the small Xuanhuang Realm.
...
Buzz! With a humming sound, the green light exploded.
A barely visible crack appeared on the Boundless Wall's body as he withdrew from the probe.
Dao Transmitter Jiang, now free, immediately fled in a panic.
Bai Shuyue was about to pursue him when she was stopped by the Boundless Wall's hurried voice.
"Don't bother with him, run!"
"Run? Run from what?" Bai Shuyue was slightly startled.
"Disaster has struck. I glimpsed the scene of the Immortal Realm's destruction, which has attracted the attention of Dao Erasure! The world-ending tidal wave is coming!"
As if to confirm the Boundless Wall's words, at that very moment, the Xuanhuang Realm, the Abyssal Star Sea, and even the entire Primordial Possibility fell into a brief silence.
A moment later, a deafening roar, like a surging tide, faintly echoed from beyond the heavens.
As if dark clouds were pressing down, the sky turned an eerie black.
And all living beings felt a sense of impending doom within their hearts.
"This feeling, this feeling..."
"Run!" the Boundless Wall screamed.
But it was already too late.
For some reason, the Dao Erasure caused by the Boundless Wall's probing into Dao Transmitter Jiang's past memories was unprecedentedly powerful.
It even surpassed what Li Fan had caused.
To the point where even the phantom of the Mound Guardian could barely sustain itself.
And it came so swiftly.
The Great Barriers shattered, the Primordial collapsed.
The beings of Primordial Possibility, including Bai Shuyue and the Boundless Wall, were all instantly swallowed.
Only Li Fan's figure managed to escape in time.
"Mountain and Sea Heretic Immortal? What in the world is that..."
This World-Ending Destruction came so suddenly that Li Fan, who had been watching from the sidelines, barely had time to react and was almost harmed by it.
However, having experienced major events before, Li Fan quickly calmed down after his narrow escape.
"I didn't expect the ability of the Doctrine Transmitter Jiang, [All Things Are As I Am], to have such an origin."
With Li Fan's experience, he immediately realized that the Hundred Wisdom Immortal and the immortal artifact [Like My Heart's Desire] were far more complex than initially described by the Boundless Wall.
"Enraging a Sage Lord, [Mountain and Sea Heretic Immortal] is thus condemned. Could it be that this Hundred Wisdom Immortal is one of the two suppressed within the countless eternal heavenly steps of the Other Shore?"
"And this strange reaction from the tide of World-Ending Destruction..."
Throughout his past encounters with World-Ending Destruction, Li Fan had confirmed that it possessed some form of consciousness. Or, if World-Ending Destruction were an invading army, there was a supreme commander orchestrating its every move.
Like an invading force, it was pervasive and inescapable; it would surround and slowly devour its targets; and when faced with strong resistance, it would dispatch more troops to crush the enemy completely.
This time, however, the reaction of World-Ending Destruction was different from anything Li Fan had experienced before, upon sensing something related to the Hundred Wisdom Immortal.
"It's as if a scout discovered the enemy's trace, and in an instant, alerted the main force, directing its sharpest point towards them!"
Li Fan felt an inexplicable shock.
"The essence of World-Ending Destruction is the merging of mountains and seas. It is the return of the power of the [Stars], transcending mountains and seas. A mere fragment of an immortal artifact forged by it could cause such a great commotion."
"In a sense, the Hundred Wisdom Immortal, or rather [Like My Heart's Desire], has caught the attention of the [Stars]?"
Instinctively, a sense of curiosity arose in Li Fan's heart.
"Perhaps I could glean more from Doctrine Transmitter Jiang's memories, but this life, that opportunity is already gone."
"Let us await the contest of morality."
Li Fan cast a distant glance towards the realms beyond the mountains and seas.
Instead of seeking other possibilities to reside in, he simply unfurled a solitary sail, a [Mountain and Sea Solitary Sail], and drifted upon the tide of World-Ending Destruction.
Feeling the surging undercurrents of World-Ending Destruction, Li Fan gained a realization: "Even though the Primordial was destroyed, they have not abandoned their search. This means, in the eyes of World-Ending Destruction, the world-ending tide of the magnitude just witnessed could not have killed the Hundred Wisdom Immortal. If they have vanished, it must be that they have once again escaped and hidden themselves."
"To provoke such a reaction from the Sages of the Other Shore, truly remarkable!"
Li Fan recalled the Sages' demeanor when he encountered them in his simulations. They had always appeared calm and confident, as if they had everything under control. Even when observing the [Return to Truth] and his own infinite spirituality, they remained unfazed.
It was difficult to imagine what the Hundred Wisdom Immortal had done to warrant a specific intervention from the Sages to suppress them.
"The source of Doctrine Transmitter Jiang's power, that fragment that escaped during the destruction of the Immortal Realm, might just be one of the many remnants of the Hundred Wisdom Immortal on the Other Shore."
"Even so, World-Ending Destruction attaches such importance to it."
All of this evidence was enough to infer that the Hundred Wisdom Immortal, or [Like My Heart's Desire], might play a crucial role in the grand battle between World-Ending Destruction and the mountains and seas.
Even if they couldn't decide the outcome decisively, they could at least significantly alter the current stalemate.
"If that's the case, then this Hundred Wisdom Immortal is also unique to the Primordial."
"What's going on? Is the possibility I'm in somewhat outrageous?"
"Not only is there a Sage like [Mound Guardian], but also such figures?"
"And what about [Shocking Grave], [Morality], the Heavenly Mysteries King and his wife..."
"Not to mention myself, and [Return to Truth]."
"Didn't they say that a single possibility had a limited potential ceiling?" Li Fan frowned, his brow furrowed.
"Could it be that back then, when the Primordial was named, I coincidentally chose the right one?"
But the observed facts contradicted this.
The Primordial Immortal Realm had long since been destroyed, and its remaining fragments had likely been annihilated countless times.
It showed no special characteristics whatsoever.
"Where exactly did things go wrong?" Li Fan keenly sensed a deep contradiction.
Everything appeared strange and disharmonious.
"Theoretically speaking, talent emerges during prosperous times. If a single possibility's foundation was sufficient to support the emergence of so many powerful individuals from the mountains and seas, then that possibility could not have been weak. But now..."
Li Fan drifted with the current, floating on the tide of World-Ending Destruction, hidden within the mountains and seas, continuously pondering this question.
Within the mountains and seas, time held no sway.
After an unknown period, and after witnessing other nearby possibilities where the Immortal Realm remained prosperous, Li Fan had a sudden flash of insight, as if struck by a divine revelation.
"I always thought the Primordial Immortal Realm had been destroyed long ago. But..."
"What if, I say, what if the Heavenly Net Emperor's plan had succeeded back then?"
The Heavenly Net Emperor's method of saving the world was to elevate the Immortal Realm to a higher state, transcending mountains and seas, and thus naturally avoiding World-Ending Destruction. Although it sounded like a fantastical tale, the full details of his plan were unknown.
The fact that he had many supporters at the time suggested that the plan had a certain degree of feasibility.
Even with an extremely low probability, it was not entirely impossible for it to succeed.
If the Heavenly Net Emperor had truly managed to transcend with the Primordial Immortal Realm...
Then the many anomalies within the Primordial would make sense.
After transcending, the entire possibility's foundation would undergo a qualitative change, subsequently benefiting countless beings in the Primordial. Even the "remnants" shed during the process of transcendence would be affected. Mediocrity would turn into genius, and geniuses would become unparalleled prodigies.
Surpassing their kind, standing out from the masses. Those who had originally been capped at the True Immortal realm could now glimpse the realm of transcendence.
"Perhaps this is how we can explain why so many transcendent powerhouses emerged from the small Primordial realm."
"And also..."
"I should have realized sooner that the mountains and seas are boundless, and that there are countless possibilities. Perhaps [Return to Truth]'s choice of [Primordial] was not a mere coincidence."
"It is not just the Xuanhuang Realm that is special, but also [Primordial]."
"It is precisely by inheriting the resources of the Primordial that the small Xuanhuang Realm appears to have such hidden talents."
With this thought, as if breaking through a fog, Li Fan felt everything fall into place.
Although, up to this point, all of this was merely his "speculation."
But Li Fan's intuition, like a guiding light, told him the moment he "guessed" it that this might be the truth.
"This is truly incredible."
Li Fan himself remained silent for a long time after arriving at this conclusion.
It was precisely because it was so bizarre that, despite all the signs pointing in this direction, Li Fan had not considered it.
He dared not even think so.
However, through a fortunate coincidence in this life, upon learning of the existence of [Hundred Wisdom Immortal], Li Fan's previous limitations were suddenly shattered.
But even greater questions followed.
"Who exactly was the Heavenly Net Emperor?"
"After the Primordial Immortal Realm successfully transcended, where did it go?"
Perhaps only a Sage Lord could know the answer to this question. With Li Fan's current strength and realm, overthinking was pointless. He concealed himself within the Dao Erasure, observing everything around him. Only when the turmoil finally subsided did Li Fan sigh, "The mountains and seas are boundless. Beyond the mountains and seas, are there still more mountains and seas?"
"What are the so-called 'stars,' and what is this 'Creator God'?"
At this moment, Li Fan stood outside the ruins of the Primordial Origin, as if he had returned to the ruins of Xuanjing City and, with mortal flesh, first glimpsed the magnificent spectacle of the cultivation world. "Like that time, like this moment."
"However, today's me is no longer the simple Grand Tutor Li from back then!" "Even if my body is as insignificant as an ant, I possess the power to overturn the heavens and earth." This was the absolute confidence Li Fan had gained from his constant reincarnations, his understanding of Return to Truth, his infinite spiritual essence, and his intuition. "Though the path ahead is distant and hazy, I will surely tread it to its end." "Morality and Sage Lords are destined to be unable to stop me in the slightest." "Let's give it a try!"
There were no grand pronouncements, nor any surging passions. Li Fan simply stated these words softly in his heart. Only the remaining mountains and seas would bear witness.
...
To uncover the secret of Morality's ascension to Sainthood, Li Fan spent some time selecting a remote converged area of possibilities within the mountains and seas. This area was far from the Other Shore and outside the influence of the Tai Wei Sacred Dynasty. He then scattered his true spirit seeds. "This vast expanse of mountains and seas ignited in an instant. If one were trapped within without knowledge, it would be truly difficult to discern truth from falsehood, only feeling as though the end of the mountains and seas had truly arrived." Li Fan squinted his eyes, mentally simulating and rehearsing, nodding with satisfaction.
"I wonder how He Ganxian is progressing with his preparations." Although they had not agreed on a contact method, Li Fan had intentionally left behind a trace of a flaw before he left. If He Ganxian had made up his mind, he would undoubtedly follow that trace to contact him. "I'll wait a little longer." "If he remains hesitant..." "Perhaps I should find the Faceless Immortal again."
Li Fan held the Faceless Stone Statue of the Xuanhuang Realm, enveloped by a flowing silver light. Although the Primordial Dao Erasure Tide had arrived suddenly, a Moral Immortal would not fall so easily. The wisps of immortal energy still present within the Faceless Stone Statue were proof of this. "When the Primordial collapsed and I escaped, I seemed to see two or three other figures. However, in the midst of the Dao Erasure tidal wave, escaping was the priority, and I didn't see clearly." "And it's unlikely that the Faceless Immortal was among them. This fellow..." "He is truly cautious!"
He Ganxian did not make Li Fan wait long. One day, while Li Fan was still wandering within the mountains and seas, he felt a stir in his heart. Then, he transmitted his current location. Waiting for a short while at the spot, a wisp of black and white energy crossed the Dao Erasure and descended before him. Compared to the last time he saw him, He Ganxian's flow of morality had advanced further. He was not far from Li Fan's former state as a Moral Sage!
"It seems you've made up your mind and dealt with the remaining traces of your conscience beforehand. Decisive, indeed!" Li Fan observed him and spoke slowly, praising him. "If I don't succeed, I will die trying," He Ganxian cupped his fists, his expressionless face calm. "Before the grand plan begins, I have one question in my heart. Can fellow Daoist help me resolve it?"
"Speak freely," Li Fan smiled. "Fellow Daoist, are you a Sage?" He Ganxian's eyes blazed, staring intently at Li Fan, as if trying to commit to memory any subtle fluctuation in his expression.
"A Sage?" Li Fan chuckled disdainfully and spoke the truth: "Fellow Daoist, you are thinking too much." "If I were a Sage, would the 'Morality' of these mountains and seas be something for you two to prove!" Li Fan's words did not sound like a lie. Receiving his answer, He Ganxian let out a long sigh. But then, his brow furrowed, and a greater doubt welled up in his heart.
"I know what you're wondering. Why do I know so much about you two? And why do I possess this divine technique to burn the mountains and seas?" "I cannot reveal the specifics, however..." "There are mountains beyond mountains, and seas beyond seas. No matter what happens in this world, nothing is surprising," Li Fan's expression was calm. These words had a greater impact on He Ganxian's heart than the revelation that he himself was a Sage of the mountains and seas.
"Mountains beyond mountains? What does that mean?" "Could it be that this person comes from another set of mountains and seas?" His heart was greatly shaken. In an instant, He Ganxian recalled that ancient legend. The reason why the Sages were willing to go one after another, crossing the Eternal Void Realm to the previous epoch of mountains and seas, and working with countless cultivators from different time periods to save the mountains and seas. It was all because someone had come across from the end of the mountains and seas. That one act ignited hope.
If it weren't for that initial spark, the beings of the mountains and seas might still be fighting amongst themselves, without a unified goal. "Could it be that this person comes from the mountains and seas of another time period?" "Having crossed the Eternal Void Realm several times, this would explain why his true spirit is almost inexhaustible." "Also, the first time we met, he directly stated that he wanted to help me become a Sage..." He Ganxian's mind flashed with countless thoughts. All his previous doubts seemed to have perfect explanations.
"Although only those at the Sage realm can cross the Eternal Void Realm, as he said, the mountains and seas are boundless. No matter what happens, nothing is surprising. Perhaps he suffered severe injuries during his crossing and his realm fell." "Or perhaps, he is referring to a Sage from a different time-space than our mountains and seas." "Regardless, the most crucial point is..." "Since this person is not a Sage, I have nothing to worry about!" His gaze finally became resolute, and He Ganxian cupped his fists again: "I've learned a lot."
"Fellow Daoist, when will your plan be implemented?" "I am ready to confront that person head-on," his tone was calm, devoid of worry or fear.
"Excellent!" "Why wait for a better day! Let's act now!" Li Fan said, tossing the Azure Nether Faceless Immortal Statue over. "With this item, can you track his movements?" He Ganxian's eyes flickered with surprise: "Given his cautious nature, he actually left such a flaw." The black and white energies of morality enveloped the Faceless Immortal Statue. Slowly, a face reappeared on the originally void face of the statue! It bore some resemblance to He Ganxian, but was not entirely the same. Instead, it was more akin to the Moral Sage Li had seen in his previous life.
"He is me, and I am him. Although Morality has split..." "But with this medium, it won't be difficult to contact him." "Hmph, not responding? In that case..." The black and white energies grew more intense, weaving into a dense mist. Under the shroud of the mist, the statue seemed to come alive. It slowly turned its head, looking towards a certain location within the mountains and seas. Suddenly...
"How is this possible? He's already dead?" Along with He Ganxian's incredulous cry, as if witnessing something forbidden, the statue's head snapped off! It fell to the ground with a crash!
A single stone stirs a thousand ripples!
The Annihilation of Dao seemed to sense something, and the tides began to rise.
Li Fan felt something was amiss, his mind instantly tensed, always ready to reflect reality.
Fortunately, this unknown, strange power only severed the statue's head and did not take any further action.
He Ganxian, in his shock, touched his own neck.
The moment the statue's head fell, he felt as if he had also suffered an attack.
He Ganxian's morality flowed, nearing perfection. He prided himself on being only one step away from the realm of a Sage.
Yet, when facing that bizarre power, he felt as if he had no power to resist!
How could this be?
Could it be that a Sage had truly made a move?
"Can you pinpoint its origin?" Li Fan asked, his expression grave.
He Ganxian gazed towards the mountains and seas, and after a long while, shook his head and replied, "It came mysteriously and ethereally... difficult."
"Moreover, even if I could sense it, I wouldn't dare to investigate further."
"The other me, although weaker in strength, still possesses morality's true intent. A transcendent entity would find it impossible to kill him."
He Ganxian's meaning was clear.
However, Li Fan held a different opinion.
Even an existence like Bai Xiaoxian, who potentially threatened the safety of the entire mountain and sea realm, was not slain by the Sages, but merely suppressed within the Eternal Heavenly Steps.
Faceless Immortal, though lacking morality, had not committed any depraved acts thus far.
The Sages had no reason to intervene.
"Then, aside from that, who else in the mountains and seas possesses such power?"
The two fell into an eerie silence.
The sudden demise of Faceless Immortal had completely shattered their plans.
He Ganxian's path toSagehood was dashed in the short term, and Li Fan's aspiration to glimpse the true meaning of morality was also thwarted.
Li Fan, while inwardly astonished by this unexpected turn of events, also felt a inexplicable surge of annoyance.
"In my previous life, Faceless Immortal lived well. Yet now, he died mysteriously. Is it related to the early destruction or to Bai Xiaoxian?"
"I can still sense his immortal power lingering on the Faceless Immortal's stone statue..."
Li Fan couldn't help but cast a suspicious glance at He Ganxian.
As if sensing Li Fan's doubt, He Ganxian helplessly explained: "Morality flows eternally; this is our divine ability to avoid calamity. Wherever we leave a trace, there will be residual moral energy. Perhaps it can be seen as a special clone we leave behind. If the main body tragically perishes, as long as this moral energy remains in the mountains and seas, we can be reborn from destruction."
"It should have been like this," He Ganxian said heavily, his expression looking extremely grim.
"But now, he is dead."
He Ganxian pointed at the severed stone statue: "Although moral energy still flows on it, it has lost its 'backbone.' Even if the moral energy revives on its own in the future, he will never return."
"This is true death."
Li Fan vaguely detected a sense of shared misfortune and unconcealed fear in He Ganxian's words.
After all, he and Faceless Immortal were two sides of the same coin, born from the division of morality.
If that unknown, strange entity could kill Faceless Immortal, it could also kill He Ganxian!
"Not only did they kill the main body, but they also erased him as an individual from the mountains and seas."
"All the contingency plans left behind became irrelevant the moment he vanished."
"This is true annihilation!"
While the method was terrifying, what unsettled Li Fan more was its sudden and unfathomable appearance.
Li Fan had traveled nearly one-tenth of the mountains and seas. Combined with the vast power of the Sacred Dynasty that spanned across them, there were few unknown territories left in the mountains and seas for Li Fan.
He had originally believed this to be the case.
The sudden appearance of this mysterious force that killed Faceless Immortal shocked him greatly.
It was like every time he thought he had fully explored the secrets of the Xuanhuang Realm, this realm would always surprise him anew.
More importantly...
This power seemed to be very close to him!
If the mountains and seas were a pond he was gradually becoming familiar with, then at the bottom of this pond, a terrifying monster lay hidden, waiting to devour its prey.
How could Li Fan not feel both shocked and enraged?
It wasn't the enemy's power that shocked him, but the *unknown*.
The Sages of the Other Shore and the Grand Emperor Tai Wei were powerful, but Li Fan could afford to avoid them if necessary.
He feared this kind of power, which was strong enough to threaten him and yet remained hidden in the shadows.
If he was unlucky, he might stumble upon it one day while traversing the mountains and seas.
Unable to suppress the unease in his heart, Li Fan immediately made a decision: he would use the opportune moment, while Faceless Immortal had just been killed and some clues might still remain, to gather as much information about this entity as possible.
Even if he couldn't fully uncover its identity, he would at least ascertain its approximate location within the mountains and seas. Before his strength was sufficient to avoid danger, he would steer clear of it.
With this thought, Li Fan looked at He Ganxian again and said with a sneer, "Are you afraid?"
"The opportunity to become a Sage was within reach, yet it was severed with a single blow. As the saying goes, obstructing someone's Dao is like killing their parents."
"You and he are two faces of morality. His death is like your own demise."
"The person who destroyed your entire 'family' is right before us, and you choose to evade?"
"Do you not even have the courage to pursue it?"
He Ganxian's expression remained unchanged upon hearing Li Fan's mocking words, and he calmly replied, "If you are not as strong as the opponent, what can you do?"
"If it were me, I would at least try to ascertain the opponent's identity. Otherwise, if I become strong enough to seek revenge in the future, but cannot even find my target, wouldn't that be tragic? I don't think you would be so disheartened by this setback that you would fall into despair and lose all desire for revenge, would you?" Li Fan stared intently at He Ganxian.
He Ganxian fell silent again, appearing to be very hesitant.
"If that's the case, then consider it as if I never said anything. I didn't expect the legendary Moral True Immortal to be so cowardly." Li Fan tsked and shook his head.
"You don't need to provoke me. Rather, I'm curious why you are so concerned about this murderer?" He Ganxian retorted.
"Firstly, it's out of anger for losing the chance to witness the birth of a Sage. Secondly..."
Li Fan's gaze deepened: "I suspect this murderer is someone I have been tracking."
This statement stirred He Ganxian's heart once more: "Are you so certain you can help me attain Sagehood?"
"If our morality were complete, it would be almost certain. But now... perhaps we'll have to wait many years for morality to cycle and for a new embodiment of morality to be born. I hope that by then, these mountains and seas will still exist, and you will still be alive." Li Fan smiled enigmatically.
With that, his form began to fade, preparing to depart.
"Wait!" At the last moment, He Ganxian suddenly called out.
"Let's try this for now. I hope that in the future, when the time is ripe again, you will help me once more!"
After all, the temptation of becoming a Sage was too great. Even if it was just a vague promise with no foundation, He Ganxian was reluctant to give up so easily.
"It's a deal! Don't worry, if the opportunity arises, I will definitely help you become a Sage!" Li Fan declared proudly.
After they reached an agreement, He Ganxian looked at the severed head of the Faceless Immortal statue, took a deep breath.
Then, he reached for his own head and uttered a low cry.
He forcibly lifted his head from his body.
"May my treasure find its resting place."
He Ganxian's head, held in his own hands, stared with wide eyes and chanted.
He Ganxian's body then walked towards the Faceless Immortal statue in a somewhat stiff manner.
Finally, holding it with both hands, he very solemnly placed his head onto the glowing neck of the statue.
The stone body of Faceless Immortal, and the head of He Ganxian.
These two parts, which had originally belonged to the same person, underwent an extremely profound transformation upon their reunion.
It was as if the Faceless Immortal, who had been completely dead, had been resurrected!
As if experiencing everything Faceless Immortal had encountered before his death, He Ganxian's face gradually showed signs of fear.
His hands and feet moved involuntarily, as if instinctively trying to escape.
But whether in reality or in his recalled memories, he could not escape.
Fear eventually turned into despair.
"My fate is sealed!"
With a mournful cry, He Ganxian's head flew upwards and detached from the statue.
The same scene repeated itself, but this time, a large amount of blood spurted out from the statue's body!
In just a moment, the flying head's eyes regained clarity.
While searching for his body, he cried out, "Quick, escape!"
Li Fan's reaction was even faster.
Upon sensing the strange power striking again, severing He Ganxian's head, and showing signs of spreading outwards, Li Fan had already ignited the seeds of true spirits he had planted in the surrounding possibilities.
Instantly, raging flames erupted, burning mountains and boiling seas!
Forming a terrifying wall of light and heat, it shielded them from the probing tendrils of power from the depths of the mountains and seas.
The "arena" that was meant to trap the Moral True Immortal transformed into a lifeline that saved both of them.
It was precisely because of this method that even though they were in extreme danger, Li Fan did not choose to reflect reality.
The True Spirit Flame incinerated the possibilities, shattering them into pieces. Without their support, it immediately summoned the tide of Dao Erasure.
The water and fire raged, engulfing the mountains and seas.
In an instant, it was as if the apocalypse had descended!
At this moment, He Ganxian, having found his separated body and reattached his head, restoring himself to normal, was stunned by the scene before him.
He could never have imagined that Li Fan would be so reckless!
The beautiful mountains and seas were set ablaze so casually!
"What are you still stunned for? The fire is raging, if not now, when will we escape?"
Li Fan's low growl pulled He Ganxian back to reality.
He could no longer afford to hesitate and instinctively followed Li Fan into the flames.
As the fire was fueled by Li Fan's spiritual essence, with Li Fan leading the way, He Ganxian was completely untouched by the searing True Spirit Flame. He only dodged the waves of the Dao Erasure tide.
Quickly escaping the confinement of water and fire.
Having fled countless possibilities and with the flames receding, the intense sense of crisis gradually subsided, and the two slowed their pace.
He Ganxian looked back at the scorched ruins of the mountains and seas, swallowed by Dao Erasure, still pale with fear.
After a long while, he cupped his hands towards Li Fan and said with admiration, "If not for your decisive action, Daoist, in igniting the mountains and seas, we would truly have faced inescapable doom this time."
Li Fan's expression turned stern: "Please don't slander me. When have I ever done something as monstrous as igniting the mountains and seas? It was clearly the villain who wished to kill us that did it!"
He Ganxian was taken aback by Li Fan's words.
He then let out a wry smile.
"Did you gain anything from this great peril?" Li Fan asked.
He Ganxian nodded, then shook his head.
"Using the method of moral unity, I did see glimpses of my other self's past. However, it was limited to the very last moments of his life."
"And the perpetrator never revealed themselves from beginning to end. So..."
"Their true identities remain unknown."
"But I have remembered the place of death and their aura. If I encounter them again, I will be alerted beforehand."
This outcome was within Li Fan's expectations: "Can you point me in a direction?"
He Ganxian immediately marked a location in the mountains and seas.
"It should be around here."
"Oh?"
Li Fan stared at the flashing illusion of the mountains and seas and felt a sense of familiarity.
"This place is..."
He Ganxian also noticed Li Fan's strangeness and quickly asked, "could it be that Daoist knows of this place?"
Li Fan remained silent, and after a long while, slowly spoke a few words.
"The Five Venerables of the Same Tribulation, the Realm of Life and Death!"
"The Realm of Life and Death?" He Ganxian mumbled while repeating the words. With his knowledge, he had never heard of such an existence within the mountains and seas.
He believed Li Fan's earlier words about the murderer possibly being someone he had been tracking even more.
In fact, even after Li Fan's hundred lifetimes of reincarnation, he had only heard of the Realm of Life and Death once.
It was from the memories of the Fallen Immortal Realm and the Supreme Dao Scripture!
A long time ago, the black shadow named "Anchor Existence," who stole thirty True Immortal Sigils characters from the original "Supreme Dao Scripture," originated from the Realm of Life and Death.
Besides "Anchor Existence," there were four others. They collectively resisted the attack of the original Dao Carver Immortal.
Dao Carver Immortal called them the "Five Venerables of the Same Tribulation."
To retrieve the stolen thirty True Immortal Sigils characters, Dao Carver Immortal pursued "Anchor Existence," but never returned.
The danger of the Realm of Life and Death was evident.
Relying on the faint connection between the Supreme Dao Scripture and the stolen True Immortal Sigils characters, Li Fan learned the approximate location of the Realm of Life and Death.
Therefore, during his later travels through the mountains and seas, he deliberately avoided it.
Now it seemed he had indeed escaped a calamity.
"After all these years, have the so-called Five Venerables of the Same Tribulation become this powerful?"
"The sense of crisis I felt just now..."
"Even if they are not Sages, they are not far from it."
"Of course, it's also possible that it's due to the combined efforts of the five Venerables."
"I wonder, how did Faceless Immortal get entangled with such a fierce killer?" Countless thoughts flashed through Li Fan's mind.
At the same time, he felt a sense of relief.
The mountains and seas were still the mountains and seas he knew, and there wasn't a deadly enemy that had appeared out of nowhere.
It was just that the targets he needed to be wary of had increased significantly.
"Where do you intend to go next, Daoist?"
Having gone through such a great ordeal and still remembering Li Fan's promise to help him attain Sagehood, He Ganxian asked Li Fan, who was deep in thought.
Li Fan glanced at He Ganxian and said sternly, "I intend to go to the Realm of Life and Death to investigate."
"Are you willing to accompany me?"
"Fellow Daoist, is what you say true?" He Ganxian was stunned, his expression clearly hesitant.
"Heh heh, of course..."
"It's not true." Li Fan's tone suddenly changed.
"Although I pursued them for a long time, their strength has undergone a qualitative change compared to before. Now, it seems that the Five Venerables of the Same Tribulation, working together, possess nearly the might of a Saint. It's not something I can contend with now. I need to plan carefully..."
Li Fan's honest words caught He Ganxian somewhat off guard.
"Do you know what kind of beings these Five Venerables of the Same Tribulation are?" Li Fan asked.
He Ganxian shook his head.
"They are vastly different from the Saints Beyond the Shore or the Sacred Emperor Tai Wei. Their goal isn't to save the Mountains and Seas. Instead, like the Great Dao of Usurping Nations, they forcefully seize rare treasures from myriad possibilities to fill themselves. Their aim is to forge a possibility that can rival the Mountains and Seas, or even surpass them, and escape the Annihilation of the Dao," Li Fan gazed into the depths of the Mountains and Seas, his voice filled with a melancholic tone. It was as if he had personally traveled to that Realm of Life and Death.
"How can this be permissible? If they steal a portion, won't the Mountains and Seas lose a portion of their foundation, and our chances of resisting the Annihilation of the Dao be reduced?" He Ganxian, being a virtuous immortal, was furious upon hearing this.
"Furthermore, this endeavor is practically equivalent to remaking the Mountains and Seas. Would it be this easy? Not to mention that even with all five of them combined, they barely possess the might of a Saint. Even if five true Saints worked together, they might not achieve it. Otherwise, why would the Saints Beyond the Shore go through such hardships to cross the Eternal Void Realm?"
"Originally, I thought the same way. I believed the Five Venerables of the Same Tribulation were merely doing futile things, a death throe. But now..."
Li Fan suddenly recalled how Emperor Tian Luo had successfully led the Primordial Immortal Realm to Transcendence, and how the Five Venerables of the Same Tribulation had personally visited the Primordial Realm to steal the True Immortal Sigils from the Supreme Dao Book. Judging by Ming Dao Immortal's expression at the time, those thirty stolen True Immortal Sigilss were definitely not simple.
"If my guess is correct and the Primordial Immortal Realm has truly Transcended the Mountains and Seas, then it's not impossible for the Realm of Life and Death to replay the story."
This thought flashed by, and Li Fan continued, "Their strength has grown beyond my expectations. The Realm of Life and Death probably has too. This shows how much of the Mountains and Seas' foundation they have secretly plundered."
"Perhaps they are still lacking some now. But if we let them continue like this..."
In He Ganxian's eyes, he could almost see a group of shadowy figures, like great thieves, stealthily moving throughout the Mountains and Seas, plundering resources. An uncontrollable surge of anger rose within him. If he weren't indeed no match for the Five Venerables of the Same Tribulation, he would have almost dragged Li Fan to the Realm of Life and Death to investigate.
Seeing the subtle changes in He Ganxian's expression, Li Fan nodded to himself, gaining a deeper understanding of his disposition. He spoke with a smile, "Although the Five Venerables of the Same Tribulation are rampant, we don't need to worry too much. After all, the Mountains and Seas do not belong solely to us, but are a shared domain of all Immortals, Saints, and Sacred Emperors."
"The Saints and Sacred Emperors are fighting beyond the Eternal Void Realm, in even older eons of time. How could they allow these parasitic existences in their rear?"
He Ganxian pondered, "Fellow Daoist means to say..."
"We just need to spread the news of the Realm of Life and Death, and then sit back and watch. No matter how strong the Five Venerables of the Same Tribulation are, how can they be stronger than the foundation of the Beyond the Shore?"
He Ganxian was somewhat embarrassed, "Because my cultivation path is unique, I have always been wary of the Beyond the Shore and have never gone there. I only vaguely know the names of the Saints Beyond the Shore."
"It doesn't matter. I have my own methods. Fellow Daoist, just watch."
As he spoke, a figure appeared before Li Fan, almost identical to his main body. Except for a distorted face that obscured its appearance, its aura was indistinguishable from Li Fan's. But in He Ganxian's eyes, it appeared to be another distinct individual.
"This... your external incarnation technique..." The more He Ganxian observed and pondered, the more shocked he became. The clone created by this technique was almost identical to the one he created through the method of moral division. The only difference was that his was entirely reliant on the unique nature of the Great Dao of Morality, where Dao and De were intertwined, and even after separation, there were still myriad subtle connections. For example, just now, he could perceive the memories of his other self before its demise through the same method. Whereas He Ganxian could sense that the clone created by Li Fan's divine ability... seemed to be a completely independent entity.
Almost instantly, He Ganxian understood what Li Fan intended to do next. Just as he had suspected, the newly formed Li Fan received his mission, and intense flames erupted around his body. After deliberating for a moment, he transformed into a stream of light and vanished into the Mountains and Seas. The True Spirit Great Fire, which had not yet subsided, was reignited. This time, the newborn Li Fan was even more unrestrained, rapidly traversing the Annihilation of the Dao, igniting every possibility he passed.
"Fellow Daoist, your..." He Ganxian's eyelids twitched as he watched.
Li Fan merely smiled and waved his hand. If the previous True Spirit Great Fire that isolated the Five Venerables of the Same Tribulation was confined to a small corner of the Mountains and Seas, then the disaster Li Fan was currently causing showed signs of spreading to a vast area of the Mountains and Seas. It was even possible that if it continued to burn, this part of the Mountains and Seas would be prematurely annihilated.
Knowing that the Beyond the Shore would surely respond, Li Fan, estimating the time, decisively scattered a trace of his divine sense that he had left on his clone. This divine sense was not for communication with the clone but served as a catalyst for the True Spirit Incineration technique. Although Li Fan's clone divine ability, which allowed him to comprehend the transformation of true and false, was profound, it had not yet reached the point of creating infinite spiritual essence. He couldn't even allocate his own infinite spiritual essence. Therefore, to ignite the Mountains and Seas, he still needed to make a move himself. Now that he had caused enough commotion, he burned and scattered the remaining divine sense, destroying the only clue that could track him back to his main body. The clone, meanwhile, according to plan, fled rapidly towards the Realm of Life and Death.
"This act will certainly expose the Five Venerables of the Same Tribulation, but the price is too great!" Looking at the scene of mountains and seas engulfed in flames as far as the eye could see, He Ganxian said with some heartache.
"To treat a serious illness, one needs a potent medicine. If we can eliminate the Five Venerables of the Same Tribulation in one fell swoop, this price will absolutely be worth it. You don't need to worry; this possibility has no bearing on the final outcome."
"Look, if it weren't for this, how could the Beyond the Shore make such a grand move?"
He Ganxian saw Li Fan point his finger, while his eyes were closed for some unknown reason. Thinking that the other party was afraid of being exposed for setting the fire, he didn't probe further. Following the direction Li Fan pointed, he saw a brilliant white circle, seemingly infinite and immeasurably vast. It appeared to descend from beyond the heaven of the Mountains and Seas, encompassing countless possibilities within the realm. Within the white circle, several figures seemed to stand and flicker. However, hidden within the light ring, He Ganxian couldn't see clearly. He only felt that the mere sight of it sent a jolt of fear through him, as if a great disaster was imminent. He also felt as if all his inner secrets were laid bare, as if he had been stripped naked and displayed in broad daylight for others to behold.
Wherever the white circle reached, the True Spirit Great Fire, which had been raging wildly, was instantly extinguished. The surging tide of the Annihilation of the Dao, like a dam meeting an indestructible barrier, could not breach it no matter how much it churned. As the calamity subsided, illusory images of the Mountains and Seas emerged from within the white circle. Those possibilities that had been devoured and destroyed by the True Spirit Great Fire and the tide of the Annihilation of the Dao reappeared within these illusory realms of the Mountains and Seas! Filling in the "blank" spaces!
Then, a simple wooden boat appeared, cruising around this newly created landscape. It was as if time had been rewound, and countless beings that had vanished reappeared, as if returning to a time before this part of the Mountains and Seas was affected by the True Spirit Great Fire! The anomaly was not yet over. After the wooden boat rewound the mountains and seas, an inconspicuous small brush flew out from it, wielding ink. A figure appeared beneath the brush, and upon closer inspection, it was Li Fan! Or rather, it was the clone of Li Fan that had set the Mountains and Seas ablaze! A thin black line stretched from the figure beneath the brush towards a certain location in the Mountains and Seas, within the Realm of Life and Death!
The white circle suddenly shrank and descended upon that place. Then... there was no earth-shattering battle, as one might have imagined. After only a moment, the white circle vanished into the Mountains and Seas. And with it, it seemed, the Realm of Life and Death also disappeared? He Ganxian looked on in disbelief, gazing for a long time, unable to make a correct judgment. He only saw the Mountains and Seas once again teeming with life. The water and fire calamity seemed as if it had never happened.
"Is this... the might of a Saint?" He Ganxian had never witnessed a Saint personally act before. To witness it today was truly earth-shattering and dazzling. With a mere gesture, they could reverse the power of the mountains and seas collapsing. Such divine abilities were truly unimaginable! And recalling Li Fan's nonchalant demeanor when he was setting the mountains and seas ablaze, He Ganxian had a sudden thought: "Could it be that he had already foreseen that the Saints Beyond the Shore would intervene?"
"What happened in the outside world?" Just as He Ganxian was contriving myriad thoughts, Li Fan suddenly asked. He Ganxian was taken aback. Under Li Fan's repeated questioning, he finally detailed everything he had just witnessed.
Only after hearing that the Saints Beyond the Shore were no longer present did Li Fan slowly open his eyes. Indeed, Li Fan, who had truly experienced the terrifying power of the Saints, had not simply closed his eyes earlier. He had even cut off all observation of the outside world, focusing only inward. He feared that his act of observation might be detected by the Saints. Even if it were merely the residual power left by the Saints. At the same time, his vigilance was at its peak, relying on his intuition as a guide, ready to return to reality at any moment if he sensed danger.
He didn't dare to watch the grand spectacle of the Saints displaying their power, restoring the collapsing mountains and seas, and instantly suppressing the Realm of Life and Death. It was only after the situation had completely stabilized that he resumed his normal state and quickly inquired of He Ganxian.
"The white circle, the Mountains and Seas, the wooden boat, the brush..." Li Fan listened carefully, his eyes reflecting surprise. He Ganxian had indeed overestimated him. He truly hadn't expected that the Saints Beyond the Shore would possess the means to reshape the Mountains and Seas and reverse time!
"Although it was the combined effort of the Saints, this action is almost akin to returning to reality."
"Especially that wooden boat..." Li Fan narrowed his eyes. He didn't connect it to the titles of Saints he had glimpsed Beyond the Shore. He only pondered the Great Daos represented by these phenomena.
"The illusory realm of the Mountains and Seas symbolizes the Mountains and Seas."
"That wooden boat seems capable of reversing the time and space of the Mountains and Seas. But it's clearly on a different level from the ordinary Dao of [Inversion], far superior."
"And that brush..."
"It's far more than just a tool for tracking down enemies." Li Fan had a premonition that the fate of his clone would not be good.
"No wonder they were unfazed by my threat of burning the Mountains and Seas, treating it as a joke."
"Is the power of the Saints so terrifying?"
"Keep in mind, this is merely the power of the residual projections of the Saints. The Saints themselves are not within this part of the Mountains and Seas."
"The Five Venerables of the Same Tribulation, whom we considered formidable enemies, were suppressed without so much as stirring up a ripple..."
Amidst his amazement, Li Fan's resolve to stick to his original plan solidified once more. Until he found a way to deal with the Saints, he would never voluntarily expose himself to them. Otherwise, it would be tantamount to suicide! Not only Li Fan's mind was filled with countless thoughts. Even He Ganxian, and all the Transcended powerhouses within the Mountains and Seas who were fortunate enough to witness the Saints' projections act, fell into Dao Comprehension. They thirstily savored the profound mysteries of the Saints' phenomena. Saints were almost legendary beings. It was difficult to even catch a glimpse of a Saint's face, let alone witness them act personally. This opportunity was truly rare! It was all thanks to Li Fan's offering! Unfortunately, the Sitting Heaven Art seemed unable to provide any feedback on cultivation from this. Otherwise, it would have been an immeasurable boon of power.
"Morality..." He Ganxian murmured. After seeing the true Saints, he seemed to have gained a new understanding of the true meaning of Morality. After a long while, he said to Li Fan, "Perhaps, without Fellow Daoist's help, I might also have a chance to prove the Dao and become a Saint."
"Of course, if I fail, I will still have to ask Fellow Daoist to step in," He Ganxian quickly added.
"It seems you've gained quite a bit from this. Of course, I agree." Li Fan readily accepted.
"The Five Venerables of the Same Tribulation seem to have been suppressed by the Saints. Why don't we take this opportunity to explore the remnants of the Realm of Life and Death?" Li Fan suggested.
"It seems there are no remnants there anymore."
"Even the residual power of the Saints would be extremely valuable." He Ganxian found Li Fan's words reasonable and nodded in agreement. The two of them traveled together, crossing through vast distances. By the time they arrived at the original location of the Realm of Life and Death, five figures were already standing there. They stood apart, silently observing the traces left behind. They paid no attention to the newly arrived Li Fan and He Ganxian.
"They are all Transcended powerhouses."
"I don't recognize any of them." Li Fan observed and muttered to himself. He sensed that more and more Transcended powerhouses were arriving from all corners of the Mountains and Seas. Li Fan quickly began examining the traces left behind. At this moment, He Ganxian quietly transmitted his voice, pointing Li Fan in a certain direction.
"It seems the other me perished right here." Li Fan's heart stirred, and he focused more of his attention on the investigation. The Saints' projections had not destroyed the Realm of Life and Death. Instead, they had moved it, like relocating a house. All the people, events, and objects within that possibility had vanished. Only a blank space remained, to resist the Annihilation of the Dao.
It was said to be blank, yet not entirely void.
Possibilities still existed.
If an analogy were to be drawn, it was akin to the time when heaven and earth were first created, and chaos had just begun to form.
"It's a pity the Sages cleaned it up so thoroughly; I can't even sense a blurry image anymore," He Gan Xian remarked after observing for a long time, regret evident in his voice.
"I can only faintly detect that another version of myself seems to have died under this power..."
With that, He Gan Xian transmitted a wisp of Dao charm.
Li Fan had never encountered this particular Dao in other possibilities of the Mountains and Seas, finding it truly peculiar.
It was even difficult to find words to describe it.
"It vaguely represents a tribulation where consciousness sinks into profound annihilation. When consciousness ceases to exist, all other existences lose their meaning. Let alone morality, even the Mountains and Seas are thus. No wonder it could exterminate the Faceless Immortal..."
Li Fan carefully savored this wisp of residual Dao charm from the Five Venerables of the Same Tribulation, his heart filled with surprise.
The void on the ruins of the Realm of Life and Death did not persist for long.
Suddenly, a rainbow light descended from the depths of the Mountains and Seas.
In an instant, it rode the wind and waves, piercing through the Dao Erasure and forcefully injecting itself into this blank space.
Observing its origin, it came from the Other Shore!
The transcendents present all looked towards the descending rainbow light.
It turned out to be a small, seven-colored banner!
"The Sages have acted again!"
Amidst exclamations of surprise, the rainbow light and banner shattered, revealing a blurry figure.
The figure surveyed the blank possibility with contempt.
Then, it merged into the void.
The Sage's phantom disappeared, and the blank possibility here became like the surface of boiling water.
Calm, yet brimming with dynamical energy.
"The Sages' divine abilities are wondrous beyond words! This is a method to catalyze the rebirth of the Great Dao! In no time, I believe new Great Daos will be conceived and born here. Such a scene is rare in the Mountains and Seas. Today, we are fortunate to witness it, which may be of great benefit," He Gan Xian exclaimed with sparkling eyes, clicking his tongue in admiration.
As if to confirm He Gan Xian's words, the blanks in the possibility began to change color.
Like wisps of mist, they rippled and rose.
Or like a pebble dropped into still water, causing ripples to spread.
In an instant, one became a hundred, a hundred evolved into ten thousand!
The speed at which the Great Dao was reborn here was even faster than their expectations!
From the moment the activity began, only a few breaths passed before the Great Dao here became as unfathomable as the starry sky.
Illusory shadows of the Mountains and Seas seemed to surge from the depths.
The mountains were Mount Shang, and the seas were the Infinite Sea.
The Mountains and Seas connected, and the Immortal Realm was born!
A streak of light exploded in the darkness.
Then it continuously leaped in the darkness, and with each passage, it seemed to shape islands in the darkness.
Vibrant Sea of Stars formed subsequently.
The light spots kept jumping and replicating themselves, and in just a moment, they transformed into a sky full of twinkling stars.
The vast and boundless Immortal Realm thus took shape before their eyes.
"This is..."
Li Fan stared intently at the light spots that gradually dissipated after completing their mission, a realization dawning upon him: "The Profound Origin Spirit Array?"
These glittering light spots, which reshaped the Mountains and Seas, carried the aura of the Profound Origin Spirit Array.
However, the complete version of the Profound Origin Spirit Array seemed to have transcended the level of a "formation" and reached the height of "Dao."
The scene of the Immortal Realm's reconstruction was indeed too swift.
Although Li Fan had some sense of it, he could not see it too clearly.
He couldn't help but feel a sense of regret.
As for those transcendents who arrived late and missed the grand spectacle of worlds being reborn, they all lamented and sighed incessantly.
"The Sages acted, smote all, and then established the foundations of fire, earth, water, and wind again. To miss such a grand occasion today means we don't know when we'll encounter it again!" an old man holding a wooden staff lamented.
"It all happened too suddenly; the calamity and the arrival of the Sages came and went quickly. Those who could react in time and observe the [birth of the Dao] amidst the blank Dao were either experienced elders or those with extraordinary spiritual senses. They were only a minority, after all," a middle-aged woman in a fitted long dress said calmly beside the old man. Yet, a hint of regret lingered in her eyes.
The old man and the middle-aged woman gazed at Li Fan and the others who had arrived earlier, filled with envy.
When their gazes met Li Fan's, even though they didn't know him, they nodded slightly in acknowledgment.
Li Fan's heart stirred, and he transmitted a message to He Gan Xian: "Did you gain anything?"
If it were an ordinary opportunity, those observing transcendent experts would not have shown such expressions. But Li Fan himself hadn't gained any particular insight, so he asked He Gan Xian.
He Gan Xian's eyes were tightly shut, seemingly still immersed in comprehending the Dao.
However, he did not forget to reply to Li Fan: "The phenomenon of the rebirth of myriad Daos is like a shining mirror, reflecting one's own cultivation path. The manifestation here is the beginning of the Great Dao, its purest state. For our cultivation, it is of extremely significant verification value..."
"Moreover, the new Dao corresponding to one's own rebirth in this newly born possibility can be directly captured during its genesis, before it fully solidifies, to strengthen oneself. Under normal circumstances, to absorb a Dao path requires another version of oneself in that possibility to have cultivated it to at least the Nameless realm. This is a rare encounter, impossible to force! Therefore, even for experts at the transcendent level, this rebirth of myriad Daos is an extremely rare opportunity."
"How was your enlightenment, fellow Daoist?" He Gan Xian asked, not forgetting to inquire.
Li Fan smiled: "My Great Dao is not present here. Therefore, I have gained no insight."
He Gan Xian's body trembled upon hearing this; his eyelids twitched, and he almost couldn't help but open his eyes.
A blank possibility, and the rebirth of myriad Daos.
If, within that blank mirror, one did not see their own cultivated Dao...
Either their aptitude was too poor, making them blind to the truth.
Or the Dao path they cultivated was of too high a level, surpassing the scope of ordinary Mountains and Seas possibilities!
Judging by Li Fan's nonchalant demeanor, it was unlikely to be an exaggeration.
Thus, He Gan Xian became even more convinced of Li Fan's identity as someone from another realm of the Mountains and Seas.
In truth, on this matter, Li Fan had not deceived He Gan Xian.
He indeed did not see any trace of the evolution of the [True-False Transformation] during the rebirth of myriad Daos in this possibility.
Or rather, the True-False Transformation did not exist within the mortal realm of the Mountains and Seas.
If it was not visible on a macroscopic scale, how could it be seen on a microscopic possibility?
"The True-False Transformation only exists at the moment the Reflection is activated and the Mountains and Seas are reset. It is extremely difficult to perceive under normal circumstances. Otherwise, my comprehension and cultivation of it would not have been so slow."
However, it wasn't as if Li Fan gained nothing from observing this wondrous spectacle.
If the rebirth of myriad Daos was like a mirror, where ordinary transcendent cultivators could encounter their own cultivation path, then the True-False Transformation was another mirror.
What it reflected was the Daos themselves!
Only, the evolution of Daos from nothingness to existence was too rapid. With Li Fan's current aptitude, it was difficult to observe all these countless Daos within such a short period.
"Perhaps if my spiritual essence were superimposed thousands of times, it might be possible," Li Fan did not force himself.
After the heaven and earth were reopened and the Great Dao reborn, a considerable amount of time would be needed for new life to be generated. Unless external forces intervened to transplant life.
The transcendent experts present had no such inclination.
They all dispersed one after another.
Although Li Fan had nothing to do, he still waited for He Gan Xian to finish his enlightenment.
The time required for He Gan Xian's enlightenment was longer than that of other transcendent experts.
Only when they were the last two remaining did He Gan Xian slowly open his eyes.
"Here, I have recaptured a wisp of the Qi of Morality. After careful refinement, I may be able to perform the act of Morality Separation again," He Gan Xian said to Li Fan with great joy, seeing that they were alone.
"Oh?"
"After the death of my other self, my method of Morality Separation cultivation failed. Originally, it would have taken me hundreds of thousands of years to re-conceive the two paths of morality and balance, and then wait for a suitable opportunity to separate them. However, today, with the Sages' intervention, I was fortunate to capture a wisp of nascent morality."
"This pure Great Dao is ignorant, unknowing, and ownerless. Once refined, it can directly transform into one's own power."
Li Fan understood He Gan Xian's words.
The newly born Great Dao, in its initial state, had not yet become intertwined and integrated into the workings of heaven and earth; it was still in a distinct state.
Although it only existed for a fleeting moment at the dawn of creation, if it were captured, it would be equivalent to a cultivator's tens of thousands of years of painstaking effort in comprehension and purification.
It was even superior.
He Gan Xian's ability to seize this fleeting opportunity showed his remarkable talent.
"How long will your refinement take?"
"A hundred years."
"Good. May I have the honor of viewing the secret technique for Morality Separation?" Li Fan asked with a smile.
He Gan Xian replied casually, "The Great Technique of Morality can be shared with others. If you wish to observe it, fellow Daoist, I will prepare a seat for you!"
"Then I shall not refuse your kind offer!" Li Fan laughed heartily.
He realized that since the death of the Faceless Immortal and the failure of Morality Separation,
He Gan Xian had slowly lost the characteristics that originally belonged to him, gradually reverting to the original [Moral True Immortal].
"The Great Technique of Morality is indeed profound. I must see what it is all about," Li Fan mused silently.
"However, Morality Separation requires the aid of the mutual resonance between heaven and man, and a suitable location is needed."
He Gan Xian scanned the surrounding Mountains and Seas with his gaze and shook his head slightly, "There is no suitable place nearby."
"What kind of conditions are needed?"
"A critical moment when disaster is imminent, forcing a decision," He Gan Xian said, looking at Li Fan.
"That's an easy matter!" Li Fan immediately understood why He Gan Xian was telling him this.
"Still, we just finished burning mountains and boiling seas not long ago, so it's not easy to cause another major disturbance. However, to help you be pushed to a desperate situation... it doesn't require the aid of the Mountains and Seas..." As Li Fan spoke, a wisp of flame appeared in his hand.
The fire blazed like a dragon, fiercely emerging.
In just a breath, it completely surrounded He Gan Xian.
He Gan Xian stared intently at the surrounding True Spirit Flame, inwardly astonished.
If the previous immense fires that spanned mountains and seas relied on the countless possibilities within the Mountains and Seas as fuel, then the flames before him were purely sustained by Li Fan's spiritual essence.
Most importantly...
He Gan Xian vaguely sensed that the flames before him seemed capable of burning indefinitely!
After absorbing that wisp of nascent morality, He Gan Xian's intuition had strengthened.
He still had great confidence in his premonitions.
"One must have crossed the Everlasting Void Realm to possess such incredible spiritual essence."
"And it is precisely because this spiritual essence does not belong to him that he cannot transform it into his own cultivation talent..." He Gan Xian understood.
Li Fan had not mentioned his aptitude to He Gan Xian.
He had not even gone into seclusion to cultivate.
But He Gan Xian could infer some things from the subtle clues during their interactions.
For example, the previous beginning of heaven and earth and the rebirth of myriad Daos.
Although Li Fan claimed that his cultivated Dao was not present there, if his cultivation aptitude were truly exceptional, even without cultivating myriad Daos, he would gain insights from observing them through analogous reasoning.
And Li Fan had awakened too quickly!
Even though he had noticed this, He Gan Xian did not feel contempt towards him.
On the contrary, he became even more solemn.
Cultivation aptitude and realm strength should never be confused.
In other words, reaching the same transcendent realm with lower aptitude was even more indicative of his extraordinary qualities.
Furthermore, Li Fan had, by all indications, crossed the Everlasting Void Realm from another segment of the Mountains and Seas!
"I suddenly understand that it's not that only those who cross the Everlasting Void Realm can become Sages."
"Rather, within our perception, only by reaching the realm of a Sage, possessing the power of a [Sage], can one survive and traverse the Everlasting Void Realm, where even the concept of existence has ceased."
"Hence, we would form such an illusion."
"But what if there were special methods unknown to mortals, allowing transcendents below the Sage realm to traverse the Everlasting Void Realm?"
After He Gan Xian slowly reverted to the Moral True Immortal, his thoughts became less extreme.
Instead, he considered all aspects more thoroughly.
"Moreover, this person confidently claimed he could help me become a Sage; his words should not be false..."
"Regardless of the reason, this person is worth befriending."
Surrounded by the True Spirit Flame, countless thoughts flashed through the Moral True Immortal's mind.
He remained unperturbed, feeling the might of the True Spirit Flame.
He shook his head slightly: "Although this fire is powerful, it cannot push me into a desperate situation. Even if I were completely surrounded, I could still break free by sacrificing some spiritual essence."
"Then what if we add Dao Erasure?"
"That won't work either. Unless it's the power of the Mountains and Seas being destroyed." The Moral True Immortal still shook his head.
This time, it was Li Fan's turn to frown deeply.
The Moral True Immortal said solemnly: "My current strength is not what it was. To perform Morality Separation again..."
"I need the desperation of the Everlasting Void Realm!"
Upon hearing the words "Everlasting Void Realm," Li Fan's eyes narrowed instantly as he sized up the Moral True Immortal within the firelight.
The Moral True Immortal's expression was calm, meeting Li Fan's gaze.
"Fellow Daoist, do you know the [Reverse] character technique?"
After a long period of silence, Li Fan suddenly asked.
"I know a little, I learned it to facilitate my travels across the Mountains and Seas," the Moral True Immortal replied indifferently.
"Then let us meet at the end of the Mountains and Seas, at the beginning of time, before the Everlasting Void Realm!"
With that, Li Fan leaped, plunging back into the Mountains and Seas.
However, this time, it was not a crossing of the Dao Erasure.
Instead, he moved against the flow of the River of Time, heading rapidly towards the initial moments of this surviving fragment of the Mountains and Seas.
Compared to his panic when he first plunged into the River of Time, Li Fan now handled it with considerable ease.
But the Moral True Immortal was no weaker than him.
Following closely behind!
The seventy-four thousand, eight hundred and seventy-sixth year.
This was the limit of time when Emperor Tai traversed upstream against the River of Time.
This time, after traveling upstream for nearly sixty thousand years with True Immortal Morality, Li Fan gradually felt a sense of crisis.
"This feeling..."
"Are we nearing the beginning of this segment of the Mountains and Seas' time?"
The last time Li Fan gazed into the Primordial Void from the Eternal Heavenly Steps on the Other Shore, the feeling that welled up in his heart was exactly the same as now.
It was just that the Other Shore had reminders and barriers set up outside the Primordial Void to obstruct.
Now, Li Fan was traveling upstream himself, venturing into danger. As he got closer to the beginning of time, the sense of crisis and instinctive fear increased a hundredfold.
Therefore, the speed of their upstream journey slowed down by mutual agreement.
After pushing forward for another five hundred years, they were almost unable to move.
"Can you still keep up?" Li Fan turned his head and asked calmly, without revealing any flaws, "As if nothing happened."
True Immortal Morality's expression was solemn: "Even though I knew the danger of the Primordial Void, only by coming here personally can one truly understand its meaning. If one falls in carelessly, the concept of morality itself will vanish in an instant."
"However... I can still try a little harder."
"Wouldn't this be more in line with the [Desperate Situation] you need?" Li Fan smiled and continued forward, his posture unchanged.
On the surface, he was still incredibly calm, but inwardly, he was already sweating profusely.
Every cell in his body was screaming warnings. It was desperately resisting the approach to the Primordial Void ahead.
Li Fan's own spiritual sense was also constantly warning him of the extreme danger ahead.
The only thing that gave Li Fan some comfort was that Return to Truth had no reaction to his attempt to approach the Primordial Void.
"It's just observing from a distance, not truly entering, so it should be fine."
Thinking this, Li Fan overcame his instincts and continued to step forward.
Pure void and darkness began to rise in his vision, displaying an absolute, overwhelming power. The closer he got, the more suffocating it became.
Li Fan even sensed that his cultivation in the Dao was becoming somewhat unstable.
As if sensing its impending doom, the "Dao" itself instinctively wanted to scatter.
Like a drop of ink in water, scattering into countless threads!
The desire to survive and continue to flow was also a natural instinct of the Dao. Therefore, Li Fan could hardly prevent its dispersal with his will.
"Moreover, this process of dispersal is irreversible. Once lost, it is lost forever. Even if I return to the normal time point in the Mountains and Seas later, this dissipated cultivation will not return. I will have to cultivate it myself."
However, with the advantage of Return to Truth, Li Fan was unconcerned about the dissipation of his cultivation. Anyway, even if he were reduced to a mortal, as long as he returned to the saved anchor point, he would be able to recover.
It was just that as his cultivation decreased, his situation at the beginning of time became increasingly dangerous. Li Fan became more cautious, ready to activate Return to Truth at any moment.
In contrast, True Immortal Morality was far less calm than Li Fan.
His cultivation was the result of painstaking effort. With every step forward, decades or even centuries of hard work would be in vain.
He had not yet become a Saint, so why wouldn't he feel heartbroken?
Coupled with the increasingly intense sense of inner crisis, True Immortal Morality's progress became even slower.
Sometimes he almost came to a standstill, taking a long time to move a single step.
Looking at Li Fan's back, whose speed showed no sign of slowing down and whose movements were graceful and free, True Immortal Morality's admiration for Li Fan surged.
"It seems my previous guess was correct! Perhaps only those who have crossed the Primordial Void can walk as if strolling in a courtyard at the beginning of time!"
The further he went, the faster his cultivation and Dao dispersed, and the weaker he became.
The weaker he became, the less courage he had to move forward.
Under this vicious cycle, True Immortal Morality ultimately could not reach the limit of this segment of the Mountains and Seas.
However, he had managed to reach within one step of it.
"Another half a year forward, and it will be the initial time node of this segment of the Mountains and Seas."
"Approximately..."
"Sixty-eight thousand, four hundred and thirty-seventh year before the anchor point."
The void of the Primordial Void lay before his eyes, almost within reach.
Darkness covered his head, almost enveloping his entire body.
It was as if reaching out would plunge into that deep darkness.
Every thought Li Fan had to exert a thousand times more effort to suppress the instinctive fear welling up from the depths of his soul.
This had nothing to do with state of mind, but rather, as a living being, an instinctive fear of the catastrophe of "conceptual extinction."
This was true for his thoughts, and even more so for his actions.
True Immortal Morality was sweating profusely, his expression terrifying and ferocious.
He wanted to move his feet.
After several attempts, he was ultimately unable to do so.
Finally, he sighed with regret and gave up.
"This is my limit."
True Immortal Morality closed his eyes and said with great difficulty, "I have a premonition that if I insist on going further, I won't even need to fall into the Primordial Void. My very existence will disintegrate on its own."
"Ahead lies a desperate situation for me."
Li Fan stood before True Immortal Morality, his hands behind his back, leaving him with an unforgettable back view.
He slowly said, "A pity. Here, every step forward offers a world-shattering view. What I see now, you cannot perceive."
After speaking, Li Fan shook his head and retreated from the front.
Even though his heart had not yet recovered from the extreme fear, and he occasionally felt sharp tearing pain, it did not affect Li Fan's calm and poised demeanor, as if he had not had his fill.
"In fact, the mysteries further ahead are a hundred times more profound than here. It's just a pity..." Li Fan sighed lightly, as if hesitating to speak further.
He did not explicitly state where "ahead" was, but to True Immortal Morality, it obviously referred to the Primordial Void!
"Could it be that crossing it caused your cultivation to be damaged, and you are no longer in the Saint realm?"
Hearing this, True Immortal Morality's mind instantly connected the dots.
The loss of Dao cultivation was already so severe before the Primordial Void. What about inside the Primordial Void?
It was reasonable that crossing it would lead to a drop in cultivation realm.
All his previous speculations about Li Fan formed a closed loop. True Immortal Morality said solemnly, "I hope Fellow Daoist can lend me a hand!"
"Good!"
A glint flashed in Li Fan's eyes.
The True Spirit Flame reappeared.
Fiercely burning, it formed an arc, sealing True Immortal Morality.
At this moment, from True Immortal Morality's perspective, moving forward meant facing the terrifying Primordial Void.
Moving backward meant facing the scorching True Spirit Flame.
Although the True Spirit Flame was also extremely dangerous, it was still inferior to the threat of the Primordial Void.
Therefore, in a life-or-death situation, if he wanted to survive, he would definitely choose to break through the True Spirit Flame's blockade.
As True Immortal Morality had said earlier, even with the True Spirit Flame and Dao Erasure, it was far from a desperate situation!
But Li Fan was not done yet.
Gazing at True Immortal Morality, who was sitting cross-legged in the void, Li Fan's expression suddenly turned cold.
It was a look of aloofness, incompatible with any being in the Mountains and Seas, looking down upon all sentient beings.
As True Immortal Morality's gaze met Li Fan's, his heart trembled.
He felt as if he were facing a Saint again!
"Perhaps, it's not an illusion?"
Thinking this, True Immortal Morality suddenly felt a great terror descending from the True Spirit Flame ahead!
The threat of the True Spirit Flame increased a thousandfold in an instant.
Moreover, it felt extremely similar to the Primordial Void!
"Falling into it means annihilation of body and soul..."
One moment, there was still a way out.
The next moment, there was no escape!
True Immortal Morality's hairs stood on end, cold sweat dripping from his forehead.
"Are you satisfied with this desperate situation?"
Li Fan's extremely cold voice, cutting through the flickering flames, reached True Immortal Morality's ears.
"Please quickly perform the Morality Separation."
"Do not attempt to escape, or else..."
"There will likely be no True Immortal Morality in this world anymore."
The flames suddenly surged, completely obscuring True Immortal Morality's vision.
He naturally understood that Li Fan's words were not a joke.
If he were to stubbornly force his way through, that person would likely show no mercy!
He had sought this desperate situation for tens of thousands of years through upstream travel, painstakingly pursuing it in order to perform the Great Technique of Morality Separation.
But now that he had truly fallen into a desperate situation, True Immortal Morality regretted it somewhat.
However, it was not the time to regret now.
Seeing that True Immortal Morality had not acted for a long time, the True Spirit Flame began to slowly advance forward!
True Immortal Morality's heart pounded, and he called out, "Fellow Daoist, wait!"
However, Li Fan seemed not to hear him, heedless. The True Spirit Flame continued to advance.
At this moment, True Immortal Morality was truly in a desperate situation.
Moving forward meant facing the pressure of the Primordial Void, which would cause his own existence to disintegrate.
And moving backward...
The True Spirit Flame, along with the formidable power within the flames, would also cause his body and soul to vanish.
True Immortal Morality could only force himself to calm down.
"At this moment, it is precisely like the time when the Immortal Realm was destroyed and Dao Erasure descended."
"When there is no way out, a great divine ability is born."
"As the saying goes, pressure leads to change, and change leads to progress!"
On True Immortal Morality's face, two completely different expressions appeared.
The left half of his face was furrowed, seemingly troubled.
The right half, however, seemed to have attained enlightenment, smiling happily.
But in the next instant, the expressions on the left and right sides swapped.
In the next moment, the expressions on both sides changed again.
This cycle continued, with the expression changes becoming faster and faster.
Finally, the two completely different expressions seemed to merge, returning to a single peaceful face.
The change in facial expression was just the first step of Morality Separation.
A wisp of True Morality seemed to rotate in the midst of the change.
Gradually, two wisps of aura, one black and one white, differentiated.
However, from a distance, these black and white auras did not seem pure.
They were still intertwined, unable to separate.
The black and white intertwined and circled each other, continuously rotating, forming a Taiji diagram.
And from all parts of the Mountains and Seas, it seemed as if True Morality's Dao was attracted, ignoring the blockade of the True Spirit Flame, and descended one after another, merging into that Taiji diagram!
"This is..."
Outside the True Spirit Flame, Li Fan maintained his spiritual projection and the True-False Transformation, carefully observing the wondrous changes occurring on True Immortal Morality.
The great terror that True Immortal Morality felt was naturally the True-False Transformation.
Or, more specifically, the transformation of "True becomes False."
After thirty more reincarnations of comprehension, compared to the initial Spirit-Weakening Blade, the power of the "True becomes False" divine ability had increased a hundredfold.
It was no longer as simple as merely reducing spirituality.
Even for a transcendently powerful being like True Immortal Morality, Li Fan was confident that he could slowly erase his existence and completely transform him into nothingness!
However...
It would take some time.
True Immortal Morality's premonition was not wrong.
Under the dual reduction of the True Spirit Flame and the True-False Transformation, he would indeed be erased from existence, just like the Primordial Void.
But Li Fan could not be compared to the Primordial Void.
If the Primordial Void was a vast swamp that could instantly swallow True Immortal Morality,
Then Li Fan was, at best, a smear of black膏药, only able to slowly devour the local area it touched.
Although the effects achieved by the two were勉强 similar,
The efficiency of swallowing was incomparable.
The reason True Immortal Morality had the illusion of truly falling into a desperate situation was the grandeur of the True Spirit Flame's disguise and his complete ignorance of the True-False Transformation.
If he had truly disregarded everything and rushed into the True Spirit Flame,
He would have been able to escape, suffering only minor injuries at most.
But True Immortal Morality had come here precisely for the sake of experiencing a desperate situation to comprehend the Dao, and thus did not act that way.
"Morality flows, approaching change."
"It formed an atmosphere, as if of transcendence, which is why it could attract similar Great Daos of Morality from the Mountains and Seas from afar."
Li Fan, hidden within the True Spirit Flame, quietly observed the Taiji diagram, lost in thought.
Just like Emperor Tianluo's plan to transcend the Immortal Realm could attract a crowd of followers to serve him,
The mysterious Taiji diagram that True Immortal Morality was evolving, constructed a picture of transcending the Mountains and Seas.
However, it was merely a picture.
"If True Immortal Morality's comprehension of True Morality were to reach the limit of the Mountains and Seas, perhaps he could truly turn this picture into reality!"
"Morality flows naturally, the Taiji gives birth to all things. This is a Dao path that can rival the Mountains and Seas, just like the Great Dao of Longevity..."
"However, True Immortal Morality is, after all, only at an ordinary transcended realm. He is far from fully comprehending its true meaning. He hasn't even fully grasped Morality, let alone Taiji."
As expected, it seemed to confirm Li Fan's guess.
The various Great Daos of Morality that had traveled from all over the Mountains and Seas discovered that the Taiji diagram before them was merely an illusory picture woven out of thin air. Most of them lost interest and
quickly disappeared.
However, a very small portion, perhaps seeing True Immortal Morality's potential, still chose to stay.
By gaining the replenishment of the Great Dao of Morality out of thin air, True Immortal Morality's aura became more substantial.
The strength lost by approaching the Primordial Void was also largely restored.
Most importantly...
This choice, to stay or to leave,
Became the initial driving force for Morality Separation!
As if struck by a knife, True Immortal Morality differentiated into two identical illusory projections!
Between the two illusions, a vortex seemed to spin.
A blurry Taiji diagram, with the two separated figures of the Moral True Immortal as the yin and yang fish eyes, appeared motionless, poised, and in motion, stopping and swirling, separating and merging!
"Morality splitting into two..."
Li Fan's eyes were fixed on the wondrous phenomenon before him, which was splitting into two.
When the black and white Taiji spun to a certain speed, it instantly vanished from Li Fan's sight.
At the same time, the Moral True Immortal, no longer appeared in the world.
In its place, were two transcendent beings, one of the Dao and one of virtue!
At this moment, they had not yet awakened, still sitting cross-legged with their eyes closed.
But after the split, the situations of the two True Immortals were vastly different!
For now, the previous designations would still be used.
He Gan Immortal's aura was stable, with no major fluctuations in power. His strength even seemed to have slightly improved.
However, the realm of the Faceless Immortal seemed to have plummeted. His face also slowly became transparent.
The feeling they gave Li Fan...
was still that the Faceless Immortal was more threatening!
"Morality splitting into two, the ultimate goal is to completely abandon one of them, either Dao or virtue, and retain only the other in its purest form."
"Dao and virtue are inherently difficult to separate, and this process of continuous separation..."
"Also represents a form of aggregation!"
In front of Li Fan, the Taiji diagram that had disappeared seemed to reappear.
And as it spun rapidly, the black and white colors began to separate from their fusion. But outside the original Taiji, a larger, new Taiji diagram was being gestured into existence.
Or rather, that magnificent Taiji diagram had transcended the concept of "Taiji" and was more like a brand new world. It was exactly like the scene of the initial re-creation of the myriad Daos that Li Fan had glimpsed with He Gan Immortal before!
"Once the separation and reassembly are complete, it will be a breaking of the old and embracing of the new, the Taiji giving birth to myriad phenomena. The splitting of morality is, in fact, breaking free from the constraints of one's own Dao principles! No wonder one can attain Sainthood!"
Li Fan vaguely understood the mechanism behind the Moral True Immortal's attainment of Sainthood in his previous life.
In simple terms, it was to use the divine art of morality splitting to abandon the nature of the Great Dao of "Morality."
Because it was nothing, it contained and encompassed everything.
It was like, in a feudal dynasty with a strictly hierarchical bureaucracy, no matter how diligent and meritorious you were, when it came to conferring titles and rewards, positions like Prime Minister, Grand Chancellor, Grand Tutor, and King with equal standing were the highest attainable for a subject.
To advance further...
either one had to betray their superior and seize the throne, a "yellow robe ceremony."
Or one had to "trample the ministers' bones on the imperial street and reopen heaven and earth."
Or one had to carve out territory overseas and start anew.
If the normal means of attaining Sainthood were like options one or two, then the Moral True Immortal's path was the third option.
A path less traveled!
"Having a small country with few people, it's no wonder that the 'Morality' I saw in my previous life was not as powerful as the Sages of the Other Shore."
"I thought there was such a big gap in strength between Sages."
By observing the secret of the Moral True Immortal's attainment of Sainthood up close, Li Fan finally understood why he was able to escape unharmed in front of a Sage in his previous life.
"However, there are no fixed rules for strength throughout history. Although weak at the time of attaining the Dao, it does not mean weakness forever. As long as one achieves Sainthood first, there will be ample opportunities to become powerful later." Having seen many examples of small, insignificant nations rising to power, Li Fan was very confident in the potential of this method of attaining Sainthood through morality.
"It's a pity, however, that it seems to be applicable only to the path of 'Morality' and not universally applicable. Or perhaps, my comprehension is insufficient..."
While Li Fan was contemplating, the new He Gan Immortal and Faceless Immortal finally awoke from their contemplation.
They both looked at Li Fan, and though they cupped their hands in greeting, one’s eyes held gratitude, and the other’s held caution.
Li Fan laughed heartily and waved his hand, dispelling the True Spirit Flame and the True-Becomes-False divine ability he was maintaining: "The splitting of morality is indeed wondrous and profound."
"Far inferior to your divine ability!" The Faceless Immortal said with a sinister smile.
"This 'me' is not the 'me' from before. The memories and emotions before the split are completely identical to mine. As for after... we can be considered two different people now." He Gan Immortal explained from the side.
"With the initial split of morality, our foundations need to be re-accumulated. Perhaps, we will have the opportunity to attain the Dao on our own."
"But if not, we may still need your help."
He Gan and Faceless, as if still connected by a shared mind, spoke one after another.
Li Fan readily agreed: "Certainly. I also sincerely hope that in this section of the mountains and seas, another Sage will emerge."
"If you need anything in the future, contact me with this artifact."
Saying this, Li Fan flicked two rays of light, which flew directly towards the two Immortals.
Upon receiving them, the two Immortals found that they each held a black and a white, two different chess pieces.
The aura of these tokens was, in fact, somewhat similar to their Great Dao of Morality.
Even the Faceless Immortal solemnly accepted it.
After all, it represented the hope of attaining Sainthood!
As for whether it would be Dao or virtue, or who would be the ultimate victor, that would depend on their own abilities!
"You may go now! I still have scenery to behold ahead."
Without waiting for the two Immortals to respond, Li Fan's figure gracefully moved forward, continuing towards the Eternal Void Realm, disappearing into the realm of time.
Although his heart wished to follow and see what kind of "scenery" it was.
However, his innate fear of the Eternal Void Realm made it difficult for the two Immortals to keep up.
They could only sigh and give up.
He Gan Immortal and the Faceless Immortal exchanged glances, then each snorted lightly and parted ways.
This was precisely...
When paths diverge, they do not conspire together!
And what they did not know was that Li Fan, after taking only a few steps forward, could no longer support himself.
Completely disregarding his previous promise to the two Moral Immortals, Li Fan only tried his best to look ahead into a void of darkness.
Then, he silently recited,
Return to Truth!
His aunt had already perished in this life, and the only reason he had lingered was to uncover the secret of attaining Sainthood through morality. Now that his goal was achieved, why would he continue to stay?
Did he really have to wait hundreds of thousands of years and be a kind person, helping morality attain Sainthood?
Li Fan was not that kind.
Therefore, when he activated Return to Truth, there was no hesitation.
The reason he had risked great danger to continue towards the Eternal Void Realm...
was because Li Fan wanted to see if Return to Truth, when activated, would affect the current section of mountains and seas outside.
"If it can, then even the Eternal Void Realm will undergo corresponding changes."
"If not..."
The familiar hazy mist enveloped everything around him.
Li Fan's gaze struggled to penetrate the white mist, trying to look outward.
The beginning and end of time seemed to be an extremely obvious dividing line.
The pitch-black Eternal Void Realm was not stained with white.
Even though this side had become like the moon in the mirror, the flower in the water, the Eternal Void Realm remained eternally silent and tranquil.
"Could it be, as I suspected, that Return to Truth only covers the current section of mountains and seas?"
"Is the Eternal Void Realm and the Sages in other mountains and seas not within the scope of Return to Truth?"
Seeing the clear demarcation before him, Li Fan's heart skipped a beat.
Then, he recalled the various interactions with the Mound Guardian in his past reincarnation.
"Doesn't that mean that if I encounter the Mound Guardian, my possession of Return to Truth will be definitely exposed?"
The hazy mist was about to completely obscure all sights before him.
Just as he was completely plunged into darkness, Li Fan suddenly looked up again.
In the Eternal Void Realm, something seemed to have targeted him.
Or more precisely, it had targeted Return to Truth.
It was as if something was about to emerge from beneath the water.
The darkness seemed to be fading.
Even while undergoing Return to Truth, this moment felt incredibly long.
Cold sweat dripped uncontrollably from Li Fan's forehead.
As if he had completely fallen into the Eternal Void Realm, his entire body trembled violently from extreme fear.
It was as if in the next second, he would fall into the grasp of that unknown existence.
Fortunately, the white mist of Return to Truth timely obscured his vision.
As if subjected to a violent impact, the white mist swayed incessantly and vibrated ceaselessly!
"Return to Truth, Return to Truth, Return to Truth!"
Still not having returned to the designated anchor point, Li Fan, immersed in the white mist, was like an infant wrapped in a swaddling blanket, powerless to do anything.
He could only instinctively keep calling out.
Trying to escape this terrifying predicament.
This was the first time Li Fan had encountered a situation where Return to Truth had almost failed!
This was enough to demonstrate the horror of the unknown existence in the Eternal Void Realm.
It was even superior to the Sages of the Other Shore.
Most importantly...
Neither Return to Truth nor Li Fan's intuition had given any warning of its arrival.
This seemed to indicate that its existence had surpassed the scope of the existing cognitive framework.
All of Li Fan's life-saving methods were almost rendered useless!
His heart skipped a beat. Li Fan, filled with fear and unease, looked at the distorted and deformed white mist, regretting his rash actions.
The distorted part of the white mist was getting closer and closer to Li Fan.
Li Fan could only watch helplessly, unable to do anything.
The cultivation of transcendence gained through a hundred lifetimes of hard work seemed like a joke in the face of such terrifying power!
"Return to Truth!"
Li Fan roared in his heart again.
Finally, as if hearing his call, the white mist instantly calmed down.
The collision and distortion disappeared.
In the misty haze, everything became quiet.
As in the past, Li Fan slowly fell into a deep sleep.
Anchor point: 1 year!
Upon regaining consciousness, Li Fan seemed unable to shake off the horrifying experience of his previous life.
Still drenched in sweat, fear coiled in his heart.
He nervously looked up at the sky, scanning beyond the mountains and seas, fearing that the unknown entity from the Eternal Void Realm had tracked him here.
But after waiting for a good while, the Great Xuan's pocket world remained quiet.
It was no different from the previous anchor point of 1 year.
Only then did Li Fan heave a long sigh of relief.
"I'm alive."
His face regained the demeanor of a transcendent expert, and Li Fan began to ponder the bizarre events that had occurred during Return to Truth in his previous life.
"The Eternal Void Realm is an absolute void where even concepts cease to exist. Then, what was it that I just sensed..."
"Even without appearing, the threat it brought far surpassed that of the Sages of the Other Shore."
Recalling that the engulfment by Dao Erasure was originally a belonging of the mountains and seas to the "Stars."
Li Fan almost instinctively thought of the "Creator God" mentioned in the Allegory of Mountains and Seas.
In the past, he had only glimpsed its existence through the simple writings left by Sun Piaomiao. He had no concrete understanding of the Creator God's power.
After this incident, Li Fan had a preliminary understanding.
The pressure it brought surpassed everything Li Fan had experienced in his reincarnations so far.
So much so that for the next year, whenever he was alone, Li Fan would still periodically look up at the sky, fearing that disaster would suddenly descend.
And Li Fan's aunt, Bai Shuyue, was also not doing well.
Everyone, at each stage, had their own fears.
Li Fan was terrified of the "Stars," while Bai Shuyue's mind was still plagued by the vision of the towering Dao Erasure at the end of her previous life.
She did not blame the Boundless Wall too much for inexplicably attracting disaster.
She was merely horrified by this legendary immortal realm's world-ending tribulation.
"What kind of cultivation is required to survive such a great tribulation? Transcendence?" Bai Shuyue mused with a heavy heart.
Knowing that she could not let the experiences of her past life become her inner demon, Bai Shuyue, who had already superimposed her spiritual essence nearly thirty times, did not choose to escape.
Instead, she closed her eyes, focused her mind, and repeatedly recalled the feeling of being engulfed by Dao Erasure in her previous life.
After choosing to face her inner fears, the fear in her heart gradually disappeared.
In just over a month, Bai Shuyue's expression became completely calm.
"Dao Erasure..."
"It's nothing."
"Even if I were to be engulfed by it again in this life, I would not be so terrified."
Bai Shuyue was very certain.
Having overcome her inner demon, Bai Shuyue resumed her path of cultivation.
Almost instinctively, she wanted to cultivate using the method from her previous life.
But as she thought of it, she paused.
"Without the 'Boundless Unity,' it's really a bit unaccustomed."
"The limitations and restrictions pressing down on me are too many and too heavy."
With no other choice, Bai Shuyue had to seek out the Boundless Wall again to strategize about Boundless Unity.
After preparation and planning, she managed to suppress Boundless Unity once more, narrowly escaping danger.
The Boundless Wall praised, "As expected of someone with the potential for transcendence! I was worried you might lose your composure at a critical moment, but I didn't expect you to be so calm!"
Bai Shuyue just smiled and did not reply.
Possession was the best method of demystification. Now that she was accustomed to using Boundless Unity as a convenient cultivation tool, why would she fear it?
It was just a matter of time.
In total, it took a year to recover her peak cultivation from her previous life.
At this point, in order to ascend to immortality, the Boundless Wall once again proposed the plan to continuously seek out and suppress True Immortals, paving the way to immortality.
It also suggested starting with the remaining immortal artifacts in the Xuanhuang Realm.
"I think it's unnecessary."
"We should directly target Immortals as enemies."
Bai Shuyue said domineeringly.
"If there are no suitable opponents in this realm, we will go beyond the Sea of Stars."
"There's no need to waste more time here."
Bai Shuyue was resolute, and the Boundless Wall could not stop her.
"True Immortals also have their strengths and weaknesses. Let's take it step by step."
Passing through the The Great Barrier, Bai Shuyue and the Boundless Wall arrived outside the Northern Coldness Star Sea and suddenly stopped.
"I remember in one life, as soon as I entered the starry sky ahead, I was captured and suppressed by a grasping hand."
"Let's see how strong he is now."
Thinking this, a glint of coldness flashed in Bai Shuyue's eyes as she charged into the The Dao Lattice.
The scene unfolded identically to Bai Shuyue's previous intrusion into the The Dao Lattice. Countless intersecting lines, like a colossal web, materialized around her, ensnaring her within their grasp.
Suddenly, a pair of translucent, colossal hands appeared, radiating immense fury. They bore down upon Bai Shuyue and the wall she had brought with her, booming, "Audacious!"
This time, however, Bai Shuyue was not defenseless as she had been before. The rhythm of the Boundless Dao surged around her, manifesting as an impenetrable armor against all techniques. The instant the transparent hands made contact, they were distorted and sent reeling.
"Hm?"
As she pondered this turn of events, Bai Shuyue, brandishing her jade staff, appeared beside the hands in an instant. The staff moved with a power that could overturn mountains and seas, shattering the transparent hands into fragments within moments. The Dao Lattice across a vast expanse of the surrounding starry sky was also fractured and contorted as a consequence. This directly revealed a path leading to the core within!
The fragility of the The Dao Lattice was far beyond Bai Shuyue's expectations. However, her reaction was swift and unafraid, and she plunged directly into the opening. Repairing threads of the The Dao Lattice, like tentacles, extended outwards, attempting to impede Bai Shuyue’s advance. But the Boundless Great Dao's profound suppression of the The Dao Lattice rendered these threads, each possessing a power that rivaled a True Immortal, utterly useless. They disintegrated upon contact!
Witnessing Bai Shuyue's unstoppable progress, the Boundless Wall exclaimed excitedly, "Go this way! I can sense a dense True Immortal aura! Although its Dao is prosperous, its power is weak; it must have been suppressed for a very long time…" Guided by the Boundless Wall, Bai Shuyue continued her rapid flight deeper into the The Dao Lattice.
Soon, figures began to appear in groups, blocking Bai Shuyue's path. "Those who block my way shall die!" Facing these ordinary individuals obstructing her, Bai Shuyue merely let out a cold snort, her speed undiminished. The Heaven-Overturning Staff Technique unleashed a swirling, wave-like celestial light, which, within moments, engulfed the vast majority of her enemies.
Yet, one figure managed to completely deflect Bai Shuyue’s staff strike! Bai Shuyue’s ferocious charge was thus halted. She narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing the one who dared to block her path.
A refined, middle-aged man in white, wearing a scholarly cap. His gaze met Bai Shuyue’s, and beneath his calm eyes, a flicker of anger could be perceived. Without a word, he attacked.
"Nangong Fusheng, I invoke the The Dao Lattice upon myself!"
With a soft shout, Bai Shuyue saw a web of crisscrossing light lines, as if struck by a gentle palm, then a light tapestry fell, imprinting itself upon Nangong Fusheng’s body. His aura began to climb and expand boundlessly. Initially, he was at the peak of mortal cultivation, like Bai Shuyue. But shortly thereafter, he ascended to the level of a powerful True Immortal. Then, his body became as vast as the Nameless. And this was not his limit. His very being seemed inscribed with the myriad paths of the Great Dao. Nangong Fusheng stood alone, and Bai Shuyue felt as though she were facing the Great Dao itself! In an instant, Nangong Fusheng transformed from an ant into a giant.
Gazing furiously at Bai Shuyue, the intruder into the The Dao Lattice, Nangong Fusheng showed no restraint. "Universe in My Palm!" A palm as majestic as a mountain descended from above. The only thing Bai Shuyue could see was this colossal palm, its palm lines bulging like mountain ranges. Within the palm lay mountains and rivers, an endless expanse; her path was sealed, with nowhere to escape!
"Overturn this for me!" Bai Shuyue remained steady, continuously swirling her jade staff, attempting to subvert this collapsing heaven. Waves of celestial light rose, trying to prop up the descending giant palm. But upon the first contact, Bai Shuyue sensed the immense gap in their power. While she might hold on for a moment through divine abilities or powerful artifacts, there was no possibility of pushing it back or overturning it.
"Boundless Great Dao!" Bai Shuyue instinctively tried to use the Boundless Dao’s property of breaking all techniques to neutralize the opponent’s attack. But the Boundless rhythm, which had always been effective, inexplicably failed against Nangong Fusheng! The Great Dao principles transformed into markings, and though they sensed the Boundless aura, they remained solid and undissipated.
"This is bad! It's the Great Dao Descending Upon the Body, where the law serves oneself!" The knowledgeable Boundless Wall exclaimed, its voice filled with alarm.
"Great Dao Descending Upon the Body?"
"Though the Boundless Dao can break all techniques, the opponent isn't directly using various Great Dao principles to attack. Instead, he has inscribed the entire The Dao Lattice onto himself, thus strengthening his physical body."
"It doesn't directly confront the Boundless Dao, creating an intervening layer. This allows it to maintain its integrity."
"Strictly speaking, the opponent is a body cultivator. He doesn't rely on divine abilities or techniques to fight, but purely on physical prowess to crush others!"
"We must first break his The Dao Lattice's inscription on his body!" In a flash, Bai Shuyue and the Boundless Wall exchanged information. Nangong Fusheng’s giant palm was already overhead.
"No need to worry, I'll help you!" The Boundless Wall sent forth the Eternal Straw Cloak, enveloping Bai Shuyue’s entire body just in time. It felt as though his palm had pressed down on a hard pebble. Nangong Fusheng’s hand, though applying pressure, only managed to puncture his own palm, drawing blood. He recoiled in pain, withdrawing his hand.
Bai Shuyue seized the opportunity to break free from the palm’s coverage. Her jade staff, imbued with the Boundless Great Dao, slammed towards the Dao Marks inscribed on Nangong Fusheng. Where the Boundless spread, all Daos scattered. A gap appeared in Nangong Fusheng's previously flawless Dao Markings. Yet, he showed no panic, gazing at the darting Bai Shuyue with a cold laugh. "Dao Generates the World!" Every Dao Mark on his body erupted with blinding light. Then, figures emerged from the radiance, filling the sky in moments. Arranged like a dense forest, they obscured the heavens and sun. Nangong Fusheng’s colossal form vanished in an instant, replaced by countless Heavenly Soldiers and Generals! And without exception, they were all body cultivators!
The Boundless Wall gasped, "This fellow has refined all his vital energy into clones. Although the power of the The Dao Lattice Descending Upon the Body is now dispersed among each clone, and his overall strength has decreased, he's become even more troublesome for us."
"He's seen through our reliance on the Boundless Great Dao and devised a countermeasure!" Under the siege of countless body cultivators, Bai Shuyue found herself in a bitter struggle. Even though each swing of her staff took down dozens of figures, Nangong Fusheng’s vital energy surged relentlessly, seemingly inexhaustible. The rate at which he generated them far outstripped Bai Shuyue's elimination speed. Gradually, more and more figures swarmed, like ropes, attempting to tightly bind Bai Shuyue.
Even with the protection of the Eternal Straw Cloak, Nangong Fusheng could not harm Bai Shuyue in the short term. However, Bai Shuyue felt her movements becoming increasingly slow, her actions more arduous. "This situation is not good!" the Boundless Wall said with great concern. Bai Shuyue was also quite vexed. She had believed that with the Boundless Great Dao and the Boundless Wall’s various treasures, she would be able to slaughter her way through. But now, without achieving any success, she was already in dire straits? Could the plan for the Immortal Slaughtering Path to Enlightenment be doomed before it even began? Bai Shuyue’s expression turned grim. The Boundless Wall, sensing that the The Dao Lattice, previously broken by the Boundless Great Dao, was slowly recovering, urged, "Temporarily avoid his锋芒, and let's go back to think of countermeasures!"
Bai Shuyue was not one to stand her ground recklessly. She ceased her engagement with Nangong Fusheng. Using the Boundless Great Dao to clear a path, she broke free from the depths of the The Dao Lattice. She had temporarily escaped the Star Sea of the North and returned within the High Wall.
Retracting his numerous clones, Nangong Fusheng, clad in white, calmly gazed in the direction Bai Shuyue had disappeared. Beneath his white robes, the Dao Markings remained clearly visible, like searing brands imprinted on his entire body, a gruesome sight. Nangong Fusheng even coughed a few times, a trace of blood appearing at the corner of his mouth.
…
"Have the powers of the Lower Realm become this strong now?" The two, their initial attempt thwarted, fell into self-doubt.
"That Great Dao Descending Upon the Body technique is indeed difficult to deal with. It’s almost like confronting the power of the The Dao Lattice in the starry sky, but merely converted into physical strength."
"Without the advantage of the Boundless Great Dao breaking all techniques, it's already a miracle that we managed to retreat unscathed," the Boundless Wall said after a long pause, trying to comfort himself.
Bai Shuyue looked up at the Immortal Ruins outside the Xuanhuang Realm. "Perhaps we should find a different opponent?"
The Boundless Wall contemplated for a moment, then shook his head. "The Starry Sky The Dao Lattice is on our unavoidable path. If we are to carve out the Path to Enlightenment, a mere one or two True Immortals will not suffice…" Bai Shuyue heard this, her eyes narrowed, and she slowly nodded.
"However, it's not as though we have to be enemies with that The Dao Lattice," the Boundless Wall suddenly changed his tone. "During our previous battle, I vaguely perceived that many True Immortals were suppressed beneath the The Dao Lattice. Now that I think about it, they probably wove such a massive net in the starry sky by imprisoning and utilizing these True Immortals…"
"What are you implying?"
"From my understanding of those True Immortals in the Immortal Realm, they would not simply wait for capture. Therefore, this The Dao Lattice power is likely in conflict with the collective Immortals. In other words, we might be able to cooperate." the Boundless Wall whispered. "However, the prerequisite is that they haven't captured all the True Immortals of this realm."
Returning to the area outside the High Wall and facing the Star Sea of the North, the Boundless Wall shot out streaks of profound light. "Let me first conduct a clandestine investigation." The dense The Dao Lattice made the Boundless Wall's probing extremely difficult. It took a full three years before he returned successful.
"As expected, my prediction was correct. In the Star Sea, there are Immortal Hunters who hunt Immortals to shape the The Dao Lattice."
"The Nangong Fusheng who fought us that day was one of the founders of the The Dao Lattice."
"However, the true master of the The Dao Lattice is named [The Great Net]. Utterly mysterious, usually appearing as a pair of blue hands. Even when we intruded into the The Dao Lattice that day, he did not act…" the Boundless Wall relayed the intelligence he had gathered. Bai Shuyue’s mind recalled the scenes of the Boundless Wall being suppressed in her previous two lives.
"That pair of hands felt even stronger than Nangong Fusheng."
With the purpose of cooperation in mind, Bai Shuyue once again entered the Star Sea The Dao Lattice. This time, however, she did not trespass but waited quietly. As expected, the The Dao Lattice soon detected the arrival of her, the previous invader. Figures appeared one after another, confronting her from a distance. Bai Shuyue scanned the surroundings, not finding Nangong Fusheng.
"Chaos, Divine Thought?" the Boundless Wall whispered, revealing their identities. "What brings you here again, Fellow Daoist?" Chaos asked expressionlessly. Even though she was a mortal, they, True Immortals, dared not underestimate her, especially knowing she wielded the Boundless Great Dao. Although Nangong Fusheng had stopped her last time, the Great Dao Descending Upon the Body, coupled with the power of the entire The Dao Lattice, had inflicted considerable damage on Nangong Fusheng's physique. However, fortune favored him; he also broke through a long-standing bottleneck, glimpsing an opportunity for breakthrough. He was currently in seclusion, meditating on the Dao, hence his absence.
Bai Shuyue stated her purpose directly, "Immortal Hunters capture Immortals, and I also wish to hunt Immortals. Perhaps we can assist each other."
"Hm?" The True Immortals of the The Dao Lattice looked at Bai Shuyue with deep doubt. Bai Shuyue felt a bit helpless, having to explain again, "There is no path forward. If I wish to achieve the Path to Enlightenment, this is the only way." The True Immortals of the The Dao Lattice fell silent again, their gazes complex as they looked at Bai Shuyue.
"So, it was all a misunderstanding before. This is excellent!"
"Indeed, we can discuss it further." A pair of blue hands suddenly appeared in the area. Chaos and the others were slightly startled, nodding in acknowledgment. Bai Shuyue's heart became alert.
"Fellow Daoist, there's no need to be nervous. I am merely very interested in your Path to Enlightenment through Slaughtering Immortals."
"Of course, if you merely wish to ascend from mortal to immortal, I have several other methods here. If you are interested, I can share them all." The blue hands said with a smile.
"Several methods of becoming an Immortal?" Hearing this, Bai Shuyue's brow furrowed, her initial reaction being disbelief. However, the other Immortals of the The Dao Lattice all had expressions as if this were perfectly natural. The blue hands’ words did not seem false. In that instant, Bai Shuyue suddenly understood the meaning behind the complex expressions on the faces of the The Dao Lattice Immortals. It was likely: "It's just becoming an Immortal, why make such a fuss?" To think that what she had painstakingly sought seemed so readily available to them. Even with Bai Shuyue's thirty-plus lifetimes of cultivation, her heart couldn't help but ripple slightly. She stated solemnly, "I wish to hear the details!"
"Hahaha!" The blue hands let out a hearty laugh, and radiance erupted, enveloping Bai Shuyue instantly. Bai Shuyue did not resist, allowing the process to unfold. As the light shifted, Bai Shuyue felt a blur before her eyes. The next moment, she found herself in a pavilion atop a mountain, where a gaunt yet spirited elder awaited her.
"Bai Shuyue!" the woman announced her name.
"This old man… is Cheng Dao." Cheng Dao scrutinized Bai Shuyue from head to toe, a flicker of joy in his eyes. "I never expected such a talent to emerge from this fragmented realm?" Cheng Dao's praise was unambiguous. Bai Shuyue's heart skipped a beat. While she didn't understand exactly what he was referring to, she surmised it was related to her heaven-defying aptitude. Unsure how to respond, she remained silent. Cheng Dao, unperturbed, cordially inquired about the Path to Enlightenment through Slaughtering Immortals. Bai Shuyue looked ashamed. "It was merely a desperate measure born from having no path to become an Immortal. One Immortal, one step; though Immortals and mortals are separated, one can still complete the Immortal Path."
"Attaining Immortality..."
"Why merely attain immortality? If my calculations are correct, by walking this path to its end, you will be not far from the Nameless Realm." Cheng Dao stroked his beard, chuckling approvingly.
"Oh? Is that so?" Bai Shuyue asked, somewhat puzzled.
Despite her extraordinary talent, she knew nothing concrete about achieving immortality. This path of slaughtering immortals to prove the Dao was a suggestion from the Boundless Wall. However, ever since Cheng Dao appeared, the habitually arrogant and self-important Boundless Wall had fallen silent, not daring to make a peep.
Cheng Dao patiently explained to Bai Shuyue, "An immortal is one who ascends a mountain; this mountain is the 'Upper Realm.' By harnessing the power of the Upper Realm, one gains the might of an immortal."
"However, that is still insufficient. You must also venture into the Infinite Sea and obtain the 'Infinite' divine marvel. Only when the powers of both mountains and seas are mastered can one truly become an immortal."
"The Upper Realm mountain, the Infinite Sea..." Bai Shuyue had heard of the names; this was the first time she clearly understood the formidable power of mountains and seas and their connection to becoming a True Immortal.
"Then what of ascending the mountain and traversing the sea?" Bai Shuyue inquired.
"It was with this very question in their hearts that we achieved the Sagehood of Lian Shan and Gui Hai!" Cheng Dao sighed emotionally, slowly recounting the deeds of the two sages.
Lian Shan, the first immortal in existence.
Gui Hai, who opened the path to the Infinite Spring.
Listening to the sagely supreme divine abilities and the world-creating ancient tales, Bai Shuyue's heart filled with yearning.
"We mortals, naturally lack the capabilities of sages to directly draw power from the mountains and seas. Therefore, we must borrow the might of these two sages."
"In the past, mortals who ascended had to undergo a baptism at the Ascension Platform before truly becoming True Immortals. Even beings within the Immortal Realm, who sought to attain immortal status, required the decree of an Immortal Emperor for enfeoffment..."
Bai Shuyue gradually understood, "Whether it's the baptism at the Ascension Platform or the enfeoffment by an Immortal Emperor, are these not merely manifestations of the two sages' authority? Does this mean that all True Immortals in the world are only able to step into the mountains and seas by standing on the shoulders of the two sages, Lian Shan and Gui Hai? If, one day, these two sages were to fall..."
The word "fall" had not yet exited her lips when Cheng Dao gently gestured, silencing her words.
"Only those like you, who have yet to embark on the immortal path, would dare to utter such words. With the Sage Lords watching from above, it is best not to speak carelessly. While the sages may not care, some words..." Cheng Dao cast a brief glance at Bai Shuyue.
Instantly, she felt as if she were bearing a thousand-pound weight, and cold sweat streamed down her forehead. She was internally shocked, gaining an initial understanding of the old man's power before her. She repeatedly nodded, indicating she understood.
Cheng Dao's expression softened again, correcting Bai Shuyue's previous misconception: "The assistance of the two sages is not actually mandatory; it merely provides a more relaxed path. If you truly possess peerless talent, you can, of course, ascend the mountain and traverse the sea yourself. However..."
"Without the protection of the Sage Lords, ordinary individuals, even if they could touch the mountains and seas themselves, likely wouldn't last long before being assimilated and devoured by them."
"As for your concerns..." Cheng Dao chuckled, "The sages' considerations are surely more thorough than ours." He paused abruptly, not elaborating on the specifics of their thoroughness.
Bai Shuyue, being astute, did not press further. Instead, she turned to inquire about the specific method of achieving immortality: "May I ask, Senior Cheng Dao, the Immortal Realm has long since been overthrown, the Immortal Emperors are no more, and the sages have vanished. For us mortals, how should we seek the path to immortality?"
"The simplest method..."
"I shall simply write a decree," Cheng Dao said calmly.
Such an answer was entirely unexpected, and Bai Shuyue was momentarily stunned. She then looked at Cheng Dao with disbelief. Even though she had already estimated the old man's power, hearing him speak of bestowing immortality so casually still shook her to her core.
"To be able to bestow the title of True Immortal, could this person before me have once been an Immortal Emperor?"
"No wonder the Boundless Wall became so docile, as if fearing discovery." Bai Shuyue mused. Suddenly, a sense of unease arose within her.
"With such unimaginable power and status, why does he regard me with such favor? Is it merely due to my talent? Or is it related to my secret of continuous reincarnation?" If Bai Shuyue were solely exceptional in talent, she wouldn't be so worried. But precisely because she possessed such a profound secret, her mind became agitated.
Though Cheng Dao couldn't fully Divine Bai Shuyue's inner thoughts, he sensed her turmoil. However, he attributed it to her shock at his words about bestowing immortality and didn't think further.
"This decree will be used once. It will create a unique path for you, connecting to the mountains and seas. Your cultivation has already reached the necessary accumulation. The moment this decree is bestowed, you will glimpse the imagery of mountains and seas and become an immortal on the spot! However, I do not recommend you choose this path."
Bai Shuyue collected her thoughts and asked solemnly, "Why is that? I hope Senior will guide me."
"Because with your talent... taking this path would be a waste. You are different from those vulgar individuals; you have the potential to forge a path that reaches the heavens." Cheng Dao did not specify the exact realm, using the phrase "path that reaches the heavens" as a substitute.
"Ascending the mountain and traversing the sea carries great peril, but also great fortune! In the past, Lian Shan and Gui Hai achieved sagehood precisely because of this. While the protection of others might allow one to pass safely, it also means losing the excellent opportunity to personally experience the mountains and seas. And the first time one witnesses the mountains and seas, the ensuing insights are the most crucial..."
"When I achieved immortality, I observed the mountains and seas myself, which is why my progress after becoming an immortal was breathtaking." Cheng Dao spoke with a hint of pride.
Bai Shuyue was slightly taken aback, then replied with a wry smile, "Although I have some talent, I am also self-aware. I certainly cannot achieve what Senior did, to personally experience the mountains and seas."
"Alas..." Cheng Dao waved his hand, "You need not be so humble. In fact, your talent is not much inferior to mine."
Bai Shuyue was astonished.
"When we were both yet to become immortals, our strength was certainly insufficient to directly face the mountains and seas. However..." Cheng Dao paused for effect, then leisurely continued, "If you have a powerful mentor to protect you, you can naturally disregard the risks."
Bai Shuyue was completely dumbfounded. "A mentor to protect me?"
"Precisely! Unlike the protection of the two sages, a mentor will not block all the assaults from the mountains and seas. Instead, they will only filter out what exceeds your limits. In this way, you can personally experience the mountains and seas without worrying about your life. Furthermore, at such times, the mentor can offer guidance. This will not affect your path of comprehending the Great Dao of mountains and seas, but will only help clear the fog before you. The efficiency of comprehension will be hundreds of times greater than meditating alone!" Cheng Dao's expression grew serious as he spoke of the benefits provided by a master.
desde que embarked on her cultivation journey, Bai Shuyue had always explored on her own, never formally apprenticing under anyone. The convenience of a mentor, as described by Cheng Dao, sparked a longing within her. Simultaneously, a thought occurred to her, and she vaguely guessed the reason why he regarded her with special favor. However, she feigned ignorance and said helplessly, "Having such a renowned mentor is truly a stroke of good fortune. But Senior, you may not know that since I began cultivating, I have always been alone..."
Cheng Dao's eyebrows rose, his joy deepening, as he finally got to the main point: "My master is named 'Qiu Qiu.' I owe my current cultivation to his grace. Since I learned his Dao, I have been obligated to pass it on, to honor his legacy."
"Unfortunately, due to various reasons, I remain trapped here to this day, failing my master's expectations." Cheng Dao stared intently at Bai Shuyue, "In the past, to save the Star Sea of Shu, I wove a The Dao Lattice to contain the Dao Erasure. This act, in adherence to my master's teachings, has now become my shackle."
As he spoke, Cheng Dao gestured, and an image of the Star Sea of Shu's The Dao Lattice appeared before Bai Shuyue. Countless Dao strings crisscrossed, appearing mysterious, grand, and profound. As Cheng Dao spoke, the image of the The Dao Lattice gradually magnified, revealing the depths within. Four figures, like prisoners, were suppressed within the The Dao Lattice. The aura emanating from each of them made Bai Shuyue's heart pound.
"Nameless True Immortals."
While his expression was serious, Bai Shuyue focused on the figure in the very center of the The Dao Lattice. It was emaciated and gaunt. If she wasn't mistaken, its features were identical to Cheng Dao's before her!
As if sensing Bai Shuyue's astonishment, Cheng Dao admitted, "Indeed, that is me!"
"In the past, to persuade the myriad immortals to create the The Dao Lattice, I entered the fray myself. Although this protected this Star Sea for ten thousand years, it... trapped me." Cheng Dao's expression turned somewhat peculiar.
Bai Shuyue suddenly felt that her previous guess might have been incorrect.
"Over these years, I have pondered and realized the difference between my actions and my master's." 'The key to mountains and seas lies outwardly, not inwardly. As the saying goes, the outcome is irrelevant.' 'Therefore, my master, who repeatedly saved the Immortal Realm in the past, decisively departed after coming to this realization, leaving behind only a phantom image of Cheng Dao.' 'My master used a phantom to resist the Dao Erasure, while I used myself as a pillar... this is the greatest difference!'
Cheng Dao sighed, "Trapped here, how can I truly inherit my master's legacy and save the mountains and seas? At that time, I lacked the power of transcendence but forcefully sought to transcend – a grave error!"
"If, at that time, I had solely focused on my cultivation and paid no heed to worldly affairs, I might have already reached the realm of transcendence by now." "Although my master did not explicitly state it, I could vaguely sense his disappointment in me through our few communications." Cheng Dao finished speaking and gazed intently at Bai Shuyue.
"I have long considered extricating myself, but the mistake has been made. If I were to forcibly escape, it would cause the The Dao Lattice to collapse, leading to the ruin of this realm. This would still be contrary to my Dao path..."
"So, what is Senior's intention?" Bai Shuyue asked cautiously.
"In the past, I searched the Star Sea for someone qualified to take my place guarding the Star Sea. However, I found they were all vulgar individuals, unworthy of my legacy. Now..."
"You are qualified!" Cheng Dao said definitively. "Are you willing to share my burden?"
Bai Shuyue hesitated. Before she could answer, the long-silent Boundless Wall suddenly transmitted a message. 'Agree to him! Agree to him! If you say no, we will all die!'
As if sensing the Boundless Wall's transmission, Cheng Dao subtly glanced towards its hidden location. Bai Shuyue's heart tightened. Although she possessed the ability of infinite reincarnation, she was unwilling to casually throw away her life unless in dire straits. She could only brace herself and agree, "How could I refuse Senior's request?"
"Good!" Cheng Dao burst into laughter, overjoyed at the impending release from his burden. His appearance instantly transformed from a frail old man into a robust and composed middle-aged man.
"Rest assured, you will not be helping me in vain. You must know that countless people in this realm wish to take my place but cannot. Cheng Dao, in excellent spirits, explained to Bai Shuyue."
"Using oneself as a pillar to support the Dao Erasure. The core of the The Dao Lattice's operation is the Phantom Cheng Dao technique created by my master. However, at that time, my strength was limited, and I could not manifest enough phantom images to bear the weight of the Dao Erasure. Thus, I had to use myself as the pillar."
"If you take my place, I will naturally impart this Phantom Cheng Dao technique to you. Although I am not qualified to formally accept disciples on behalf of my master, by obtaining this Phantom Cheng Dao technique, you can still be considered a disciple of the Qiu Qiu school. When I inform my master of this in the future, you might have a chance to truly enter his tutelage."
Bai Shuyue held little hope for Cheng Dao's grand promises. More importantly, she knew very little about the Qiu Qiu Gong, who he was, or what deeds he had accomplished. She only knew that he had once resisted a devastating Dao Erasure tribulation for the Immortal Realm. Therefore, she wasn't overly excited.
"Presiding over the The Dao Lattice has other benefits," Cheng Dao continued, waving his hand. Multitudes of Dao string images shifted from illusory to real, as if leading directly into the core of the The Dao Lattice.
"By residing in the depths of the The Dao Lattice, you can observe the Dao principles within up close, without any interference, and with a purely observational perspective. This experience is extremely rare."
"Know this, during ordinary enlightenment, the Great Dao appears chaotic and indistinguishable. Unless it is the moment of creation, when all Dao are born..."
"And thanks to the special nature of the The Dao Lattice, the Daos within are displayed in an organized manner, classified and sorted. The deeper you go into the core of the The Dao Lattice, the closer you get to the fundamental nature of the Dao principles." Cheng Dao led Bai Shuyue to his own side amidst the countless, clearly visible Dao strings stretching around them.
With Bai Shuyue's comprehension, a brief observation confirmed Cheng Dao's words. The enlightenment here was far superior to anywhere else in the outside world. Although the Dao principles within the The Dao Lattice were somewhat incomplete compared to the Star Sea, for Bai Shuyue, it was enough for a considerable period of contemplation.
"Not only that, the expansion of this The Dao Lattice aligns perfectly with your method of slaughtering immortals to prove the Dao!"
"Please enlighten me, Senior," Bai Shuyue said reverently.
"Know this, there are still some rogue True Immortals in this Star Sea of Shu. You can use the power of the The Dao Lattice to defeat and suppress them one by one. While expanding the The Dao Lattice, you can also increase your own foundation."
"Once you accumulate enough..." Cheng Dao bent down slightly and summoned a phantom image.
"With the protection of your master, I can help you ascend to the Immortal Realm!"
"Mound Guardian…"
Bai Shuyue gazed at the phantom figure standing silently before Cheng Dao. Perhaps it was due to the vast difference between them, but Bai Shuyue couldn't discern the profound mystery of this Mound Guardian figure. However, given Cheng Dao's solemn demeanor, it must be extraordinarily effective.
Cheng Dao began to share the feeling he experienced at the moment he ascended to immortality: "The seas were unfathomable, the mountains boundless. Yet, neither mountains nor seas could be profaned or closely observed. Those who ventured into the mountains and seas would inevitably be submerged within, losing their senses, their souls, and themselves. But if one could receive the protection of a mentor, one could closely glimpse the secrets of mountains and seas. The profound truths of mountains and seas that others would spend their lives pondering and comprehending, you would behold in their entirety the moment you ascended."
"From that point until the Transcendent realm, the path would be smooth sailing!"
As Cheng Dao spoke, Bai Shuyue’s vision seemed to be filled with the majestic sight of continuous mountains and seas, where all the principles of the world converged.
"You cultivated to become an immortal by slaughtering immortals with the The Dao Lattice, accumulating a rich foundation. If you could comprehend the transformations of mountains and seas at the moment of your ascension, perhaps you would reach transcendence the very instant you become an immortal!"
Though Bai Shuyue wasn't sure how much to trust Cheng Dao's words, he had patiently explained so much to her. And Cheng Dao didn't seem like a simpleton. If she refused, she feared she wouldn't be able to leave the core of this The Dao Lattice.
However, Bai Shuyue's departure from the The Great Barriers was precisely to seek a suitable cultivation method. She could feel that cultivating with the assistance of the The Dao Lattice within the Star Pivot Sea would be immensely beneficial to her.
Thus, she agreed: "I am willing to carry on Senior’s legacy and preside over the The Dao Lattice."
Bai Shuyue's ready agreement further lifted Cheng Dao's spirits.
"However, your current body is still too frail. It requires some modification…"
"Emerge!" Cheng Dao's gaze swept over the Boundless Wall concealed on Bai Shuyue’s person and spoke indifferently. The Boundless Wall, which usually displayed an arrogant demeanor, was remarkably well-behaved at this moment. It didn't pretend not to hear but immediately popped out.
"You and I are somewhat of the same kin. Our meeting today is a destined encounter. My Master once bestowed upon me, and I..."
"Today, I shall bestow upon you a great fortune!"
With those words, Cheng Dao vanished from their sight in an instant. It was merely like a gentle breeze sweeping through, and the crisscrossing The Dao Lattice rippled with waves. The Dao strings twisted and turned, forming a void that directly exposed its deepest core. Bai Shuyue and the Boundless Wall plunged directly into the hollowed-out space.
Darkness enveloped them, with nothing visible. Even the Dao strings, which emanated a faint blue light within the The Dao Lattice, seemed to be suspended high in the ninth heaven, appearing extremely distant from this place.
But as the wind grew stronger, the darkness gradually illuminated by bursts of light. Bai Shuyue looked at the shifting lights around her and discovered that they seemed to be representations of mountains and seas! Moreover, not only were these illusory images, but she could also comprehend the myriad principles of mountains and seas from them!
"An uncarved jade cannot be a useful tool."
"Though you once served before the Sage Lords, you are ultimately just a 'thing.' To go further in this realm of mountains and seas, you must ultimately transform from a 'thing' into a human!" Cheng Dao said with emotion.
Simultaneously, the continuous mountain shadows descended upon the Boundless Wall.
"Senior, spare me..."
"Do not chatter! If you cannot endure this small hardship, how can you truly transform!" Before the Boundless Wall could even utter a cry, Cheng Dao’s cold snort interrupted it roughly.
"Mountains, come!"
With a low shout from Cheng Dao, the mountain shadows, resembling continuous dark clouds, rapidly converged and compressed, ultimately forming a black mountain peak that appeared solid and mercilessly pressed down upon the Boundless Wall. The Boundless Wall was rendered unable to utter even a whimper.
"Water, come!"
The boundless sea above, guided by Cheng Dao's command, also gradually converged. It transformed into a white silken ribbon and cascaded down from the summit of the black mountain peak with a thunderous roar. The mountains and waters expanded, but surprisingly, there was no great roar. Instead, it sounded like a mountain stream, with a pleasant, tinkling sound that soothed the heart.
The mountains and waters formed a self-contained entity, perpetually circulating. The water flowed to the base of the mountain, vanishing in an instant, only to reappear moments later hundreds of feet above the peak, continuing its downward torrent. The mountains and waters flowed, generating endless vitality.
"One day, when the water is exhausted and the mountains crumble, that will be when you transform from a 'thing' into a human!"
Having said this, Cheng Dao slowly revealed himself. Creating this scene of mountains and waters seemed to have consumed a considerable amount of energy from him. He reverted to his former appearance as an old man. He pointed at the black mountain and white water before him and said to Bai Shuyue, "You only need to sit cross-legged amidst these mountains and waters, and you can borrow their power to withstand the pressure from the core of the The Dao Lattice."
"This creation of mountains and waters contains many of my insights gathered over the years. It will not only enlighten the Boundless Wall but also significantly benefit you. While you preside over the The Dao Lattice, feel free to contemplate it together."
"The stronger you become, the less pressure the The Dao Lattice will exert on you, and the more powerful the forces of the The Dao Lattice you can wield."
"Presiding over the The Dao Lattice is of great benefit and no harm to you. If not for your extraordinary talent, I would not entrust such a heavy responsibility to you."
"However, until you achieve transcendence and can create a phantom of yourself, Cheng Dao, to bear the burden of the The Dao Lattice, you cannot leave this place by even half a step."
Bai Shuyue saw that the originally distorted Dao strings above were slowly returning to normal. The circular gap gradually disappeared. In the endless darkness, only the black mountain and white water stood firm.
"Next, I will impart to you the 'Method of the Phantom Cheng Dao'."
Cheng Dao's phantom also disappeared, leaving only echoing sounds reverberating. Bai Shuyue listened intently. This method of the Phantom Cheng Dao was indeed extraordinary. Bai Shuyue seemed to witness the awe-inspiring scene of the Mound Guardian, his back to all living beings, sitting on a mountain, gazing at the sea, supporting the collapsing heavens all by himself.
When she emerged from her contemplation of this profound divine ability, Cheng Dao had completely vanished. He was neither in the depths of the The Dao Lattice's core nor within the The Dao Lattice itself. His whereabouts were unknown. He had seemingly escaped from his cage like a bird, leaving so swiftly and decisively.
Fortunately, he left behind several messages: "There are still remnants of numerous star seas in the Lower Realm, but they are isolated by the Dao Erasure, appearing like scattered islands in a vast ocean. The only one you need to pay attention to is the Guangwu Star Sea, which is closest to the Star Pivot Sea."
"Within the Star Pivot Sea, there are still True Immortals opposing each other, but they are few and scattered, not to be feared..."
Bai Shuyue carefully read Cheng Dao's instructions and then fell into a long period of silence. She made a tentative attempt, but the dense darkness felt like shackles. Being in the core of the The Dao Lattice was like bearing the weight of the entire The Dao Lattice. If she weren't sitting on the black mountain and white water right now, she would have been crushed to smithereens on the spot.
"Besides the constraints of the The Dao Lattice itself, there are also some restrictions left by Cheng Dao... It seems I cannot leave this place until I reach a certain realm." Bai Shuyue shook her head slightly, but her heart was not overly bothered. Although this place was no different from a prison, for her, as long as she committed suicide, she could end this life and begin the next, leaving at any time.
"It is indeed a good place for enlightenment and cultivation." Without the restrictions of rules and regulations, she could comprehend all the Dao principles contained within the The Dao Lattice with a single thought. She could also converse with other seemingly nameless prisoners like Wuliang Bi, Fu Gui, and Yan Jian from time to time, gaining insights into ancient secrets of the Immortal Realm. Furthermore, there were Cheng Dao's lingering insights on mountains and seas for her to contemplate. Compared to the Xuanhuang Realm, this place was truly a rare utopia for cultivation.
Bai Shuyue immersed herself in it, diligently cultivating. In fact, the The Dao Lattice had its own operational system. Even without her intervention, the The Dao Lattice could expand and develop on its own. Organizations called the Star Pivot Sea Governance Council and Immortal Hunters would hunt down remaining True Immortals in the star seas, strengthening themselves. Only when they encountered nameless True Immortals that they could not possibly defeat would they trigger the large-scale use of the The Dao Lattice’s power. This was when Bai Shuyue would need to exert her effort. Fortunately, such occasions were infrequent, and for Bai Shuyue, it was not a difficult task. Although Immortal Hunters were mostly mortals, their cultivation methods were special, and their research and utilization of the The Dao Lattice had reached a peak. Bai Shuyue, as the coordinator, etched the power of the The Dao Lattice into their bodies. In the areas covered by the The Dao Lattice, their power was almost equivalent to that of nameless True Immortals.
During the thousand years Bai Shuyue presided over the core of the The Dao Lattice, there were only three instances where they encountered nameless True Immortals. In all three cases, the The Dao Lattice emerged victorious. Bai Shuyue finally understood why Cheng Dao had said the True Immortals were not to be feared. The immortal path in the world had been severed, and the number of surviving True Immortals was limited. Each time a True Immortal was captured by the Star Pivot Sea, their own active forces diminished. In contrast, the The Dao Lattice could transform captured True Immortals into sources of power to expand itself. As for the losses incurred in battles with True Immortals… mortals were inexhaustible, and the Star Pivot Sea Governance Council had a complete system for selecting talent. With the continuous growth of one side and the decline of the other, the defeat of the True Immortals was already a foregone conclusion.
As for the Guangwu Star Sea outside the Star Pivot Sea… Bai Shuyue took Cheng Dao’s warning extremely seriously. Although they had attempted communication several times, Bai Shuyue ultimately decided to ignore them. With control over the core power of the The Dao Lattice, even though some factions within the Star Pivot Sea held differing opinions, they could not defy her.
Another seven hundred years passed, and the Star Pivot Sea had no more immortals to capture. Several nameless True Immortals had been captured and suppressed. The Star Pivot Sea has since been peaceful and calm.
On this day.
"Damn it, I was tricked."
Bai Shuyue stood on the black mountain and white water, unable to resist cursing. The nearly thousand years felt like mere moments to her. The scene of Cheng Dao painting a rosy picture back then was still vivid in her memory. But after experiencing a millennium of worldly affairs, Bai Shuyue now understood why Cheng Dao had been so eager to leave.
"The Star Pivot Sea is a sealed island; all the resources it can observe and collect are insufficient to give birth to a Transcendent being." This was Bai Shuyue's conclusion after meditating and comprehending the Dao for a thousand years. The superposition of thirty lifetimes of reincarnation had given her extraordinary true nature. Coupled with the unique cultivation conditions deep within the The Dao Lattice's core, it could be said that if there was even a one percent chance, she could achieve it step by painstaking step. But in reality… at a certain point, her cultivation hit a bottleneck.
If comprehending ten paths of the Dao yielded ten units of gain, then comprehending a hundred paths yielded only twenty. And thereafter, even comprehending more would not exceed the limit of thirty. "This is also why most True Immortals in the world first achieve the nameless realm before seeking transcendence." "The path of slaughtering immortals to become immortal, as proposed by Boundless Wall, is not wrong, but..." Bai Shuyue shook her head slightly, "It is based on having enough immortals for me to slaughter." "If the Immortal Realm still existed, it might be easy to achieve. But now..." "True Immortals are simply too rare."
Bai Shuyue looked down at the Boundless Wall, suppressed beneath the black mountain. If Cheng Dao had deceived her in some aspects, he had been surprisingly good to the Boundless Wall. Over the thousand years, the black mountain and white water had benefited her immensely, no less than her gains within the The Dao Lattice. However, compared to the changes in the Boundless Wall, her own progress was negligible.
When first suppressed, the Boundless Wall could not utter a single word. But after five hundred years, it could manage a few muffled grunts. After a thousand years, it could occasionally form complete sentences. "Don't worry, there are no True Immortals in the Star Pivot Sea, but aren't there other star seas? When master comes out of seclusion, I'll take you to slaughter them!" Over the millennium, Bai Shuyue had heard this promise from the Boundless Wall no less than a hundred times.
At this moment, she asked helplessly, "Last time I asked you when you would break free, you said 'soon.' But after so much time has passed, why do I see no change in you?" Her gaze could faintly penetrate the black mountain and white water, seeing the Boundless Wall being suppressed within. Compared to a thousand years ago, there had indeed been significant changes. The flowing water, like a carving knife, ceaselessly sculpted day and night, creating a form akin to a human embryo nurturing within. But after all these years, only a general outline had been formed. Not to mention facial features, not even limbs had taken shape.
Facing Bai Shuyue's questioning, the Boundless Wall took a long time to force out another sentence, "Only a thousand years have passed. For me to have such changes is already earth-shattering! Do you know how long it took Senior Cheng Dao to transform from a crude stone into human form? Tens of thousands of years! In comparison, I am already a genius among geniuses!"
Ignoring the Boundless Wall's defense, Bai Shuyue slightly stamped her foot on the black mountain. The flow of the white water seemed to quicken slightly.
"Aaaah..."
"I can't take it, I can't take it anymore."
Ignoring the Boundless Wall's wails, Bai Shuyue continued to urge the operation of the black mountain and white water. Having comprehended here for a thousand years, she might not have fully grasped the true essence of the mountains and seas here, but she could at least manipulate this much.
Only when the Boundless Wall completely fell silent, obediently undergoing its transformation, did Bai Shuyue heave a sigh. After a thousand years of sitting in meditation, this was all she could do to find some solace. To be honest, after being trapped in the The Dao Lattice for a millennium, she was starting to feel restless. After all, even the combined time of the previous thirty reincarnations was less than this solitary closed-door cultivation. Moreover, during reincarnation, she could still see various sceneries, people, and events. But within this The Dao Lattice, there was only endless darkness, and the seemingly eternal, faint blue Dao strings. The myriad beings in the Star Pivot Sea seemed disconnected from her. She felt no sense of belonging whatsoever. Most importantly… she missed her nephew.
"Fan'er, you must have long since turned to dust." Even after a thousand years, Li Fan's appearance hadn't faded. Instead, it grew fresher with time, appearing before Bai Shuyue's eyes from time to time. "If it weren't for wanting to see what the Boundless Wall would look like after transforming into a human, I would have ended this cycle of reincarnation long ago." Bai Shuyue thought helplessly. But since the matter had begun, abandoning it halfway was not her style. "Besides, I still need to find a way to break through." "Could it be that I truly have to march towards the Guangwu Star Sea?" "But with the Dao Erasure blocking the way, what then?"
However, Bai Shuyue did not have to make a choice.
Not long after, an event occurred, stirring up waves in the Star Sea of Tranquility, which had been peaceful for a thousand years.
Initially, Bai Shuyue felt as if the entire Star Sea of Tranquility was violently shaking, constantly trembling.
The Dao Lattice quivered, and the star rivers boiled.
If not for the continuous supplementation of the Star Sea of Tranquility's The Dao Lattice over the past thousand years, its strength would have increased significantly. Such a degree of vibration would undoubtedly be a terrifying calamity. It would not have completely collapsed, but the The Dao Lattice would have been torn apart, and a third of its inhabitants would have perished instantly.
"The direction of this vibration..."
"Guangwu Star Sea? What on earth happened?"
Bai Shuyue's gaze swept across the Star Sea of Tranquility. Standing on the The Dao Lattice, she gazed into the distant void. A strong sense of unease suddenly surged in her heart.
This feeling was exactly the same as when she was engulfed by the magnificent Dao Erasure in her previous life!
"This is bad, the tide of Dao Erasure is coming!" Bai Shuyue realized.
She immediately contacted all the organizations within the Governing Council of the Star Sea of Tranquility, urging them to be on high alert.
In fact, there was no need for Bai Shuyue to remind them; the various factions on the The Dao Lattice were already busy.
One group of a thousand people collectively employed the Great Dao Descends Upon the Body Art, taking on the pressure on the The Dao Lattice and connecting themselves to it.
Four nameless beings, stationed at the four corners of the The Dao Lattice, complemented the four pillars suppressed at the core of the The Dao Lattice, further reinforcing its stability.
Tens of thousands of flags of various colors soared into the sky simultaneously, flying to every corner of the Star Sea of Tranquility. The angle and speed at which the flags fluttered varied intensely. These were the artifacts developed by the Star Sea of Tranquility over the past thousand years to monitor the descent of Dao Erasure.
Dao Erasure was imperceptible and invisible, but its destructive impact on the real world was observable once it descended. This artifact was based on this principle.
At this moment, all the flags were rustling loudly. Many even buckled under the pressure of the Dao and disintegrated, revealing the intensity of the impending tide of Dao Erasure.
"Activate the Myriad Immortals Formation!"
As the central controller of the The Dao Lattice, Bai Shuyue made a decisive command.
Within mere breaths, it was as if tens of thousands of stars rose from all parts of the Star Sea of Tranquility.
Upon closer inspection, although the bodies of these stars were ordinary mortals, their aura was akin to that of True Immortals!
The Myriad Immortals arrayed themselves, rising above the The Dao Lattice.
They formed countless small pillars, as if they had practiced this countless times. In an instant, the Star Sea of Tranquility was filled with pillars like a dense forest!
Under the combined efforts, the Star Sea, which had been wavering under the impact of the Dao Erasure wave, finally began to stabilize.
However, Bai Shuyue knew that it was far from time to relax.
The true terrifying tide had yet to arrive. What was currently reaching them was merely the aftermath!
"All departments hold your positions, and no one is to act without my orders!"
The so-called Myriad Immortals Formation was an attempt born from Bai Shuyue's sudden inspiration during a thousand years of enlightenment.
She observed the principles left behind by Cheng Dao, of the Black Mountain and White Water, and vaguely understood the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas.
The majesty of mountains and the boundlessness of seas.
Combining both, one could achieve True Immortality.
Although Bai Shuyue had not truly taken that step in her thousand years of cultivation, she was infinitely close, just a step away.
If Bai Shuyue were willing, or rather, if she could break free from the suppression at the core of the The Dao Lattice and touch the divine power of mountains and seas, ascending directly to the realm of True Immortality would not be difficult for her.
Of course, without the protection of a Sage, it was uncertain how long one could live after becoming an immortal.
Although Bai Shuyue had no one to protect her, she could protect others.
She publicly shared her insights on mountains and seas gained over the years.
Cultivators within the Star Sea of Tranquility could all observe and learn from them.
In this world, there were never a shortage of geniuses, especially when the definition of genius offered the chance to become a True Immortal. It had only been a little over three years since Bai Shuyue made her insights on mountains and seas public.
Within the Star Sea of Tranquility, there were already no less than ten thousand who had achieved minor success.
Minor success, in simple terms, was the ability to touch the boundaries of the power of mountains and seas solely through one's own strength. However, due to the lack of protection and guidance, they could not harness the divine power of mountains and seas for their own use and lacked the authority of True Immortals.
They could perhaps be called half-immortals.
However, with the support of the The Dao Lattice, especially the Black Mountain and White Water left by Cheng Dao, these more than ten thousand half-immortals could temporarily ascend to the realm of pseudo-True Immortals.
If ordinary True Immortals could easily wield infinite power on their own, then these pseudo-immortals often needed to work in groups of ten, helping each other, to barely control infinite power.
But after all, they had truly touched upon the word "Immortal"!
With the Myriad Immortals Formation activated, it was as if over a thousand True Immortals were present.
The Dao Lattice of the Star Sea of Tranquility reached an unprecedented level of sturdiness.
But...
When the terrifying tide of Dao Erasure truly arrived from the darkness beyond, the seemingly unbreakable The Dao Lattice instantly became like a thin piece of white paper, rustling and scattered by the wind!
Hum hum hum!
Bai Shuyue personally witnessed more than half of the Dao Strings disappearing into smoke under the fierce onslaught of Dao Erasure.
The remaining Dao Strings were mostly bent to their limit, seeming as if they would disintegrate at any moment and vanish into Dao Erasure.
With a sweep of her divine sense, Bai Shuyue estimated the number of casualties among the inhabitants of the Star Sea of Tranquility.
Nearly ninety percent of the beings vanished.
Such a tragic situation almost made the remaining inhabitants of the Star Sea of Tranquility lose the will to resist.
Fear consumed their minds, leaving their brains blank.
But Bai Shuyue did not panic; instead, she calmly continued to issue commands.
"Shrink the The Dao Lattice, sever the tail to survive."
"Within a hundred breaths, those who do not reach the central area will be abandoned."
A ruthless command was issued, meaning that an unknown number of beings had lost hope of survival.
But when everyone was in a state of utter confusion, Bai Shuyue's composed demeanor once again gave the inhabitants of the Star Sea of Tranquility a backbone.
Recovering from their shock, they quickly began to act.
The contraction of the The Dao Lattice had been anticipated for thousands of years, but it had only ever been theoretically implemented, never practically experienced. In the past, during simulations, cultivators who faced the prospect of being abandoned often met it with laughter. Now, facing actual abandonment, they instinctively cursed in despair.
But no matter what, they were destined to be unable to influence the The Dao Lattice's tail-severing survival.
After a hundred breaths passed, the The Dao Lattice, which had previously covered almost the entire Star Sea of Tranquility, shrunk to one percent of its original size.
The number of surviving inhabitants within it was also less than one in a thousand.
However, its ability to withstand the tide of Dao Erasure did not decrease; instead, it increased!
The True Immortals and nameless True Immortals supported by the The Dao Lattice were mostly unharmed.
The core strength of the Immortal Hunters was also largely preserved.
The overall strength had not been significantly reduced, while the area that needed protection had been reduced a hundredfold. Naturally, the The Dao Lattice's ability to resist Dao Erasure rapidly increased.
However, it could only protect this small area.
And it was only temporary.
Bai Shuyue personally witnessed the Star Sea of Tranquility, deprived of the The Dao Lattice's protection, vanish into Dao Erasure.
However, her homeland, the Abyssal Star Sea, surprisingly survived.
It was as if a power similar to the The Dao Lattice was supporting and resisting Dao Erasure.
Bai Shuyue gazed into the distance, her expression solemn: "It seems there are still secrets hidden there."
Dao Erasure surged, sweeping away everything.
The remaining The Dao Lattice could only drift with the current. Soon, the Abyssal Star Sea could no longer be observed.
The silent and desolate space seemed to be sliced open by countless fissures.
Some were pitch black, while in others, one could vaguely glimpse scenes of continuous mountains and seas!
While the mountains and seas were magnificent and majestic, they were also accompanied by fatal dangers.
"The world has been completely devoured by Dao Erasure and torn apart."
"We are now completely exposed to the Sea of Mountains and Seas."
Bai Shuyue sighed.
"The demise of this era was caused by the Guangwu Star Sea, and it spread from there, even leading to the destruction of the entire possibility."
Although she did not know what exactly happened in the Guangwu Star Sea, Bai Shuyue vaguely guessed that it might be related to the immortal coffin that they had been trying to send to her.
"Although I refused them and sealed off the star sea, it still did not prevent the ultimate fate of destruction."
Bai Shuyue slowly began to understand the meaning of the words "irrelevant to the end" spoken by Cheng Dao.
The intrusion of Dao Erasure around the The Dao Lattice seemed to gradually subside.
But Bai Shuyue knew that soon, Dao Erasure would launch wave after wave of seemingly endless attacks.
And the The Dao Lattice would likely eventually be swallowed.
"Unless we can find another place to live before we run out of resources," Xuan Yuan Fuliang said with a wry smile.
Only a few core members of the Xuan Yuan family had survived this disaster.
What grieved Xuan Yuan Fuliang even more was that the Great Dao Descends Upon the Body group he led had suffered heavy losses in this battle.
The Great Dao Descends Upon the Body group used their physically trained bodies to share the pressure on the The Dao Lattice. When the disaster struck, they were the first to bear the brunt.
Out of a thousand people, only nine survived by chance.
And these were all individuals whom Xuan Yuan Fuliang had personally mentored and taught.
They were both his disciples and his sons.
Seeing his once vibrant and lively disciples reduced to mere handfuls, Xuan Yuan Fuliang was almost heartbroken.
Bai Shuyue witnessed their tragic state and remained silent for a long time.
Looking at the Myriad Immortals Formation, which had also lost more than half of its members, she slowly said, "We can hold on for now, that's all."
"Perhaps a miracle will happen?"
However, miracles did not happen.
Surviving in Dao Erasure seemed to have exhausted their luck.
Subsequently, the inhabitants of the The Dao Lattice, in their lonely and desperate drifting, welcomed their doom.
And before the doomsday arrived, the organization of the The Dao Lattice had already collapsed.
In despair, they went mad, killing each other...
Even Bai Shuyue could not control the chaotic situation.
Bai Shuyue had also attempted a final struggle: seeking help from Cheng Dao.
But until the Black Mountain and White Water also vanished into Dao Erasure, Cheng Dao had not responded at all.
"The Sea of Mountains and Seas is vast, and the Dao Erasure is profound."
"There is no hope."
Silently, for another thirty-six years, the remaining The Dao Lattice of the Star Sea of Tranquility completely disintegrated.
Only Bai Shuyue and the Boundless Wall, under the protection of the Eternal Straw Cloak, reluctantly survived.
"Why am I so unlucky? I haven't even transformed yet, and I've encountered the calamity of Dao Erasure again?"
"My good fortune!" The Boundless Wall cried with tears.
"Still thinking about your luck? Your life is at stake right now," Bai Shuyue said speechlessly.
Without the protection of the The Dao Lattice, directly exposed to Dao Erasure and the Sea of Mountains and Seas, Bai Shuyue felt an inexplicable darkness descending from all directions.
Her divine soul, her thoughts, seemed to be frozen by this bone-chilling darkness.
She struggled to breathe and think, only managing to maintain her focus by bantering with the Boundless Wall.
"I refuse to accept this! If I could transform, I would surely be able to roam within Dao Erasure..."
The voice of the Boundless Wall gradually faded.
Bai Shuyue's consciousness grew increasingly hazy.
At the final moment of her life, Bai Shuyue seemed to see an immortal coffin drifting ahead.
Her heart stirred, and she struggled to approach it.
But just as she was about to reach the immortal coffin, the Eternal Straw Cloak shattered into pieces.
Bai Shuyue perished in Dao Erasure.
...
A figure inexplicably appeared near the spot where Bai Shuyue perished.
Despite the swirling Dao Erasure around, it could not harm him in the slightest.
It was Li Fan!
With a wave of his hand, he summoned the immortal coffin from afar and opened it.
To his surprise, it was empty.
"This is not the one containing the Rat Emperor Immortal."
"It's another intact immortal coffin..."
After some observation, Li Fan came to a conclusion.
"It knows not from whence it came, nor whither it goes."
"But the material of this immortal coffin is truly extraordinary. If Aunt had persisted a little longer and truly hidden within it..."
"She could have extended her lifespan considerably."
"Alas, it was just a little short. Tsk tsk tsk..."
"However, without a clear objective, purely drifting with the current, the probability of reaching a safe zone is too small, let alone reaching the Other Shore."
"This is garbage time; it's better to skip it."
Li Fan closed the immortal coffin and cast it back into Dao Erasure.
"Aunt was able to touch the threshold of transcendence in this life. I am getting closer to my goal. I just don't know by what means Aunt will break through the predicament?"
"Hehehe..."
Li Fan smiled, his gaze profound.
He stood there, pondering something.
After a long time, he silently recited in his heart.
"Return to Truth!"
The Saint Creation Plan, another life.
After Bai Shuyue awakened, she looked around in confusion.
It took her quite some time to realize that she had been reborn.
She had returned to the starting point.
The furnishings and layout of the room were both unfamiliar and familiar.
A sudden impulse surged in her heart, and she hurried to Li Fan's room.
She embraced Li Fan, who had a look of utter astonishment on his face.
Then she quietly sobbed.
"Aunt, what's wrong?" Li Fan asked cautiously.
Bai Shuyue just cried silently, without speaking.
After a long while, when her tears had dried, she released him.
She smiled with some difficulty, "It's nothing, Aunt is just a little tired."
Li Fan asked with concern, "Are you worried about the village chief annexing our family's property? Don't worry, Aunt. Even if I have to risk my life, I won't let him succeed!"
Seeing Li Fan's determined look, Bai Shuyue finally smiled happily.
Then she froze slightly.
She had been reincarnating for so long.
Things that she had desperately tried to resolve but couldn't now seemed like a joke.
But...
What was the meaning of her repeated reincarnations?
What was she trying to achieve by being reborn again and again?
When would the end finally arrive?
Bai Shuyue had almost forgotten her original goal.
"Indeed, soon Fan'er would fall ill with a strange sickness and pass away in his youth. It was precisely to save him that I embarked on this path of cultivation back then."
"And the painstaking efforts I later put into cultivation and devising new methods were largely to prolong the life of my unable-to-cultivate nephew."
In an instant, Bai Shuyue's mind flashed through the scenes of her past lives, an endless wave of emotion washing over her.
"Time flies, yet things remain the same…"
She gazed at her nephew, who seemed rather bewildered before her. Her thoughts, however, drifted to another young man she had encountered in her past lives, named Ou Shangtian.
She and Boundless Wall had inadvertently caused the death of Ou Shangtian's father, Ou Daozi. This young man, in his quest for revenge, had even risked his own life.
"Kill me or skin me, as you wish! Don't think I fear you two wicked thieves!" Ou Shangtian's roar seemed to echo in her ears once more.
An idea suddenly struck Bai Shuyue: "If I were to be harmed, what would Fan'er do for me to what extent?"
The thought ignited like a prairie fire, rapidly growing and filling her heart, becoming impossible to suppress.
Bai Shuyue felt an urgent need to know the answer.
Yet, simultaneously, a subtle fear gnawed at her.
She was afraid that if Fan'er's actions disappointed her, what would she do then?
Bai Shuyue firmly believed that Li Fan was a good child.
But…
She subconsciously closed her eyes, refusing to contemplate that dreadful outcome.
However, the thought did not disappear with this temporary avoidance. Instead, like a heart demon, it continued to torment Bai Shuyue.
"Aunt, are you feeling unwell? Perhaps you should return to your room and rest. I'll cook for you."
Noticing Bai Shuyue's unusual behavior, Li Fan said with concern.
Bai Shuyue nodded and walked into the room with heavy steps.
After the door closed, Bai Shuyue, deeply conflicted, pondered for a long time before making a decision.
"It seems Aunt wants to play a game of make-believe. Then, I shall play along."
"Consider it an appetizer before I become a Saint." While her outward demeanor and expressions perfectly matched that of an obedient nephew, Li Fan chuckled inwardly.
That evening, the aunt and nephew ate a meal, each harboring their own thoughts.
The next morning, while Li Fan was still asleep, a group of ferocious-looking constables burst in and roughly dragged him from his bed.
"Who are you people?" Li Fan exclaimed, both shocked and enraged.
"Behave! Scholar Li, your misdeeds have been discovered!" The leading constable sneered, forcibly placing a wooden yoke on Li Fan.
"This is outrageous! I spend my days reading and writing at home, how could I commit any offense? You must have the wrong person!" Li Fan cried out, attempting to defend his innocence. Instinctively, he tried to struggle.
However, as a mere scholar, he was extremely frail. After enduring a couple of blows, he bent over, coughing violently, and submitted.
"Wrong person? Scholar Li, you underestimate us too much, don't you? Reading and writing… Hmph, there's nothing more hateful than you scholars! On the surface, you feign ignorance of worldly affairs, but inwardly, you're plotting despicable deeds all day long."
"Boss, we found it!"
As he spoke, a constable emerged from Li Fan's study, holding a stack of papers.
"Is this your handwriting?"
The constable leader held the papers up before Li Fan.
Li Fan, recognizing his own handwriting, nodded instinctively. But upon seeing the content of the first page, cold sweat broke out on his forehead.
"No! I didn't write this! Someone is trying to frame me!"
Before he could finish speaking, a wad of cloth was stuffed into his mouth, silencing him.
The constable leader squinted and coldly began to read the contents of the papers.
"Cold stars cast a chilling light on the misty path, turbid waves crash and hide the jade flute. Ten years of wind and frost have honed the sword's edge, a heart of loyalty offered to the fisherman and woodcutter. The Unicorn's Horn is unseen on the Cloud Terrace, yet proud steeds sprout in the wilderness. When wind and thunder rise from the earth, history will be rewritten to speak of the former dynasty!"
"Heh heh heh, what a bold thought to 'rewrite history to speak of the former dynasty.' You dare to scheme for rebellion and the extermination of one's clan. Guards, take him away!"
"Mmmph…"
Li Fan was swiftly apprehended.
Not only he himself, but even his aunt was implicated.
The constables showed no regard for her being a woman, their actions equally rough.
"Mmmph mmmph…"
Under such circumstances, the nephew and aunt met again. Li Fan seemed to have a thousand words to say, but could only let out muffled sounds.
Bai Shuyue, seemingly terrified, wept uncontrollably, trembling all over.
Soon, they were separated and imprisoned.
The verdict also came swiftly: intentional rebellion, unforgivable crime.
Sentenced to death row, to be executed after autumn!
Upon hearing the judgment, Li Fan immediately collapsed. He roared like a madman, proclaiming his innocence.
After enduring several blows, he could no longer utter a sound.
He was dragged into the death row cell.
Completely devoid of hope for survival, Li Fan's expression turned grim, and he slumped to the ground to await his death.
"You don't seem like a vicious criminal. Why are you locked up here?"
Half a month later, one night, a faint voice drifted from the adjacent cell.
Li Fan was startled by the sound. Following its direction, he saw a skeletal figure, gaunt and emaciated, like a walking skeleton.
He involuntarily cried out in fear and recoiled backward.
"So timid. It seems you've been wrongly accused," the voice chuckled.
Perhaps it was this remark that resonated with Li Fan. After a long while, he mustered his courage and approached again, recounting the injustice he had suffered.
"I swear to heaven, I did not write that seditious poem!" Li Fan gritted his teeth and said.
"Have you offended anyone recently?"
Li Fan looked bewildered. "I stay at home all day, never stepping outside my door. How could I possibly offend anyone…"
Suddenly, Li Fan seemed to recall his aunt's unusual behavior and shuddered violently. "Could it be…"
He then recounted the matter of the village chief coveting his family's land.
"…"
"A mere village chief possesses such methods?" The voice expressed doubt.
"It's definitely him! I heard his son is also quite talented. That seditious poem must have been written by him!" Li Fan said fiercely.
WWW¸¸ ℃o
An eerie silence fell in the adjacent cell.
In the darkness, only Li Fan's curses could be heard.
A few days later, without any reason, Li Fan suddenly burst into tears.
"A true man faces death with fortitude. Crying and wailing, what does that make you?" the voice from the next cell reprimanded softly.
"These past few days, I've thought it through. My own life is cheap, so being beheaded is one thing. It's just that my aunt, implicated because of me, has to suffer such hardship at her age."
"Having lost my parents since childhood, it was Aunt who worked tirelessly to raise me. Though we are not blood-related, I've long considered her my mother…" Li Fan cried heartbrokenly, his wails ceaseless until he was completely exhausted.
Only when he had no strength left did he finally stop.
Late that night, the voice from the next cell whispered again: "Filial piety is the first of all virtues. Having such feelings for your aunt, you aren't entirely without merit."
Li Fan lay limply on the ground, seemingly not hearing.
Then, he suddenly sat up in horror.
For in the darkness, he felt something slimy and damp, like a snake, coiling around him.
"What is this…"
"Hush, it's me!"
Li Fan focused his gaze and saw that coiled around his legs was something that resembled a long python, but with a human head!
"Am I a ghost? Am I dead?"
Startled, Li Fan reached for his neck, thinking he had already been beheaded and was seeing a ghost.
The python-headed creature almost laughed out loud. It tightened its grip slightly, restraining Li Fan's superstitious movements.
"This is the Myriad Transformations Dragon Technique! What ghost or god are you talking about!"
"Senior, who exactly are you?" After a long while, Li Fan slowly began to accept this terrifying-looking entity and asked cautiously.
"You don't need to know my name. Just know that I can help you escape this predicament!"
"Is that true?" Li Fan's voice rose slightly, but he quickly lowered it.
"No, if you had such ability, wouldn't you have escaped long ago? How could you still be trapped here?"
The other party sneered. "I simply don't wish to leave. I've grown accustomed to living here. The outside world, with all its temptations, is not as free as this place. Stop the nonsense. Are you going to learn or not? If you wait any longer, I might change my mind tomorrow. If it weren't for your filial piety…"
Li Fan did not immediately agree, hesitating.
"Once I escape, I'll be forever branded a rebel, and perhaps never clear my name."
"If you die, you'll never clear your name. Moreover, your aunt is old. She probably won't last long in this prison. Before the execution, she might perish." The other party mocked.
Li Fan's expression flickered. "Fine, I'll learn!"
Seven days later: "Why are you so useless? You can't even learn such a simple technique!"
Thirty days later: "You've finally made some progress. It's only because I transferred all my internal energy to you. Alas, I never expected to find such a useless disciple."
One hundred and three days later, with only seven days left until his planned execution, Li Fan could finally transform into a swimming dragon and escape from the death row cell.
Before leaving, he paid a deep, silent tribute to the master who had already turned into a pile of bones, whose name he didn't even know.
Then, he quietly slipped away.
The first thing Li Fan did after escaping was to search for his aunt.
However, upon hearing the news, he was struck as if by lightning.
It turned out that his aunt had passed away three days ago, unable to endure the harsh environment of the prison.
"Impossible! Impossible!"
Li Fan went mad, and only when he saw his aunt's corpse with his own eyes did he finally believe it and was utterly stunned.
"Ahhh!!!"
Tears streamed down his face, filled with regret. "If only I had learned faster… perhaps I could have saved Aunt?"
"Why am I so dull-witted? I truly deserve to die!"
Li Fan's grief was so intense he could barely breathe, clutching his aunt's corpse and wailing.
Only when his tears ran dry and his throat grew hoarse did he slowly recover.
With a heart filled with utter sorrow, Li Fan buried his aunt's body.
Then, a blazing flame of revenge ignited in his eyes.
"Aunt, if you can see this from the netherworld, watch as I make them pay their lives for you!"
In the darkness, a fearsome, coiled dragon streaked across the land.
Armed with a supreme divine technique, Li Fan found it effortless to round up the county magistrate and the entire village chief's family.
Through interrogation, it was indeed revealed that the village chief had coveted his family's land and maliciously framed him. He had also bribed the county magistrate to corroborate the false testimony.
"Little Fan, spare me! Uncle knows he was wrong…"
The village chief cried, tears and snot streaming down his face, begging for mercy.
Given Li Fan's supernatural abilities, which instilled primal terror, the village chief was already wetting himself.
Li Fan's eyes blazed with fury, devoid of any pity, his rage still surging. "Spare you easily…"
"Give me back my aunt's life!"
With a palm strike, he shattered the village chief's head.
As red and white matter splattered, Li Fan, who had killed for the first time, did not quell his anger. He proceeded to slaughter all the culprits present.
The village chief was one thing, but the county magistrate was an official appointed by the imperial court.
In his rage, Li Fan's killing of the county magistrate made him no different from a rebel.
"Since that's the case, then let's rebel against the heavens!"
His emotions stirred, Li Fan dipped his brush in the blood on the ground and wrote his seditious poem on the wall.
"When wind and thunder rise from the earth today, history will be rewritten to speak of the former dynasty!"
Then, he signed his name: "The killer is Li Fan!"
Without looking back, he turned and left.
In the Great Xuan Dynasty, it was common for commoners to be oppressed by officials.
However, the empire had enjoyed a long period of peace, and the populace would not revolt unless they had no other choice.
Li Fan led his followers to rise in rebellion, but the response was meager.
The authorities soon dispatched troops to suppress them. Li Fan, relying on his Myriad Transformations Dragon Technique, repeatedly repelled the imperial soldiers.
He then established himself as a mountain king, raising the banner of "Acting on behalf of Heaven," recruiting talents, accumulating provisions, and awaiting his opportunity.
Several years later, a terrible drought and locust plague struck the Jiangnan region.
Starvation was rampant, and the common people suffered immensely.
Li Fan seized the opportunity, igniting the flames of rebellion.
This time, his call was met with widespread support throughout Great Xuan.
After ten years, Li Fan finally led his forces to storm Xuanjing.
He overthrew the old dynasty, donned the yellow robe, and became the ruler of the world.
"I wish to posthumously confer the title of Empress Dowager upon my aunt. What are your thoughts, my esteemed officials?"
One day, in the imperial court, Li Fan suddenly asked this question.
The officials exchanged glances.
However, one who knew Li Fan's story spoke decisively: "Your humble servant believes this action is most fitting!"
"As all know, His Majesty was raised by his aunt in his early years."
"Her nurturing in childhood was as a mother's love…"
After speaking at length, most officials were dumbfounded.
Seeing Li Fan's look of satisfaction, they all regretted their hesitation.
Ultimately, Li Fan posthumously conferred upon Bai Shuyue the title of "Empress Dowager Zhaohui Cischeng" and reported her to the imperial ancestors with the rites of a Grand Farewell. A golden edict and jade seal were bestowed, and the officials performed the four-bow ceremony.
Li Fan personally composed the "Ode to My Virtuous Maternal Figure" and erected an altar outside Xuanjing to offer sacrifices to heaven.
He then ordered the construction of a magnificent mausoleum and had Bai Shuyue's remains relocated.
Li Fan reigned for over seventy years and passed away at the age of one hundred.
He ruled by non-action, with light taxes and levies. The common people all praised his benevolent governance.
Upon his death, the entire nation mourned.
Li Fan's imperial mausoleum was built adjacent to Bai Shuyue's.
At this moment, a figure quietly appeared.
Floating in the sky, she looked down at the two imperial mausoleums below.
It was Bai Shuyue!
"Fan'er…"
Her expression was complex, and yet, it was as if she had completely resolved something in her heart, her wish fulfilled.
Her gaze gradually became firm.
Li Fan was a good child.
At this point, Bai Shuyue had no more doubts in her heart.
Since this point had been verified, whether it was out of affection or reason, Bai Shuyue should do her best to support him.
"Perhaps, instead of being confined to each life, one can first find the optimal solution."
"Either, I walk far enough. Reaching the realm of the Nameless, Transcendence, or even further! With Fan'er under my care, even in his mortal body, there's no need to worry about the calamity of Dao Erasure."
"Or, find a cultivation path suitable for him. But..."
Thinking of this, Bai Shuyue couldn't help but shake her head slightly.
"Fan'er's cultivation potential is truly too poor. Even with my hidden help, he struggles to learn the most basic techniques like the Myriad Transformations Dragon Technique. Relying on himself to achieve success in cultivation..."
Bai Shuyue held no hope for this.
In this life, Li Fan had already passed away.
But Bai Shuyue had to continue her journey.
To complete the path of Transcendence that she had failed to achieve in the previous life.
"Although Cheng Dao deceived me, sitting at the core of the The Dao Lattice indeed allows for cultivation speed incomparable to normal circumstances. There are pros and cons."
"But, the most crucial thing is to find a way out of this predicament. Within the Northern Coldness Star Sea, resources are limited. Insufficient to support my path to immortality. The Guang Wu Star Sea might hold hidden opportunities. However, in just over nine hundred years, the Guang Wu Star Sea will experience anomalies. Dao Erasure will descend and devour everything."
"…."
"There isn't much time left for me."
With this thought, Bai Shuyue sealed and concealed Li Fan's tomb with restrictions, then broke through the void and left the Great Xuan pocket world.
What followed was a mechanical repetition of operations.
Cultivate, recover a certain realm; search for the Boundless Wall, and scheme together to achieve the Boundless Great Dao.
Before preparing to leave the Xuanhuang Realm and head to the Northern Coldness Star Sea, Bai Shuyue did not forget to set up layers of restrictions again, completely sealing the Great Xuan pocket world.
This was to prevent cultivators from accidentally entering and disturbing the peace of Li Fan's departed soul.
"Since you value it so much, why not simply carry this pocket world with you?"
The Boundless Wall, who had been observing Bai Shuyue's actions, said in a muffled voice.
Bai Shuyue's movements paused slightly, and she pondered for a long time.
Finally, she shook her head and denied it.
She recalled the scene from her previous life when Dao Erasure descended, and the Northern Coldness and Guang Wu regions were swallowed by Dao Erasure, yet the Abyssal Star Sea still existed.
"Here, Fan'er will live more peacefully," Bai Shuyue said calmly.
The Boundless Wall was puzzled: "You haven't left the Xuanhuang Realm, how do you know what the outside world is like now?"
Bai Shuyue smiled but did not answer.
As she leaped over the The Great Barriers, prompted by Bai Shuyue, the Boundless Wall discovered the hidden Kōroka Dojo.
Entering the dojo's central control, Bai Shuyue was struck with a daze upon seeing the countless grid-like star seas on the massive circular wall.
"So, the starry sky I was in is just an insignificant part of it."
Moreover, Bai Shuyue also sensed a familiar aura of Phantom Selves Bearing the Dao within it.
"It seems Cheng Dao also originated from within the High Walls." Bai Shuyue said thoughtfully, seeing a familiar mountain-sea world within it.
Because she had not thoroughly scoured all the secrets of the Xuanhuang Realm like Li Fan, Bai Shuyue's understanding of the Kōroka Dojo was incomplete.
However, no matter what the secrets of the past were, they were ultimately insignificant matters.
The Boundless Wall could not probe all the secrets within the Kōroka Dojo, and Bai Shuyue had no intention of delving deeper.
After paying a distant respects to the few phantoms standing tall in the dojo,
Bai Shuyue then flew away, entering the The Dao Lattice of the Northern Coldness Star Sea.
The story continued.
Taking over from Cheng Dao, guarding the core of the The Dao Lattice.
Capturing Immortals and comprehending the Dao, promoting the growth of the Northern Coldness Star Sea civilization.
With a thousand years of experience from her previous life, Bai Shuyue displayed astonishing control over the The Dao Lattice.
Avoiding many unnecessary detours.
It only took a hundred years to clear out the surviving True Immortals in the Northern Coldness Star Sea.
Another fifty years were spent in rapid development, and the Immortal Hunters, having grown quickly, basically recovered to their peak levels from the previous life.
Just then, the Guang Wu Star Sea sent another Star Gazer to make contact.
This time, Bai Shuyue did not refuse.
In the core space of the The Dao Lattice, people were arranged in a circle.
Among them were nameless True Immortals like Chaos, Together-Prosperous, and Benevolent Transformation, as well as mortals like Bai Shuyue and Nangong Fusheng.
A strange fluctuation descended, and a black cat, which had been sleeping, suddenly opened its eyes.
The black cat nodded to everyone in greeting, then looked at the main person in charge: Bai Shuyue.
The Guang Wu Star Sea had heard rumors of the drastic changes that had occurred in the Northern Coldness Star Sea over the past century. As for Bai Shuyue, this mysterious and unknown mortal, they approached her with curiosity and caution.
Their originally crude plan of diverting disaster eastward was changed.
"I represent them here today to seek cooperation."
"Cooperation? Cooperate on what?"
Facing the questions from the people of the Northern Coldness Star Sea, the Star Gazer directly and honestly stated: "Dao Erasure is not peaceful, and there is a danger of rampant destruction. Guang Wu and the Northern Coldness Star Sea are neighbors. Under a collapsing nest, how can an egg remain intact? This calamity can only be faced together if we have hope of survival."
Next, the Star Gazer revealed the matter of the Guang Wu Star Sea using the World-Crossing Immortal Coffin as bait to fish for Dao Erasure.
"So, it's because you fished too many times that you attracted the attention of a powerful existence within Dao Erasure, thus bringing upon the calamity of Dao Erasure?" The people of the Northern Coldness Star Sea were all furious upon hearing this.
"You caused the trouble, yet you want us to bear it with you. What kind of logic is this?"
"If you don't court death, you won't die. It was Emperor Tianluo's recklessness back then that caused the calamity of Dao Erasure to descend. You are repeating the same mistake!"
…
The scene descended into chaos.
Only Bai Shuyue, who had already learned of the impending arrival of Dao Erasure, remained calm and composed.
She coughed softly, and after everyone quieted down, she asked, "Although our two star seas are neighbors, we are still separated by Dao Erasure. How can we cooperate?"
She thought it would take some effort to persuade them, but she didn't expect Bai Shuyue to accept so quickly.
The Star Gazer quickly replied, "We have been fishing for many years and have accumulated rich experience in dealing with Dao Erasure. Although we cannot achieve the effortless crossing of a transcendent expert, we should be able to travel between the two star seas with some effort."
"After all, within the realm of possibility, the erosion of Dao Erasure is far less fierce than in the Sea of Mountains."
However, the immortals had an instinctive fear of Dao Erasure, and without evidence, no one would easily believe them.
The Star Gazer had anticipated this and solemnly said, "If you all permit, we will personally visit you soon!"
The hearts of the Northern Coldness Star Sea's people were greatly shaken by this.
After a moment of silence, Bai Shuyue finally spoke: "Then, I will welcome your esteemed presence here!"
The immortals of Guang Wu moved swiftly.
A month and a half later, Bai Shuyue detected ripples rising outside the The Dao Lattice.
The commotion was naturally incomparable to the world-ending calamity of Dao Erasure, at most it was ripples on the surface of the water.
But they indeed came from the direction of the void of Dao Erasure!
Under everyone's gaze, a dilapidated wooden boat swayed and crossed the Dao Erasure.
It arrived through the void!
From this small wooden boat, Bai Shuyue could sense at least twenty True Immortals and the aura of one Nameless expert!
"Just the envoy party alone is of such scale. It seems the overall strength of the Guang Wu Star Sea is even more formidable than I imagined."
But Bai Shuyue was not afraid.
She calmly welcomed the wooden boat into the The Dao Lattice.
The immortals of the Northern Coldness Star Sea, as well as the Immortal Hunters, became tense.
This was perhaps the first formal contact between the two star seas after they were separated by Dao Erasure.
The Guang Wu Star Sea also presented a token of congratulation.
"Dao Sword and Dao Saber."
When the two light spheres appeared, the people of the Northern Coldness Star Sea were all shocked by the powerful might of these magical artifacts.
"The condensed residue of an entire possibility... Is this what you fished from Dao Erasure?" Chaos asked greedily, staring at the flickering sword and saber projections in the center of the scene.
The leader of the Guang Wu envoy, a Nameless expert who cultivated the Great Dao of "Myriad Victories," nodded: "In fact, this is just a negligible part of our harvest over the years."
Without any concern for revealing their wealth and resources with a single sentence, Myriad Victories even took the initiative to reveal more: "You should all be able to imagine that anything that can survive in Dao Erasure would not be ordinary. I can almost say that any single item in this collection possesses power no weaker than that of a Nameless True Immortal."
Myriad Victories' words made the people of the Northern Coldness Star Sea even more incredulous.
But their expressions did not seem fake.
Especially since they presented such a powerful artifact as a gift, which added to its credibility.
"Fishing for Dao Erasure..."
Thus, the expressions of the Northern Coldness Star Sea's people underwent subtle changes.
"Everyone! Everything has its pros and cons. We are not blinded by greed, but fishing in Dao Erasure truly brings more benefits than risks."
"Of course, the current dangerous storm was also something we anticipated. But as long as we overcome this calamity, we might find the method of [Transcendence]!"
Myriad Victories deliberately emphasized the word "Transcendence."
This drew the attention of the Northern Coldness Star Sea's people.
"Transcendence?"
With no knowledge of the specific situation in the Guang Wu Star Sea, they could only let Myriad Victories speak.
"To be frank, of all the things we've fished out, the most valuable is a remnant shedding of Transcendence!"
"Within the remnant shedding, the True Intent of Transcendence is still perfectly preserved…"
As he spoke, Myriad Victories waved his hand, displaying an anomaly of a lone sail crossing the seas before everyone.
"The True Intent of Transcendence is not something we can comprehend. Merely deciphering its appearance has caused us heavy losses. Therefore, this remnant shedding of Transcendence has been left unused."
Seeing the irrepressible greed surging in the eyes of the Northern Coldness Star Sea's immortals, Myriad Victories smiled slightly.
"If we can overcome this calamity together, we are willing to invite all of you to jointly comprehend the True Intent of Transcendence!"
This statement was like a thunderclap.
The immortals of the Northern Coldness Star Sea exchanged glances and, almost instantly, had reached a consensus.
Regardless of anything else, the arrival of the Dao Erasure calamity was a foregone conclusion.
The Guang Wu Star Sea was exceptionally powerful, and if they joined forces, their chances of victory would be even greater.
Moreover, they were now offering their precious True Intent of Transcendence as a reward…
There was no reason not to agree.
Bai Shuyue, however, was one of the few in the scene who remained absolutely clear-headed.
She knew very well how precious the remnant shedding of Transcendence was.
Yet, the Guang Wu Star Sea was willing to share such a treasure.
This was enough to indicate how grave the trouble they had brought upon themselves was.
Recalling the terrifying calamity of Dao Erasure she had witnessed at the end of her previous life.
Bai Shuyue suddenly interrupted, asking, "Cooperation is certainly possible. However, first, you must truthfully explain the specific situation."
"Using Transcendence as bait, I fear this calamity is not as simple as you describe."
Bai Shuyue's icy voice made the Northern Coldness Star Sea's people sober up a bit.
Myriad Victories' expression also turned solemn: "Naturally. In fact, we have a clear understanding of this calamity. It is likely that the remnant shedding of Transcendence itself has attracted the calamity of Dao Erasure…"
"Hmm?"
The people of the Northern Coldness Star Sea were all confused.
Myriad Victories continued to explain: "Dao Erasure seems to have its own consciousness. The more difficult something is to destroy, the more furious it becomes. This remnant shedding of Transcendence has endured tens of thousands of years in Dao Erasure without being destroyed. The attention paid to it by Dao Erasure has already reached a terrifying level. If it remains in the star sea for too long, it will inevitably lead to the erosion of Dao Erasure."
"It is precisely because we realized this that we returned the remnant shedding of Transcendence to Dao Erasure…"
"Wait!" Chaos sharply interrupted Myriad Victories.
"You just let go of such a supreme treasure?"
Myriad Victories chuckled dismissively: "Of course, we didn't completely let go. Instead, like the immortal coffin bait, it is kept at a distance to attract drifting treasures in Dao Erasure."
"The remnant shedding of Transcendence, drifting outside, should have attracted the attention of most of Dao Erasure. But for some reason…"
Myriad Victories' expression was somewhat somber: "Recently, the impact of Dao Erasure on our realm of possibility has been increasing."
"We speculate that it is highly likely that Dao Erasure has discovered the connection between us and this remnant shedding of Transcendence."
The immortals of the Northern Coldness Star Sea looked at each other in dismay.
They could never have imagined that Dao Erasure would think like a living being, and even seem to possess intelligence?
"Then, if that's the case, as long as we abandon the remnant shedding of Transcendence and let it drift into the depths of the Sea of Mountains, will the calamity be resolved?" Among the crowd, only Bai Shuyue quickly pointed out the key issue.
Myriad Victories was speechless and could only nod helplessly.
"But obviously, you are not willing to easily give up the remnant shedding of Transcendence."
"You want both. Heh heh…"
Bai Shuyue finally understood the specific reason for the destruction of the Guang Wu Star Sea in her previous life.
A hint of embarrassment flashed across Myriad Victories' face, but he quickly regained his composure: "The remnant shedding of Transcendence carries our hope of Transcendence. Naturally, we will not give it up so easily. But rest assured, we have researched a method to make Dao Erasure ignore us and the remnant shedding. However…"
Myriad Victories paused, then lowered his voice: "Besides the remnant shedding of Transcendence, the other immortal coffin baits have also been targeted by Dao Erasure. If we have to deal with pressure from multiple directions simultaneously, it might become a bit strenuous."
"Then just discard all the other immortal coffins. Surely you won't be reluctant to do that?" Chaos said irritably.
Myriad Victories sighed: "This is the fundamental reason why we need your cooperation."
"The so-called immortal coffin baits are all interconnected. If one link breaks, all break."
If one were to liken the Dao Erasure's "fishing" to a wrestling match, we would be the ones holding the fishing rods, and Dao Erasure, the unknown ferocious beast beneath the water. The current situation is that the power emanating from beneath the water is too great. We risk not hooking the beast, but rather being dragged into the water ourselves.
Wan Sheng from the Guang Wu Star Sea stated gravely, "The transcendent remains, and even other immortal coffins, are all part of this bait. Ordinary treasures wouldn't warrant such concern from us, but these transcendent remains..."
Wan Sheng sighed, "To be frank, based on our estimations, the number of transcendent remains drifting in the Mountains and Seas should be exceedingly rare. The fact that we managed to salvage one is already a stroke of luck. If we were to return it now, I fear we might never have the chance to encounter another new one."
After he finished speaking, the Star Pivot Star Sea also fell into silence. If they were in Guang Wu Star Sea's shoes, they likely wouldn't be able to relinquish such an item so easily. Not to mention them, perhaps even the Immortal Emperors of the past, when the Immortal Realm was whole, would not have let go of such a treasure without a fight.
"We will not give up until we are at our last resort. For years, we've been actively seeking countermeasures. Inviting all of you to cooperate on this distant journey is a crucial part of that plan." Bai Shuyue, who had been listening for a long time, finally spoke, "Fellow Daoist, stop playing coy and elaborate."
"Very well, I'll be brief. The target locked onto by Dao Erasure are the baits we've continuously invested into the Mountains and Seas for a long time. Immortal coffins and transcendent remains both fall under the category of bait."
"While we are currently unwilling to abandon them, we can eliminate some of the bait ourselves. By reducing the number of locked targets, the pressure of Dao Erasure's descent will be lessened considerably."
"After our calculations, we only need to reduce the current amount of bait to one-third, and we will be safe."
Wan Sheng's words were quite clear, and the cultivators of Star Pivot Star Sea understood. "Your so-called cooperation… you want to use our The Dao Lattice's power to exterminate the bait? Things that can be used as bait and float in Dao Erasure likely aren't easy to deal with, are they?"
"It’s not just about borrowing your strength. In fact, the Guang Wu Star Sea itself possesses sufficient strength to trim the excess bait one by one. More importantly, we want to borrow this blessed land here." Wan Sheng gestured to the vibrant Star Pivot Star Sea.
"Although most of the beings sealed within the immortal coffins have lost their vitality, even their remains possess strength that cannot be rivaled by ordinary nameless beings. Their battles will inevitably cause damage to the structure of the lower Star Sea. Once or twice, we might be able to barely withstand it. But if it happens many times..."
Wan Sheng said with some helplessness, "Therefore, we need to disperse our forces. With the The Dao Lattice as support, even if it sustains damage, restoration in Star Pivot Star Sea is much faster than in ordinary star seas. It is the most suitable place for operations."
"And we will certainly not treat you unfairly. Besides the transcendent remains, we can also offer five such rare treasures as Dao Swords and Dao Sabers that we've salvaged over the years as compensation." After detailing the cooperation, Wan Sheng offered generous rewards.
Even though the rewards were truly tempting, the immortals of Star Pivot Star Sea did not lose their minds and agree immediately.
Bai Shuyue said, "This matter is of great importance. We need to discuss it carefully before giving you our answer."
"We eagerly await your reply!" Wan Sheng nodded, steered his wooden boat, and drifted away, disappearing from their sight.
"To traverse Dao Erasure, such an ability is truly enviable. If we also possessed such divine power, we wouldn't be confined to this corner of Star Pivot." The immortals of Star Pivot Star Sea had varied expressions.
Reaching the Nameless realm, it would be a lie to say they weren't yearning for Transcendence.
Bai Shuyue could see the desire in the hearts of the immortals.
She calmly reminded them, "In my opinion, there might be some untruths in what Guang Wu Star Sea has said. Of course, we haven't agreed to cooperate yet, so it's normal for them to conceal some things. My concern is the vast disparity in strength between Star Pivot and Guang Wu. If the isolation brought by Dao Erasure was the norm before, what if they become accustomed to mutual passage..."
"It's like opening the door to invite a thief, bringing a wolf into our den."
Given that Guang Wu Star Sea could casually produce treasures like Dao Swords and Dao Sabers, their strength undoubtedly far surpassed that of Star Pivot Star Sea.
The cultivators, deeply recognizing this, did not voice any objections.
"Furthermore, engaging in combat with immortal coffins and transcendent remains is extremely perilous. It's inevitable that some of you here will sustain injuries."
"Conversely, if we refuse to cooperate, although we will lose the opportunity to touch transcendent remains, we will also avoid immense risks. Even if Dao Erasure approaches, as long as all factions of Star Pivot Star Sea work together with one heart, we might still be able to construct a wooden boat to traverse Dao Erasure." Bai Shuyue thought of the scene in her previous life, where the core area of the The Dao Lattice survived the world-ending tribulation. This made her feel so.
Relying on the accumulated experience from her previous life, she was confident that she could enhance the overall The Dao Lattice to a level capable of resisting the pressure of Dao Erasure before the calamity arrived.
Therefore, in her heart, Bai Shuyue was reluctant to get involved in Guang Wu Star Sea's affairs, even with the lure of transcendent remains.
However, she didn't impose her will. Instead, after a detailed analysis of the pros and cons, she let everyone vote on the decision.
In the end, they couldn't resist the greed in the hearts of the immortals. The vast majority chose to agree to cooperate with Guang Wu Star Sea and face Dao Erasure together.
"So be it. It's good to witness it." Bai Shuyue was indifferent; even if they failed, she believed she could still be reborn.
Once their minds were unified, they quickly re-established contact with Guang Wu Star Sea.
The cooperation and exchange progressed rapidly.
The second time Guang Wu Star Sea sent people, the entourage was even more grand. Their means of crossing was no longer a single wooden boat, but the remains of a colossal ferocious beast!
One couldn't discern the beast's specific appearance from its living days. Its flesh and blood were almost completely eroded, with two-thirds of its body being mere white bones. However, the remaining one-third of its flesh and blood was enough to serve as a temporary shelter against the Dao Erasure.
After the beast's remains arrived, a hundred True Immortals and four Nameless beings emerged in an orderly fashion. Such an imposing force immediately put the Star Pivot Star Sea side under immense pressure, making their spirits tense. If the other party hadn't been smiling and showing no ill intentions, they would have almost mistaken Guang Wu Star Sea's arrival for an attack.
"One must guard against others," Bai Shuyue cautioned. The Myriad Immortals Formation was activated, and the The Dao Lattice operated at maximum power, reaching its highest state of readiness.
Star Pivot Star Sea and Guang Wu Star Sea began their first formal negotiations. Although they had already decided to cooperate, in such a formal setting, they couldn't just agree easily. At the very least, they needed to negotiate the compensation more thoroughly.
Having witnessed Guang Wu Star Sea's generosity, the members of Star Pivot Star Sea boldly decided to increase their demands. They thought their appetite was already considerable, but when Bai Shuyue spoke, they were still startled.
"These are minor details. To you, one more or less immortal treasure is likely inconsequential. As long as you can survive this calamity, you will undoubtedly be able to fish for treasures from Dao Erasure endlessly."
"We of Star Pivot Star Sea require the method of fishing in Dao Erasure!"
As soon as these words were spoken, Yuan Shu, the leader of the Guang Wu Star Sea delegation, his expression shifted. Just as he was about to refuse, Bai Shuyue directly displayed the might of their The Dao Lattice for him to see.
She laid it bare, "Our cooperation this time involves taking considerable, unnecessary risks. With the The Dao Lattice as our vessel, we could have completely remained spectators..."
Yuan Shu carefully examined the The Dao Lattice, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. However, he didn't back down verbally and retorted with a cold laugh, "This Dao Erasure tribulation is unlike any other. It might not be weaker than the one that destroyed the Immortal Realm back then. I truly wonder where your confidence stems from."
"Even if the might of Dao Erasure were the same as back then, we can safely weather this calamity." Bai Shuyue declared with unwavering certainty. The rest of the Star Pivot Star Sea cultivators were inwardly astonished. When did their The Dao Lattice become so formidable?
"If you don't believe me, then witness it." With that, Bai Shuyue clapped her hands. Outside Star Pivot Star Sea, in the dark void, it seemed as though a true Dao Erasure was approaching. Yuan Shu's expression suddenly changed, and then he realized, "It's not the real Dao Erasure. It's using the The Dao Lattice's own power to simulate the pressure that would be endured during Dao Erasure's descent..."
As if recreating the scene of Dao Erasure's descent from her previous life, the center of the The Dao Lattice, with countless Dao strings twisted and nearly collapsing. However, with the intervention of the Myriad Immortals Formation and the group practicing the Great Dao Descends Upon the Body technique, the The Dao Lattice ultimately withstood such terrifying pressure without harm.
Bai Shuyue did not go easy on herself during the simulation, nor did she weaken the pressure value the The Dao Lattice was supposed to bear. The Dao Lattice's current ability to withstand it owed much to the Dao Swords and Dao Sabers previously gifted by Guang Wu Star Sea. A single such rare treasure could provide the same stabilizing effect as two or three Nameless beings. With the method of "Phantom Selves Bearing the Dao" inherited from the Mound Guardian, Star Pivot Star Sea's prowess in resisting Dao Erasure far surpassed that of Guang Wu Star Sea. Although Guang Wu Star Sea possessed numerous rare treasures, they could, at most, exhibit the inherent power of these items. They struggled to utilize these treasures to resist the calamity of Dao Erasure.
"How was it?" Bai Shuyue asked calmly, ending her "performance." Yuan Shu, being of Nameless realm, obviously had keen eyes and could discern the differences between Star Pivot Star Sea and their own.
"It's not impossible for you to obtain the method of fishing in Dao Erasure," he said, feigning contemplation. Then, he revealed his true intentions, "But we require the method of 'Bearing the Dao' in exchange!"
Bai Shuyue's expression slowly turned cold. "Absolutely not! No need to discuss further, show them out!" Without another word, she directly expelled the members of Guang Wu Star Sea. This abrupt change caught both sides off guard.
Chaos, in a hurry, spoke up to admonish her. The other immortals also looked regretful, their voices a medley of gentle persuasion, trying to see if there was any room for reconsideration. Bai Shuyue merely smiled slightly, "Who said I truly intended to refuse them? I simply wanted more benefits. Rest assured, they will definitely return." Bai Shuyue's acting had even fooled her own people. While breathing a sigh of relief, they couldn't help but marvel at how unfathomably deep a woman's heart could be.
As for Guang Wu Star Sea, their reaction was exactly as Bai Shuyue had predicted. They had no intention of abandoning the cooperation. In fact, they became even more frequent in their contact, their bottom line yielding further and further. The method of "Phantom Selves Bearing the Dao" held immense significance for Guang Wu Star Sea. If they could master this divine ability... with their years of accumulated resources, they could then build a towering embankment and disregard the threat of Dao Erasure's encroachment thereafter! In reality, if Bai Shuyue hadn't demonstrated the The Dao Lattice's pressure-bearing capability in the previous staged performance, and if they hadn't been worried about the loss of the "Phantom Selves Bearing the Dao" method should a full-blown conflict erupt and Star Pivot Star Sea perish in a desperate struggle, Guang Wu Star Sea would have already deployed their elite forces to attack. Now, although the price to pay was a bit higher, it was still acceptable.
Finally, after several rounds of negotiation between the two parties, Guang Wu Star Sea and Star Pivot Star Sea ultimately reached a cooperation agreement. The number of "fishing immortal treasures" from Guang Wu Star Sea, whose power was no less than that of Dao Swords and Dao Sabers, drastically increased from five to thirteen, not including the opportunity to observe transcendent remains after the task was completed. In return, Star Pivot Star Sea would assist in eliminating the fishing immortal baits, provide the The Dao Lattice region as a battlefield, and also provide the "Phantom Selves Bearing the Dao" method. The outcome was, by all accounts, a happy one.
"Without further delay, we've observed that the pressure of Dao Erasure's winds and waves has been intensifying recently." "The first batch of immortal bait will be delivered in three years. Please make preparations. At that time, we will dispatch fifty True Immortals and two Nameless beings to assist in the operation." Bai Shuyue nodded in assent. The Guang Wu Star Sea delegation departed hastily. After the The Dao Lattice meticulously scanned the numerous immortal treasures they left behind, confirming there were no hidden surveillance methods, Bai Shuyue used the method of "Phantom Selves Bearing the Dao" to house them within the The Dao Lattice. Under normal circumstances, they could serve as pillars supporting the heavens, and they could also be withdrawn for use at any time.
"This method is truly immensely useful." "Mound Guardian, you are indeed an unparalleled genius." Not only did the immortals of Star Pivot Star Sea marvel, but even Bai Shuyue, who had accomplished all this, couldn't help but sigh in admiration. Having undergone over thirty reincarnations, Bai Shuyue considered her own aptitude to be exceptional. Yet, compared to the Mound Guardian, she paled in comparison. Bai Shuyue mused inwardly, "The fact that Guang Wu Star Sea is willing to pay such a steep price speaks volumes about the preciousness of this method. When Cheng Dao passed it to me, he didn't explicitly state whether it could be further disseminated."
"If I were to inform Guang Wu Star Sea, it might incur punishment." "However, it just so happens that no matter what method I use, I can't contact Cheng Dao. Perhaps I can use this opportunity to lure him out again." Despite obtaining over ten fishing immortal treasures and significantly enhancing the The Dao Lattice's strength, Bai Shuyue did not let down her guard. She ordered all departments of the The Dao Lattice to intensify their cultivation. In addition to preparing for the immortal bait three years later, Bai Shuyue also worried that Guang Wu Star Sea might attack when the The Dao Lattice was weakened after the battle. Therefore, she needed to make additional preparations.
"Apart from Fan'er, no one in the Mountains and Seas is truly trustworthy," Bai Shuyue admonished herself inwardly. "Or perhaps, it can include this one?" Bai Shuyue then looked towards the Boundless Wall, which was quietly cultivating and meditating beneath the Black Mountain and White Water. Although the Boundless Wall was somewhat evasive, based on her interactions throughout her reincarnations, it was generally reliable.
"Hungry... hungry." "This Lord wants to eat that!" Just as Bai Shuyue was contemplating, a weak yet arrogant voice emanated from below.
Following the direction indicated by the Boundless Wall, they discovered it was pointing towards one of the Fishing Immortal Treasures sent from the Guangwu Star Sea.
Bai Shuyue said with a hint of helplessness, "This isn't something you can eat."
As she spoke, she roughly explained the current situation of the Star Pivot Star Sea.
"So, that Guangwu Star Sea, does it have many more delicious things like this?"
The Boundless Wall immediately became restless, and the Black Mountain and White Water suppressing it showed a tendency to cease their self-circulation.
Bai Shuyue was quite surprised, "Have you broken through?"
The Boundless Wall proudly replied, "Naturally! With my talent, after being suppressed for so long, how could I not gain anything?"
"Of course, I'm still a bit short of truly becoming human like Ancestor Cheng Dao."
The Boundless Wall spoke vaguely and shifted the topic back to the Guangwu Star Sea: "You need to be careful. I have a feeling they aren't good people. If you encounter danger and can't win, don't force it. The best plan is to escape."
"Everything will be discussed after I've finished my cultivation and awaken! By then, no matter what tricks those scoundrels have, I'll suppress them all!"
"Heh heh, you didn't expect this, did you? I originally planned for you to help me after you transcended. Now, it's the other way around; I'll guide you."
Bai Shuyue wasn't annoyed by this and simply smiled, "Then let's see who transcends first."
"With Ancestor Cheng Dao's help in comprehending the Dao, most of the 'inventory' I've been holding back is now useless to me. I'll give them to you for self-defense! I hope you can safely overcome this tribulation."
Saying this, the Boundless Wall spat out a collection of items, including the Eternal Straw Cloak and other treasures, handing them to Bai Shuyue.
"Remember, be careful of the Guangwu Star Sea!" the Boundless Wall reiterated.
Afterward, the Black Mountain and White Water flowed smoothly again, and the Boundless Wall fell into silence.
"Guangwu Star Sea..."
Bai Shuyue looked towards the distant end of the star sea, her eyes narrowed.
"It seems I need to make more preparations."
Although she didn't know what the Boundless Wall had sensed, Bai Shuyue chose to trust its judgment.
Time flew by, and three years passed in a flash.
On this day, over a hundred True Immortals from the Guangwu Star Sea, accompanied by two Nameless ones, escorted a bronze ancient coffin covered in ancient verdigris, crossing over.
The one leading them was Yuan Shu, who had been in charge of the negotiations before.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, before everyone's watchful eyes, the coffin was opened for the Immortal Execution ceremony!
"Although we don't know what is buried within this bronze ancient coffin. Its Dao Erasure ripples in the Sea of Mountains and Seas are second only to that Transcended Remains among all the Immortal Baits. Everyone, do not be careless!"
The Star Pivot Star Sea had made an exorbitant demand during the negotiations, greatly increasing the burden.
The Guangwu Star Sea, naturally, had to share more of the pressure.
The Immortals of the Star Pivot Star Sea stared intently at the bronze immortal coffin, their expressions solemn.
As a crack appeared in the immortal coffin, the verdigris clinging to its surface seemed to come alive, emitting a rustling sound as it flowed into the immortal coffin.
A mysterious ancient chant from the time of the desolate ages echoed from within the immortal coffin.
Everyone present felt an instinctive sense of sorrow and desolation upon hearing it.
"Be careful!"
A True Immortal from the Guangwu Star Sea, perhaps too engrossed in listening, was unknowingly contaminated by the dark green verdigris that appeared from nowhere.
In an instant, he transformed into a bronze man.
His eyes were corroded and hollowed out, revealing a dark profundity within the empty sockets.
It looked extremely terrifying.
More crucially, after being transformed into a bronze statue, this True Immortal also began to chant that mysterious and ancient melody.
Like a virus, the bronze transformation spread rapidly.
Ordinary True Immortals were instantly infected upon contact. They had no ability to resist.
Only the Nameless True Immortals fared much better, as their mastery of a single Dao path provided strong resistance to the incoming bronze transformation.
However, this was limited to self-preservation.
Even their densely spread Dao nets could not completely stop the spread of the bronze rhythm; they could only slow it down.
The mysterious song, with the opening of the ancient bronze coffin, gradually echoed throughout the Star Pivot Star Sea.
Around the immortal coffin, continuous bronze legions began to assemble.
This bizarre scene caught both the Guangwu and Star Pivot Star Seas somewhat off guard.
"Is this the power close to Transcendence?"
"What is buried within that bronze ancient coffin?"
After the initial shock, they slowly began to react.
They retracted the power of their Dao nets, forming a protective barrier with the Nameless ones to prevent the spread of the bronze transformation.
The peculiar power of the bronze rhythm was completely outside their understanding of cultivation.
It would take time to analyze and respond.
"We can't protect the entire star sea. That side, we'll have to abandon," Bai Shuyue sighed.
As she spoke, the Star Pivot Star Sea was already divided into two distinct halves.
One was the Dao net, where blue light occasionally flickered, and the opposite was the myriad green shadows and the immortal coffin surrounded by countless bronze legions.
In the stalemate, perhaps having gathered enough strength, the ancient bronze coffin underwent further changes.
The dark green verdigris on the immortal coffin completely disappeared.
The coffin opened completely.
With a clinking sound, a divine and majestic bronze chariot slowly emerged from the immortal coffin.
Eight ferocious ancient beasts of various shapes led the way, and the chariot carried not a person.
But an incredibly complex ancient bronze tree!
Although it was no more than a hundred feet tall.
It seemed to contain countless transformations, making it difficult to discern its true appearance.
On the bronze ancient tree, every branch and leaf seemed to record the rise and fall of an ancient bronze dynasty.
On the hundred-foot-tall bronze tree, the weight of the history it bore was immensely heavy.
"The dark curtain dances, the wind and thunder split."
"The tortoise shell cracks, and the blood sun appears..."
Billions of transformed bronze legions sang in unison.
Amidst the sorrowful melody, more past phantoms were projected from the bronze ancient tree.
These were the prosperous extremes of countless ancient bronze civilizations.
But without exception, at the crucial moment, all were destroyed by a terrible calamity.
Those scenes of world-ending destruction were precisely the Dao Erasure Tribulation!
The bronze civilization possessed an unimaginable tenacity of life. Even under the threat of Dao Erasure, it could maintain a sliver of hope, not extinguished.
It became the germinating seed for the next civilization's inspiration.
Through countless cycles, the branches and leaves on the bronze ancient tree grew increasingly lush, and more bronze civilizations were born.
However, without exception, none could truly escape the fate of being devoured by Dao Erasure.
In endless reincarnation, there was no hope of victory.
Thus, the last king of the bronze civilization chose not to continue this endless cycle.
He sealed himself and buried himself within a coffin, carrying all traces of the bronze civilization's existence.
It drifted in the Dao Erasure for countless years, eventually being fished ashore by the Guangwu Star Sea.
"Awakened from the dark, this is the will of all ancient sages."
"Today, with your blood, I shall commemorate my awakening."
From the perspective of the bronze civilization, the Immortals of Guangwu and Star Pivot were undoubtedly anomalies.
There was no need for communication; a battle began directly.
Although the bronze civilization's army was relatively weak individually.
Their numbers were virtually endless.
From the bronze ancient tree, less than a hundred feet tall, beings from the Sea of Mountains and Seas seemed to be summoned at any moment.
And they did not truly experience life and death.
Even if defeated by the Immortals of Star Pivot Star Sea, they merely turned into bronze verdigris, flowing back onto the bronze tree and condensing into leaves again.
Bai Shuyue and the others had not considered stopping this continuous transformation.
But the tenacity of this bronze power, which had endured countless cycles of civilization amidst the annihilation of Dao Erasure, far exceeded Bai Shuyue and the others' expectations.
The effort required to completely obliterate them was thousands of times greater than defeating them.
It often required several Nameless ones to work together to completely dispel the strange power of "bronze transformation."
It was simply thankless work.
After a brief period of frustration, Bai Shuyue's side decisively changed its strategy.
They no longer sought to forcibly erase the bronze.
Instead, they focused on eliminating the transformed bronze legions as much as possible, gradually weakening the power of the ancient bronze tree.
Transforming bronze armies was not without its cost to the ancient bronze tree that stood on the chariot.
At least, after the war had lasted for half a year, Bai Shuyue noticed a significant reduction in its changes.
Although the bronze civilization was incredibly mysterious, the beings of Star Pivot and Guangwu Star Sea had also survived the annihilation of Dao Erasure.
Their power and foundation were not much weaker.
Moreover, they could be considered to be fighting on their home ground.
As the battle reached a stalemate, the ancient bronze tree underwent further changes.
Bronze leaves fell off, along with the bronze trunk.
Each fall transformed into a vague, giant silhouette.
They seemed to be the "kings" of past bronze civilizations.
Thousands stood in parallel, charging towards the Dao net.
Compared to the bronze legions, the bronze ancient kings were significantly more difficult to deal with.
These bronze figures each possessed their own unique divine abilities.
All of them were based on "bronze transformation," developing various bizarre changes.
Some were almost identical to the Dao of this era.
For example, "Palm Covering Green," where those struck were instantly frozen in body and soul, as if trapped in past and present time.
Another example was "Chanting Golden Script," where countless twisted characters swarmed like insects, biting the enemy. Those who were hit would have their memories distorted. They would believe they were on the Star Pivot Star Sea's side, yet they would help the bronze ancient tree slaughter the Immortals.
The bronze kings, while not as powerful as the Nameless ones, were still much stronger than True Immortals.
With all of them appearing at once, Bai Shuyue's side was somewhat overwhelmed.
More crucially, the eight ferocious ancient beasts pulling the bronze ancient tree had remained motionless from the beginning.
They merely observed the battlefield coldly.
"Let's use the Immortal Baits."
After a discussion, everyone made a decision.
Knife and sword.
Two streaks of bright light appeared successively.
The phantom forms of the knife and sword covered the countless bronze phantom silhouettes.
While destroying them, they also absorbed the verdigris that turned into from their destruction.
The Dao Sword and Dao Saber were thus stained with verdigris.
However, their inherent power was not lost; instead, it gained a touch of mysterious charm.
The bronze ancient tree's army was instantly cleared, leaving only over a hundred "kings" surviving.
The eight ancient beasts, who had been observing with indifference, finally made their move.
If the Dao Sword and Dao Saber were relics of other civilizations salvaged by the Guangwu Star Sea from the Dao Erasure,
Then these ancient beasts were the Mountain and Sea relics collected by the bronze civilization.
Compared to the Dao of the current era, these survivors from the ancient Sea of Mountains and Seas resisted Dao Erasure purely with their own bodies.
Even with the added strength of the Dao net, the immortal arts and divine abilities cast by the Immortals seemed to have no effect on them.
The rampaging ancient beasts nearly snapped the Dao net.
Fortunately, under Bai Shuyue's instructions, the various departments of the Dao net had been training at full capacity for several years, so it was not immediately destroyed.
The Immortals could only summon more Fishing Immortal Treasures to contend with them.
The ancient civilization from the past Sea of Mountains and Seas, and the surviving star sea civilization of the lower realm, slowly entered a stalemate on the battlefield.
The bronze civilization was not connected to the Sea of Mountains and Seas; it continuously regenerated through its own strange nature.
And the Guangwu and Star Pivot Star Seas relied on the infinite power of the Sea of Mountains and Seas.
The two sides exchanged blows back and forth, but ultimately, the infinite power of the Sea of Mountains and Seas proved superior.
The branches and leaves on the bronze ancient tree gradually withered.
Slowly, only a bare trunk remained.
The last bronze king's face was serene.
He tightly gripped the bronze trunk and then plunged it into his own chest!
The bronze ancient tree transformed into ancient verdigris, flowing into the bronze king's body from the wound on his chest.
It sprouted branches and leaves again, manifesting into a vibrant tree.
However…
Unlike the bronze tree that bore the past, the one on the last bronze king represented abandonment and rebirth.
The bronze king's appearance gradually became clearer.
Meanwhile, the other bronze-transformed beings on the battlefield seemed to lose their source of power and slowly dissipated.
The kings, the ancient beasts.
All of them.
The immense pressure on the Immortals of the Star Sea vanished instantly.
But Bai Shuyue and the others were not triumphant; instead, they were alarmed.
They stared at the last bronze king, who seemed to be undergoing a world-changing transformation, and a sense of foreboding arose in their hearts.
"Not good! This is a sign of comprehending the Dao and transcending!"
It was Yuan Shu who reacted first, shouting, "If this damned thing truly transcends, we will all die!"
The Immortals were shocked and, realizing the gravity of the situation, no longer dared to hold back. They unleashed all their hidden divine abilities, techniques, and treasures.
They hurled them towards the last bronze king.
Bai Shuyue had instinctively intended to maximize the power of the Dao net.
But suddenly, she remembered the Boundless Wall's previous warning.
With a thought, she held back a portion of her strength.
She did not unleash the methods she had prepared.
Abandoning past glory and memories, the last bronze king integrated all the memories of the bronze civilizations into himself.
He was only one step away from transcendence.
Even the Dao Erasure outside the Star Pivot Star Sea seemed to sense it.
The tides churned, surging.
Despite the Immortals' desperate efforts, they could not harm him in the slightest.
Seeing the ancient tree patterns on the bronze king’s body grow increasingly lush,
It seemed they were truly about to witness the birth of a new transcendent powerhouse.
The Immortals displayed despair.
Instinctively, some had already begun to seek a way to escape.
At this critical moment, Yuan Shu of the Guangwu Star Sea gritted his teeth and threw a seemingly ordinary bead towards the bronze king.
Brilliant light erupted, and countless phantoms burst forth.
It was the Projection Orb of the Dao Epoch!
The last Bronze King was the culmination of all ancient bronze civilizations between the mountains and seas.
The Dao Epoch Projection Orb, on the other hand, was a replication of all divine abilities, techniques, and moves that had ever existed, from nothingness to existence, in one possible timeline.
Tip against the sharp edge, half a pound against the other half!
Boom boom boom boom!
Infinite light and infinite heat burst forth in the Star Sea of Guang Wu the moment they collided.
Even if one was merely caught in the aftermath, and not a direct participant in the collision.
The survivors in Guang Wu and the Star Sea of Guang Wu looked on in horror.
"Everyone, let's work together and weather this wave!"
Bai Shuyue roared.
The Eternal Straw Cloak was quietly donned. Deep within the core of the The Dao Lattice, beneath the Black Mountain and White Water that suppressed the Boundless Wall, Bai Shuyue leaped out.
Unlike the True Immortals who had already begun to flee, the remaining departments of the The Dao Lattice held their positions. Cooperating with Bai Shuyue's command.
"The Dao Lattice, augment my body!" Bai Shuyue softly chanted.
As if an extension of her own will, the Star Sea The Dao Lattice contracted again, becoming smaller and smaller.
Finally, it transformed into a light gauze that shimmered with a hazy, dreamlike luster, settling upon Bai Shuyue's form.
Bai Shuyue did not break through the restriction left by Cheng Dao to leave the The Dao Lattice's core. Instead, she reversed the The Dao Lattice and wore it,
Appearing in the Star Sea in this manner!
Even with a thousand years of enlightenment, her current strength was still insufficient to support the entire The Dao Lattice on her own, even though the The Dao Lattice had sustained some damage during the great battle.
However, the Dao Descending Body Department, led by Nangong Fusheng, shouldered the vast majority of the pressure for her.
And every person within the Myriad Immortals Formation was like her arm, assisting her in manipulating the The Dao Lattice with unparalleled precision.
"Is this what true power feels like?"
At this moment, Bai Shuyue had channeled the full power of the The Dao Lattice into herself. She had surpassed the upper limit of ordinary Nameless True Immortals, faintly touching the threshold of transcendence.
When one was in such a state, what was perceived and thought was entirely different from before.
Combined with Bai Shuyue's prodigious talent, her insights surged like an endless storm every moment.
While comprehending the Dao, Bai Shuyue also desperately resisted the impact of the Dao Epoch Projection's clash with the last Bronze King.
It was as if she were facing two peerless experts fighting together. Under this immense pressure, Bai Shuyue was constantly transforming her profound insights into actual power.
Constantly on the verge of death, one would theoretically be unable to maintain such calmness.
But Bai Shuyue possessed the ability of continuous rebirth. She remained utterly calm throughout, facing the threat of annihilation.
As the True Immortals who attempted to flee were annihilated in the impact; as the nameless beings in the The Dao Lattice desperately contributed their energy under the pressure of death; as the core of the Star Sea of Guang Wu was momentarily stunned by the immense collision of power between the Dao Epoch Projection Orb and the Bronze King...
Bai Shuyue merely observed silently, without any distractions. She did her utmost to mitigate the impact.
The projections from time and space seemed endless.
The bronze civilization had once been vast and numerous.
Time itself seemed to lose all meaning in the face of this violent collision and explosion.
But the infinite light finally began to dim.
The entire Star Sea of Guang Wu had been almost utterly destroyed.
The tidal wave of Dao Erasure seized the opportunity and engulfed it.
Only the The Great Barrier, the The Dao Lattice, remained.
The two still stood tall.
Under the protection of the Mound Guardian's phantom, the The Great Barrier, though impacted, maintained its relative integrity.
However, it had clearly suffered considerable damage. The Dao Erasure seemed to have discovered a vulnerability.
Excitedly, it began to surround and attack.
Under Bai Shuyue's direction, although the The Dao Lattice had lost eighty percent of its strength, it had ultimately endured this calamity.
And...
A mysterious regenerative power emerged from the The Dao Lattice's core, rapidly repairing the broken Dao strings.
The True Immortals and nameless beings who had supported the The Dao Lattice but tragically perished in the great calamity seemed to have been resurrected.
Their Dao paths re-emerged!
But following the direction of the reconstructed Dao strings, one could see that all these new Dao strings originated from the same place.
Bai Shuyue!
Compared to her state before the clash between the Dao Epoch Projection and the Bronze King, she was like a different person.
In that moment that felt like an instant yet lasted an eternity,
Bai Shuyue meticulously controlled and maintained the The Dao Lattice's existence while reflecting all the changes happening around her.
The changes in the True Immortals' Dao paths, the divine abilities recorded by the Dao Epoch Projection, the ancient anecdotes of the bronze civilization.
Even the annihilation of possibilities, the subtle ripples of Dao Erasure...
For others, this was a cataclysm of impending doom. But for Bai Shuyue, it was an excellent opportunity for enlightenment.
The terrifying spiritual essence accumulated over more than thirty lifetimes was fully utilized in this scenario.
The Dao paths of the fallen True Immortals in the collision calamity had been completely mastered by her, allowing for their effortless replication.
The Dao Lattice had lost eighty percent of its strength.
Compared to the Star Sea of Guang Wu, the Star Sea of Light had suffered even more grievous losses.
Out of over a hundred True Immortals, only thirteen survived.
Of the two leading nameless beings, one had also perished.
However, the divine abilities they displayed in their final moments of struggle became the nourishment for Bai Shuyue's enlightenment.
"In a sense, I have achieved the path of slaughtering immortals for enlightenment through another method."
"But it wasn't done by my own hand."
Bai Shuyue looked at Yuan Shu, who seemed somewhat lost.
Although the Dao Epoch Projection had ultimately defeated the Bronze King, it was severely weakened.
The light and shadow recorded within it had become dim and fragile, and it was uncertain if it could continue to release power.
"However, the initial objective has been barely accomplished."
"The cost, however, was unexpectedly heavy," Yuan Shu said with a bitter smile.
Sizing up Bai Shuyue, who had inexplicably appeared with an unfathomable aura, he could only retreat sheepishly.
They had only managed to discuss the exchange of the "Phantom Cheng Dao" technique and the viewing of the transcended remains.
"The Star Sea of Guang Wu, possessing such a powerful killing artifact, did not inform us beforehand. Their intentions are nefarious!"
"If the Bronze King's foundation and power hadn't been far beyond expectations, forcing him to use it, our outcome would probably have been even more tragic." Hun Dun said coldly, his killing intent unconcealed.
His old friends, Shan Hua and Wan Sheng, had both died in this calamity.
He had completely lost trust in the insidious Star Sea of Guang Wu.
As for the promised viewing of the transcended remains, he was even less willing to believe it.
The other nameless beings had also abandoned their greedy thoughts due to this tragic event.
Within the entire surviving The Dao Lattice, only Bai Shuyue's resolve remained unchanged.
"Everyone, there's no need to worry. After paying such a great price, how can we abandon the rewards promised by the other party?"
"I will personally go, cloaked in the The Dao Lattice."
"I will exchange the 'Phantom Cheng Dao' for the opportunity to observe the transcended remains."
The reactions of the The Dao Lattice members were varied.
Some urgently advised against it, others rekindled their greed, while a few sank into thought, becoming excited.
But regardless of their opinions, Bai Shuyue's decision was final.
Given her almost solitary effort in turning the tide during this calamity and preventing the collapse of the Great Dao,
No one could object to her.
In the following two years, without the allure of immortal bait, the Dao Erasure gradually subsided around the The Dao Lattice.
With the reconstructed The Dao Lattice as its framework, a new star sea emerged.
Although it was still called the Star Sea of Guang Wu, it was no longer the same place.
And in the darkness beyond, in the direction of the Star Sea of Light,
Periods of Dao Erasure fluctuations could be detected.
Clearly, the Star Sea of Light's action of severing other immortal bait had not yet ended.
The agreed-upon deadline had passed, and Yuan Shu had still not appeared.
The immortals in the The Dao Lattice believed the other party had deliberately broken their promise and cursed them incessantly.
Bai Shuyue, however, continued to gaze into the distance, waiting silently.
"It seems the troubles faced by the Star Sea of Light are greater than imagined."
As time passed, it wasn't until thirty-three years later that the Dao Erasure fluctuations from that direction finally ceased.
"It's time," a glint flashed in Bai Shuyue's eyes.
Without waiting for anyone from the Star Sea of Light, she took the initiative to go!
In an instant, the The Dao Lattice transformed into shimmering gauze once more and draped over her.
Bai Shuyue took light, dancing steps towards the Dao Erasure ahead.
Like a dragonfly touching water, causing ripples of Dao Erasure to spread.
Yet Bai Shuyue was not swallowed by the Dao Erasure.
Instead, she gracefully stepped upon the Dao Erasure, crossing rapidly towards the location of the Star Sea of Light!
In her previous life, Bai Shuyue had survived by drifting in the Dao Erasure with the Eternal Straw Cloak and the The Dao Lattice.
Now, with a thousand years of accumulation and enlightenment from the clash,
The current Bai Shuyue possessed the strength to traverse the Dao Erasure for a short period!
The beings within the The Dao Lattice, swept along by her, traversed the Dao Erasure, filled with uncontrollable excitement. Yet they dared not be careless, each fulfilling their duties to maintain the stability of the The Dao Lattice gauze.
The journey was uneventful.
When they finally emerged from the Dao Erasure and arrived in a new, vibrant star sea,
Everyone felt as if they were in a dream, having passed through a lifetime.
Bai Shuyue, cloaked in the The Dao Lattice, had crossed from the Dao Erasure.
Such a colossal spectacle naturally drew the attention of the Star Sea of Light.
Figures emerged from all directions, surrounding them, all possessing Nameless strength, with Yuan Shu among them.
"It's you?! You can actually traverse the Dao Erasure? How is that possible?" Yuan Shu exclaimed in shock upon recognizing Bai Shuyue.
Bai Shuyue smiled, "Where you can go, I can also go. The time has come, and I am here today to fulfill our agreement."
Facing the encirclement of numerous nameless beings, Bai Shuyue's expression remained calm and fearless as she went alone.
After a moment of deathly silence,
Following some discussion, the Star Sea of Light ultimately decided to treat her as a guest.
It wasn't that they were truly afraid of Bai Shuyue. It was simply that the timing of her arrival was rather opportune.
They were in a period of weakness after the great battle, and if a fight truly broke out, their chances of victory were not high.
Furthermore, the Star Sea of Light could not withstand another ordeal in such a short period.
Thus, surrounded by the immortals, Bai Shuyue arrived beneath the Fishing Immortal Embankment.
The outer perimeter was densely packed with over a hundred heavenly pillars, encircling the central nine pillars.
From the inside out, progressively stronger, forming a tiered embankment that attracted the Dao Erasure.
"So, this is the method of the Star Sea of Light for fishing Dao Erasure."
"The principle is crude, but it is effective," Bai Shuyue discerned the mystery at a glance, nodding inwardly.
"Open!" The immortals of the Star Sea of Light collectively chanted in a low voice.
The central area, surrounded by a hundred heavenly pillars, gradually began to churn, the Dao Erasure surging like waves.
It was as if something within the Dao Erasure was being attracted.
Before long, faint points of light emerged from the central Dao Erasure abyss.
Initially, they scattered like myriad stars.
As the chanting of the Star Sea immortals grew more rapid, these scattered points of light grew brighter.
Even blinding!
Their brilliance surpassed that of the collision between the Dao Epoch Projection and the Bronze King.
The surrounding hundred heavenly pillars of the immortal embankment also suddenly blazed with light, shooting out threads, like ropes, to entangle the starlight.
"Open!" The immortals of the Star Sea of Light once again shouted in unison.
A figure, appearing somewhat frail, was slowly pulled out from the vortex.
Though alone, it carried the weight of mountains and seas!
The immortals of the Star Sea of Light all seemed to bear immense pressure, their auras surging to their limit.
And the hundred heavenly pillars of the immortal embankment also tilted to varying degrees.
The source of all this pressure came from the figure that emerged from the Dao Erasure!
The Dao Lattice gauze on Bai Shuyue's body fluttered as if in a strong wind.
The immortals within the The Dao Lattice stared intently at the transcended remains,
Their hearts surging with emotion.
"This is..."
"Transcendence?"
They stared intently for a long time, expecting to gain profound insights.
However...
Although they knew the other party was transcendent, they couldn't discern the profound mysteries behind it.
"What is this?"
The immortals exchanged bewildered glances.
The reality was far too different from their expectations. Some, unwilling to give up, continued to observe.
But the result was no different.
The secret of transcendence, even when right before their eyes, was beyond their grasp.
The immortals in the The Dao Lattice slowly began to understand why the Star Sea of Light, possessing such remains, had chosen to use them merely as immortal bait.
"Standing in a treasure mountain, yet unable to recognize its true form."
"Alas, pity, and hatred!"
The immortals were crestfallen.
The immortals of the Star Sea of Light, looking at the dejected expressions of the The Dao Lattice members, made no mocking remarks.
Because...
They were the same.
Among everyone present, only Bai Shuyue was different.
To others, it was merely a half-decayed husk.
But in Bai Shuyue's eyes, what she saw was a lone sail on the Sea of Mountains and Seas!
"The Sea of Mountains and Seas is boundless, yet a lone sail can cross it..."
"This is transcendence, this is transcendence."
Bai Shuyue murmured, her inner joy evident.
The Dao embodied by the transcended remains before her was not her own Dao.
But it pointed the way for Bai Shuyue.
Since she began cultivating, Bai Shuyue had always explored on her own.
Occasionally, she received guidance from the Boundless Wall and Cheng Dao, but it was never a clearly defined path.
Only now...
When Bai Shuyue personally witnessed a complete transcended remain,
She finally saw the direction she should take next.
"The Dao Erasure of Mountains and Seas blocks the way; we must each use our divine abilities to cross."
"We need to forge our own unique Dao..."
As if resonating with Bai Shuyue's thoughts, the silent lone sail within the transcended remains,
Suddenly lifted!
In an instant, Bai Shuyue felt as if she were under the lone sail, on a wooden boat.
Surrounded by the vast and boundless Sea of Mountains and Seas, and endless Dao Erasure!
"Hmm?"
Bai Shuyue suddenly awoke from her ecstatic enlightenment.
Because she inexplicably discovered that on this lone sail, besides herself, there were other blurry figures.
And, this figure before her... she found it incredibly familiar!
"Li Fan?!"
Bai Shuyue found the figure far too familiar.
The moment she saw its indistinct image, she blurted out the name.
But Bai Shuyue quickly realized her mistake. This was the core of the Lonely Sail Transcendent Intent. Li Fan was just an ordinary mortal; how could he possibly be here?
Yet the faint figure before her bore such a striking resemblance to Li Fan.
Bai Shuyue couldn't tear her gaze away for a long time.
"The vastness of the mountains and seas contains infinite possibilities. It's not impossible for such a resemblance to appear."
"This figure does not belong to the original owner of this Transcendent Intent. Instead...it is..."
After observing for a long time, Bai Shuyue vaguely understood.
"It is a True Immortal within the mountains and seas who also follows the 'Lonely Sail' path."
"Since the Lonely Sail has fallen, True Immortals in the mountains and seas can comprehend this path anew. However, the 'Lonely Sail' has not completely dissipated, so those who tread this path will manifest here together."
"This Transcendent Intent is like a mirror, reflecting all those who share the same path in the mountains and seas. If the figure before me truly steps forth into transcendence, the two will merge..."
With this thought, Bai Shuyue felt a sense of relief. It was clear that the figure before her was not the "Li Fan" she knew.
"I've heard that the mountains and seas are boundless, holding infinite possibilities. Perhaps he is another version of Li Fan. I wonder what kind of life he has lived..."
But Bai Shuyue knew deeply that this Li Fan was not that Li Fan. She herself was not some ignorant, simple farm woman from another possibility.
Thus, after indulging in a momentary fantasy, Bai Shuyue refocused her attention on the "Lonely Sail" Intent.
In a daze, Bai Shuyue felt as though she had fallen into endless mountains and seas.
Looking around, there was no direction, no escape. Raging tides of Dao Erasure raged all around.
And in such a desperate situation, a single lonely sail hung high, crossing solitarily.
"The mountains and seas are boundless, only I am the boat."
"It is precisely with this belief in their heart that this Transcendent Intent was forged. Therefore, transcendence is not merely a realm beyond the nameless, but also requires a state of mind and belief that matches one's strength."
"Why should I transcend?"
Bai Shuyue's mind merged with the lonely sail, immersing herself in its long memories of crossing the mountains and seas.
Although Bai Shuyue's intention was merely to use the Lonely Sail Intent as a reference and forge her own independent path.
Firstly, she had only touched the threshold of transcendence by relying on the The Dao Lattice. She was not a true transcendent expert and could not completely shield herself from the influence of the Transcendent Intent.
Secondly, her talent and comprehension were too high. Others yearned to witness this but could not. Bai Shuyue, however, could experience it firsthand, almost fully comprehending the "Lonely Sail" at its peak.
Thus, as she poured her entire being into comprehension, she inevitably began to evolve towards the "Lonely Sail."
"No, this is not the path I want to take!"
Only when the transformation was halfway through did Bai Shuyue suddenly awaken.
Without the slightest hesitation, she severed the connection between her thoughts and the Transcendent Intent before her, instantly withdrawing from that mysterious state of enlightenment.
The comprehension progress, which had accumulated halfway, vanished as Bai Shuyue actively abandoned it, leaving no trace behind.
From beginning to end, it was as if it were merely Bai Shuyue's illusion.
However, the lingering sense of boundless solitude in her heart told Bai Shuyue that the experience was not a mere illusion.
Even if one used the Transcendent Intent of a predecessor to gain enlightenment, it did not prevent one from ultimately becoming a new transcendent expert.
Faced with such temptation, Bai Shuyue still resolutely gave up.
This was because Bai Shuyue was confident enough. Without needing to tread the path of others, she would absolutely forge a path that suited her best.
"The mountains and seas are boundless, I shall cross them myself. Why must my method of crossing be the same as yours?"
With this thought, the Lonely Sail Intent held no further temptation in Bai Shuyue's eyes.
She bowed in respect.
Then, Bai Shuyue no longer looked at the transcendent remains guarded by the embankment.
Instead, she turned to face the multitude of Immortals in the Guangwu Star Sea.
"You have fulfilled your promise, and I shall not break mine."
"The Fishing Immortal Treasure will be transformed into a method akin to a Heavenly Pillar, named 'Phantom Cheng Dao,' passed down from... Lord Shou Qiu!" Bai Shuyue declared proudly.
"It's Lord Shou Qiu?!" The Immortals of the Guangwu Star Sea exclaimed in unison.
Although many years had passed, they still vividly remembered Lord Shou Qiu's mighty display, single-handedly resisting Dao Erasure.
They never expected that the The Dao Lattice of the Star Pivot Sea would be a true inheritance from Lord Shou Qiu!
Shocked, they quickly focused their attention, eagerly listening to the divine ability Bai Shuyue was imparting. Every word was truly like pearls, incredibly profound.
When they came back to their senses, Bai Shuyue had already drifted away, returning to the Star Pivot Sea.
The Immortals of Guangwu looked at the middle-aged man leading them, True Immortal Wuming, [Revival].
Xingfu shook his head. "Forget it, let her be. She is a disciple of Lord Shou Qiu after all..."
"Moreover, we have obtained the method of 'Phantom Cheng Dao.' With its assistance, the Guangwu Star Sea will no longer fear being overturned! Even if the possibilities are swallowed by Dao Erasure, we will float safely."
"Things in the Star Pivot Sea are no longer important. Everyone, the most urgent task is to convert all the Fishing Immortal Treasures into Phantom Cheng Dao. When we have enough support..."
"We can then accept the invitation and journey to the Realm of Life and Death!" Xingfu's eyes were filled with fervor.
As if seeing an incredibly bright future, the Immortals of Guangwu were also filled with excitement.
They immediately began working with full vigor, channeling their efforts to transform the numerous Fishing Immortal Treasures.
Bai Shuyue, of course, was unaware of what had transpired in the Guangwu Star Sea after her departure.
For her, at this moment, only one matter was of utmost importance.
That was to enter seclusion and comprehend the Dao!
Although her comprehension of the "Lonely Sail" had receded like a tide, her understanding of "transcendence" itself still lingered in her heart.
"I must strike while the iron is hot and take that final critical step!"
The light The Dao Lattice draped over her shoulders unfurled once more, returning to its normal form.
Bai Shuyue gracefully returned to the depths of the The Dao Lattice's core, sitting peacefully upon the Black Mountain and White Water.
The bits and pieces of her past thirty-odd reincarnations flashed before her eyes.
Her experiences were undoubtedly rich and colorful, yet to reach the realm of transcendence, it seemed to be just a little bit short.
"Transcendent Intent is the core spiritual support of one's unique self. Even if one falls into Dao Erasure, they can use it as a support to cross safely."
"On my journey so far, what was it that drove me to cultivate so desperately?"
Bai Shuyue pondered this question once more.
The answer remained the same.
To protect her pitiful nephew, Li Fan.
To build a home that would be forever safe, no longer subject to the disturbances of the outside world or the ravages of Dao Erasure.
To be able to live forever in peace and tranquility...
"You may be easily forgiven, but you must pay for my aunt's life!"
The image of her nephew's furious, all-consuming rage as he sought revenge for her reappeared before Bai Shuyue's eyes.
It was as if she were back in the Great Xuan's ancestral home, the two of them relying on each other, yet living in harmony.
The scene of their rustic home gradually solidified in Bai Shuyue's heart, transforming from the ethereal to the tangible.
"This is my home, and Li Fan's."
"I will not allow anyone to destroy it."
Bai Shuyue slowly walked into the house, gazing at the familiar furnishings and decorations within, her eyes growing calm and content.
Even though Li Fan was temporarily absent from this house at the moment.
Bai Shuyue firmly believed that one day, she would be able to bring Li Fan back and live there peacefully forever.
Perhaps Li Fan would grow weary and wish to see the world outside. Bai Shuyue would not restrain him; she would even support him as much as possible.
But as long as Li Fan wished it, he could return at any time.
Bai Shuyue would always be waiting for him at home.
...
Bai Shuyue returned to the dining table and sat down, as if Li Fan were sitting opposite her.
Her state of mind was clear, peaceful, and content.
No other thoughts remained.
Even if the outside world raged with storms and Dao Erasure roared, it could not affect the warmth within the small house in the slightest.
At this moment, the rustic house, bearing all of Bai Shuyue's beautiful memories of "home," completely solidified.
Transforming into a crystal-clear, immortal intent, it would exist eternally in the world.
At the same instant, Bai Shuyue felt a sudden inspiration, as if divinely guided.
"It is time."
She looked up towards the sky beyond, her gaze piercing through layers of The Dao Lattice, falling upon the mountains and seas.
With a gentle step, she moved forward.
The prohibition left by the Cheng Dao was merely a faint flicker of light. Perhaps sensing the aura surging from Bai Shuyue, it did not truly obstruct her.
Instead, it allowed her to leap out.
This time, Bai Shuyue no longer wore the The Dao Lattice.
Instead, alone, she stepped into the nascent Star Sea.
The mountains and seas beyond possibility, the Dao Erasure, seemed within reach.
Bai Shuyue leaped, leaping out of the Primordial, and plunging into the mountains and seas, into the Dao Erasure!
Cold, lonely, annihilating all things.
Dao Erasure, pervasive, instantly enveloped Bai Shuyue.
But at the same time, Bai Shuyue truly felt the power of the Infinite Sea and Mount Shang.
"The mountains and seas merge, thus creating Dao Erasure."
A hint of wonder flashed in Bai Shuyue's eyes.
Her aura, which had previously been at the peak of Dao Integration, began to climb relentlessly at this moment, connected to the boundless mountains and seas!
If she were merely a pure Dao Integration cultivator, she would undoubtedly be unable to control such a vastly inflated cultivation.
But Bai Shuyue had already touched the threshold of transcendence when she controlled the The Dao Lattice.
Therefore, no matter how her strength surged like a wild horse, she remained composed and in control.
While her cultivation realm ascended towards the realm of transcendence, Bai Shuyue remained calm in the face of the ever-present threat of Dao Erasure.
She remained seated in the house, at the dining table.
Looking out at the surging waves of Dao Erasure outside, she didn't even bother to stand up.
The house, small and unshaken by the howling winds outside, stood as firm as a mountain!
As if sensing the imminent birth of a new transcendent expert, the Dao Erasure grew even more furious and surging.
Waves crashed one after another, ceaselessly.
However, the small house where Bai Shuyue resided remained steadfast like a towering embankment.
Blocking the wind and rain from outside.
Inside the house, the candlelight flickered and danced.
Bai Shuyue sat in meditation. Opposite her, a phantom figure was slowly taking shape.
It was Li Fan's likeness.
This was a seat Bai Shuyue had reserved for Li Fan within her own Transcendent Intent.
Even though Li Fan was merely a mortal, he could remain here with ease and grace.
Or rather, only with Li Fan's inclusion would Bai Shuyue's Transcendent Intent be truly complete.
As Li Fan's blurred figure also sat down.
Bai Shuyue's Transcendent Intent finally manifested and took shape.
The ascending aura reached its peak at this moment.
A new transcendent expert descended upon the world!
Instantly, the wind calmed and the waves subsided!
Perhaps the Dao Erasure knew that it could not defeat Bai Shuyue in a short time. It temporarily retreated, to gather more strength for a future resurgence.
However, Bai Shuyue, who had achieved transcendence, showed no emotional fluctuation.
She only felt a sense of regret that Li Fan was not present to witness such an momentous occasion.
"It doesn't matter, Fan'er."
"We will meet again soon."
Bai Shuyue looked out at the boundless mountains and seas in the distance.
Despite the vastness of the mountains and seas, she could not find a place for herself.
Only where she and Li Fan were was true home.
Even with the ability to set sail and cross, Bai Shuyue had no desire to venture far.
After all, her initial purpose for cultivating was to truly protect Li Fan.
Now that her goal seemed to have been achieved, the desire for further exploration diminished significantly.
"In the next life, I will first ensure Fan'er's safety, and then I will achieve transcendence."
"Even if the threat of Dao Erasure descends, we will be safe."
Bai Shuyue let out a long sigh of relief.
Her mind was at peace, with no desire to explore the boundless mountains and seas further.
Instead, Bai Shuyue returned to the Star Pivot Sea.
The earth-shattering aura of her attainment of transcendence had not escaped the notice of the The Dao Lattice Immortals. At this moment, they all knew that Bai Shuyue had truly taken that step. While envious, they were also respectful before her, fearful of displeasing this newly ascended transcendent.
Although their past interactions suggested Bai Shuyue was approachable, who could guarantee that her temperament would not change after transcendence?
And for a transcendent expert, killing ordinary nameless beings was no more difficult than squashing an ant. Thus, before Bai Shuyue, the The Dao Lattice Immortals were all very cautious.
Fortunately, Bai Shuyue's disposition seemed unchanged.
"I have just achieved transcendence and have gained some insights."
"I can share them with you."
Upon hearing this, the The Dao Lattice Immortals trembled, looking at Bai Shuyue with disbelief.
Then, they were ecstatic.
The Dharma lectures of a transcendent expert were far more valuable than observing transcendent relics.
They had paid a heavy price in the past to observe the transcendent relics, and now, they could personally listen to a transcendent expert lecture for free...
"Senior is merciful!"
The Immortals praised her with gratitude, bowing respectfully.
Bai Shuyue nodded slightly, then began to recount all her insights during her process of achieving transcendence.
She did not conceal anything.
"The mountains and seas are boundless, only I am the boat."
"Though Dao Erasure is vast, my thoughts can navigate it."
The Immortals listened to the mystical intricacies, entranced.
It was as if they also saw their own prospects for transcendence, and many were so moved that they danced with excitement.
Only when they finally calmed down did they realize that Bai Shuyue had already vanished, her whereabouts unknown.
The Immortals assumed that Bai Shuyue had settled her karma and had likely gone to the legendary Other Shore.
Little did they know...
Bai Shuyue had not left, but had quietly returned to the deepest part of the The Dao Lattice.
Waiting for the transformation and metamorphosis of the Boundless Wall.
Without emitting any aura or deliberately revealing her breakthrough, she sat as usual, patiently waiting.
Beneath the black mountains and white waters, Boundless Wall remained immersed in its contemplation of the Dao, oblivious to Bai Shuyue’s transformation for an extended period. Bai Shuyue, however, did not expose her change. Instead, she quietly observed it. With her current transcendent perspective, she could discern things previously hidden from her sight.
"Originally, Cheng Dao was a spirit stone by the sea. Enlightened by Qiu Qiu, he transformed into a human. These black mountains and white waters are the manifestations of his transformation and his comprehension of the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas."
"His profound insights into transformation can indeed offer reference to Boundless Wall. But his comprehension of Mountains and Seas, well..."
Bai Shuyue shook her head slightly. Cheng Dao had not truly transcended. The black mountains and white waters he left behind could hardly compare to the true Great Dao of Mountains and Seas. He had already taken a detour, and for Boundless Wall to enlighten itself based on this foundation would only lead it further astray.
Bai Shuyue used her finger as a brush, embellishing the barren black mountains and white waters. In a short while, the desolate, awe-inspiring landscape gradually became vibrant with life. The flow of this vitality made the mountains and waters appear even grander and more magnificent, just like true mountains and seas!
Amidst this astonishing change, Boundless Wall let out a strange cry and finally awoke. "What's going on? What's going on?" It looked around in confusion. Naturally, it first noticed Bai Shuyue standing there with a smile. Because it was so familiar with Bai Shuyue, it didn't immediately suspect her of causing the anomaly. It quietly asked, "Did Senior Cheng Dao return just now?"
Bai Shuyue's smile froze, and then she sighed. She tapped the black mountains and white waters below with her finger. As if Dao Erasure had descended, the mountains and waters trembled violently, appearing on the verge of collapse. Boundless Wall was terrified, staring at Bai Shuyue. For a long time, it couldn't comprehend what was happening. "No, you... you, you!" It couldn't even finish its sentence.
Bai Shuyue finally smiled with satisfaction and asked, "You said before that when you cultivated successfully, you would guide me. Is it time now?" "I was just wondering how to get to the Other Shore." Hearing her words, Boundless Wall was completely convinced: Bai Shuyue had transcended!
Boundless Wall froze, and then asked in a daze, "What year is it?" It first suspected it had slept for too long during its enlightenment. Bai Shuyue had finally transcended cultivation in this great span of time!
"It seems you haven't fully awakened yet." Bai Shuyue continued to tap, and amidst the earth-shattering tremors of the black mountains and white waters, Boundless Wall finally calculated the exact time. No longer able to worry about the danger of the mountains collapsing, it screamed in utter horror, "How is this possible? How could you transcend in such a short time?" "Am I going crazy, or am I still dreaming?" Unable to accept this fact, Boundless Wall was dumbfounded.
"The accumulation was sufficient. Transcendence, as they say, is merely a thought away. Stop being so surprised!" Bai Shuyue said calmly. But how could Boundless Wall not be surprised? Having seen too much, it knew exactly how difficult transcendence was. In the past, among countless True Immortals in the Immortal Realm, only a select few could transcend. And every one of them had taken an unimaginably long time to accumulate before taking that step. How could Bai Shuyue make transcendence seem as simple as eating and drinking? Even though the facts were right before its eyes, Boundless Wall found it difficult to accept.
"Mountains and Seas are filled with countless talents and outstanding individuals. Although my cultivation speed is a bit faster, it's nothing compared to the Three Sages. You, who were once before a Sage Lord, should not be so astonished," Bai Shuyue teased. "It seems... that makes sense." With this guidance, Boundless Wall's shock finally began to dissipate.
"Yes, yes, you have transcended, and I am before a Sage Lord. You are strong, but I am not afraid of you!" Boundless Wall pretended to be brave. However, knowing how terrifying transcendence was, its tone was far from its usual arrogance. It sounded like a paper tiger.
Seeing this, Bai Shuyue felt a sense of weariness. She knew that a regrettable and insurmountable chasm had formed between her and Boundless Wall. "If Fan'er were still here, he probably wouldn't be so afraid of me, right? No matter how strong I become, he would still see me as his familiar aunt."
No longer intending to tease Boundless Wall, Bai Shuyue specifically explained her insights on transcendence to it. Like the other Immortals in the The Dao Lattice, Boundless Wall listened with rapt attention and was deeply grateful to Bai Shuyue.
"I have already reshaped the black mountains and white waters for you. Observe them day and night, and transformation and even transcendence are within reach." After saying this, Bai Shuyue disappeared. Although Boundless Wall felt a sense of loss, it soon immersed itself in observation and enlightenment. Having a transcendent expert personally guide it was truly a great fortune. While the appellation "before a Sage Lord" was accurate, Boundless Wall knew that the high and mighty Sage would never guide it in this regard.
"Transcendence is within reach, within reach!" Boundless Wall was overjoyed and gradually lost itself in its thoughts. After fulfilling her promise to Boundless Wall, Bai Shuyue stood in the starry sky, suddenly feeling out of place. The possibilities beneath her feet were too few, and she could see them all at a glance. Even a few casual movements from her could overturn them.
"I finally understand why most transcendent beings eventually leave." Bai Shuyue sighed, her thoughts subtly changing. Originally, she had no intention of crossing the Mountains and Seas to explore the unknown depths. However, the circumstances after transcending made her change her mind without realizing it. Bored, she decided to embark on a journey.
However, Bai Shuyue did not leave immediately. She waited for another hundred years. This wait was because Bai Shuyue wanted to see Cheng Dao again. But even though Bai Shuyue had disseminated the "Phantom Cheng Dao" technique, he didn't seem to pay much attention to it and never returned to investigate.
"It seems Cheng Dao will not return. I wonder where he is in the Mountains and Seas at this moment." With nothing left to linger for, Bai Shuyue leaped, drifting away. Within the True Intent of Transcendence within the Azure Nether Household, Bai Shuyue sat quietly in her seat, facing Li Fan's phantom. Let the Dao Erasure rage outside, the interior remained peaceful and tranquil. The Azure Nether Household carried Bai Shuyue, silently drifting towards the depths of the Mountains and Seas, disappearing completely.
The Primordial did not cease its self-operation because of someone's disappearance. In fact, due to Bai Shuyue's blessings of transcendence, the shattered possibilities, originally eroded by Dao Erasure, surprisingly began to erupt with life from Guang Wu and the Star Sea of the North. After an unknown period, a figure descended into the Primordial like a ghost. He first scanned his surroundings, then stared at the direction Bai Shuyue had vanished, and a meaningful smile played on his lips. "I didn't expect that the True Intent of Transcendence that Aunt condensed was 'Home.' It even has a place for me." "It is truly moving. Hehehe..." Li Fan chuckled deeply, though his expression showed no hint of being moved.
"Finally, I have reached the step of transcendence." "From now on..." "It is beyond my control." Li Fan had no intention of pursuing Bai Shuyue. In fact, when he sensed that Bai Shuyue was about to achieve transcendence, he had stopped observing her in secret and actively distanced himself, only returning after she had left. After Bai Shuyue's transcendence, although her strength was still weaker than his, they were both in the same realm. If he forcibly pursued her, there was a risk of being discovered. "Besides, after the Return to Truth, I can choose to inherit Aunt's memories and know what she encountered later." "The only drawback is that I have to wait for her to perish before I can initiate the Return to Truth. Otherwise, it will inevitably expose flaws. Transcendent beings have almost infinite lifespans. Under normal circumstances, only when this Mountains and Seas era faces its end will she have any danger to her life. However..." Li Fan smiled confidently. "Now that the 'Li Fan' in the Mountains and Seas no longer exists, for her dear nephew, Aunt will surely not insist on living for too long. It's not impossible that she might end her own life." "And with the place she left for me within her True Intent of Transcendence, as soon as she perishes, I will immediately sense it." "All I need to do is wait patiently." Li Fan said with confidence.
From the beginning to now, Li Fan's plan to create a Saint had been flawless. Even though Bai Shuyue had also reached the realm of transcendence, she had not discovered any flaws. However, the step from transcendence to Sainthood was beyond Li Fan's control. He could only hope that his aunt, who had gone through more than thirty reincarnations, could truly bring him some surprises.
"Considering that Aunt genuinely has the opportunity to reach the Other Shore next, I still need to plan ahead." "If my guess is correct, the moment she sees the phantoms of the Nine Sages, Aunt's reincarnated memories will be fully exposed, with nowhere to hide. The Nine Sages might connect it with Return to Truth and then search the entire Mountains and Seas." "I must hide well." Li Fan narrowed his eyes, deducing what might happen when Bai Shuyue entered the Other Shore. His greatest confidence lay in the fact that Bai Shuyue’s choice to inherit her past life’s memories was entirely in his hands.
If, after Return to Truth, he discovered that his hidden secret had been exposed in the Other Shore through the guidance of the Sages' phantoms, then he would not let his aunt inherit her memories, and she would remain an ordinary peasant woman. He would then find another way to deal with the Sages. At most, it would be a waste of thirty-odd lifetimes of reincarnation. For his infinite spirituality, the cost was negligible.
Looking back at the plan to create a Saint, perhaps the only flaw was the figure of Li Fan that should not have appeared on the "Lonely Sail"! "I have foreseen everything and have long severed my connection to the Dao of Transcendence of the Lonely Sail. How could that small boat still reflect my image?" Fortunately, the connection between that figure and Li Fan was not particularly strong, and even though the Mountains and Seas were being eroded by Dao Erasure, there were still almost "infinite" possibilities. Thus, Bai Shuyue mistook it for another possibility of "Li Fan" and did not delve deeper, thus preventing any flaws. However, as the instigator, Li Fan naturally did not think so simply. A cunning glint flashed in Li Fan's eyes, and he disappeared. When he reappeared, he was already within the Immortal Embankment of the Guang Wu Star Sea. Having learned the "Phantom Cheng Dao" technique, compared to how it looked in Li Fan's memory, the Guang Wu Immortal Embankment now had densely packed hundreds of Heavenly Pillars. All of them were built with Fishing Immortal Treasures as their foundation, and their might surpassed that of the old pillars. With so many supports, the Guang Wu Star Sea's ability to resist Dao Erasure had increased manifold, even showing a hint of the transcendent momentum of Li Fan's "Azure Nether Immortal Boat."
"Tsk tsk tsk, it has changed so much." "But based on my experience, although it can withstand for a while, it's hard to last a lifetime." "After all, it's not true transcendence. No matter how high or strong it's built, this Immortal Embankment will eventually be destroyed by the erosion of Dao Erasure." To prevent Bai Shuyue from returning, Li Fan did not alarm the Immortals of Guang Wu. After secretly commenting, he went to find his current objective. Arriving inside the remnant shedding of the Lonely Sail, Li Fan stared at the figure ahead on the small boat, his expression unreadable.
"Although it points to me, in reality..." "It has nothing to do with me." "I have indeed severed my connection with the True Intent of Transcendence of the Lonely Sail, and the reason my figure appeared here is because..." "Return to Truth?!" "What are you up to?" Deep questions welled up in Li Fan's mind. The True Intent of the Lonely Sail was like a bright mirror, reflecting the Mountains and Seas. It connected all who understood the Dao of Transcendence of the "Lonely Sail." Although Li Fan had already severed his connection with the True Intent of the Lonely Sail, he never imagined that Return to Truth still had a faint connection to it.
"With Return to Truth's abilities, if it deliberately hid itself, it couldn't be discovered by a mere True Intent of Transcendence. The appearance of this figure must be a reminder of something?" As if to confirm this, the moment this thought surfaced in Li Fan's mind, the figure of "him" on the Lonely Sail nodded slightly at him. Then, as if completing its mission, its aura inexplicably changed again. It still remained, still pointing to someone in the Mountains and Seas, but it was no longer related to Li Fan or Return to Truth.
"This... what exactly is going on?" Li Fan carefully examined the changed phantom and found that its reflection had truly become a "Li Fan" of a certain possibility! Following the connection of the same Dao in Mountains and Seas, Li Fan attempted to glimpse this phantom's life.
"I am certain that just now, he did not exist." "He was born from nothing after I discovered Return to Truth's hint." "His life, cultivation path, experiences, and even his current possibility, are all created from nothing." "If Aunt investigates later, she won't find anything amiss. It will completely match what she speculated before, and she might even sigh about how different people have different fates." Li Fan stared intently at this other, newly born "Li Fan."
"Creating from nothing is indeed Return to Truth's method. It perfectly compensates for the flaws I might have left." "But the problem is, why?" Li Fan frowned deeply. "And to be able to actively supplement it. Does this mean that Return to Truth is not only slowly waking up from its slumber, but also recovering more power?" Li Fan couldn't help but think so.
Li Fan attempted to glean more clues from the illusory projection of Return to Truth before him. However, it was evident that the capabilities of Return to Truth were far beyond what Li Fan could currently comprehend. Ultimately, Li Fan could only abandon the attempt with a sigh.
"For now, I will ignore Return to Truth's intentions and consider it as having merely completed the Saint Creation plan by patching up my flaws. The fact that Return to Truth's power is gradually recovering is enough reason for me to be vigilant."
Li Fan of today was no longer the Li Fan of the past, who simply viewed Return to Truth as his "exotic treasure" and golden finger. All signs indicated that Return to Truth possessed an independent consciousness. It was also highly possible that it was intricately connected to the so-called "Creator God" of the mountains and seas.
Li Fan keenly recalled the situation previously at the edge of the Eternal Silence Void Realm when he activated Return to Truth. Within the Eternal Silence Void Realm, it was as if a terrifying existence had awakened, striking the white mist that represented Return to Truth. The transformation of reality and illusion was bound, as if static, causing a chilling despair.
"The higher my cultivation level, the closer I am to the existence of Sages and Void Realms, the more easily Return to Truth's presence is exposed. If not for the heaven-defying ability of 'Reality and Illusion Transformation,' which could reshape mountains and seas with a single thought, I would have long since truly fallen under the Sage's gaze."
"It could have communicated with me directly, but instead, it insists on playing the enigma. Using roundabout methods to remind me."
"Now, it has even bypassed me and directly influenced the mountains and seas..."
"Indeed, only one's own true abilities are reliable."
Li Fan narrowed his eyes, suppressing the dissatisfaction within him towards Return to Truth. Patiently, he attempted to communicate with it again. However, Return to Truth remained as silent as before. Li Fan was at a loss.
Already feeling troubled, he suddenly heard bursts of cheers coming from beyond the Guang Wu Celestial Embankment.
"All thanks to everyone's hard work, a total of three hundred and ninety-nine new heavenly pillars have been completed."
"After a brief period of repair, we can formally accept the invitation and head to the 'Realm of Life and Death!'"
The words "Realm of Life and Death" quickly caught Li Fan's attention.
"Hmm?"
Previously, to prevent Bai Shuyue, who was about to transcend, from noticing, Li Fan had not been within the original possibility. Instead, he hid within the mountains and seas, observing from afar. Moreover, most of his attention was focused on Bai Shuyue, and he hadn't paid much attention to the events occurring in the Guang Wu Star Sea. He hadn't expected them to be connected to the Realm of Life and Death and the Five Venerables of the Same Tribulation!
"Accepted an invitation to go?" Li Fan sneered in his heart. "They haven't even reached the Transcendent realm, so how could they possibly catch the eye of the Five Venerables of the Same Tribulation? Traveling such a distance would likely be like a lamb entering a tiger's den, directly becoming sustenance."
But soon, Li Fan realized something was amiss. He knew quite a bit about the people of the Guang Wu Star Sea, having personally destroyed them once. Precisely because they were too weak and held no real value, the Five Venerables of the Same Tribulation would generally never pay them any mind, let alone extend an "invitation."
"But if the matter of the invitation is true..." Li Fan couldn't help but recall Tianluo Emperor's speculation about the successful mass transcendence.
"If there's anything about the people of the Guang Wu Star Sea that the Five Venerables of the Same Tribulation might find noteworthy, perhaps it's their identity as remnants of the original era."
"Transcendence from the Primordial Immortal Realm benefited posterity. Their potential and spirituality were greatly enhanced..."
Li Fan secretly observed Xingfu, the leader of the Guang Wu immortal gathering, and a plan immediately formed in his mind. The Realm of Life and Death was an unknown and extremely perilous place. Even the Script-Carving Immortal had gone there and never returned. The Faceless Immortal, after the division of morality, had also met a tragic death within. Although they were swept away with virtually no resistance under the Sage's power, for ordinary transcendent powerhouses, it was indeed a dangerous place. Under normal circumstances, Li Fan would not venture into such a risk without reason. However, now, a heaven-sent opportunity with no significant risk lay before him. Moreover, it was indeed boring to wait for Bai Shuyue's impending demise over such a long period. Since he was idle, he might as well go to the Realm of Life and Death and investigate!
"Perhaps I can even uncover the reason for the Faceless Immortal's inexplicable death."
With his decision made, Li Fan blew a gentle breath. A smoke-like figure then appeared. Lacking a fixed form, and following Li Fan's instructions, it silently infiltrated within Xingfu. Xingfu was merely in the Nameless realm and had no capacity to resist Li Fan's unfathomable power. The smoke-like figure covered Xingfu's divine soul.
"When reality becomes false, false becomes true!" As Li Fan chanted leisurely, the smoke-like figure's originally empty form, like an imprinted copy, transformed into Xingfu's appearance! The true Xingfu struggled futilely, utterly unable to resist. He was replaced! From beginning to end, Xingfu's external shell showed no abnormality. None of the Guang Wu immortals present noticed that their leader had been unknowingly replaced.
This method of possession was precisely the technique Li Fan used to create completely independent clones. Except now, the cloned object was not himself, but Xingfu.
A moment later, Li Fan adapted to this new body. He searched through Xingfu's memories for matters related to the invitation to the Realm of Life and Death.
"So, it wasn't an invitation sent solely by the Five Venerables of the Same Tribulation, but rather a widespread, albeit somewhat scattered, action targeting the remnants of the Primordial Immortal Realm."
"And the one who wrote the invitation..." Li Fan's heart skipped a beat. "The Primordial Script-Carving Immortal?"
After the destruction of the Primordial era, some surviving True Immortals languished in the Lower Realm's Star Seas. Those with the capability left the Primordial era and ventured into other possibilities, including transcendents. It could be said that remnants of the Primordial era were scattered everywhere. However, after all, the Script-Carving Immortal had written the 'Supreme Dao Scripture,' and more than half of the Primordial True Immortals had benefited from him. When they sensed the aura left by the Script-Carving Immortal on the invitation letter, there would definitely be many who were willing to accept the appointment. Xingfu of the Guang Wu lineage was one of them.
In fact, Xingfu also had a glorious past. He chose 'Xingfu' as his Dao title because he was a descendant of an Immortal Emperor! His ancestor was the very 'Boundless Unity Immortal Emperor' who lived for ninety-nine million nine hundred ninety-nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine years. After the Boundless Unity Immortal Emperor's demise, no new governing Immortal Emperor had appeared in his family. Therefore, Xingfu had dedicated himself from a young age to reviving his ancestor's great achievements. Xingfu possessed extraordinary talent and, after a thousand years of arduous cultivation, reached the Nameless realm. Furthermore, with the lingering influence of his ancestors, if he could accumulate tens of thousands more years, he might indeed have become the second governing Immortal Emperor in his family.
Alas, the annihilation of the Dao descended, and the Immortal Realm ceased to exist. As the end of the world arrived, Xingfu fled in a panic. Relying on his Nameless cultivation, he narrowly escaped disaster and reached the Lower Realm's Star Seas. However, he did not abandon his own Dao path. Here, he gathered other surviving True Immortals and formed the Guang Wu faction. By using the method of fishing for Dao annihilation, he collected various immortal treasures, hoping to escape this land of destruction, find another place, and rebuild the immortal industry. Until the letter from the Script-Carving Immortal arrived, completely disrupting his plans.
His credibility, Xingfu, was naturally incomparable to that of the Script-Carving Immortal. In the Script-Carving Immortal's words, he vividly depicted the glorious scene of the Realm of Life and Death, which was no less magnificent than the Immortal Realm of the past, and could absolutely serve as a second home! The homeless Guang Wu immortals were naturally drawn to it, and even Xingfu himself was moved! However, out of innate caution, Xingfu still harbored doubts about the authenticity of the beautiful world described by the Script-Carving Immortal. But all these concerns vanished instantly after he personally visited the Realm of Life and Death!
Li Fan carefully examined Xingfu's memories of the Realm of Life and Death.
"It is named the Realm of Life and Death because this realm is actually a fusion of countless possibilities that had already perished in the Dao annihilation!" Li Fan's eyes flashed with brilliance. "It is not a case of Return to Truth creating something from nothing and regenerating from emptiness, but rather reconstructing the past memories into reality..."
What Xingfu saw was the Immortal Realm he was familiar with! "Perhaps this is why the Script-Carving Immortal chose to remain in the Realm of Life and Death forever. With the Primordial era destroyed, there was nowhere to call home. Reshaping his homeland from his memories in the Realm of Life and Death was naturally a good choice."
The scene Xingfu witnessed was almost indistinguishable from the true Primordial Immortal Realm. Even Li Fan, observing as an outsider, couldn't find any flaws upon careful inspection.
"According to the Script-Carving Immortal's letter, the more past memories are gathered, the more realistic and stable the imagined possibilities will be. If all the surviving True Immortals of the Primordial era can be gathered... perhaps it might truly recreate an identical possibility! Not just a world, but even the living beings within it!"
"This is also the fundamental reason why the Script-Carving Immortal sent invitations to the Guang Wu immortals," Li Fan exclaimed with some astonishment. This art of empty imagination could naturally not be compared to Return to Truth's divine abilities. If a comparison were to be made, it could be seen as a mountain-sea version of the Fallen Immortal Realm! However, the Xuanhuang Realm was merely a small piece of land, only capable of encompassing a small area. With the power of a single person, perhaps memories could be recreated. But a single possibility encompassed the vast star seas of the lower realms, and even the boundless Immortal Realm built upon the mountains and seas. Even transcendent powerhouses could not see and know everything, let alone imagine and construct it. Perhaps Sages possessed such ability, but obviously, the Mountain and Sea Sages, who adhered to the belief of not focusing on the ending, would not waste their energy on such trivial matters. Therefore, the people in the Realm of Life and Death needed to pool their efforts, combining the strengths of all immortals. It was not just the Primordial era; every possibility that Xingfu saw within the Realm of Life and Death represented countless surviving True Immortals behind that possibility!
"I must say, this is indeed an extraordinary and vast power, and it is completely unknown to the general populace."
"But..." Li Fan let out a cold snort. "Even such a formidable force, after I led the disaster towards them, drawing the attention of the Sages of the Other Shore, had no power to resist and was instantly reduced to ashes. Only the blank possibility itself remained."
Recalling the Realm of Life and Death, whose existence had been erased, Li Fan couldn't help but sigh, "This is what it means to be an ant beneath a Sage."
"Only by finding a way to contend with Sages can one truly stand tall in the mountains and seas. Therefore, the Saint Creation plan must succeed. If Bai Shuyue cannot do it, find someone else! There are countless talented individuals in the mountains and seas; there must be someone who meets my requirements." Li Fan, having glimpsed the might of a Sage again through scattered fragments, secretly made a firm resolution.
After a long period of contemplation, Li Fan's thoughts returned to the Realm of Life and Death. "The core of the Fallen Immortal Realm is the Supreme Dao Scripture, left by the Script-Carving Immortal. Perhaps the creation of the Realm of Life and Death is also related to the Script-Carving Immortal."
"The invitation he sent to the Guang Wu group was also a means of reception. It did not directly specify the exact location of the Realm of Life and Death within the mountains and seas, but directly guided them there."
"However, it only provided reception and did not help in resisting the Dao annihilation encountered during the crossing. This is precisely why the Guang Wu people, after possessing almost transcendent means, remembered the Realm of Life and Death."
"As for the Star Sea of the North, they also received an invitation from the Script-Carving Immortal. The reason the Guang Wu immortals initially discovered the existence of the Star Sea of the North was due to the Script-Carving Immortal's guidance."
"However, none of the True Immortals in the Star Sea of the North knew about this news..." Li Fan pondered, guessing that Dao Bearing must have intercepted the invitation and kept it a secret. Master Dao Bearing, Mound Guardian Gong, was one of the Sages of the Other Shore. He disdained defecting to any of the Five Venerables of the Same Tribulation and would not permit his The Dao Lattice followers to engage in such a degenerate act.
"Although the Realm of Life and Death is insignificant in the eyes of Sages, I can indeed go and gain some experience."
"This art of imaginary reconstruction..."
"Perhaps it will be of great help in my comprehension of the transformation of reality and illusion." After careful consideration, Li Fan felt an inexplicable premonition. Although he had already achieved a certain level of proficiency in the application of the transformation of reality and illusion, Li Fan still needed to rely on the moment when Return to Truth was activated and all things transformed from reality to illusion and back from illusion to reality to comprehend it. All other treasures in the mountains and seas offered no assistance in comprehending the transformation of reality and illusion. This was a source of great frustration for Li Fan. However, now, he dimly saw a glimmer of hope. How could he not go and investigate?
"After all, by using this new body, even if discovered, there will be no threat to my life."
"No, it's not a new body. I, Xingfu!" Within the figure, the connection to Li Fan slowly faded completely. It was as if Xingfu himself was directing the Guang Wu immortals to prepare for their journey to the Realm of Life and Death. Whether in his speech, actions, or thought processes, he was indistinguishable from the Xingfu of the past.
The Guang Wu immortals noticed nothing unusual. With everything prepared, the immortals joined forces and crushed the invitation letter left by the Script-Carving Immortal. While called an invitation letter, it had no physical form; it was merely a line of text within Xingfu's memory. Moreover, the Script-Carving Immortal's technique possessed an inherent concealment ability. Ordinary soul-searching methods, viewed from an "outsider's" perspective, could not perceive the characters left by the Script-Carving Immortal. Only Xingfu "himself" could clearly remember and access them. This was why Li Fan had scoured the Guang Wu Star Sea multiple times without discovering the existence of this invitation. This time, with Li Fan using the "Falsehood into Truth" clone for possession, becoming Xingfu himself, it was a fortunate mishap that allowed him to learn about the connection between the Guang Wu immortals and the Realm of Life and Death. As the line of text from Xingfu's memory manifested from illusion into reality, an unfathomable profound power descended. It transformed into a slender thread visible only to Xingfu, pointing directly into the depths of the mountains and seas!
"This direction is indeed where the Realm of Life and Death is located!"
Like an angler, he yanked his fishing rod back with a sudden movement.
At the end of the thin line, an immense force surged instantly.
"Everyone, hold on tight!"
As Xing Fu’s low shout echoed, the entire Guang Wu Star Sea was pulled by this force, violently separating itself from the original possibilities.
It shot forth in the direction of the thin line!
Upon entering the Sea of Mountains, the pervasive Dao Erasure arrived in an instant.
Compared to what they had encountered under the protection of possibilities, this moment truly felt like a raging tide!
In a flash, the outer regions of the Guang Wu Star Sea were completely engulfed.
The assembled Immortals, however, had anticipated this and paid it no heed.
They gathered within the Celestial Embankment, their gazes fixed tensely on the numerous Celestial Pillars within the embankment.
Turbulent waves constantly battered the Celestial Embankment.
Hundreds of Celestial Pillars trembled, agitating the hearts of the Immortals.
Fortunately, with the augmentation of numerous Immortal Treasures, the stability of the Celestial Embankment was unprecedented. It ultimately withstood the external pressure of Dao Erasure, resisting the encroachment of the external Dao Erasure.
The Celestial Embankment remained steadfast.
Seeing this, the Immortals of Guang Wu finally breathed a collective sigh of relief, erupting in cheers.
"Do not be complacent, there is still a considerable amount of time before we reach our destination." Xing Fu, as the leader of the Immortals, reminded them solemnly at this moment.
He then arranged for the Immortals to monitor the condition of the Celestial Embankment in shifts.
The rest engaged in observing the Sea of Mountains and exchanging insights on the Dao!
Though their journey to the Realm of Life and Death was at the proactive invitation of another, the Immortals of Guang Wu understood that future treatment would be directly proportional to their strength.
Furthermore, traversing the Sea of Mountains was generally a cultivation condition exclusive to Transcendent experts.
This was truly an opportunity not to be missed!
Therefore, all the Immortals wholeheartedly dedicated themselves to cultivation and comprehension.
They also assisted each other, sharing their insights without reservation, aiming for mutual progress.
Time held no sway in the Sea of Mountains.
With the guidance of the Script-Carving Immortal, the speed at which the Guang Wu Star Sea traversed was not slow.
After adding three more True Immortals of the Nameless Realm, they finally reached their destination.
The pulling force of the thin line seemed to reach its peak in the final moments.
As if forcibly dragged out of its original possibilities, it was now roughly inserted into this new, unknown territory.
After a burst of distorted and colorful radiance.
Outside the Celestial Embankment, the aura of Dao Erasure had vanished.
In its place was a majestic vitality that the Immortals had not felt for a long time!
If the vitality of Shuoxing and Guangwu were merely scattered candle flames, then the vitality contained within their surroundings now was like the bright moon in the sky.
It was incomparable!
Having stayed for so long in that desolate land of depleted vitality, their sudden arrival here left the Immortals of Guang Wu in stunned silence.
They found it difficult to believe.
During this brief period of bewilderment, one True Immortal, overcome with emotion, wept on the spot.
"Wait! This aura..."
"Why does it feel so familiar?"
"Are we dreaming?"
After a while, a True Immortal finally reacted and exclaimed.
"Did I misremember? Isn't this the Celestial Realm’s Heavenly Azure Star Domain?"
"This is where I made my fortune! I've recalled it in my memories countless days and nights. How could I possibly misidentify it!"
"Could it be that we have returned to a time before the original destruction?"
The Immortals chattered amongst themselves, their faces filled with astonishment and doubt. They looked to Xing Fu, awaiting a reply.
Although everyone had seen the invitation from the Script-Carving Immortal, only Xing Fu had previously experienced the Realm of Life and Death and knew its specific details.
Xing Fu, observing the mixed emotions of joy and surprise on the faces of the Immortals, smiled faintly and introduced.
"Everyone, you are not mistaken! What the Script-Carving Immortal described as our second homeland, perfectly suited for us, is indeed the Celestial Realm we were once so familiar with!"
Xing Fu slowly recounted how the Realm of Life and Death was reconstructed from memories through imagination.
The Immortals were even more astonished.
"Creating something from nothing, what kind of divine ability is this?"
"Now that you mention it, I do sense it. The scenery largely matches that of the Heavenly Azure Star Domain, but the overall quantity and quality of life forms are still lacking. The most obvious difference is the absence of the Star Domain’s Governing Immortal Minister and the aura of his True Immortals."
"It is indeed somewhat imperfect. But isn't that precisely the point? With our joining, perhaps we can truly recreate the Celestial Realm!"
The Immortals discussed enthusiastically. Since the destruction of the Celestial Realm, they had never felt as excited as they did today.
Xing Fu, however, did not participate in the discussion. Instead, he continuously scanned their surroundings.
He was trying to find any trace of the Script-Carving Immortal.
Logically, since the Script-Carving Immortal had guided them here, he should have appeared upon their arrival.
But he was nowhere to be seen.
Being newcomers, Xing Fu dared not wander off.
He could only restrain the Immortals and wait patiently on the spot.
As time passed, three years after arriving in the Heavenly Azure Star Domain.
Someone finally arrived late.
"Nine Profound?"
Someone recognized the newcomer and exclaimed in surprise.
"Weren't you the one who died in the Dao Erasure back then! How are you alive again?"
As if he had anticipated the crowd's reaction, Nine Profound smiled gently. "Indeed, I perished in the Dao Erasure. But the me now was created from the imaginations of your honored ones, and I have no memories of my death back then."
Nine Profound's words undoubtedly confirmed Xing Fu's account of the Realm of Life and Death, causing a stir.
"All who come to the Realm of Life and Death are settled in their original places."
"This place is our former homeland."
"It is like a stream, and within the Realm of Life and Death, such imagined recreations of possibilities flow like ten thousand rivers, countless in number!" Nine Profound declared proudly.
"However, due to certain reasons, it is not convenient to give you a tour. Of course, if your strength reaches the Transcendent realm, or if you make outstanding contributions to imagined reconstruction, you might be granted an audience with the honored ones and get to see the true appearance of the Realm of Life and Death."
The experience after arriving in the Realm of Life and Death was different from what the Immortals of Guang Wu had imagined.
There was no exclusion, nor warm hospitality.
They were simply settled in their original homeland, left to their own devices to a certain extent.
Especially after a brief explanation, Nine Profound, as if having urgent matters to attend to, departed in haste.
Seeing the somewhat disappointed expressions of the Immortals, Xing Fu had to speak out to rally them. "Don't be discouraged! Haven't we achieved our goal now?"
"We have escaped the torment of Dao Erasure and found a new home where we can reside peacefully."
"Everything will proceed step by step! Daoist Nine Profound also said that contributing to imagined reconstruction is not compulsory; just let nature take its course. If any possess the ability and are willing to contribute, that would be even better."
Only then did the Immortals feel somewhat at ease.
"It's just, we didn't even get to meet Daoist Script-Carving Immortal, which is a bit disappointing." The Immortals grumbled.
After all, they had come here because of the invitation from Daoist Script-Carving Immortal. Now that he had never appeared, it was natural for them to feel a psychological gap.
Some unwilling individuals immediately began to study the method of [imagination] that Nine Profound had mentioned before leaving.
Imagination required a yellow crystal that mirrored this realm as a medium.
The power of the yellow crystal radiated all possibilities of imagined reconstruction, existing everywhere.
But it was difficult for outsiders to detect; only through special methods could it be sensed.
This method was quite simple. The Immortals spontaneously activated it and looked up.
Indeed, they glimpsed the yellow crystal, like the Great Sun, radiating a warm and hazy light, illuminating countless beings within the possibilities.
"Everything we see is born from this? Truly incredible."
"Focusing our minds, past memories surface in our minds..."
Following Nine Profound's instructions, the Immortals began to attempt reconstruction.
Xing Fu, however, was extremely cautious, choosing to observe for the time being.
No conspiracy occurred as imagined. After completing one imagined recollection, the Immortals only felt mentally fatigued, with no other abnormalities.
After a short rest, they recovered completely.
As if addicted, they immediately plunged into another round of imagined construction.
"I understand now, imagined reconstruction is like all Immortals painting together! After all, everyone's memories are different, and the scenes of the Celestial Realm in memory will naturally have some discrepancies."
"And this yellow crystal can record and compare all our imagined memories. The parts that are exactly the same can serve as the foundation for imagined reconstruction!"
Having survived the great tribulation of the Celestial Realm's destruction, there were no dullards among the Immortals of Guang Wu. They quickly grasped the basic principles of how [imagination] operated.
Thus, they became even more invigorated.
After all, being able to personally paint the masterful strokes of their homeland’s reconstruction was truly a cause for pride.
With everyone doing so, Xing Fu could not simply stand by.
He projected his divine sense into the yellow crystal above, recalling the intricate details of the Celestial Realm from the past.
There was no need to consider how to construct the imagination; the warm radiance of the yellow crystal would guide everything.
As naturally as water flows, a past scene appeared on the paper.
Xing Fu stared at his own creation. After a moment, above and below the painting, countless overlaps seemed to appear.
All these paintings depicted the same scene.
But they all had subtle differences.
With bursts of light flashing, these paintings began to be compressed and fused together.
All the repeating lines in the paintings were preserved.
While the "differences" were eliminated.
In the end, Xing Fu's magnificent masterpiece was reduced to just a few strokes, becoming an inconspicuous speck of light that flew into the yellow crystal above.
As that wisp of light was absorbed, a sliver of power within Xing Fu seemed to be drawn out.
Carefully savoring the vanished portion, Xing Fu discovered that it was not immortal energy, physical strength, nor divine soul.
Instead, it was an indescribable power source intimately related to [imagination].
"It seems the Realm of Life and Death harbors no malice."
"It is truly working to recreate the lost possibilities of the past."
"Of course, this is just a preliminary conclusion."
Within the Realm of Life and Death, there was no quantifiable measure of contribution.
Even if one engaged in imagined reconstruction countless times, there were no additional rewards.
It was driven solely by one's own fervent passion.
The vast majority of True Immortals lost their motivation after a few attempts, becoming despondent.
They found a place to settle in the reconstructed Star Domain of the Celestial Realm and simply continued their cultivation independently.
Only a very small number tirelessly contributed their imagined power every so often.
Not for anything else.
They simply wished to contribute to the reconstruction of their homeland.
Xing Fu was among them.
Time flowed by day by day.
Since the moment they descended, Nine Profound and the others in the Realm of Life and Death had not reappeared.
Gradually, everyone almost forgot about them.
And almost subconsciously, they recognized this place as their former homeland in the Celestial Realm.
Only the True Immortals who periodically engaged in imagined reconstruction remembered the true situation here.
The yellow crystal in the sky seemed unchanging through the eons.
The tireless imagined reconstructions by the people of Guang Wu had no effect on it.
After performing over six hundred imagined reconstructions, Xing Fu stared at the countless paintings presented before him, a strange feeling suddenly arising in his heart.
The "common" scenes constructed by all the Immortals of the Realm of Life and Death together formed the blueprint for recreating this place.
Although the Celestial Realm recreated based on this blueprint was extremely similar to the homeland in their memories, Xing Fu always felt that there seemed to be an essential difference between the two.
This sense of disharmony, which had lingered in Xing Fu's heart since the moment he descended into the Realm of Life and Death, had not lessened with the passage of time.
Instead, it had grown stronger.
"Where exactly is the problem?"
Xing Fu frowned and, disregarding his own mental exhaustion, performed another imagined reconstruction.
The result was the same.
The process of imagined construction went smoothly, but as countless paintings were overlapped and compressed, transforming into light spots that flew into the yellow crystal.
That disharmonious feeling surged into Xing Fu's heart once more.
"Again!"
Xing Fu was somewhat unwilling to accept it.
With repeated imagined reconstructions, Xing Fu's spirit, energy, and essence seemed to be slowly drained away.
His True Immortal body even appeared gaunt.
But Xing Fu's eyes grew brighter and brighter.
There was no trace of fatigue.
He was simply as if he had glimpsed some great secret, unable to suppress his excitement.
"So that's how it is. The Celestial Realm in our memories and the Celestial Realm that truly existed in the Sea of Mountains have subtle differences!"
"How did the Celestial Realm shatter and disappear? It was due to the erosion of the Dao Erasure!"
"The Dao Erasure devoured, and the Celestial Realm ceased to exist. It even took away our ability to recall forever..."
Xing Fu performed another imagined reconstruction.
Recalling every detail, under the guidance of the yellow crystal, a magnificent picture of the Celestial Realm formed.
But...
This painting itself was incomplete.
It was as if an invisible hand had smudged the painting, erasing certain details.
"These missing parts are..."
"The traces left by Dao Erasure."
Li Fan reached out and slowly caressed the anomalous parts of the painting he sensed.
It was as if he were personally touching Dao Erasure.
At this very moment...
The yellow crystal in the sky suddenly erupted with an incredibly brilliant radiance, its brightness even surpassing all other scenes in this possibility.
But apart from Xing Fu, all other living beings were oblivious to this.
The endless radiance descended, enveloping Xing Fu's entire body.
Within the warm embrace, it seemed to be taking him elsewhere.
He had a vague premonition in his heart, and Xing Fu did not resist.
The yellow radiance engulfed him.
When he reopened his eyes again...
Eight figures were seated around him.
"The Five Venerables of the Same Tribulation, Daoist Script-Carving Immortal!"
Xing Fu inexplicably knew the identities of two of the figures in his heart.
"I didn't expect that this awakening wouldn't even reach the Transcendent realm…"
"Truly, it is the Heavenly Auspice for my Realm of Life and Death!"
The one speaking was not among the Five Venerables of the Same Tribulation or the Immortal Carving Daoist, but one of the remaining two figures. He had white hair and a white beard, yet his appearance was youthful. He looked at Xing Fu, who was surrounded by everyone, with considerable excitement.
"Esteemed seniors, what exactly…" Xing Fu first bowed towards the Immortal Carving Daoist, then paid his respects to the others in turn. With a puzzled expression, he asked, "Could it be that what I experienced before was not reality, but an illusion?"
"Was it a test for us?"
This time, it was one of the Five Venerables of the Same Tribulation who answered Xing Fu. His form flickered, resembling an expanse of crimson mist stretching for billions of miles. Brilliant light and fire blazed, burning ferociously. Observing his form revealed his Dao, and thus Xing Fu knew his identity: [Inferno Mist].
As Inferno Mist spoke, Xing Fu's body felt subtly heated, as if he were truly being scorched by flames.
"It was not an illusion, of course. The Immortal Realm's homeland you were in before was indeed constructed by Imagination, and it truly existed. Of course, you can return there at any time."
As Inferno Mist spoke, a flowing river-like shadow quietly appeared below everyone. Within it, the Primordial Immortal Realm, including the Guang Wu starfield, was revealed. Xing Fu could even vaguely see the Immortals of Guang Wu within it.
"It's just that the Divine Ability of Imagined Construction was not perfected. The reproduced possibilities therefore contain fatal flaws. They appear as sturdy as rock, indistinguishable from true possibilities. In reality…"
Another river-like shadow appeared side-by-side. It was as real as the Primordial Immortal Realm. But after a moment…
The veneer of "reality" that covered it, for reasons unknown, instantly peeled away. Like paint washed off a painting, the colors faded, and the painting ceased to exist. In the river-like shadow, a terrifying tribulation descended.
It was an apocalypse that could almost rival the Tribulation of Dao Erasure. Furthermore, the speed at which this tribulation destroyed possibilities was even faster than Dao Erasure's consumption. Dao Erasure required gradual erosion, but at this moment, the river-like shadow's foundation vanished, and its existence collapsed in an instant. This possibility, along with the countless beings within it, was buried in the blink of an eye.
Witnessing the tragic scene, Xing Fu's expression stiffened, as if it had stirred memories of the Primordial Immortal Realm's destruction.
"This scene of apocalypse was not fabricated, but was a real image that occurred not long ago in the Realm of Life and Death."
The words of another of the Five Venerables of the Same Tribulation made Xing Fu's heart leap. As he heard the words, Xing Fu seemed to hear the sound of countless weapons clashing, only to then break all at once. Thus, Xing Fu realized the other's identity: [Blade Concealed].
"Since you have awakened, you must also know why the flaws in the method of Imagination arose."
Xing Fu nodded in agreement: "It is because of the characteristic of Dao Erasure."
Blade Concealed continued, "Possibilities are born within the Mountains and Seas, like carvings on a sandy beach by the sea. The waves of Dao Erasure wash over them, erasing the carvings. Those with lingering traces are the anchors for our memories. As for those places that are completely blank…"
"…those are the missing foundations of imagined constructs, which we can no longer recall and have truly been erased from the Mountains and Seas. Possibilities are born from the great power of the Mountains and Seas. Its essential truth is not something we can comprehend now. We can only imitate, and it must be flawless."
"If even a few strokes are missing, it will be like a dog trying to imitate a tiger and failing, ultimately resembling a dog. It is worlds apart from true possibility and could collapse at any moment."
Blade Concealed waved his hand, and several river-like shadows appeared. They were almost indistinguishable from true possibilities. However, after existing for different durations, none of them could persist for long. They all returned to nothingness.
Xing Fu, hearing this, could not help but become anxious: "Then aren't the Guang Wu Immortals who followed me in danger?"
This time, it was another of the Five Venerables of the Same Tribulation who chuckled. He spoke comfortingly, "You don't need to worry about that. Although the collapse of Imagined constructions of possibility appears to happen in an instant, the Realm of Life and Death is entirely within our perception. Before the calamity occurs, we will sense it and rescue them in advance."
Xing Fu breathed a sigh of relief, but the pressure in his heart did not dissipate. It was not from the truth of the Realm of Life and Death, but from the words just spoken by this speaker. The lingering echoes remained in his ears, and Xing Fu felt as if he were facing an abyss. An abyss unfathomable, formless, and without appearance. And all who witnessed it would uncontrollably fall into it.
"Abyssal Burial." Xing Fu then knew this Venerable's identity: [Abyss Buried]. Fortunately, Abyss Buried did not make things difficult for Xing Fu and retracted his pervasive power. The invisible pressure in Xing Fu's heart slowly dissipated.
"Esteemed seniors, since the method of Imagination has such flaws, is there a solution?" He did not question why the Immortals were placed in imagined possibilities as a futile effort, but directly inquired about the solution.
The white-haired young man laughed heartily upon hearing this: "You are indeed worthy of awakening before Transcendence; your thoughts and aspirations are beyond the reach of ordinary people. Maintaining Imaged constructions consumes immense energy. If we didn't see hope for a solution, why would we be so persistent?"
"Like you, those who can pass the test are the solution!" the young man said in a deep voice.
"Me?" Xing Fu recalled the various sensations he had experienced in the imagined Primordial Realm and vaguely understood something.
"Dao Erasure erases cleanly and thoroughly. We cannot track Dao Erasure, but we can detect the difference between imagined possibilities and true possibilities, that feeling of disharmony in our hearts!"
"Through continuous construction and repeated fine-tuning, until…" Xing Fu suddenly understood and blurted out, "The feeling of disharmony disappears. This means that the possibility constructed by Imagination is exactly the same as the possibility that truly existed at that time."
"Although we cannot see the 'white', we can infer it from the verifiable parts. So that's how it is!" The white-haired youth smiled and didn't continue. Clearly, Xing Fu's guess was very close to the truth.
"Your lone premonition is still lacking. We need to collectively discuss and anchor it," the Immortal Carving Daoist finally spoke. Xing Fu held great respect for this senior with a renowned reputation. He composed himself and listened to his teachings.
"Even with the Supreme Dao Scripture in hand, I could not fully comprehend the principles of the Immortal Realm. Everyone's cognition has its limitations, thus we need to incorporate more diverse perspectives," the Immortal Carving Daoist said, his words as precious as gold. After saying these two sentences, he fell silent.
"Imaged construction does not need to perfectly match what existed in memory. What we can confirm now is that the closer it gets, the more reliable the Imaged construction becomes, and the lower the probability of instantaneous collapse," Abyss Buried added.
"By supplementing these 'blanks' erased by Dao Erasure, we can sketch and restore the foundation of the possibilities within the Mountains and Seas. This is both the source of the underlying power of the Mountains and Seas, and the focus of Dao Erasure's plunder after the Mountains and Seas merge."
"Imagined reconstruction of past possibilities is a matter of following the trend. Through this, we can spy on the secrets of Dao Erasure, or more accurately, the mysteries of the [Gods], which is what we truly seek," Abyss Buried stated, dropping a bombshell.
"Gods?" Xing Fu was startled and then bewildered. "May I ask, esteemed Venerables, what is this so-called [God]?" he asked cautiously. The Venerables from the tribulations, it seemed, attached great importance to Xing Fu, answering all questions.
The Immortal Carving Daoist, with a few strokes, drew several pictures. "Someone once traveled to the end of the Mountains and Seas and glimpsed their birth. Their form was inscrutable, their scene indescribable, their momentum imperceptible, their appearance indistinguishable."
"It cannot be described in words, nor recorded in text or images."
"That person could not convey what truly happened at the origin of the Mountains and Seas, but made one thing clear: the Mountains and the Seas both originated from the [God]."
"That person then traveled to the end of the Mountains and Seas and witnessed their demise, their return to the [Stars]."
"The infinite and boundless characteristics of the Mountains and Seas were stolen from the [God]. Although they have functioned for countless eons, this is ultimately not the inherent power of the Mountains and Seas. They came from the God, and they will return to the God. This is the destined end for the Mountains and Seas."
The beginning of the Mountains and Seas, the end of the Mountains and Seas. Two images floated before Xing Fu. The sheer volume of information was immense, and Xing Fu was stunned, seemingly finding it difficult to accept.
"God, Stars. The beginning of creation, the end of the Mountains and Seas." He muttered, and suddenly, as if understanding something, his face turned ashen: "If this is the fate of the Mountains and Seas, then we, the beings born within them, are not also…"
"This is the [Irrelevant Endgame]. All our attempts at self-salvation are like jokes in the face of the God's inscrutable might. Ultimately, they are all in vain."
"Is that so?" the white-haired young man suddenly retorted.
"Hmm?" Xing Fu was immediately stumped.
"Naturally… not," he quickly replied without thinking.
The white-haired young man burst into hearty laughter upon hearing this. The other Venerables present also smiled. The Immortal Carving Daoist even nodded slightly and said, "Good." Xing Fu was somewhat at a loss at the Venerables' reactions.
The white-haired youth then continued, "The end of the Mountains and Seas seems predetermined, yet the Stars are ultimately not Gods. The Mountains and Seas, having flowed for infinite years, will not passively await their fate."
"Everything is still undecided. In the end, whether it is the Mountains and Seas, the Stars, or perhaps…"
"…we, the beings of the Mountains and Seas, who emerge victorious is still an unknown variable!" the white-haired youth declared emphatically.
"We beings, though born from the Mountains and Seas, also possess the ability to comprehend the Dao. The more power we gain from the Mountains and Seas, the weaker the Mountains and Seas and the Stars become. The Sages of the Other Shore attempt to connect the fractured Mountains and Seas with sparks, their forms spanning the beginning and end of the Mountains and Seas. While saving the Mountains and Seas, they also achieve equality with them."
"The Grand Alchemical Emperor Tai Wei, with his immense power, reflects infinite possibilities, like parasitic seeds, eroding the Mountains and Seas. Even if he cannot ultimately contend with the Mountains and Seas, perhaps he can forcibly detach himself from them and establish his own domain."
…The Venerables of the Realm of Life and Death explained the trajectories of the two major forces within the Mountains and Seas to Xing Fu, detailing them clearly. Xing Fu, who had not yet even reached Transcendence, was suddenly exposed to so much hidden knowledge that he felt dizzy.
"The might of the Sages is truly unimaginable. Their plans are not something we can shake. However, the weak also have their ways of survival. The method of Imagination, used to observe the secrets of Dao Erasure, is our foundation for overcoming the strong despite being weak!"
[Life Eater], who had not spoken before among the Five Venerables of the Same Tribulation, slowly said. As Life Eater spoke, Xing Fu felt as if his own life force were being drawn away, his entire body growing cold. He shivered involuntarily. Breathing out, frost actually formed. Fortunately, Life Eater was clearly restraining his power and did not pose a real threat to Xing Fu.
"Those 'blanks' erased by Dao Erasure, the foundation of the Mountains and Seas, are, in our eyes, the focal point of contention between the Mountains and Seas and the Stars."
"The deification of the Mountains and Seas, the transformation of the Mountains and Seas into Stars, has those that change and those that endure."
"Through the circulation of the Mountains and Seas, the unchanging elements are the true source of great power!"
"If one can glimpse…"
"…even an ant can transform and attain equality with the Mountains and Seas!"
"Equality with the Mountains and Seas." Xing Fu repeatedly murmured these four words.
Before Xing Fu could ponder further, he heard the Immortal Carving Daoist ask, "Do you know of Mound Guardian Gong?"
Xing Fu nodded readily: "The reputation of Mound Guardian Gong's noble virtue is known throughout the Immortal Realm, known to all."
"Do you know that Mound Guardian Gong is one of the Sages of the Other Shore?"
"Is that so?" Xing Fu was so shocked that he was speechless.
"When Mound Guardian Gong was guarding the Immortal Realm, I also saw his face. Observing his destiny and fortune, 'Nameless' was his limit. Yet after many years, he has attained the demeanor of Transcendence and Sainthood. Do you know why?" the Immortal Carving Daoist asked calmly.
"…" Xing Fu of course did not know the background of Mound Guardian Gong. However, recalling what the Venerables of the Realm of Life and Death had said, with a flash of inspiration, he boldly guessed, "Could it be that Mound Guardian Gong has found that unchanging great power of the Mountains and Seas?"
The Immortal Carving Daoist nodded.
"He upholds the Great Dao of the Mountains and Seas, which is precisely [Longevity]!"
"Longevity." These two words seemed to possess infinite magical power, and Xing Fu repeatedly whispered them.
"I wonder, how does this Great Dao of the Mountains and Seas differ from the ordinary Dao paths we wield?"
The Immortal Carving Daoist waved his hand, and a long scroll suddenly unfurled before Xing Fu. It should have contained countless symbols, but now all the symbols seemed to have vanished, leaving only a blank scroll.
"Ordinary Great Daos are born within the Mountains and Seas, merely evolutions of the Mountains and Seas themselves."
"But the Great Dao of the Mountains and Seas…"
"Like Mound Guardian's Longevity, perhaps it was inherited from the [God] by the Mountains and Seas, but the part that was not completely absorbed and transformed."
"Almost all Dao paths within the Mountains and Seas can be considered extensions of the [God]'s power. However, what we can access are only those parts that have already been assimilated by the Mountains and Seas."
"Only a select few retain the nature of the [God]." The Immortal Carving Daoist attempted to write something on the blank scroll. However, after several attempts to pick up the brush, he stopped midway. In the end, he couldn't write a single word and sighed, putting away the blank scroll.
"The method of Imagination is used to glimpse the secrets of the Mountains and Seas."
"This secret refers to the Great Dao of the Mountains and Seas!"
"Those mystical powers that have endured the transformation of the Mountains and Seas and will ultimately return to the [God]!"
"The Great Dao of Mountains and Seas, I can only observe it with imagination."
Xing Fu was deeply shocked by the scene depicted by the Dao Carved Immortal.
But he immediately felt dejected: "Even the Transcendent realm is hard for me to reach. How can I glimpse this Great Dao of Mountains and Seas? Perhaps all of you seniors can do it, but I..."
Just then, the last of the Co-Tribulation Venerables reprimanded him, interrupting, "When Duke Mound Guardian achieved the Great Dao of Longevity, his strength was even less than yours! Who's to say you can't?"
"Whether one can attain the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas depends entirely on personal fortune and destiny, and has little to do with individual strength. Perhaps a mere mortal could control the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas! Why can't we?"
As the voice spoke, Xing Fu felt the surroundings dim.
It was as if he had fallen into Dao Erasure, cut off from the light and life of Mountains and Seas.
Xing Fu thus knew his title: Light Annihilation.
Daring not to retort, he could only force a smile and say, "Your teachings are wise, senior."
The Venerables of the Tribulation of Life and Death all knew that Xing Fu still harbored reservations, and they chuckled.
However, they could understand that this notion completely contradicted the fundamental cultivation system in Mountains and Seas.
Dao Carved Immortal spoke again, "This matter is not due to our blind optimism. Firstly, as Light Annihilation said, there are precedents in Mountains and Seas. Secondly..."
"The possibility we inhabit once showed signs of another unknown Great Dao of Mountains and Seas appearing. However, we were unable to capture it. It vanished as quickly as it appeared, and we heard no more of it."
"And the location where that Great Dao of Mountains and Seas appeared was not in the Immortal Realm, but in the Lower Realm's Star Sea."
This was the first time Xing Fu had heard such a secret, and he was both surprised and confused.
"Without the Saint realm, all of us are like ants that can be ignored in the face of Mountains and Seas. What difference is there between Transcendent beings and mortals? It all depends on personal fortune and destiny," Dao Carved Immortal smiled.
With this explanation, Xing Fu finally managed to accept it grudgingly.
But new questions welled up in his heart: "Duke Mound Guardian is from our hometown. Besides him, there's news of another Great Dao of Longevity appearing? Could it be that the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas is not that rare? Otherwise, why would they all appear in the same possibility?"
"Perhaps it's just a coincidence. Or perhaps..." Dao Carved Immortal exchanged glances with the other Venerables of the Tribulation of Life and Death and said slowly, "It is precisely because Duke Mound Guardian attained the Great Dao of Longevity that it attracted the appearance of another Great Dao of Mountains and Seas."
"Hmm?" Xing Fu had never considered this before and was stunned.
"Things of a kind gather together?"
"You could understand it that way. In fact, there are only a few remaining Great Daos of Mountains and Seas. And once one is adorned with a Great Dao of Mountains and Seas, it is extremely easy to conceal oneself. Others can barely detect it. Unless one actively reveals it, like Duke Mound Guardian. Otherwise, even a Saint cannot track it down."
"So it was truly fortunate that two Great Daos of Mountains and Seas appeared in our hometown back then," Dao Carved Immortal sighed softly.
"It's a pity it was useless. The Immortal Realm was destroyed in the end," Xing Fu also sighed.
"Destroyed... perhaps not necessarily," Dao Carved Immortal's tone shifted.
Xing Fu paused, about to ask, but Dao Carved Immortal changed the subject.
"Compared to the Other Shore and the Sacred Dynasty, the Realm of Life and Death is indeed somewhat weaker. However, unlike their principle of 'regardless of the end,' we still have feelings for our former homeland."
"The Art of Imagination can save our devastated homeland. At the same time, it provides an opportunity to search for traces of the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas. It's a win-win situation. Therefore, compared to other forces in Mountains and Seas, we have our own unique advantages."
"However, the Dao of Mountains and Seas is of great importance. Only awakened individuals like you are qualified to know about it. Others, whether they live in peace or assist in the construction of imagination, do so as they please. We will not force them," Light Annihilation spoke freely.
Xing Fu lowered his head and said, "Your compassion is truly profound, Venerables!"
"May I ask, seniors, how many so-called awakened individuals like myself are there in the Realm of Life and Death?"
"There are not many, nor are there few. Including you, and excluding us, there are twenty-three. You will meet them later," Light Annihilation replied.
Xing Fu was secretly startled by this.
From the Venerables' previous words, it seemed that the previous awakened individuals were all in the Transcendent realm.
Including the Venerables, the strength of this Realm of Life and Death was truly not to be underestimated.
"Do you have any other questions? You can raise them now. After all, in the future, we will not always have the time to meet you."
Xing Fu pondered for a moment and then shook his head.
"Very well. Next, we will bestow upon you the true divine ability of imaginative construction. This is the key to touching and depicting the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas. You must savor it carefully!" Dao Carved Immortal said solemnly.
As he spoke, the figures of the eight Venerables of the Realm of Life and Death instantly vanished from Xing Fu's sight.
In their place appeared a dazzlingly bright yellow crystal.
It was very similar to what Xing Fu had seen in the Primordial Immortal Realm of Imagination.
But it was even more complex.
On each face of the crystal, infinite light and shadow seemed to flicker.
And upon closer inspection, each face seemed to be further divisible, infinitely so.
Xing Fu's mind was entranced, and the voices of the Venerables echoed in his ears:
"The method of imaginative复现 originates from that Walker of Mountains and Seas."
"He himself is not the original creator of this divine ability. The true origin comes from the last prodigy among our cultivators in the final moments of Mountains and Seas."
"At that time, only one possibility remained in Mountains and Seas, precariously sustained. It was the hope of all the surviving beings."
"All the Saints perished during the years of struggle against Dao Erasure."
"In such dire straits, we cultivators did not give up. Many astonishingly talented individuals emerged, truly a final elegy for our beings."
"The one who created the method of imaginative construction was the most brilliant star among them. His talent was so high that he even surpassed that Walker of Mountains and Seas. And it was with his help that the Walker of Mountains and Seas was able to travel from the end of Mountains and Seas to the beginning, safely crossing the Eternal Void."
After introducing the origin of the divine ability, Xing Fu seemed to see the flickering light and shadows of the end of Mountains and Seas within this infinitely faceted yellow crystal.
Each face reflected the traces left by the possibilities that once existed in Mountains and Seas.
An infinite number of possibilities, converging at the end of time.
At the moment of Mountains and Seas' extinction, it transformed into a brilliant yellow gemstone.
Observe its traces, recall your own memories.
Stimulated by the scenes, compare and contrast.
Re-emerge from the void, reconstruct from imagination.
"Marvelous beyond words!"
Xing Fu was so excited that he danced with joy and exclaimed loudly.
The yellow crystal suddenly erupted with countless beams of light, filling Xing Fu's entire field of vision and senses, and then disappeared into Xing Fu's sea of consciousness.
When Xing Fu could see again, the Venerables of the Realm of Life and Death had vanished.
Below him, thousands of river phantoms stood side by side, roaring and surging.
More than a dozen figures floated above them, observing something unknown.
Xing Fu could sense the aura of imaginative construction occasionally emanating from them.
As for the Venerables...
They did not seem to be in this space.
Although Xing Fu had become an awakened individual, the Tribulation of Life and Death did not impose any mandatory tasks.
Everything was up to his own will.
Of course, if he could make contributions in his search for the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas, the Venerables would not be stingy with their rewards.
Whether it was discussing cultivation with the Venerables or having them help stabilize the imagined homeland, as long as the requests were not too absurd, the Venerables would fulfill them.
Xing Fu had also wondered, if he were to truly depict the appearance of the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas, who would ultimately possess this Heaven-Piercing Dao path?
Would the Venerables of the Realm of Life and Death turn against each other, fighting for it?
But without waiting for the Venerables' explanation, Xing Fu soon understood on his own.
The Great Dao of Mountains and Seas could not be snatched or taken away.
It all depended on one's own fortune and destiny.
In the Realm of Life and Death, it was not important who ultimately wielded the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas. What was most crucial was that the cultivators of the Realm of Life and Death controlled the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas.
"In other words, everyone has the chance to achieve sudden success like Duke Mound Guardian," Xing Fu's thought arose, and his fighting spirit immediately soared.
Without delay for rest, he circulated the Art of Imagination, comparing and depicting.
Imaginative construction, repeated comparison, in order to explore the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas.
This act was much like painting one picture after another.
At first, one might find it novel.
But gradually, one would begin to find it tedious.
Because you would discover that as you approached the truth, no matter how many more paintings you reproduced, they would all be identical.
There would be no difference.
Was that which was erased by Dao Erasure so easily to be re-created?
It could only be achieved through occasional flashes of inspiration during repeated attempts.
"No wonder there are twenty-three awakened individuals, yet only sixteen are present here," Xing Fu vaguely understood.
Those people had lost hope and given up.
The choices of others would not affect Xing Fu.
As if tireless, he continued to repeat the imaginative construction. Relying on his keen intuition and matching it with his memories of the past, he dedicated himself to the task.
Although each repetition yielded no results, it was extremely boring.
But he found joy in it.
Immersed, he lost track of time.
New awakened individuals arrived, and despairing ones chose to quit.
Xing Fu remained steadfast above the surging phantom rivers, creating one painting after another.
But...
Heavenly Dao does not necessarily reward diligence, and effort does not necessarily yield results.
Even with Xing Fu's incessant attempts, he made no progress.
The Great Dao of Mountains and Seas was like an invisible ghost.
No matter what method you used, it was difficult to capture it.
Even with Xing Fu's resolute will, he couldn't help but feel a hint of dejection for a time.
In a daze, he suddenly recalled the event of the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas appearing together in the Primordial Immortal Realm.
"Things of a kind gather together."
"This kind of aimless imagination is too inefficient. Even until the end of Mountains and Seas, I might not be able to glimpse even a fraction of its shadow."
"If only I could wield the Great Dao of Longevity like Duke Mound Guardian. With the Great Dao of Longevity as a guide, perhaps this hidden ghost could be lured out."
As he thought of this, Xing Fu's eyes suddenly sharpened.
As if he had touched upon something crucial, the depths of his eyes changed multiple times in an instant.
It was as if he had become a different person in a flash, or perhaps it was just an illusion.
As if this enlightenment had never happened, Xing Fu continued his repetitive labor.
Until one day, the peace of the Realm of Life and Death was shattered.
Xing Fu didn't know how much time had passed since he came to the Realm of Life and Death.
When a rift suddenly tore open above the phantom rivers, revealing the scenery of the external Mountains and Seas, Xing Fu was startled awake.
During this period, Mountains and Seas seemed to have undergone a drastic change.
Having repeatedly sketched the phantom images of possibilities countless times, Xing Fu's perception of Mountains and Seas and Dao Erasure had unknowingly become hundreds of times sharper than before.
At this moment, he could clearly sense the roiling of Dao Erasure outside.
Just like when he had sensed the Transcendent Intent of the Lonely Sail in the Star Sea of Guang Wu, Dao Erasure had become extremely active, its aggressiveness dozens of times higher than usual.
And this hostility of Dao Erasure was not confined to a specific area.
Instead, it seemed to be...
Everywhere!
"What could have happened?"
Xing Fu's heart was filled with doubt.
Before he could investigate further, all the Venerables of the Realm of Life and Death, including Dao Carved Immortal, had appeared, blocking the torn rift.
The oppressive feeling from the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas outside only then slightly weakened.
Only then could the flowing phantom streams be maintained.
"I didn't expect there to be an unexpected gain."
A cold voice came from above.
Clad in purple robes, with a red mole on his brow, like a third eye, he coldly swept over the crowd below.
Behind the man in purple, three other figures stood tall.
Each of them exuded an aura no weaker than that of the Venerables of the Realm of Life and Death.
"We have always minded our own business; why do you trespass today?" Light Annihilation, one of the Five Co-Tribulation Venerables, suppressed his anger and asked.
The purple-robed man said coldly, "By order of a Saint, we are searching Mountains and Seas! Do not mistake yourselves!"
"A Saint... such airs. Why don't you go search the Tai Wei Sacred Dynasty?" the white-haired youth retorted sarcastically.
"Do you think the Sacred Dynasty hasn't been searched?" The purple-robed man sneered.
As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of everyone in the Realm of Life and Death changed simultaneously.
Something that could make the Saints of the Other Shore and the Tai Wei Sacred Emperor so concerned...
The Great Dao of Mountains and Seas?
Countless thoughts flashed through the Venerables' minds, but the purple-robed man was already growing impatient: "I say again, do not mistake yourselves!"
A purple lightning bolt suddenly flashed.
The thunderous roar was so deafening that it almost shattered the Realm of Life and Death.
"There's nothing you're looking for here," Dao Carved Immortal said.
The purple-robed man narrowed his eyes and smiled, "You say there isn't, and so there isn't?"
"What a joke!"
The purple figure instantly expanded by hundreds of millions of times,
Even larger than all the phantom rivers below combined, attempting to reveal all the secrets of this realm.
This move also angered everyone in the Realm of Life and Death.
Dao Carved Immortal threw out a long scroll. Although it was blank, it seemed to be filled with dense, myriad characters.
Among them, one character seemed to correspond to the Dao of the purple-robed man.
On the blank scroll, this character transformed from illusory to real.
And the purple-robed man's expanding figure seemed to be pulled by some force, gradually returning to its original form.
"Since that is the case... then do not blame me for being merciless."
"After we turn this place upside down, we will naturally know exactly what you are hiding."
Rumbling thunder came from outside the Realm of Life and Death.
Although the purple-robed man's Heaven-Molding Dharma Image was shattered, an even larger pair of hands extended from beyond the rift.
"We can't hide it any longer. Let's move."
Seeing this, Dao Carved Immortal sighed.
The light suddenly vanished, and infinite darkness enveloped the Realm of Life and Death.
From the strange abyss, countless muddy tentacles seemed to extend, tightly entwining the giant purple hands.
A burning cloud stretching for thousands of miles, like a sharp sword, slashed towards the outside of the abyss. The enraged cry of the purple figure flickered and then was drowned out by endless, violent explosions.
…
As the Five Venerables of the Same Tribulation acted, blocking the purple figure from the Other Shore, the entire Realm of Life and Death underwent inexplicable changes.
Ten thousand long rivers flowed side by side, as if attracted by something, they rolled back and coiled tail-to-head, transforming into circles of closed loops.
In an instant, they wove into a gem emitting pure yellow light!
Under the cover of a profound rhythm, the sounds of weapons clashing outside gradually weakened. Eight figures surrounded the central yellow gem. Although they appeared motionless, their forms flickered between light and shadow, having already crossed mountains and rivers!
"We've temporarily shaken off their pursuit. However, even if we can transfer again, it's ultimately not a long-term solution," Ming Dao Xian said with a heavy tone.
"I didn't expect another Great Dao to appear within the Mountains and Seas. It was completely unexpected. Did it cause us to be exposed prematurely?"
"The comparison of the paintings is almost complete. We absolutely cannot abandon it midway. If it becomes truly critical, I will manifest this realm of life and death through imagination and lure the enemies, buying you time," the white-haired youth said with a solemn expression.
The others did not object: "Rest assured, we will not forget your contribution."
The white-haired youth smiled and shook his head: "I was already a dead person. To be reborn from imagination and gain another experience is already enough. If I can help you all achieve your Great Dao, it will not have been in vain."
After a moment of silence, the eight figures refocused their gaze on the yellow gem in the center.
Upon reaching a safe place, the lines forming the gem unfurled once more, transforming back into ten thousand flowing streams of light.
Within these streams of light, the beings conceived from imagination's possibilities seemed frozen, devoid of the concept of time's passage.
They were oblivious to the myriad changes happening in the outside world.
After receiving the safety notification from the Venerables, their lives soon returned to their former routines.
Xing Fu was among them.
However, he occasionally looked towards the outside of the Realm of Life and Death with a subtle expression.
"I can't see the scenery of the outside Mountains and Seas. It must be the Venerables' actions to block it."
"I just don't know how long it will last."
Instead of fear regarding the possibility of imminent exposure, Xing Fu harbored a trace of anticipation.
"The Calamity of Life and Death should be far more complicated than the Venerables described. Otherwise, even if the purple figure came, and searched carefully, they wouldn't have escaped in an instant. There must be something within that the Sages of the Other Shore care about!"
The answer was clear.
The Great Dao of Mountains and Seas!
"The method they transmitted for comparing imaginations and replicating the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas should also be true. It's just that they've concealed the progress!"
Xing Fu looked up at the formless, faceless yellow gem suspended above the myriad flowing streams of light.
"Whether intentionally or unintentionally, actively or passively, within the Realm of Life and Death, us awakened individuals, including myself, are likely being recorded every time we perform a replication, contributing to the overall comparison progress."
"But the Venerables didn't lie. Once the progress is complete and the Great Dao of Longevity appears, whoever becomes its master within the Realm of Life and Death will depend entirely on individual fortune and destiny."
"Fighting and seizing are useless."
"The reason for not making this information public…"
"Knowing too much would only unsettle the mind and hinder imaginative replication."
Xing Fu took a long time to forcefully suppress the surging thoughts.
This discovery actually had no impact on Xing Fu's life.
Even if the progress was already 99.99%, it was no different from zero until it was truly complete.
He didn't know when the true appearance of the unknown Great Dao of Mountains and Seas could be glimpsed, but the pursuit from the Other Shore was real and could descend again at any moment.
Xing Fu keenly sensed that the overall atmosphere within the Realm of Life and Death had subtly changed compared to before.
Especially among the awakened ones.
They were no longer as focused as before, and the efficiency of their imaginative construction was consequently affected.
"They're becoming distracted now. Their resilience to pressure is rather poor."
Xing Fu, noticing this, felt strangely puzzled.
Logically speaking, these awakened individuals possessed Transcendent strength.
Their state of mind should not be so weak.
"Unless…"
"Forced growth, not truly self-achieved transcendence."
Xing Fu's attention first fell upon his colleagues.
"Those whose minds were less affected did not perceive the anomaly."
"And those whose spirits are tumultuous…"
"It seems that while the imaginative construction is extremely lifelike, it is ultimately not real!"
After accumulating knowledge for an unknown number of years, Xing Fu had developed his own unique understanding of imaginative construction.
Upon careful observation this time, he finally discovered the secret.
"Furthermore, this sense of disharmony, of unreality…?"
Xing Fu frowned, recalling with a sense of uncanny familiarity. He suddenly thought of the white-haired youth Venerable he had seen earlier.
"Was he also a creation of imagination?"
"Has the art of imagination within the Calamity of Life and Death reached such a level of near-perfect deception?"
Xing Fu was immediately suspicious.
Just as the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas attracted each other, so too did painters develop a sense of camaraderie.
Xing Fu's imaginative construction had already reached an introductory level.
However, he did not feel that the attainments of the Five Venerables of the Same Tribulation in this art surpassed his own.
Although there was no concrete evidence, merely an inexplicable guess in his heart, Xing Fu was almost certain it was true.
Xing Fu himself didn't know the source of his confidence.
"Perhaps it's my talent in imaginative construction techniques?"
"Although that white-haired youth was a creation of imagination, the Five Venerables of the Same Tribulation and Ming Dao Xian treated him as an equal…?"
"If I were in his shoes, would I treat my own imagined creations as equals? Absolutely not!"
Xing Fu's eyes flashed with a glimmer, and he had an answer in his heart.
"Someone else imagined and created him, leaving him behind as assistance."
"As for who…"
"The answer is also obvious. It must be the Walker of Mountains and Seas who taught the Five Venerables of the Same Tribulation!"
With rapid thoughts, Xing Fu had already deduced part of the truth.
"Imagination can transform from virtual to real, and it must be generated from one's familiar memories. If that white-haired youth was imagined and manifested by the Walker of Mountains and Seas, then his original identity…"
"From the end of the Mountains and Seas?"
Xing Fu couldn't help but recall the words of the Five Venerables of the Same Tribulation.
"He himself is not the originator of this technique. The true origin comes from the last prodigy among our cultivators in the final era of the Mountains and Seas."
"…His talent was so high that he even surpassed that Walker of Mountains and Seas."
Xing Fu nodded inwardly: "Perhaps it is precisely because of his extraordinary original identity that the Venerables show such respect to this imagined creation."
He longed to know the specific circumstances of the end of the Mountains and Seas from the white-haired youth's memories.
However, since the purple figure from the Other Shore attacked, the Venerables of the Realm of Life and Death had rarely appeared in front of others.
They seemed to be collectively busy with something.
Xing Fu could only indulge in his thoughts.
Even though he had glimpsed some of the secrets of the Realm of Life and Death, Xing Fu buried them deep within his heart, not leaking any of it externally.
For the remaining time, he continued to silently engage in imaginative construction, adding a bit more progress towards the final depiction of the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas.
After a period of time, even longer than before.
One day, after Xing Fu had just completed a replication, he suddenly felt an inexplicable tremor in his heart.
Then, tears flowed down uncontrollably.
Xing Fu wiped them away, utterly astonished. At the same time, doubts arose in his mind: "What is happening? My heart instinctively feels sorrow, and I can't help but cry."
"This should be an anomaly that arises after a close relative by blood has perished. But my relatives all perished in the tribulation of the Immortal Realm's destruction back then. What is it…?"
Xing Fu pondered endlessly but could not find an answer.
He could only bury this question in the deepest part of his heart.
After that, countless years passed.
The final completion of the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas seemed to be just a sliver away.
But this sliver was like the vast difference between heaven and earth.
No matter how diligently the beings within the Realm of Life and Death tried, they could never fill it.
However, as the "progress bar" approached completion, corresponding changes occurred within the Realm of Life and Death.
The most significant was the transformation of the ten thousand flowing streams of light.
Originally mere figments of imagination, Xing Fu could discern their falseness at a glance.
But now, they were almost indistinguishable from reality!
With Xing Fu's mastery of the Dao of Imagination, he had to carefully distinguish the subtle differences between them and the true possibilities within the Mountains and Seas.
Those not adept in this path would surely be unable to perceive their "imaginative nature."
"No longer facing the sudden danger of annihilation, those people from the Guang Wu Star Sea who lived so freely and leisurely... they've almost forgotten me." Xing Fu's expression faltered.
Besides these imaginable possibilities, the yellow gem suspended above the flowing streams of light had also changed dramatically.
It was still not in a state of perfect imagination.
Instead, it resided between reality and illusion.
When not observed, it was composed of myriad illusory projections.
But upon careful observation, each facet of the yellow gem was incredibly lifelike.
It was indistinguishable from reality.
This superposition of dual states, reality and illusion, fascinated Xing Fu even more.
He often looked up in observation, and suddenly felt a sense.
The day of its true transformation was not far off.
Three thousand five hundred and sixty-nine years later.
On this day, Xing Fu's replication was inexplicably interrupted.
This was almost impossible for Xing Fu, whose imaginative abilities had reached perfection.
But it truly happened.
Because…
Instantly realizing something, Xing Fu's body trembled violently with extreme excitement.
"Eliminate all discordant lines."
"The Great Dao of Mountains and Seas, hidden in the blankness, has finally been depicted by us."
Like the countless beings within the ten thousand flowing streams of light, Xing Fu raised his head to look at the extremely pure and radiant yellow gem above him.
Figures emerged one after another around the gem, no longer eight, but only the Five Venerables of the Same Tribulation.
The other Venerables, including Ming Dao Xian, had vanished.
Under everyone's gaze, the yellow gem, painstakingly recreated by the countless painters of the Realm of Life and Death over many years, began to gradually disintegrate.
As if infinite lines surged out from within.
Becoming denser and denser, like countless paintbrushes, they outlined a Great Dao that should not exist in the Mountains and Seas.
With the manifestation of the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas, the Realm of Life and Death, hidden for many years, could no longer remain concealed.
The spatial isolation was broken, and a fissure was suddenly torn open.
Xing Fu could clearly see a sacred, majestic circle standing not far away.
The white circle seemed to be planted in the Mountains and Seas. Although it appeared infinitely distant, it was also extremely close.
In an instant, it arrived, sealing and suppressing the Realm of Life and Death.
But at this moment, the Five Venerables of the Same Tribulation, and even the beings within the Realm of Life and Death, were no longer important.
All eyes were fixed on the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas that was about to be born.
Within the white circle, light and shadow flickered.
The Sages of the Other Shore revealed solemn expressions.
At the same time, a figure clad in a black dragon robe, wearing a crown, quietly descended.
Sitting alone on the imperial throne, though solitary, the palpable pressure it exuded was no less than that of the myriad Sage phantoms.
The might of the Sages was like a raging storm.
Although they had restrained themselves as much as possible, and their power was diminished due to their mutual constraints, it was still unbearable for the beings in this place.
The vast majority fainted the moment the Sages descended.
As for the few who remained conscious, they dared not look at the Sage figures.
They could only force their attention onto the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas, which was rapidly disappearing.
Rather than disappearing, it was as if it was replicated from nothingness and then retreated back into the Mountains and Seas.
Xing Fu felt a growing premonition: whether this Great Dao of Mountains and Seas could be controlled by those present depended entirely on its descent.
"If it intentionally conceals itself…"
"Perhaps even a Sage would be unable to find it."
Everyone held their breath, waiting for that moment.
As the lines of the yellow gem completely dissolved and merged with the Mountains and Seas, the Tai Wei Sacred Emperor suddenly let out a cold snort and disappeared, piloting his imperial seat away.
This action surprised even the Sages of the Other Shore.
"Still so arrogant."
Faintly, the evaluations of the Sages could be heard from within the white circle.
The departure of the Tai Wei Sacred Emperor did not affect the descent of the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas.
Everyone present soon sensed a contradictory aura, ancient and vast, yet newly born.
It flashed and disappeared.
"The Annihilation of the Dao plunders the very foundation of Mountains and Seas, the key to the decline of Mountains and Seas."
"The root of Heaven and Earth nurtures all things."
"This is the Great Dao of the [Mysterious Woman]!"
A thunderous voice boomed from the white circle on the Other Shore.
The speaker was the Mound Guardian, who held dominion over [Longevity]!
In the light and shadow, the Sages were about to make a move.
The entire expanse of Mountains and Seas seemed to suddenly freeze.
Infinite white mist erupted from the void,
Enveloping the Mountains and Seas.
"Reflection!"
All beings could only vaguely hear a voice, emanating from the white mist.
Just like a fish about to take the bait, startled by a stone suddenly dropped into the water.
Or like a colossal creature at the bottom of the water, its shadow appearing and rapidly approaching, devouring the intended prey before it could bite.
The moment the white mist appeared, the Great Dao of the Mysterious Woman, surrounded and eagerly awaited by the Sages, vanished like ice melting in water.
However, at this moment, the Sages were no longer concerned with the fleeing Great Dao of Mountains and Seas.
Within the vast white mist, all surviving beings, now able to move, had their attention focused on the phrase "Return to Truth."
"After searching through Mountains and Seas, you finally show yourself. You've hidden so well!"
"This power..."
At the edge of the White Circle on the Other Shore, the Sages' phantoms joined forces, unleashing an incredibly brilliant halo. They tried to resist the encroachment of the white mist.
Deep within the white mist, there was constant vibration. A figure could faintly be seen struggling to move forward. It was the Tai Wei Sacred Emperor, who had already left and was now returning!
The Mountains and Seas were frozen, and only the Sages were spared.
But the vast white mist's power was even greater than the Dao Erasure. The Sages' combined efforts were ultimately futile.
Numerous figures disappeared into the white mist.
Unmoving, unrevealing.
And besides the Sages, Xing Fu, who witnessed this entire scene, could still maintain normal thought processes within the white mist!
"Return to Truth..."
"So that's how it is."
Xing Fu was stunned into silence.
Then, he silently recited in his mind: "Return to Truth!"
The rolling white mist surged, engulfing Mountains and Seas.
After an unknown duration, which felt like an instant.
The white mist receded, and the Mountains and Seas reappeared as before!
However, the Sages, who had been eagerly pursuing Return to Truth, were suddenly filled with a slight confusion.
After a moment of recovery, they all exclaimed in shock: "Where is the Great Dao of the Mysterious Woman? How did it disappear without a trace?"
Only Xing Fu’s eyes held a strange gleam.
He lowered his head, frowning, repeatedly pondering in his heart, bewildered: "True... Return to Truth?"
"What is Return to Truth?"
...
Anchor Point: 1 year!
Xuanhuang Realm!
Li Fan's eyes snapped open.
The Return to Truth panel suddenly appeared before him.
Compared to before, there was an additional line of dreamy characters shimmering with seven-colored light.
"Great Dao Realized: First Mysterious Woman."
The moment Li Fan's consciousness touched these words, the seven-colored characters instantly disintegrated, transforming into a thread of profound and mysterious imagery.
"Continuous and subtle, the root of heaven and earth."
"Deep and mysterious, immeasurable."
"Stillness and movement, all things emerge."
...
Even though Li Fan had no prior knowledge of the Great Dao of the Mysterious Woman, as his eyes took in the seven-colored characters, countless insights about it spontaneously flooded his mind.
Even if this Great Dao of Mountains and Seas was supposed to be arduous and obscure, something that even beings like the Nameless True Immortal could not comprehend in their entire lives,
To Li Fan, it was like reading a transparent book.
There was no difficulty whatsoever.
This was certainly not because Li Fan had suddenly become enlightened or his talent had become extraordinary.
All these anomalies originated from Return to Truth!
Taking a deep breath, Li Fan suppressed the insights he had gained about the Great Dao of the Mysterious Woman for the time being.
He stared intently at the words "Great Dao Realized" on the Return to Truth panel.
"Great Dao Realized, Great Dao Realized???"
"And the subsequent display, 'First Mysterious Woman'."
"Did Return to Truth capture the Great Dao of the Mysterious Woman?"
Li Fan's heart churned like stormy waves, filled with boundless dread.
This was completely beyond his expectations.
In fact, he had no idea how Return to Truth had accomplished this.
Li Fan recalled his experiences from his previous life.
After sending his clone Xing Fu into the Realm of Life and Death, he had anticipated that the Sages on the Other Shore would search Mountains and Seas for Return to Truth’s trace. He had quietly gone into hiding.
Relying on his past experiences of traversing Mountains and Seas, he had hidden very well.
Even when the Transcendent Sages emerged, and allied with the Tai Wei Sacred Dynasty, practically turning Mountains and Seas upside down,
He had not been exposed.
Just as the Five Venerables of Tribulation had said, if a Great Dao of Mountains and Seas intentionally hid itself, it would be extremely difficult for others to discover its whereabouts.
But later, with the emergence of the Great Dao of the Mysterious Woman, the Sages of the Other Shore and the Tai Wei Sacred Emperor all appeared, creating increasingly significant disturbances. Li Fan was also inwardly alarmed. Seeing that things were about to spiral out of control, Li Fan resolutely decided to activate Return to Truth.
Even though the true form of the Great Dao of the Mysterious Woman had not yet revealed itself at that time.
Adhering to the principle of safety first, Li Fan decisively chose to activate Return to Truth.
But something Li Fan had not anticipated happened.
Return to Truth again showed no reaction.
And unlike past instances of losing control, this time there was no external force, such as the Sages interfering.
Nor was it that Return to Truth was severely injured by the tribulation of the Three Dao Fusion.
The reason for its malfunction was entirely because...
Return to Truth seemed to have detached itself from Li Fan’s body.
Even now, recalling it, Li Fan could still feel the terror he experienced then.
It was different from the feeling when Return to Truth had fallen into a coma before.
At that time, although Return to Truth could not be used, Li Fan had an underlying thought that it would eventually awaken. He believed that as long as he bided his time, he could wait for that day.
But when Return to Truth truly departed Li Fan’s body...
Only by losing something could one truly appreciate its value.
That brief yet incredibly long period was almost the most painful experience Li Fan had endured since his reincarnation.
Li Fan did not wish to dwell on it.
Even though Return to Truth later returned, and responded to his summons, activating once more.
Li Fan still harbored resentment towards Return to Truth’s brief, unannounced departure.
It wasn't until the arrival of a new life, and he saw the additional line on the Return to Truth panel, that all his doubts and anxieties vanished.
They were all replaced by pleasant surprise.
Li Fan also understood, because of this, why Return to Truth had left without explanation.
It released the vast white mist, pretending to reveal itself to attract the attention of the Sages of Mountains and Seas.
In reality, it secretly infiltrated and successfully captured the descending Great Dao of the Mysterious Woman!
"Great Dao Realized."
"Realized."
"This description is superb!"
Li Fan was overjoyed.
Every time he thought he had seen the limit of Return to Truth, yet every time,
Return to Truth surprised him again.
Li Fan never expected that Return to Truth could actually capture a Great Dao of Mountains and Seas.
"How exactly did it do it?"
"Return to Truth should be on par with Mountains and Seas, shouldn’t it? The Mysterious Woman, as one of the Great Daos of Mountains and Seas, seemed to have no room for resistance and was easily captured by Return to Truth."
He recalled Return to Truth being heavily damaged during the previous Three Dao Fusion.
Then, feeling the Great Dao of the Mysterious Woman firmly bound within Return to Truth, Li Fan was utterly perplexed.
However, as always.
Even after accomplishing such a monumental feat, Return to Truth remained silent, offering no explanation.
No matter how Li Fan questioned it, Return to Truth remained taciturn.
This made Li Fan grind his teeth in frustration.
"But, after all, this is a tremendously good thing."
Li Fan resigned himself and stopped dwelling on it.
Contentedly, he began to comprehend the Great Dao of the Mysterious Woman, now realized.
At the same time, he did not forget to review the memories of Bai Shuyue from his previous life.
"Hiss..."
The moment he chose to accept Bai Shuyue's memories, Li Fan's sea of consciousness felt as if it were pierced by a needle, causing a dull ache.
The memory capacity after transcendence was far beyond what it was before.
If Li Fan were not of the same caliber, and had also undergone the trials of reincarnation with Return to Truth, his mind would likely have been shattered the moment he inherited Bai Shuyue's memories.
It took Li Fan a while to slowly recover and digest his aunt's memories.
"The time it took for my aunt to reach the Other Shore was shorter than I expected."
"Perhaps it's truly due to her heaven-defying talent, as if something was guiding her from the shadows. Without anyone to lead the way, she found the Other Shore with hardly any detours," Li Fan marveled.
"Then, as I predicted. In front of the Sages of the Other Shore, my aunt's secret of repeatedly reincarnating was directly exposed."
"However, my aunt had never committed any evil deeds. After thorough examination, the Sages confirmed that the reincarnation was not her own doing but that someone behind it was manipulating things. Consequently, they merely imprisoned my aunt within the Eternal Heavenly Steps on the Other Shore without further hardship."
"Simultaneously, they ordered people to search for me..."
Li Fan chuckled lightly.
"Within the Eternal Heavenly Steps, even death was impossible. My aunt could only obediently toil day and night, diligently crafting bluestones for transcendent powerhouses to traverse the River of Time."
"Until she was released, my aunt decisively chose to commit suicide, initiating a new life. Hmm?"
Upon reaching this point, Li Fan's eyes narrowed.
He vaguely sensed something was amiss.
The Sages of the Other Shore had not yet found any trace of the person behind the scenes, so why did they suddenly release his aunt?
Li Fan repeatedly reviewed his aunt's memories.
He confirmed there were no missing pieces.
The Sages of the Other Shore had never revealed the cause of the matter to his aunt.
The entity behind him had also not been exposed.
However, Li Fan still felt a vague sense of unease.
Choosing to trust his intuition, Li Fan did not hastily decide to let Bai Shuyue inherit the memories of his previous life.
"It's better to work harder and restart the Saint Creation plan than to make a mistake due to carelessness."
"However, the Saint Creation plan is a long and arduous process. It would be ideal if my aunt only inherited the memories from the life before the last one, skipping the previous life's experiences."
As if sensing Li Fan's request,
The Return to Truth panel suddenly reacted.
From the seven-colored characters of the "First Mysterious Woman," a strand of light flowed out.
It transformed into a delicate brush, writing and modifying the chosen text on Return to Truth.
As his thoughts willed it, the text changed.
"Return to Truth can mirror my thoughts and recreate only the memories from the previous life?"
This turn of events left Li Fan dumbfounded.
"It seems I have far from fully grasped the profound wonders of the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas,"
After a long while, Li Fan sighed with emotion.
Since Return to Truth had provided a solution, Li Fan was no longer in a hurry.
He carefully considered his current predicament.
"The initial reason I wanted to initiate the 'Saint Creation plan' was because, in the simulation initiated by Return to Truth, I encountered a scenario where I unexpectedly entered the Other Shore unprepared and had my secret exposed by the Sages."
"Therefore, I wanted to find a way to deal with the Sages. And since I couldn't face the Sages directly, I needed to find a substitute. Return to Truth gave me a hint at that time."
"My aunt, being the person I knew best, naturally became my chosen target."
"My aunt's reincarnation and transformation allowed her potential and spiritual essence to continuously accumulate."
"And I also gained much from these repeated rebirths. This Great Dao of the Mysterious Woman is the most important among them."
"To initiate a pure 'simulation' with Return to Truth, it requires the support of the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas as energy. The previous simulation consumed all the Longevity Power I gained from the Mound Guardian."
"However, my longevity was not the complete Great Dao of Longevity, but merely a small portion shared by the Mound Guardian. Now, I possess a complete Great Dao of Mountains and Seas..."
"Does this mean I can now use it to initiate a simulation?"
Li Fan's heart stirred.
This time, Return to Truth did not remain silent.
Instead, it provided an answer.
"Indeed, it is feasible!"
"Using the Great Dao of the Mysterious Woman as energy, we can indeed initiate a simulation. This will allow us to cover the results of the current stage of the simulation in Mountains and Seas!"
"However??" Sensing the subtle information from Return to Truth, Li Fan frowned in thought.
"It involves the Sages, so such a simulation consumes a tremendous amount of energy. Although it won't completely deplete the Great Dao of the Mysterious Woman in one go, it will significantly impact it."
"After one use, it will require a considerable amount of time to recover gradually. If we disregard its depletion and conduct simulations continuously..."
"At most, it can only be sustained for three times?"
Li Fan's heart trembled.
The consumption of initiating Return to Truth simulations was far greater than he had imagined.
"It cannot be used carelessly."
At the same time, Li Fan also sensed Return to Truth's attitude towards the Great Dao of the Mysterious Woman from its answers.
"It seems... it doesn't particularly care?"
Li Fan was taken aback.
This seemed contradictory to Return to Truth's act of leaving his body and capturing it.
After careful consideration, Li Fan slowly regained his composure.
"The principle should be the same as with the Heavenly and Earthly Marvels and Eternal Residual Wills in the past."
"From nothing to possessing something for the first time is the most crucial."
"Once Return to Truth has acquired it, whether it still exists or not becomes irrelevant."
Li Fan looked again at the words "Great Dao Realized" on the Return to Truth panel.
"If I am not mistaken, Return to Truth has already acquired the complete properties of the Great Dao of the Mysterious Woman?"
As his thoughts moved, the four words "First Mysterious Woman" erupted with a seven-colored light.
Splendid and radiant, it filled Li Fan’s mind.
Just as when Li Fan had simulated and disguised himself as the Solitary Sail True Intent using the True-False Transformation,
Now, enveloped by the seven-colored radiance, an ancient, weathered, Mysterious Woman aura, on par with Mountains and Seas, surged from his body.
"But it's different from a simple simulation."
"It's more like, because the Great Dao of the Mysterious Woman has returned to its origin, Return to Truth can now wield its rhythmic power."
Return to Truth could fully manifest the Mysterious Woman.
But Li Fan could not fully grasp its essence.
Therefore, even under the infusion of the seven-colored radiance, Li Fan could not replicate the Mysterious Woman to the level of the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas.
"It's as if I've fallen into some kind of strange cycle."
This familiar scene made Li Fan mutter inwardly.
"However, now that the Mysterious Woman has returned to its origin, I can examine its secrets anytime. Pretending to be a Mysterious Woman Sage is merely a matter of time and effort."
The Great Dao of Mountains and Seas was profoundly mysterious.
Especially now, it was completely unguarded, exposed before Li Fan, allowing him to probe it.
Every time Li Fan cast his gaze, his mind almost sank into it.
Fortunately, Li Fan was able to regain his senses each time.
"My foundation, ultimately, is 'Return to Truth,' the True-False Transformation."
"If I were to truly indulge in comprehending it, wouldn't I be like someone who cherishes the container and discards the treasure, making a laughingstock of myself?"
The Great Dao of Mountains and Seas was indeed dazzling.
If Li Fan had not experienced countless lifetimes and possessed the accumulated knowledge of Dao paths at the same level.
He might have been unable to resist its allure and become lost in it.
But now, he could purely appreciate the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas, captured by Return to Truth, from an observer's perspective.
In his previous life, after Li Fan's created clone, Xing Fu, replaced the original and entered the Realm of Life and Death. Although he completely severed contact with the main body to avoid exposure and became an independent entity. Li Fan could not know all that he had experienced.
However, after activating Return to Truth, Xing Fu's memories returned as usual.
"According to the accounts of the Five Venerables of the Same Tribulation, and my own years of contemplation and imitation of imagination, I can roughly ascertain. The Mysterious Woman Great Dao originally belonged to the power of [God], first absorbed by Mountains and Seas, then by the encroachment of Dao Erasure, it was stripped away from Mountains and Seas."
"Or rather, everything within Mountains and Seas originally originated from [God]. Although it transformed into Mountains and Seas, with Mountains and Seas disintegrating under the erosion of Dao Erasure..."
"Numerous Great Daos of Mountains and Seas will reappear in the world!"
Li Fan's eyes flickered: "According to the allegory left by that Walker of Mountains and Seas, the ultimate destination of the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas was to return to the [Stars]. As the saying goes, from whence it came, thither it shall return."
"Mountains and Seas perish, a lone star hangs high, a new God is born. This is the fate and end of this realm of Mountains and Seas."
"But..."
"Mountains and Seas did not fully absorb the power of [God]. For example, the Mound Guardian obtained [Longevity]."
"And, with the encroachment of Dao Erasure and the advent of the end times, the various Great Daos originally absorbed by Mountains and Seas are more likely to be stripped away. For example, this time, [Mysterious Woman]."
"In other words, the more Mountains and Seas collapse, the more likely [Sages] are to be born."
"Originally, the flow of all power in the world was from God to Mountains and Seas, and then to the Stars. But with the birth of Sages, a portion of the Great Dao that should have returned to the Stars was occupied by the Sages."
"Therefore, the Stars are destined to be inferior to [God]. And the more Sages there are, the weaker the Stars will be."
"Currently, it is known that the Stars are the source that instigated the descent of Dao Erasure. Hence..."
Li Fan understood in his heart: "Preventing Dao Erasure from destroying the world is not a fantasy."
"Even hope is visible to the naked eye. Every time a Sage is born in Mountains and Seas, the gap in power between them is reduced by one point. With continuous effort, Mountains and Seas can be saved."
"And besides the struggle between Mountains and Seas, Sages, and Stars?"
"There is also [Return to Truth]."
Li Fan still cannot comprehend the essence of Return to Truth.
Originally, he only thought it was a treasure that visualized the Great Dao of True and False.
But after Return to Truth unlocked the ability of [Great Dao Realization], everything became more mysterious.
Li Fan deeply understood the horror of being able to claim the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas as one's own.
"From being an ordinary mortal to capturing [Mysterious Woman]. I have only reincarnated just over two hundred times, not counting the first hundred lifetimes of Foundation Establishment."
"With Infinite Spirituality as my backing, it is almost imaginable that with each reset, perhaps I can truly use [Return to Truth] to slowly claim all the portions belonging to Mountains and Seas, Sages, and the [Stars] for myself??"
"What will happen in the end?"
Almost instantly, the answer surged in Li Fan's heart.
It made his heart tighten.
Return to Truth seemed to sense Li Fan's thoughts and sent out a strange fluctuation.
Li Fan wanted to investigate further, but the fluctuation vanished in an instant.
Leaving him bewildered for a moment.
"The most important thing is, after Great Dao Realization, whether the current Mountains and Seas realm still contains the Great Dao of [Mysterious Woman]."
"Theoretically, since the Mysterious Woman Great Dao has already returned to Return to Truth. Even if Return to Truth resets Mountains and Seas, it will not spontaneously reappear. But??"
Li Fan felt a sense of unease.
To verify his conjecture, Li Fan needed to go to the Realm of Life and Death again and reenact the story.
With the experience of his previous life, he would not take risks.
He still found Xing Fu as a substitute.
The main body disguised his identity and passed on the [Phantom Cheng Dao] technique. He also casually resolved the crisis of fishing for Dao Erasure.
After possessing Xing Fu, the main body drifted away, concealing himself within Mountains and Seas.
The clone, Xing Fu, after sufficient preparation, led the Immortals of Guang Wu to the Realm of Life and Death at the invitation again.
The subsequent encounters in the Realm of Life and Death were no different from the previous life.
Only, Bai Shuyue did not go to the Other Shore to disturb the phantoms of the Sages.
The plan to construct the Realm of Life and Death through imagination was never exposed.
They were able to make all preparations more securely without disturbance.
Quietly contemplating and imitating for a million years, Xing Fu had greatly advanced the progress of the painting's completion. Xing Fu had gained the absolute trust of the Venerables of the Realm of Life and Death.
One day, they summoned Xing Fu.
"May I ask why the Venerables have summoned me?" Xing Fu asked respectfully.
The one who answered him was the white-haired youth, whose prototype originated from the end of Mountains and Seas and was resurrected by imagination.
"Among all awakened individuals, your mastery of Imaginary Construction is the deepest. You even subtly surpass us. Therefore, there are some things you should know."
Xing Fu's expression remained unchanged: "Your Venerables praise me too highly. My aptitude should be mediocre. The reason I perform better than others is likely due to my unwavering focus over the years."
The white-haired youth smiled, not refuting.
He then asked, "How long do you think it will take for the painting to be completely finished?"
Sensing the gazes of all the Venerables focused on him, Xing Fu did not answer readily. After long deliberation, he spoke in a grave whisper, "If we proceed at the current pace, it will be no more than a hundred years before the extremely mysterious Great Dao of Mountains and Seas will reveal its form!"
The white-haired youth laughed heartily upon hearing this, "You are more optimistic than the few of us!"
"Regardless, the emergence of the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas will surely be earth-shattering. The Sages of the Other Shore and the Sacred Emperor of Tai Wei will sense it."
Xing Fu's expression turned solemn.
"To be honest, although we are called Venerables, our strength is far inferior to theirs," Ming Dao Immortal said at this moment.
"But that doesn't mean we have no ability to delay time. The Sages are in the light, and we are in the dark. As long as we can buy time until the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas is fully manifested to the world, and if someone can control it before the Sages notice, they can achieve concealment with the Great Dao's innate power."
"And even if we fail..."
The white-haired youth smiled, "The Sages will also chase after the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas, and they likely won't pay much attention to us."
Xing Fu cupped his hands, a hint of confusion on his face, "Didn't you Venerables say before that whoever obtains the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas depends entirely on their own fortune and opportunity? Such an intangible, uncontrollable matter??"
Yuan Zang, one of the Five Venerables of the Same Tribulation, snorted coldly, interrupting Xing Fu's words, "Some secrets cannot be easily spoken. That was merely what we told you to placate you when you first arrived."
"If it were truly completely uncontrollable, why would we have poured so much effort into this plan over the years?"
Xing Fu showed a look of astonishment.
Ming Dao Immortal smiled and explained, "Do you remember when I mentioned to you that after we destroyed our homeland and descended to the Star Sea, the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas appeared?"
Xing Fu nodded, "Senior once said that things of a kind attract each other. This Great Dao of Mountains and Seas in the Lower Star Sea might have been attracted by the [Longevity] held by the Mound Guardian."
"In fact, this Great Dao of Mountains and Seas did not disappear without a trace. It was truly found by someone."
Ming Dao Immortal spoke slowly, and Xing Fu's heart trembled.
"What?"
"In fact, since ancient times, there has been a prophecy circulating in the Immortal Realm about the descent of world-saving treasures. Therefore, when facing the increasingly rampant Dao Erasure, and when all Immortals were powerless, the Immortal Emperors began to search for that legendary world-saving treasure."
"According to various calculations, it was concluded that it would appear in the Lower Star Sea. Thus, they secretly built experimental training grounds in the Lower Realm, weaving traps, waiting for that marvelous treasure to descend."
"Did they eventually succeed?" Xing Fu asked, engrossed in the story.
"Naturally, they captured it. It was precisely that attracted Great Dao of Mountains and Seas!" Ming Dao Immortal sighed.
"It was also because of obtaining such a fortune that Emperor Tian Luo conceived that extremely insane idea."
Xing Fu finally reacted and exclaimed in disbelief, "No wonder Emperor Tian Luo swore back then that he had found the ultimate method to counter Dao Erasure. Many believed him, while countless others cursed him. So that's why!"
"If one could obtain this divine object, the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas, one would indeed have the confidence to counter Dao Erasure."
Xing Fu was lost in thought for a long time before he quickly asked again, "Then did Emperor Tian Luo eventually succeed?"
As if recalling Ming Dao Immortal's hesitant words from years ago, Xing Fu suddenly realized, "Senior said it wasn't necessarily a failure, could it be that he truly..."
Ming Dao Immortal shook his head, "It's not necessarily a failure, nor necessarily a success. The moment the Immortal Realm was destroyed, Emperor Tian Luo led his followers and disappeared into Mountains and Seas. No matter what methods we used, we could no longer contact them."
"But after that, many inconceivable changes did occur. The most significant one was that the potential of the surviving remnants of the Immortal Realm greatly increased. Numerous individuals were able to prove the Nameless Realm, which was not the case when the Immortal Realm still existed."
Xing Fu murmured, "In that case, it is indeed strange. It is said that when the country is broken and the family is destroyed, we True Immortals did not perish with the destruction of the Immortal Realm, but instead, under the difficult end times, our cultivation repeatedly improved..."
"In that case, I also seemed to have felt that my cultivation was much easier in the Lower Star Sea than in the Immortal Realm. I used to think it was because my disposition and aptitude had been transformed through various tribulations. I didn't expect to be benefiting from Emperor Tian Luo?"
Xing Fu was completely stunned.
Ming Dao Immortal sighed, "This is also why I sent you an invitation."
"On one hand, having obtained this fortune, your average aptitude is indeed superior to other possible True Immortals. And on the other hand..."
"If we can truly recreate the Immortal Realm through imagination and bring Emperor Tian Luo back to life."
Saying this, Ming Dao Immortal paused. He glanced at the white-haired youth beside him before continuing, "Perhaps, with the resurrected Emperor Tian Luo through imagination, we can contact his main body."
"But it seems that the destruction at that time took away some crucial element. The difficulty of recreating the homeland through imagination far exceeded my expectations. So, we can only postpone it for now."
"So, there was such a history behind this." Xing Fu murmured.
"Before Emperor Tian Luo executed his plan, he invited me to assist him. However, I eventually refused."
"Although he was somewhat disappointed, he still secretly shared his experience of capturing the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas. This is the basis of our confidence," Ming Dao Immortal continued.
"If the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas appears, we have a ninety percent chance of controlling and restraining it. Of course, who can ultimately control it will truly depend on individual fortune and opportunity."
"The Realm of Life and Death is home to countless living beings. As long as like-minded individuals among us benefit, we can accept it," the white-haired youth said at this moment.
After speaking, the eight Venerables cast a spell together, displaying to Xing Fu the "trap" used to capture the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas.
It relied on the Realm of Life and Death itself, like a meticulously woven heavenly net.
And the currents of imagination flowing within the Realm of Life and Death were the threads that formed the net.
"Of course, this net is only on the surface. The core of the trap is the bait used to attract the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas."
The yellow crystal suspended above the myriad streams of imagination within the Realm of Life and Death unfolded its countless facets, revealing its inner core.
In the boundless darkness, thousands of starlights floated and rotated.
Among them, a few lights in the center were the most dazzling.
Their brilliance was comparable to all the other starlights combined.
"This is??"
Xing Fu stared at the magnificent scene before him. For some reason, he felt a hint of familiarity from these starlights.
Sheng Shi, one of the Five Venerables of the Same Tribulation, said in a deep voice, "These are the foundational stones of the Great Dao that we stole from various possibilities within Mountains and Seas. Initially, we wanted to use them to construct a more solid Realm of Life and Death. Originally, the starlight here was of similar intensity. But one day??"
"Some of them suddenly emitted dazzling light, making it impossible to look directly at them."
Ming Dao Immortal added, "This Dao path was stolen from my homeland by them in the past. I am ashamed to say that in my rage, I pursued them relentlessly, but in the end, I was no match for the five of them and was imprisoned."
"Only after the anomaly occurred did they release me."
Guang Mo, another of the Five Venerables of the Same Tribulation, chuckled, "It's just some old memories, why mention him? When we saw the starlight here flicker, past grievances became unimportant."
Xing Fu finally understood, "Just like we benefited and our cultivation aptitude soared. Did these stripped Great Dao foundational stones also undergo a qualitative change?"
Ming Dao Immortal nodded, "These Dao paths were written by my own hand, reflecting the foundational stones of the Immortal Realm's Great Dao. But now..."
"Even I find it difficult to discern them."
Xing Fu narrowed his eyes, trying to see the True Immortal Sigils within the blinding light.
But it was clearly futile.
Ming Dao Immortal paid no mind to Xing Fu's actions. He continued, "Although they have not reached the level of the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas, they are already incomparable to ordinary potential Dao paths."
"For the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas, they are sufficient to create a certain attraction and serve as bait."
The True Immortal Sigils, transformed, gave off an unusual aura. Even for a brief moment of exposure, ripples like a stormy tidal wave emanated from beyond the Realm of Life and Death. It was as if something unknown within the Dao Erasure had been drawn to it. Only after the Venerables magically concealed it once more did the heart-pounding sensation of being targeted finally subside.
Míngdào Immortal and the others, however, were accustomed to this. With impassive faces, they said, "As one of the most outstanding Awakened, you might also have a chance to capture the Mountains and Seas Great Dao. We remind you in advance."
"Furthermore, this plan to deceive the heavens and cross the sea will also require your efforts."
Xīngfù naturally nodded in agreement.
"None of us has truly witnessed the Mountains and Seas Great Dao descend, so all our preparations are based on estimations and deductions. However, one must always plan for the unexpected, so..." Míngdào Immortal paused, looking at Xīngfù. "We must be prepared for the worst."
He unfurled a blank scroll in the air. The five Venerables of the Same Calamity—Jìnxiāo, Fēngcáng, Yuānzàng, Shēngshì, and Guāngmò—let out a synchronized low cry. They projected their figures onto the scroll, as if five vivid little people had appeared on the paper, adding to the scroll's unique character. Míngdào Immortal’s scroll instantly became extraordinary.
Then came the remaining two. The white-haired youth from the end of the Mountains and Seas, a construct of imagination. And the taciturn middle-aged man. The white-haired youth was alright; Xīngfù had received guidance from him during their first meeting. But the middle-aged man had an extremely low presence. Xīngfù had spent so many years in the Realm of Life and Death, yet he had never heard the man utter a single word.
These two also followed suit, leaving their imprints on Míngdào Immortal's scroll. The white-haired youth's imprint was an eye. Its gaze was bone-chillingly cold, devoid of any emotion, as if it had witnessed all the suffering in the world and countless destructions. As Xīngfù's gaze met the one from the painting, he had a fleeting illusion of being at the end of the Mountains and Seas, surrounded by Dao Erasure.
The imprint left by the middle-aged man was even more peculiar. It was a complete replica of himself! It was as if his entire being had been split into two, one half remaining in reality and the other leaping into the painting!
With the imprints of seven Venerables added, the scroll seemed to become ten thousand times heavier. Míngdào Immortal’s action of closing it was visibly more labored.
"Condense!" With his soft, low exclamation, the scroll was slowly rolled up. It transformed into a thin piece of white paper. Then, Míngdào Immortal gently blew on it, and the white paper instantly disintegrated into countless fragments. They scattered like a snow-white long dragon, leaping into the myriad rivers of shadows below, flowing into the boundless river.
Xīngfù, who had observed the visions of possibilities in the Realm of Life and Death countless times, keenly sensed that with the infusion of the Venerable's scroll, the entire Realm of Life and Death had subtly changed.
"If any accident occurs, the Realm of Life and Death will automatically retreat. With this backup, even if we perish unfortunately, we can be reborn from imagination in the future."
"Your mission is to become the new 'Venerable' of the Realm of Life and Death and await our return," Míngdào Immortal said solemnly.
"???" With such a heavy responsibility placed upon him, Xīngfù seemed bewildered for a moment. But he still nodded firmly. "Xīngfù will not fail the trust of all seniors."
Next, Míngdào Immortal taught Xīngfù the method to control the myriad illusionary flows within the Realm of Life and Death. He then reiterated his instructions: "If the situation gets out of control, just retreat. Don't worry about us. With you around, it would only be a burden to us."
"This junior understands," Xīngfù replied very seriously.
With everything prepared, the next step was to await the descent of the Mountains and Seas Great Dao. As for how to lure the Mountains and Seas Great Dao with a bait and seal its aura of descent, Míngdào Immortal did not mention it to Xīngfù. Clearly, it was not something he could participate in with his current strength.
A hundred years passed in the blink of an eye, slightly longer than Xīngfù had anticipated. One day, the imitation of imagination was finally completed. Stimulated by its aura, countless lines, like swarming snakes, surged madly from the yellow gem hanging above the heads of the beings in the Realm of Life and Death. A Heavenly Net was silently cast.
As for the transformed True Immortal Sigils used as bait, it was nowhere to be seen. Or rather, it seemed to have merged into the entire net. Even Xīngfù, who was observing, could tell the extraordinary nature of this creation woven from countless lines. Though dim and lusterless, it shone brightly in the darkness!
Eight Venerables stood in a circle, suspended within the net. With a long laugh, Míngdào Immortal transformed into an boundless white scroll. The other Venerables followed the same pattern as their previous imprints, but this time, they personally entered the scroll of Míngdào, rather than just leaving their imprints.
The originally blank scroll instantly became multicolored. In a flash, the scroll expanded countless times. With a rustling sound, it covered the Heavenly Net, using the countless lines from the yellow gem as its bones. The Míngdào scroll transformed into a colossal bag, enveloping the entire Realm of Life and Death!
Inside the bag, it seemed to be isolated from the Mountains and Seas. The surging waves caused by the imminent descent of the Mountains and Seas Great Dao instantly vanished. Xīngfù was even horrified to discover that while inside this bag, his cultivation was slowly declining uncontrollably.
"This is because I have truly left the Mountains and Seas?" Xīngfù suddenly understood. His cultivation, his very life essence, originated from the Mountains and Seas. And now that he was contained by this bag, in a sense leaving the Mountains and Seas, the foundation of his existence was slowly fading.
"It's as if I'm in the Eternal Void Realm!" "To simulate the creation of the void realm without being a Saint. The strength of the Venerables is truly extraordinary!" Xīngfù couldn't help but exclaim.
Of course, what the bag's divine ability achieved was only a partial similarity. The speed at which Xīngfù's foundational existence disappeared was incomparable to being in the Eternal Void Realm. Therefore, he was not worried about his own safety, and he stared intently at the changes happening in the arena.
With the bag formed, the Mountains and Seas Great Dao seemed completely unaware that it was a trap. It was drawn by an aura that was almost "its own kind" and descended according to the plan. A gust of wind seemed to rise from the void. The bag instantly expanded thousands of times, exceeding Xīngfù's range of perception in an instant. And it seemed to continue to fill up endlessly.
"Dao Erasure plunders the root of Mountains and Seas, the key to the decline of Mountains and Seas." "The root of heaven and earth nurtures all life." "This is the Great Dao of the {Mysterious Woman}!" At this moment, Míngdào Immortal's voice, tinged with excitement, faintly reached them.
"Everyone, now that the Great Dao has entered the net, it's up to each of us to do our best." "The Heaven-Sweeping Bag can only last for a limited time. Whether we can subdue it before it shatters depends on our fate!" Waves of energy emanated from all parts of the Heaven-Sweeping Bag, as if in response from the Venerables.
The Mountains and Seas Great Dao, which had been captured, paid no attention to the exchange between the Venerables. Like a hurricane, it constantly charged and broke through the bag, trying to find its "own kind." Within the Heaven-Sweeping Bag, myriad light and shadows seemed to surge. The Venerables were trying to sense and capture the Mountains and Seas Great Dao. But the Mountains and Seas Great Dao was formless and intangible. Even knowing it was within the bag, truly touching it remained as difficult as ascending to heaven.
After an unknown amount of time, no change had occurred. Although the Heaven-Sweeping Bag was a divine ability conjured by the combined efforts of the eight Venerables, it had not yet reached the Saint level. While it could contain the Mountains and Seas Great Dao for a while, it could not restrain it forever.
The {Mysterious Woman} Great Dao, having searched in vain for a long time, seemed to lose patience. It gave up the pursuit and tried to break free. At this very moment, the Heaven-Sweeping Bag was stretched to its limit. The lines of the yellow gem, serving as its bones, were twisted to the extreme. Míngdào's painting could no longer hold. The entire Heaven-Sweeping Bag, under the impact of the {Mysterious Woman} Great Dao, was about to turn to dust.
Just then, all the pressure inexplicably vanished in an instant. Without the external force pushing it, the fully expanded Heaven-Sweeping Bag immediately contracted. In the blink of an eye, it returned to its original size. The eight Venerables, somewhat disheveled, reappeared from Míngdào's scroll. They looked around in utter confusion.
"What is... what is going on?" "Where is the {Mysterious Woman} Great Dao?" The eight looked at each other, confirming that none of them had succeeded in capturing it. Then, they instinctively scanned their surroundings. As a result, a figure appeared in their sight.
Initially, in their eyes, this figure was merely a mortal ant. But with every second it remained in their sight, the figure expanded a million times, just like the Heaven-Sweeping Bag before. Soon, it became towering, like a mountain and sea, extending beyond their range of "sight"!
"Ah!" Their eyes were pierced, and with cries of pain, Míngdào Immortal and the others were forced to look away. At the same time, they were filled with unthinkable horror.
"Has... has he achieved Sainthood?" They recognized the figure. It was Xīngfù, who had defected and was willing to sit in contemplation for countless years for the grand undertaking of imagination. However, even though they had known all along that the allegiance of the Mountains and Seas Great Dao had nothing to do with strength, but depended entirely on one's own destiny and opportunities, witnessing the Mountains and Seas Great Dao being occupied by a junior in person at this moment still caused a flicker of imbalance in their hearts. And naturally, the thought of plundering it arose. This was not their original intention, but the innate instinct of cultivators, a natural change that occurred upon witnessing the Mountains and Seas Great Dao changing hands.
Soon, the eight Venerables recovered from their momentary loss of focus.
"Hehehe, I truly never imagined that he would be the one to occupy it." "It is time, fate, and luck. Not a flaw in battle." Among the eight Venerables, the taciturn middle-aged figure finally spoke. He let out a long sigh and shook his head helplessly.
"However, has he achieved Sainthood? Why do I feel..." Shēngshì stared intently at Xīngfù, frowning.
Míngdào Immortal shook his head. "Attaining Sainthood is not that easy. Although he now possesses the {Mysterious Woman} Great Dao, fully controlling it will likely not be easy." "The reason we mistook him for a Saint just now was because what we saw suddenly was not him, but the {Mysterious Woman} Great Dao. Compared to the Mountains and Seas Great Dao, his own strength and cultivation are almost negligible, leading to a misjudgment."
"Indeed, looking again now, that sense of pressure is slowly disappearing," Jìnxiāo agreed. The white-haired youth chuckled. "In the end, it's a good thing. The Mountains and Seas Great Dao has been retained. This person was invited by Míngdào and has been in the Realm of Life and Death for so many years, so we know him thoroughly."
"With control over the Mountains and Seas Great Dao, he has already taken one step towards Sainthood. If we can gain the assistance of a Saint, our plan..."
As the eight Venerables whispered amongst themselves, Xīngfù finally opened his eyes. His aura and power were all contained within, making him appear no different from a mortal at first glance.
"Congratulations, fellow Daoist!" the Venerables said with varying tones. "I must also thank all of you for your fulfillment!" Xīngfù, or rather, Lǐ Fán, replied with a smile.
Hearing Lǐ Fán's words, the Venerables felt a pang of unease. The atmosphere turned awkward for a moment. Fortunately, Lǐ Fán soon extended his hand, revealing a ball of invisible, profound energy to them. "Everyone, please look."
Without Lǐ Fán needing to speak, his action drew the attention of Míngdào Immortal and the others. "Is this the {Mysterious Woman} Great Dao?" "It seems to be no different from the path of the Mountains and Seas?"
Everyone looked at Míngdào Immortal with confusion. With {Míngdào} as his Dao, when it came to comprehending the Dao, Míngdào was undoubtedly superior to everyone else. After observing for a long time, Míngdào Immortal finally spoke. "The true Mountains and Seas Great Dao is not something we can perceive. This... perhaps can be called the {Mysterious Woman} Dao that Fellow Daoist Xīngfù has comprehended."
"It is merely a tiny fraction of the Mountains and Seas {Mysterious Woman} Great Dao." Hearing this, everyone suddenly understood. Lǐ Fán nodded with a smile. "Míngdào speaks wisely! To obtain the Mountains and Seas Great Dao is like entering a treasure mountain. However, my arms are limited, and I can only carry out a little. The treasure mountain I see is boundless. If I want to excavate it all, I don't know how many years it will take."
"However, if a common man has no fault but possesses a treasure, he will be guilty. I worry that if outsiders discover this, it may bring disaster and plunder. Therefore, I implore all fellow Daoists to look after me a little before I comprehend the Dao and become a Saint!" With that, Lǐ Fán bowed to them with utmost sincerity.
Seeing this, the Venerables felt a little better. They worried about outsiders coveting it, yet sincerely asked for their protection. Clearly, he considered them "insiders." Míngdào Immortal was the first to agree. "Naturally. The path to Sainthood is not achieved overnight. In the past, Shǒuxiū took many epochs to prove his Dao and achieve longevity."
"Before you succeed, feel free to cultivate your Dao here. With us around, no outsider will dare to disturb you." The other Venerables all voiced their agreement. "Then, I thank you all here first," Lǐ Fán said with a grateful expression.
"What are your plans next?" he suddenly asked, changing the subject. Despite having obtained the Mountains and Seas Great Dao and seeming on the verge of Sainthood, he still cared about the future of the Realm of Life and Death.
Míngdào Immortal and the others exchanged glances, all feeling that "Xīngfù" was trustworthy. "In fact, the manifestation of the Mountains and Seas Great Dao through imagination and gaining the power of a Saint is merely one part of our plan." "Our true goal is to obtain enough self-preservation ability to maintain the operation of the Realm of Life and Death until...?"
"The end of the Mountains and Seas!" It was the white-haired youth who spoke. Mentioning the end of the Mountains and Seas, his eyes slightly moved, as if recalling something.
"The End of Mountains and Seas?"
"If we were to travel against the current towards the beginning of Mountains and Seas, back to when everything started, I could understand. But the end of time, when Mountains and Seas are about to be devoured and all will return to nothingness. Why struggle so hard to reach that point?"
"What is the reason for this?" Li Fan's face showed incomprehension.
The answer to Li Fan still came from the white-haired youth.
"To know the answer to this question, one must know what the true end of Mountains and Seas looks like."
In the youth's eyes, a wisp of dim light erupted.
His snow-white hair and beard seemed ignited, turning into countless ashes-like fragments.
They scattered like a swirling snowstorm, suddenly blowing in.
In a trance, Li Fan saw a great fire engulfing Mountains and Seas.
Innumerable possibilities were incinerated.
Ten thousand lights fell into darkness. The Dao of Annihilation surged, and Mountains and Seas decayed, ushering in an unstoppable doomsday.
The safe possibilities available for shelter became fewer and fewer. In the end, only a lone, solitary boat remained.
Outside, there was endless extinction!
Li Fan had once been in close proximity to the World of Eternal Extinction. Even before truly entering, and still a good distance away, the foundation of his own existence had already begun to disintegrate.
It was like ten thousand ink threads scattering in water, fading irrevocably.
Li Fan looked at the scene before him, the last surviving possibility of Mountains and Seas. He had a premonition.
Being in that place would truly be like purgatory.
Even if it wasn't as oppressive as the void's pressure he had felt before, it wouldn't be much weaker.
"To live there would undoubtedly be a torture."
"But due to the instinct of life, one is forced to struggle and survive..."
"However, thinking the other way around, those who can live freely under such circumstances."
"Although not Sages, they have already barely acquired the ability to survive in the World of Eternal Extinction."
Thinking of this, Li Fan couldn't help but look at the white-haired youth.
"This vessel constructed by imagination is certainly no ordinary being."
The white-haired youth's voice came from the vision of the end of Mountains and Seas: "Have you sensed anything?"
"The pervasive aura of the void, making one tremble and feel uncomfortable," Li Fan replied truthfully.
"And what else?"
"And what else?" Li Fan was slightly stunned.
After carefully observing again, and after a long silence, he shook his head in response.
The white-haired youth was speechless for a moment.
"As expected, the attribution of the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas seems to have no significant connection with strength or aptitude."
"All the Venerables of the same tribulation, and Ming Dao and the others, all saw the uniqueness of the end of Mountains and Seas at a glance. Yet you, who are favored by the Profound Woman Great Dao..." The white-haired youth felt a pang of unease and repeatedly shook his head.
Li Fan's expression remained calm, and he could only smile.
He couldn't tell them that the reason he attracted the Profound Woman Great Dao was entirely due to the four words "Great Dao Realized," and had nothing to do with him personally, could he?
To be honest, after the Return to Truth, the changes that occurred to the Profound Woman Great Dao had indeed exceeded Li Fan's expectations.
The moment he saw the Profound Woman Great Dao descend, Li Fan thought it would be like everything else in Mountains and Seas, reset by the activation of Return to Truth.
But soon, Li Fan sensed something was amiss.
As the "Great Dao Realized: First Profound Woman" on the Return to Truth panel emitted a dreamlike, seven-colored flowing light.
The Great Dao of Mountains and Seas, which had seemed insurmountable to Li Fan, instantly became familiar.
It was both the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas, newly replicated and manifested in this era, and the First Profound Woman, subdued and realized by Return to Truth!
What followed was a foregone conclusion.
As if it were an extension of his arm, Li Fan, with his Transcendent cultivation, easily attracted the allegiance of the Profound Woman Great Dao.
Li Fan was not sure whether the Profound Woman Great Dao had been altered before its descent, or if it was influenced by Return to Truth after manifesting in Mountains and Seas, thus being labeled "Realized."
In reality, the difference between these two scenarios would have no practical impact.
Li Fan only cared about whether the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas, captured in this new era, could be used as the power source for the Return to Truth simulation.
Unfortunately, the answer was no.
"With the activation of Return to Truth and the reset of Mountains and Seas, it seems a new Profound Woman Great Dao has indeed appeared. Because I haven't felt any weakening of the 'First Profound Woman's' power within "Great Dao Realized."
"But because the Profound Woman has returned to Return to Truth. Therefore, whether it's the past, future, present, or any point in time, the 'Profound Woman' belongs to Return to Truth."
"For Return to Truth, it's like having already eaten something; there's no new appetite for it. The Great Dao of Mountains and Seas that has already returned to Return to Truth naturally cannot generate new simulation power."
"Even so, this ability of 'once taken, forever taken' is truly too domineering."
If viewed from the perspective of the Profound Woman Great Dao of this current era of Mountains and Seas, the terrifying nature of Return to Truth would be evident.
It was like you had been living a good life, with a happy existence and a worry-free family.
Then suddenly, someone jumps out and claims to be your master.
You must obey the other party's commands unconditionally.
And you, with no resistance, can only fully accept this suddenly bestowed fate.
"Forever and ever, there is no hope of turning the tables. Tsk tsk tsk..."
"However, I like it."
"I just don't know what is truly required for Return to Truth's simulation. I previously thought that because it involved Sages, it would require the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas of the same caliber as an energy source. But now it seems to be related to some kind of consumption by Return to Truth itself?"
Numerous thoughts flashed through Li Fan's mind.
After sighing continuously, the white-haired youth no longer withheld information.
He explained the reason why everyone planned to reach the end of Mountains and Seas.
"We all originated from Mountains and Seas. As the saying goes, if the skin is gone, to what will the fur attach? Therefore, when Mountains and Seas are devoured by the Dao of Annihilation, we too will return to nothingness."
"Even now, while Mountains and Seas still exist, if we were to leave them, the foundation of our own existence would disappear."
Li Fan nodded slightly: "Indeed, that is the principle."
"Only Sages, whose bodies are greater than Mountains and Seas, can exist without relying on the power of Mountains and Seas. However, when the river of time progresses to the end of Mountains and Seas, this situation changes."
In the white-haired youth's eyes, a bright light flickered: "At that time, Mountains and Seas will have weakened to their limit. The restraint they impose on the beings within them will reach its weakest point since the birth of Mountains and Seas."
"Especially in the moment before Mountains and Seas perish."
Li Fan's heart stirred. Recalling the rushing river of countless possibilities conjured by imagination within the Realm of Life and Death, he vaguely began to understand.
"So, our plan is..."
"Precisely!" Ming Dao Xian said with conviction, "In the instant Mountains and Seas perish due to the Dao of Annihilation, we will use these countless imaginative possibilities to leap out of Mountains and Seas and stand on our own."
"Mountains and Seas will be too occupied with themselves; we will not face too much resistance."
"The only thing we will have to face is the threat of the World of Eternal Extinction."
"However, returning to Mountains and Seas, and outside of Mountains and Seas, the pressure faced before the Dao of Annihilation is entirely different," the white-haired youth added slowly.
As if having experienced it himself, the white-haired youth fell into memory and spoke softly, "If we can successfully break free from the belonging of this 'Mountain and Sea' identity, then even if we don't reach the Saint realm, we can still survive in the Eternal Void Realm!"
"Compared to still being within the confines of Mountain and Sea, the destructive power of Dao Erasure is significantly weaker. This gives us a final sliver of opportunity for self-salvation."
Li Fan squinted, observing the white-haired youth. The other Venerables of the Realm of Life and Death seemed to place immense trust in him. Everyone present accepted his conclusions without question. However, Li Fan's internal doubts could not be so easily dispelled.
"And after leaving Mountain and Sea?"
"Even if, as you say, we can survive in the Eternal Void Realm. How long can we last?"
In response to Li Fan's questioning, the white-haired youth calmly replied, "When Mountain and Sea is destroyed, the Stars will reappear. In a certain sense, we will enter the next cycle. Perhaps one day, Mountain and Sea will reappear and devour the Stars again. But we will, at least, have secured a place in the new era."
"Even then, perhaps the Stars will show us favor, us who have surrendered from Mountain and Sea."
"This is entirely speculation, isn't it?" After hearing the white-haired youth's grand plan, Li Fan's expression became rather subtle.
"Yes... and no." The white-haired youth offered no further explanation, simply stating this and ceasing his response.
Seeing the situation seemingly reach an impasse, Ming Dao Immortal stepped forward to mediate. "One must understand that for us cultivators who have not reached the Saint realm, this is the last method of survival we can deduce. Among all the plans, this one has the highest probability of survival."
"In other words, even if we cannot achieve independence at the moment of Mountain and Sea's return to the Stars, we have at least survived until the end of Mountain and Sea, have we not?"
"Of course..." Ming Dao Immortal shifted his tone, looking at Li Fan. "Fellow Daoist, you are naturally different from us. Currently, you command the Great Dao of the 'Mysterious Woman.' If all goes as expected, your future achievement of Sainthood is almost a certainty. If you are unwilling to participate in our actions, we will understand."
"You are free to seek refuge with the Other Shore or the Sacred Dynasty! We will never obstruct you."
"We only hope, given our years of acquaintance, that you will not leak the secrets of the Realm of Life and Death." Ming Dao Immortal spoke with heartfelt sincerity.
Li Fan sighed and pondered in silence. "I will think about it and give you my answer later."
Li Fan's reaction was within the expectations of the Venerables. After all, he was already a "quasi-Saint." If he had readily agreed to join the Realm of Life and Death's plan without any hesitation, Ming Dao Immortal and the others would likely have found it strange.
Li Fan spent a full three years in contemplation before giving the Venerables his reply.
"Compared to those nameless Saints of the Other Shore, I am more willing to trust all of you."
Upon hearing this, even with the composure of Ming Dao Immortal and the others, they were overjoyed.
"After all, it is thanks to all of you that I was able to obtain the Great Dao of the Mysterious Woman. How could I betray all of you in a matter of life and death?"
"Once I diligently comprehend the Dao and cultivate to achieve Sainthood soon, we will have a greater chance of success when executing the plan." Li Fan declared with righteous indignation.
The Venerables repeatedly praised his words. Through this event, Li Fan truly gained the trust of Ming Dao Immortal and the others, and was fully integrated into the ranks of the Venerables of the Realm of Life and Death. In their subsequent discussions, Li Fan gradually learned more of their secrets.
The white-haired youth was indeed a being conjured from thin air through the Art of Imagination by that Traveler of Mountains and Seas. A long time ago, the Five Venerables of the Same Calamity chanced upon the Traveler of Mountains and Seas. The Traveler of Mountains and Seas recounted the Art of Imagination and the state of affairs at the end of Mountain and Sea. Initially, the Five Venerables did not believe him. Thus, the Traveler of Mountains and Seas personally demonstrated his profound divine ability, conjured through Imagination, in front of the Five Venerables. Amidst swirling, indistinct light and shadow, the white-haired youth slowly emerged.
Arriving in an unfamiliar region, the white-haired youth was initially confused. However, upon sensing the plight of the place he occupied and seeing the Traveler of Mountains and Seas, who was severely weakened from the act of conjuring through Imagination, his expression turned sorrowful, and he sighed, "It seems I have ultimately failed."
The Traveler of Mountains and Seas smiled and said, "But there is still an opportunity to retrieve everything."
"Let us hope so. You go and do your work. If I fail again..."
"Then I will return," the Traveler of Mountains and Seas declared with utmost certainty. He then vanished before the Five Venerables.
The white-haired youth's name was Qiu Xin Hui. He was the most brilliant cultivator among the last vestiges of possibility at the End of Time. In an era of declining Dharma, where all Saints had fallen and the Great Dao was almost nonexistent, he was a peerless genius who still managed to prove his Dao and attain Sainthood! However, Qiu Xin Hui was born in the wrong era. The Saints of the End of Time were significantly weaker than those of the current era. Qiu Xin Hui deduced that even if he could traverse the Eternal Void Realm and successfully reach the previous epoch of Mountain and Sea, he would be severely injured, his transformation akin to an ordinary Transcendent cultivator. What was the meaning of traveling to other timelines without the status of a Saint?
Thus, Qiu Xin Hui abandoned his plan of personally traversing the void. Instead, he created a "Traveler of Mountains and Seas" to travel against the current of time and inform the Saints of the past epoch. He urged them to never give up and to unite in saving Mountain and Sea. After expending nearly all of his Saintly power to successfully forge the Traveler of Mountains and Seas, Qiu Xin Hui himself began executing his second plan. This was a desperate gamble—to exert his utmost effort for self-salvation at the final moment of Mountain and Sea's return to the Stars.
"So, that Traveler of Mountains and Seas already traveled against the current of time, from the end of Mountain and Sea to its beginning. After completing his mission, he returned to the end of Mountain and Sea. Seeing your original body's failed outcome, in order to salvage your fate, he then imparted the Art of Imagination to the Five Venerables of the Same Calamity and brought you back into existence?" After hearing Qiu Xin Hui's account, Li Fan began to vaguely understand.
The white-haired youth nodded. "I have a few questions. Your original body could not ignore the threat of the Eternal Void Realm and move freely within Mountain and Sea. How did that Traveler of Mountains and Seas manage it?" Li Fan asked, frowning.
"It's not that I cannot traverse and move freely," Qiu Xin Hui corrected Li Fan's error. "It's just that after traversing, I would be severely weakened and lose my Saintly cultivation."
"To fall from Sainthood and then attempt to recover through cultivation is exceedingly difficult. Even I do not have absolute confidence."
"But that Traveler of Mountains and Seas..."
"Possesses a special physique, with the ability to endure endless hardship."
"Even if he falls into the dust, given sufficient resources and time, he can certainly recover to the peak realm he once reached."
"He is the most suitable person to act as my Traveler of Mountains and Seas. And I personally raised him, so he can be absolutely trusted." Qiu Xin Hui explained.
This explanation was barely plausible. However, Li Fan still felt that Qiu Xin Hui had withheld some information.
"Second question," Li Fan asked, frowning. "In the Realm of Life and Death, how can we survive and endure until the end of the Mountains and Seas?"
"The Eternal Void Realm that severs the Mountains and Seas, while not comparable to the ultimate terror of the Mountains and Seas' complete annihilation, is still not something ordinary people can withstand. Even if I were to become a Saint, I could only protect myself, not ensure your safety."
Qiu XinHui exchanged glances with the other Venerables, then smiled. "There's no need to trouble you, fellow Daoist. While crossing against the current is indeed beyond our capabilities, if we go with the flow and strive to reach the end of the Mountains and Seas..."
"With our accumulated efforts over the years, we should still be able to manage it."
Qiu XinHui then proceeded to explain the specific method to Li Fan in detail.
"The 'End of Mountains and Seas Saint' Qiu XinHui, though he ultimately perished along with the annihilation of the Mountains and Seas, still exists within the Mountains and Seas before the final outcome. Do you understand what I mean?"
Li Fan nodded naturally. "This is like the destined outcome of the entire Mountain and Sea realms leading to destruction, yet we are currently in a prosperous Mountain and Sea world, which is the same principle."
Qiu XinHui continued, "The existence of the 'End of Mountains and Seas Saint' is like a lighthouse standing in the darkness, dimly illuminating the path forward in the Eternal Void Realm. And with the connection I have with him, if we use a secret art, we can instantly traverse thousands of mountains and rivers, even crossing several severed Mountain and Sea realms to return."
"Once this return process begins, it cannot be stopped. We cannot linger in any interim Mountain and Sea realms. However, we originally had a fifty percent chance of successfully reaching the end of the Mountains and Seas. With your support??"
"The success rate might even exceed seventy percent!"
"Is this relying on the immeasurable power that erupts the moment a clone returns to its main body?" Li Fan was an expert in clone arts himself. The power unleashed at the moment a clone returned to its main body could indeed be exploited. However, just this alone would surely not be enough to fly across the Eternal Void Realm!
But Qiu XinHui appeared to be speaking the truth.
Li Fan contemplated for a moment, then a thought struck him. "I suppose that during this return process, that 'Walker of Mountains and Seas' also contributed a great deal."
The white-haired youth nodded slightly. "Precisely. Without his footprints left behind from his crossings, even with the closest connection to the main body, it would be incredibly perilous to cross successfully—a sure death."
Li Fan sighed with emotion as his guess was confirmed. "This Walker of Mountains and Seas, though not a Saint, acts in a way that is no less than that of a Saint!"
Li Fan had once believed that the Walker of Mountains and Seas was Sun PiaoMiao. However, judging from the appearance Qiu XinHui described, it didn't match the image Li Fan had glimpsed of Sun PiaoMiao.
"Perhaps, like the Five Venerables of the Same Tribulation, Sun PiaoMiao also received a gift from the Walker of Mountains and Seas."
"After all, according to Qiu XinHui's account, every successful crossing by the Walker of Mountains and Seas requires a long period of recovery. It is reasonable for his footprints to be scattered across the Mountains and Seas during this time."
As Li Fan was contemplating, Qiu XinHui continued to explain their plan.
"Once we successfully reach the end of the Mountains and Seas, I will return to my main body. With the memories of these years and the support of an entire Realm of Life and Death spontaneously gained, perhaps it can play a crucial role in turning the tide of our final fate."
Li Fan slowly came to a realization at this point.
A look of astonishment appeared on his face. "If that's the case, then throughout the entire span of the Mountains and Seas, from its beginning to its end, there are likely more than just one such imagined construct like you."
Qiu XinHui, as if having already accepted his fate, chuckled with a carefree smile.
"There are two types of saviors for the Mountains and Seas. Firstly, countless Saints, in different time periods of the Mountains and Seas, who consecutively strive towards the beginning of the Mountains and Seas, united in their efforts to obstruct the end times."
"Secondly, it is the Walker of Mountains and Seas who scatters my spiritual light during his backward journey. I, carrying support from every past Mountain and Sea, have returned in phases, also pooling the strength of the Mountains and Seas to find a way out of this predicament!"
Qiu XinHui's eyes gleamed. "I am not the true body of that 'End of Mountains and Seas Saint,' but a creation summoned in imagination. The inherited memories are not complete, and I am not a special one among countless imagined constructs. My ultimate fate is already sealed."
"But what I seek, what all Qiu XinHuis seek, has never changed."
Qiu XinHui looked at Li Fan and frankly stated, "That is to truly lead the masses out of the apocalyptic end of the Mountains and Seas!"
"These two attempts, one for the world to witness, and one from within myself. Perhaps by combining both, with each supporting the other, we might truly have a chance to turn the tide."
Li Fan seemed moved, and perhaps even shocked. He remained silent for a long time.
"The 'End of Mountains and Seas Saint' is truly a genius, far beyond my luck. No wonder all the Dao inscription Immortals trust you so implicitly!"
Li Fan sighed in admiration, then said with excitement, "If that's the case, then why should I not risk my life to accompany a gentleman?"
"Even if we cannot truly save the Mountains and Seas, to have met the 'End of Mountains and Seas Saint' is a lifelong regret I would not have!"
Li Fan's words resonated with all the Venerables. After a period of emotional reflection, they began to discuss the specific details of the moment when the Mountains and Seas would return to the stars.
"According to our deductions, the torrent of countless possibilities within the Realm of Life and Death will truly be reborn at that moment, and it will also be a major driving force supporting us to break free from the Mountains and Seas."
"You must know that although currently there are only tens of thousands of imagined possibilities remaining in the Realm of Life and Death, it can still be considered a miniature reflection of a phase of our Mountains and Seas. If the plan is successful, and fellow Daoists from other temporal segments also return collectively..."
"Then the imagined constructs we gather will be like a miniature version of the entire Mountain and Sea realms. When the Mountains and Seas are completely destroyed and the stars are reborn, a phantom Mountain and Sea might emerge, perhaps possessing world-shattering power!"
...
Li Fan, with his quasi-Saint cultivation, had gained the absolute trust of the Venerables from the Realm of Life and Death. Thus, he learned of their plan to save the world. While the true nature of the grand vision they depicted could not be confirmed until the final moment, Qiu XinHui's two attempts were undeniably thrilling. If Li Fan hadn't had the "Return to Truth" as his trump card, he might have even tried it himself.
But alas... Li Fan, with "Return to Truth" by his side, able to restart at any time, was destined not to fight until the very last moment of the Mountains and Seas returning to the stars, unlike the Dao inscription Immortals.
"Of course, if it's just to see the world, there's no harm."
"The end of the Mountains and Seas, crossing the Eternal Void Realm..."
"In the simulation, I exposed the existence of 'Return to Truth' before the Sages of the Other Shore because my cultivation was too far behind theirs. But now, I possess the Great Dao of the 'Mysterious Woman.' With the control 'Return to Truth' has over it, I should be able to achieve 'Saint' status before I meet that 'End of Mountains and Seas Saint,' and it shouldn't be too difficult."
"Sage against Sage, even if I'm slightly weaker, I shouldn't be completely exposed at first glance, right?"
Li Fan pondered in his heart, and because it involved a Sage, one who stood at the very end of the Mountains and Seas and was arguably one of the strongest in the entire realm, he cautiously sought the opinion of "Return to Truth."
"Return to Truth" remained silent, not stopping him. Li Fan's own spiritual sense also did not issue a warning. Thus, the plan was finalized. The goal of the people from the Realm of Life and Death was the end of the Mountains and Seas. Therefore, they largely disregarded the various aspects of this particular temporal segment of the Mountains and Seas, only secretly gathering talents for imagined constructs and accumulating strength.
While Li Fan was comprehending the Great Dao of the Mysterious Woman, he also did not forget to pay attention to the matters of imagined constructs. Despite the path to Sainthood being right before him, he could still resist the temptation and turn his attention to the cause of saving the world. Li Fan's actions earned the admiration of the Venerables from the Realm of Life and Death. Only Li Fan himself knew that, compared to the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas, the method of imagined constructs actually offered him greater assistance.
"Qiu XinHui is indeed worthy of being the 'End of Mountains and Seas Saint.' This method of imagination can almost touch the threshold of the transformation between truth and falsehood."
"However, the method of imagination still requires the foundation of past, real memories. As for the transformation between truth and falsehood..."
Thinking of this, Li Fan was slightly stunned. He could no longer distinguish the specific difference between the method of imagination and the transformation between truth and falsehood. He marveled even more at Qiu XinHui's talent.
"Although it's not any arbitrary Great Dao of Mountains and Seas, it seems to possess a superior quality. If I were to say, imagination eventually leads to mental exhaustion. But the transformation between truth and falsehood depends solely on one's will. It is far superior!"
Li Fan silently felt proud. "Return to Truth" seemed to sense Li Fan's thoughts, and inexplicably emitted a series of unclear fluctuations. They disappeared as quickly as they appeared. Li Fan could not delve deeper into them.
Time flows without notice in the Mountains and Seas. After an unknown period, as the accumulations of the Realm of Life and Death were finally nearing completion, Li Fan was also only one step away from achieving the status of the 'Great Sage of the Mysterious Woman.'
"Becoming a Saint of the Mountains and Seas is far more difficult than I imagined." Standing in the void, Li Fan sighed with a sense of ancient weariness. The time required for this enlightenment was a hundred times longer than all his past reincarnations combined. Fortunately, it was purely dry comprehension without the interference of other mundane matters. Additionally, the "Return to Truth" panel that occasionally appeared before his eyes, constantly reminding Li Fan of his past, ensured that Li Fan ultimately did not forget his true identity.
"Achieving Sainthood happens today." He said with a solemn expression, softly chanting.
Around him, the Venerables from the Realm of Life and Death silently watched over him, providing protection.
"The phenomenon generated by achieving the Dao is too immense to conceal. Therefore, the moment I become a Saint is the moment we traverse back."
Li Fan instructed, then took a step forward. "Great Dao Realization."
While chanting in his heart, the misty light of the words 'First Mysterious Woman' on the "Return to Truth" panel erupted with unprecedented brilliance, almost eclipsing all other characters on the panel. Li Fan seemed to have truly become the master of the 'Mysterious Woman,' wielding this Great Dao of Mountains and Seas.
Just like when mortals ascended to become Immortals, the appearance of the Mountains and Seas in Li Fan's eyes gradually changed. Though the Mountains and Seas were still boundless, mountains could be climbed, and seas could be crossed. Floating on the sea, standing on mountain peaks, Li Fan's state of mind and perspective were undeniably different. The black Dao Erasure that permeated the landscape in his vision also began to look different.
"It's still like shadowy venomous snakes, terrifying. But if it comes to a life-or-death struggle... perhaps there's still a chance of survival." Li Fan understood. The path to Sainthood had just begun.
As his body became one with the Mountains and Seas, Li Fan seemed to be bathed in a peculiar aura. Vague, indistinct images flashed before his eyes. They seemed to originate from the most ancient memories of the Mountains and Seas, even older than the Mountains and Seas themselves. Though the images were unclear, Li Fan could distinctly feel the reverence and greed of the Mountains and Seas.
"'Gods.' The source of all power in the Mountains and Seas." Li Fan suddenly realized. The moment this consciousness dawned in his mind, the blurry images before his eyes began to flicker wildly, as if primal beasts were violently crashing within his vision. Countless lines twisted, and it seemed as if something was about to leap out of his sight and crash into reality!
Simultaneously, Li Fan's once calm heart began to beat uncontrollably. It was not out of fear, but a tremor of inherent excitement.
"Mysterious Woman, return!" Inspired by a sudden insight, Li Fan silently chanted in his heart.
Screeching sounds echoed as the intertwined lines in his vision shattered, instantly dimming and vanishing. Only a shadow became increasingly clear, leaping from a void perspective and descending into the Mountains and Seas.
*Whoosh!*
The Mountains and Seas instantly seethed! Like a gust of strong wind passing by, immense waves rose from the sea, and giant trees on the mountains toppled. In an instant, several gazes from across the Mountains and Seas were cast towards them. The Mountains and Seas themselves, after a brief moment of calm, reacted even more intensely, boiling and churning!
"Go!" Li Fan slowly absorbed the shadow in his vision, speaking with utmost composure. He exhaled a turbid breath, pushing back all the turbulence from the Mountains and Seas.
As the turbid breath emerged, heaven and earth were born, and all things evolved. In a brilliant light, countless beings were born. The cries of new life echoed, weaving into a grand symphony that permeated the Mountains and Seas, creating a lively scene. It even temporarily suppressed the wind and thunder in the Mountains and Seas. At the same time, it somewhat obscured the vision of the Sages.
Although this burgeoning life, filled with vitality, collapsed like a building in an instant, withering away, it was in that fleeting moment that Li Fan, along with everyone from the Realm of Life and Death, vanished under an orange glow, heading towards the end of the Mountains and Seas. They arrived quickly and left even quicker. In the blink of an eye, the Mountains and Seas returned to their previous state. However, perhaps due to the departure of the Great Dao of the Mysterious Woman, the current Mountains and Seas, now faintly showing signs of old age, began to collapse within moments. Thousands of possibilities crumbled and fell into the Dao Erasure.
In the white circle of the Other Shore, the illusory figures of the Sages stood in order.
"The Great Dao of the Mysterious Woman..."
"Strange." Within the white circle, light and shadow rapidly shifted, deducing and calculating something. Under normal circumstances, everything in this phase of the Mountains and Seas should be within their control. Regardless of any variables that appeared, they were like water in a pond, causing ripples but ultimately unable to create waves of a predetermined height.
But now... A waterspout began to form in the calm pond observed by the Sages, a truly terrifying sight. The light and shadow in the white circle shattered, and the Sages, with closed eyes, simultaneously opened them. In an instant, it was as if countless thoughts were communicated. However, after a moment, they all closed their eyes again.
"No need to pursue."
"This journey to the end of the Mountains and Seas might, instead, become an opportunity."
"Let us simply watch over these Mountains and Seas."
"Regardless of the beginning or end, whether alone or united, all efforts to find a solution have failed. Now that a variable has emerged... perhaps it is a good thing."
A yellow glow wove a path forward.
Scattered footprints drifted from the void, serving as both a guide for the assembled group and stepping stones for their crossing of the Eternal Stillness Void Realm.
Their perception of the outside world was already distorted.
It felt as though their journey was instantaneous, yet also as if countless eons had passed.
Beyond the yellow light lay an endless expanse of ink-black darkness.
Though shielded by the light, each momentary passage through the blackness was no more than a fleeting touch.
Still, the Eternal Stillness Void Realm imposed a terrifyingly cold and oppressive aura upon them.
With the exception of Li Fan, the foundational essence of everyone else, including a host of Venerables, began to subtly unravel. The most direct manifestation was a varying degree of cultivation reduction.
Even their spiritual essence was subtly affected.
A drop in cultivation realm might be slowly regained through further cultivation. But a loss of spiritual essence…
A genius could fall, and a prodigy could become utterly ordinary.
Under normal circumstances, the consequences were irreversible.
However…
Just as everyone was stabilizing their minds and attempting to protect themselves,
Li Fan’s gaze was sharp, fixed on the Eternal Stillness Void Realm outside.
He vaguely perceived that within that vast darkness, beyond mere coldness and stillness, something else existed.
“What is this…?”
“A convergence of spiritual essence?”
“Why would the inherently empty Eternal Stillness Void Realm contain such potent true spirit essence?”
Initially, Li Fan was perplexed.
But after observing for a while, he quickly understood.
“After the Mountains and Seas were devoured by Dao Erasure, the resulting spiritual essence accumulated. It was like the ashes after a mountain fire, or the fine sand stirred up by crashing waves.”
Li Fan, imbued with infinite spiritual essence himself, was naturally unconcerned by the true spirit accumulation within the Eternal Stillness Void Realm.
Yet, noticing the struggles of those from the Realm of Life and Death, he felt a stirring within.
“Although I possess infinite spiritual essence, I can only use it for myself. To bestow it upon others, I must employ the inheritance option of Return to Truth, a circuitous route.”
“But what about these ownerless things before me?”
“I have now attained the Saint realm, yet my strength seems to fall short of what I envisioned a ‘Saint’ to be. Only by successfully traversing the Eternal Stillness Void Realm can I truly be worthy of the title. Surely, traversing this void, which inevitably imbues one with this spiritual essence, relates to how the Sages of the Other Shore became so powerful? Perhaps it’s about acquiring more spiritual essence?”
A myriad of thoughts flashed through his mind. Li Fan extended his hand towards the boundless darkness above.
It was as if an invisible vortex materialized out of thin air.
An unimaginable accumulation of sludge was stirred by Li Fan’s casual gesture.
It surged forth like a gushing spring, drawn from the Eternal Stillness Void Realm and descending.
The yellow light that protected them suddenly contorted, appearing as though it would dissipate at any moment.
But this gust of wind was as swift as it was fleeting.
As Li Fan withdrew his hand, the accumulation of true spirit within the Eternal Stillness Void Realm ceased its surging.
And in Li Fan’s hand…
A mass of true spirit, almost imperceptible by any means yet undeniably sensed by Li Fan, swirled and coalesced.
“To be summoned at will, to be dismissed with a wave.”
“Is it this easy to mobilize accumulated true spirit?”
Li Fan pondered, finding it perplexing.
His intuition told him the truth was likely not so simple.
He looked at the others from the Realm of Life and Death, struggling through the void together. They seemed entirely unaware of the boundless true spirit accumulating outside,
still relying solely on their own desperate efforts.
They couldn't even detect it, let alone absorb and utilize it.
Li Fan sensed something.
The reason he could so effortlessly extract it might be related to his own infinite spiritual essence.
Though this accumulated spiritual essence drawn from the Eternal Stillness Void Realm was not his, he could command it as easily as his own limbs, manipulating it at will, like a general commanding his troops.
First, Li Fan attempted to absorb the true spirit himself.
It was like a mud ox entering the sea; a large portion of the extracted true spirit was instantly absorbed without any discernible effect.
This outcome was within Li Fan’s expectations.
After all, his own spiritual essence was already "infinite"; no matter how much he absorbed from the outside, it was unlikely to cause significant change.
Li Fan shook his head inwardly, ceasing this futile endeavor.
Then, observing the others from the Realm of Life and Death, whose true spirit was starting to dissipate, Li Fan slowly attempted to refine and distribute the remaining accumulated true spirit among them.
It proved much more strenuous than Li Fan had imagined.
The formless accumulated true spirit was indeed under Li Fan’s partial control. It quickly divided into seven portions and gathered above the heads of the Venerables, excluding Qiu Xin Hui.
But it only managed to get close.
It did not truly integrate.
It was as if an invisible barrier existed between their bodies and the accumulated true spirit, acting as a separation.
Li Fan applied a slight pressure, but the barrier remained unyielding.
“It seems I was too optimistic. If enhancing spiritual essence were this easy, the Mountains and Seas would likely be overrun with Sages.”
However, Li Fan did not give up so easily.
Before reaching the end of the Mountains and Seas, he seized this rare opportunity of their crossing to continue his research into the accumulated true spirit.
The path of crossing seemed endless.
The yellow light of protection meandered, and the traces of the Mountain and Sea Walker's path flickered past.
Li Fan could keenly sense that the fleeting glimpses of Mountain and Sea light encountered head-on were growing dimmer.
The pressure emanating from the Eternal Stillness Void Realm outside was also becoming increasingly immense.
The protective yellow light was forced to contract.
The trend of disintegration among the people of the Realm of Life and Death was also steadily increasing.
“If this continues, even if they reach the end of the Mountains and Seas, they will practically be rendered as good as废人 (fèi rén - cripples).”
“Only the imaginary flow they carried seems somewhat useful.”
Though he possessed a boundless treasure trove, he could not share a single bit with others.
“It seems I can only rely on your own fortune.”
However, perhaps due to the reinforcement of his infinite spiritual essence, Li Fan’s research proceeded with unexpected smoothness.
As the downstream crossing path neared its end, he actually found a method to forcibly “infuse” true spirit into others!
He did not directly act upon the Venerables from the Realm of Life and Death but first experimented on a remnant elder from the Guang Wu Starfield, who was on the verge of dissipating.
“The reason I can absorb without hindrance is the infinite spiritual essence within me. The return of true spirit is like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea, a natural and logical occurrence.”
“But for others, the true spirit within them is even less potent than the powerful influx from outside. To these intruders, stronger than themselves, they naturally erect The Great Barriers…”
“If that is the case, then I shall summon a flood of ten thousand zhang to drown these walls!”
With this thought, Li Fan reached out towards the Eternal Stillness Void Realm with immense force.
With a fierce grasp, he drew out a mass of unimaginably potent accumulated true spirit.
Manipulating it, he shaped it into a waterfall descending from the heavens and poured it onto the head of the experimental subject.
The true spirit did not enter the body but did not dissipate either.
Instead, it continued to accumulate above the head.
Though undergoing experimentation and completely unaware of his predicament, the experimental subject faintly sensed a disquiet.
He vigilantly scanned his surroundings.
Yet, he ultimately failed to locate the source of his fear.
True spirit continued to gather, forming a dense, dark cloud.
But the inherent barrier within the life form was incredibly resilient. Even with a hundredfold pressure from the external true spirit, it did not collapse.
Li Fan had to increase the dosage again.
After all, he was only drawing upon the accumulated true spirit within the Eternal Stillness Void Realm; it was not a waste regardless.
Finally, when the energy level of the true spirit used for impact was thousands of times greater than that of the experimental subject,
the invisible barrier shattered with a resounding crash.
In an instant, as if receiving enlightenment, the experimental subject’s eyes widened, and he underwent a complete transformation.
Almost visibly, he became brimming with spiritual essence.
He could even faintly sense his own attributes and looked up sharply in Li Fan’s direction.
However, this one glance brought about his demise.
Li Fan frowned slightly and stopped the infusion.
He effortlessly seized the experimental subject from afar and observed him carefully.
Despite the expenditure of a thousandfold effort, less than one-thousandth of the infused true spirit was successfully integrated into the body.
Even so, for the experimental subject, it was an almost world-altering change.
“Compared to the method of increasing spiritual essence through inheritance via Return to Truth, my infusion method is crude and direct. But the price is…?”
Although his spiritual essence increased exponentially, he also glimpsed many things beyond his comprehension in a short time.
Emotions such as fear, terror, unease, and the unknown began to envelop the experimental subject’s heart.
His previously clear and refined gaze gradually assumed a hint of madness.
More importantly, as Li Fan forcibly broke through the invisible barrier within his body,
this experimental subject was no longer resistant to the external accumulated true spirit.
The overwhelming accumulation that had not been absorbed returned,
surging back into his body.
The experimental subject could still absorb a portion.
However, the speed of his progress and transformation was ultimately limited.
It fell far short of the pace at which the sludge was engulfing him.
With repeated forceful infusions, something that struck even Li Fan with horror occurred.
The experimental subject’s divine soul, body, and consciousness, under the impact of a final surge of accumulated true spirit, completely dissolved and disintegrated.
In that instant, he vanished without a sound.
He became another component of the surging true spirit accumulating beside Li Fan.
This process of demise was too swift.
Li Fan had initially anticipated the extent to which the experimental subject would transform, but unexpectedly, after a moment, the other dissolved into the rushing true spirit.
The infusion experiment was both a success and a failure.
“Theoretically, by controlling the intensity of the infusion, this fatal outcome could be avoided.”
“But…”
Li Fan looked at the vast amounts of accumulated true spirit swirling beside him, as if seeing their origin.
The countless living beings that once existed in the Mountains and Seas.
Like lingering ghosts, they stood in rows, revealing eerie smiles as they stared intently at Li Fan.
A strange feeling of discomfort arose within him. Li Fan waved his hand and tossed these accumulated true spirits back into the Eternal Stillness Void Realm.
“The Mountains and Seas perished, yet true spirit accumulated.”
“When the Mountains and Seas are fully restored, stars will be born from the Eternal Stillness Void Realm. If that is the case, isn’t this infinite accumulated true spirit the very ‘womb’ for the birth of ‘stars’?”
Instinctively, Li Fan became fully wary of this spiritual essence that he could command at will.
He temporarily abandoned the thought of further experimentation.
“From the discovery concerning the experimental subject, the invisible barrier within my body is the fundamental reason why I can possess infinite spiritual essence yet cannot summon it freely. If this barrier were eliminated…?”
The moment this thought arose, Return to Truth, which usually remained silent, immediately emitted faint warning tremors!
Li Fan had never felt Return to Truth so agitated.
It was as if breaking the barrier within himself would invite a cataclysm that even Return to Truth could not reverse.
This reaction startled Li Fan, causing him to immediately abandon his wild thoughts.
As if still not at ease, Return to Truth’s warning, with lingering waves, echoed in Li Fan’s mind for a long time.
It wasn’t until the journey of this downstream crossing finally concluded, and they leaped from the Eternal Stillness Void Realm to the edge of the Mountains and Seas, that
Li Fan understood the reason for Return to Truth’s solemn warning.
“For ordinary people in the Mountains and Seas, if the barrier were removed, at most their own spiritual essence would vanish, or external spiritual essence would be infused. Whether they achieve sainthood or perish, it would hardly affect the overall situation of the Mountains and Seas.”
“But within me lies infinite spiritual essence.”
“It might even rival the entirety of the accumulated true spirit in the Void Realm of Eternal Stillness after the entire span of the Mountains and Seas has perished.”
“If the barrier within my body were to be broken…”
Li Fan shivered suddenly.
“It would not only be myself who would suffer.”
“It would likely jeopardize the surviving Mountains and Seas as well!”
In Li Fan’s mind's eye, he saw an endless stream of true spirits, spurred by the collapse of the barrier, pouring out from within him.
Like a surging flood after a dam breaks, they advanced relentlessly.
Threatening to drown the Mountains and Seas in an instant.
“Already struggling to survive under the Great Annihilation of Dao, if such a catastrophe were to occur…”
“The Mountains and Seas would perish immediately.”
Upon realizing this, Li Fan understood Return to Truth’s reaction.
At the same time, a greater doubt formed deep within his heart.
“Where did this infinite spiritual essence within me originate?”
“If…?”
“If I were to truly die, what would happen to these unrestrained true spirits?”
“Did Return to Truth seek me out because of my infinite spiritual essence, or because it feared the destruction of the Mountains and Seas if my infinite true spirit were to be unbound, thus imposing itself upon me?”
Heavy doubts assailed him.
They made Li Fan, now a Saint, momentarily lose his focus.
Fortunately, the intense changes occurring outside quickly forced him to shift his attention.
A wisp of light from above managed to barely push back the darkness.
Like the break of dawn, although everyone had left the Eternal Stillness Void Realm, they had not truly escaped.
It felt as though they could be dragged back into that boundless, chilling darkness at any moment.
“Hold your breath, focus your minds, and steadfast your will.”
The one speaking was Qiu Xin Hui, who had become extremely weakened during the journey and was on the verge of annihilation.
But now, she was like a changed person.
Her entire being radiated a commanding and inspiring aura that naturally commanded respect.
Li Fan instantly understood.
The person before him was not the imaginary construct Qiu Xin Hui, but the true embodiment of Qiu Xin Hui, who had absorbed the imaginary construct through the downstream crossing—that Mountain and Sea Final Saint!
When his gaze met Qiu Xin Hui’s eyes, it was as if he were once again facing the Sages of the Other Shore.
The external layers, serving as concealment, were being peeled away one by one, revealing the core within.
But this time was different.
The Profound Woman Great Dao transformed into clothing, gently concealing the secrets on the verge of revelation.
The Great Dao of Mountains and Seas naturally possesses its own profound rhythm, enigmatic and varied, making it difficult even for Saints to fully comprehend at a first glance.
With the [Mysterious Woman] acting as a cover, Li Fan successfully obscured the sight of the Saint from the End of Mountains and Seas.
However, Li Fan harbored a growing intuition that this "garment" used for concealment would not remain effective indefinitely.
"If they continue to gaze indefinitely, it's likely that the existence of [Return to Truth] will be exposed before long."
Fortunately, Qiu Xin Hui did not persist in her scrutiny.
The feeling of being scrutinized slowly dissipated, and Qiu Xin Hui's voice, filled with emotion, resounded: "To traverse mountains and seas, enduring hardships to come here??"
"You have labored diligently, Fellow Daoist."
"The End of Mountains and Seas is a peculiar place. Perhaps it differs from the time and space of your own mountains and seas. You may observe it first."
"I shall assist them first."
With that, countless yellow gems erupted from Qiu Xin Hui's hand, showering into the Realm of Life and Death like a constellation.
Their starlight was brilliant, illuminating all beings.
Upon the forehead of each living creature, an imprint of a yellow crystalline gem was etched. Nourished by its radiance, those whose very foundations of existence were disintegrating due to their arduous journey seemed to be mended. Not only was their perilous situation alleviated, but many even recovered completely on the spot.
It was not limited to living beings.
The myriad streams of imagination within the Realm of Life and Death, which had been on the verge of collapse, instantly solidified with this added assistance.
They were now indistinguishable from the true possibilities within the mountains and seas.
Even with Li Fan's current attainments, he found it difficult to discern their true nature.
The Saint from the End of Mountains and Seas, with a single move, displayed an unfathomable and extraordinary power.
Li Fan observed the Venerables within the Realm of Life and Death, who had become vibrant and lively once more in the blink of an eye under her healing.
"It is not that their true spirits, lost in the Realm of Eternal Silence, have been infused and replenished. Rather, Qiu Xin Hui has used the ultimate art of imagination to fill the void left behind."
"While their cultivation innate talent may not be as potent as before, they have at least preserved their lives, and their strength can still be utilized to a significant degree."
"This Saint from the End of Mountains and Seas is truly remarkable!"
Li Fan was inwardly astonished.
Having thoroughly studied the Dao of Imagination himself, Li Fan understood the sheer incredulity of effortlessly restoring what others had lost. This implied that Qiu Xin Hui possessed an intimate knowledge of each individual's cultivated path, to the point where she could manipulate them with ease, making the false appear indistinguishable from the true.
Furthermore, the replenished and re-stabilized streams of potentiality indicated that Qiu Xin Hui's understanding of the mountains and seas had reached an unimaginably profound level.
Yet, what puzzled Li Fan was how Qiu Xin Hui, residing at the End of Mountains and Seas, could possess such clear knowledge of the ancient affairs of the mountains and seas, even with her extreme innate talent and ability to comprehend all worldly paths?
As if sensing Li Fan's inner query, the Saint from the End of Mountains and Seas calmly repeated: "Fellow Daoist, you may observe the mountains and seas."
"All your doubts will then be dispelled."
Li Fan finally shifted his attention from Qiu Xin Hui to the so-called "End of Mountains and Seas."
The area where they stood was enveloped by a thick, layered yellow luminescence, akin to compacted earth, shielding Li Fan from the oppressive forces of the Eternal Silence Realm outside.
Everything appeared normal.
But when Li Fan attempted to pierce through this protective layer and gaze beyond the mountains and seas,
an immeasurable, chilling sense of solitude assailed him from all directions.
This was distinctly different from the experience of traversing the Eternal Silence Realm earlier.
During the transit, there was merely a pure pressure.
However, at the End of Mountains and Seas, this ubiquitous darkness was imbued with a potent aggression.
Upon sensing Li Fan's gaze, it surged forward like a tempestuous wave crashing against the shore, violently impacting them.
Li Fan distinctly felt the entire enclosure, enveloped in yellow light, violently shaking due to this onslaught.
Moreover, once the offensive began, it showed no signs of subsiding.
The assaults from the Eternal Silence Realm came wave after wave.
It was akin to a lone boat in a raging storm, seemingly on the verge of being submerged by colossal waves at any moment.
Li Fan's expression turned grim, and he instinctively withdrew his gaze from the outside.
The Saint from the End of Mountains and Seas, however, was accustomed to this phenomenon.
Without speaking, she simply amplified the yellow light of imagination to stabilize the situation.
Like an experienced captain, she calmly directed her crew to confront the sudden storm.
Yet, this storm seemed interminable and showed no signs of weakening.
"Is this Realm of Eternal Silence truly so tempestuous?" Li Fan inquired, his voice tinged with astonishment.
"If one views the struggle between the mountains and seas and the Annihilation of the Dao as a prolonged war, then the outcome of this war is finally upon us. The soldiers' killing intent is at its fiercest, seeking a decisive victory to finally bring an end to the mountains and seas."
"The Realm of Eternal Silence you perceive may still be in the nascent stages of this war; its aggression would not be so intense." The external darkness's encroachment was commonplace for Qiu Xin Hui.
While attending to the newly arrived individuals and fending off the erosion of the Realm of Eternal Silence, she still had the capacity to explain the specifics of the End of Mountains and Seas to Li Fan.
"However, what I wish for you to observe is not the outer void, but these..."
Following Qiu Xin Hui's guidance, Li Fan noticed that amidst the surging torrents outside, faint, minuscule points of light occasionally flickered.
Dimmer than the glow of fireflies, they were almost indistinguishable, hidden within the darkness.
With the slightest inattentiveness, one would overlook them.
Li Fan vaguely perceived scenes from the past mountains and seas within these points of light.
"Are these... fragments of the mountains and seas?"
Qiu Xin Hui nodded: "Precisely. They are remnants of the mountains and seas, torn to shreds by the Annihilation of the Dao."
"They are the final evidence of the mountains and seas' past existence."
"Like grains of sand and scattered debris, they permeate the darkness. Perhaps the Realm of Eternal Silence intentionally scattered them as proof of its achievements, or perhaps..."
"...as a form of intimidation towards us, the last resisters."
Qiu Xin Hui smiled faintly.
"They are like dead coral reefs on the seabed, continuously washed ashore by the surging tides."
"Through these occasionally surfacing fragments, though I reside at the End of Mountains and Seas, I am able to witness the glorious tapestry of the past mountains and seas."
"In addition..."
"And from the memories of you who have journeyed here from various past epochs."
Li Fan gradually began to understand.
This Saint from the End of Mountains and Seas had managed to weave her understanding of the mountains and seas from the scattered remnants of the past.
It was truly difficult to imagine what heights she might have reached had she lived in the mountains and seas of normal time and space.
"However, Fellow Daoist, it seems you did not achieve sainthood through the Dao of Imagination?"
During their previous exchange, it was not only Li Fan who was scrutinized.
Li Fan also discerned certain mysteries from Qiu Xin Hui.
While the Dao of Imagination permeated everywhere in the End of Mountains and Seas, it was not Qiu Xin Hui's fundamental cultivation.
Qiu Xin Hui did not deny it: "Though the methods of imagination are extraordinarily profound, they are insufficient to sustain this last sanctuary in the current weakened state of the mountains and seas."
"If I were to achieve sainthood through this path, while my own existence might be preserved, this place would have long since ceased to exist, lost to the Annihilation of the Dao."
Qiu Xin Hui did not explicitly state her own cultivated path.
However, Li Fan had a subtle feeling that this Saint from the End of Mountains and Seas was different from Saints like himself, who achieved sainthood through the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas.
"The fate of the mountains and seas rests entirely upon this individual."
"By examining ancient remnants, they attained divine abilities to save the world amidst despair."
"Were it not for this person's efforts in guiding the wanderers of the mountains and seas against the current of time, traversing past and present, the powerful beings from all epochs of the mountains and seas would likely still be fighting in isolation."
Li Fan remained silent, gazing at the so-called "End of Mountains and Seas" shrouded in darkness.
Unlike the mountains and seas he inhabited,
here, the river of time no longer existed.
Only the "single point" remained.
There was no past or future.
All events unfolded simultaneously within this single point.
As Li Fan gradually adapted, various scenes naturally materialized before his eyes.
These were the individuals who, like him, had arrived from different eras of the mountains and seas to provide support.
Compared to Li Fan, their circumstances were even more dire.
The vast majority had become invalids, devoid of any cultivation talent, upon their arrival.
Although Qiu Xin Hui had aided them with the Dao of Imagination, their condition was permanently fixed at the moment of their arrival.
The number of Saints who had successfully reached the End of Mountains and Seas was also pitifully small.
Including Li Fan, there were only five.
Together, they guarded the last hope of all beings.
Before Li Fan, a scene of mountains and seas shimmering with starlight floated in the void.
This was the collective amalgamation of imagination, drawn from the past mountains and seas.
"What is the current success rate?"
One of the figures pointed towards the projected image of the mountains and seas ahead.
Instantly, the surrounding darkness seemed to surge. The image of mountains and seas flickered for a moment before fading away.
This recurrence happened countless times.
Yet, not once was the stellar light of the mountains and seas reignited.
"We are still a little short," that figure sighed.
"Everyone, do not be disheartened. The fate of the mountains and seas was already sealed. For us to defy destiny, it is naturally not an easy task. I have intercepted the river of time, fixing it at the moment before destruction. As long as my power remains, there will be ample time to accumulate more strength."
The speaker was a white-haired scholar.
It was he who had created the phenomenon of the End of Mountains and Seas, where time had ceased to flow.
"The materials for imagination are actually sufficient. However, at the moment of the mountains and seas' full restoration, the devouring pull exerted by the Realm of Eternal Silence is such that even with our combined strength, escape would be difficult." The figure who was deducing the projected image of mountains and seas spoke again.
This Saint's form was difficult to discern clearly, as if it existed in a state of infinite transformation, lacking a fixed shape.
"It would be wonderful if we had more helpers."
A silence fell upon the assembly.
Qiu Xin Hui offered comfort: "Having the assistance of all of you is already a great fortune. The plan for the End of Mountains and Seas is, after all, not as stable as proceeding to the beginning of the mountains and seas. For the vast majority, the future is unknown, but what has already occurred in the past is fixed."
The white-haired scholar stroked his beard and sighed: "This is human nature; it cannot be forced. Even if the plan succeeds, the ultimate destination remains uncertain. Unlike the alternative plan, which even holds the hope of siphoning the power of the mountains and seas to achieve higher extraordinary feats."
Upon hearing this, all the Saints in the hall let out cold snorts.
Li Fan understood what the white-haired scholar was referring to.
If they had succeeded in preventing the Devouring of Gods at the beginning of time,
then it would indeed have been possible to claim the power of the [Gods] as their own.
Much like what the mountains and seas had done in the past.
For the Saints within the mountains and seas, this was undoubtedly an immense temptation.
"Unfortunately, as I observe the surging changes in the river of time, there seems to be no indication that this plan will succeed."
The white-haired scholar's gaze seemed to pierce through the barriers of the Realm of Eternal Silence, looking into the more ancient mountains and seas.
He spoke with a mocking tone.
"Fellow Daoist, what are your thoughts?"
After the Saints shared their opinions, Qiu Xin Hui turned her gaze to Li Fan, who had remained silent.
The cloak woven from the Great Dao of the Mysterious Woman strained to obstruct the Saints' scrutiny.
After a moment of contemplation, Li Fan spoke: "My cultivation lies in the [Mysterious Woman] Dao."
"Infusing the imagined mountains and seas, allowing life to emerge spontaneously."
As Li Fan spoke, his hands moved as if painting, weaving threads of life force into the projected image of mountains and seas before him.
With the infusion of life force, the image of mountains and seas underwent various transformations.
If it had previously resembled an impressionistic landscape painting, it was now beginning to shift towards a more realistic ink painting.
"However, this can only assist the imagined mountains and seas for a while longer. The key to the plan still rests with all of you," Li Fan said apologetically.
"With your assistance, Fellow Daoist, our chances of success have increased," the perpetually shifting Saint stated after another round of deductions.
Although the stars of the mountains and seas did not reignite, he still spoke thus.
"However, I have an idea. I do not know if it is feasible."
After another prolonged silence, Li Fan suddenly spoke.
"Fellow Daoist, please speak freely." Qiu Xin Hui nodded.
"Within the Realm of Eternal Silence, could the dormant true spirits be utilized as assistance?"
"If the help from the past is insufficient, then we shall create our own."
"During my traversal of the void, I discovered that residual true spirits have accumulated there, enough to be used for the creation of Saints..."
Upon hearing Li Fan's words, all the Saints' eyes widened in surprise.
"Creating Saints?"
They did not outright reject Li Fan's plan but asked cautiously: "While we can absorb a minuscule portion of the accumulated true spirits for our own use, firstly, the true spirits originate from the void, which will impact our minds. But more critically, deploying even a fraction of the true spirits requires immense power, making it unsustainable. Could it be that Fellow Daoist has a different method?"
Li Fan did not deny it and nodded proudly.
"Everyone, observe!"
Saying this, Li Fan beckoned towards the dark void at the End of Mountains and Seas.
Something more significant than what had occurred during the traversal unfolded.
The End of Mountains and Seas seemed to reside at the absolute bottom of endless darkness.
All the accumulated true spirits, transformed from the past mountains and seas that had been devoured, were piled here.
Li Fan's gentle stir caused what felt like the collapse of the heavens.
The existing tempestuous onslaught was now compounded by the violent impact of an unknown ferocious beast.
The Saints' expressions changed, and they joined forces to stabilize the situation.
After the storm gradually subsided, they all looked at Li Fan's hand with expressions of astonishment.
Though nothing could be visually perceived there,
they could sense the aura of the accumulated true spirits.
"How is this possible?!"
The white-haired scholar's hair and beard bristled as he stared at Li Fan in disbelief.
His aged eyes seemed to reflect the river of time, as if attempting to discern Li Fan's origins.
The river of time churned, yet even with a countless number of glances through the ages, Li Fan's reflection could not be found. It was as if he had leaped beyond the three realms, existing outside the five elements.
The white-haired scholar's expression grew solemn. The other Saints, witnessing this inexplicable event, all turned their gaze towards Li Fan. They had each traversed the Eternal Stillness Void from different timelines, and understood perfectly the harrowing difficulty of summoning the accumulated True Spirits from that place. Yet, this individual before them had merely waved a hand, conjuring a multitude of True Spirits that swarmed forth.
Could it be that this person before them represented the will of the Eternal Stillness Void itself? With this thought, the Saints couldn't help but become wary.
Facing the pressure from the Saints, Li Fan remained unperturbed. Empowered by the Mysterious Woman Great Dao, he was on par with these Saints. No matter what transpired, he possessed the capacity to return to reality with ease.
As the tension reached its peak, it was the Mountain and Sea End Saint, Qiu Xin Hui, who stepped forward to mediate. "The currents of mountains and seas are vast, and each Saint is distinct. In the ancient times of mountains and seas, countless paragons emerged, and it was by no means surprising for wondrous divine abilities and exotic arts to be born. While the True Spirits accumulated in the Void have been drawn here, I have sensed no disturbance from the darkness. I believe this is simply the extraordinary ability of this friend."
Although suspicions lingered in the hearts of the other Saints towards Li Fan, they placed unwavering trust in Qiu Xin Hui. Upon hearing her words, their expressions softened slightly.
Li Fan offered no proof, but instead, a smile played on his lips. "Actually, it was only when I crossed over that I discovered this peculiar ability of mine. I am also quite curious about its origin. However, at this moment, that is not important." He gestured towards the amassed True Spirits clustered in his palm. "The crucial matter is whether these endless True Spirits accumulated in the Void can be utilized by us."
Feeling the sheer magnitude of the True Spirits gathered in Li Fan's hand, the Saints fell into a contemplative silence.
"Friend speaks wisely. If we can truly seize their creation, even in this era of the decaying Great Dao and the end of the mountains and seas, where no Saints are born, it would be sufficient for us to forge allies capable of turning the tide."
"While they may not possess the Saint realm, as long as their numbers are sufficient..." the white-haired scholar nodded in agreement.
"Indeed, we ourselves could absorb the accumulated True Spirits to replenish our own," the shifting figure stated, its form growing even dimmer, as if it were deducing its future after integrating a vast quantity of True Spirits.
"If that is the case, allow me to be the first to experiment," a golden-yellow figure emerged from within Qiu Xin Hui. It was shrouded in a hazy, imagined brilliance, appearing as a projection of Qiu Xin Hui's will, yet embodying her very essence.
The imagined clone drifted slowly towards the accumulated True Spirits, as if drawn by some unknown force. Its speed gradually increased, transforming into a thin streak as it rapidly traversed the accumulated swamp. It circled once before returning to Qiu Xin Hui's side.
The onlookers observed that the imagined body, after its journey through the accumulated True Spirits, indeed bore a faint shadow. "The effect is remarkably similar to crossing the Eternal Stillness Void. However, the efficiency of attaching True Spirits is significantly lower." Qiu Xin Hui spoke after a long pause.
The Saints' astonishment deepened. "Yet, it is far less perilous than venturing into the Eternal Stillness Void, and there is no danger of the mind being harmed. Does this not imply..." the shifting figure's words were cut short as it rushed headlong into the mass of accumulated True Spirits. In an instant, it seemed to phase through dozens of times, causing ripples and disturbances. It only stopped, brimming with satisfaction, when it could absorb no more True Spirits within a short period.
As if having feasted, the shifting figure's form became noticeably clearer. Simultaneously, its speed of transformation increased. "Incredible," an exclamatory voice echoed from outside the figure. The shifting figure, which had bravely ventured into the accumulated True Spirits and reaped significant rewards, shattered into countless streams of light upon this declaration, returning to the source of the voice.
Li Fan observed clearly. Both the Mountain and Sea End Saint and the shifting figure had, in mere moments, used their clones to test the dangers and realities of the accumulated True Spirits. Qiu Xin Hui had employed an imagined clone, while the shifting figure...
"Though it appeared to act personally, its own essence was in a state of flux, a fusion of definite and indefinite, countless future possibilities. At any moment, it could negate the outcome, rendering it a mere hypothetical, a phantom of deduction, rather than a fixed reality. Conversely, it could also do the opposite, deeming the results of this trial as true."
As if confirming Li Fan's conjecture, the true form of the shifting figure, after integrating the streams of light, displayed the same outcome as its trial clone. It had absorbed a certain amount of accumulated True Spirits and gained significant benefits.
With these two as precedents, the remaining Saints cast aside their doubts. Each displayed their unique divine abilities, absorbing the accumulated True Spirits brought forth by Li Fan. The auras of the Saints fluctuated, clearly indicating their respective advancements.
"Could it be that, aside from myself, all other Saints absorb the accumulated True Spirits so easily?" Li Fan mused internally at this sight. However, seeing that the Saints' complexions and spirits seemed to improve after they finished absorbing the True Spirits, Li Fan finally understood. The Mountain and Sea End Saints must have sustained varying degrees of damage during their confrontations within the Eternal Stillness Void. Their very spiritual essence had gradually depleted, and without ordinary means of repair, the hidden injuries had worsened over time. Even Saintly bodies, in the end, became a potential threat.
Indeed, the Eternal Stillness Void possessed usable accumulated True Spirits. However, venturing deep into the Void risked utter annihilation. To obtain even a sliver of True Spirit required ten times that amount in losses. It was simply not worth the endeavor. Thus, the notion of healing injuries or enhancing True Spirits by traveling to the Void was preposterous. But now... there were Saints who could somehow transport the accumulated True Spirits from the Eternal Stillness Void into the reality of mountains and seas, as if from thin air. Moreover, these True Spirits had been proven to be free from Void contamination and could be absorbed by everyone without worry.
The Saints who had completed their restorative cycle looked at Li Fan with newfound respect. Li Fan, who had remained undaunted when facing the Saints' pressure, now felt a strange unease being stared at with such reverence, as if he were a treasured artifact.
"Originally, our chances of victory were still somewhat lacking."
"But now, with friend's assistance, a chance of victory has appeared!" the shifting figure exclaimed with undisguised joy. Li Fan then realized that their previous 'somewhat lacking' chances of victory actually meant a complete lack of any possibility of success.
"It is truly our fortune that you have come, friend," Qiu Xin Hui said with emotion. Her gaze drifted towards the past epochs of mountains and seas, a hint of inexplicable emotion swirling in her eyes. "Truly, in the grand scheme of things, destiny unfolds as it must." Lost in thought, the Mountain and Sea End Saint murmured to herself, seemingly recalling something.
"May I ask, esteemed friends, what do you think of my plan to create Saints?" Li Fan inquired, turning to the Saints.
"May I ask, friend, what was the cost of summoning the accumulated True Spirits?" the white-haired scholar asked with utmost solemnity.
"Effortless," Li Fan replied proudly. The Saints' expressions shifted once more. A beam of light erupted from the shifting figure, containing what seemed to be billions of interwoven phantoms, simultaneously deducing various possible futures. In the span of a breath, the beam of light transitioned from brilliance to decay, yet a sliver of light ultimately persisted. Returning to the shifting figure, he spoke, "If, as you say, you can freely and harmlessly summon the accumulated True Spirits."
"The success rate of our plan has now surpassed one-tenth!" Upon uttering this, the Saints and Li Fan in the chamber exchanged startled glances.
"So high!"
"So low?"
After uttering their exclamations of surprise, Li Fan and the Saints looked at each other, both feeling a sense of bewilderment.
"But a mere one-tenth chance of victory, how can that be considered high?" Li Fan frowned. Qiu Xin Hui smiled and shook her head. "We are already seeking a path to breakthrough amidst impossibility. A one-tenth chance of victory is already a wondrous outcome that we had never previously envisioned. In my previous deductions, even a one percent chance of success would have been worth our utmost effort!" The other Saints nodded in agreement, but Li Fan remained perplexed. However, he did not further dispute their assessment.
As the shifting figure’s deduction results were revealed, Li Fan keenly sensed that the oppressive atmosphere that had enveloped the end of the mountains and seas had subtly dissipated. As the Saints conversed, they seemed to carry themselves with a lighter demeanor.
"We shall use the accumulated True Spirits to nurture the imagined mountains and seas. When the influx of aid from within the mountains and seas becomes continuous, and reaches a considerable scale, that will be the time for our plan to be set in motion." The white-haired scholar stroked his beard. "At that time, my lifespan should not have been exhausted. Perhaps I will have the opportunity to witness the true face of the 'Star.' What a fortune that would be!"
During the Saints' discussions, Li Fan also gained a deeper understanding of how others utilized 'True Spirits.' For the vast majority of beings in the mountains and seas, True Spirits were the embodiment of their spiritual essence and cultivation aptitude. The Saints hypothesized that True Spirits originated from the 'God' who created the mountains and seas. Below the Saint realm, True Spirits were predetermined by fate. They could only be slightly increased by absorbing different possible versions of oneself, and even then, the progress was limited. However, upon reaching the Saint realm, one could supplement themselves by crossing the Eternal Stillness Void.
But the same problem persisted: traversing the Void was incredibly perilous. Self-preservation was difficult enough; improving one's spiritual essence was out of the question. Only the strongest among the Saints, whose own strength ensured that the cost of each traversal was less than the supplement gained, possessed the true qualification to continuously traverse against the current, reaching the initial moment of mountains and seas. The Saints at the end of the mountains and seas had not actually reached such a realm.
"Anyone possessing such power would choose to journey to the beginning of mountains and seas, to contend for the 'God's' power, in pursuit of further advancement."
"And this intangible barrier that restricts the connection between my own True Spirits and the outside world, I can indeed feel its existence. Only by achieving the Saint Dao, with the power to be on par with mountains and seas, can it be shaken."
"If one were to forcefully inject a massive amount of accumulated True Spirits to break through it..." Li Fan recalled the image of the experimental subject being submerged by accumulated True Spirits and vanishing into thin air. However, for the Saints at the end of the mountains and seas, this was not an insurmountable problem. Their passion for research surpassed even Li Fan's. They even began using themselves as subjects for experimentation.
Qiu Xin Hui's and the shifting figure's methods were self-evident. As for the other Saints' divine abilities:
The white-haired scholar's eyes churned with the river of time. It surged forth, like a tangible entity, emitting roars. Simultaneously, versions of the scholar from his youth, prime, and middle age leaped out from the river of time. Whether these experiments affected the white-haired scholar further down the river of time was entirely at his will.
Another Saint held a scale. With a reach towards the direction of the accumulated True Spirits, they appeared to be weighing them. Soon after, various phantoms played out on the other side. The scale swung back and forth, indicating different experimental outcomes.
...
The Saint who astonished Li Fan the most appeared to be the most relaxed. A lazily lounging middle-aged man, with a potbelly and an indifferent expression, would beam with joy and click his fingers whenever the experiments of other Saints yielded beneficial results. Each ensuing light point was absorbed into his palm. These light points continuously collided and merged, gradually becoming one. The final remaining light point seemed to represent the optimal solution the Saints sought to ascertain.
Li Fan was awestruck by the Saints' diverse divine abilities and mystical arts. However, a strange sensation gradually welled up within him. "The art of imagination, the technique of deducing uncertain futures, the method of reversing the river of time, inheriting through celestial selection..." Witnessing the Saints' methods, Li Fan felt an increasingly inexplicable sense of familiarity.
Without dwelling on it, Li Fan quickly pinpointed the source of this familiarity. "The transformation between true and false." "Each Saintly divine ability seemed, in some way, to be both akin to and different from the transformation between true and false." "Could it be..." Li Fan grew increasingly astonished. "Could it be that the transformation between true and false is so profound that it encompasses all aspects of the Great Dao of mountains and seas? Therefore, when I truly began to come into contact with the Great Dao of mountains and seas wielded by the Saints, I was merely glimpsing the transformation between true and false from a specific perspective?"
"Then, truly..." Li Fan's thoughts raced, and a desire arose within him to inquire of Return to Truth once more. However, ever since arriving at the end of the mountains and seas, Return to Truth had fallen into a deep slumber, concealed more profoundly than ever before. It was as if something in the outside world, something it did not wish to face, existed. The only thing that brought Li Fan peace was that he could still summon Return to Truth's status interface at will, capable of reversing everything and returning to a safe anchor point.
"Let me wait a little longer and hear the results of the Saints' research."
At the end of the mountains and seas, the river of time had been intercepted by the white-haired scholar, and time flowed no more. Time seemed to have lost its meaning. After an unknown duration, and countless joint experiments, the Saints finally reached a conclusion. Qiu Xin Hui's face revealed an excitement that had been absent for a long time.
"The barrier of True Spirits, though innate, is not immutable. By uniting our efforts, we have finally discovered its flaw. While flooding it with a colossal amount of True Spirits can be destructive, it also brings about annihilation; thus, it is not feasible."
"However, if we were to create hundreds and thousands of ourselves, and have them accept the True Spirit infusion simultaneously..." As Qiu Xin Hui spoke, she pointed at an experimental subject before her. A fantastical golden light enveloped the seated experimental subject with closed eyes. In an instant, hundreds and thousands of imagined phantoms of herself appeared, as if replicated.
"The method of transcending to become a Saint is the unification of myriad selves. However, this method of True Spirit infusion is the opposite: I am born boundless!"
"I am born of Boundless Unity!"
The experimental subject, using the Art of Imagination, replicated countless versions of itself. Facing the surging, destructive flood of stagnant True Spirits, it used its own body as a dam, instantly withstanding the impact!
"I see the True Spirit!"
At that moment, all the experimental subjects opened their eyes. Through the immense pressure they felt, they seemed to truly "see" the formless, ubiquitous True Spirit!
Although there were many experimental subjects present, they all shared the same origin. They were countless clones created by one of their main bodies using the Art of Imagination. Therefore, they appeared to share the same True Spirit barrier.
At Qiu Xin Hui's signal, Li Fan increased the impact force of the stagnant True Spirit. The dam formed by thousands of experimental subjects could no longer hold. Under such immense pressure, a crack appeared. The stagnant True Spirit took the opportunity to surge in, silently, with destructive power, rushing like wind and thunder.
If only one person had faced this tribulation, their fate would have been to be submerged and scattered by the stagnant True Spirit. But now... facing this terrifying calamity, thousands of experimental subjects were unfazed. With the main body as the center of defense, they evenly distributed the immense pressure brought by the stagnant True Spirit.
One person facing it would be like an ant trying to shake Mount Tai, destruction imminent. But what about millions, or billions? Moreover, yellow light continuously flashed and pulsed from the experimental subject's main body. As a ceaseless stream of new forces from imagination joined, the stagnant True Spirit, despite its ferocious assault, could not shake the dam for a time.
What was originally like a charging dragon was instantly transformed into thousands of converging streams. The experimental subjects themselves could not withstand the direct impact of the stagnant True Spirit forming a singular great river. But absorbing a mere one in ten-thousandth of a stream was much easier.
Although the absorption and utilization rate of the stagnant True Spirit called by Li Fan was further reduced, the initial objective had been achieved! The True Spirit was nourished, and the experimental subject's previously dull and confused eyes gradually became bright and intelligent. It looked around, seemingly understanding its predicament. It did not blame the heavens or criticize the surrounding observing Sages. Seeing the countless other selves beside it, an inspiration struck. It calmed its mind and began to recall the imagined clones that were used to share the pressure of the stagnant True Spirit.
This experimental subject had not previously studied the Dao of Imagination. These imagined clones were only generated by Qiu Xin Hui's intervention. Therefore, the speed of recall was not ideal at first. Most of the imagined clones, after completing their mission, simply dissipated. The stagnant True Spirits they carried, having lost their vessels, quietly spread out like flowing water.
However, those who could enter the eyes of the Sages and be chosen as experimental subjects possessed extraordinary natural talent. Now, after receiving the infusion of True Spirit, their own spirituality was even more exceptional than before. It learned quickly and did not waver despite the rapid dispersal of the surrounding imagined clones. It simply went with the flow, doing its best. At first, only one or two figures were drawn to merge. Later, the experimental subject's speed in recalling imagined clones increased, drawing them in faster and faster. Like countless stars converging into one body, the experimental subject radiated infinite, brilliant light.
...
The white-haired old scholar stroked his beard and praised, "The imagined clones carrying True Spirits, though unable to be fully absorbed instantly, are ultimately stored within the body. They can be turned into nourishment for future growth at any time. It's like having an inexhaustible treasure mountain within oneself, from which one can continuously dig to enhance one's potential as strength grows. One can benefit from it until achieving Sainthood. This method of 'I am born of Boundless Unity' and receiving True Spirits is truly ingenious! If this method were available during the prosperous era of Mountains and Seas, perhaps a myriad of Sages could indeed be created!"
The shifting figure continuously flickered, seemingly deducing the possibilities of Mountains and Seas flourishing with the widespread use of the "I am born of Boundless Unity" method. The gazes of the Sages converged back on Li Fan.
"It's a pity that while the Art of Imagination can indeed be learned by anyone, the means to summon and control the stagnant True Spirits of the void realm are unique to Mountains and Seas."
"Since we have reached the end of Mountains and Seas, we cannot go back." The Sages sighed inwardly.
"The past is for those who have passed. We only need to consider our future," Qiu Xin Hui said with a smile, drawing the Sages' attention back from Li Fan. "With Daoist Fan's help, all our losses have been replenished. And we can even create far more assistance than expected..."
The shifting figure spoke again: "Our chances of victory are now above fifty percent!"
"Above fifty percent, any further increase in chances is meaningless. Everyone, please showcase your abilities and teach the method of 'I am born of Boundless Unity.' We no longer need the help of Sages, only over a thousand Half-Sages..."
"It is time to trouble you, Master, to break the seal on the River of Time and face the end of Mountains and Seas directly," Qiu Xin Hui said, cupping her hands to the white-haired Master.
The white-haired Master nodded proudly, appearing somewhat impatient. Among the Sages present, only Li Fan hesitated.
"Isn't this a bit too hasty?"
"If we have a method to continuously strengthen ourselves, why not accumulate more power?" Li Fan asked, puzzled.
Qiu Xin Hui merely smiled and offered no answer.
"Only by fighting can we win."
"A thousand strategies, a hundred calculations, are ultimately less than a personal battle."
Qiu Xin Hui was undoubtedly the core among the Sages. Since her mind was made up, Li Fan could not object further. Li Fan now had two options: either use Return to Truth directly or wait a little longer. He wanted to see the outcome of the final duel between Mountains and Seas and the void, and how the final desperate struggle of the Sages unfolded before leaving. Although the fated battle at the end of Mountains and Seas was indeed alluring, Li Fan had not lost his reason. The moment the final battle arrived at the end of Mountains and Seas, it would undoubtedly be extremely perilous. Even Sages could perish in an instant. However, Li Fan was not as fully prepared as the other Sages.
"With the power of the First Mysterious Woman, I successfully traversed the Void Realm, obtained the method to control stagnant True Spirits, and with the help of the Sages, deduced the method to infuse True Spirits using 'I am born of Boundless Unity.' The gains from this life have far exceeded my expectations. It's time to go back."
After all, Li Fan was not a true Sage, but merely a transcendent cultivator wearing the guise of the Mysterious Woman Dao. Although the Sages' attention had been captivated by the method of True Spirit infusion throughout their past research, they had rarely focused on Li Fan. Now that the method had been deduced, the probability of the Sages' attention falling on Li Fan was increasing. The longer he stayed, the more likely the secret of Return to Truth he carried would be exposed.
"This place is not suitable for lingering."
Li Fan seized an opportunity when the Sages were distracted, silently calling upon Return to Truth. The profound power of the True-False Transformation began to flow again, intending to overturn everything as it had before. But suddenly, Li Fan sensed something was wrong. As if sensing his imminent departure, a strange force emerged from the surrounding Mountains and Seas, coiling around Li Fan's body like tentacles, preventing his Return to Truth departure!
Li Fan's expression shifted slightly. He scanned his surroundings, searching for the source of this power. However, the Sages seemed oblivious to the changes, their expressions unchanged. It was then that Li Fan realized in shock that it was not other beings in the Mountains and Seas preventing his departure. What was entwining him was his foundation for becoming a Sage, the Mysterious Woman Dao!
"This..." Being bound by himself was truly ironic. Li Fan felt a mix of shock and anger, trying to break free from his self-imposed restraint. It did take effect. As a Sage of the Mysterious Woman, his control over the Mysterious Woman Dao still existed. But... for it to fully take effect would require some time. Li Fan forced himself to calm down and savored the situation, finally understanding what had happened. In this life, he had become a Sage of Mountains and Seas by borrowing the power of the First Mysterious Woman Dao. Having attained Sainthood, he had gradually become the Mountains and Seas' Mysterious Woman itself. As mentioned before, Li Fan's core was ultimately the True-False Transformation; the 'Mysterious Woman' was merely an outer garment he could shed at any time. But now, this heavy garment had been worn for too long. It had become somewhat affixed to his body, making it difficult to remove quickly. The Mysterious Woman Dao had countless connections to the current Mountains and Seas. When Li Fan wanted to use Return to Truth, these connections became obstacles.
"To use Return to Truth, I must first shed the outer garment of the Mysterious Woman."
"This is not a task for a single day."
"How long have I existed with the power of a Sage? To completely detach myself, it will require approximately one-tenth of that time?"
While this was actually quite efficient, Li Fan found it unacceptable. He had never expected that impersonating a Sage would lead to such consequences! He had already spent a long time at the end of Mountains and Seas in this lifetime, and now, the final fated battle at the end of Mountains and Seas was about to begin, yet he couldn't use Return to Truth.
"This..."
"Return to Truth! Return to Truth!" Li Fan repeated in his mind. He wasn't trying to activate Return to Truth. He was trying to awaken the sleeping Return to Truth. But the current situation was just like what he had experienced in his simulations: Return to Truth remained unresponsive.
"Without the severe injury from the merging of the Three Daos, it's purely feigning deafness and blindness."
Once he understood this, Li Fan's shock and anger quickly subsided. "If there were real danger, Return to Truth wouldn't be so indifferent. Besides, my spiritual sense hasn't given any warning."
"What is going on..." Li Fan's unease eventually attracted the attention of the Sages.
"Fellow Daoist, do not worry. Just do what is right."
To reduce the Sages' scrutiny, Li Fan could only nod silently. Compared to the long years of research before, the preparations for the final fated battle were exceedingly rushed. After the True Spirit infusion method had created over a thousand cultivators on the verge of Sainthood, the shifting figure made some calculations and nodded. The white-haired old man then made a gesture, severing the frozen River of Time. It was as if the frozen ice shattered, and the stagnant flow roared like thunder.
In that instant, Li Fan felt a brief moment of dizziness. It was as if the years he had experienced while time was halted had suddenly erupted with the restoration of the River of Time's flow. Countless scenes flashed before his eyes, a million years passing in an instant.
Without any time for preparation, the end of Mountains and Seas had arrived! The last ray of sunlight was about to dip below the horizon. The final iceberg was about to be swallowed by the sea. The last possibility of Mountains and Seas where they were staying was about to sink into the infinite Dao Erasure!
As if celebrating the ultimate victory of this prolonged battle, strange and discordant fluctuations emanated from the surrounding cold and silent void realm. Li Fan could clearly feel something lurking beneath the stagnant True Spirit, moving sometimes slowly, sometimes rapidly. It was watching covetously, eyeing the Mountains and Seas on the verge of sinking.
Darkness pressed in, step by step. And the dying Mountains and Seas let out their final, mournful cry! Li Fan had heard the sounds of Mountains and Seas before, but never had it moved him so deeply with such sorrow and unwillingness from the bottom of his heart! Before Li Fan's eyes, he seemed to witness the glorious scene of Mountains and Seas in their nascent stages. Mountains and Seas sang in unison, celebrating their theft of gods and their new birth. Yet, their rise was magnificent, and their fall was sudden. Mountains and Seas had existed for countless years, but in Li Fan's eyes, it was but a fleeting moment. Scenes flashed by at an indistinguishable speed. When Li Fan came back to his senses, they had already overlapped with the reality of the dying Mountains and Seas before him. In their twilight years, their demise was inevitable. The immense wails were the last sounds Mountains and Seas could muster, and they did not last long. When the darkness fully enveloped them, the echoes of Mountains and Seas abruptly vanished. Mountains and Seas perished at this moment!
His body ultimately originated from Mountains and Seas. Now that Mountains and Seas were perishing, Li Fan's emotions were affected, and his own existence was also about to dissipate along with them. As if empowered by the final victory, the erosion of the eternal void realm was a hundred times stronger than during their initial crossing. From all perceptible dimensions, it surged forward. Li Fan's disintegration accelerated at an unimaginable rate.
"Why aren't they acting yet?" Li Fan tried to locate Qiu Xin Hui and the others in the darkness. But they seemed to have been affected by the destruction of Mountains and Seas, remaining completely silent. "Did their struggle fail so easily?"
Just as such a thought flashed through Li Fan's mind, a beam of light illuminated the eternal void realm once more. It turned out that the Mountains and Seas, which had been completely swallowed, had, for some reason, returned and reappeared! However, this brief resurgence only lasted for a short moment. The scenery of Mountains and Seas had already become blurred, quickly compressed by the eternal void realm into two white dots. Yet, these two white dots were surprisingly tenacious, and the dim light they emitted could not be completely suppressed by the surging dark tide for a time.
As they were in a stalemate, another anomaly occurred. Two thin lines emerged from the white dots of Mountains and Seas, penetrating into the void realm. Instantly, the darkness surged. The suppression of the white dots was slightly loosened. The white dots shone brightly, and once again, anomalies of Mountains and Seas began to evolve.
"This is..." Li Fan, struggling to maintain his existence, felt a familiar aura from one of the white lines. It was the terrifying aura he had sensed when he first entered the Infinite Sea. Even with Return to Truth by his side now, he had no time to attend to it. He was engaged in a life-or-death struggle with the eternal void realm. Waves of intense fluctuations swept over, and Li Fan's existential foundation crumbled further, like being battered by giant waves.
"Return to Truth!" Unable to protect himself, Li Fan could only call out to Return to Truth again. But the result remained the same.
Just as the struggle between Mountains and Seas and the void reached its most critical juncture, and Li Fan was reduced to mere remnants, the Time End Sages, who had been waiting for the opportune moment, finally made their move. They had not been swallowed by the eternal void realm, and it seemed they had known what would happen at the end of Mountains and Seas, waiting for the right moment.
As countless figments of imagination surged forth like stars, illuminating the cold, dark void, they wove themselves into a phantom landscape of mountains and seas in an instant. However, this vision could not last long. The true mountains and seas had already been annihilated within the eternal void, let alone this illusory realm. The surrounding darkness immediately suppressed the light emitted by the phantom landscape, with churning waves threatening to drag it into eternal darkness.
"The Sages are gathered!" Elder Sage Qiu Xin Hui's voice suddenly echoed through the void, pushing back the surging waves. The phantom mountain and sea momentarily shone brighter, and from the myriad currents of the illusory landscape, threads of possibility and figures emerged, standing proudly. These were the transcended cultivators born from the True Spirit Implantation Plan fueled by the "Myriad Lives Boundless" technique. Myriad Lives Boundless had created over a thousand quasi-Sages and countless ordinary transcended beings, each capable of traversing the Dao Erasure and possessing some resistance against its encroachment.
Now, countless transcended beings worked together, contributing their meager strength to support the illusory mountain and sea that was on the verge of sinking into the eternal void. Each passing moment saw a multitude of lights, representing cultivators, dissipate. Though destined to fail in saving the illusory mountain and sea, their efforts bought precious time for the actions of the Sages of the End of Mountains and Seas.
Suddenly, a spectral river of time emerged, traversing the illusory landscape, bestowing upon it the flow of time. "Farewell, old man!" a voice called out, and within the imaginary mountain and sea, ripples seemed to spread with the echo of the sound. Li Fan clearly saw countless possibilities unfolding within the imaginary landscape. If the initial illusory mountain and sea were merely a blank canvas shaped from collective memory, then with the addition of the river of time and the power of infinite deduction, it began to grow and evolve on two different dimensions. The "imaginary" aura gradually faded, making it appear as if it were a mountain and sea that had truly existed in reality.
The newly born mountain and sea, though weak, teemed with vitality. The sacrifice of two Sages was like a prairie fire, igniting more and more boundless possibilities that began to grow freely. The river of time extended infinitely, from ancient times to the present. The nascent mountain and sea began to expand at a rate thousands of times faster than before, growing stronger with each passing moment. Although still minuscule compared to the eternal void, it had attracted enough attention. Even a fraction of the void's power, to surround and suppress the remaining mountain and sea, was more than the nascent one could withstand, plunging it into peril, its light dimming, on the brink of falling into darkness.
At this critical juncture, over a thousand quasi-Sages appeared within the mountain and sea. Their expressions were fearless, their bodies dissolving like they were being burned by flames. Streams of light, carrying their absorbed True Spirits, were injected into the nascent mountain and sea. It was like a potent tonic, temporarily bolstering the precarious mountain and sea against the tide of darkness. The reborn mountain and sea grew many times stronger, but it still could not compare to the eternal void. Once the void finished dealing with the two remaining points of light in the darkness, the nascent mountain and sea would ultimately face annihilation.
"I have seen fragments of the mountain and sea's past, and I know their former appearance," Elder Sage Qiu Xin Hui's voice reappeared. He lightly waved his sleeve, scattering countless points of light. As they traveled, an invisible hand guided and positioned these fragments into their rightful places. As if awakening ancient memories and regaining its primary framework, the nascent mountain and sea, now with a traceable path, began to grow wildly once more. It could even occasionally suppress the encroaching waves from the void.
This action seemed to enrage the surrounding darkness. Determined to give the nascent mountain and sea no further opportunity to grow, the void's invasive pressure surged a thousandfold! Instantly, the luster of the nascent mountain and sea became almost invisible, facing the same predicament as the original landscape. Despite several streams of light protecting it, under the void's assault, they slowly faded away.
"Facing the eternal void in its full glory, even Sages can only last this long!" Li Fan saw the figures of the Sages of the End of Mountains and Seas within the dissipating streams of light. His own condition worsening, he could not help but feel a shiver of fear. Fortunately, with two mountains and seas, one old and one new, drawing the void's attention, the pressure on Li Fan had lessened compared to when he first fell into the void, allowing him to persevere.
"I've watched the play long enough; it's time to return to reality! Why can't I activate Return to Truth yet?" Li Fan was utterly enraged. He could sense that as the void destroyed the foundations of his existence, it was also annihilating the "Mysterious Woman" Great Dao itself. Thus, the power that bound him was slowly weakening. Theoretically, he should be able to activate Return to Truth now, but for some unknown reason, it remained stubbornly inactive. Li Fan was powerless and could only try his best to maintain his existence and observe the unfolding events.
With the Sages of the End of Mountains and Seas having fallen, Qiu Xin Hui still had not given up. "The Sages are gathered!" Endless yellow light erupted from the nascent mountain and sea, acting as guardians, mitigating the void's erosion. Simultaneously, figures of Sages emerged one after another from the void – the very Sages who had fallen earlier! However, they were not their true selves, but rather conceptual bodies. Yet, their existence was distinctly different from ordinary conceptual bodies; they possessed the ability to manipulate their own mountain and sea Great Daos!
The river of time reappeared, transforming into myriad figures. The nascent mountain and sea received another wave of nourishment and expansion! "How is this possible?" Li Fan exclaimed internally, utterly shocked. These conceptual Sages were clearly Qiu Xin Hui's doing. Although they were not their true selves, but mere conceptual forms, they could still wield the path of a Sage. This indicated… "Elder Sage Qiu Xin Hui of the End of Mountains and Seas has a complete understanding of the Great Daos of other Sages!" "Just as I understand the 'Mysterious Woman,' even though I am not the Mysterious Woman Sage, I can don its guise and wield its powers. He, on the other hand, is resurrecting Sages conceptually and acting as one!"
Li Fan's mind reeled as he watched Qiu Xin Hui turn the tide. Every time the protective light of the conceptual Sages was annihilated by the void, with Qiu Xin Hui's cry of "The Sages are gathered!", new conceptual Sages would appear out of thin air, nourishing the mountain and sea once more. This cycle repeated endlessly, making the power of this Elder Sage of the End of Mountains and Seas seem inexhaustible, with no end in sight! "This…," Li Fan was rendered speechless by the shock. In the end of time, he and Qiu Xin Hui had existed together for a long time, yet he had never realized how terrifying and unfathomable this person's strength was! "Furthermore, I recall that this Dao of Imagination is not his own path." "What is the path by which he became a Sage?" Li Fan watched silently as the nascent mountain and sea grew robustly under the Sages' nourishment within the eternal void, a greater doubt arising in his mind. "I truly underestimated this Elder Sage of the End of Mountains and Seas." "With the strength he has displayed… is it possible that the nascent mountain and sea might truly succeed?"
The eternal void surged. Although each impact threatened to annihilate the nascent mountain and sea completely, as long as even a sliver of its brilliance remained, Qiu Xin Hui could restore it. Thus, under the void's continuous erosion, this nascent mountain and sea, through repeated destruction, managed to grow with difficulty! If this continued indefinitely, it seemed even the eternal void would have no solution.
As if sensing this, the icy darkness fell into a moment of silence. Then… boundless tranquility was rent asunder. Like a lone star hanging high, or an eye of a god opening, an unknown entity descended from the eternal void. The nascent mountain and sea froze in place, then shattered layer by layer. Even with the constant appearance of conceptual Sages trying to intervene, its destructive speed was too immense. No matter how it was repaired, it was all in vain.
"Finally, the 'Star' appears…" "Heh heh. Fellow Daoist Fan, why haven't you made your move yet?" Qiu Xin Hui's voice suddenly transmitted. Li Fan, still stunned by the appearance of the 'Star,' was taken aback by Qiu Xin Hui's words. "Make my move?" "Me?" The mere 'Mysterious Woman' Great Dao could barely contend with the dark tides of the eternal void, how could it possibly be an opponent for the 'Star'? Li Fan found the idea ludicrous and quickly felt a surge of panic. Given Qiu Xin Hui's demonstrated strength, he would not say such an unprompted thing. "Unless?" Realizing this, Li Fan's body moved involuntarily, not by his own volition, but out of necessity. He floated out of the darkness and, towards the invisible rift in the void that had been torn open, gently touched the 'Star' that appeared within.
"When truth becomes falsehood…" "Falsehood becomes truth." A hoarse yet youthful voice rang out. The lone star seemed to vanish. The imaginary mountain and sea instantly evolved into countless phantom images, which moments later solidified, becoming boundless and filling the vision. It was as if the mountain and sea had been reborn! The phrase 'truth becomes falsehood' referred to the obscured star, while 'falsehood becomes truth' referred to the newly born imaginary mountain and sea. Li Fan, all by himself, had completely reversed the situation. Or rather, it wasn't Li Fan, but Return to Truth!
"When truth becomes falsehood, falsehood becomes truth. What a phrase, 'When truth becomes falsehood, falsehood becomes truth!'" Within the endlessly reborn mountains and seas, Qiu Xin Hui appeared and approached Li Fan. "The transformation between truth and falsehood is indeed profound." However, Li Fan smiled and commented self-deprecatingly, "The false cannot become true, and the true cannot become false." He pointed in the direction where the 'Star' had disappeared, his expression unreadable, "One can block the 'Star' for a moment, but not for a lifetime." This answer was also beyond Qiu Xin Hui's expectations. He looked at the boundless, seemingly reborn mountains and seas and asked, "How long can this last?" "I don't know," Li Fan replied with only four words.
Qiu Xin Hui finally fell into complete silence. He asked sincerely, "Fellow Daoist Fan, what do you think of our plan?" Li Fan pondered for a moment and then slowly evaluated, "If the 'Star' is not the 'Star,' then the plan could succeed. Unfortunately…" Hearing this, Qiu Xin Hui's expression turned solemn, and he cupped his hands in supplication, "May I ask Fellow Daoist, what exactly is the 'Star'?" "I am also seeking that answer." Li Fan's reply rendered Qiu Xin Hui speechless. The two stood within the eternal void, silently watching the temporarily reborn mountains and seas. With the nascent mountain and sea as their foothold, the surging dark tides seemed unable to affect them.
After an unknown amount of time, the nascent mountain and sea seemed to have returned to their full glory, as if the destruction they had endured was merely an illusion. Qiu Xin Hui spoke again, "Fellow Daoist Fan, have we… met before?" Li Fan finally showed a hint of a smile. "If we hadn't met, where would my 'Return to Truth' come from?" Qiu Xin Hui looked puzzled. Li Fan smiled again and did not offer further explanation, instead saying, "Let's return. Lingering here is meaningless." Qiu Xin Hui sighed but ultimately did not refuse.
*Thump, thump, thump…* Clear heartbeats suddenly sounded, growing heavier and spreading throughout the area. Outside the eternal void, the 'Star' seemed to be reappearing, but a mysterious force was slowly filling everything, reversing it. The heartbeats quickened, as if a rewind button had been pressed. The scenes that had unfolded here replayed in reverse. The flickering images sped up, and the heartbeats grew weaker. When the sound finally became inaudible… at the End of Mountains and Seas, Li Fan's eyes snapped open, and he looked around.
"What is this?" He examined his surroundings in disbelief. Qiu Xin Hui was smiling, looking at him, as if they had just arrived at the End of Mountains and Seas moments ago! "I successfully activated Return to Truth?" "No, this is??" Fleeting images surfaced in his mind, but a sharp pain prevented Li Fan from concentrating. His entire body ached as if he had been through an intense battle and was severely depleted. "What happened? I remember it should have been the final battle between the mountain and sea and the eternal void." Li Fan massaged his temples, trying to clear his muddled mind. "Return to Truth, right, Return to Truth!" Li Fan seemed to recall something and, realizing Return to Truth might have been exposed, abruptly raised his head and met Qiu Xin Hui's gaze.
Qiu Xin Hui, just as Li Fan remembered, was there to help stabilize the injuries of the collapsing inhabitants of the Realm of Life and Death. "I know, Fellow Daoist Fan, you might have many questions. Please wait patiently; I will explain everything." As an inner calling arose, Li Fan's Return to Truth interface reappeared before him. The current point in time was shortly after he had donned the "Mysterious Woman" guise, before the binding force had fully solidified. He could activate Return to Truth at any time. With newfound confidence, Li Fan nodded silently, patiently waiting for Qiu Xin Hui to finish handling the matters at hand. During this time, Li Fan encountered the Sages of the End of Mountains and Seas again. However, aside from Qiu Xin Hui, they seemed unaware of what had transpired.
"Such a scene… could it be?" Recalling the similarities he sensed between the Sages and Return to Truth, Li Fan began to form a guess about Qiu Xin Hui's true path.
"The Mountains and Seas are Destroyed, and the Star Descends. What I Just Saw Was Not a Mere Illusion, but Something That Truly Happened."
The solitary star hung high, tearing through the void, its gaze like a deity's. The moment Li Fan recalled this scene, a chill spread through his heart, as if an unknown entity within the Eternal Void were staring at him. However, no trace of the star remained, and the Mountains and Seas had returned to their final, broken state.
"The River of Time itself exists due to the Mountains and Seas. After the destruction of the Mountains and Seas, it was still possible to return to the origin. This wasn't a simple rollback of time..."
"It was a complete reversal of everything that had occurred."
"A transformation of true and false?"
Though his heart was filled with disbelief, everything he had experienced at the end of the Mountains and Seas seemed to unequivocally point to this conclusion. A fire seemed to burn in Li Fan's throat. If Elder Qiu Xin Hui's path to Sainthood was the transformation of true and false, then what exactly was Return to Truth? Li Fan stared intently at the words on the Return to Truth panel, "When true becomes false, false also becomes true," a myriad of questions surging within him.
When Elder Qiu Xin Hui, who had successfully healed everyone in the Realm of Life and Death, reappeared before him, Li Fan felt he had nothing left to hide. Since the existence of Return to Truth had been exposed, he directly voiced his confusion.
"The Great Dao of True and False..." Elder Qiu Xin Hui, with her white hair, looked on wistfully, momentarily lost in thought. Then, she shook her head with a sigh, "I only attained '[False becomes True],' not '[True becomes False].'"
This answer was both unexpected and, in a way, logical. False becomes True was a further manifestation of the Art of Imagination. Recalling the events, after the destruction of the Mountains and Seas and the fall of the Sages, Elder Qiu Xin Hui had single-handedly conjured the Sages into existence, holding up an imagined realm of Mountains and Seas against the encroaching Eternal Void. This indeed carried the flavor of "False becomes True."
Li Fan let out a sigh of relief, but his doubts only grew stronger. He hadn't expected that the transformation of true and false within Return to Truth had another aspect it could interact with in the Mountains and Seas.
"A long time ago, before I proved my Sainthood, I witnessed the destruction of the Mountains and Seas. All the past scenes were vividly before my eyes. Despair and regret filled my chest. As I was about to perish, an enlightenment, "[False becomes True]," dawned upon me amidst the final currents of the Mountains and Seas. From the void of destruction, I recreated the 'End of the Mountains and Seas'..." Elder Qiu Xin Hui spoke slowly, filled with emotion. Seemingly sensing Li Fan's confusion, she continued without waiting for him to speak, "I was born at the end of the Mountains and Seas, grew up at the end of the Mountains and Seas. And I attained my Dao at the end of the Mountains and Seas. My entire existence is confined to this place. Although I can glimpse past scenes of the Mountains and Seas through fleeting images, it is like looking at a spot through a narrow tube, seeing only a fraction of the whole. To recreate the imagined Mountains and Seas is still within my power. But to truly restore them to their full glory... my strength is insufficient."
"If you were to traverse the River of Time and head to older Mountains and Seas, to witness their complete panorama, wouldn't you be able to achieve it?" Li Fan asked thoughtfully, referring to Elder Qiu Xin Hui's ability to summon the Sages one after another to fend off the encroachment of the void.
"With your strength, you should be able to do it, right?" Li Fan naturally meant Elder Qiu Xin Hui's method of summoning Sages.
To his surprise, Elder Qiu Xin Hui shook her head, denying his suggestion. "Traversing with the current was already arduous. Moving against it is an even greater challenge. Fellow Daoist Li, you underestimate the dangers involved. Furthermore, if the Sages are still present, how can I recreate them?" Elder Qiu Xin Hui revealed the most crucial point.
Li Fan suddenly understood. The divine power Elder Qiu Xin Hui displayed earlier was after the Sages had sacrificed themselves and perished at the end of the Mountains and Seas. The Great Daos they presided over were vacant, unclaimed. Therefore, Elder Qiu Xin Hui could summon their figures from nothingness and re-establish their authority, wielding their power. However, if the Sages were still alive at this point in the end of the Mountains and Seas... her imagination would only grasp their forms, not their abilities.
While the reasoning was sound, Li Fan couldn't help but feel a sense of dissatisfaction. "So what? If you explain the specific circumstances and reasons to the Sages, I believe they would be willing to sacrifice themselves to save the Mountains and Seas. If that doesn't work, then find an opportunity..." Li Fan's eyes narrowed, a glint of ruthlessness hidden within them.
Sensing Li Fan's inner thoughts instantly, Elder Qiu Xin Hui couldn't help but chuckle wryly. "The Sages came because of my summons; how could I betray them? It is one thing for everyone to unite and strive for salvation, and for me to carry on their will after their sacrifice. It is entirely another to plot against them while they are still alive, to harm their lives. I will not do that." Elder Qiu Xin Hui, the Sage of the End of the Mountains and Seas, said with great solemnity.
"Pedantic," Li Fan scoffed inwardly. However, he did not argue with Elder Qiu Xin Hui. Instead, a new thought struck him. If, according to this Sage of the End of the Mountains and Seas, others could not touch the Great Daos presided over by the Sages when they were present, then... "Does Return to Truth's transformation of true and false have any connection to what Elder Qiu Xin Hui presides over?"
Elder Qiu Xin Hui continued, "At the beginning of the Mountains and Seas, other Sages went forth. My plan was as I previously stated: to seek a sliver of hope by creating an imagined realm of Mountains and Seas during the transition between the old and the new. Through our repeated attempts, we seemed to have glimpsed a glimmer of hope. Until... today, when we finally faced the 'Star.'"
The terrifying image of the solitary star hanging high reappeared before Li Fan's eyes. Faint, forgotten memories surfaced.
"After you called me to act... what exactly happened?" Li Fan's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly asked.
Elder Qiu Xin Hui studied him closely, then shook her head slightly. "Fellow Daoist Li has his own karmic destiny. If I were to easily reveal it, it would be detrimental to you. What happened is actually irrelevant. You only need to know that our struggles were all in vain at the moment the 'Star' appeared. Fortunately, there is still a turning point..." Elder Qiu Xin Hui looked directly at Li Fan.
Even though the enigmatic Elder Qiu Xin Hui spoke cryptically, Li Fan could roughly guess what had happened to him. It was also what he had been most worried about all along: Return to Truth had somehow lost control, taken over his body, and acted on its own. A shadow flickered in his eyes. Li Fan felt a surge of anger, as if a fire had ignited within him. Despite his extreme annoyance, Li Fan considered his options and realized he had no good solution. He couldn't possibly break through his True Spirit barrier and bring about mutual destruction, could he? The situation had not reached that point yet.
Without Elder Qiu Xin Hui's persuasion, Li Fan soon talked himself down, forcefully suppressing the anger in his eyes. Observing Li Fan's change in expression, Elder Qiu Xin Hui nodded subtly. "For this operation, Fellow Daoist Li need not intervene. Just watch silently. When everything calms down, you can... Return to Truth has returned."
When Elder Qiu Xin Hui uttered the words "Return to Truth," Li Fan's heart couldn't help but skip a beat. This was the first time he had heard the name Return to Truth spoken by another since his reincarnation. Even though he had already anticipated its discovery, hearing his suspicion confirmed still sent a wave of extreme unease through him.
"What about the True Spirit Implantation?" he asked, changing the subject.
"It was all in vain. Fellow Daoist Li need not trouble yourself," Elder Qiu Xin Hui smiled and left with a cupped-hand salute.
Thus, during this reincarnation in the end of the Mountains and Seas, Li Fan felt like a transparent observer. While the other Sages knew of his existence, they only knew him as '[Profound Woman]' and he did not participate in their plan to save the world. Time held no meaning in the end of the Mountains and Seas, where the River of Time was frozen.
After an unknown period, the blockade was not lifted by the white-haired Master himself, but rather the Master perished, exhausting his life force. The River of Time surged, carrying everyone towards their final destiny. Without Li Fan's True Spirit Implantation, the imagined Mountains and Seas fared even worse. They could barely withstand the erosion of the fully empowered Eternal Void, let alone face the solitary high star. Without even witnessing the 'Star's' descent, the imagined Mountains and Seas, along with the Sages, were annihilated.
"The Sages stand in formation!" Elder Qiu Xin Hui's solemn voice echoed alone in the darkness. Even though he knew his fate beforehand, he had not given up the struggle until the void's tidal waves surged and completely extinguished the imagined brilliance.
"Fellow Daoist Li..."
"It is time."
"This time, the experience may be different from before." Elder Qiu Xin Hui’s final words slowly drifted over. In the darkness of the surging tide, Li Fan, finally having broken free from the shackles of the Profound Woman Great Dao, softly called out to Return to Truth once more. His heart lurched, and his expression tensed. Fortunately, there were no surprises. That familiar sensation finally returned. And, as Elder Qiu Xin Hui had said, this experience was indeed different. Return to Truth's characteristic rolling white mist did not appear. Instead, Li Fan felt a peculiar power separating him from the surrounding Eternal Void, protecting him. It was akin to returning to the womb; all his restlessness and anxiety vanished, replaced by absolute tranquility. Even though Return to Truth did not immediately act, as if waiting for something to change, Li Fan felt no tension. He waited silently alongside it.
When the last flicker of light from the imagined Mountains and Seas was swallowed by darkness, and when the final two specks of light from the original Mountains and Seas vanished, the tempestuous Eternal Void fell into a brief silence. Then, it erupted into unprecedentedly violent tidal waves, as if celebrating the arrival of an emperor. Though he could not see these waves, Li Fan could sense their presence through his increasingly turbulent senses. Their power was several times greater than when they had trapped the Mountains and Seas, and even Return to Truth's protection was severely impacted.
"This is the true, full power of the void." At the same time, Li Fan knew what Return to Truth was waiting for. It was waiting for the 'Star' to descend. Unlike before, when it tore through the void and appeared directly in their sight, this time, the 'Star' rose like the dawn from the horizon. Initially, its radiance was not particularly dazzling, but with each passing moment, the pressure it exerted on the outside world increased a thousandfold. Return to Truth's protection creaked under the onslaught, as if battered by a hurricane. The Eternal Void churned as if boiling. Bathed in the 'Star's' unique radiance, the darkness evaporated. But instead of light, what met the eye was the peculiar brilliance unique to the 'Star.' The 'Star's' power was too overbearing. It tolerated no existence other than itself, not even the Eternal Void. Under the 'Star's' illumination, the darkness evaporated completely. All that could be seen was the solitary 'Star,' beginning to expand endlessly.
Facing the 'Star.' Shielded by Return to Truth's power, Li Fan's mind involuntarily conjured the thought of escape. At the same time, he understood the absurdity of Elder Qiu Xin Hui's plan. Escaping to establish themselves, or integrating into the 'Star' – all pure nonsense. After the 'Star' descended, nothing would remain, except the 'Star' itself. What terrifying power was this! Li Fan trembled uncontrollably. Even though he closed his eyes, severed his divine sense, and was protected by Return to Truth, he could not prevent the 'Star' from slowly rising in his mind. As its image grew larger, it seemed poised to completely consume him. The 'Star's' divine pressure and the inexpressible gap in power left Li Fan's mind blank, unable to even conjure thoughts of escape. His mind went blank, and he simply waited for death to come.
Just then, seven streams of light floated from an unknown source. It was the familiar phrase, "When true becomes false, false also becomes true!" The streams of light seemed to split into two, scattering and confronting the solitary high star. The 'Star's' infinite expansion suddenly halted, as if a hand had emerged from beneath the sea, forcefully dragging back the 'Star' that had already risen above the horizon! This power was slow yet resolute, irresistible and undeniable, even for the 'Star'! The solitary star trembled, furious. Its starlight seemed to erupt, piercingly bright a thousandfold. Judging by its previous performance, perhaps the entire void would have evaporated under this sudden burst of starlight. However, at this moment, all that radiance was blocked by the four characters, "True becomes false." The 'Star's' fury seemed no different from before. The two streams of light vied for dominance.
Li Fan, who witnessed this entire scene, was utterly stunned. Although he was like an ant compared to the 'Star' and Return to Truth, he was not completely unable to comprehend what was happening. Were his countless reincarnations and his understanding of the transformation of true and false in vain? At this moment, Li Fan's fear of the 'Star' had completely dissipated, replaced by immense excitement. He murmured to himself, "True becomes false, true becomes false..."
"So that's how it is."
"It's actually like this!" Li Fan had always believed that "True becomes False" referred to all the things and Great Daos within the Mountains and Seas. It was only now, after personally witnessing Return to Truth's radiance clashing with the 'Star,' that Li Fan finally understood completely. "True becomes False' does not refer to the various phenomena of the Mountains and Seas."
"Or rather, it's not limited to just the Mountains and Seas."
"Most importantly..."
"To erase the light of the 'Star's' descent!"
"To eliminate the 'Star's' influence!" Li Fan's mind roared.
"'I only attained [False becomes True],' not '[True becomes False].'" The Sage of the End of the Mountains and Seas' complex expression resurfaced. Li Fan finally understood the meaning.
"Return to Truth's power is limited to this?" Li Fan exclaimed in disbelief. Li Fan's inner emotions had no effect on the outside world. Between the two forces, Return to Truth ultimately proved superior. The 'Star's' radiance slowly dissipated, and the dark void reappeared. As everything returned to calm, the remaining three characters, "False becomes True," from the seven streams of light exploded silently. They transformed into boundless Mountains and Seas, pushing back the Eternal Void. Before Li Fan could exclaim, he was swept along and engulfed.
This simulation has ended.
You can choose one of the following options to retain:
1. During this simulation, retain one item you possessed.
2. During this simulation, retain your cultivation realm.
3. During this simulation, retain the simulated memories of a close associate. These memories can be passed down to that person.
4. Abandon the above choices and speed up the recharge progress.
⸺⸺⸺
Compared to the stable state of the previous text, the current characters flashing on the screen shimmered with a strange black and red glow. This eerie radiance made Li Fan recall the scene from the end of his last life, where the Reflection and the Star Needles clashed. The explanatory text here seemed on the verge of collapse, as if it would shatter at any moment. This was no illusion; as Li Fan focused his intent, the inheritance instructions disintegrated like ashes.
However, Li Fan felt no panic. He understood that the changes in the Reflection this time were a good sign.
After the text shattered, Li Fan's vision was engulfed in darkness for a brief moment. Soon, new flashes of light were reborn in the abyss. New lines of text began to reassemble, appearing before Li Fan's eyes.
This simulation has ended.
You can choose one of the following options to retain:
1. During this simulation, retain your cultivation, possessions, or the Great Dao you wield.
2. During this simulation, retain the simulated results of any close Daoist friend. These results can overwrite the current world.
3. During this simulation, retain an outline of the changes in the Mountains and Seas.
4. During this simulation, retain an outline of the Star Radiance's movements.
5. Abandon the above choices and speed up the recharge progress.
⸺⸺⸺
The four choices had become five, and the specific content of each option had undergone a tremendous change. With each line he read, Li Fan felt an invisible hand clenching his heart.
"This is the change that has come about because I have finally achieved the Saint realm, and witnessed the end of the Mountains and Seas and the emergence of the solitary star with my own eyes."
"Or perhaps, it is because I have finally witnessed the true power of the Reflection and the truth behind each activation of the Reflection, thus it is opening up more to me?"
Li Fan was unsure of the exact reason, or if it was a combination of both. In any case, the change in the Reflection's inheritance content this time was extraordinary.
Taking a deep breath, Li Fan closed his eyes, disregarding the content of the inheritance options. Only after he had completely calmed down did he begin to ponder anew.
The original first and second inheritance options were now merged into one. Moreover, this new merged option encompassed much more. It was not limited to his own cultivation but also included his possessions and the Great Dao he wielded.
He could understand retaining his cultivation and possessions. But what did "the Great Dao he wielded" refer to?
"Ordinary Great Daos are no longer worth mentioning to me. This Great Dao must refer to the Great Dao of the Mountains and Seas. However, the Reflection possesses the divine power of 'Great Dao Realization,' which can be permanently absorbed. For example, even if I don't choose to inherit the Great Dao, the 'First Profound Woman' is still within the Reflection's control. What meaning is there in inheriting it again?"
Li Fan frowned in thought. He did not believe the Reflection would offer meaningless options, especially after truly witnessing its divine might. Deeply realizing how laughable his past conjectures about the Reflection had been, Li Fan knew he needed to approach it with a fresh perspective.
"Inheriting existing things... there seems to be a precedent." After a long pause, Li Fan's gaze flickered, recalling his past experience when choosing to inherit the oddities of the Xuanhuang Realm.
"Azure Nether Oddities should be unique in the world. But after the Reflection's power created a new one, two parallel existences appeared instantly."
"However... the unique nature would not change. Therefore..." Li Fan's heart skipped a beat as he reached a conclusion.
"Merging the two, advancing further!" If it were merely an oddity of a realm, it would be nothing. But now, the object that could be strengthened was the Great Dao of the Mountains and Seas, which was on par with the world itself and could lead to Sainthood! If it were further enhanced by the Reflection, what would its manifestation be? Recalling the 'Profound Woman' Great Dao he had wielded and cultivated in his past life, and then looking at the glowing characters 'First Profound Woman' on the Reflection's panel, Li Fan felt an impulse to directly choose this option to observe its specific changes.
"If it truly unfolds as I imagine, then it would be of great significance, directly carving a path for me. As long as I continuously strengthen it, perhaps even merely wearing its outer layer would make me no weaker than the Sages of the Other Shore."
He had almost made his decision. But Li Fan suppressed the urge and did not choose to inherit immediately. Instead, he carefully read the subsequent options.
If the first inheritance choice was for himself, then the second was for others. Compared to before, the effect was a qualitative leap. Previously, one could only inherit memories along with one's spiritual essence. Even if someone like Bai Shuyue cultivated to the Transcendent realm in her past life, she would have to start again from the mortal realm in her next life. But now...
"Directly inheriting the simulated results, and overwriting the current Mountains and Seas." Li Fan had encountered the description "overwriting the current Mountains and Seas" during the Reflection's "simulated" deductions of the entire world, and it was easy to understand. It meant being able to inherit everything obtained from the previous simulated life, just like Li Fan. As the biggest beneficiary of this inheritance function of the Reflection, Li Fan naturally knew its terrifying potential. It could even enlighten Sages!
"But there are drawbacks."
"The simulated results naturally encompass the complete memories of the past life. The strength of a Sage is also comparable to mine. If one were to truly enlighten a Sage, even if I hid it well, there would inevitably be flaws."
"This is a great weapon, a double-edged sword, not to be used lightly. Even with my aunt, it would be the same." With Li Fan's nature, there was no one in the entire world whom he could use this second inheritance option on without any reservations.
"Perhaps in the future, when I find myself in danger again, I will employ it," Li Fan thought to himself.
Li Fan had many concerns. Fortunately, a faint fluctuation came from the Reflection, reminding him that he could still choose the old method of simply inheriting memories. However, this was truly a waste and not highly recommended. But everything was ultimately up to Li Fan's decision.
"Wasteful?" Li Fan snorted lightly and skipped it, looking at the third and fourth inheritance options. These were new possibilities that appeared after the drastic changes of the previous life. And... judging by the wording, they were extraordinary.
Li Fan's expression became solemn as he slowly read. "Outline of the changes in the Mountains and Seas, outline of the Star Radiance's movements." One involved the Mountains and Seas, the other the solitary star. Without a doubt, with the Reflection's capabilities, it should be able to observe and record the changes in the Mountains and Seas, and even the stars. But the key was... what exactly were these two items? If he inherited them, what benefit would they bring to Li Fan in his current state?
"Too profound."
"I haven't even reached the Saint realm yet. If I were to inherit them rashly, it might be more harmful than beneficial," Li Fan sighed after staring at these two lines for a long time.
"Their appearance on the Reflection's panel now simply means that I am finally capable of observing the 'Outline of the Mountains and Seas' and the 'Outline of the Star Radiance.' But whether the outcome of my observation would be good or bad is unknown."
"As for before..."
"I probably wouldn't even have qualified to see them." The terrifying image of the Mountains and Seas collapsing and the star radiance engulfing everything resurfaced in his mind. He had no doubt that if he, as a mortal, had encountered such a scene, he would have gone completely mad from the shock.
"Only by truly stepping into the Saint realm myself, not by relying on the outer shell of the Great Dao of the Mountains and Seas, can I accept these two aspects without harm," Li Fan dimly understood.
"Of course, since the Reflection has listed them, it means that with my current strength, even if I forcibly read them, I wouldn't suffer fatal damage."
"I can indeed observe the mysteries of these two. But..."
"The other options are beneficial, but these two are harmful." Li Fan shook his head slightly and, after much hesitation, ultimately chose neither.
"It's safer this way. There's no problem."
"It's just a reincarnation simulation, after all." After calming his thoughts, Li Fan's gaze finally fell on the last option.
"Speeding up the recharge progress..." His thoughts paused slightly. The Reflection needing to recharge was a law that had existed from the beginning. Even though the recharge time had continuously shortened with Li Fan's increasing strength and various fortunate encounters, becoming extremely short, it still required recharge time. If it were in the past, Li Fan would have subconsciously skipped this option, considering it insignificant. But now, the Reflection's inheritance options had undergone a change, and while the inheritance of cultivation and possessions was merged into one, this option to speed up recharging still existed, even occupying a separate line.
"Could there be some profound mystery here?" Based on the Reflection's current performance, the answer was almost obvious. But the benefit of choosing this option was too low. After pondering for a moment, Li Fan ultimately shook his head and skipped it.
"I choose to inherit the Great Dao I wielded in my previous life." Li Fan's expression was solemn as he made up his mind. A series of unintelligible fluctuations emanated from the depths of his heart. They were fleeting, just as the Reflection had previously expressed: everything was ultimately decided by Li Fan's choice.
A moment later, a mysterious and familiar rhythm descended.
"Great Dao of the Profound Woman..." In the end of the Mountains and Seas, he had spent countless years with it. Li Fan recognized the aura of the "Profound Woman" at a glance. Due to the Reflection's concealment, the descent of this Great Dao did not spread outside the Xuanhuang Realm; it was limited to within a three-zhang radius around Li Fan.
The Great Dao descended upon him, like a garment worn for many years, which Li Fan put on with extreme familiarity. It was like the emperor's new clothes, both worn and not worn. It existed on Li Fan for only a moment before disappearing like a dream of yellow millet.
But this change was within Li Fan's expectations. He gazed into the distance, beyond the Primordial. He keenly sensed the location where the "Profound Woman" Great Dao had originally been in the Mountains and Seas.
"Indeed, the Profound Woman has been strengthened. Though not exaggerated to the point of doubling, it is already astonishingly powerful."
"And..." A strange expression flashed across Li Fan's face. "After inheriting the strand of the Profound Woman Great Dao that I wielded for many years, the 'Profound Woman' in the current Mountains and Seas has actually been tainted with my aura?"
At the same time, Li Fan noticed that on the Reflection panel, the characters "First Profound Woman" after "Great Dao Realization" had changed from seven-colored luster to transparent.
"The Reflection still has control over the Profound Woman. But today's Profound Woman is not the Profound Woman of yesterday. She needs to be re-collected to stabilize." As Li Fan had once been a Saint of the Profound Woman, he could naturally discern the reason for this change.
"After my choice to inherit today, the Profound Woman in the Mountains and Seas has permanently changed. Even if I were to reincarnate again and the Reflection reshaped the Mountains and Seas at the end of time, the Profound Woman in the new reincarnation would still be the Profound Woman I have already altered."
A sense of understanding surged within Li Fan. Simultaneously, a vague unease arose. The source of this unease was not that a crisis was truly imminent. It was because there was no more "regret medicine." No matter what choice he made in the past, he could return to the initial anchor point through the Reflection, eliminating all the consequences of his actions. But now, as his strength gradually increased and he encountered the true face of the Reflection, this "privilege" of not having to bear any consequences had ceased to exist.
"It seems that any modification involving the Great Dao of the Mountains and Seas must be done with extreme caution." In fact, Li Fan still suspected that the Reflection had the ability to reset the Mountains and Seas to the "pure" version they were in when he first transmigrated. However, since the Reflection had now explicitly informed him of the change and made it, even if Li Fan insisted on objecting, it would be useless. He might as well accept it silently.
"Overall, the changes in the Profound Woman Great Dao itself are beneficial to me." Firstly, it would be easier for Li Fan to once again don the outer layer of the Profound Woman. Secondly... Li Fan had a feeling that if he were to mark all the Great Daos of the Mountains and Seas through this method of inheriting the Great Dao he wielded, then even without advancing to the Saint realm, his true strength would not be inferior to the Sages of the Other Shore.
"The current priority is to enhance my own strength. As for the struggle between the Mountains and Seas, the Reflection, and the Stars... perhaps in the future, I can participate in it." In the difficult gap, Li Fan had his own way of survival. When weak, he would lie low as much as possible, seize every opportunity to strengthen himself, until the situation completely reversed, and then settle the score!
Li Fan did not feel unable to accept being controlled by the Reflection, nor did he fall into despair. He had already understood that with the Reflection's power, it could occupy his body and will at any time. But it had specifically not done so. It must have had a purpose. Whether it was his own infinite spiritual essence or his unique identity as a "transmigrator," the Reflection's special treatment was the capital he could use to continue the game.
"Just wait and see."
"There are still many days ahead."
"Hmph." Without any fear of the Reflection peeking, Li Fan thought to himself.
In his previous life, Li Fan, clad in the guise of the Mysterious Woman, had reached the very end of the Mountains and Seas. After countless years, he had gained a profound understanding of the Mysterious Woman's Great Dao.
In this life, through the Inheritance option of Return to Truth, the Mysterious Woman's Great Dao now bore his unique mark.
"I no longer need to rely on the imaginings of beings in the Realm of Life and Death to replicate it. With my own power alone, I can achieve the same feat."
"However, the descent of the Mountains and Seas Great Dao will surely alert the Sages on the Other Shore. Unless Return to Truth can help conceal it for me…"
It was a pity that Return to Truth seemed to have fallen back into slumber after fulfilling its succession mission. It offered no response to Li Fan's demands.
"It seems I have to find a way myself."
In his previous life, besides witnessing the true power of Return to Truth, Li Fan's greatest gain was the method of "My Existence is Boundless Unity," deduced by the Sages of the Mountains and Seas' End to nurture True Spirits. Even powerful Sages like Elder Sage Qiu Xin Hui benefited from nurturing their True Spirits, demonstrating the profound mystery of this technique.
"The fact that I can freely command the accumulated True Spirits in the Void Realm, much like manipulating my own arm and fingers, has little to do with the Mysterious Woman's guise. Even with my current Transcendent cultivation, I can command great power!"
With a glint in his eyes, Li Fan leaped out of the Primordial Possibility, hurtling towards the earliest spectacle of this segment of the Mountains and Seas. Only when the Void Realm, exuding a terrifying aura, appeared in the distance did he slowly decelerate.
"Before the Eternal Void Realm, the notion that 'having seen the vast sea, lesser waters are insignificant' no longer holds true."
Even though he had witnessed the full might of the Void Realm, which had completely consumed the Mountains and Seas in his previous life, Li Fan still felt an instinctive fear when facing the darkness before him now. It was as if there was no difference between the two. The very foundation of his existence began to crumble as he drew closer.
"It seems that merely having witnessed it offers no help in resisting the Void Realm. One must possess at least the strength of a Sage to briefly survive within it."
Li Fan attempted to approach further, but his maximum limit of advance remained the same as when he had tried with Moral True Immortal. There was no progress.
"It seems this is indeed the limit that the Transcendent realm can reach."
Suppressing the unease in his heart, Li Fan did not torment himself further.
"Fortunately, it is enough for me to sense the immense True Spirits accumulating within the Void Realm."
Li Fan gazed into the distance, into the deathly silence of the darkness. He seemed to see countless True Spirit soldiers, arrayed in neat formations, awaiting his command.
"The reason I can easily control the accumulated True Spirits should be due to my boundless spirituality."
With a gentle wave of his hand, just as he had performed at the end of the Mountains and Seas in his previous life, a formless and intangible mass of accumulated True Spirits responded to his call.
"Hmm... this segment of the Mountains and Seas is still in a relatively intact state. Unlike the Void Realm or the End of the Mountains and Seas. With the same amount of effort, the scale of True Spirits I can summon seems to be only half."
"But it doesn't matter. It just means I'll have to wave my hand a few more times." Li Fan mused, nodding to himself.
"With the materials in hand, the next step is to choose suitable candidates."
To conceal the stir caused by the descent of the Mysterious Woman's Great Dao, the best method for Li Fan, with his current strength, was to create a fluctuation of comparable magnitude. This would divert the attention of the Sages.
"The birth of a new Sage is enough to attract attention. Incidentally, I can also test my Saint Creation Plan."
"As for suitable candidates..." The visage of Moral True Immortal immediately appeared in Li Fan's mind.
"I once said that if I had the chance, I would assist you in becoming a Sage. Now is the time to fulfill that promise." Li Fan chuckled darkly.
"Moral True Immortal is already only one step away from the Sage realm. He can even escape the nature of the Great Dao and achieve an alternative Sainthood through the Method of Moral Division. If he could receive the assistance of this mass of accumulated True Spirits…"
"Uh, it's probably not enough." Li Fan, having witnessed the Saint Creation Plan of Elder Sage Qiu Xin Hui and others in his previous life, knew the terrifying amount of True Spirits required to forge a Sage. He pondered for a moment and then, with some effort, captured more accumulated True Spirits from the Void Realm.
He opened his mouth slightly and absorbed them. Then, he floated away serenely.
In the eternally unchanging Void Realm of Annihilation, a brief surge of undercurrents seemed to appear due to the disappearance of this mass of accumulated True Spirits. It was as if a consciousness had swiftly passed through. However, Li Fan had already departed, so this surging undercurrent naturally went unnoticed. It soon subsided.
Li Fan was unaware of the anomaly in the Void Realm. After all, in his previous life, whether he was traversing through different time periods or at the end of the Mountains and Seas, he had countless times freely extracted accumulated True Spirits without any abnormal occurrences. This imprinted pattern of thought led him to naturally let down his guard.
However, he had forgotten that during his traversals, he was rapidly moving through different temporal segments of the Mountains and Seas, and the End of the Mountains and Seas was the ultimate end of time. Apart from those who had already reached the Sage realm, no one else would visit. But in the current era... the Nine Sages of the Other Shore, such as Elder Sage Qiu Gong, frequently entered and exited the Void Realm.
An unintended loophole left behind, for now, let's set it aside.
Soon, Li Fan found He Gan Immortal. Faced with Li Fan's sudden and uninvited appearance, He Gan Immortal was naturally wary.
"Fellow Daoist, do you wish to become a Sage?" Li Fan asked directly, getting straight to the point.
"Huh?" Hearing Li Fan's nonsensical words, He Gan Immortal narrowed his eyes, his expression unfriendly.
"Could it be that you, Daoist, are so bored with your cultivation that you've come specifically to amuse yourself at my expense?" He Gan Immortal cautiously scanned his surroundings, as if searching for any hidden ambushes.
Li Fan chuckled dismissively: "Fellow Daoist worries too much. There are no complex intentions, merely a simple question."
"Fellow Daoist, do you wish to prove your Dao and become a Sage of the Mountains and Seas?"
He Gan Immortal stared at Li Fan for a long time, then sneered: "What you say... could it be that among Transcendent beings in the Mountains and Seas, there are those who don't wish to take this step?"
"Your question is so out of the blue, what mystery is behind it? Can you actually help me achieve it?"
"Indeed! With my assistance, your attainment of Sainthood would be as easy as turning over your hand!" Li Fan immediately replied, his face filled with pride.
"Heh heh..."
If a Sage of the Mountains and Seas had said this, He Gan Immortal might have believed him. But Li Fan, outwardly, also only appeared to be at the Transcendent realm. He Gan Immortal naturally dismissed Li Fan's words as a joke. He chose not to pay attention.
"Why did I run into this sort of person for no reason..."
"Could it be that another me is plotting something in secret?" He Gan Immortal pondered, preparing to stealthily depart. However, he was suddenly stunned by a sight before him and halted his movement.
Enveloped in a hazy, misty yellow glow, two energies, one black and one white, rotated around each other. Finally, as the black and white energies dissipated, two figures spontaneously appeared. They floated before He Gan Immortal and bowed with smiles.
"Greetings, fellow Daoist!"
Observing their appearances, He Gan Immortal was shocked to find that these two looked exactly like himself! Or rather, the figures that had materialized before him were precisely He Gan Immortal and Faceless Immortal! Not only were their appearances identical, but the aura of their Daos surging within them was undoubtedly that of "Morality."
He Gan Immortal was utterly terrified, as if he had seen a ghost, and immediately retreated.
"Who exactly are you?!" he demanded, looking at Li Fan with a stern gaze.
"Just an old acquaintance." Li Fan smiled enigmatically.
"No need for vigilance, no need for worry. You didn't believe me earlier when I said I could help you become a Sage…"
"Watch first, then make your judgment. It's not too late." Li Fan revealed a mysterious smile and then whispered in a low voice, "My Existence is Boundless Unity."
Black and white energies manifested again, spinning rapidly, resembling the Taiji diagram. Countless phantom figures of He Gan Immortal and Faceless Immortal continuously emerged from this Taiji diagram, like an army of Yin soldiers in formation. Although they were mere phantom-like apparitions, not actual Transcendent powerhouses, this bizarre scene still made He Gan Immortal's scalp tingle and left him utterly bewildered.
He looked at the countless figures of himself, layered upon each other. Recalling Li Fan's words, "just an old acquaintance," his thoughts became chaotic, and his imagination ran wild.
"Although I don't know the method by which this person can create phantom images of me, what kind of profound understanding and mastery of the Great Dao of Morality must they possess? Could it be that he is truly someone I knew in the past?"
"But who could it be?" Faces flashed through He Gan Immortal's mind, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't fathom Li Fan's true identity.
Meanwhile, in the center of the performance, once the number of phantom images reached a sufficient quantity, Li Fan let out another low shout: "The Sages are in formation!"
With a gentle flick of his finger, a torrent of accumulated True Spirits poured down like a waterfall from the heavens, received by the myriad phantom figures of Moral True Immortal. Although He Gan Immortal could not see the surging accumulated True Spirits, he could keenly sense the wondrous transformations occurring within the countless phantom images of himself. If they had merely been soulless imitations before, now, for some unknown reason, these phantom figures were all slowly coming to life!
He Gan Immortal's fear grew, but he stood rooted to the spot, unmoving, as if nailed down. Because he had a nascent premonition that the imminent transformation of these phantom figures represented an immense fortune for him!
"Could it be that what this person just said..." As the thought arose, it ignited like wildfire, becoming uncontrollable.
The myriad Moral True Immortals came to life, each with a different expression. However, with another flick of Li Fan's finger, they were again drawn into the constantly spinning Taiji diagram of black and white energies. When the Taiji diagram finally stopped, only one solidified, seated figure remained.
The solidified figure suddenly opened its eyes, meeting He Gan Immortal's gaze. He Gan Immortal momentarily experienced the illusion that "he" was looking at himself!
"The opportunity to become a Sage lies before you. Why do you still hesitate?" Li Fan's voice drifted over.
He Gan Immortal, awestruck by Li Fan's mysterious methods, remained silent for a moment. His body trembled slightly, as he desperately suppressed the desires within his heart. He Gan Immortal didn't know how long it had been since he had experienced such an intense craving, such a strong "want." The figure before him seemed to possess infinite magic and temptation. The steadfastness accumulated over countless years of cultivation was easily shattered. Even when he first comprehended and captured the Great Dao of Morality, he had never been so uncontrolled.
"What is it..." He Gan Immortal wanted to close his eyes and avoid observing the figure before him, and even more so, he wished to escape this trap. However, the phantom figure before him seemed to sense his thoughts and slowly floated towards him.
"It seems, Fellow Daoist, that you still misunderstand me deeply."
"These phantom figures, condensed with accumulated True Spirits, cannot linger in the Mountains and Seas for too long. If you continue to hesitate, all this effort will be wasted. Allow me to lend you a hand." Li Fan's low sigh reached He Gan Immortal's ears like peals of thunder. Especially the words "accumulated True Spirits," which instantly made him understand the source of the fatal temptation he felt!
He knew himself best. If it were an ordinary Transcendent powerhouse, perhaps the desire for these True Spirit figures would be less intense. But he had experienced the Method of Moral Division, his own True Spirit split in two, leaving him with an innate sense of incompleteness. At this moment, this replenishment from True Spirits became even more alluring.
Facing the slowly approaching phantom figure, even as a sliver of caution arose in He Gan Immortal's mind, it was quickly suppressed by instinct. Ultimately, he remained motionless, accepting it completely.
In an instant, he seemed to see countless versions of himself, each representing a different possibility. Their life experiences were a blank slate, yet they seemed to exist as if real. What's more, they even comprehended the Great Dao of Morality, which he presided over. Although weaker than himself, they served as a lubricant, promoting integration. Almost without any obstruction, He Gan Immortal completely absorbed these countless figures that existed solely for his consumption. The damage caused by the Moral Division was instantly mended. Like a ravenous feast after extreme hunger, He Gan Immortal felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction. Most importantly, he could feel that his talent and abilities had clearly advanced compared to before.
"True Spirits?? His words were not false!" He Gan Immortal's mind was instantly roiled by a tidal wave of emotion. He disregarded the gradually dissipating True Spirits from the phantom figures and hastily bowed deeply to Li Fan: "Fellow Daoist's kindness is like a rebirth. I am deeply grateful, I truly don't know how to repay you!"
At the same time, he showed a remorseful expression: "I misunderstood Fellow Daoist's intentions earlier…"
Li Fan chuckled: "It's natural to doubt astonishing words. However, facts speak louder than any argument. Once you receive the True Spirits, you will know the truth of my words. Thus, I need not say more."
"How do you feel, Fellow Daoist?"
He Gan Immortal closed his eyes to meditate, and after a long while, heaved a sigh of relief and replied, "As if reborn. The Sage realm is indeed within reach!"
Saying this, He Gan Immortal bowed his thanks to Li Fan again, filled with overwhelming gratitude. Although he didn't know Li Fan's identity or purpose, the tangible benefits were undeniable. He Gan Immortal's thanks were sincere.
"My assistance today is not without a price. Fellow Daoist, when you achieve your Dao in the future, I have a request for you."
Upon hearing this, He Gan Immortal's heart unexpectedly relaxed. He was most afraid that Li Fan would disappear without a word after saying this. If that were the case, he would likely harbor lingering thoughts about this matter even after becoming a Sage. Now that Li Fan had a request, he could use this to repay the karmic debt.
"Please speak, Fellow Daoist. I will surely not fail you." He Gan Immortal said with utmost solemnity.
"When you become a Saint, I request that you stir up the mountains and seas, turning the world upside down!"
Li Fan smiled faintly, stating his condition.
Even though He Ganxian had prepared himself mentally beforehand, he was still stunned by this strange request.
"Might I ask, Fellow Daoist, how great is this 'turning the world upside down'?"
"Naturally, it is known to all Saints!"
In their exchange, He Ganxian gradually guessed Li Fan's intention: he wanted him to attract the attention of the Sages of the mountains and seas!
He Ganxian instinctively wanted to back down.
But then he remembered the immense kindness he had received from the other party.
After a long period of contemplation, he gritted his teeth and said, "I can only guarantee that I will do my best. However, I cannot guarantee the effectiveness or how long it will last."
Li Fan smiled, "With your words, I am at ease."
Through their encounters in several reincarnations, Li Fan knew He Ganxian's character well. Since he had agreed, he would never go back on his word.
"I have a plan that can lure your other body here, helping you achieve perfection in morality! This way, the path to becoming a Saint will be smooth." Li Fan generously offered a greater surprise to reciprocate.
He Ganxian's gaze sharpened again.
Now, he truly began to believe that the other party was his "old acquaintance."
Knowing the true meaning of morality, and even knowing about his past separation of morality…
Since he had already received favors from the other party, he felt no burden of gratitude.
He Ganxian also genuinely feared his other self. Thus, he said solemnly, "I wish to hear this marvelous method."
"The Faceless Immortal is naturally cautious and suspicious. Only your death can lure him out…"
Li Fan quietly revealed his stratagem.
"He and I share the same heart. Ordinary methods are difficult to deceive his detection. But if there is also that illusory phantom that fills the true spirit…" He Ganxian's heart stirred, and he nodded in agreement.
After some preparations, Li Fan returned to the Xuanhuang Realm and found the Faceless Immortal statue.
A wisp of divine sense was transmitted.
A conversation that had once occurred replayed.
"Who?"
A voice filled with vigilance echoed.
"An old acquaintance of King Xuantian." Li Fan said casually.
"A friend of Xuanyuan Hong?" The voice on the other side sounded puzzled.
"He doesn't know me, but I know him, and I have received much help from him."
…
In the conversation, Li Fan, just as before, proposed to help the Faceless Immortal deal with He Ganxian.
The cautious Faceless Immortal did not agree immediately, wanting to consider it.
Fifty years later, sensing that He Ganxian was in the midst of a crucial act of severing morality, he finally took the bait and contacted Li Fan.
Li Fan and He Ganxian, in perfect cooperation, staged a remarkable play.
In the potential apocalypse, after slaughtering everyone he once knew in the mountains and seas, He Ganxian cackled incessantly, "What does it matter to me! What does it matter to me!"
Li Fan suddenly appeared, "Well done!"
"I have roamed the mountains and seas, and today I have finally found a kindred spirit!"
Through their questions and answers, Li Fan brandished his true spirit blazing fire, igniting the mountains and seas.
With flames raging, Li Fan questioned, "The mountains and seas are burning before your eyes. Will you save them? How can you have the Dao?"
He Ganxian quickly became lost in the confusion of "I have virtue, but no Dao," and his form gradually became transparent.
Meanwhile, the Faceless Immortal, like a hunter, made his timely appearance.
Watching his other self on the verge of demise, he was filled with pride and gently inhaled towards the phantom.
The feeling of weakness that had plagued his body since the separation of morality was instantly replenished.
The Faceless Immortal let out a satisfied hum.
But at the same time, a trace of doubt arose in his heart.
The true spirit had indeed been replenished. But it seemed…
The effect of devouring He Ganxian was much weaker than expected?
Almost instantly, the Faceless Immortal sensed something was wrong. A sense of dread filled him, and he prepared to flee.
But it was too late.
The true spirit flames that filled the sky suddenly shone dozens of times brighter, sealing off the surroundings.
Furthermore, a destructive aura from the void could be faintly felt, forcing the Faceless Immortal to halt his escape.
Two figures, one in front and one behind, surrounded him.
It was Li Fan and He Ganxian!
Realizing he had been tricked by their combined efforts, the Faceless Immortal was shocked and furious.
"The separation of morality was an act of seeking the Dao. Now that the path to the Dao is clear, why don't you return?" He Ganxian advised.
Having fallen into a desperate situation, the Faceless Immortal calmed down instead. He stared intently at his other self, his eyes filled with disbelief. "How is this possible? After I devoured him, my true spirit did indeed grow stronger, fitting the appearance of moral perfection.
"And you, your true spirit seems even stronger than mine…"
The Faceless Immortal's words trailed off as he turned to look at Li Fan, who stood silently to the side.
"Who exactly are you?"
"Just an old acquaintance of yours." Li Fan gave the same answer.
"Because you are without virtue, you lost your face. Compared to you, a person without virtue, it is obvious that cooperating with a virtuous immortal is more reassuring."
"Old acquaintance, without virtue."
"Could it be that you have cooperated with me before?"
"But I clearly…" The Faceless Immortal's thoughts raced, as if he had realized something, and his eyes widened in shock.
Li Fan's expression gradually turned stern. "Fellow Daoist, it is time to act."
The Dao and Virtue Immortals were originally one in spirit.
Whatever the Faceless Immortal thought, He Ganxian could naturally guess.
However, for the sake of his path to sainthood, which was now within reach, Li Fan's mysterious origin seemed less important.
"You appear to be virtuous, but in reality, you disregard the lives of all beings in the mountains and seas, only seeking your own survival. You achieve without benefiting the world, and you do not take even a tiny bit of benefit for the sake of all beings!"
"This is called…"
"Having Dao but not Virtue!"
He Ganxian's accusations directly labeled his other self.
In his desperate situation, the Faceless Immortal did not beg for mercy.
Instead, he let out a low, cold laugh, "So what if I am without virtue? Even if the mountains and seas are destroyed, as long as I survive alone, I will still be the magnificent Virtuous True Immortal!"
And after truly acknowledging his own "lack of virtue," the Faceless Immortal's form suddenly became illusory.
He was then captured and absorbed by He Ganxian.
"The transformation of morality happens in an instant, between a thought," Li Fan sighed as he watched the scene.
With the perfection of morality, He Ganxian should have directly ascended to Sainthood.
But a strange fluctuation appeared, only to be forcefully suppressed by He Ganxian.
His choice was within Li Fan's expectations: "Mere moral perfection, although it can lead to Sainthood, is far weaker compared to the Sages who master the Great Dao of the Mountains and Seas."
"I need to replenish my true spirit."
"Don't worry, Fellow Daoist. Accumulated true spirit…"
"As much as you need!"
Li Fan no longer hid anything and spewed out the mass of true spirit he had captured from the Eternal Void Realm.
Even though he had already benefited from Li Fan's true spirit infusion, He Ganxian, or rather, the Virtuous True Immortal, was still deeply shocked at Li Fan's casual ability to produce even more.
"With so much true spirit, even after becoming a Saint, it will still be of great benefit to me!"
"Such unfathomable means, could this person truly have come from the lower reaches of the mountains and seas, moving against the current?"
The Virtuous True Immortal speculated that Li Fan, his "old acquaintance," might have had contact with him in another iteration of the mountains and seas.
This would explain his understanding of the character and cultivation methods of the two Immortals of Dao and Virtue.
Furthermore, the accumulated true spirit from the Eternal Void Realm he carried seemed to be the best proof of this.
"I have heard of the 'Walker of Mountains and Seas.' Could this be him?"
"The Walker of Mountains and Seas travels between the beginning and end of time, preventing the combined efforts of the Sages of various mountain-sea epochs from resisting the Dao Erasure, thereby saving the world. In this case, it makes sense that he would help me become a Saint for no reason…"
In an instant, countless thoughts flashed through the Virtuous True Immortal's mind.
But regardless of his true identity, the ability to manipulate and infuse true spirit was undeniable.
The Virtuous True Immortal had no reason not to befriend him.
"Then I shall trouble you, Fellow Daoist!"
"Regarding the matter I entrusted to you earlier, rest assured, Fellow Daoist. I will do my utmost!" the Virtuous True Immortal said solemnly.
Infusing true spirit was one kindness, and helping him achieve moral perfection was another.
With two layers of benefactor-ment, the Virtuous True Immortal was extremely courteous to Li Fan.
"Heh heh, there's no rush. Currently, there is one matter that requires your assistance."
"Oh?" The Virtuous True Immortal glanced at Li Fan.
"Please recall any matters concerning King Xuantian."
"King Xuantian?" The Virtuous True Immortal felt a sense of unfamiliarity with this term.
However, he soon found related memories in the Faceless Immortal's recollections.
"He is merely a Half-Immortal. I can't believe you're interested in him…" Halfway through his sentence, the Virtuous True Immortal's expression shifted.
"Heh heh, even a Half-Immortal can possess world-shattering power. You must not underestimate him, Fellow Daoist." Li Fan said with a faint smile.
"When I escaped the Immortal Realm, I happened to encounter King Xuantian, who was also fleeing. I sensed his extraordinariness and thus lent him a hand. We even communicated closely several times."
"However, later, King Xuantian discovered my nature of being devoid of virtue and losing my face. Our paths diverged, and we voluntarily severed contact."
"Later…"
"Just as King Xuantian was about to break through, he suddenly met with misfortune. Before disappearing, he sent a message."
The content of King Xuantian's message and his final destination were the very questions Li Fan had been seeking for a long time.
The Virtuous True Immortal slowly said, "The source of the crisis King Xuantian encountered during his breakthrough came from the mountains and seas!"
"When he was a mortal, he had completely severed ties with the mountains and seas. Therefore, he did not sense any danger until he was about to ascend. Only when he completely re-entered the mountains and seas…"
"Could it be that King Xuantian is also a reincarnation of a Nameless True Immortal?" Li Fan asked.
A flicker of surprise flashed in the Virtuous True Immortal's eyes. "No. It is that someone in the mountains and seas had long set their sights on him."
"To protect himself, he fled into the realm of mortal possibilities. Unfortunately, he was too extraordinary to hide forever!"
Li Fan raised an eyebrow slightly.
However, considering that many reincarnated Nameless True Immortals were willing to stay by Xuanyuan Hong's side, and even his childhood sweetheart was a transcendent being who seemingly controlled the Great Dao of [Layered Paper], it would be unreasonable to assume King Xuantian was merely an ordinary mortal.
"His peculiarity and being targeted by someone in the mountains and seas… How did King Xuantian escape?"
"The Angler of Mountains and Seas," the Virtuous True Immortal said the five words softly.
"When King Xuantian was a mortal, he discovered the secret of the Fishing Grounds of Mountains and Seas, which led to this. At that time, the Angler of Mountains and Seas also discovered his existence. However, he did not disturb him, merely observing silently. It was only when King Xuantian was in danger that he acted to save him."
"So it wasn't the Fishing Immortal who captured him, but rather he saved him?" Li Fan had also tracked King Xuantian's whereabouts and found that the place he disappeared last was related to the Fishing Pond. He had assumed the Fishing Immortal had captured King Xuantian, but he had not expected him to have saved King Xuantian's life instead.
"But this Angler of Mountains and Seas… Why have I never heard of him, or even seen him?" Li Fan frowned slightly.
"After he saved King Xuantian, where is he now?"
"Once the fish is caught, it naturally appears by the angler's side. As for their current location… I am afraid it is no longer within this iteration of the mountains and seas," the Virtuous True Immortal took a deep breath.
"Hmm?" Li Fan was slightly stunned.
Then he frowned and asked, "The Angler of Mountains and Seas, by merely pulling the fishing rod, can traverse the Eternal Void Realm? Could this person also be a Sage of the Mountains and Seas?"
"Judging from the remnants of King Xuantian's message, it seems so. However, the reason he could forcibly take a True Immortal and traverse the void was not entirely due to the Angler's own power. It also has a great connection with the 'Fishing Grounds of Mountains and Seas.'"
"The Fishing Grounds of Mountains and Seas do not exist because of the Angler of Mountains and Seas; rather, the fishing grounds existed first, and then the Angler appeared."
"Perhaps it can be considered a type of Great Dao of Mountains and Seas. Although the mountains and seas are separated by the Eternal Void Realm, the fishing grounds scattered throughout the iterations can act like lighthouses, serving as anchors. They can indicate the direction of travel and also serve as power relays…"
With the Virtuous True Immortal's explanation, Li Fan instantly understood.
The principle was similar to how people in the Realm of Life and Death in his previous life, by relying on the markings left by the Walker of Mountains and Seas, and the subtle connection between the imaginary Qiu Xin Hui and the main body, could instantly traverse several iterations of the mountains and seas to reach the end of the mountains and seas.
However, Qiu Xin Hui's reliance was on creating the impossible out of nothing in a desperate situation.
The Angler of Mountains and Seas, on the other hand, utilized the inherent characteristics of the mountains and seas.
"But correspondingly, Qiu Xin Hui could only travel downstream, while this Angler of Mountains and Seas…"
"It is difficult to say who is stronger or weaker."
As Li Fan was contemplating, the Virtuous True Immortal added, "Before King Xuantian departed, he entrusted me with taking care of his childhood sweetheart, saying that he would definitely return one day."
"On the other side of the Fishing Grounds of Mountains and Seas, there are dangers he cannot foresee. To prevent his former companions from following him, he could only leave alone, without leaving any trace…"
"This Xuanyuan Hong is indeed a person of great loyalty and righteousness," the Virtuous True Immortal sighed with emotion.
Li Fan, however, understood the implication in the Virtuous True Immortal's words.
"So, if we follow the Fishing Grounds of Mountains and Seas, we can go to King Xuantian's former location?"
"Well, theoretically, if we can get the Angler of Mountains and Seas to cast his line, then yes," the Virtuous True Immortal replied after careful consideration.
Hearing this, Li Fan couldn't help but recall an iteration where he had been fished out of the mountains and seas by an ancient stone tablet while attempting to fathom the Dao of [Fishing].
"Could it be that he has also gone to another iteration of the mountains and seas?" Li Fan mused leisurely.
"However, King Xuantian's childhood sweetheart eventually followed him. My other self could do nothing to her."
"A pity about the trust placed in me by Xuanyuan Hong," the Moral True Immortal sighed.
"It was a matter of mutual agreement, what can be done? Perhaps the young couple is currently enjoying themselves," Li Fan said with a smile.
After a slight pause, Li Fan glanced towards the location of the Xuanhuang Realm's fishing pond and whispered, "In that case, being fished by the Mountain and Sea Angler wasn't dangerous. The real danger lies in the spacetime where the Mountain and Sea Angler resides. Doesn't that mean we can use this fishing ground to traverse the void?"
The Moral True Immortal nodded, then shook his head. "If we only consider the information left by Xuanyuan Hong, then yes. But..." He gave a bitter smile. "No matter how extraordinary Xuanyuan Hong was, the moment he was entangled by the fishing line, he was just a fish on the hook. How could he truly know the Angler's specific situation? Perhaps he was eaten the instant he was caught."
"Furthermore, the mountains and seas are one entity. Where one's spacetime is located is not truly important. What truly matters is one's ability to traverse the void."
Li Fan chuckled, "Fellow Daoist speaks wisely."
"This matter corresponds to the aid in achieving Moral Perfection. Next, my goal is to cause chaos in the mountains and seas."
"Given your current state, you must be confident in achieving Sainthood, correct?"
The Moral True Immortal nodded slightly. "I still need some preparations. But don't worry, Fellow Daoist, I will inform you before I break through and attain Dao."
Li Fan then slowly exhaled a wisp of stagnant True Spirit. Following that, he used the Art of Imagination to shape a physical body for the Moral True Immortal. "No need to search for me. When I achieve Sainthood, my Morality will be perfected, and my status will be equivalent to that of the Mountains and Seas. This imagined body of Morality will then dissipate. At that time, I will naturally know."
Before he finished speaking, Li Fan's figure slowly vanished. Even the approaching-to-Saint Moral True Immortal could not find his trace.
"Truly mysterious and unfathomable," the Moral True Immortal muttered to himself. However, his immediate priority was his own path to Sainthood. He composed himself and entered seclusion for cultivation.
Li Fan did not return to the Xuanhuang Realm to investigate the fishing pond of the mountains and seas. Instead, he followed a peculiar resonance in his ears, silently heading towards a certain location within the mountains and seas. This resonance was the demonic chanting inscribed within Xuanyuan's bloodline, like Xuanyuan Hong's whispers across time and space, guiding his descendants.
Previously, Li Fan had been wary of the methods of this Heavenly Mysteries King. Though he knew of its secret, he had not personally ventured to take the risk. Later, after gaining the strength to fear no Xuanyuan Hong, he was more concerned with confronting Saints. He had paid little attention to what the Heavenly Mysteries King had left behind. However, now that he knew of the Heavenly Mysteries King's unique peculiarity and the fact that he was coveted by an unknown entity within the mountains and seas, Li Fan's interest was piqued. Furthermore, with the ability to gain the [Mysterious Woman] Dao at any time and achieve Sainthood in the mountains and seas, he had no fear of any danger. Thus, he elegantly set off.
The demonic chanting echoed intermittently, sometimes fading, sometimes clear. However, the direction it indicated within the mountains and seas was perfectly precise. Li Fan had previously explored most of the possibilities within this section of the mountains and seas. Yet, the mountains and seas were boundless, and there were always places he had not set foot. Following the guidance, he ventured deeper.
Li Fan plunged into a pitch-black starry sky. With a sweep of his divine sense, he instantly comprehended the entirety of this possibility.
"At first glance, it doesn't seem particularly special."
"But for the Heavenly Mysteries King to inscribe it within his bloodline, it certainly won't be that simple."
The demonic chanting that had filled his ears had now faded. Li Fan had to rely on his own search. Fortunately, he had honed his invaluable experience in searching mountains and seas within the Xuanhuang Realm. It did not take him long to find the location indicated by the Heavenly Mysteries King.
Within a majestic temple stood a statue of simple appearance. It lay on its side, as if in deep slumber. The clothing the statue wore was not ornate, merely ordinary mortal attire. However, this temple was incredibly popular, with incense burners constantly ablaze! Its influence spanned over a hundred thousand miles. Pilgrims continuously arrived from all corners of this realm, not only mortals, but also countless cultivators. Even True Immortals from the lower realms and even nameless beings arrived in transformed guises!
Li Fan observed covertly for a while and noticed something peculiar. The statue enshrined in the temple bore the likeness of the Heavenly Mysteries King. However, its appearance was not entirely identical to Xuanyuan Hong of the Xuanhuang Realm; there were subtle differences. While ordinary people might not notice, they escaped Li Fan's keen eyes. The reason this temple attracted so many devout worshipers—mortals, immortals, and countless other beings—was not purely due to faith. It was because worshipping this statue genuinely had the effect of altering one's fate against all odds! On the walls of the ten-thousand-mile temple, countless grand structures were inscribed with stories of how those who worshipped the divine statue had changed their destinies. From True Immortals to the most humble mortals, such occurrences were commonplace. This was not exaggerated or false advertising; these were all real events that had transpired.
"The Purple Extreme Primordial Fortune-Creating Heavenly Venerate??" Li Fan chuckled as he read through the numerous divine feats recorded in the temple. He had a clear understanding of the situation. Approaching the statue, he observed it again with great scrutiny.
"It possesses no life characteristics, yet it is not merely an inanimate object."
"This is..."
"The remnant shedding left behind when Xuanyuan Hong underwent his Golden Cicada Sheds Its Shell technique." Li Fan's gaze was like a torch, instantly discerning the true origin of this statue.
"Xuanyuan Hong was targeted and concealed himself within the mountains and seas. His first stop was not the Xuanhuang Realm, but this possibility. However, perhaps because the initial concealment was ineffective, or for some other reason, he chose to flee again, leaving only an empty shell here."
"After arriving in the Xuanhuang Realm, he completely transformed into a mortal, severing his connection with the mountains and seas. This continued until the moment he ascended to Immortality once more."
As Li Fan pondered, his eyes narrowed, and he lightly touched Xuanyuan Hong's remnant shedding. From this "statue," and the myriad influences it had imposed upon this possibility, Li Fan had naturally understood what Xuanyuan Hong's 'peculiar trait' was.
"The Odd Fortune of the Mountains and Seas!" A sharp glint flashed in Li Fan's eyes. Fortune was ethereal, yet it truly existed. In the Fallen Immortal Realm of the Xuanhuang Realm, Li Fan had once transformed into the Heavenly Mandate Black Bird and deduced the Heavenly Fortune Scripture. However, the influence that a mere exotic beast could exert on destiny was like comparing a single cloud to the vast firmament when compared to Xuanyuan Hong.
"Even a remnant he left behind could invisibly alter the fate of countless beings in this possibility. Moreover, even as the Great Tribulation of Dao Erasure steadily approaches, this possibility remains so intact."
"For so many years, it has not been affected by the Other Shore, the Taiwei Sacred Dynasty, or myself. All this is due to this remnant of [Odd Fortune]." Touching the remnant, Li Fan could faintly feel something, as if an unseen entity was hovering around it, protecting this entire possibility.
"Although Xuanyuan Hong transformed into a mortal, he would not truly disappear into obscurity."
"In his youth, he discovered the secret of the fishing pond. After years of cultivation, he rose rapidly. Not only did he complete his final ascension under the extreme conditions of the Immortal Realm's experimental grounds in the Xuanhuang Realm, but he also survived the great tribulation of the Immortal Realm's destruction, all while accumulating countless treasures of the Immortal Realm..."
"Upon returning to the mortal realm, he was surrounded by dozens of nameless avatars. It would not be an exaggeration to call him a 'Child of Destiny'."
"When he ascended to the Immortal Realm and his life was once again in danger, the Mountain and Sea Angler timely intervened, saving his life."
"The Odd Fortune of the Mountains and Seas indeed has some tricks up its sleeve." Li Fan reviewed Xuanyuan Hong's life and couldn't help but coldly snort. He even suspected that Xuanyuan Hong's second transmigration to the Xuanhuang Realm might have been influenced by the Return to Truth.
"Return to Truth hidden, attracting all Mountain and Sea Great Daos of the same caliber. For instance, the opportunities obtained by the Heavenly Net Emperor."
"The Odd Fortune of the Mountains and Seas would naturally be sensed by unseen forces. If one could obtain even a fraction of it, perhaps their current plight of being hunted could be averted..."
"Alas, the Xuanhuang Realm is too deep. The Odd Fortune of the Mountains and Seas can influence the destiny of the mountains and seas, but its effect on objects of the same caliber is likely greatly diminished. In the end, Return to Truth still fell into my hands!" Li Fan's eyes narrowed slightly. Grasping Xuanyuan Hong's remnant shedding, he applied gentle force. He crushed it.
"Even with heavenly luck, how can it compare to my ability to distinguish between truth and falsehood with a single thought!" This statue of the [Purple Extreme Primordial Fortune-Creating Heavenly Venerate], worshipped by countless beings in this possibility for tens of thousands of years, turned to ash just like that.
Instantly, countless believers who witnessed this scene were thrown into despair. The heavens and earth trembled. Furthermore, streaks of light descended from the Immortal Realm, filled with extreme anger, attempting to trace the cause of the statue's destruction. However, their highest cultivation level was only that of a Nameless True Immortal. With no Transcended powerhouses present, how could they possibly affect Li Fan?
"Without the protection of Odd Fortune, I see how you will manage on your own." Li Fan, not even bothering to deal with these ants, glanced at the budding ripples of Dao Erasure outside this possibility. He smiled faintly and vanished.
The Dao Erasure began to roar, and this world, which had existed for countless years, finally ushered in its tribulation of destruction. Meanwhile, Li Fan, appearing unconcerned, began to pore over the strand of [Odd Fortune] he held in his hand.
This was merely a remnant left behind by the Heavenly Mysteries King when he fled into mortality. Naturally, it could not be absorbed by Return to Truth and integrated into the [Great Dao Realization]. However, Xuanyuan Hong's unparalleled fortune had given Li Fan ideas.
"Since the Heavenly Mysteries King possesses the Odd Fortune of the Mountains and Seas, it means he would not encounter misfortune easily. He is still alive."
"The characteristic of luck means that ordinary individuals, and even Saints, attempting to scheme against him might accomplish nothing. But I am different!"
"No matter how good one's luck, how can it compare to my countless opportunities to start anew?"
"If I could obtain another Great Dao of the Mountains and Seas..." The Odd Fortune of the Mountains and Seas was, besides the [Mysterious Woman] Great Dao, the only Great Dao of the same caliber in the mountains and seas that Li Fan was aware of. Furthermore, its wielder had not yet achieved Sainthood. This naturally stirred Li Fan's ambition.
"Additionally, I am truly curious. Can the Robes of the Great Dao of the Mountains and Seas be worn by two, or even more, simultaneously?"
"Pity, the mountains and seas are separated. Otherwise, I would definitely try." With the Fortune enveloping him, he could avoid many unforeseen disasters. In the games between Saints, sometimes such a slight difference could lead to entirely different outcomes. Amidst his contemplation, Li Fan had firmly marked his target. Perhaps it was influenced by the strand of Odd Fortune he had absorbed, but before the Moral True Immortal could achieve Sainthood, Li Fan encountered a second Transcended powerhouse who vaguely showed signs of achieving Sainthood! A faint aura of the Other Shore emanated from him, revealing his origin. He sat silently at the edge of the void, attempting to resist the terrifying pressure from the boundless darkness. He was even positioned further ahead than Li Fan could withstand.
The person, after a mere glance at Li Fan, closed his eyes once more. Under the erosion of the void's pressure, his foundation crumbled at an almost visible rate. Yet, his expression remained unchanged as he pushed forward again, choosing to cultivate amidst the certainty of his own demise! But the Everlasting Void would not show mercy for his fearlessness. Li Fan watched as this Transcended powerhouse from the Other Shore was utterly crushed by the void's pressure and vanished from sight.
"Just like that? He died?"
"No!" Li Fan immediately reacted and looked towards the direction of the Other Shore. He had not left but had patiently waited at that spot. As expected, soon a similar figure rapidly fled and sat down in the original position.
"To use the destructive power of the void to cultivate and temper oneself. Fellow Daoist's methods are truly extraordinary!" Li Fan praised from afar. In response to Li Fan's flattery, the person remained oblivious, merely cultivating with his eyes closed. Li Fan was not annoyed and continued on his own, "It's a pity that this kind of cultivation, no matter how arduous, is likely futile. Without the ability to traverse the void, no matter how much you temper yourself, you cannot survive in the void. And if your realm reaches the required level, you will naturally be able to survive in the Everlasting Void. All your previous efforts are in vain."
Li Fan sighed in lengthy lament, but his words angered the meditating Transcended cultivator. He opened his eyes and sneered, "What nonsense! If you continue to babble and disturb my quiet cultivation, don't blame me for being impolite!"
The cultivator showed no pleasant expression, but Li Fan was not annoyed. He said earnestly, "Good medicine tastes bitter, and loyal advice is harsh to the ear. I merely cherish your talent, Fellow Daoist, and cannot bear to see you waste your precious time in vain!"
The cultivator laughed in disbelief, "Then tell me, how can you resist this void pressure?"
"No need to overexert yourself. Achieving Sainthood is the answer. For those at the Transcended realm, surviving in the void is incredibly difficult. However, few Saints are unable to traverse it."
Li Fan's words were, in essence, "correct but useless." The cultivator scoffed, "There are precious few Saints in the mountains and seas. How can one simply become a Saint? If one lacks talent, opportunities, or destiny, any one of these shortcomings can lead to a lifetime of hopelessness. You understand this principle, don't you, Fellow Daoist?"
"Precisely! In other words, if one's strengths are sufficiently strong, they can disregard other shortcomings. Is that not so?" Li Fan reacted quickly and followed up with a counter-question. The cultivator was stunned and was forced to nod. Then he argued, "Talent, opportunities, and destiny are all predetermined by heaven. Ordinary methods cannot shake them. Only personal effort can be considered the sole remedy. When I was a mortal, I thought I was extraordinarily talented. It was only after cultivating to the limit of Transcendence that I realized my innate talent was ultimately lacking. Hence, I awoke to the importance of personal effort. And thus, I cultivate assiduously day and night at the edge of this void..."
The cultivator recounted his journey of enlightenment. However, Li Fan interrupted him with a single sentence, "What if I told you that I can help you defy destiny and achieve Sainthood?"
"Defy the heavens, change destiny, and attain sainthood?" Li Fan's audacious declaration stunned the cultivator on the spot.
He then sneered. "Countless heroes and prodigies have emerged from the Mountains and Seas, yet only a handful have attained the realm of a Sage. Even a Sage would not dare to claim they could help others become Sages. You?" The cultivator's tone was filled with disbelief.
"Though I am not a Sage, I can do what Sages cannot," Li Fan replied, cutting to the chase. He merely beckoned toward the nearby Eternal Void Realm, and a mass of stagnant True Spirit immediately answered his call.
This cultivator's senses, more acute than even the Moral True Immortal, registered the presence of this intangible True Spirit. Without Li Fan's explanation, his expression drastically changed, his gaze fixed on the stagnant True Spirit in Li Fan's hand. "How is this possible!" he exclaimed, speechless with shock.
What followed was simple. In conjunction with the "Myriad Lives Boundless" technique, Li Fan infused the True Spirit into the cultivator's body. While participating in this infusion, Li Fan also discerned the cultivator's chosen path: cyclic tribulation and rebirth from ashes, all things unified, and through this, observing renewal. He was on the path of "[Ashen Rebirth]," capable of growing stronger through repeated cycles of destruction and rebirth. However, the immense chasm between such cycles and apotheosis into Sainthood remained an insurmountable obstacle, even if he actively sought death thousands of times.
Therefore, Li Fan's assistance was profoundly meaningful to Ashen Rebirth. Feeling his innate potential significantly increase and his old self shed, Ashen Rebirth's gratitude overflowed. "Fellow Daoist, your virtues are immeasurable; I don't know how to repay you!"
"It's simple! Just suppress your breakthrough speed and wait for my signal before proceeding. Don't worry, it won't be long. Before achieving sainthood, contemplating the Dao further in front of this Void Realm, accumulating more, will also greatly benefit your future journey," Li Fan said.
Ashen Rebirth now possessed an innate trust in Li Fan's words. Although Li Fan's request was peculiar, it was not an unreasonable burden. He readily agreed, leaving behind a mere phantom imprint for communication. Li Fan then departed gracefully.
"This person's identity is truly mysterious. But it matters not. As long as he can help me achieve sainthood... even if he wishes to overturn the Other Shore, I don't care," Ashen Rebirth took a deep breath, gazing at the dark, cold Void Realm before him, and took a proud step forward. What was once the absolute limit of his capabilities was now easily surpassed due to the augmentation of his True Spirit. He even had energy to spare, taking seven consecutive steps forward before finally stopping. He was now just one step away from fully entering the Eternal Void Realm.
Ashen Rebirth sat cross-legged, savoring the terrifying aura of the Void Realm once more, silently awaiting Li Fan's signal. The fervent desire for sainthood burned like a fierce flame in his heart, tormenting his mind. Yet, Ashen Rebirth reveled in this feeling, tempering his will through restraint. He wasn't a man of unwavering integrity, but he seized every opportunity to strengthen himself.
"To forcefully suppress the urge to become a Sage and not take that final step... what a delightful torment this is!" Ashen Rebirth recalled Li Fan's inexplicable expression before his departure and suddenly realized that perhaps Li Fan had discerned his nature, thus generously imparting the secret technique. "After I become a Sage, I shall meet this person again." A sharp glint flashed in Ashen Rebirth's eyes, only to quickly extinguish as he returned to his contemplation.
However, Ashen Rebirth could never have imagined that he was merely a backup plan for Li Fan. If Ashen Rebirth adhered to their agreement and reached sainthood simultaneously, it would be ideal. If he broke his promise and ascended prematurely, it would have no substantial impact on Li Fan. With the Moral True Immortal capable of stirring up storms, it was more than enough. And with the protection of the Reconstruction, even if Ashen Rebirth became a Sage first, Li Fan could hide within the Mountains and Seas and avoid detection. Encountering Ashen Rebirth, a chess piece for apotheosis, might consume Li Fan's acquired good fortune in a short period.
Later, Li Fan encountered no suitable candidates for assistance. Until one day, he sensed the physical manifestation of his created Moral Mirage body trembling, on the verge of complete dissipation. He knew then that the day of the Moral True Immortal's apotheosis had finally arrived. Gazing into the distance, he was already prepared to guide the "Mysterious Woman" Great Dao.
The tranquil Mountains and Seas suddenly trembled slightly. From infinite possibilities, streams of black and white energy emerged, surging towards a certain point within the Mountains and Seas, gradually forming a magnificent Taiji diagram. It was vast enough to obscure the sun and moon, covering mountains and seas. Upon its appearance, it instantly captured the attention of countless powerful beings. Even the surging tide of Dao Erasure, which encroached upon the Mountains and Seas, was momentarily repelled by the Taiji diagram. Within the Taiji diagram, a figure, or perhaps two, could be seen seated. The mystical diagram rotated, black and white energies intertwined, seemingly expounding the ultimate principles of heaven and earth.
"This fluctuation... it's a sign of apotheosis!"
"Another Sage is about to be born in our Mountains and Seas? How long ago was it that someone last ascended?"
Not only were the cultivators astonished, but the nine phantom Sages from the Other Shore also turned their attention.
"This alone is not enough," Li Fan murmured to himself. As if sensing Li Fan's thoughts, a new change occurred. After reaching its limit of rotation, the Taiji diagram suddenly stopped. The black and white colors completely merged. The two figures within became one. The Moral True Immortal, seated within the diagram, abruptly opened his eyes.
"Bright is virtue, profound is the Dao. Virtue illuminates human relationships, the Dao permeates heaven and earth. The坤 (earth) spirit carries all things, the 乾 (heaven) manifests patterns. The highest good is like water, the utmost virtue is like spring..." The Moral True Immortal's voice, ethereal and distant, echoed through the Mountains and Seas. At this moment, all living beings within the Mountains and Seas, regardless of whether they possessed awakened consciousness, could hear the Moral True Immortal's teachings. Looking up, though his form was unseen, they instinctively listened and comprehended. This was the first time a Sage had imparted knowledge since the creation of the world. Most beings in the Mountains and Seas did not understand the meaning behind the term "Sage of the Mountains and Seas," yet they eagerly committed every word of the Moral True Immortal's teachings to heart. The sacred melody continued to reverberate throughout the Mountains and Seas, filled with profound wisdom. Even the other Sages among the Nine Sages couldn't help but listen attentively.
"Heaven's movement is strong, Earth's foundation is deep. Virtue aligns with moderation, the Dao follows nature..."
"...The spiritual platform is but a small space, yet it contains the universe. Planting wisdom in the void, drifting like duckweed in the sea of tribulations..."
At this moment, the Mountains and Seas fell silent, save for the Moral True Immortal's teachings echoing endlessly. "The timing is almost right," Li Fan observed, sending a signal to Ashen Rebirth.
On the fringes of the Mountains and Seas, outside the Void Realm, Ashen Rebirth, witnessing the awe-inspiring presence of the Moral True Immortal's apotheosis, could no longer contain himself. "Such an elaborate display! How can I be outdone!" Perhaps to fulfill his agreement with Li Fan, or perhaps driven by a desire to compete, Ashen Rebirth let out a booming laugh as his body began to disintegrate piece by piece. Then... from all corners of the Mountains and Seas, a blizzard of ashes swept forth, as if a great snowfall, obscuring the sky of all possibilities. Even the Moral True Immortal's teachings were faintly suppressed. The accumulating ashes did not bring despair, but rather a nascent power of revival stirred within them.
"What is this..."
"Another Sage is born?"
"What day is this? Am I dreaming?"
"Two Sages born in a single day. The Mountains and Seas might yet be saved!" Upon realizing what had happened, the transcended powerhouses were all struck speechless. In their extreme shock, they fell into a state of confusion, unsure if they were hearing the Moral True Immortal's teachings or observing the ashes of rebirth. Although Ashen Rebirth did not directly impart teachings like the Moral True Immortal, he displayed the entirety of his accumulated Dao within this continuous snowfall of ashes.
With two Sages illuminating the world, all other sights in the Mountains and Seas paled in comparison. All beings' attention was focused on the Moral True Immortal and Ashen Rebirth. As these two Sages were on the verge of complete birth, Li Fan emerged with a light smile.
"Next, it's my turn to preach the Dao." Compared to the earth-shattering events of the Moral True Immortal and Ashen Rebirth, Li Fan's actions were remarkably discreet. Using the Art of Imagination, he quickly mimicked the "Mysterious Woman" Great Dao. Having deep knowledge of the Mysterious Woman Great Dao already, and further imbued with his own essence through the inherited option of Reconstruction, Li Fan's mimicked copy was remarkably smooth. It was as if he were the Mysterious Woman Sage herself, and the descent of the Mountains and Seas Great Dao occurred within mere moments.
The genesis of the Mysterious Woman was like a gentle spring rain, nourishing all things without a sound. The beings immersed in the spectacle of two Sages gracing the world, exhausted from their fervent pursuit of the Dao, found their depleted energies replenished by this quiet vitality. And it didn't stop there. The Mountains and Seas had long been consumed by the waves of Dao Erasure, extinguishing countless possibilities. However, with the advent of the Mysterious Woman, new possibilities were born from the Mountains and Seas, shattering the Dao Erasure and reappearing in the world! It was like an old tree sprouting new leaves, or dead wood finding spring once more!
"The Mysterious Woman Great Dao, amplified by the double layer... It's truly extraordinary. It can instantly alter the situation in the Mountains and Seas, repelling Dao Erasure?" Li Fan gazed at the more vibrant characters "First Mysterious Woman" on the Reconstruction panel, marveling inwardly. Even as the instigator, he had not anticipated the profound changes in the Mysterious Woman Great Dao.
"With the end of the previous life, the Mountains and Seas, the Void Realm, all returned to the stars. All Great Daos ceased to exist. My inheritance of the 'Mysterious Woman' was merely a fabricated creation by Reconstruction through the alteration of truth and falsehood. In this context, my actions have effectively strengthened the 'Mysterious Woman' Great Dao through Reconstruction, assisting it to even break through its inherent limitations..." Countless insights flooded his mind. Li Fan familiarized himself with the "Mysterious Woman" guise, donning it as if it were his own. Compared to the previous life, this new "Mysterious Woman" attire felt tailor-made, fitting perfectly. The previous discomfort of forcing it on, always on the verge of being torn off by external forces, was gone. "Even if all Sages seek to pry, they will not easily see through my true appearance."
Having overcome the seemingly inevitable doom of facing the Sages, Li Fan could finally confront the Sages of the Mountains and Seas without worry. He felt a surge of delight. Casually, he bestowed another wave of Mysterious Woman's life-giving energy upon the Mountains and Seas. The rain of life intensified.
Finally, it drew attention.
"What is this..."
"A third Sage?"
Within the resplendent halo, the phantom images of the Nine Sages became clearer than ever before. The Tai Wei Sacred Emperor also finally revealed himself, a hint of surprise visible beneath his crown. Gradually, other beings in the Mountains and Seas understood what was happening, falling into a state of stunned silence.
The birth of a Sage might be attributed to accumulated effort. The descent of two Sages simultaneously could be considered a blessing for the Mountains and Seas. But what about the appearance of three Sages at once? The beings were bewildered, a fear creeping into their hearts.
"Such a grand spectacle, all for the sake of becoming a Sage as well?" Both Ashen Rebirth and the Moral True Immortal looked towards Li Fan's location, a trace of confusion flashing in their minds. They had expected the Mysterious Woman Sage, Li Fan, to take further action. Instead, he seemed to have peaked and then subsided.
The newly ascended Three Sages exchanged glances, a silent, tacit understanding passing between them. They converged in unison. A Sage from the Other Shore also emerged from the dazzling halo, the Sage [Karma Judge]! However, it was merely a phantom projection of the Sage, not his true form. Karma Judge spoke mechanically, carefully observing the three newly ascended Sages of the Mountains and Seas. Apart from Li Fan, the origins of the Moral True Immortal and Ashen Rebirth were rooted in this very section of the Mountains and Seas. As for Li Fan, he was cloaked in the guise of the Mysterious Woman, and further shielded by Reconstruction. Karma Judge could naturally discern no abnormalities.
Under normal procedures, if new Sages were born in the Mountains and Seas, the Other Shore would spare no effort to win them over and recruit them. But with three Sages appearing consecutively, something felt peculiar. The phantom image of Karma Judge found himself in a predicament. The Tai Wei Sacred Emperor's immediate offering of three Grand Elixirs, while not the supreme grade capable of facilitating Sage births, was still invaluable, capable of stabilizing the ascension to Sainthood.
With all the Sages gathered, the anomalies in the Mountains and Seas ceased. Beings could no longer witness them. "Congratulations to the three fellow Daoists. Three Sages born in a single day is truly fortunate for us all," said the phantom image of the Sage [Karma Judge], representing the Other Shore. However, these were merely projections, not the true Sages. Karma Judge spoke mechanically while carefully observing the three newly ascended Sages of the Mountains and Seas. Apart from Li Fan, the origins of the Moral True Immortal and Ashen Rebirth were rooted in this very section of the Mountains and Seas. As for Li Fan, he was cloaked in the guise of the Mysterious Woman, and further shielded by Reconstruction. Karma Judge could naturally discern no abnormalities.
Under normal procedures, if new Sages were born in the Mountains and Seas, the Other Shore would spare no effort to win them over and recruit them. But with three Sages appearing consecutively, something felt peculiar. The phantom image of Karma Judge found himself in a predicament. The Tai Wei Sacred Emperor's immediate offering of three Grand Elixirs, while not the supreme grade capable of facilitating Sage births, was still invaluable, capable of stabilizing the ascension to Sainthood.
Li Fan smoothed things over, his words astonishing all the Sages: "I understand your doubts. In fact, the second Sage, the Moral True Immortal, and the third Sage, Ashen Rebirth, both came into being because of me." Upon hearing this, Karma Judge and the Tai Wei Sacred Emperor were both stunned. Seeing that the Moral True Immortal and Ashen Rebirth did not deny this, merely showing slight surprise, their expressions turned completely solemn.
"We implore you, Daoist Li, to enlighten us!" This matter was of grave importance, and the phantom image of the Mound Guardian also flew out from the halo of the Sages, joining them. Li Fan subtly nodded to the Mound Guardian, then slowly began: "You are all Sages, and naturally know that in the Eternal Void Realm, there are infinite stagnant True Spirits after the destruction of the Mountains and Seas. We can only take a meager portion with us during our journey, to utilize for ourselves. However... the vast expanse of True Spirits, I can summon and dismiss them at will!" Li Fan declared with conviction.
As proof, Li Fan gestured towards the Void Realm outside the Mountains and Seas. As expected, under the watchful eyes of all the Sages, a mass of stagnant True Spirit was summoned into Li Fan's palm. Karma Judge, the Mound Guardian, and the Tai Wei Sacred Emperor grew increasingly solemn as they witnessed this incredible phenomenon, pondering Li Fan's origins. Li Fan continued: "The last Sage of the Mountains and Seas also created the 'Myriad Lives Boundless' technique. Combined with my unique abilities, it can infuse beings. It can create Sages!"
Li Fan’s few words, however, revealed too much information.
The End-of-Mountains-and-Seas Saints, and the Saints born from creation—these eight characters were truly thunderous. The aura of the Sages surged instantly. Every gaze converged on Li Fan.
Within the circle of light from the Other Shore, the remaining Sage projections could no longer sit still.
Light and shadow flickered, and they descended continuously.
"Could it be that Fellow Daoist comes from the End of Mountains and Seas?" Elder Qiu Qiu asked with a solemn expression.
With the Sages present, everything in the Mountains and Seas should have been under control. However, today was an unexpected turn of events, with three Saints emerging consecutively. Such an anomaly could only be explained by "time travelers."
Li Fan merely smiled, neither confirming nor denying.
Although he was wearing an enhanced version of the "Mysterious Woman" guise, the Sages' power was unfathomable. Moreover, there were beings like Lian Shan and Gui Hai who had created the foundations of the Immortal Realm. Even if they were merely lingering projections, Li Fan could not guarantee that he wouldn't reveal a flaw if he lied to their faces.
Therefore, Li Fan would only choose to tell the truth selectively.
"I truly belong to this section of Mountains and Seas. After awakening, my cultivation fell. After recuperating for a while, I finally recovered my realm today. During this time, I also happened to befriend two promising talents who were only one step away from becoming Saints. So, I gave them a little push," Li Fan said, his tone casual.
However, all the Sages knew how incredibly difficult it was to take that final step.
Li Fan had already learned the information about Duo De and Jin Gui. They were indeed transcendent powerhouses belonging to this section of the Mountains and Seas.
They had also fallen into the Sages' sight before.
But in the entire Mountains and Seas, there were no fewer transcendent cultivators like them.
If they could achieve Sainthood in such a short period, then...
The implications were truly immense!
The Sages' attention quickly shifted to the "Boundless Me" cultivation method that Li Fan mentioned.
"This cultivation method is based on the divine ability of imagination. The Endeavoring Sages of the End of Mountains and Seas deduced it for countless years in frozen time, and only then obtained it."
"Even in the extremely barren realm at the End of Time, it still produced thousands of 'Half-Saints.' If this method were applied in the past, when the Mountains and Seas were stronger and richer in resources, its effectiveness could be multiplied."
"My small attempt has indeed proven effective."
In Li Fan's hand, a yellow light pulsed continuously. He personally demonstrated the "Boundless Me" method to the Sages.
With the Sages' eyesight, they could naturally discern the extraordinary nature of this cultivation method in an instant.
"Imagining a boundless self, then embarking on the path of Sainthood through 'Myriad Selves Unifying.' This method... is truly marvelous!"
Tai Wei Sacred Emperor's crown swayed slightly, revealing a hint of his face beneath. He praised it plainly.
"However, an imagined body is, after all, merely an illusory object. Theoretically, no matter how lifelike it seems, it should not possess a true spirit like ours. But..."
As Elder Qiu Qiu's projection spoke, the Sages' gazes once again fell upon Li Fan.
"You can actually transform the residual true spirits in the void realm into your own use?"
Even though Li Fan had demonstrated it face-to-face, the Sages still found it somewhat unbelievable.
But the Saints of the Mountains and Seas each had their unique abilities. How it was achieved was not the most important thing. What truly mattered was that this ability, combined with the "Boundless Me" method, could indeed create Saints!
The Sages' projections flashed with myriad lights, as if deducing the impact this would have on the grand game of Mountains and Seas.
And what Li Fan said next made it even harder for them to maintain their composure.
"The birth of this method also seems to be beyond fate. The Endeavoring Sages of the End of Mountains and Seas intended to rely on this method to fight desperately against the 'Star.' Unfortunately..." Li Fan sighed softly.
"'Star'?!"
This word seemed to possess a forbidden magic, causing the Sages' aura to falter. Even outside the Mountains and Seas, and within the void realm, there seemed to be a response. The tide of Dao Erasure surged even more fiercely.
It was as if its mere conceptual appearance could inspire boundless morale in the void realm.
"The End of Mountains and Seas failed, and for a short period, it seemed there was no way to break through. But if this method appeared in the past, when the Mountains and Seas were stronger, it might have served as a variable to calculate a sliver of hope."
"I am here today as the cause of that variable," Li Fan said with a faint tone.
"May I ask, Fellow Daoist, did you witness the 'Star' at the End of Mountains and Seas?"
Among the projections of the Sages on the Other Shore, Lian Shan finally spoke.
As the first "Immortal" in the Mountains and Seas, Sage Lian Shan's power had reached an unfathomable level.
As he spoke, Li Fan seemed to see a solitary figure struggling to climb in the boundless Mount Shang, with its immense height. Though the mountain was infinitely tall, that figure eventually reached the highest peak and looked down upon the multitude below.
Perhaps it was due to his unique identity as the "World's First Immortal," but when he spoke now, Li Fan felt a sense of being scrutinized.
It was as if any anomaly in his heart would be exposed before him.
Fortunately, on this matter, Li Fan had not lied.
In his previous life, he had indeed witnessed the scene of a solitary star descending and engulfing everything.
Li Fan held his breath and nodded slightly.
Then, he truthfully showed the scene he had witnessed to the Sages.
The solitary star, like the rising sun, slowly emerged from the darkness.
It vaporized everything.
The Mountains and Seas, the void realm, all perished under the starlight.
All that could be seen was the solitary star, beginning to expand endlessly!
...
As if reliving the emergence of the solitary star, cold sweat dripped from Li Fan's forehead, and his body trembled uncontrollably.
Before the all-consuming "Star," even Saints could hardly muster any resistance.
The scene he described was merely a fraction of the Star's divine magnificence, yet the terrifying spectacle still sent a chill through the Sages' hearts.
They knew of the "Star's" existence but had never truly seen it. Today, through Li Fan's retelling, they caught a glimpse of its mysterious form, only to realize that their previous estimation of the "Star's" power was far too low.
"Even the eternally silent void realm was easily swept away like a blank piece of paper," said Ye Pan grimly, exchanging glances with the Sages on the Other Shore.
"It seems our plan needs to be adjusted. Also, this matter is of utmost importance and needs to be transmitted to the past as soon as possible," Sage Gui Hai said slowly.
In an instant, the Sages seemed to exchange countless thoughts.
And Tai Wei Sacred Emperor's expression was also grim.
"Even if the Sacred Dynasty were to expand a hundredfold, I fear it would still be difficult to withstand the starlight," Tai Wei Sacred Emperor suddenly thought.
However, the Sacred Emperor would not doubt his own path because of this.
His gaze deepened as he began to ponder countermeasures.
All the Sages fell silent, lost in the image of the Star presented by Li Fan.
As for Li Fan, the instigator, his own experience was extraordinary.
Firstly, when he recreated the scene of the Star he had witnessed before, outside the Mountains and Seas and the void realm, the "Star" that was forcefully dragged back by "Return to Truth" seemed to sense his existence.
The turbulent void realm surging outside was precisely because of this.
"It's as if it was awakened from slumber. I wonder what impact it will have on this generation's Mountains and Seas."
Li Fan keenly sensed that with the premature appearance of the Star's will, Dao Erasure had become even more active.
And as if a commander-in-chief had issued mobilization orders, the subsequent wave of Dao Erasure would be stronger than the last.
Secondly, it was Li Fan's enlightenment of the "Star's" power itself.
"The starlight is mysteriously unfathomable, even superior to the Mountains and Seas and the void realm. Even if I try my best to recreate it, I cannot capture even a fraction of its essence. But..."
Li Fan recalled the "Star Radiance Strategy" from the inheritance options of "Return to Truth."
"If this scene is my record of the solitary star's sudden appearance, then the 'Star Radiance Strategy' is 'Return to Truth's' record and comprehension."
"If I can inherit it... then the illusory scene will truly possess a part of the 'Star's' power. Even a very small part."
Li Fan had personally experienced the aggressive starlight, the scene of it霸道ly devouring everything.
Therefore, he naturally understood what kind of terrifying scene it would be if that power were truly ignited.
Even Saints might not be able to withstand it.
"But correspondingly, I must first have the strength to inherit the starlight. It seems my previous premonition was correct. If the strength is insufficient, I will be annihilated by the starlight the moment I choose to inherit it."
"Furthermore..."
"Even my crude depiction has attracted the attention of the 'Star' outside the void realm. If I were to truly manifest a part of the Star's power... the consequences are unpredictable." Li Fan had not lost his reason.
Instead, his caution grew.
The Sages in the hall each had their own thoughts.
It was not until Li Fan's recreated scene finally dissipated that the turbulent tide of Dao Erasure outside remained.
"On behalf of the Sages of Mountains and Seas, I thank Fellow Daoist and that Last Sage."
"Your contributions this time are no less than the feats of the previous Mountain and Sea walkers," Sage Lian Shan spoke again.
Li Fan shook his head: "It was merely doing my best. Whether it succeeds or not is unknown. How can I speak of merit?"
"Although I have recovered my Saint realm, my strength has not yet reached its peak. Transmitting news to the past will likely trouble all of you," Li Fan suddenly sighed, changing the subject.
Elder Qiu Qiu nodded: "My true body is still in the void realm and has not gone too far. Soon, my true body will return. After I have fully comprehended the 'Boundless Me,' I will set off."
"However... this cultivation method can probably only be performed with Fellow Daoist's assistance."
"While recuperating, I ask you all to select potential candidates from the Mountains and Seas. I will assist them in becoming Saints. However, I cannot stay long. After I recover, I will proceed to the next section of Mountains and Seas," Li Fan said solemnly.
As he spoke, Li Fan suddenly sensed that the Sages seemed to have something more to say.
He chuckled: "Fellow Daoists, if you have anything to say, please speak directly. If it is something I can do, I will not refuse."
It was Tai Wei Sacred Emperor who answered Li Fan's unspoken question.
"Perhaps with the help of three more Saints, we can connect to the previous section of Mountains and Seas."
After a moment of deduction, the Sages on the Other Shore nodded in unison.
Li Fan's heart trembled slightly: "Reconnect the Mountains and Seas?"
His thoughts raced, and in an instant, he thought of a possible answer: "Could it be... using the bodies of Saints as bridges?"
"Precisely!"
"In the void realm, we divide ourselves and exert ourselves to our utmost. Using our bodies as ropes, we recreate the Mountains and Seas. If those 'ropes' can reconnect the upper and lower segments of the Mountains and Seas..."
"With the natural creation and vitality of the Mountains and Seas themselves, they will once again regenerate from the void and repel Dao Erasure!"
"To be frank, the section of Mountains and Seas where Fellow Daoist is currently located has already been reconnected once by us," Tai Wei Sacred Emperor said proudly.
Li Fan's face showed a precisely calculated expression of shock.
"If there is such a miraculous method, then surely as long as there are enough Saints, the Mountains and Seas can be recreated?"
Elder Qiu Qiu shook his head: "No. For us to be ropes and recreate the Mountains and Seas, the premise is that the upper and lower sections of the Mountains and Seas are not too far apart. The time separated by Dao Erasure cannot exceed ten thousand years. Otherwise..."
"Even if the ropes are connected, the Mountains and Seas cannot be revived. We were just a bit luckier, and our respective Mountains and Seas happened to be close to each other."
Li Fan gradually understood: "It's like broken silk still connected. If the distance is close, the silk remains. If Dao Erasure is severe and the void in between is too vast, this silk will be completely severed."
"The Mountains and Seas can no longer be reborn!"
Tai Wei Sacred Emperor said coldly: "Reconnecting the Mountains and Seas also benefits us greatly. It's akin to performing the 'Myriad Selves Unifying' again. After becoming a Saint, the Mountains and Seas are unique. Only through this method can we progress further."
"But that was in the past. Now, with this 'Boundless Me' method..."
Li Fan nodded: "Implanting true spirits truly benefits the Saint realm. If you have any needs, I will do my utmost to assist."
The Sages did not refuse and thanked him first.
After further discussion, both Duo De and Jin Gui finally entered the Other Shore.
Finally, they arrived here again. Compared to the past, the situation was vastly different.
They no longer needed to undergo scrutiny but had found their own positions within the white circle.
From then on, the Nine Sages of the Other Shore became Twelve Sages.
"This white circle's radiance seems to have its own marvels?"
Li Fan sat within it, savoring it carefully.
"Fellow Daoist's insight is sharp. Since the void realm separated the Mountains and Seas, the beings in the Mountains and Seas have also been divided into countless individual selves along the vertical timeline."
"Just like the analogy of broken silk still connected, if the silk of the Mountains and Seas is completely severed, then the beings within the Mountains and Seas will slowly become independent selves. Even if they can cross the void realm and see their other selves..."
"There will still be two distinct consciousnesses."
"Although with the Sages' concentration, the two consciousnesses will eventually merge. But during this process, a upheaval is inevitable."
"Our true bodies have all left this section of the Mountains and Seas. However, to prevent the lingering projections from developing self-awareness due to the void realm's separation, we created this white circle."
"Furthermore, the white circle is a creation of the Sages' combined efforts and contains our collective power. Even if it is occupied by projections, they can still exert power comparable to their true bodies when working together."
... Lian Shan's projection explained to Li Fan.
"Truly marvelous." Sitting within the white light, Li Fan could indeed feel the power of the other Sages' projections within reach.
It was as if he had gained several extra arms with independent consciousness.
"May I leave my projection before I depart?"
"As Fellow Daoist wishes," the Sages nodded slightly.
...
The combined will of the Sages was far more efficient than Li Fan searching alone.
Soon, they found two more transcendent powerhouses with the potential to become Saints.
However, they were still one short of the three Saints needed to complete the plan of connecting the Mountains and Seas.
"Under the Eternal Heavenly Steps, there seems to be another suitable candidate."
"However..."
"Expiating sins with merit is acceptable."
The Eternal Heavenly Steps, an aggregate term for the cyan stone slabs suspended across the River of Time.
They served to assist those on the Other Shore who couldn't cultivate the Art of Inversion to traverse the river.
Perhaps they had other special uses, Ye Fan had yet to discover.
At this moment, after much deliberation, the Sages finalized their plan. The white circle pulsed with a gentle jade luminescence, and the phantom of the River of Time, as if cleaved by a saber, split in two.
Two figures appeared to be imprisoned beneath the Eternal Heavenly Steps.
As if bearing the weight of the entire River of Time and countless stone steps, they sat cross-legged, their heads bowed.
Even sensing the anomaly above, they were unable to lift their heads to investigate.
Only one of the two was released. A rope of white light ensnared it and brought it before the Sages.
As the jade-like light receded, the River of Time sealed itself once more, the figures within vanishing.
The summoned cultivator, perhaps due to prolonged imprisonment, remained motionless like a statue, even after regaining freedom.
The rope of light instantly retracted. His brow furrowed, and his eyes slowly opened.
Gazing at the twelve towering figures of the Sages before him, a trace of confusion flickered in the cultivator's eyes.
"What year is it?"
He distinctly remembered that when he was suppressed, there were only nine Sages on the Other Shore.
How had their numbers suddenly surged to twelve giants?
"Moreover, I've been released."
"Has the conflict between the Mountains and Seas and the Void Realm finally concluded?"
A myriad of doubts churned within the cultivator's mind, yet in the presence of the Sages, he dared not show disrespect.
"Junior, [Hundred Inquiries], pays his respects to all Sages!"
"After years of suppression, have you reflected?" The phantom of the Karma Judge boomed, echoing like thunder throughout the hall.
The Immortal Hundred Inquiries, however, remained unfazed, sighing softly. "Naturally, I have. I only regret being too slow in my actions and being detected by the Sages. One misstep leads to eternal regret..."
Seeing Hundred Inquiries' steadfast refusal to repent, the Sages' phantoms showed no signs of anger.
"Like My Heart's Desire has been destroyed, and you have been imprisoned for a long time. Now, an opportunity arises for you to redeem yourself for your crimes. Are you willing?" the Karma Judge continued.
"Redeem myself for my crimes?" The Immortal Hundred Inquiries blinked in surprise. "Can I truly regain my freedom?"
"Not only will you regain your freedom, but you can also ascend to the Saint realm in a single step," the Mound Guardian stated.
The Mound Guardian's words clearly carried significant weight in Hundred Inquiries' heart.
Hearing this unbelievable statement, he was profoundly shaken.
He blurted out, "If that is true, then Junior is naturally willing!"
"You agree so quickly? Know that once you consent, there is no turning back."
"Given your past transgressions, we will collectively leave a restriction within you. Even as a Saint, you will find it difficult to escape. Should you betray us, we will, with unified effort, scatter your soul to the winds on the spot. This, we must clarify beforehand," the Lian Shan phantom declared.
The Immortal Hundred Inquiries, however, appeared to take it for granted. "To be suppressed beneath the Eternal Heavenly Steps for countless years, until the Mountains and Seas were destroyed. Or to have the opportunity to achieve the Saint's body, even if I must be controlled by others..."
"How could I possibly not know which of these two to choose?"
"Back then, why did I choose to use [Like My Heart's Desire] to draw the attention of the Stars? Was it not because my path to Sainthood was hopeless?"
...
Without Ye Fan needing to speak, the newly ascended Sage Ashfall immediately questioned upon hearing Hundred Inquiries' words.
"This person actually intended to draw the attention of the Stars? Can he still be entrusted with important tasks?"
The Mound Guardian nodded. "Once one becomes a Saint, they naturally stand with us, posing no threat of betrayal. Daoist friend, do not worry."
"As for his previous actions of communicating with the Stars..."
Through the Mound Guardian's explanation, the three newly ascended Saints finally understood the full story.
It was almost identical to the version recounted by the Boundless Wall in the cycle of reincarnation.
Long ago, the Immortal Hundred Inquiries comprehended the shadow of the Great Dao and, through it, forged a peculiar immortal artifact, [Like My Heart's Desire].
This immortal artifact could, like a person's shadow, observe the Dao paths and inner thoughts of all Immortals.
And transform their power for his own use.
Logically, possessing such a treasure before transcending, the Immortal Hundred Inquiries should have had boundless prospects.
Alas, it was both Like My Heart's Desire that elevated him and destroyed him.
The Dao paths and inner thoughts of all beings were too vast, too boundless, and too wondrous.
Once he indulged, he became immersed, unable to extricate himself.
Lingering and unable to return, he neglected his own cultivation.
Furthermore, the Immortal Hundred Inquiries privy to the secrets of countless beings, yet with no one to share them with, could only bury everything within his heart. Over time, this led to increasing frustration.
Eventually, unable to bear it any longer, he secretly confided in others.
It was truly like a horse galloping on a plain, easily unleashed but difficult to rein in. Others marveled at the earth-shattering secrets, and the exhilaration of revealing everything he knew brought immense pleasure to the Immortal Hundred Inquiries.
Having tasted sweetness, he became addicted, unable to stop.
Even the secrets of Immortal Emperors became topics for his boasting.
And relying on the wondrous nature of the shadow of the Great Dao, he repeatedly escaped capture unharmed.
Thus, the Immortal Hundred Inquiries grew increasingly outspoken.
Until he sought to reveal the secret of [Jing Fen].
"Jing Fen devours the Dao and opens its circle, upon the desolate tomb."
"Do you know what the true form of the Great Sage Jing Fen is?"
"Heh heh, if you knew, you would certainly find it unbelievable..." the Immortal Hundred Inquiries boasted smugly amidst the gathered onlookers.
"Brother Hundred Inquiries, do not keep us in suspense. Tell us quickly."
As the surrounding Immortals' gazes were filled with anticipation, the Immortal Hundred Inquiries was about to speak when a gust of black wind swept in.
The eavesdropping Immortals were instantly swept away and swallowed by the Great Sage Jing Fen.
However, the Immortal Hundred Inquiries, protected by the shadow of the Great Dao, narrowly escaped death. He was suddenly awakened.
He had spoken carelessly and offended someone he shouldn't have!
Yet the Great Sage Jing Fen, acting on impulse,
ignored the Immortal Hundred Inquiries' pleas for forgiveness and was determined to swallow him whole, to silence him permanently.
The Immortal Hundred Inquiries fled and hid, eventually finding himself with nowhere to go.
In desperation, he hardened his heart and conceived a plan to attract the Dao Erasure and perish together.
If the confrontation between the Mountains and Seas and the Dao Erasure was considered a war,
then the Immortal Hundred Inquiries, who had comprehended the divine ability of the shadow of the Great Dao, would be akin to a top-tier spy who knew most of the secrets of the Mountains and Seas. If he defected, he could significantly alter the balance of power between the two sides.
Therefore, the Immortal Hundred Inquiries' act of defection proceeded with unprecedented smoothness.
He merely displayed a hint of his intent, and the Dao Erasure surged with unprecedented intensity.
And within the Dao Erasure, a consciousness could vaguely be heard.
It persuaded him to join the Dao Erasure, while also promising him a bright future.
However, just as he was about to completely betray them, the two Sages Lian Shan and Gui Hai,
made their move and directly suppressed him.
...
"In the Void Realm, the foundations of all existence are gone. How could there be a bright future?" Ashfall shook his head.
"Perhaps it was a transformation of form. The tide of Dao Erasure possesses self-awareness. Furthermore, what about the [Stars] after the Dao Erasure? According to the Immortal Hundred Inquiries, the moment he communicated with the consciousness within the Dao Erasure, he clearly felt an even grander intention, far surpassing our own. It seemed to lurk deep within the Dao Erasure, as if hidden beneath the darkness."
"A premonition arose in his heart that by offering the shadow of the Great Dao of the Mountains and Seas as a sacrifice, it might draw that entity's attention."
"At that time, within the Dao Erasure, a scene of heaven and earth overturning would unfold..." the Mound Guardian said calmly, his thoughts unreadable.
"Fellow Sages, how much truth and how much falsehood do you believe is in the Immortal Hundred Inquiries' words?" Ye Fan finally spoke, soliciting the opinions of the Sages' phantoms.
"There are no outright lies. However, that doesn't mean it's entirely true."
"Even we have difficulty sensing the true form of the Stars. Even if the Stars truly appeared before us, it's unlikely that the Immortal Hundred Inquiries would be able to perceive them. It's possible it was purely his own illusion," the Karma Judge Saint shook his head.
The Mound Guardian added, "However, this individual's talent is indeed extraordinary. He was merely blinded before. Suppressed by us in the Eternal Heavenly Steps, he had no secrets to pry into. He could only devote himself to cultivation, and over these years, he has even made further progress, reaching the Transcendent realm."
"Fellow Daoists are indeed kind. To allow such a heinous criminal to have another opportunity to cultivate," Ye Fan said with a smile.
"If he cannot become a Saint, even if he is heinous, we can suppress him with a mere turn of our hands. If he can become a Saint—"
"After attuning to the Dao and becoming a Saint, he will naturally join our ranks. What harm is there in letting him cultivate?" the Karma Judge Saint stated nonchalantly.
...
Amidst the Sages' exchange, the Immortal Hundred Inquiries had regained his freedom.
"It's a pity my Jade As I Desire is gone. It's likely impossible to forge another one," he muttered softly, glancing at the Sages present.
"After attuning to the Dao and becoming a Saint, one's perspective changes. The myriad beings of the Mountains and Seas are all like ants. What joy is there in their lives?" It was the Chance Stealer Sage who spoke.
The Chance Stealer's phantom had remained silent for the most part.
Upon speaking now, Ye Fan faintly sensed a chilling, snake-like aura slithering through the hall.
The fragmented good fortune of the Mountains and Seas obtained from the remains of the Heavenly Mysteries King completely dissipated due to the appearance of this chilling aura.
As if being stolen!
It was not that the Chance Stealer had acted intentionally, but rather a natural phenomenon triggered by his speaking!
The Immortal Hundred Inquiries also seemed to detect a change in himself, his expression shifting slightly.
However, he still forced himself to retort, "Seniors are not ants, how would they know the joy of ants?"
The Chance Stealer ceased speaking, and the chilling aura vanished.
The Immortal Hundred Inquiries felt a sense of futility and murmured, "All you seniors, please proceed!"
The white circle suddenly contracted, concentrating within the Immortal Hundred Inquiries' head.
"Sages, merely leave behind a trace of your power within it," the Tai Yi Sage Lord Slowly spoke.
The Sages each displayed their divine abilities, and various lights flashed within the white circle.
It was as if twelve Sage phantoms were again present.
Naturally, Ye Fan left a trace of his [Mysterious Woman] aura within it.
In his perception, the powers of the Sages residing within the Immortal Hundred Inquiries' body were indistinguishable from the white circle on the Other Shore.
It was as if the concept of a boundary within the "Immortal Hundred Inquiries' body" did not exist.
The white circle emitted a faint glow, completely merging with the Immortal Hundred Inquiries' body.
Though it seemed to disappear, it had, in reality, become inseparable from him, like water mingling with ice.
The Immortal Hundred Inquiries' thoughts and actions were all under the watchful control of the Sages.
Even after he ascended to Sainthood, this would remain the same!
"I spied on all beings for so long, only to have my latter half of life spent under constant scrutiny."
The Immortal Hundred Inquiries shook his head slightly, remarkably open-minded about his predicament.
"We will not be so bored as to pry into your heart. This is merely a precaution. After all, this endeavor involves connecting the Great Cause of the Mountains and Seas, and there can be no room for error," the Mound Guardian said solemnly.
"Perhaps," the Immortal Hundred Inquiries murmured, bowing to the Sages once more.
With the three suitable Transcendent cultivators now assembled, it was time for Ye Fan to shine.
Whether before or after becoming a Saint, the scale of stagnant True Spirits he could evoke remained consistent, yet it still elicited awe from observers.
The three Transcendent beings, including the Immortal Hundred Inquiries, silently circulated the [My Life is Boundless] cultivation technique.
Ye Fan manipulated the stagnant True Spirits, pouring them down like a waterfall.
As the illusory bodies of the three were absorbed by themselves, their cultivation aptitudes increased visibly.
The chasm that they would never have been able to cross in their lifetimes was completely bridged.
The Sages watched, silent.
After a long while, when Ye Fan finished, the Gui Hai Sage phantom sighed with emotion. "Even witnessing it again, this cultivation technique remains incredibly wondrous. It is a pity that we will not have the chance to meet that Saint of the End of Mountains and Seas."
"Perhaps after the Dao Erasure recedes and the Mountains and Seas are reshaped, we will have the opportunity to meet."
...
Among the three Transcendent beings, two of them, apart from the Immortal Hundred Inquiries, followed the path of Sainthood through [Ten Thousand Selves Unifying].
Their respective Daos were [Inch-by-Inch] and [Primordial Qi].
As for the Immortal Hundred Inquiries...
His path bore some resemblance to the Moral True Immortal's.
Leveraging his unique nature, he established his own nation within the Mountains and Seas, attaining Sainthood.
"It seems that Sages like the Mound Guardian and myself, who were born in possession of the Dao of Mountains and Seas Compatibility, are indeed rare."
"But they are merely following different paths. It is difficult to say who is truly stronger."
For instance, the Karma Judge clearly did not possess the origin of the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas.
Yet Ye Fan instinctively felt that this person was not to be trifled with.
Indeed, he posed a greater threat than the Mound Guardian.
"As for the other Sages..."
"Although we share the same space, it's as if they are shrouded in mist, making them difficult to discern."
This was merely their phantom bodies.
Even the two newly ascended Sages, Ashfall and Morality, remained so.
This illustrated the profound changes that occurred upon achieving Sainthood. Even while seated there, seemingly motionless, their strength advanced by leaps and bounds, defying estimation.
"It appears that wearing the guise of the Mysterious Woman's Great Dao is ultimately different from truly achieving Sainthood oneself," Ye Fan cautioned himself inwardly.
The three Transcendent beings, even with the infusion of True Spirits,
would not achieve Sainthood overnight.
Fortunately, the Tai Wei Sacred Emperor bestowed three more Grand Elixirs to aid them.
With the combined efforts of all parties, on this day, three more Saints appeared in the Mountains and Seas!
However, unlike before, their arrival was not earth-shattering.
Obscured by the brilliance of the white circle on the Other Shore, they remained unseen by the mortal world.
"Greetings, Daoist friends!"
The Sages present exchanged greetings.
After achieving Sainthood, their identities were no longer ranked.
Even the Immortal Hundred Inquiries, who was under the Sages' surveillance, was treated as their equal.
"After a brief preparation, we can set off for the Void Realm."
"The first trip will be for the newly ascended to familiarize themselves with the situation in the Void Realm. If they feel uncomfortable, they can return at any time," the Mound Guardian's phantom stated sternly.
"Crossing against the current requires not only adhering to the path of the Dao and maintaining one's fundamental existence but, most importantly, it requires [discerning the past and present]," explained the phantom of the Sage of Lian Shan, who was instructing the newly ascended Sages.
"Maintaining one's fundamental existence is about resisting the void's Dao Erasure. But what does discerning the past and present mean?" asked Fang Cun, a newly ascended Sage, with confusion.
"Within the Eternal Void, there is only a vast, boundless darkness. There aren't just two directions, past and present. 'Present' refers to the direction from which we came. 'Past' is the destination we are heading towards. As for other directions…"
"They are endless, infinite. If you choose the wrong direction from the very beginning, even if you possess divine power and can endure the void's erosion for ten million years, all you will see is emptiness," Sage Lian Shan said softly, joining forces with Sage Gui Hai to display a patch of darkness to the Sages.
Beneath the blackness, like a shroud of dark clouds, Li Fan felt his senses stripped away. The figures of the surrounding Sages vanished one by one, as if he had truly fallen into an endless void. The emptiness and stillness began to erode the very foundation of his existence. It was vast, boundless, and immeasurable. He could no longer discern up from down, or north from south, let alone himself from his surroundings!
How could he even think of navigating and traversing to a more distant past? Even returning to the very mountains and seas they had just left would become a problem!
"This is merely a simulation by the two Sages, Lian Shan and Gui Hai?" Li Fan thought with a solemn heart, "The true Eternal Void is this terrifying."
He had traversed it before, but it was downstream, all the way to the end of the mountains and seas. Most importantly, he relied on the connection between Qiu Xin Hui's replicated imagined body and his main consciousness to accurately determine his direction. He had no worries about getting lost. But now, without a guiding anchor point, the difficulty was vastly different.
After a short while, the two Sages dispersed the simulated darkness of the void and reappeared. The newly ascended Sages, like Li Fan, were all solemn.
"You all need not worry too much. Where there is no road in the void, the strong serve as the markers. In the true Eternal Void, our main bodies already exist. Like knots on a rope, you only need to use the nearest Sage as an anchor point," the phantom of Tai Yi reassured them.
"According to our past calculations, to reconnect ourselves with the previous section of mountains and seas and traverse the vast void, it would require at least thirteen Sages working in unison. However, that is the most extreme scenario, leaving no room for error. Any slight misstep would not only render all efforts in vain but also potentially endanger all thirteen Sages," Tai Yi continued.
"Therefore, we have been preparing all along and have not truly begun our actions. But now, with the fortune brought by Daoist Xuan Pin…"
"With six new Sages, while not foolproof, the risk has indeed been significantly reduced," Shou Qiu said slowly, looking at Li Fan.
"On the path through the void, the advanced lead the way. Before you Sages truly enter the Eternal Void, you must first agree on the order of precedence. The latter must closely follow the former, without any deviation. Otherwise, one wrong step will lead to many," the phantom of Ye Pan stated sternly.
"Now, among the nine of us, our order in the void is already set. The most ancient and foremost is Lian Shan. Then, in sequence, Gui Hai, Tai Yi, Qie Ji, Gui Ming, Duan Chan, Shou Qiu…"
"Myself, and Xing Cha."
"As for your own order, perhaps you can compete first."
The six new Sages exchanged glances, and in most of their eyes, a look of eagerness emerged.
"Direct confrontation can easily lead to ill feelings. Why not follow our old method and each manifest a phantom within this [Xuan Ji Ring]? Not waiting for Sage Lian Shan’s words to finish, the white circle on the other shore gleamed brightly. Amidst the flashing light, the six new Sages were watched by the nine established Sages.
"Heh heh, I've been wanting this for a while!" The first to respond was Jin Gui. As his phantom entered the ring, the other Sages found it difficult to refuse.
Instantly, they each manifested phantoms and entered the Xuan Ji Ring.
"Within the Xuan Ji Ring, one can see the whole by observing the part. If you wish to hide your true strength, it will not be possible," Elder Sage Shou Qiu said with a chuckle as the Sages took their positions.
The six new Sages remained expressionless, nodding in response. The white circle's brilliance seemed to transform into a battlefield. The Sages' phantoms entered like specks of light. Within the Xuan Ji Ring, time seemed to accelerate countless times. Each moment, the Sages' light spots were constantly colliding intensely. Even if it was just a manifested phantom of a Sage, determining victory would require a protracted battle. The Xuan Ji Ring accelerated this process.
Not long after, under the Sages' gazes, the first light spot completely dimmed and was defeated. Looking closely, it was Xuan Pin. Li Fan wore a helpless expression and shook his head slightly, "It’s a pity that you are still injured and have not recovered."
Xuan Pin, being the master of the mountains and seas' genesis and having just recovered his Sage's strength after traversing from the end of the mountains and seas, was expected to be the weakest. As long as he possessed the divine ability to infuse True Spirit, even if he were merely a mortal, the Sages would not mind.
Next, those eliminated in sequence were Fang Cun and Tai Qi. As for the remaining three Sages, they were locked in a fierce and evenly matched battle. Within the Xuan Ji Ring, black and white energies surged, appearing and disappearing, separating and merging. When separated, their attacks were sharp and fierce. When merged, they became one, impenetrable. In contrast, there was a ball of fire that split into billions, forming a vast sea of strange gray flames. Each strand of flame seemed to possess its own consciousness. Even if destroyed, it could quickly regenerate from nothingness, an endless, inextinguishable fire that grew stronger the more it was attacked.
Black and white versus gray, neither side yielded. Outside of them, shadows lurked. Sometimes they merged with the black and white energies, ambushing the gray flames. At other times, they became Jin Gui's flames, fiercely attacking the swirling Tai Chi. And when both Dao De and Jin Gui attacked simultaneously, the shadow retaliated with their own methods, capable of holding its own against two opponents with its continuous shadows.
The three forces clashed, and even with the Xuan Ji Ring repeatedly accelerating the process, a conclusion could not be reached for a long time.
"They are actually evenly matched. This outcome is truly interesting," the phantom of Ye Pan remarked with a light chuckle.
"Everything has its cause," Sage Gui Ming suddenly said. The smile on Ye Pan's face froze, then he revealed a thoughtful expression.
"I had originally thought of letting this go. Since you have said so, let us wait a little longer. We will see who emerges victorious."
Li Fan, overhearing the conversation between Gui Ming and Ye Pan, also pondered in his heart. A strange silence fell upon the arena, with only the flashing brilliance within the Xuan Ji Ring. After an unknown amount of time, the balance between the three was finally broken.
It was the phantom of Bai Xiao who shouted, "This is boring!" Then, he voluntarily jumped out of the Xuan Ji Ring, his phantom scattering, ceasing to exist. Bai Xiao's main body felt no difference at all, even displaying a look of self-admiration, "As expected of me."
The remaining Dao De and Jin Gui, with Dao De's complete morality, ultimately proved superior. Thus, the strength of the six new Sages was determined.
Li Fan suddenly spoke, "Shall we six contend with the Sages who came before?"
"There's no need for that," replied Xing Cha. As a wooden boat laden with starlight gently sailed into the Xuan Ji Ring, the starlight erupted violently, shining like countless stars simultaneously. It instantly engulfed everything. The black and white Dao De energies transformed into Tai Chi, continuously spinning, attempting to resist the starlight's destructive force. But it was ultimately in vain. In the end, they were annihilated by the starlight. The strongest among the six new Sages was thus easily defeated by Xing Cha. Witnessing this, the six Sages fell silent.
Even the strongest among the newly elevated six Sages was no match for the weakest of the nine Sages from the Other Shore. And this was merely a phantom image the latter had left within the Starry Enigma Ring, not their true form. Li Fan found this result incredibly surprising.
Sage Shou Qiu chuckled, "They are all old fellows. They just have a bit more accumulation than you. As long as you live long enough, you will eventually catch up."
The six newly elevated Sages nodded slightly. Li Fan understood that Shou Qiu Gong's mention of "accumulation" referred to that state of "daily increase" after becoming a Sage. Once one became a Sage, profound mysteries would self-arise. Even if they sat still without actively cultivating, their strength would increase by leaps and bounds, far beyond what others could fathom.
Previously, Li Fan had only vaguely sensed this from Morality and Ashen Rebirth. Now, Sage Shou Qiu had confirmed it.
"This passive cultivation must be growing slower and slower, otherwise, Sage Shou Qiu wouldn't have said 'eventually catch up'," Li Fan mused. "But the question of 'eventually' is worth pondering. Sage Lian Shan, Sage Gui Hai, and Sage Tai Yi have existed for an immeasurable amount of time. With such prolonged accumulation, unless there are special means of replenishment, it is unlikely that Sages promoted later will ever catch up."
"Shou Qiu Gong's words are likely meant to be comforting." This could also be seen from the ranking within the nine Sages of the Other Shore. Sage Shou Qiu, who governed the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas Longevity, should not have been weak among the Sages. Yet, he was ranked only ahead of Ye Pan and Star Raft. The three Sages of Lian Shan, on the other hand, were undoubtedly at the forefront.
"The older a Sage is, the stronger they are. Moreover, as the founders of the Immortal path, their innate talent must have been world-shattering. It's difficult to fathom the extent of their current power."
"No wonder that even with the peerless talent of the End of Mountains and Seas Sage, he didn't harbor any thoughts of vying for supremacy at the beginning of the Mountains and Seas. He knew that born at the end, he naturally lacked the accumulation of a complete life cycle of the Mountains and Seas compared to the ancient Sages. Reaching his current realm is already a monstrous achievement."
Li Fan secretly warned himself, "I am merely wearing the guise of the Mysterious Woman and using the 'Myriad Born' technique to deflect their attention. I must be cautious to avoid revealing any flaws in front of them." Li Fan had not forgotten the terrifying outcome in the Return to Truth simulation: once exposed, he was instantly read of all consciousness and thoughts in his mind, his fate unknown.
With the order established, the next step was to tentatively explore the Eternal Void Realm. However, as a precaution, the six newly elevated Sages were to leave phantom images of themselves in the Starry Enigma Ring.
"This phantom image will also serve as an anchor point," Sage Tai Yi explained slowly. "If you become lost in the Void Realm, unable to sense the presence of your companions, or if you perceive the sequence ahead to be chaotic... then prioritize your safety and retreat first."
The newly elevated Sages had no reason to refuse. With the experience from their previous sparring, injecting their phantom images went smoothly. The phantom images formally took their seats within the Starry Enigma Ring, and white light connected the six newly elevated Sages with the original nine Sages.
Li Fan narrowed his eyes slightly. Through this connection within the Starry Enigma Ring, he could sense the Dao paths of the other Sages! It wasn't an external observation and comprehension, but rather as if he himself was practicing those Daos. It was akin to how Li Fan had first controlled the Mysterious Woman before comprehending it. The efficiency was naturally incomparable to ordinary Dao comprehension.
"They are actually sharing their Dao paths so openly."
"Is this the absolute confidence of the ancient Sages?" Within the Starry Enigma Ring, one could not hide their true abilities. Fortunately, Li Fan was merely the Sage of the 'Mysterious Woman.' This was not the foundation of his existence, and he wouldn't hesitate to give it up entirely.
With a calm heart, he focused on comprehending the aura of the Daos mastered by the other Sages. The other newly elevated Sages, however, were still unaccustomed to this "sharing" and seemed somewhat restrained. Noticing Li Fan's uninhibited demeanor, they couldn't help but nod in approval: "As expected of a Sage who came against the current from the end of the Mountains and Seas!"
Feeling a touch of shame, they forced themselves to adapt to the peculiar environment within the Starry Enigma Ring. Once they became familiar with the Dao paths of the other Sages in the white circles, they would be like a single entity, even able to borrow a portion of the power from each other's phantom images.
"Seeing the small reveals the large; one is all." Li Fan recalled Sage Shou Qiu's earlier discourse and seemed to have a sudden realization.
At this moment, Sage Shou Qiu spoke again, "The more familiar we are with each other's auras, the greater the maximum distance we can sense in the Void Realm. This will increase our chances of accomplishing the task of reuniting the Mountains and Seas."
"Of course, this first excursion is merely to allow everyone to familiarize themselves with the conditions of the Void Realm."
With all preparations complete, a tear appeared in the circle of light from the Other Shore, as if ripped open from the outside. A pitch-black rift emerged.
"Follow me, and let's leap in together."
"Once in the darkness, do not panic if any situation arises. Sense your surroundings, recall your origins, and then attempt to arrange yourselves in the predetermined order..." Sage Shou Qiu explained patiently.
Facing the Eternal Void Realm, the six newly elevated Sages were as nervous as ducklings taking their first dip in the water. Although the pressure of the Void Realm had been greatly reduced, their fear of it still lingered, not yet dispelled.
Seeing Sage Shou Qiu's phantom image slowly float into the rift, Morality took a deep breath and followed in after three breaths. The remaining Sages entered one after another.
The moment Li Fan stepped into the Void Realm, an boundless darkness instantly enveloped him. While he had traversed realms before, this encounter was entirely different from riding the currents down with the Sage of the End of Mountains and Seas! Besides the pervasive cold and dead silence, the very foundation of his existence was slowly being devoured by the darkness. Without the protection of imaginary power, and seemingly to prevent the other Sages from noticing, Return to Truth entered a dormant state.
Li Fan's memories began to fade, accelerating like an avalanche. Soon, his mind became as empty as if it had been drained.
"I..."
"Who am I?"
"Where is this place?"
"It's too dark; I can't see anything."
Without memories, Li Fan’s actions were driven purely by instinct. He vaguely sensed a familiar presence in a certain direction within the darkness. Fortunately, he had not delved too deeply into the Void Realm, and he still had the strength to resist the erosion. He soon returned from the Void Realm.
Upon returning to the Other Shore and regaining his sight, the phantom images of the Sages saw Li Fan reappear so quickly, and their expressions changed slightly. They thought some mishap had occurred. Li Fan, having quickly recovered his memories upon returning to the Mountains and Seas, reacted swiftly. With a look of shame, he said, "It seems I haven't fully recovered my state and lost track of the others' aura in the Void Realm, so I had to return first."
"The constant infusion of Saints… it seems my situation is more serious than I imagined. Perhaps I need more rest." Li Fan said calmly, his expression at ease. The Saints in the Other Shore's halo fell into silence.
"It's alright, as long as you've returned safely. It was our oversight." After a long pause, the simulacrum of Mound Guardian broke the awkward silence. After all, Li Fan's method of True Spirit Infusion was unique to the Mountains and Seas. Even if he lost the ability to traverse the Void Realm and remained forever in the current segment of the Mountains and Seas, he could still provide a continuous supply of reserve Saint-level power. The other Saints were accustomed to this.
In the sequence of Saints, [Mysterious Woman] was ranked last. The facts proved that even his sudden disappearance would not affect the initial exploration of the Void Realm. Li Fan sat in the Starry Enigma Ring, using the opportunity to comprehend the Dao paths of the other Saints.
Time passed, and suddenly a fluctuation rippled through the air. The Saints had finally returned from their expedition.
"Roughly eight hundred years have passed in the mortal world of the Mountains and Seas."
"However, in the Other Shore, time no longer holds any practical meaning."
The situation was roughly the same as at the end of the Mountains and Seas. The brilliant white light of the Starry Enigma Ring seemed to freeze time, making the Other Shore region appear to have jumped out of the River of Time and exist independently. In the Mountains and Seas, possibilities surged forward with time. However, in the Other Shore, everything remained eternally unchanged, existing as an affiliation of the Mountains and Seas themselves.
It was possible to travel from the Other Shore to any possibility or any point in time in the current segment of the Mountains and Seas. It was also possible to depart from any point in the Mountains and Seas, traverse, and find a trace of the Other Shore. This was how they attracted powerful Transcendent beings to provide possible reserve forces for the grand plan of re-connecting the Mountains and Seas.
From Transcendent to Saint required a long accumulation of time. Only within the solidified time of the Other Shore could these Transcendent beings have a chance to attempt to prove their Dao and become Saints. Otherwise, if time were allowed to flow normally, they would likely perish in the Dao Erasure before they could break through.
Of course, the emergence of Li Fan's True Spirit Infusion ability undoubtedly greatly accelerated this process. The newly ascended Saints returned to the Other Shore with dazed expressions, similar to Li Fan's initial confusion. Then, they instantly regained their clarity.
Inch-by-Inch furrowed his brow, "The Void Realm was a vast expanse of darkness. Not only was it impossible to distinguish between past and present, but I almost lost myself. Even though I tried my best to maintain my sanity, in the end, I nearly forgot my mission. Fortunately, I still remembered the agreed-upon sequence in my heart. Sensing that my fellow Daoist friends were all present, I didn't panic."
"I never imagined that simply staying in the Void Realm would be so difficult."
Hundred Inquiries chuckled, "Speaking of which, you might not believe it. In the Void Realm, I seemed to feel a certain intent trying to communicate with me. To protect me, the power that annihilates the foundation of all existence inexplicably weakened. What a pity..."
The simulacrum of Lian Shan interrupted Hundred Inquiries' words with a faint tone, "It was merely your misconception. If you hadn't become a Saint, you might have truly found refuge in the Star. But now that you have proven your Dao as a Saint, there is no turning back. There are indeed hidden consciousnesses in the Void Realm, but they are the collective will of the [Eternal Void Realm]. Every time the Dao Erasure encroaches upon the Mountains and Seas, it is a tangible manifestation of its consciousness."
"If you had truly harbored thoughts of surrender then, you would likely have perished in the Void Realm without us needing to intervene."
Upon hearing Lian Shan's words, Hundred Inquiries' smile froze on his face. He did not doubt the truth of Lian Shan's words, as he was, after all, the foremost immortal in the world. His understanding of Dao Erasure and the Mountains and Seas naturally far surpassed that of his juniors.
Hundred Inquiries still had a question in his heart, "Why is it that after proving one's Dao as a Saint, one is no longer tolerated by the Star?"
The simulacrum of Lian Shan replied, "Saints are as one with the Mountains and Seas. It matters not what method they used to become Saints. Furthermore, the Star's emergence was destined to consume the Mountains and Seas."
With a gentle wave of his hand, an image of the continuous Mountains and Seas appeared before the Saints. A straight black line slowly rose, seemingly about to engulf the Mountains and Seas. As the majestic phantom of the Mountains and Seas gradually disappeared beneath the black line, those figures standing on the mountain peaks became even more prominent. They even became the primary targets of the black line's encroachment.
"We were born and stand within the Mountains and Seas. Though we are as one with them, we cannot escape this fate."
"As the Mountains and Seas gradually fall, in a sense, we too will face the Star's gaze."
"Or rather, from the moment we became Saints, we have already fallen under the Star's observation." The black line seemed to hover outside, rising slowly.
Everyone had witnessed Li Fan's display of the [Star] swallowing everything. An invisible sense of oppression welled up in their hearts.
"If you still don't believe me, you can try it yourself." The simulacrum of Great Yi said calmly, "We will save you before you are completely consumed by the Void Realm."
Hundred Inquiries ultimately did not risk his life to verify his fleeting feeling and remained silent, dispirited. After a period of discussion, the simulacrum of Mound Guardian summarized the initial exploration.
"Aside from Xuan Pin Daoist experiencing some minor unexpected issues, the performance of the other Daoists was even better than anticipated."
"With a few more adaptations, we might be able to truly commence the plan to connect the Mountains and Seas." Mound Guardian paused and then looked in Li Fan's direction, "Xuan Pin Daoist, you need not worry. The original plan was for thirteen Saints to connect with each other. Even if you are one short, with the current number of Saints in the Mountains and Seas and their performance this time, there should be no major problem."
Li Fan repeatedly expressed his shame, "Then, while I rest and recover, I will also observe if there are any potential talents in the Mountains and Seas. If we can create another Saint to fill the gap, that would be for the best."
All the Saints agreed. They were all very tolerant of Li Fan, the 'True Spirit Infuser.'
As they were speaking, a stream of light suddenly flew rapidly from the depths of the Mountains and Seas. The Starry Enigma Ring did not impede it and instead allowed it to fly directly before the Saints. As the light dissipated, the Saints gazed at it and saw six pills emitting a brilliant, colorful glow. Within each pill, a grand phantom of a Saint Dynasty flickered. The Saint Dynasty's prosperous aura was like mountains and seas. As the light and shadow flickered, a refreshing fragrance emanated from them. The six newly ascended Saints, upon smelling it, simultaneously felt a surge of desire.
Mound Guardian smiled, "The Saint Emperor's Grand Elixir has finally been refined. Since we exerted ourselves in the Void Realm, he couldn't have been idle the entire time."
"Everyone, quickly partake." Without any hesitation, the six newly ascended Saints received the Saint Dynasty Grand Elixir before them with great solemnity and swallowed it. Instantly, the prosperity of the Saint Dynasty over countless years, the peace and abundance of the nation, and the collective will of countless living beings for a happy and settled life transformed into a warm current, which the Saints consumed. Because they had a home, they had a foundation. Because they had a nation, they could avoid the chaos of the times.
After consuming the majestic Saint Dynasty Grand Elixir, the Saints subconsciously felt that their resistance to the Void Realm's encroachment had increased significantly. This was not their illusion. Mound Guardian continued, "With the protective properties of this Grand Elixir, the time you can maintain your independent consciousness in the Void Realm will be extended by at least double. The stronger your willpower, the better the effect."
"Next, the Saint Emperor will send five more pills for each of you. After consuming a total of six pills, the elixir's efficacy will disappear. This should barely alleviate the concerns of maintaining order in the Void Realm."
The Saints savored the effect of the Saint Dynasty Grand Elixir and heartily agreed upon hearing this. Li Fan finally understood why the Saints of the Other Shore had not included that Saint Emperor in their discussions for the plan to reconnect the Mountains and Seas. It turned out that this individual, like himself, was more effective in a "supportive" role behind the scenes than in the Void Realm.
"However, the Saint Dynasty Grand Elixir is still considerably weaker than my [True Spirit Infusion]," Li Fan mused inwardly. With the Saint Emperor's precedent, he felt somewhat reassured. After all, strictly speaking, his rapid loss of memory in the Void Realm was a significant flaw, inconsistent with the strength of a true Saint. But True Spirit Infusion was a divine ability that had never appeared in the Mountains and Seas before. With this as an excuse, even Lian Shan and the other Saints found it difficult to discern its authenticity. Furthermore, this ability to create Saints could even make the Saints of the Other Shore overlook Li Fan's 'flaw'!
However, Li Fan did not remain in the Mountains and Seas forever. Every time the Saints entered the Void Realm, he would accompany them. After continuously consuming the Saint Dynasty Grand Elixir, the duration he could endure did indeed increase.
When an immeasurable cold darkness once again descended, a realization flashed through Li Fan's mind: "Saints are as one with the Mountains and Seas. When the Void Realm swallows the Mountains and Seas, none beneath them can escape. Although I wear the guise of Xuan Pin, I have not truly reached the Saint realm. Naturally, I cannot escape the Void Realm's encroachment."
"There is a method…."
"If quantity is insufficient, make up for it with quality." Li Fan's knowledge extended far beyond the [Xuan Pin] Dao. However, to avoid arousing suspicion from the Saints around him, he did not utilize the other Saint Dao paths he had comprehended from the Starry Enigma Ring. Instead, he borrowed the power of the end-of-Mountains-and-Seas Saint, the Dao of [Falsehood into Truth]!
Since cultivating, Li Fan had been comprehending the transformation between truth and falsehood. With the Reflection in hand, his innate advantage allowed him to surpass all beings in the Mountains and Seas in his understanding of this area. Although Qiu Xin Hui achieved Sainthood through [Falsehood into Truth], Li Fan's comprehension had not yet reached the Saint realm. However, it was more than sufficient to add solidity to the Saintly guise he wore for himself!
With a thought, the Xuan Pin Dao gained an even more profound and inexplicable aura from within. The Dao of Falsehood into Truth was difficult for mortals to perceive. Here, in the Eternal Void Realm, Li Fan was even less likely to be discovered by other Saints. With the double superposition of Daos, Li Fan immediately felt that the Void Realm's erosion of his memory had weakened.
"My thoughts were indeed correct!"
"Perhaps I can incorporate other Dao paths..." As he added insight after insight, Li Fan finally escaped the predicament of potentially losing his memory at any moment.
"True Saints do not need to be as superfluous as I am. How can the Dao paths of others compare to the firmness of one's own Dao? One only needs to adhere to their own heart to remain steadfast in the boundless darkness," Li Fan sighed inwardly. "When the Xuan Pin guise approaches the level of a normal Saint, adding more will be useless."
With his thoughts able to function normally, Li Fan began to strain his senses in the darkness, trying to discern the气息. "There seems to be a phantom image I left myself over there." "And ahead, the Saints of the Other Shore..." Li Fan's expression grew serious. Because he noticed from the distances that Fang Cun and Great Yi were closer to him. However, he actually sensed the auras of Lian Shan, Gui Hai, and Great Yi to be far stronger! They stood like dazzling beacons in the darkness, illuminating the path for the Saints in the Void Realm.
"These three Saints are deliberately releasing their auras so that those who enter the Void Realm later will not be instantly lost. This allows them to proceed in an orderly fashion."
"Regardless of how long they have remained in the Void Realm, they are still so strong, showing no signs of weakening."
"..." Li Fan truly felt the power of the three Saints and became even more cautious. With the three Saints setting the tone, theoretically, those who followed only needed to extend the rope in accordance according to the established order. However, things were far from simple. With the Saints making such a grand display, the Void Realm, with its collective consciousness, would naturally not stand idly by.
Just as Li Fan vaguely sensed that after a long journey, Morality was about to connect with the nine Saints ahead, a surge of dark currents moved in the darkness. The rope built by the nine Saints remained utterly still, as if tempered through countless trials. However, the connection of the six newly ascended Saints was instantly shattered. The former were behind, the latter in front, making it impossible to discern direction.
Fortunately, the Saints of the past stood firm, and the phantoms of the Other Shore supported them now. This prevented the Saints from being unable to distinguish between past and present and becoming lost in the Void Realm. But after this incident, the connection they had forged was broken. Li Fan began to feel the strain and decisively returned from the Void Realm first.
Before long, the Saints reappeared, looking somewhat disheveled. "The dark currents of the Void Realm are unpredictable. Their onslaught is fierce, and even we must exert ourselves to deal with them."
"There are no other methods to adapt. You can only learn to adapt slowly."
"Besides that, strengthening your connections with each other will also help in dealing with them," the simulacrum of Lian Shan stated. Mound Guardian also smiled and said, "Everyone need not be anxious. Connecting the Mountains and Seas is not a task that can be accomplished overnight. Forming a rope is just the first step."
"Once the rope is formed, the annihilated Mountains and Seas will reappear. And in this process, our assistance will be indispensable." Hundred Inquiries asked curiously, "Assistance? What does that mean?"
Mound Guardian replied, "When the Mountains and Seas were destroyed, everything within them turned into nothingness. It is not easy to transform from nothingness into reality. By going to key nodes and facilitating changes, it will be like opening up meridians. This will greatly increase efficiency."
"Otherwise, the speed of transforming from nothingness to reality might not be able to keep up with the speed of the Void Realm's encroachment. Even with our efforts, we won't be able to endure."
The Saints vaguely understood. Li Fan asked, "What are these key nodes?"
"There is no fixed definition. Anything that has a significant impact on the Mountains and Seas, or leaves a memory within them, can be considered a key node."
"We will have to judge this ourselves when the time comes."
"However, the nodes chosen for the previous connection of the Mountains and Seas can serve as a reference." Mound Guardian then displayed a series of images. Li Fan was astonished to see a picture of the Xuanhuang Realm flashing by.
"I wonder where the fracture point of the Mountains and Seas was previously."
"At what time did it regenerate from nothingness?" Li Fan kept these questions to himself and did not voice them.
"Reconnecting the Mountains and Seas, though arduous, will bring great benefits to all of us upon its completion!" As everyone remained silent, Great Yi spoke again.
"Two segmented regions of mountains and seas converging instantly is like all my selves becoming one. True Spirit multiplies, and even those in the Saint realm can benefit. The prerequisite is that you existed in the past segment of mountains and seas."
"The current segment of mountains and seas has continued for a span of one hundred ninety-three thousand, six hundred and forty-five years. The Eternal Void Realm ahead covers approximately fifty-eight thousand, six hundred years. If, fifty thousand years ago, you had not yet been born, naturally you would not receive this blessing. Otherwise, even as an infant, you could enjoy the benefits of my selves unifying."
The phantom image of Lian Shan swept across the newly ascended Saints present, finally landing on Li Fan. "Except for Xuan Ping, who came from the End of Mountains and Seas, none of the others need worry about this. When all my selves unify, the stronger you are, the greater the benefit. And it's not just about True Spirit. When the mountains and seas reconnect, you will naturally understand. Even if one is like Xuan Ping, whose past self did not exist in the preceding mountains and seas, there is no need to fear gaining nothing. We Saints are one with the mountains and seas. It is as if we stand upon the mountains and seas, and as the mountains and seas grow stronger, our strength naturally rises, as the tide lifts the boats. If you are fortunate enough that the path you pursue, not yet embraced by the preceding mountains and seas, then in an instant, you can transform it into your own, forging creation from nothingness..."
Li Fan nodded slightly, grateful for Sage Lian Shan's explanation. The principle was, in essence, similar to the Great Dao's return to truth. Once acquired, it was permanently acquired. Those who achieved sainthood had undoubtedly reached the pinnacle of understanding their own paths. To encounter and subdue an identical Great Dao in the preceding segments of mountains and seas was an expected outcome.
When Li Fan heard Lian Shan say, "As the mountains and seas grow stronger, our strength naturally rises, as the tide lifts the boats," the words "Mountain Sitting Art" flashed in his mind. This cultivation technique from the ancient Divine Wood Sect, ever since Li Fan obtained it, had been iteratively refined. Mountain Sitting, Immortal Sitting, Heavenly Sitting. Unfortunately, its efficacy was limited to before the Transcendent realm. After crossing the threshold of Transcendent and heading towards Sainthood, the Mountain Sitting Art had become obsolete.
"If the target is beyond the Transcendent realm, it can no longer provide feedback for cultivation. Let alone the Saint realm."
"Otherwise, with my ability to infuse True Spirit..."
"I've created so many Saints, even the three Saints of Lian Shan might not be my match." No matter how miraculous, it was merely a mortal cultivation method. Its ability to assist Li Fan in transcending was already its limit. After Li Fan transcended, he had ceased to hold any expectations for it. But today, Sage Lian Shan's words opened up a new line of thought for Li Fan.
"The Dao of 'Sitting Mountain High' still exists in the mountains and seas, and in the Saints. Thus, perhaps... if I were to further refine Heavenly Sitting into Saint Sitting, I might still reap the rewards!"
"However, how should it be improved?" Though he had a vague idea, he had no immediate way to put it into practice. For one thing, Li Fan himself had not yet reached the Saint realm. Even if he were a Saint, successfully refining a Saint Sitting Art would be almost a pipe dream. All Saints were one with the mountains and seas. Especially the three Saints of Lian Shan, they were legendary existences. What kind of cultivation technique or Great Dao could envelop them without their detection?
"Perhaps I'm overthinking it. The goal of Saint Sitting Art isn't for already established Saints, but for those powerful Transcendent cultivators who can be molded. Its effect would only cover them before they become Saints."
"The qualitative leap in feedback from Transcendent to Saint, if it can be collected and utilized, would undoubtedly be an astonishing energy." Li Fan's thoughts raced, finding a potential breakthrough. However, with his current foundation, he was still far from being able to refine this ideal miraculous method.
But... Li Fan now had a full fourteen Saints by his side! Without any reservations, he spoke directly, "Sage Lian Shan, your insight is profound. The concept of 'Sitting Mountain High' is indeed logical upon reflection. I wonder if there is a 'Mountain Sitting' Saint among the mountains and seas. One whose utility extends not just to the mountains and seas, but perhaps to all living beings within them, and even to us Saints."
"If such a being exists, by constantly elevating ourselves, couldn't we push them even further?"
As Li Fan spoke, all the Saints present showed a change in their expressions. The pursuit of the Great Dao was endless. Although they had achieved sainthood and were one with the mountains and seas, to be content with that was clearly impossible. After all, in plain sight, beyond the mountains and seas, existed 'Gods' and 'Stars.' Even if Gods existed at the beginning of the mountains and seas, and Stars were born at their end, all Saints had only heard their names, never seen their forms. This did not prevent them from aspiring towards them. The realms beyond Sainthood, at this moment, lacked even names or definitions. They could only be compared horizontally with powers of comparable caliber. The Saints' understanding of them was minimal. Li Fan's question went unanswered, and a long silence fell upon the scene.
Finally, the phantom image of Lian Shan, in an exceptionally rare occurrence, showed a slight fluctuation. "Back then, I ascended to the summit of Mount Shang and gazed upon countless possibilities within the mountains and seas. All beings, from the masses, were striving upwards. They sacrificed their lives, undeterred, ceaselessly climbing. I deeply felt that vibrant vitality, unending, capable of shaking mountains and moving seas. But I also saw the hardships endured by all beings. After all, only a handful, like myself, could reach the peak of the mountains and seas. The vast majority, throughout their lives, couldn't even take the first step. At that time, I had two choices before me. One was to utilize the advantage of being a pioneer and act as a 'Mountain Sitter,' drawing upon the boundless power of all beings in the mountains and seas to propel myself forward, perhaps even touching the stars. The other was to become a bridge, forging a path to the peak for all beings. The road would be arduous, but as long as one possessed sufficient strength and wisdom, and ascended step by step, they would eventually witness the scenery within the mountains..."
The phantom image of Lian Shan flickered, seemingly lost in ancient memories. The Nine Saints of the Other Shore seemed familiar with this past recollection and paid it no mind. However, the six newly ascended Saints, hearing this for the first time, were all profoundly shaken. Regardless of Lian Shan's seemingly casual words, it was evident that whichever choice Sage Lian Shan had made back then would have had an extremely significant impact on future generations. He chose Lian Shan over Mountain Sitting. Thus, the prosperous era of immortal cultivation in later ages came to be. But what if, back then, he had chosen Mountain Sitting? A trace of trepidation flashed through the minds of all the Saints. "Perhaps a being comparable to the Stars would have emerged, but we, I fear, would have had no hope of advancement for eternity." "Sage Lian Shan, though he addresses us as peers, is undoubtedly our pioneer." With this thought, respect welled up in the Saints' hearts, and they bowed in unison to Lian Shan's phantom image.
After the bow, Li Fan looked up and suddenly asked, "Sage Lian Shan, do you regret your decision back then?" "Although Lian Shan created the prosperous era of immortal cultivation in the mountains and seas, he also lost the opportunity to compete with the Stars. Now the mountains and seas are in decline, and the end result is the same as the Stars..." "If you had chosen 'Mountain Sitting' back then, perhaps the outcome would have been different."
Lian Shan chuckled silently. "Having made a decision, I must have considered it thoroughly, and what is there to regret? Even if I were to return to that moment, my choice would not change. It would simply be reliving the same events."
When I ascended to sainthood, I chose the path of "Connected Mountains" instead of "Sitting Mountains," to forge a new path for future generations.
However, if I were to attain the Dao now...
Perhaps I would choose the path of "Sitting Mountains."
After a brief silence, the phantom image of Sage Lord Lian Shan spoke again.
"This is a matter of 'this time, that time.' There is no right or wrong, but rather different circumstances lead to vastly different choices."
All the sages pondered the deeper meaning behind Sage Lord Lian Shan's words.
As if intrigued, Sage Lord Lian Shan continued to elaborate on the topic of "Sitting Mountains."
"The beings and Dao laws in this place all originate from the Mountains and Seas. Therefore, those who can manipulate Mountain and Sea should be the most supreme of all Dao laws."
"Connected Mountains is like this, and Sitting Mountains is also like this."
"However, from the moment Mountain and Sea were born, it was destined to return to the stars, following a path of decline from prosperity. If one were to practice the Dao of Sitting Mountains at the beginning of Mountain and Sea, not only would they not benefit, but they would also decline along with it, their cultivation diminishing daily. The essence of Sitting Mountains would remain, but it would implicate countless beings of the boundless Mountain and Sea, serving to harm others without benefiting oneself."
"Circumstances change. Mountain and Sea were submerged by the annihilation of the Dao, and this path of 'Sitting Mountains' naturally underwent a transformation in the hidden currents of fate. Sitting Mountains requires the power of Mountain and Sea's vigorous rise. If Mountain and Sea were already at their peak at birth, how could they possibly advance further?"
"However, in this era of division and decline, the path of 'Sitting Mountains' might yield a miraculous effect."
"It is precisely by leveraging the moment when Mountain and Sea reconnect, the power unleashed by the fusion of the two sections of Mountain and Sea..."
Sage Lord Lian Shan did not withhold his knowledge, earnestly sharing his insights.
Li Fan listened intently, slowly beginning to understand.
Mountain and Sea originated from the divine and would eventually return to the stars.
It followed a path of decline from prosperity.
If one were to become a sage through "Sitting Mountains" at its peak, that sage would inevitably decline along with Mountain and Sea.
Only in this era of division and decline, by using a section of broken Mountain and Sea as a foundation to practice "Sitting Mountains."
Only when Mountain and Sea reconnect could the practitioner of Sitting Mountains benefit.
"It seems the reason Sage Lord Lian Shan chose 'Connected Mountains' back then was not entirely due to so-called morality. Connected Mountains was the optimal choice. No wonder he said he had no regrets."
"The effect of 'Sitting Mountains' appears heaven-defying, but the conditions for its realization are too harsh. It must begin at the time of Mountain and Sea's destruction, inherently weaker than the ancient sages. Moreover, the moment of becoming a sage is almost the peak of one's power. Afterward, as Mountain and Sea are consumed by the annihilation of the Dao, one's own strength will continuously decline."
"It is almost impossible to cultivate independently, entirely relying on the power of Mountain and Sea's reconnection."
...
Sage Lian Shan, with his profound wisdom, directly revealed all the shortcomings of this path to Li Fan.
Coupled with the spontaneous discussions of the other sage phantoms, a subtle idea began to form in Li Fan's heart.
"At the end of time, I witnessed Mountain and Sea returning to the stars."
"Then, the power of Return to Truth forced back the stars, reversing everything, and Mountain and Sea reappeared amidst the annihilation of the Dao."
"Are the Mountain and Sea before and after the same Mountain and Sea?"
"If so..."
"When Mountain and Sea were in a state of void, they instantly expanded to their peak. If the Dao of 'Sitting Mountains' could be applied then..."
Whether the Mountain and Sea before and after Return to Truth originated from the same source.
This point could perhaps be glimpsed through the "Mysterious Woman" Great Dao controlled by Li Fan.
After the old Great Dao of Mountain and Sea Realized and the Mysterious Woman was controlled.
The Mysterious Woman of the new Mountain and Sea also fell within the grasp of the array.
"Even if they are not entirely identical, there must be a corresponding connection. The probability of 'Sitting Mountains' being effective is very high."
"However, the reappearance of Mountain and Sea was not due to my merit, but due to Return to Truth's actions."
It is difficult to say how effective it would be.
Li Fan's thoughts swirled, wishing he could abandon the Mysterious Woman and wield "Sitting Mountains" on the spot.
Unfortunately, he had not even comprehended the Great Dao of "Sitting Mountains" beneath the sage level.
To truly practice "Sitting Mountains" was even more of a fantasy.
Within the Starry Enigma Ring, after a period of rest, all the sages once again ventured into the Void Realm.
The phantoms that remained observed and sensed the situation in the Void Realm while continuing to communicate with each other.
The Eternal Void Realm was fraught with peril.
Even after traversing it several times, the pressure it brought each time entering was inescapable, as if it were the first time.
There was no sense of "habit" or "familiarity."
The only thing the newly ascended sages could hone was the duration they could withstand the dark currents of the Void Realm.
Fortunately, with the Nine Sages guiding the way and the phantoms of the Starry Enigma Ring anchoring them,
The journey into the Void Realm, though thrilling, was not perilous.
After countless attempts and the passage of much time,
Finally, the newly ascended sages reached a tacit understanding.
They were able to connect the Sage Chain from the front section of Mountain and Sea to the current section.
However, Li Fan, who should have been the final link in the chain, did not play much of a role.
Even Fang Cun did not.
The connection of thirteen sages completed the construction of the chain.
The Sage Chain, like a long dragon, tore through the Eternal Void Realm.
Through the connections between the sages, Li Fan could even sense the aura from the preceding section of Mountain and Sea.
"Mysterious Woman guards the Other Shore and should not be moved rashly."
"Fang Cun will wander within the Void Realm to prevent any unforeseen incidents."
Sage Lord Lian Shan's voice echoed from the horizon.
This was no longer a phantom, but Sage Lord Lian Shan himself.
Li Fan naturally obeyed.
And Fang Cun, as a backup force, wandering was indeed suitable.
With the Sage Chain now complete, the void scenery of Mountain and Sea within the Void Realm slowly began to materialize.
Like faint glimmers of light floating in the darkness.
Although still dim, it was different from before.
With the help of these Mountain and Sea phantoms, Fang Cun could rapidly traverse the Void Realm.
Even if any of them encountered trouble, he could rush to their aid at any time.
"We must remain in the Void Realm until the illusory image of Mountain and Sea is completely stabilized."
"At that time, we will need to project our consciousness into key points within it to expedite its transformation from illusion to reality."
"Remember, do not move your physical bodies!"
"Otherwise, the long chain will break, and all our efforts will be in vain!"
Through prolonged attempts, the sages had long prepared various contingency plans.
Now, proceeding according to plan, there were no unexpected incidents.
The stabilization of the Mountain and Sea illusory image took longer than Li Fan had imagined.
During this period, he was not idle; he used the True Spirit Infusion method to recreate another sage.
With additional assistance, the operation to reconnect Mountain and Sea seemed to become even more secure.
On this day, sensing that the submerged illusory image of Mountain and Sea was on the verge of a qualitative change under the support of the sages,
Sacred Emperor Tai Wei also materialized and appeared in the Void Realm.
Compared to before, the Void Realm was no longer entirely dark.
Where the illusory image of Mountain and Sea existed, it was like a beacon, dispelling the darkness.
However, an illusory image was still just an illusion, and it was still the final step away from becoming true Mountain and Sea.
"Everyone, according to our previous plan, project your consciousness."
"Once Mountain and Sea take form, the connection will be successful."
Li Fan did not remain aloof this time, also projecting a stream of consciousness into the illusory image of Mountain and Sea.
The Xuanhuang Realm, seemingly eternal, noticed the emergence of this seascape re-emerging from destruction.
The undercurrents stirred violently, causing the chains of all Sages to sway ceaselessly.
The shadows of the seascape flickered, indistinct, like candles in the wind, on the verge of extinguishing at any moment.
The bodies of the Sages, like a steadfast dam, protected the newly formed seascape.
In this deadlock, each Sage's consciousness had already dispersed to various parts of the seascape.
This segment of the seascape, engulfed by the void realm, had endured for over fifty-eight thousand six hundred years.
As Li Fan's main body was still in the Other Shore, his dispersed consciousness could only wander at the edge of the seascape, close to the real one.
"Even with the protection of the Sages' long chains, it is still within the void realm, vastly different from the real seascape."
"In the real seascape, countless possibilities flow concurrently. However, in this segment of the phantom, most possibilities have not yet recovered. Only a scant few can be called the arteries of the seascape."
Even though it felt like being in a mirage, with everything around blurry and indistinct, Li Fan immediately identified one main artery.
It was the Xuanhuang Realm, the Primordial, a place he knew intimately.
Without further hesitation, Li Fan's consciousness entered it.
The phantom released a faint glow, integrating his consciousness.
Li Fan's consciousness transitioned into a state that was both real and illusory.
...
Even though he was not a true Sage, Li Fan's consciousness, capable of wielding the Great Dao of the Mysterious Woman, was not significantly weaker than that of the Sages.
Therefore, after only a little more time, his consciousness quickly awakened.
He shook his head slightly, dispelling the sense of unreality, and attempted to fully merge with the current possibility.
After a long while, the strange feeling of his body being out of sync with the surrounding world finally dissipated.
Li Fan then began to assess his own condition.
"Since there is no 'me' at this point in time, I can only possess another person's body."
"The Xuanhuang Realm, the Divine Wood Sect, Li Bufan. This name is rather interesting..."
"A grand era of cultivation where numerous sects flourish and the immortal path has not yet been severed."
Li Fan's gaze turned towards the sky-obscuring Divine Wood above, its shade covering over thirty thousand miles.
"Not long ago, the Desolate God Sect summoned twelve Desolate Gods, shaking all the sects of the world."
"Three of these Desolate Gods jointly attacked, but were repelled by the Divine Wood."
"However, the Divine Wood was injured in the process."
"The Divine Wood is the foundation of everything for the Divine Wood Sect, crucial to the sect's rise and fall.
"The elders of the sect have tried every possible method to heal the Divine Wood's injuries. Elder Qu Changchu heard of a 'Thousand Year Glance Pearl' from the Reincarnation Sect, possessing miraculous effects on time. Thus, he went to request it."
"Yet, he only returned with a painting."
"Although it temporarily alleviated the Divine Wood's injuries, it was merely a stopgap measure..."
Li Fan meticulously reviewed the memories in "Li Bufan's" mind, his expression becoming somewhat subtle.
"I have seen this time period before."
Deep within the core of the Kōroka Dojo, guided by the secret whispers of the bronze immortal crane left by Sun Piaomiao, Li Fan had located and glimpsed a specific period of time.
"The 213th year of the Heavenly Net Era. Beginning with the Great Abyss Offering and Arranged Blooming Yue, concluding with Era of Yong Chi Fen Ruo and Yan Mao Xuan Yi..."
"This is precisely the time period I am currently in."
"It is also a crucial juncture for the seascape's phantom, the so-called consolidation of the seascape's memories."
"It seems Sun Piaomiao's guidance was not without purpose."
Li Fan's thoughts flowed, and he slightly moved his somewhat stiff body.
He recalled the previous instructions from the Sages of the Other Shore.
"To facilitate the phantom seascape's transformation from illusion to reality, and its self-generation, the key is to let it proceed naturally. That is, to allow events that were meant to happen to continue along their historical course."
"However, since this seascape exists only as a phantom, and the void realm looms menacingly outside, we must compress the timeframe for the development of key circumstances."
"In essence, it is to promote the premature occurrence of a series of critical events without altering the original historical trajectory."
"If we could employ the methods of Sages, it would naturally be effortless. But the phantom seascape is exceedingly fragile. Sages themselves are existences on par with the seascape. If they detect external interference, it might instantly trigger repulsion, likely backfiring."
"More importantly, once the phantom seascape discerns the difference between itself and these actual Sages from the outside world, it will awaken to the fact that it is already in 'destruction'. The reality maintained by the Sages will instantly shatter like a bubble, and everything will return to its origin."
"It will require another arduous effort to connect the Sages' long chains from the previous seascape and re-initiate the process..."
These were all lessons learned by the Sages of the Other Shore during their previous reconnection with the seascape.
Although the conditions appeared quite stringent, the Sages were all peerless in the seascape. For them, it was merely a matter of some trouble.
"First, I need to ascertain what exactly constitutes the seascape's key memories."
"That is simple enough."
Li Fan sat down and mentally communicated with his main body in the Other Shore.
His main body looked towards the shadowy seascape shrouded in darkness, focusing on the Primordial, the Xuanhuang Realm.
He observed the subsequent events at the current juncture.
The reliance of the seascape’s phantom's reappearance.
Although somewhat blurry, it was clearly distinct from other glimmers of light, discernible at a glance.
"A figure secretly descended from the Immortal Realm to the Xuanhuang Realm, departed from the Sea-Mountain Fishery, and entered another realm."
"The Divine Wood is increasingly wilting, attracting the covetous gaze of the If Wood, sparking a world-shaking battle."
"The Desolate God Sect summoned the Desolate Gods again, but the Immortal Realm offered no response."
"..."
"No, none of these should be the crucial events."
Suddenly, Li Fan's heart stirred. His gaze pierced through these peripheral scenes to the true inner core of the seascape's phantom.
The images were hazy, but he could vaguely discern a figure, unexpectedly stumbling out of the void in disarray.
He looked around, seeming pleased.
He muttered a few words in a low voice, then performed hand seals to conceal himself.
Within moments, his specific appearance became indistinguishable in the seascape's memories.
Yet, the seascape had changed because of him.
The Sea-Mountain Fishery, which had gradually begun to close due to the arrival of the lower realm figure, slowly reopened.
The war between the Divine Wood and the If Wood was originally evenly matched. However, as if an unseen wind had blown, the Divine Wood's green leaves suddenly withered. Consequently, the Divine Wood began to fall into disadvantage.
The external Dao annihilation tide, inexplicably influenced, changed its direction, gently brushing past a corner of the Primordial Immortal Realm. Vast swathes of immortal domains were then erased. In the Xuanhuang Realm, many sects lost contact with the upper realm.
...
It was as if an invisible hand was manipulating and altering the seascape centered around the Xuanhuang Realm. Each change was like the emission of an invisible thread.
A vast, intricate net slowly took shape.
The mysterious figure nodded slightly, presiding over the net.
It seemed to be waiting for something.
After an unknown amount of time, the figure suddenly looked up.
Raising its hand, it made a grasping motion towards the sky above.
The seascape seemed to twist at that instant!
The mysterious figure seemed to have grasped something, and was struggling to control it.
The gaze of the entire Mountains and Seas was focused on his hand at this moment.
Within the Mountains and Seas, a great wind blew, bringing with it the gazes of the endless seabed.
Outside the Mountains and Seas, undercurrents surged, as if countless intentions were communicating with each other.
The supreme treasure in his hand seemed on the verge of breaking free at any moment. The figure trembled violently, almost losing control of himself. The image flickered rapidly, appearing and disappearing.
Even the Primordial Possibility where he resided seemed precarious. With the slightest carelessness, it would be annihilated in the confrontation between these two forces.
Within the Xuanhuang Realm, the sun rose and set three times.
This struggle finally concluded with a victor.
The object in the mysterious figure's hand no longer struggled. It seemed to have been completely subdued.
His heart surged with emotion, and he laughed heartily.
However, the smile on his face froze the moment he released his hand.
He had clearly been on the verge of victory, yet the object in his hand was now gone!
Even from the memory projection of the Mountains and Seas from years later, Li Fan could discern the extreme rage of this mysterious figure.
However, for some unknown reason, he did not vent his anger by destroying the Xuanhuang Realm.
Instead, still unwilling to give up, he searched through the Xuanhuang Realm again and again.
But in the end, he found nothing and left in disappointment.
...
This incident happened silently back then, and no one in the Xuanhuang Realm could detect it.
Not even the scholars at the Ruined Kalpa Dojo recorded it.
Only the Mountains and Seas themselves, due to the struggle between the mysterious figure and that unknown existence, retained an imprinted memory of this event.
If the Mountains and Seas were in a normal state of existence, this memory would be hidden within the endless, rolling mountains and seas, unseen by the world.
Even Saints would find it difficult to detect.
Only now, with the Mountains and Seas in an intermediate state, transitioning from void to form, was this possible.
Ordinary memory projections were concealed, and only those crucial scenes were revealed.
Thus, Li Fan witnessed it.
"Who was that person?"
"And what object was he trying to hunt with that elaborate scheme?"
Li Fan replayed the scene he had just witnessed in his mind, and a strange premonition suddenly arose in his heart.
What that mysterious figure had intended to hunt...
was perhaps Return to Truth itself!
"He secretly rewrote everything to weave a net that would attract Return to Truth."
"But why, precisely, would Return to Truth come here?"
"And, did Return to Truth already appear so long ago?"
In an instant, countless thoughts flooded Li Fan's mind, and various doubts arose.
He was eager to contact Return to Truth and ask for an explanation.
Unfortunately, his main body was in the Starry Enigma Ring, surrounded by phantom images of Saints, and Return to Truth was immersed, making communication impossible.
"There's no need to rush."
"Regardless of where Return to Truth came from or why. The key is that he is now under my control."
"Moreover, given his personality, even if I were to ask, he probably wouldn't tell me."
Li Fan shook his head inwardly.
"However, that figure... the Sages of the Other Shore probably recognize him..."
Considering that even when Return to Truth broke free for no reason and was extremely enraged, he did not destroy and vent his anger. Li Fan guessed that the figure must have been wary of other Saints discovering his whereabouts.
After some thought, Li Fan spoke directly.
"Esteemed Sages, please look."
"This memory from the Mountains and Seas is quite interesting."
The gazes of the Saints, which had been focused on their own projected intentions, now turned towards Li Fan as he spoke.
Slowly, a peculiar atmosphere began to flow among the Saints.
"So that's how it is. I had thought he had gone to an even more ancient time when he disappeared for no reason. I never expected he would come to this time..." Sage Lian Shan spoke first. The phantom image, unchanged for ten thousand years, rippled.
"That object in his hand..."
Sages Lian Shan and Gui Hai looked towards Tai Yi simultaneously.
Tai Yi pondered for a long time, first nodding, then shaking his head slightly.
"It looks very similar, but whether it truly is..."
"It's hard to say."
"Stop speaking in riddles, what are you two talking about?" Before Li Fan could ask, Bai Xiao, impatient, spoke up.
Seeing Bai Xiao's restless demeanor, Tai Yi chuckled lightly, "We are talking about the primordial creation of the Mountains and Seas, the Misty Creation."
"Misty Creation?" The words immediately captured the attention of the newly ascended Saints.
Tai Yi no longer played coy and began to explain leisurely, "The Mountains and Seas originated from the first God. But back then, was there anything that existed alongside the God?"
"Before the beginning of the Mountains and Seas, no one knew this. However, from various signs, we can faintly confirm some things."
"What do you mean by that?" Bai Xiao asked curiously.
"Precisely, the existence of the Great Dao of the Mountains and Seas."
"If, at the time of the God's demise, only the Mountains and Seas truly existed, then the Mountains and Seas..."
"should have collectively divided all divine power. But..."
"There exist Great Daos in the world that are on par with the Mountains and Seas, which did not fully integrate into the Mountains and Seas."
"Like [Longevity], like [Destiny], like [Mysterious Woman]."
As Tai Yi spoke, his gaze swept across Sages Shou Qiu, Gui Ming, and Li Fan respectively.
"It seems that at the time of the God's demise, something shared the division and consumption with the Mountains and Seas. This led to the dissipation of divine power and its complete integration into the Mountains and Seas."
"Perhaps it was precisely because of this lack that the appearance of [Stars] ultimately occurred."
"We speculate that those ancient existences, on par with the Mountains and Seas, are what are referred to as the Misty Creations."
Hearing this, Sage Bai Xiao shook his head in disappointment, "So it's just speculation. I thought you had actually seen them!"
The voices of Lian Shan and Gui Hai echoed together, "I have indeed never seen them. However, Tai Yi is different."
Tai Yi's phantom image quivered slightly, as if lost in memory.
"In ancient times, when the Mountains and Seas first began to form, and myriad Daos were first derived. I too was merely one of the many innate divine rhythms derived from it. Like me, there were also Primordial Beginning, Primordial Origin, Primordial Purity, Great Ultimate, and Boundless Unity, among others."
"However, the reason why only I managed to become a Saint..."
"is because there was an entity that enlightened me."
Tai Yi's phantom image did not conceal anything, stating it plainly.
As one of the strongest among the Saints, Tai Yi had also been enlightened by someone to achieve Sainthood.
The newly ascended Saints were all stunned by this sudden revelation of a profound secret.
Li Fan, however, recalled the [Primordial Beginning of Mountains and Seas] he had seen before.
It was written by Tai Yi and annotated by Wu Ji, explaining his feelings upon observing Lian Shan and Gui Hai constructing the Immortal Realm.
It had already subtly revealed that Tai Yi might be an innate being.
While the Saints were shaken, Tai Yi remained undisturbed and continued, "At that time, the Mountains and Seas had not yet fully taken shape; they were still in the process of gestation."
"In the Primordial Immortal Realm, all things competed. There were even those who consumed Daos as food."
"I was merely one of them."
"But one day, as I gazed at the Mountains and Seas, I suddenly saw the clouds and winds surge, and a ray of light flashed past, falling into the Primordial Immortal Realm."
"A inexplicable surge of excitement arose in my heart, as if finding that ray of light would bring about immense fortune. However, it seemed that not only I felt this way."
"Therefore, even after desperately searching, I could never find it."
"Just as I was about to give up, one day, that ray of light appeared before me on its own."
"I once thought that stream of light was my destined fortune. But when it truly stood before me, I realized..."
"I myself was its fortune!"
The phantom image of Tai Yi chuckled. "That stream of light seemed to consume Dao as its food. Standing still, I was irresistibly drawn in, as if I had originated from that light. Could any of you understand my terror at that moment?"
The phantom images of the Sages all nodded in agreement.
"At that time, although I had not yet become a Sage, my strength was similar to the Transcendent realm I am in now. Yet, under the overflowing light, my entire body was restrained, unable to struggle. Like a desperate prey, I slowly descended."
"Within the illusory radiance, I glimpsed myriad Daos laid out in succession. Some had vacant positions, some returned, and some were completely erased, leaving only faint traces."
"All the Daos lay side by side, within a magnificent hall."
"And above it, a phantom image sat enthroned."
"Like an emperor reigning, looking down with disregard..."
The phantom image of Tai Yi waved its hand, attempting to recreate the scene he had witnessed for the Sages. However, the light and shadows flickered for a moment, then vanished like bubbles. Astonishingly, even with Tai Yi's power, he could not maintain or replicate the specific appearance within the stream of light!
Tai Yi, accustomed to this, no longer tried and continued narrating. "Upon seeing this shocking scene, my body and thoughts seemed frozen, drifting towards the position of [Tai Yi] within the hall. At the same time, I understood that if I truly fell into it, I would never be able to escape again. Thus, my heart alerted me, and I struggled with all my might..."
"But how can a worm in a net escape? In the end, I drew closer and closer to the position of Tai Yi."
Even though they knew Tai Yi had emerged safely, recalling the perilous scene, the Sages couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat. Just as they were about to await the rest of the story, the phantom image of Tai Yi fell silent.
"What happened next? How did you escape?" It was Bai Xiao once more, unable to refrain from asking.
"I don't know," Tai Yi suddenly smiled.
The newly ascended Sages were taken aback. However, the Sages from the Other Shore clearly already knew and shook their heads helplessly.
"It's not that I'm unwilling to divulge, but I truly escaped from that Hall of the Great Dao in a confused state. This has always been my greatest puzzle. Until later, when the Mountains and Seas took shape, the Primordial Immortal Realm fell apart, and even after I achieved Sagehood..."
"I never encountered that stream of light again." Tai Yi spoke with some emotion, then looked at the Sages present. "If, someday, any of you encounter this stream of light again, perhaps you could help me ask what exactly happened back then, to resolve the confusion in my heart for countless years."
Having finally heard a rather fascinating story, only for it to abruptly end midway with no follow-up, the Sages were naturally disappointed.
Bai Xiao opened his mouth to speak, then closed it, finally clearing his throat. "You have lived long, and naturally seen more. None of us have ever seen any Misty Creation. I'm afraid even if we did encounter it, we wouldn't be able to identify it."
"That won't be the case. Just like this object captured by [Fate Pivot], even if it's formless and shapeless, you will still be able to sense its extraordinary nature." The phantom image of Tai Yi pointed to the flashing memory of Mountains and Seas in the void realm.
Li Fan thus learned the identity of the mysterious figure sitting and weaving the net in the Xuanhuang Realm.
"Listening to Sage Lord Lian Shan's words, it seems he is acquainted with this Fate Pivot?"
"He was merely a fellow traveler on my ascent to Mount Shang. At that time, the pattern of Mountains and Seas was not yet settled. Countless heroes and prodigies wished to establish a foundation for eternity. Naturally, I was not the only one attempting to ascend Mount Shang."
"Countless ascended, but this Fate Pivot was the only one who could keep pace behind me. Thus, I have a deep impression of him."
"It's just that..."
"In the end, I reached the peak before him. As I closed my eyes to meditate, I suddenly saw him display a look of extreme fear, as if he had foreseen something truly terrifying. Then, gritting his teeth, he fled and vanished without a trace. From then on, he was nowhere to be found in the Mountains and Seas, and I haven't seen him for many, many years." Sage Lord Lian Shan's voice was somewhat ethereal.
"Perhaps he thought Sage Lord Lian Shan would assume the position of [Sitting Mountain], believing he would be suppressed forever, and thus fled in panic." Bai Xiao jested.
"That's what I thought at the time as well," Sage Lord Lian Shan suddenly said, causing Bai Xiao's smile to freeze.
"Although the decision I made then was the result of careful consideration, I had not yet made a decision before Fate Pivot disappeared. It was precisely his frightened departure that led me to make my final decision, to advance in the position of Lian Shan, rather than sit in it."
Sage Lord Lian Shan's words seemed to hold unspoken implications. Li Fan and the other Sages naturally understood the hidden meaning. It was likely that Lian Shan, before he had proven his Dao, had been arrogant. Seeing this, Fate Pivot had panicked and fled, causing Lian Shan to feel thoughts like "Does he really see me like that?" or "Am I really that kind of person?" Thus, it influenced his choice at that moment.
The newly ascended Sages secretly chuckled. Involuntarily, the image of this foremost Immortal in the world became more concrete in everyone's minds, no longer just the eternally unfathomable strong figure.
"If that's the case, then Fate Pivot, seeing no hope for his initial enlightenment, sought a way to turn things around. This Misty Creation became his target. If it truly originated from the source of the Mountains and Seas... perhaps it could indeed change everything."
"I wonder what he is so meticulously pursuing. From his delighted expression upon his first entry, this might not be his first attempt at luring something in," Bai Xiao muttered to himself.
The Sages remained silent, their gazes returning to the memory of the Mountains and Seas.
Ultimately, it was Shou Qiu who spoke. "The current priority is to reconnect the Mountains and Seas. As for the clue to this Misty Creation... once the Mountains and Seas are successfully linked, perhaps I can personally go to the scene and investigate."
The Sages nodded, then withdrew their gazes, shifting their attention back to their respective areas of mental perception.
Li Fan silently took note of Shou Qiu's words.
"Once the Mountains and Seas are reconnected, everything within them will return to its former state."
"But the Return to Truth, being beyond the Mountains and Seas, and already within my body, will naturally not reappear out of thin air."
"That Sage Fate Pivot is likely the same."
"I wonder if that stream of light Tai Yi encountered back then was indeed the Return to Truth."
"The Hall of Myriad Daos he described bears a striking resemblance to [Great Dao Realization]. But I cannot be certain."
"If it wasn't the Return to Truth... are there other Misty Creations in the Mountains and Seas?"
Amidst his myriad thoughts, Li Fan's attention slowly returned to "Li Bufan." Since he had identified the crucial memory nodes of the Mountains and Seas, all Li Fan needed to do was ensure this illusory memory continued to flow as it had in the past.
"If Fate Pivot is absent, then I shall be Fate Pivot."
"If the captured object does not appear, I will create a stir myself. I will enact a play to deceive the Mountains and Seas, which are currently transitioning from void to reality."
"However, how to stage this play requires careful consideration."
The first point is that he cannot rely on his Sage power, beyond this void projection, but must depend on the strength of this "Li Bufan" himself. Otherwise, the projected Mountains and Seas will certainly detect external manipulation.
"But with only Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivation..." Li Fan frowned, then relaxed.
"Fortunately, he also cultivates the [Mountain Sitting Art]."
It was quite different from the version He Zhenghao obtained later. Although the later version was still named 'Sitting Mountain', it was practically 'Sitting Person'. After all, to truly find a mountain that could grow day by day and cultivate there... one would likely turn to dust before finding a suitable target.
However, by sponsoring promising individuals and casting a wide net of good deeds, efficiency wouldn't be particularly low. But this earliest version of the Mountain Sitting Art from the Divine Wood Sect was truly about cultivating by sitting on a mountain! This was because the Divine Wood Sect possessed a Divine Wood.
Li Fan began to examine the cultivation methods of Divine Wood Sect disciples from Li Bufan's memories. The Divine Wood Sect originated from beyond the heavens and was the foundation of the sect's existence. It was rooted in the earth, its shade covering an area of over thirty thousand miles. As the wood ascended, the earth grew. Originally, where the Divine Wood stood was an endless plain. But as the Divine Wood grew upwards, the plain had long since transformed into a vast, majestic mountain range. The Divine Wood resided atop this mountain range. Furthermore, as the Divine Wood continued to grow, Li Fan's mountain beneath his feet was also constantly increasing in height at an almost perceptible rate.
Disciples of the Divine Wood Sect who cultivated the Mountain Sitting Art, while remaining seated and immobile, progressed at an astonishing pace. The weaker the cultivator, the better the effect. After all, compared to the Divine Wood and the mountains, even a slight increase was an unimaginably vast power for a junior cultivator.
"Once I reach a certain proficiency with the Mountain Sitting Art, I can switch to other cultivation techniques."
"With the aid of the Divine Wood's mountain-raising power, the number of low-level cultivators in the Divine Wood Sect far surpasses that of other sects in the Xuanhuang Realm. They are everywhere!" Li Fan's gaze swept across the mountain range beneath the Divine Wood's shade. Almost every peak had courtyards built upon it, housing cultivators.
"No wonder Ruo Wood wanted an unending feud with this Divine Wood. If it continues to grow at this rate, in tens of thousands of years, it might completely occupy the Xuanhuang Realm."
"This Divine Wood came from beyond the heavens. I don't know who its creator was, but they must have coveted some kind of opportunity..."
"It's a pity it was so crudely severed," Li Fan scoffed inwardly.
"The Divine Wood and Ruo Wood were in a stalemate. However, with Fate Pivot's clandestine intervention, the Divine Wood Sect was quickly defeated, the wood died, and the sect was destroyed..."
"This time, I will act as a disciple of the Divine Wood Sect and reenact Fate Pivot's past actions."
Thinking this, Li Fan came to the open-air cliff outside the disciple cultivation area. Standing there, he could look up and behold the form of the Divine Wood. Li Fan sat down, feeling the rhythm and growth of the mountain range beneath him, and silently circulated the Mountain Sitting Art.
Indeed, as the mountain range trembled almost imperceptibly, the body of the mountain, while growing with the Divine Wood, also provided a cultivation feedback to the cultivators sitting upon it. The increase in the mountain's height was imperceptible to the naked eye. However, the cultivation feedback within his body was clearly discernible. It was like a steady trickle, gradually accumulating.
"This speed, of course, cannot be compared to the geniuses of the world. However, it can absolutely crush the vast majority of cultivators. At the very least, it's much faster than He Zhenghao's cultivation."
"If there is truly a mountain, then there is no need to sit on a person, sit on an immortal, or sit on heaven."
"The original intent of this Mountain Sitting Art, when pushed to its extreme, coincides perfectly with its deduction, with no alteration. However, this mountain is not that mountain."
After experiencing it for a while, Li Fan felt many insights arise in his heart. While cultivating with the assistance of the Divine Wood and the mountain was fast, it did not meet Li Fan's needs. He needed to maximize the strength of the "Li Bufan" he had possessed, and also conceal it as much as possible, so as not to be detected by the projected Mountains and Seas.
"You all sit on mountains; I shall sit on you." Li Fan looked at the hundreds of thousands of Divine Wood Sect disciples within the mountain range, and an idea struck him.
For the next year, Li Fan temporarily abandoned cultivation. He spent a year traversing every mountain within the Divine Wood Sect. What he did was simple. Every person he met, every place he visited, he would offer a gift. The gifts themselves didn't have to be valuable; it was the act of giving. As long as someone accepted Li Fan's "gift"... then they would have formed a connection. How much they would repay, and when, was no longer up to them.
For the very few who refused, with Li Fan's methods, it took no effort to make them, openly or secretly, owe Li Fan a debt in a different way. As for the source of these hundreds of thousands of gifts Li Fan distributed...
"You scoundrel... in just one year, you're going to squander all our family fortune!" Li Bufan's parents, a mixture of shock and anger, were at their wits' end. However, they could do nothing about Li Fan. They couldn't possibly kill their only son, could they? Moreover, he wasn't using the wealth for himself, but distributing it among the sect members. Thanks to his actions, Li Bufan's parents, these two elders of the Divine Wood Sect, had gained an excellent reputation. They could only sigh and find ways to accumulate more wealth.
As for Li Fan... At this moment, he arrived outside the sect's sacrificial hall, at the highest peak of the Divine Wood Sect. Gazing down at the countless disciples of the Divine Wood Sect below.
"My debt, without weighing it, is not even four ounces. But once weighed, it's far more than a thousand catties..."
"After a year of hard work, it's time to collect some interest."
"Consider it a prelude to my Sitting Dao Art!" The Sitting Heaven Art circulated silently within him.
Boom...
All the Divine Wood Sect disciples who had received a favor from Li Fan, at this moment, felt their bodies tremble slightly. The Spirit Qi in their dantian flowed, seeming to have sped up considerably. Unaware, they believed it was the Divine Wood manifesting its power, further accelerating their cultivation. They were overjoyed.
However, they did not know that as the Spirit Qi flowed within their bodies, nearly half of every bit of cultivation they gained was being siphoned away. It converged upon Li Fan. Li Fan, using the Sitting Heaven Art, secretly urged the numerous disciples of the Divine Wood Sect, at the cost of their own lifespan, to temporarily increase their cultivation speed. Therefore, overall, their cultivation progress did not decrease but increased. All of this was done by Li Fan in extreme secrecy. The methods of a Sage were naturally imperceptible to ordinary people.
"In any case, you will all die in the impending war between the Divine Wood and Ruo Wood."
"Further depleting yourselves in advance will not affect the trajectory of the Mountains and Seas."
Feeling the continuous influx of cultivation feedback into his body, Li Fan nodded with satisfaction. "With the power of one person, no matter how fast one cultivates, how can it compare to the power of the Sitting Heaven Art!"
In just three years, Li Fan had ascended from the Foundation Establishment stage to the Dao Integration stage. The limit of mortals!
At this juncture, the Immortal Path still exists. After Dao Integration comes becoming an immortal. Even if it's only a world of mountains and seas in a state of constant flux between reality and illusion, that which should exist will continue to exist.
Standing atop the Divine Wood, Li Fan faintly sensed the tangible aura of the Immortal Realm. It seemed as though ascension were within reach with just a little more effort. "The restrictions are indeed not as strong as they were later on; it is truly possible to become an immortal."
"It's a shame. As the Immortal Realm and the domains of immortals were shattered one after another, the terrified immortals, in their pursuit of survival, placed increasingly greater hopes on the lower realm's experimental grounds."
"This led to the situation where all beings in the Broken Chess arena, except for those with backing, those who were originally from the Immortal Realm, or those chosen, had no possibility of ascending after reaching Dao Integration. Even if their strength and cultivation were sufficient, they would only be met with endless heavenly tribulations."
"However, to put it another way, the Broken Chess arena, and particularly the Xuanhuang Realm, is a true treasure land that many nameless beings vie to enter. I wonder what those who exhausted their efforts to ascend would think if they knew this truth."
Li Fan stood on the Divine Wood, contemplating thus, and slowly took a deep breath. The lives and cultivation of hundreds of thousands of Divine Wood Sect cultivators were once again mobilized, slowly transforming into cultivation feedback within Li Fan's body. Although he had already reached the peak of the mortal realm and could no longer advance in cultivation, the interest that was due still needed to be collected without a moment's delay, bit by bit, stored within Li Fan's dantian in the form of a calamity body's phantom image, to be used when needed.
"The so-called 'going with the flow' can only be utilized with the power of mountains and seas born from this phantom state to manipulate things without arousing suspicion."
"However... with only a Dao Integration cultivation, it's somewhat strenuous to replicate everything that the Fate Pivot once did."
"It's time for the next step."
Although the Divine Wood Sect also had Dao Integration cultivators, the quality of Dao Integration varied greatly. Li Fan, standing in broad daylight with the Divine Wood beneath his feet for a considerable time, did not attract any attention. Even the Divine Wood itself seemed unaware.
With a flash of his form, Li Fan took a hundred steps on the treetop of the Divine Wood in an instant. This formed a profound formation. At the same time, the auras of the hundreds of thousands of Divine Wood cultivators below were drawn out, rolling towards Li Fan. Through the body of the Divine Wood, they coiled and intertwined, like countless ropes weaving together, all converging into Li Fan's hands.
"Go!" With a soft shout from Li Fan, these ropes then connected with the phantom imprints he had previously left.
"Cultivators settle on the Divine Wood to enhance the effect of sitting on the mountain. The strength of the Divine Wood is millions of times greater than that of cultivators, so it can ignore the burden of cultivators and even provide support as it grows. However..."
"This burden of cultivators, now in my hands, you may not be able to bear."
Li Fan's gaze grew serious. Using the hundreds of thousands of cultivators he controlled as a lever, he pressed down lightly.
"Creeeak..." An invisible, immense force was instantly applied to the body of the Divine Wood. From the outside, everything appeared normal; not even the leaves of the Divine Wood fluttered excessively. However, in reality, the Divine Wood, which provided shade over an area of thirty thousand miles, along with the mountains beneath it, was pressed down by an inch by Li Fan.
The loss of the "sitting on the mountain" effect was not Li Fan's intention; he was merely testing the limits of the power he could currently wield. Having achieved his objective, he quickly withdrew his hand.
"In my understanding, there is truly no need for ascension from the upper realm; one can enter the realms of mountains and seas and become an immortal on the spot."
"But in this era, no true immortals were born. If the phenomena simulated in the phantom state deviate too much from the original, real mountains and seas, the phantom of mountains and seas will not manifest."
"To achieve transcendence using mortal power is indeed fraught with limitations and quite troublesome. I fear only the Sages can accomplish this."
Li Fan's solution was simple. Since he couldn't solve it by conjuring external forces out of thin air, he would directly utilize the immortal power that already existed within the Xuanhuang Realm.
"Regardless of the intermediate process, as long as the beginning and the end remain the same, and no external forces intervene, the phantom can be revived."
The first thing Li Fan intended to do was to intercept the wisp of immortal power that permeated the Divine Wood. The Divine Wood, originating from beyond the realm, was undoubtedly a method by which a True Immortal of the upper realm had embedded it within the Xuanhuang Realm. However, the method of this unknown True Immortal was extremely subtle. The connection was almost imperceptible, even to Li Fan's Dao Integration cultivation. Yet, by using the power of hundreds of thousands of cultivators to suppress the Divine Wood entirely, he finally found a trace of it through meticulous observation.
"This connection is not in the branches or the trunk, but within the roots." Li Fan's divine sense swept over the intricate root system of the Divine Wood, which spread over a million miles underground, and found the signs of its connection to the distant Immortal Realm.
"The other party is also an unknown True Immortal, extremely cautious, fearing that their coveting of the Xuanhuang Realm would be exposed. The immortal power they can wield is extremely limited..."
"As a starting point, it's sufficient." A sharp glint flashed in Li Fan's eyes. He pressed down with both hands, further suppressing the Divine Wood while simultaneously reorganizing its roots. In an instant, countless root tendrils danced like dragons, being dismantled and reassembled underground. Gradually, amidst the surging earth veins, a formation woven from the Divine Wood's roots suddenly took shape. Li Fan's consciousness moved, and a phantom of himself entered and sat within it.
Thus, the power of the Divine Wood was completely intercepted. The life and death of the Divine Wood were now within his thoughts. He could suppress it with ease, even without the power of the hundreds of thousands of cultivators he controlled. The wisp of weak immortal power transmitted from the upper realm, when bestowed upon the Divine Wood, merely allowed it to grow to a towering stature. However, when Li Fan obtained it, he could transform the rotten into the miraculous, unleashing power a thousand or even a hundred thousand times greater.
"Next are the immortal artifacts left behind by the various sects." Having intercepted the immortal power, Li Fan, despite his mere Dao Integration cultivation, was essentially no different from a True Immortal. Silently, he suppressed and subdued a host of immortal artifacts, which was as easy as flipping his hand. Though the immortal artifacts remained stored within their respective sects, they had secretly changed owners.
After the Immortal Realm, came the Xuanhuang Realm's protective formation. At this point in time, the ancient immortal formation was intact and perfectly preserved. The power it could wield was even greater than that of the immortal artifacts retained by the various sects. After making some modifications to the ancient immortal formation, Li Fan also pilfered its immortal power for his own use.
Following this, Li Fan meticulously searched the Xuanhuang Realm's land, relentlessly annexing everything that could be utilized into his own being. The Xuanhuang Realm appeared calm and peaceful on the surface, with no outward changes. However, internally, it had undergone a complete upheaval, a transformation as profound as a change in rule.
As time flowed by, Li Fan finally ushered in the first crucial juncture of the mountains and seas' memories. This day marked the sudden appearance of the Fate Pivot in the phantom memory. Rolling black mist enveloped Li Fan. Stepping out from the "Li Bufan" he possessed, he arrived at the very location where the Fate Pivot was supposed to appear. His actions and demeanor were no different from what was recorded in the mountains and seas' memory. He initially appeared somewhat flustered, then experienced a mixture of surprise and joy. He then sat down, setting up his plan and weaving his net.
"This position is still more suitable for me." Seated in the sky above the Xuanhuang Realm, overlooking the myriad beings below, Li Fan couldn't help but think contentedly. Although the location he occupied was not the absolute center of the Xuanhuang Realm, the power he controlled was now dense and pervasive, occupying every corner of the Xuanhuang Realm. Wherever he sat, that place became the absolute center of the Xuanhuang Realm! Every action he took caused the Xuanhuang Realm to change. The situation was precisely as depicted in the mountains and seas' memory of the Fate Pivot.
Suddenly, an invisible net was woven! Outside the illusory realm, within the Other Shore, Li Fan's true form observed and discovered that at this moment, the phantom mountains and seas seemed to have become more solidified. The scene depicted by the memory phantom had perfectly inherited what actually happened in the real mountains and seas. It was as if he were reliving everything that had happened before, and the transformation between illusion and reality began to flow. After a moment of frozen light and shadow, it flickered again, but it was undoubtedly far more stable.
This change, naturally, did not escape the notice of the Sages on the Other Shore. "Fellow Daoist Mysterious Woman, your progress is quite rapid," Fang Cun exclaimed in surprise. "I was originally thinking of keeping a closer eye on your side."
"I'll observe. Hmm... Fellow Daoist Mysterious Woman, you seem quite adept at using these methods," Bai Xiao also remarked with surprise, appraising Li Fan. Li Fan's expression remained unchanged. "Every time I traverse against the current from the end of the mountains and seas, I suffer severe injuries and have to start anew. It's simply a matter of becoming skilled through practice." The Sages nodded slightly, but offered no further comment. Regardless, Li Fan's actions were indeed beneficial for the reconnection of the mountains and seas.
"It seems I need to accelerate my progress," Jin Gui chuckled, shifting his gaze away from Li Fan. The Other Shore fell into silence once more. Within the illusory mountains and seas, and the Xuanhuang Realm, with the establishment of the first crucial memory node, the entire world seemed to have become more real. At the very least, the immortal power controlled and circulating by Li Fan was almost indistinguishable from what he had witnessed in the true mountains and seas.
"Reality and illusion, illusion and reality. How are they truly defined?"
"When the mountains and seas were swallowed by the stars, and then recreated by the thought of Return to Truth, how was this achieved?" Sitting between illusion and reality, Li Fan could better perceive the Dao of illusion and reality. Although he sat still, his comprehension of it grew with each passing day.
Not long after, another crucial juncture arrived. In a hidden corner of the Xuanhuang Realm, a faint light flickered. It was a True Immortal from the upper realm, stealthily descending. The True Immortal believed his movements were discreet, but he was unaware that every action and word was under Li Fan's control.
"To be carefree and at ease, yet trapped in calamity, how can one achieve true carefree bliss?" As the light and shadow gradually dimmed, the True Immortal revealed his face. He looked in the direction of the Immortal Realm, sighed faintly, and shook his head. Perhaps it was because a segment of memory had already solidified, but the scene re-enacted by the mountains and seas was now clearer than when Li Fan had observed it from the Other Shore previously. The face that could not be discerned before was now clearly visible.
Li Fan had seen this True Immortal before. He was the master of the Starving Immortals, [Carefree Bliss] himself! At this moment, he leisurely made his way towards the Fishing Pond, seemingly enjoying the process of escape, not rushing his journey, but looking around as he proceeded.
"Long confined in a cage, returning to nature at last..." he murmured, seemingly content. But gradually, the ease and joy on his face vanished. In its place came an expression of immense solemnity.
"This place..."
"Seems somewhat amiss." He stopped murmuring and a hint of panic appeared on his face. He no longer bothered looking around and hurried his steps towards the edge of the Fishing Pond. As if prepared, he cast his fishing rod lightly. He did not sit down but stood there, waiting for a bite.
Soon, the water in the Fishing Pond rippled slightly, and a powerful force surged from beneath the water. Carefree Bliss, surprisingly, rejoiced rather than felt alarm. Without any resistance, he fell into the pond, disappearing without a trace.
The Sea of Mountains and Seas Fishing Ground returned to its calm surface. On the other side, it was unknown what had transpired that caused the passage on the Xuanhuang Realm's side to gradually close.
At this moment, just as the Fate Pivot had done in true history, Li Fan made his move. Starlight flickered in various locations across the Xuanhuang Realm. This indicated that Li Fan had exerted his controllable power to its absolute limit. Behind the Fishing Pond, a Sage's presence was faintly perceived. Although true Sages could not manifest in the illusory mountains and seas, the mountains and seas would instinctively simulate their prestige to the greatest extent possible. Li Fan dared not be careless.
As he had anticipated, when he attempted to prevent the passage in the Sea of Mountains and Seas Fishing Ground from closing, an incomprehensible, dragging force surged from beneath the water. Li Fan, who was meditating in the void, almost lost his footing. Fortunately, his preparations were thorough. The roots of the Divine Wood were embedded in the Xuanhuang Realm's earth veins; the immortal artifacts of the world were intertwined with the fortunes of the various sects; and the ancient immortal formation had merged with the Xuanhuang Realm. At this moment, they all transformed into Li Fan's extensions. These threads, entwined, helped Li Fan steady himself.
However, the pulling force from the Fishing Pond exceeded Li Fan's imagination. Upon encountering resistance, it intensified rather than diminished, as if it would not rest until it had reeled in Li Fan, the "big fish"! Since Li Fan was now deeply intertwined with the Xuanhuang Realm, this force was actually pulling the entire Xuanhuang Realm, and even the primordial possibility, into the Fishing Pond! Regardless of how much he had prepared, all of Li Fan's arrangements relied on various elements within the Xuanhuang Realm. This was a limitation inherent to the memory phantom itself. How could it possibly resist such immense power? Unstoppably, with every inch, he was pulled towards the Fishing Pond.
The events unfolding in the phantom memory began to deviate from the true mountains and seas. The entire world, in that instant, seemed to be tinged with a different hue, becoming strange and peculiar. The beings within the world could not perceive it, but the Sages on the Other Shore saw the anomaly the moment it occurred. If Li Fan failed here, their efforts to reconnect the mountains and seas would be in vain.
Acting with urgency, Sage Lian Shan decisively transmitted a telepathic message: "Do not contend with it directly. Yielding with weakness may offer a chance!" Li Fan's mind was suddenly enlightened, and he immediately retracted some of his power. However, he did not completely cease his resistance. Because of this momentary shift in power, the Xuanhuang Realm seemed to have sunk a few inches into the pond. The pond's area remained unchanged, but it appeared deeper. Curiously, as Li Fan relaxed his grip, the force from the Sea of Mountains and Seas Fishing Ground also lessened. Finding that this was not a "big fish," it lost interest and completely abandoned the pulling.
The rivalry between the two sides ceased, and the water of the Fishing Pond slowly calmed.
With Li Fan's strength adding a barrier, the Mountain and Sea Fishery was not sealed off again. The trajectory of the Mountain and Sea phantom finally aligned with history once more. Everything that was on the verge of collapse returned to stability.
Li Fan secretly let out a sigh of relief.
"I almost made a fool of myself," he said with shame in the Other Shore.
"There will never be a Saint appearing within the Mountain and Sea phantom. However, the memory of the Mountains and Seas will instinctively manifest everything as it originally was. This means that even though this fishery is fake, the pulling force it unleashed just now was no different from a genuine Mountain and Sea Fishery. To be able to wrestle and hold your ground with it for so long with just a single thought is already quite difficult," said Mound Guardian.
"The Mountain and Sea phantom must be imitating that Angler. The more the hooked fish struggles, the happier he becomes. But if the prey is mediocre, he will lose interest. He might even give up directly," the Lian Shan phantom added by way of explanation.
"It sounds like this so-called Mountain and Sea Angler is a true fishing enthusiast. But the Mountains and Seas are already in a state of destruction, and he still has the leisure to fish across the heavens," Bai Xiao said, staring at the Mountain and Sea Fishery with an unreadable expression.
Tai Yi chuckled at this, "Everyone has their own aspirations. The Angler's heart is only on fishing. He wouldn't care if the Mountains and Seas were to collapse, let alone the matter of saving them against the current."
Bai Xiao snorted, "If the Mountains and Seas were truly annihilated, and this fishery ceased to exist, where would he go fishing then?"
"He has spoken about this. The Mountain and Sea Fishery connects various segments of the Mountains and Seas. If he can still fish incessantly, it means the state of the entire Mountain and Sea is far from as dire as it appears. If, one day, he can no longer catch any fish from any part of the Mountains and Seas, then he will naturally take action," Tai Yi said, shaking his head.
"What kind of twisted logic is that..."
Bai Xiao, upon hearing this, was about to retort but was interrupted by the Lian Shan phantom. "Not to mention that the Mountain and Sea Angler is our equal. Even if he were a mere mortal, it would be inappropriate for us to impose our will upon him in the name of salvation. It's like you; if you hadn't been prying into the secrets of all beings, we wouldn't have forcibly interfered even if you were peeking."
"This is what is called the predetermined fate of all beings. It cannot be forced."
Bai Xiao's expression froze. He shut his mouth sheepishly.
Tai Yi smiled and smoothed things over, "Do you still remember the Great Sage Jing Fen from the Immortal Realm, where you were originally?"
"How could I forget? That man is incredibly petty. Just because I exposed his true form, he chased me all over the world. After I became a Saint, I was only focused on saving the world and forgot to go back and deal with him..." Bai Xiao said, half-jokingly.
"Jing Fen, at that time, had the potential to become a Saint. However, he was naturally unrestrained and unwilling to bear too much. Even the affairs of a realm were beyond his capacity. Therefore, his cultivation has remained stagnant for so many years. Originally, we would occasionally persuade him, but after realizing it was futile, we stopped. If you truly wish to pursue him in reverse, it's not impossible. Perhaps it could put pressure on him and help him take that final step."
"He is hiding in the real Mountains and Seas, living a carefree life. If you search earnestly, you should be able to find him," Tai Yi said indifferently.
"Uh... then perhaps not," a trace of apprehension flashed in Bai Xiao's eyes as if he remembered something, and he mumbled sheepishly.
...
After a period of commotion, the Other Shore fell silent once more.
It turned out that Li Fan's progress in guiding the memory phantom was already among the forefront of the Sages. With him stabilizing the situation, substantial beams of light began to appear successively from the void. These were signs of the Sages completing the main memory threads of the Mountains and Seas.
Li Fan's mind returned. In the Void Illusory Xuanhuang Realm, he was about to orchestrate the destruction of the Divine Wood Sect. For Li Fan, who had already subdued the Divine Wood, this was naturally an easy task.
"Just in time to shift the Divine Wood's power from the manifest to the hidden, and completely make it my own."
"As for the people of the Divine Wood Sect..."
"Those who deserve to die will eventually die."
Li Fan's expression was indifferent, having already decided the fate of the magnificent sect and its millions of cultivators. Everything unfolded as it had happened in the historical Mountains and Seas.
News spread throughout the Xuanhuang Realm that the Divine Wood had been heavily injured by the Desolate God, and the Divine Wood Sect was desperately searching for ways to heal it everywhere. Some people's hearts became restless. Among them, Ruo Wood was particularly prominent. As the origin of life in the Xuanhuang Realm and the ancestor of all trees, the arrival and growth of the Divine Wood from beyond the heavens was the first true threat to it.
Unfortunately, in the beginning, it did not pay attention. By the time it realized its threat, it was already too late. After lying dormant for so many years, the opportunity had finally arrived. Thus, it no longer hesitated. Countless mountain spirits and wood spirits, a sea of them blocking out the sun, came from various realms of the Azure Nether and surrounded the Divine Wood Sect. Interspersed among them were many Dao Integration cultivators enticed by Ruo Wood's "increase in lifespan," as well as rogue cultivators harboring thoughts of plundering during the conflict.
The cultivators of the Divine Wood Sect united in their hatred towards the enemy, defending together. Although there were not many top-tier combatants, the total number of Golden Core to Soul Transformation realm cultivators far surpassed that of the attackers. Moreover, with the support of the Divine Wood, as long as they did not die on the spot, they could quickly recover under the nourishment of the continuous life force. For a time, the battle seemed evenly matched, neither side able to gain the upper hand.
Seeing no opportunity to gain an advantage, many cultivators on Ruo Wood's side began to falter.
"As long as I can uproot the Divine Wood, I will surely reward all of you with the Fruit of Longevity. This is a true divine medicine that, if consumed once, can grant longevity equal to heaven and earth," Ruo Wood, manifesting as a human, continued to sweeten the temptation. A phantom image of a crystal-clear fruit appeared in Ruo Wood's hand. At this moment, Ruo Wood was not the hunched and terrifying old man of later generations but a graceful, jade-like young master. He wore green robes, his features as if perfectly carved by heaven, flawless. Coupled with the crystal-clear fruit exuding an aura of longevity, the Dao Integration cultivators present were moved and agreed to fight one last desperate battle.
Thus, the final bloodbath commenced. Because Ruo Wood had completely drained the life force of the Xuanhuang Realm to attack the Divine Wood Sect, all other regions fell into a sharp, cold winter, frozen for tens of thousands of miles. Even the flow of Spirit Qi in the world became sluggish. Normal flight for cultivators was affected. With the adverse weather conditions, apart from the battle at the Divine Wood Sect, cultivators from other sects mostly chose to go into seclusion, awaiting the outcome of this great battle.
"My son truly has foresight! He has shown kindness to others all along, so now, even though there are continuous battles, others cannot say anything even if he doesn't join the war, out of respect for past favors," Li Bufan's father exclaimed.
"Unlike the children of other elders, who have remained in the rear for too long and can no longer suppress themselves. To quell public anger, they are forced to fight on the front lines. How can they possibly withstand this terrifying meat grinder? Most of them go and never return."
"You can stall for time, but you can't stall forever. No, Old Li, you must think of a way. If this continues, even if Bufan can hide behind the scenes, what if the Divine Wood Sect is broken..."
"Silence! How can you speak such womanly words!" Li Bufan's father harshly interrupted his wife. However, looking at Li Bufan, his eyelids gently lowered. He had already made up his mind in his heart.
The next day, Li Bufan received a talisman from his father and, following his instructions, quietly went to a cave deep in the sect's back mountain. After presenting the talisman, he was allowed to enter and found that quite a few people had already gathered inside. They were all familiar faces. The elders of the Divine Wood Sect, although most were willing to fight to the death, were all thinking of securing a way out for their descendants. This was human nature.
"Truly, parents' hearts are pitiful," Li Fan sneered in his heart, his gaze sweeping over everyone present. In recorded history, these second-generation members of the Divine Wood Sect naturally did not escape the pursuit. In the phantom memory, Li Fan also did not find it troublesome to escort them on their way.
After the personnel were assembled, the cave entrance was sealed. With a slight tremor, the Divine Wood's roots broke through the ground. Everyone followed the roots of the Divine Wood deep underground, quietly departing from the Divine Wood Sect's territory.
"Hmm, something's not right? Why aren't these Divine Wood roots stopping even after reaching their destination?" the leading cultivator's expression changed dramatically. But it was already too late. Unbeknownst to anyone, underground, the Divine Wood's roots, as if with a will of their own, suddenly split into millions. They deeply embedded themselves into the bodies of the Divine Wood Sect disciples present. At this moment, although their life force remained, they were no different from the dead.
Sensing that their descendants had safely moved away, the ruling cultivators of the Divine Wood Sect had no further worries. They engaged in a desperate battle with the invading enemy. They even resorted to damaging the Divine Wood's fundamental power. Both sides were fighting for survival, regardless of right or wrong. Blood mist surged, reaching up to the nine heavens. The entire sky of the Xuanhuang Realm was dyed crimson. So many lives were lost. If this continued, even if a victor emerged, the other sects would likely take advantage. Thus, both sides began to consider retreat.
Just then, Li Fan, who had been hidden and passively observing, finally made his move. With his current cultivation, even without using the Mountain Sitting power of the Divine Wood disciples, he could easily subdue the Divine Wood. Under his manipulation, the Divine Wood suddenly showed signs of decay. A gust of wind blew, and countless withered yellow leaves fell like a torrential rain from the sky. This sight made both sides, who were fiercely fighting, stunned.
On the side of the Divine Wood Sect, their hearts turned cold. On Ruo Wood's side, their spirits were instantly lifted. With victory seemingly within reach, their eyes turned bloodshot, and they surged forward as if injected with chicken blood. Under the influence of Li Fan's mysterious great hand, the balance of the battle shifted. The Divine Wood Sect's defenses crumbled like an avalanche. The battlefield transformed from a clash between two sides into a one-sided slaughter.
"Good, good, good!" Seeing victory imminent, Ruo Wood was overcome with emotion and uttered three consecutive "good"s. Behind him, his true form's phantom could even be vaguely seen. Underground, Ruo Wood's roots came from all directions, tightly entwining the Divine Wood, which stood alone amidst the mountains and rivers. Then, they broke through the trunk and took root.
"If I can receive nourishment from this wood, not only will my past injuries be fully recovered, but perhaps I can even advance further!" Ruo Wood was leisurely envisioning the future, unaware that a trace of a strange power was already entering his body through the absorbed Divine Wood.
Finally, with the colossal Divine Wood collapsing with a roar and turning into decaying dust, the great battle came to an end. Ruo Wood also kept his word, distributing the Fruits of Longevity to several cultivators.
After this...
Ruo Wood returned to his original space, happily cataloging his gains from absorbing the Divine Wood. To his horror, he discovered that inexplicably, a figure was sitting atop his head!
"Since the Divine Wood is gone, I'll take you to replace it," Li Fan said calmly.
"Who are you..." Ruo Wood attempted to speak, only to find himself unable to move! Roots grew from Ruo Wood's body, piercing through his torso and growing wildly. In the blink of an eye, Ruo Wood was replaced.
The Divine Wood Sect was annihilated, and Ruo Wood regained control of the Xuanhuang Realm's spiritual veins. Another predetermined fact was completed, and the Mountain and Sea memory phantom became even more stable. Li Fan sat atop Ruo Wood's head, leveraging its power to grasp the entire situation.
"Ruo Wood now is far from the withered state he will be in later. He is the hub of life circulation in the Azure Nether experimental field, capable of altering the four seasons of the Xuanhuang Realm from a fundamental level with a mere thought."
"It's a pity that, whether willingly or unwillingly, he gave away too many Fruits of Longevity, leading to his tragic end in the future."
"But it doesn't matter." With a thought, Li Fan sensed the whereabouts of the many Fruits of Longevity that Ruo Wood had bestowed.
"How can the opportunity for longevity be easily given to others."
"Though I cannot alter your fates..."
"I can turn you into my chess pieces." Under Li Fan's Profound Energy, the fruits that granted longevity equal to heaven and earth were silently transformed into poisoned fodder, creating puppets. Though the consumers were unaware, every word they spoke, every thought they had, could be influenced by Li Fan. Originally, Li Fan possessed great power but still required his own intervention to manipulate and alter the Xuanhuang Realm. However, with the implantation of these Longevity realm chess pieces, external force was no longer needed. With just a thought, he could silently change the situation in the Xuanhuang Realm. Under absolute influence, the overall situation was decided. This game of the Xuanhuang Realm would not require Li Fan to personally move the pieces; the game would unfold according to his thoughts. It was effortless. The next step was the final, and most crucial one. Reenacting the scene where the Fate Pivot captured that unknown divine object.
"It's not difficult to simply recreate the scene. What's difficult is recreating the profound fluctuation that occurred when both sides were in conflict," Li Fan frowned slightly. Even the Sages observing from the Other Shore, upon witnessing the fluctuation, would instantly feel its extraordinary nature.
"To achieve the state of 'so real it's indistinguishable from the real thing,' to even deceive the Mountains and Seas themselves..." Li Fan slowly recalled what he had witnessed. At the same time, outside the void, on the Other Shore, his main body once again cast his gaze. He did not ask the Sages for help but began to comprehend it himself. He thought of the pulling force that the Mountain and Sea phantom had spontaneously simulated earlier, mimicking the Mountain and Sea Fishery.
"It doesn't have to truly exist. It just needs to make the Mountains and Seas think it exists."
"I can play the role of the Fate Pivot, and the other..." Just as Li Fan was contemplating, a faint ripple stirred in the deepest part of his heart. It was minuscule, even less than Li Fan's emotional fluctuations, but it was clearly not Li Fan's own.
"Is this... Return to Truth?" Li Fan's surface remained calm, but inwardly, he suppressed his shock and speculated on Return to Truth's intentions. The ripple of Return to Truth vanished in an instant, but it was clearly not without purpose. "It must have sensed my thoughts just now." "Just now..." "I wanted to perfectly recreate that fluctuation." "Does Return to Truth mean that doing so is dangerous?"
“Ever since I arrived at the Other Shore and interacted with the Sages, Return to Truth had remained hidden. Yet now, it risks discovery by the Sages to remind me…”
“This signifies that if I were to act according to my own thoughts, my situation would likely be far more perilous.”
Having spent so much time with Return to Truth, even without explicit words, Li Fan instantly understood its intentions from the faintest of its subtle fluctuations.
“Before Return to Truth’s reminder, I intended to…”
“Mimic the fluctuations caused by the conflict between the two as much as possible, thereby deceiving the illusory Mountains and Seas.”
After careful contemplation, Li Fan gradually understood.
The creation of the Misty Veil and Mountains and Seas were unparalleled. The fluctuations caused by its conflict with the Fate Pivot, theoretically, were impossible to replicate. Even the Mountains and Seas themselves could not truly recreate the original scene.
“Only through the transformation of true and false might perfect replication be achieved. Deeply immersed, striving wholeheartedly to reproduce the scene at that time, I instinctively wish to invoke the transformation of true and false.”
“If it truly comes to this, perhaps the fluctuations I forge might even be more genuine than what the illusory memory of Mountains and Seas displays. This is because the Misty Veil creation is very likely Return to Truth itself.”
Having grasped this, Li Fan inwardly exclaimed, “How fortunate!”
In truth, Li Fan’s identity as a lone traveler from the end of time carried its own subtle flaws. However, due to his actual divine ability of True Spirit Infusion, the Sages had hitherto chosen to overlook these inconsistencies. Yet, Li Fan believed that if he were to reveal his possession of the Misty Veil creation, the outcome might be entirely different.
“I need only exert my strength as [Mysterious Woman] and do my utmost to restore it. As for whether I can truly deceive the illusory Mountains and Seas and succeed in the reunion…”
“My purpose this time is merely to probe the true strength of the Sages and seek a path for further advancement. What harm can the safety of Mountains and Seas bring to me?”
Li Fan snorted inwardly.
Then, his thoughts slightly focused, recalling his previous thoughts and musings, his heart sinking slightly.
“Come to think of it, it’s quite strange. Having sat in this Starry Enigma for so long, I’ve somehow started to naturally, genuinely, wish to save Mountains and Seas?”
“While the influence on my main body is not yet so pronounced, the strand of consciousness I’ve invested into the illusory Mountains and Seas…”
“Although its methods are still similar to mine, its objective is truly to reunite Mountains and Seas, even to the point of dedicating itself wholeheartedly.”
“These old fellows are indeed not to be trifled with. No wonder they insisted on the newly ascended Sages sitting in this Starry Enigma; they can subtly influence and alter the thoughts of Sages.”
“Although I am aware of this today, I cannot guarantee when I will be influenced again. I must return to Return to Truth before I am completely changed…”
Return to Truth’s guidance was like a sudden enlightenment, temporarily freeing Li Fan from the influence of the Sages in the Starry Enigma.
Li Bufan, the projection in the illusory Xuanhuang Realm, also became less zealous in his actions.
“This preparation should be sufficient.”
“If I can deceive the illusory Mountains and Seas, that would be even better. If not…”
“I will have done my best.”
He sat cross-legged upon the If Wood, thinking thus.
Time flowed, and the day arrived when the Fate Pivot and the Misty Veil creation clashed, as depicted in the memory of Mountains and Seas.
Although Li Fan had already gained control of nearly all possible forces in the Xuanhuang Realm, he was still unable to perfectly replicate the mystical fluctuations of that day.
Deviations from the memory began to emerge, subtle tremors emanating from the deepest veins of Mountains and Seas.
While the establishment of the preceding two memory points had made the projection more solid than before, preventing its immediate collapse, the instability at the end began to gradually affect the entire illusory projection of Mountains and Seas within the void realm.
It was almost predictable that it would soon enter a precarious state, facing complete annihilation.
“Not good!” In the Other Shore, Li Fan’s main body cried out in alarm.
The anomaly in the projection had already drawn the attention of the other Sages.
Although the three Sages of Lian Shan and Gui Hai intended to assist, their main bodies were too far from the illusory realm, rendering their efforts futile.
The newly ascended Sages closest to Li Fan were also powerless to simulate the mystical fluctuations.
Even with the illusory projection of Lian Shan guiding them through telepathic messages, it was too late.
The collapse of Mountains and Seas began from the smallest of details.
The projection, which had been nine-tenths completed, instantly crumbled.
Countless light and shadows shattered like bubbles in an instant.
As if stirred by a monstrous wave, the icy void realm was engulfed by a colossal backlash.
“Return!”
In the Starry Enigma, the illusory projections of Lian Shan, Gui Hai, and Tai Yi simultaneously let out a low cry.
The white circle also erupted with unprecedented brilliance, as if penetrating the boundless void and directly reaching the main bodies of the Sages.
Li Fan clearly saw, as if an invisible rope extended from the Starry Enigma, connecting to the Sages in the void.
At this moment, the rope tightened, forcefully yanking the Sages who were caught in the void’s backlash back.
The illusory projections of the Sages instantly solidified, and all of them spat out large mouthfuls of blood.
Only Li Fan, who was already within the Starry Enigma, was exempted.
Li Fan seemed stunned by the scene, frozen on the spot.
Before he could speak, Sage Lian Shan said sternly, “The void’s backlash, the tide of Dao Erasure, will consume at least eight hundred years. We cannot defend; give up.”
The newly ascended Sages did not yet understand the meaning, while the nine Sages of the Other Shore sighed softly, preparing themselves.
The light circle of the Other Shore seemed to shrink abruptly.
The area it encompassed became imperceptibly shorter.
After adjusting their protective range, Li Fan saw a black tide approaching silently at the end of this section of Mountains and Seas.
The scene was even more suffocating than experiencing it firsthand.
Everything in its path was annihilated.
Countless possibilities, countless living beings, were lost due to it.
It continued forward, devouring over eight hundred years of time, only stopping its momentum when it encountered the white light of the Other Shore.
Although the tide of Dao Erasure was temporarily contained, the price was…
The Sages in the Starry Enigma collectively spat blood once more.
The backlash of the Dao Erasure tide did not solely originate from the void realm but surged forth from all directions of this section of Mountains and Seas.
Li Fan personally witnessed how numerous possibilities, which had been in a stalemate, instantly lost their balance and were engulfed by the Dao Erasure.
Mountains and Seas, which had been relatively healthy, now bore the marks of being riddled with holes after this wave of backlash from the void realm!
This situation was akin to a house whose roof had been blown off by a fierce storm, with rainwater pouring in, creating a mess, chaos, and a sense of impending doom.
“It is my fault!” Li Fan slapped his thigh, filled with regret.
“It’s just that the reconstruction of the illusory memory failed, isn’t it? Must it lead to such a situation?” Bai Xiao coughed lightly, a hint of horror in his voice.
“In the struggle with the void realm, it is either advance or retreat. If the initial construction had failed, it would have been fine. The backlash would not have been this terrifying,” Lian Shan said, suddenly rising.
He took a step forward.
At that instant, it seemed as if countless versions of him emerged from the Starry Enigma, traveling to all parts of Mountains and Seas.
Each figure of Lian Shan acted as a dike, forcibly plugging the various breaches in Mountains and Seas.
Shortly thereafter, the incessant tremors of Mountains and Seas gradually subsided.
Having escaped this cataclysmic event, Lian Shan then looked at Li Fan.
Buzz…
The imposing aura of the main body was truly incomparable to that of the illusory projection.
Even with the Mysterious Woman protecting him, Li Fan suddenly felt as if an endless expanse of Mountains and Seas was pressing down on his shoulders!
He seemed to hear the roars of mountains and seas, growing louder and more intense, echoing ceaselessly!
Sage Lian Shan remained silent, but the invisible pressure in the arena was palpable.
All the Sages remained silent, their gazes fixed on Li Fan.
Seizing the moment, Li Fan lowered his head and continued his feigned remorse, “It is my fault! Everything else was perfect, and I thought this final step would be a breeze. I never expected…”
“Enough.” Sage Lian Shan suddenly waved his hand, interrupting Li Fan’s self-reproach.
He returned to his seat and said softly, “It is also my fault. I too believed that fellow cultivator Mysterious Woman could have succeeded.”
His words held subtle implications, but the Sages present maintained their composure, their gazes fixed on their own noses and their minds on their hearts, showing no unusual reactions.
Li Fan continued to bow his head in silence.
Sage Tai Yi stepped forward to mediate, “Victory and defeat are common in warfare. Our previous attempt to reunite Mountains and Seas was not without its challenges. Let us rest and recuperate, and then try again. Why be so dejected?”
With these words, the icy atmosphere in the arena slowly began to thaw.
At this moment, as if sensing what had transpired on the Other Shore, the Grand Imperial Preceptor Tai Wei appeared.
He brought with him nine Grand Elixirs.
“These are all I have.”
“The next refinement will take a thousand years.”
Grand Imperial Preceptor Tai Wei departed as swiftly as he arrived, but not before his gaze seemed to sweep over Li Fan.
There were sixteen Sages present, yet only nine Grand Elixirs were distributed.
Lian Shan, Shou Qiu, and Tai Yi were the first to declare, “We do not require them.”
Li Fan, also wisely, chimed in, “Please, esteemed fellow cultivators, go ahead.”
Subsequently, Shou Qiu, Qie Ji, and Gui Ming also declined.
The distribution of the Grand Elixirs was thus settled.
After consuming the elixirs and undergoing a period of recuperation, the auras of all the Sages finally stabilized.
“We will rise from where we fell.”
“Today, let us first discuss the Fate Pivot and the Misty Veil creation.”
Sage Lian Shan spoke again.
Within the Starry Enigma, the scenes recorded in the memory of Mountains and Seas reappeared.
They were so vivid that they seemed even more “real” than what Li Fan perceived from the Other Shore.
“The Fate Pivot, he wields the Dao of Fate.”
“The destinies of all beings in Mountains and Seas have their strings, all manipulated by his touch.”
“They can be gathered into a net, or scattered into a chessboard.”
…
Sage Lian Shan’s voice was incredibly calm as he expounded on the principles of the Fate Pivot.
Li Fan listened, gradually becoming engrossed.
Unconsciously, he seemed to have gained an initial understanding of the Sage Lord's Dao of the Fate Pivot.
“This is by no means a talent I possess naturally.”
“Rather… it is the assistance of the other Sages within the Starry Enigma who are comprehending the Dao.”
“This mutual influence is even stronger than when the Sages were merely illusory projections.”
Li Fan thought to himself, a sense of guilt gradually rising in his heart.
Because of his own dereliction of duty, the reunion had failed.
Although he quickly regained his senses, this nascent trend of awakened conscience surged like a relentless tide.
It was difficult to suppress.
“After the Fate Pivot has spoken, let us discuss the Misty Veil creation.”
“Although I do not know its true form, since Mountains and Seas hold its memory, we can to some extent recreate it.”
Sage Lian Shan gently pointed towards the center of the arena where the Sages were gathered.
A point of light emerged.
This was the residual fluctuation from the memory of Mountains and Seas, stripped of the Fate Pivot’s influence.
The Sages stared at the point of light in the arena, lost in thought.
“This trace of Dao intent is indeed quite peculiar. It bears a resemblance to what I saw in the past…” Sage Tai Yi remarked, frowning after observing it.
“I don’t know if it’s my imagination, but I actually sense the aura of [Morality] within it?” Sage Morality exclaimed, looking surprised.
“It seems to encompass all things in Mountains and Seas, possessing everything. It is also like a bright mirror, capable of reflecting all of us,” Sage Gui Hai said softly.
…
The Sages voiced their opinions. Li Fan outwardly concurred, “Indeed, one can faintly detect the aura of the [Mysterious Woman] Great Dao within it.”
While he appeared calm, inwardly, he was in turmoil. This was because the moment the point of light appeared before them, he distinctly sensed the aura of [Return to Truth].
However, since Return to Truth was still within him, Li Fan quickly reacted, Sage Lian Shan’s simulated manifestation echoing the aura of Return to Truth.
“The transformation of true and false. Those who do not know, do not understand.”
“Yet Sage Lian Shan can recreate it to this extent…”
Seemingly unaware of Li Fan’s inner thoughts, Sage Lian Shan continued to impart wisdom to the Sages. “Sage Gui Hai’s words are brilliant. This Misty Veil creation, though its name is unknown, is like a bright mirror!”
“Since it can reflect all things in Mountains and Seas…”
“We can observe Mountains and Seas to gain insight and indirectly perceive the existence of this mirror.”
As he spoke, without needing Sage Lian Shan’s instruction, Sage Gui Hai cooperated, and together they projected an image of Mountains and Seas.
The continuous expanse of Mountains and Seas appeared, faintly discernible.
It resonated with the point of light before them.
Within the point of light, there seemed to be corresponding scenes of Mountains and Seas.
And the boundless illusory projection of Mountains and Seas slowly contracted, transforming into another point of light.
Like two suns in the sky, they hovered before the Sages.
While the Sages did not know the origin of the Misty Veil creation, they were very knowledgeable about Mountains and Seas.
The Sages first looked at the point of light representing Mountains and Seas, and then at the other point.
From one to the other.
What was once an intangible existence now felt strangely familiar upon reconsideration.
Lian Shan once again looked at Li Fan and asked, “Having recreated it now, what is your confidence level?”
Li Fan narrowed his eyes, not answering immediately.
After pondering for a while longer, he extended his hand and presented another point of light.
Although it was immediately apparent that it differed from the other two points in the arena, it bore a resemblance of seven to eight parts.
Sage Lian Shan nodded and said, “With another thousand years of refinement, it should be sufficient.”
“Let us await the retreat of the tide of Dao Erasure.”
With that, Sage Lian Shan closed his eyes and fell silent.
Only two points of light remained in the arena, for the Sages to contemplate.
The void realm, having gained the upper hand, did not cease its offensive but continued to encroach.
The light circle of the Other Shore did not confront it directly, but repeatedly retreated.
It was only after a thousand years passed within the Eternal Void Realm that a balance was re-established between the two sides.
The Sages’ injuries had long since healed, yet they did not act rashly.
They waited for Grand Imperial Preceptor Tai Wei to finish refining the Grand Elixirs.
During this time, Li Fan also searched for individuals with the potential to become Sages, but alas, he found none in all of Mountains and Seas.
The number of Sages in the Starry Enigma remained the same.
"I fear I will fail again and implicate all of you, fellow Daoists," Li Fan said with a worried expression, moments before the connection between the Mountains and Seas was re-established.
"Do your best. Even if you fail, we can simply wait another millennium. Fellow Daoist Xuan Pin, there's no need for such anxiety," said Elder Qiu Qiu with a smile. "Moreover, I can see you've already grasped nine-tenths of its essence. Tricking the phantom Mountains and Seas should not be a problem."
Elder Qiu Qiu was referring to what Sage Lian Shan had explained to the Sages about the Fate Pivot and the Misty Veil Creation. Not only did Li Fan possess innate comprehension, but with the combined blessings of the Sages within the Starry Enigma Ring, even a mortal meditating there for a thousand years would attain profound understanding.
"Last time, we encountered no major issues. As long as you, Xuan Pin, can handle this final hurdle, the reconnection of the Mountains and Seas will be within our grasp."
Li Fan’s expression grew solemn. "I will exert my utmost effort and not fail your trust!"
After the Sage Emperor Tai Wei delivered the latest batch of elixirs for refining the sacred medicine, and the Sages had consumed them to reach their peak state, they successively leaped into the Eternal Void Realm. In their usual order, Sages Lian Shan, Gui Hai, and Tai Yi led, followed by Qie Ji, Gui Ming, and others. Tai Qi came last, while Fang Cun moved freely. As for Li Fan, his main body remained seated in the Other Shore. He only needed to guide a wisp of his consciousness when the phantom Mountains and Seas reappeared.
Repeating the process, their innate talents and methods ensured that no significant disturbances arose. Even though the void realm seemed to sense their return, becoming more turbulent and fierce, it ultimately had no substantial impact.
Flames of light began to appear in the darkness, and the shattered phantom world of the Mountains and Seas reappeared!
"Go!"
The Sages, in perfect synchronicity, cast their divine senses into the phantom world, as if infusing it with vitality. The Spirit Qi flowed through the veins of the Mountains and Seas, rekindling life. This time, Li Fan made no mistakes. Utilizing the power of Xuan Pin, and after Sage Lian Shan's guidance, he successfully simulated the tug-of-war between the Fate Pivot and the Misty Veil Creation.
The entire phantom realm of the Mountains and Seas froze for an instant. Then, a sound like the heavens collapsing echoed from all directions. Li Fan narrowed his eyes, attempting to locate the source of the sound. However, a powerful repulsive force suddenly emerged from "Li Bu Fan's" body, expelling his consciousness, which vanished into the Dao Erasure like melting ice.
Li Fan paid no attention to the demise of his wisp of consciousness but stared blankly at the void realm. Everything he saw was the phantom world of the Mountains and Seas radiating brilliant light. Endless light and heat erupted, forcing the surrounding void realm back, inch by inch. Darkness receded, and the continuous scenery of the Mountains and Seas gradually rose from the darkness. This scene was remarkably similar to what Li Fan had witnessed in his previous life: the descent of the "Stars!"
Li Fan gazed fixedly at this wondrous spectacle, knowing that although the current vision of the Mountains and Seas appeared exceptionally powerful, it was still not the true Mountains and Seas but merely an illusion. Like water without a source or a tree without roots, even if it gained an advantage for a time, it would inevitably sink back into the Dao Erasure without subsequent support.
But soon, the support arrived. It came from the ancient Mountains and Seas!
When the void left by the severed connection of the Mountains and Seas was temporarily replaced by the reappearing phantom realm, the Mountains and Seas themselves seemed to sense the change. An unfathomable power descended. Boundless vitality and creative energy flowed down from the ancient Mountains and Seas. Wherever it passed, illusions became reality! Li Fan's vision was akin to seeing a broken branch take root and sprout anew, rejoining the main trunk of a great tree. In mere moments, it became lush and verdant!
"Is this the true power of the Mountains and Seas..." Li Fan, at the end of time, had seen the enfeebled Mountains and Seas, crushed by the Dao Erasure and the void realm. While he was within the Mountains and Seas, he, as Sage Xuan Pin, stood shoulder to shoulder with them. Thus, he had somewhat underestimated the "Infinite Sea" and "Mount Shang." Only now, witnessing the magnificent spectacle of the Mountains and Seas reconnected, with a grandeur comparable to the re-emergence of the Stars, did he realize: "What I saw was merely a small segment of the Mountains and Seas." Even spanning hundreds of thousands of years, it was an insignificant part of the complete Mountains and Seas. The true Mountains and Seas inherited the vast majority of the "God's" power... If the Stars truly held an overwhelming advantage over the Mountains and Seas, why would they need to exploit the Dao Erasure and engage in erosion for countless years?
"What I saw of the Mountains and Seas in the past was not the Mountains and Seas."
"It was merely their shadow."
While Li Fan was lost in thought, the cascading vitality surged towards him. It collided violently with the current Mountains and Seas! The white circle of the Other Shore suddenly retracted its light. No longer covering the Mountains and Seas, it contracted as much as possible. Li Fan watched as infinite changes occurred within the current Mountains and Seas. Those possibilities that had been extinguished, because they still existed in the previous time-space, now seemed to be imbued with life, pushing back the Dao Erasure from the Mountains and Seas. As for those possibilities that could not find their source upstream, they did not vanish into thin air due to the fusion of the two segments of the Mountains and Seas. As if by instinct, they sought out the closest corresponding possibilities and attached themselves, slowly. It was like a new branch growing on an existing one. Though newly formed and frail, it was ultimately connected to the tree, destined to endure.
The Sages on the Other Shore appeared somewhat dazed. Countless memories surfaced in their minds, the memories of their "selves" in the previous segment of the Mountains and Seas. Their auras fluctuated wildly, as if a dormant volcano on the verge of eruption. The Lian Shan trio seemed most affected. In the previous Mountains and Seas, they were already Sages. Now, with the reconnection of the Mountains and Seas, it was as if their fortunes had doubled. Their already unfathomable strength manifested briefly during the fusion, like a supernova exploding with blinding light. It was so intense that others could not bear to look directly at it, yet it subsided into calm within a fleeting moment. The other Sages, though they all gained their own benefits, required more time to assimilate them.
As for Li Fan... his mind was blank, receiving no new memories. He was still too young, and there was no "Li Fan" in the previous segment of the Mountains and Seas. This coincided perfectly with his identity from the end of time. Without rash action, he sat quietly, awaiting the changes within the Sages to conclude. In fact, with the successful reconnection of the Mountains and Seas, he had not gained nothing. As Sage Lian Shan had said earlier, the Sages stood atop the Mountains and Seas – the stronger the Mountains and Seas, the greater their own power would naturally become. And if their chosen Dao path was not present in the previous segment of the Mountains and Seas, they could instantly transform it for their own use, gaining immense fortunes! This was precisely what Li Fan was experiencing now. "The Great Dao Realized: The First Xuan Pin." Regardless of where the Great Dao of Xuan Pin resided, it now bore Li Fan's mark. Thus, at the moment the Mountains and Seas connected, Li Fan perceived the aura belonging to Xuan Pin. However, he was rather unlucky, as Xuan Pin had already found a master in the previous segment of the Mountains and Seas, and that person had already cultivated to the Sage realm! A peculiar situation arose: in one segment of the Mountains and Seas, there were now two Xuan Pin Sages.
"In a sense, the other is the true [Xuan Pin]. However..." "Having attained the Great Dao, why should I easily yield it to another?" With the control granted by the "Great Dao Realized" over Xuan Pin, Li Fan believed he would be the sole victor in any contest, and he would win with ease. Confident of victory, Li Fan chose not to act for the time being, waiting for the changes on the Other Shore.
Once the Mountains and Seas were reconnected, and the vital flows successfully infused, finally stabilizing, the Other Shore ceased to contract. Instead, it rapidly expanded, connecting with another Other Shore existing further upstream in time, completing the integration. There were no earth-shattering collisions, for they were inherently one. The dazzling white light converged, and identical images overlapped. Simultaneously, three figures inexplicably appeared within the Starry Enigma Ring.
"Allow me to introduce the current situation," said Sage Lian Shan. "With the successful reconnection of the Mountains and Seas, combined with the original fifty-eight thousand six hundred years trapped in the Eternal Void Realm, the total duration is now thirty-three thousand nine hundred and eighty years."
"Tracing back in time and reconnecting, the Sages in the latter segment of the Mountains and Seas were Me, Gui Hai, Tai Yi... Xuan Pin."
"As for the Sages in the former segment of the Mountains and Seas, some were different."
"Yuan Mo, Guang Yi, and..."
"Xuan Pin."
Sage Lian Shan's voice slowly revealed two "Xuan Pins" in the list of Sages! Theoretically, such an event was possible, but the probability was exceedingly small, and it was unexpected for them to encounter it today. After all, a segmented portion of the Mountains and Seas typically spanned over a hundred thousand years. To grow from nothing within it and cultivate to the Sage realm without prior accumulation would be extremely difficult. However, if Xuan Pin was a time traveler from the end of the Mountains and Seas, that was another matter entirely.
In the peculiar silence of the Starry Enigma Ring, Lian Shan spoke again, "Whether Xuan Pin belongs to you or the other is a personal matter between the two of you, and we shall not interfere. However..."
"The walker of the Mountains and Seas possesses the method of True Spirit Infusion..." Yuan Mo and Guang Yi from the previous segment of the Mountains and Seas did not know what True Spirit Infusion was. Sage Lian Shan further explained. Upon hearing that Li Fan possessed the ability to create new Sages, the two Sages could not help but appear astonished.
"No wonder so many new faces have appeared."
"Even though the time spans of the two segments of the Mountains and Seas are not vastly different."
Yuan Mo and Guang Yi exchanged glances and then looked at the Xuan Pin they knew, sighing inwardly. From a strategic perspective, even if Li Fan was not an equal opponent, Li Fan had to win. The ability to create new Sages was truly terrifying. If Li Fan had not infused the newly created five Sages, the reconnection of the Mountains and Seas would not have succeeded so easily. Compared to that, a mere [Xuan Pin]...
Silence reigned in the Starry Enigma Ring. [Xuan Pin] slowly rose, surveying the Sages. Sage Lian Shan's voice, as calm as an ancient well, resounded again, "If you are willing to abandon the Dao path of Xuan Pin, we promise to find another way to help you embark on the path of a Sage. If you refuse..."
Xuan Pin's expression turned as dark as water, and his aura could no longer be suppressed, as if he were about to explode at any moment. Though not an opponent to the Sages present, he would never be easily bullied!
"Wait!"
At this moment, Li Fan suddenly spoke. "In fact, I am not exclusively tied to Xuan Pin."
His words surprised all the Sages, including Lian Shan.
"It is rare for a Sage of the Mountains and Seas to be born. It is a great pity for each one lost. Moreover, we are all dedicated to saving the world. If we were to engage in internal conflict first..."
"While it may be understandable, it would inevitably create a rift in our hearts."
"Therefore, Fellow Daoist Xuan Pin, do you have a better solution?" Tai Yi inquired.
Li Fan nodded slowly. "As I said before, I have risen from the lowest of origins many times. As for becoming a Sage through Xuan Pin, I am most familiar with it. If another viable path exists..."
"I am capable of that as well."
Upon hearing this, all the Sages' expressions became subtle. Achieving Sainthood was not easy. Fate, talent, opportunity, and diligence were all indispensable. Even among those present, few could guarantee they could rise again easily after changing their Dao path. Yet, Li Fan appeared confident.
"Since there is still room for negotiation, let us discuss further," Sage Lian Shan said. The suppressed aura around Xuan Pin slowly eased. Before sitting down, he bowed slightly to Li Fan, who nodded in response.
After a moment of deep thought, Sage Gui Hai said to Li Fan, "The remaining nineteen thousand years of this segment of the Mountains and Seas hold no further potential for excavation. However, the earlier hundred and fifty thousand years may offer an opportunity to attain the Dao."
Gui Ming began to divine, and images flashed before him. Finally, they settled on a scene depicting a unique and extraordinary region within the Mountains and Seas. Thousands of possibilities converged there but did not flow downwards. As if sensing the imminent destruction below, they coiled and lingered in the Mountains and Seas, gradually forming a complete cycle.
"This place was originally at the end of the previous segment of the Mountains and Seas, near the void realm. To avoid falling into the void realm, it spontaneously developed this peculiar change. We had vaguely sensed it before, but since it was of no help in saving the Mountains and Seas, we paid it little attention. However, now..."
As Gui Ming was about to take action, Sage Lian Shan interrupted him. Sage Lian Shan looked at Li Fan and said slowly, "If you wish to rely on this opportunity to become a Sage again, you will likely need to go there personally. While we can offer assistance, on one hand, this opportunity is inherently wary of energies of the same kind. If we were to intervene forcefully, it might scare it away. Secondly, being tainted by our Dao principles would likely hinder your cultivation."
Li Fan nodded slightly. "I understand this principle. It matters not; it is merely another journey."
"Please wait for me for a while, everyone."
"This Great Dao of Xuan Pin, I shall entrust it to you, Fellow Daoist."
As Li Fan spoke, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes. Then, the Great Dao of Xuan Pin, which he controlled, was slowly shed like an outer garment! Upon being abandoned, the masterless Xuan Pin instinctively sought to flee but was immediately seized by the other "Xuan Pin" Sage. As for Li Fan... Without the boost of the Great Dao of the Mountains and Seas, his cultivation should have regressed to the Transcendent realm. Yet, a hazy radiance still emanated from him, making his true state difficult to discern even for the Sages observing him!
In the eyes of the various Sages, Li Fan, who had always been timid and shrinking, suddenly dared to shed the veil of the Mysterious Woman Great Dao, naturally due to his reliance.
That reliance was the transformation of Return to Truth!
Li Fan's gains this time from the Reconnection of Mountains and Seas were meager. However, Return to Truth was not the same.
It was as if his vision had suddenly broadened, becoming much clearer. The coverage of Mountains and Seas across time had nearly doubled, seemingly allowing Return to Truth to act with greater freedom.
Although not reflected in the specific text on the Return to Truth panel, it could be glimpsed in an inadvertent corner.
For instance, in the column labeled "Divine Blessing."
The words "[Illusion is True]" now shone with a dreamlike, hazy seven-colored divine light, just like "[Great Dao Realization]."
When Li Fan's thoughts touched upon it, the magnificent divine light exploded, then tightly enveloped the words "Li Fan" in the "Name" column on the Return to Truth panel.
As the colors shifted, the words "Li Fan" vanished. Only an indistinct halo remained.
And Li Fan himself felt as if a dark cloud had drifted over his head, or as if he had inexplicably donned a thick kasaya. Even in the presence of the Sages, he felt much safer in his heart.
The sense of crisis, of being completely exposed at any moment, was no longer there.
"Compared to the past, maintaining [Illusion is True] now consumes no energy and can be passively sustained at all times."
"More importantly, its effects have been greatly enhanced. Even in the face of the Sages, protected by it, I need not worry about being seen through."
"However, the price is..."
Li Fan then turned his gaze back to the "[Great Dao Realization]" column.
The seven-colored divine light on the four characters of "Mysterious Woman" seemed suppressed, becoming dim.
In comparison, Li Fan gradually understood: "Both the Mysterious Woman and Illusion is True possess the power of a Sage. With my current strength, I can perhaps use Return to Truth to temporarily ascend to the Sage realm. But I can only choose one and not have both."
"Perhaps in the future, when I truly advance to the Sage realm, I will be able to ignore such limitations. But for now..."
The reason Li Fan chose to temporarily relinquish the [Mysterious Woman] Great Dao was not out of kindness, unwilling to see a Sage perish.
The true reason stemmed from the intense hunger that surged from Return to Truth.
It was as if, after a long slumber, it was finally slowly awakening.
The first thing it felt was an almost unbearable, urgent desire to feed.
It was similar to the first time he saw Su Bai's skull, but hundreds of times stronger!
If Li Fan had not had his will tempered by countless cycles of reincarnation, he might have lost his composure under Return to Truth's influence and revealed himself.
But enduring was not a long-term solution. He needed to help Return to Truth feed as soon as possible and suppress its gluttonous desire.
As for Return to Truth's food...
While urging him on, it had already conveyed to Li Fan with an extremely faint fluctuation that there existed provisions in this section of Mountains and Seas to fill its belly.
This was also why Li Fan feigned noble generosity.
Although he himself could not find it at the moment, he believed that the Sages, to placate him as the "True Spirit Infused" one, would surely offer assistance.
He never expected the results to come so quickly.
Li Fan stared at the anomalous location in Mountains and Seas pointed to by the sundial’s direction.
As his gaze fell upon it, Return to Truth's agitation indeed intensified.
"Everyone, I shall depart now."
"Await my good news!"
With that, he transformed into a stream of light and vanished into it without looking back.
In the Other Shore, the Sages watched Li Fan leave, falling into a strange silence for a moment.
"This Walker of Mountains and Seas is truly incredibly mysterious," Tai Yi chuckled.
"It matters not. Though we are said to stand shoulder to shoulder with Mountains and Seas, Mountains and Seas are boundless, and we dare not claim to comprehend all their mysteries. As long as he can truly create Sages..."
"We shall consider everything after the Reconnection of Mountains and Seas and after our strength is fully restored."
The Sages, with varied expressions, nodded silently.
As for Li Fan...
In mere moments, he had plunged into the confluence of countless possibilities.
Following the subtle guidance of Return to Truth, he sped towards the location of the "food."
Only after gradually separating from the Xuanji Ring did Li Fan more clearly perceive the changes he experienced while within it.
"Indeed, it was not my illusion. Real changes have occurred. Fortunately, I did not stay for too long, and my nature is resilient. If I had stayed longer, I might have become one with them forever."
Li Fan inwardly felt a sense of alarm.
"Even if I have now temporarily escaped and am protected by Illusion is True, I cannot be careless."
"After all, the Sages are surely still watching me from the Other Shore. If all else fails, I will have Return to Truth escape!"
Li Fan's reason for temporarily leaving the Other Shore was partly due to this consideration.
Being far from the Sages at least provided some margin for error when activating Return to Truth.
If he were to activate Return to Truth in front of the Sages, there was a risk of being obstructed.
After all, the strength of the Three Sages of Lian Shan was truly terrifying and formidable.
He reined in his thoughts and, as he descended into this possibility, Li Fan first sensed the anomalies around him.
Just as he had glimpsed from the Other Shore earlier.
The River of Time did not flow forward in a straight line but formed its own beginning and end, becoming a complete circle.
Most beings in this possibility were unaware of their true predicament.
Only a very few possessed the extraordinary ability to briefly leap out of the flowing currents of possibility.
"Specifically, it manifests as the ability to exist momentarily in the future, at a certain point in time, through certain methods. It appears as a dream, yet it truly exists. Whether in the present or the future, every action impacts this possibility."
"Although it forms a loop, it is always in flux."
Li Fan’s eyes swept across countless flowing possibilities, attempting to pinpoint the so-called opportunity for enlightenment.
However, it seemed to sense the approach of Return to Truth, the predator, and quickly concealed itself.
Li Fan searched for a long time but found nothing.
"The circular nature of this possibility's flow must be related to the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas."
After a moment of contemplation, Li Fan made up his mind.
He formed his fingers into a sword and selected one of the possibilities, severing it!
Originally, the beginning and end intertwined, meandering and persisting within Mountains and Seas.
Now, it had been broken by Li Fan.
Having separated from the possibility, it could no longer integrate into Mountains and Seas.
Like a solitary boat, it drifted alone.
Having lost its circular characteristic, the beings within this possibility lost their "future."
Their lives were frozen at the last moment.
It was as if Dao Erasure had descended, and they would all vanish in the next instant.
The changes did not stop there.
The beginning of the possibility also gradually withered, having lost its "source" from the future.
It was like a plucked flower that could maintain its vitality for a short while.
But its withering was inevitable.
"The connection that sustains the circular possibility is the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas."
Li Fan silently observed the demise of a brilliant civilization within this possibility, musing.
Then, he looked again at the countless intact, winding possibilities.
If he were to act according to his true nature, he would simply and crudely sever all possibilities. Then, the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas, which sustained their circular nature behind the scenes, would naturally be exposed.
However...
Doing so would cause countless beings to perish.
His actions would be witnessed by the Sages on the Other Shore. His modus operandi would be entirely different from his previous demeanor, easily arousing suspicion and causing trouble.
"It's better to let the Sages see my clever methods!"
With this thought, Li Fan abandoned his crude idea.
His form became a stream of light, completely integrating into the most eye-catching possibility within this loop.
Li Fan had once existed in the form of a "line" during his journey across the River of Time against the current.
Unlike his normal state, where he existed at a single point in time, he simultaneously encompassed a long period.
Now, as Li Fan integrated, his light spread throughout the loop.
Ultimately, it occupied the entire cycle of reincarnation.
Li Fan was thus able to witness the history of this possibility from the perspective of a native being.
This world's civilization was born amidst the ruins after a great war.
With strange beasts and calamities rampant, humanity struggled to survive in the cracks.
On the desolate land, they gradually built city after city, like scattered stars.
They searched for oddities from ancient ruins and rediscovered knowledge.
Due to the differences in the ancient records they found, they gradually split into two completely distinct factions.
The first faction had self-enhancement as its core. They utilized everything available on the desolate land to modify and strengthen their physical bodies.
The second faction followed the path of "control." Their own bodies were incredibly fragile, but they could cultivate a special spiritual power to achieve the manipulation of strange beasts and even machinery.
There were no irreconcilable conflicts between the two initially.
However, when both factions reached their highest cultivation realms, everything changed.
The path of "control" could indeed control cultivators with enhanced bodies.
And the spiritual power cultivated by the "control" faction was a supreme tonic for the physical cultivators. Once consumed, it could surpass a hundred years of arduous cultivation.
Thus, a world-shattering war erupted.
In the end, the civilization that both sides had painstakingly rebuilt from the ruins was once again destroyed.
No one survived, only a few records remained.
After a long period of silent death, new life was born.
Repeating the same mistakes of the past.
Within this possibility, some beings indeed saw through this tragic cycle of reincarnation. They tried several times to stand up and save the world, to change all this.
However, the conflict between the two cultivation methods was almost irreconcilable.
The power of an individual was, after all, like a drop in the ocean against the mighty tide of destiny.
This possibility thus fell into an endless cycle of reincarnation.
"The past can influence the future, and the future can alter the past."
"However, due to the outbreak of that world-ending war, the impact of all variables was minimized. It might take billions of more cycles before changes sufficient to alter civilization occur..."
Li Fan's consciousness spanned the entire timeline. After contemplating for a while, he began to search for the crux of the problem.
"The root cause lies in the fundamental conflict between the two major cultivation methods. If this can be resolved..."
"Perhaps this loop will be broken."
"And to maintain this state, the hidden Great Dao of Mountains and Seas will undoubtedly intervene to rectify it."
Two figures then appeared in the city reborn from the ruins.
They joined different factions respectively.
After decades of cultivation, both reached the peak of their respective paths.
"Indeed, whether it's 'Control' or 'Body,' within this world, these are already the limits of cultivation."
"To advance further, one can only devour the other. "
"This is the world's inherent limitation, or perhaps, the limitation of the [Dao]."
"But it will not be difficult for me."
Li Fan's two created clones, with their astonishing attainments in their respective schools, undeniably became the leaders of each faction.
With iron-fisted methods, they temporarily suppressed the momentum of the war.
Then, they focused their efforts on modifying their respective cultivation methods.
In the eyes of others, this was purely a futile delay tactic. But in less than three years, effective improvement methods emerged.
"The path of 'Control' can control all things, and naturally, it can control oneself. The stronger the body, the easier it is to control."
"All things in the world can serve as sustenance for the body, as can one's own spirit. After the spirit is forged a thousand times, it is consumed by oneself, like a Golden Core. Once ingested, it illuminates all the flaws of the physical body."
...
Initially, the world did not believe it. But there were curious individuals willing to try.
After some cultivation, they discovered that both methods could indeed be cultivated together and even complement each other!
Thus, the shadow of war gradually receded.
Exchange and prosperity began to take root on the land.
Li Fan, having completed his task and retreated, looked up and sensed the subtle changes gradually arising in the world.
Under the influence of a strange power, the civilization's prosperity did not last long.
After only a short period of peaceful coexistence, the seeds of war began to sprout again.
This was because some cultivators discovered that although combined cultivation was effective, it was simply too slow!
Most people in the world were mediocre, and cultivating one method alone was already an exhausting feat. How much more so for cultivating both?
Their strength was actually inferior to those who focused on cultivating a single method.
What was even more dire was that the past method of devouring cultivators from the other faction to convert them into one's own cultivation resources was still effective!
Human greed was difficult to eradicate.
Amidst the calm, ripples began to form.
More and more killings began to emerge.
...
Li Fan captured the trace of power that altered the world but was not confident in a single strike to seize it.
He did not act rashly but continued to contend with it.
The two leaders, once again cooperating, improved the new methods.
This increased the cultivation efficiency by several times.
And anyone who exploited other cultivators for their own advancement was to be killed without mercy.
Another round of bloody slaughter forcefully suppressed the greed in people's hearts.
Besides, the path of cultivation was not entirely cut off; there were still acceptable cultivation methods.
Thus, people slowly began to accept this slower cultivation method.
Li Fan, through human intervention, turned the situation around. Heaven and Earth changed anew.
Simultaneous cultivation of spirit and body sometimes led to symptoms of demonic deviation.
Either the physical body transformed into the strange beasts of the wilderness, but the spirit remained normal.
Or the spirit became erratic, but the physical body remained in its normal state.
Any one of these, when suddenly erupting, was enough to pose a great threat to the civilization.
Initially, people could tolerate it, but as the outbreaks became more frequent, cultivators began to doubt the rationality of dual cultivation.
Of course.
Once again, Li Fan resolved it.
As Heaven and Earth were about to change for the third time, Li Fan, who had been hidden behind the scenes, suddenly opened his eyes.
"Still playing tricks, I've found you!"
His figure leaped out of the looped possibility, revealing a sky-piercing, earth-shattering form.
With a light step, he trod upon the myriad looping possibilities in this realm.
He clasped his hands in the air!
The Great Dao of Mountains and Seas, in its essence, is formless. Yet, under Li Fan's forceful drag, it manifested as a vibrant, coiling serpent leaping into existence.
The serpent, naturally in a state of balanced self-containment, instinctively retaliated when Li Fan's external force disrupted its equilibrium. A burst of multicolored light enveloped Li Fan, a torrent of countless possibilities flowing above. Following a flicker of light and shadow, the scene accelerated as if on fast-forward.
The following events unfolded in sequence:
After Li Fan captured the serpent, it struggled, its vibrant light surging and straining. Ultimately, however, it could not escape his grasp. Li Fan, with a look of satisfaction, watched as the serpent dissolved into multicolored smoke and inhaled it into his mouth.
The essence of the seven-colored mystical energy flowed into him, and with a newfound understanding, Li Fan sat atop the countless flowing possibilities. The aura of the seven-colored serpent gradually permeated his being. The endless possibilities beneath him, which had begun to lose their cyclical nature after the serpent's suppression, stabilized once more. Li Fan became engrossed, seemingly petrified, losing his original essence as he merged with his surroundings.
Uncountable years passed. Li Fan's form solidified within this space-time, appearing as if he had always belonged there, seamlessly integrated. The existence of "Li Fan" gradually faded.
The light and shadow continued to accelerate, each moment representing hundreds of thousands of years. Li Fan's final trace in the world vanished, transforming into dispersed, seven-colored wisps. These wisps converged from all directions, eventually forming a new seven-colored serpent.
As if newly born and unaware of anything, the serpent acted on instinct, coiling its body until its head met its tail, returning to its original form. Like the countless possibilities beneath it, it entered an eternal cycle. A swirling mist descended, and the serpent vanished within it, leaving no trace.
The light and shadow warped and accelerated further. After an unknown number of years and countless cycles, the seven-colored serpent reappeared. It felt as if something inside was struggling, growing increasingly violent.
With a resounding boom, the serpent exploded into dust, and a figure emerged. It was Li Fan, who had been lost in this realm for an immeasurable time. He seemed to have forgotten his experience of being lost, returning to the state he was in upon first arriving.
Li Fan observed the hidden mysteries within the myriad circling possibilities. His final choice mirrored his earlier one: he plunged into one of the possibilities, intending to break the deadlock by confronting the seven-colored serpent, the embodiment of this cyclical domain, and forcing it to reveal its true form.
His actions proceeded smoothly. The seven-colored serpent, once captured, struggled relentlessly but ultimately fell to Li Fan's refining. The swirling essence entered his body, and Li Fan sat in contemplation. After an indeterminate number of years, he merged with his surroundings.
One cycle unfolded, and then another, and so did countless cycles. Li Fan, once a hunter of the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas, had become trapped within it, caught in an eternal loop.
…
On the Other Shore.
Tai Yi, observing this scene from afar, chuckled lightly. "Our Walker of Mountains and Seas seems to have encountered some trouble. Shall we lend a hand?"
"Time flows like a wheel, and existence and extinction are eternal. This 'Cosmic Cycle' did not exist from the dawn of the Mountains and Seas. It is a desperate measure born from the pressure of Dao Erasure. Though the Walker of Mountains and Seas possesses extraordinary talent, after shedding his Saintly guise, he is ultimately merely a Transcendent cultivator. It is understandable that he would become ensnared." Elder Shou Qiu nodded.
"It is easy to see when one is not involved. If we were in his position, perhaps we would not fare any better," Elder Dao De, having been enlightened by Li Fan to become a Saint, interjected, trying to defend him.
The other Sages remained silent, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. It was Sage Lian Shan who finally broke the silence. "Perhaps we should wait a little longer. As I see it, even within this unchanging cycle, there are variables. This Walker of Mountains and Seas is not as simple as you might imagine. You have underestimated him." Sage Lian Shan even let out a rare, silent chuckle.
The other Sages looked surprised and turned their gaze back to the unfolding events.
The reconnection of Mountains and Seas enveloped the entirety of the current segment of the Mountains and Seas. Under the white light, time flowed, but it held no true meaning. Moreover, the place where Li Fan was trapped was a self-contained cycle. Even if eons passed within it, it would not affect the overall momentum of the Mountains and Seas. Waiting a little longer was not an issue for the Sages.
…
As Sage Lian Shan had predicted, hidden within the seemingly endless cycle was a variable. And this variable was Li Fan's escape route! It all stemmed from the sword Li Fan had unleashed upon his initial arrival, seeking any trace of the 'Cosmic Cycle'. That sword strike had severed one of the possibilities within this realm, freezing time and causing it to wither away.
When the 'Cosmic Cycle' evolved and ensnared Li Fan within its own loop, to prevent him from noticing, it incorporated his instinctive action into the cycle. Consequently, with each reincarnation, a possibility was annihilated by Li Fan's sword.
Although countless possibilities flowed endlessly, and new ones were born even as others were destroyed, as Li Fan became fully integrated into the 'Cosmic Cycle', each loop became smoother. The speed of reincarnation accelerated, and Li Fan's destruction of possibilities began to outpace their regeneration. No matter how the power of the 'Cosmic Cycle' tried, it could not maintain equilibrium. If this continued, the outcome was predetermined: the myriad possibilities would ultimately be consumed by Li Fan, leading to the collapse of the cycle. If the 'Cosmic Cycle' chose to endure, the outcome would remain the same – Li Fan would be trapped for longer, but eventually, all would end in destruction.
Gradually understanding his predicament, the Great Dao of the 'Cosmic Cycle' made its choice. As another cycle began, Li Fan captured the seven-colored serpent and absorbed its essence, just about to enter enlightenment. However, a fainter, fleeting seven-colored light streaked away, attempting to escape the cyclical possibilities and hide within the vast Mountains and Seas.
At that moment, Li Fan, who should have been immersed in enlightenment, suddenly opened his eyes. With a blank expression, he pinched his fingers together as if locking something. His two fingers seemed to form a lock, firmly trapping the Dao of the 'Cosmic Cycle'.
The small, colorful serpent was suddenly caught, surprised and enraged. It attempted to manifest its cyclical light and ensnare Li Fan once more, but Li Fan, having already broken free from the grand cycle, would not fall into the same trap.
"If you had been decisive and fled upon my arrival, I might not have been able to do anything to you," Li Fan stated. "But to stubbornly remain here for countless cycles before choosing to sever your own limb to survive..." He sneered. "It's too late!"
He held the Dao of the 'Cosmic Cycle' in his palm and slowly began to refine it. Beneath him, the myriad flowing possibilities, deprived of their driving force, began to freeze. Soon, they would face complete annihilation.
Having experienced countless cycles of reincarnation, Li Fan was adept at this process. It took him only a few moments this time to fully integrate the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas into himself. A profound and mysterious aura emanated from Li Fan. He had regained his Saintly realm!
He opened his eyes and looked at the disintegrating possibilities below. With a gentle flick of his finger, Li Fan infused them with the energy of the 'Cosmic Cycle'. The frozen possibilities began to surge again, but this loop would not continue indefinitely. Instead, through repeated cycles, they would gradually find their ultimate direction and meet their inevitable fate. This, however, was no longer Li Fan's concern.
Having regained his Saintly guise, Li Fan looked up and faintly saw the Sages on the Other Shore smiling at him. He took a deep breath, shaking off the dust of accumulated time from his prolonged entrapment, and leaped across the vast Mountains and Seas, returning to the Other Shore. He had been gone for ages, yet within the Xuanji Ring, nothing had changed.
"My apologies for keeping you all waiting," Li Fan said apologetically.
The Sages examined Li Fan, who had once again attained the Saint realm, their expressions varied. "It seems Sage Lian Shan was correct. We all underestimated you. Hehehe..." Tai Yi remarked with a smile.
Li Fan didn't understand and asked for clarification. Elder Shou Qiu then recounted all that had transpired on the Other Shore after Li Fan's departure.
"It was merely by chance," Li Fan replied humbly.
"No need for humility. To escape such endless reincarnation and even bind the Great Dao of the 'Cosmic Cycle', none of us could have done it easily. A Walker of Mountains and Seas indeed," Elder Gui Hai remarked, his praise rare.
Li Fan offered no further argument. He knew his own situation best. While capturing the Great Dao of the 'Cosmic Cycle' seemed effortless, it had been incredibly perilous. In the beginning, when his consciousness was clouded and trapped in endless reincarnation, he truly hadn't realized his predicament. The Great Dao of Mountains and Seas, for Transcendent cultivators, was indeed a crushing force.
Because of that unintentional sword strike that severed a possibility, Li Fan was destined not to be trapped forever. Therefore, he had not intervened from the start. In comparison to the eons he had experienced, Li Fan's "endless" reincarnation here was but a fleeting moment. Without his "golden finger" (a term for a cheat-like advantage), Li Fan's consciousness had been obscured, trapping him within the situation without his knowledge. If no turning point had arisen, even if the Great Dao of the 'Cosmic Cycle' had chosen to flee later, Li Fan would not have noticed. He would have remained within the loop of possibilities, eventually awakening only when the cycle completely collapsed.
He had intended to capture the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas but was instead toyed with by it, and all under the gaze of the Sages. While the Sages would not stand idly by, the situation would have been far less advantageous than it was now.
What truly awakened Li Fan was his own "intuition." Through repeated reincarnations, Li Fan experienced the same events, and the feeling of déjà vu grew increasingly frequent. Initially, it was very subtle, but later on, it became as if he possessed foreknowledge, able to "predict" future events with clarity, like a prophet!
Although Li Fan's intuition had always been accurate, it had never reached this level, which thus aroused his suspicion and gradually led to his awakening. However, he concealed it, pretending to remain immersed in the cycle. After understanding the whole situation, Li Fan realized that his initial subconscious sword strike ensured that the cycle, with his intervention, would inevitably falter. A chance for escape existed. There was no need to force an exit; by simply waiting long enough, the situation would resolve itself. Like a patient hunter, Li Fan waited for his opportunity. It was only when the 'Cosmic Cycle' attempted to flee that he struck decisively, suppressing and refining it.
Of course, while it seemed Li Fan had absorbed the 'Cosmic Cycle' and ascended to Saint status, the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas had actually entered Zhen Huan. On the Zhen Huan panel, beneath "Great Dao Realized," next to "[First Mysterious Woman]," a new line appeared: "[Second Cosmic Cycle]," adorned with radiant, flowing colors and the faint image of a seven-colored dragon coiled around it.
For Li Fan, feeding the 'Cosmic Cycle' to Zhen Huan was clearly a better choice. Firstly, although he had suppressed and refined the 'Cosmic Cycle', with his aptitude, truly becoming a Saint through this would take a long time, contrary to the "Walker of Mountains and Seas" persona, who quickly recovered from insignificance after crossing into new Mountains and Seas. Secondly... in a sense, it was no different for Zhen Huan to consume it than for Li Fan to comprehend it and become a Saint. After the 'Cosmic Cycle' Great Dao returned to truth, Li Fan could now choose to masquerade as either the [Mysterious Woman] or the [Cosmic Cycle]. With the aid of the "Passive Transformation," he could even switch seamlessly. One moment he was the Saint of the [Mysterious Woman], and the next, he became the unfathomable [Cosmic Cycle]. This divine ability was beyond the reach of ordinary Saints.
As for achieving both at once, with his current strength, it seemed impossible. However, Li Fan had a premonition that as he grew stronger, the power of both Saints might one day be upon him. Ultimately, it came down to the saying: all things were Li Fan's limit, but not Zhen Huan's.
"Subduing the Great Dao of the 'Cosmic Cycle' is a trivial matter," Li Fan mused. "As I step into the Saint realm, the Great Dao of the Mountains and Seas will inevitably fall under my control. It's not worth mentioning. However, that intuition..."
Li Fan recalled the moment he awoke from the endless reincarnation. "Initially, I truly believed that premonition was my intuition acting up, as those two feelings were so similar, almost indistinguishable. But later, it was proven that my intuition was merely residual memory from the countless regressions. But..."
"This was the case in the endless reincarnation. What about the reality of Mountains and Seas?" Endless doubts surged in Li Fan's mind. From the very beginning of his cultivation journey, Li Fan had benefited from his incredibly sharp intuition. Under its guidance, he had repeatedly turned danger into safety and avoided perilous situations. Previously, Li Fan had instinctively believed this was his own intuition, similar to his [True Spirit Infinity] trait, a unique characteristic. But after this experience, he couldn't help but wonder.
"Could it also be my residual memory? Perhaps my number of reincarnations has not been enough yet, so the intuition only manifests intermittently, appearing only at critical moments, when my memories are still strong?"
"Mountains and Seas, Stars, Zhen Huan..." The image of Zhen Huan repelling the [Star] and resetting the Mountains and Seas in an instant reappeared before Li Fan's eyes.
"Xuan... Heh, it's already the **Cosmic Cycle** now."
Li Fan's thoughts were interrupted by the voice of the Sage of Supreme Beginning. "Now that the **Cosmic Cycle** has returned to its proper place, we can look forward to the next segment of Mountains and Seas."
For Sages, the concept of rest did not exist. To traverse the void, to use their bodies as bridges, and to reconnect Mountains and Seas—this was what they pursued with all their might.
"As mentioned before, after two reconnections, we are currently in this segment of Mountains and Seas, which has spanned a full three hundred and thirty-nine thousand eight hundred years. However, the next journey may not be so easy."
The Sages knew that Supreme Beginning would not speak without reason, and they immediately focused their full attention.
"According to my investigation, the time occupied by the void realm ahead is nearing a hundred thousand years. If the void realm were to encroach again and break this limit..."
"The connection of Mountains and Seas would be permanently severed, and there would be no hope of reconnection."
"Firstly, we must guard Mountains and Seas, facing the invasion of **Dao Erasure** without being able to retreat another step."
"Secondly, this reconnection operation leaves no room for error. It must succeed on the first attempt. Otherwise, under the backlash of the void realm, even if we work together, we may not be able to withstand that towering storm."
Sage Lian Shan waved his hand, displaying the scene of the continuous void realm ahead to all Sages. It was distant and profound, exerting a pressure greater than any void realm they had encountered before. As if they were personally experiencing it, the Sages' bodies seemed to be stained by darkness, and they all fell silent.
"Of course, there is also good news. After two reconnections, our strength has increased to a certain extent. And..."
"With an additional hundred thousand years of accumulated foundation within Mountains and Seas, and with our Mountain and Sea Walker here, we might be able to create several more Sages to assist us." As Supreme Beginning spoke, a brilliant golden light, emanating from Mountains and Seas, shot straight towards the other shore.
It was the Sacred Emperor of Great Splendor. This time, there were no pleasantries, and he immediately got to the point: "With the method of **True Spirit Infusion**, I no longer need to refine the Grand Elixir for Ascending to Sagehood. This time, I have exclusively used the Grand Elixir of Sacred Fortune. I have extracted the accumulated thirty thousand years from two segments of Mountains and Seas, including the transition from void to reality."
"I have obtained nine more." The Sacred Emperor of Great Splendor scanned the Sages, producing nine clusters of light emitting a crystalline glow, as if alive. "Thanks to the reconnection of Mountains and Seas, the refinement of the Grand Elixir of Sacred Fortune this time is more potent than ever before. Consuming it might bring the impact of the devout thoughts of countless beings within the Sacred Dynasty. I myself stopped after consuming two pills. Newly promoted Sages, please consume according to your capacity."
"Next time, in thirty thousand years." With that, before the Sages could respond, the Sacred Emperor of Great Splendor departed in haste.
"We have so many people sharing nine pills, and he alone devoured two," Bai Xiao grumbled inwardly.
Supreme Beginning chuckled. "The true body of Great Splendor must suppress the fortune of the magnificent Sacred Dynasty and cannot move easily. That's why he comes and goes in such a hurry. As for this Grand Elixir of Sacred Fortune... You, Zhou Hui, can take one first."
Li Fan was slightly stunned. He hadn't managed to get any of this Grand Elixir of Sacred Fortune last time. Why, with more people sharing it this time and the elixir being more potent, was he now receiving one?
Since the Three Sages, Lian Shan, Gui Hai, and Supreme Beginning, were of one mind, the other Sages naturally had no objections. Seeing Li Fan hesitate, Supreme Beginning explained, "Although you have already attained the Great Dao of the **Cosmic Cycle**, there was some damage to this Dao during its subjugation. Furthermore, you will be responsible for **True Spirit Infusion** in the future..."
Supreme Beginning gently pointed a finger, and one of the glowing clusters slowly floated towards Li Fan. Li Fan felt a surge of shame, but he still consumed the Grand Elixir of Sacred Fortune. He closed his eyes to digest it.
Li Fan received one pill, and the remaining eight were distributed among the other Sages. The Three Sages, Lian Shan, did not need it. Newly promoted Sages received one each. Those with greater strength, like Qie Ji and Gui Ming, received half. Not long after, the treasures sent by Great Splendor were consumed by the Sages.
As the Sacred Emperor of Great Splendor had said, the effect was even more potent, almost doubled compared to before. As the light cluster entered his stomach, Li Fan's sea of consciousness was engulfed by an immeasurable amount of light and shadow. His perspective swept rapidly, as if traversing an endless land. As far as the eye could see, there were continuous fertile fields. Beings lived and worked in peace and contentment, enjoying tranquility. In their leisure time, every household silently recited the Sacred Emperor's benevolence. In the Sacred Dynasty, there was no famine or disaster. Everyone had enough to eat and wear, and a home to live in. The shadow of the Sacred Emperor loomed over the world, observing everything. All corruption and evil were instantly erased the moment they occurred.
This was undoubtedly a prosperous era. Only in such a prosperous era could an elixir be condensed that even Sages could benefit from. Li Fan had also had a Sacred Emperor Clone before. He naturally knew that such a glorious and prosperous age was built upon the powerful strength of the Sacred Emperor of Great Splendor. If not for the Sacred Emperor's constant suppression, all the beauty would likely rot and collapse in an instant.
"No wonder the Sacred Emperor of Great Splendor cannot leave for long."
"It is precisely because he is constantly rectifying chaos that the Sacred Dynasty can be called 'Sacred'."
A single Grand Elixir of Sacred Fortune seemed to condense the thoughts of countless subjects within the Sacred Dynasty. Their life experiences, and even their thoughts and desires. After their deaths, they all flowed like a trickle of water, refined and extracted by the Sacred Emperor into a usable elixir.
Li Fan carefully experienced it. With his state of mind, even though the elixir was extraordinary, it could not truly influence him, making him feel a heartfelt admiration for the Sacred Emperor of Great Splendor. Instead, amidst the confluence of countless thoughts, he discovered something interesting. Even in this almost utopian paradise of the Sacred Dynasty of Great Splendor, not all subjects were satisfied. Some even secretly complained in their hearts that the Sacred Emperor's oppressive rule was too pervasive.
In his mind, fleeting, unrealistic, and dangerous thoughts occasionally flashed by. Of course, with their abilities, they were naturally unable to resist the Sacred Emperor of Great Splendor. But that did not stop them from indulging in fantasies from time to time. All beings within the Sacred Dynasty would never know that every thought in their minds was actually under the control of the Sacred Emperor of Great Splendor. However, Great Splendor intentionally allowed these discordant factors to exist. Perhaps it was precisely because of these "evil thoughts" that the Grand Elixir of Sacred Fortune was not so "sweet." It could be safely consumed.
"This Sacred Emperor of Great Splendor is indeed an interesting person."
"It's a pity he's too tired."
Li Fan's heart was like stone. Amidst the countless converging thoughts, whether praise or slander towards the Sacred Emperor, none could shake his original intention. He simply absorbed the life experiences of others and integrated them for his own use.
On the other shore, time flowed by unnoticed. When Li Fan had completely absorbed the effects of the elixir, he suddenly opened his eyes. He discovered that he was the first among the Sages to awaken.
"It seems that your experience in the endless cycle has made you much stronger, Zhou Hui," Supreme Beginning nodded. Li Fan bowed slightly and then noticed that the true bodies of the Three Sages, Lian Shan, were nowhere to be seen; they had already entered the void realm, leaving only their spiritual projections seated.
"We've taken the lead. Ten thousand years of continuous void is no small matter."
"Before Mountains and Seas could fully converge, we could not advance further. Besides the vastness of this void realm, there are other reasons. With our strength doubling this time, we will go and test it again. If we can resolve it, that would be best. If not, we will discuss other methods."
Li Fan was curious about the crisis in the void realm that even the Three Sages found troublesome. However, the spiritual projection of Supreme Beginning did not elaborate further and instead shifted his focus back to Mountains and Seas. "Zhou Hui, why don't you go back to that endless cycle of possibilities once more? While you were digesting the elixir, we looked back and discovered something that was almost overlooked."
This statement was a private transmission, spoken only to Li Fan and not made public. Li Fan was stunned. He had already subdued the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas; what could have been missed? However, the Three Sages would not play tricks on him in such matters. Li Fan's expression turned serious, and he looked back at the endless cycle. Because his power of **Cosmic Cycle** remained to suppress it, the cycle had not yet collapsed. Compared to his previous experience, it seemed unchanged.
Li Fan used his Sage-level divine sense to scan this small area back and forth, but he could not find the overlooked element mentioned by the Three Sages. Without giving up easily, he sought advice from the spiritual projection of Supreme Beginning, but instead began to ponder on his own.
Scenes from the past replayed in his mind, as if he were reliving them. However, this time, it was from an outsider's perspective. Li Fan finally discovered a clue.
"The Great Dao of **Cosmic Cycle** should not have noticed the existence of Sages beyond the other shore. When I was lost in the cycle, it had ample opportunity to escape."
"Why did it deliberately delay its departure, even dragging me into the cycle to guard this place?"
"Even at the last moment, it resorted to breaking an arm to survive, taking only a small portion of its essence and leaving behind a relatively large body to maintain the operation of the cycle."
"Without external interference, as long as the Great Dao of **Cosmic Cycle** still exists within Mountains and Seas, the cycle there can continue."
"Was its escape also a ploy to lure the enemy away?"
"Is there something that **Cosmic Cycle** is waiting for, or rather, cherishing!"
Li Fan suddenly understood and a sharp glint flashed in his eyes as he scanned the endless cycle of possibilities again. It was so deeply hidden that even the Three Sages almost overlooked it. But since Li Fan now knew its value, he became very patient. He explored each of the countless possibilities one by one, no longer sweeping through them hastily. His mind sank into it.
During this time, when other Sages awoke and saw Li Fan still with his eyes closed, they assumed he was still digesting the elixir and paid no mind. Instead, they paid more attention to the journey of the Three Sages exploring the void realm. Silently, Li Fan spent a time similar to his previous period of being lost to thoroughly examine the entire endless cycle of possibilities.
Finally, he found his target. It could be said that all the existing possibilities of the cycle were a maze constructed by the Great Dao of **Cosmic Cycle** to conceal it. And the reason the Great Dao of **Cosmic Cycle** was reluctant to leave until the last moment was precisely because of the existence of this thing.
A seemingly ordinary cycle of reincarnation, where everything in the world flowed through spring, summer, autumn, and winter. On a boundless grassland, a single stone monument stood alone. On it, some blurred characters seemed to be carved. Li Fan's figure flashed before the stone monument, reaching out to touch it. But it was like passing through a bubble, and his hand met nothing.
"Even when I sweep my divine sense across the sky above, I cannot see its existence."
"Only by being here in person can its shadow be seen."
"This stone monument..." Li Fan was certain that the Three Sages had been here. Even though he could not sense the residual aura left by the Three Sages, the stone monument reflected their shadows! Or, more accurately, their outlines. Li Fan's gaze swept over the dozens of mottled marks on the stone monument, searching for the traces of the Three Sages, Lian Shan, Gui Hai, and Supreme Beginning.
"Here, and here..." Two new traces represented Lian Shan and Gui Hai. "And..." "Here." An old trace, with a new stroke added, belonged to Supreme Beginning. It was merely a casual stroke, yet it was enough to summarize the images of the Three Sages. The lines were engraved on the stone monument, like the reflections of the Three Sages, as if the Sages themselves had personally visited.
"The other dozens of traces on the stone monument..." Li Fan was momentarily taken aback. However, he quickly reacted. With the erosion of Mountains and Seas by **Dao Erasure**, the current Three Sages were far from their peak state and strength. They could only represent themselves at a certain point in time.
"However, those who can leave a mark on this stone monument must not be weak. At least they were Sages of Mountains and Seas."
"And even before Mountains and Seas were severed..." Li Fan vaguely sensed the auras of other Sages from the other mottled lines on the stone monument. In fact, most of them had achieved Sagehood through the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas!
"This stone monument must have existed for quite some time. Because even Lian Shan and Gui Hai had not left any traces on it before."
"That was an ancient spacetime where even Sage Lian Shan had not yet been born."
"Only Supreme Beginning existed."
"But at that time, Supreme Beginning was far from reaching his peak." Li Fan reached out again, wanting to touch the engraved lines of the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas on the stone monument.
"It seems there are more Great Daos of Mountains and Seas than I imagined."
"It's just that the ancient Sages have already occupied them, so later cultivators wanting to become Sages had to find alternative paths, such as unifying all selves or establishing their own worlds to prove the Dao."
"..." At this thought, Li Fan's mind paused slightly. He suddenly realized something was amiss. There were so many Sages in past Mountains and Seas; why were there only a few like Lian Shan remaining now? Where had the scribes on the stone monument gone?
"Either they perished in the current spacetime."
"Or they disappeared before the division of Mountains and Seas by **Dao Erasure**, which is why they do not exist in the current spacetime."
"..."
"It should be the second option." Given the current state of Mountains and Seas, all Sages worked together with one heart, solely for the sake of saving the world. Conflict among themselves was almost impossible. And if they had perished in **Dao Erasure**, the Sages on the other shore would certainly have mentioned it. However, they had never brought it up. This indicated that these Sages did not exist in the current Mountains and Seas. In simpler terms, those who left marks on the stone monument did not live to see Li Fan's birth. They had likely perished long before the catastrophe of Mountains and Seas. By what cause did they perish? What power could kill a Sage? Numerous questions arose in Li Fan's mind. However, the Three Sages only pointed out the existence of the stone monument, without revealing any further information to Li Fan. Li Fan knew almost nothing about that ancient spacetime, making it difficult to speculate.
"Even Sages cannot last long." Just as Li Fan sighed, a subtle fluctuation emerged from his **Return to Truth** within his body.
After the three Sages of Lian Shan went to the void realm, their vigilance indeed lowered considerably. Li Fan could clearly sense the fluctuation from within his Return to Truth spreading out, enveloping the ancient imprints on the stone stele before him. It was as if a faint shadow was being copied from the stele. Correspondingly, a change occurred in the "Great Dao Realized" section of his Return to Truth panel. Black lines appeared out of nowhere. While they did not display the names of their respective paths, they were arranged in order, each occupying its own position. What was once empty, with only the first and second paths, the "Great Dao Realized" section suddenly became spacious, even full. All sorts of great daos were listed in solemn array. Though they had not yet settled into their positions, their ultimate destinies were already set. The scene before him reminded Li Fan of the Hall of Great Daos that Tai Yi had once encountered. Although the "Great Dao Realized" section lacked the grandeur and scale, it already possessed that profound and unfathomable atmosphere. "Ten thousand daos in order, all within. Like stars scattered, reflecting the primeval spirit..." Li Fan's consciousness wandered within, and he gradually felt a sense of belonging. Even though the place was still empty and void, with only two great daos and several nascent lines, he felt as if he were at home, unwilling to leave. It was only when Return to Truth forcefully expelled him that he suddenly awoke. The lines that had been absorbed behind the "Great Dao Realized" section had vanished. It seemed Return to Truth had deliberately hidden them, leaving only the first Profound Woman and the second Cosmic Cycle, lest Li Fan be lost again. "Though there is no active allure, it surpasses all temptations in the world." "It is as if it is everyone's homeland." Li Fan, gradually regaining his senses, was inwardly alarmed. At the same time, he reluctantly savored the scene he had just witnessed in "Great Dao Realized." "I didn't see any traces representing the three Sages. This indicates that Return to Truth still harbors some apprehension towards them." "Or perhaps, what Return to Truth has absorbed are all ownerless Great Daos of the Mountains and Seas, future hunting targets." Li Fan's attention refocused on the "Great Dao Realized" section. He discovered that although the traces of the great daos had been deliberately hidden by Return to Truth, he could still faintly perceive their existence if he dedicated more focus. However, the feeling of solemn array and being at home was gone, preventing him from getting lost. "When my consciousness locks onto one of these lines, it's as if I'm standing before the stone stele, observing it." "Even..." Li Fan had a premonition that he could follow the subtle guidance and discover the Mountain and Sea Great Daos represented by these lines! Of course, this was only possible if these great daos still existed in the current era of the Mountains and Seas. Li Fan's heart was instantly filled with excitement. He scanned through all the targets, but unfortunately, the stone stele's records of dao traces were too ancient. None could be found to correspond to any traces in the current era of the Mountains and Seas. "However, since Return to Truth has recorded them, it means that in Return to Truth's view, sooner or later, I will encounter them and devour them. They haven't truly vanished, but still exist somewhere in the Mountains and Seas." Li Fan slightly raised his gaze, as if looking beyond the infinite void realm, directly into the genesis of the Mountains and Seas. "But why did the three Sages specifically point this stone stele out to me?" Although the stone stele had no further value, Li Fan did not leave immediately. "Either it's a test, or this stone stele is of great help to the newly promoted [Cosmic Cycle]..." The previous creation belonged to Return to Truth. Next, Li Fan needed to find something beneficial for the Sage of [Cosmic Cycle]. After deep thought, his heart suddenly stirred. He attempted to imitate the three Sages of Lian Shan and leave his own mark on the stone stele before him. The power of cyclical time and space enveloped Li Fan. Standing motionless before the stone stele, he looked like a statue, intending to engrave the power of Cosmic Cycle upon it. However, it seemed the stone stele was not interested in the power Li Fan displayed. No matter how he manipulated it, there was no reaction. "Is it because my current strength is still too low?" "No. Even if I haven't reached the realm of the three Sages, compared to some of the lines on the stone stele, I am definitely not weaker." "……" After observing for a long time, Li Fan seemed to have an epiphany. "Ultimately, I am wearing the guise of [Cosmic Cycle], not a true Sage of Cosmic Cycle." "If the former were a blank piece of paper, with my understanding of this path, I might be able to leave a mark. But if it's this ancient stone stele..." "Let alone leaving an imprint of three fen deep, even three fen deep into wood would be difficult to achieve." "In short, my skill is insufficient." "For powerful beings like the three Sages, merely standing before this stone stele is enough to leave an imprint on it, without any action." Understanding this, he did not feel disheartened. Since Cosmic Cycle had entered "Great Dao Realized," his comprehension would be more than twice as effective! As Li Fan's thoughts flowed, the words "Second Cosmic Cycle" on the Return to Truth panel gradually emitted a brilliant, enigmatic glow. With the support of Return to Truth's profound energy, the Dao of Cosmic Cycle shed its outer layers, revealing all its secrets to Li Fan without reservation. Others might seek enlightenment, but here, the Dao itself was actively offering itself. Everything was laid bare. Every second, Li Fan's understanding of the Great Dao of Cosmic Cycle increased exponentially. Theoretically, Return to Truth's control meant Li Fan's control. He could use Return to Truth's absolute power to leave an imprint on the stone stele. However, for some reason, Li Fan still preferred to try and comprehend the Great Dao of Cosmic Cycle on his own. In the empty, deserted plain, a wind seemed to rise. The aura of the Mountain and Sea Great Dao emanating from Li Fan grew more intense. Like gusting mountain winds, like surging ocean waves, it continuously blew and beat against the ancient stone stele before him. Slowly, a trace did appear over time! The stone stele was like a mirror, engraving and recording everything around it. And those who could enter the mirror... Boom! In an instant, Li Fan felt as if he had fallen into the stone stele. He returned to the primeval beginning, surrounded by phantoms, all of them peerless experts comparable to the Mountains and Seas. In that era, mountains surrounded seas, and they were not yet differentiated. The sea was still the sea, and the mountain was still just the mountain. Beyond the Mountains and Seas lay a misty, unknown realm, a place where creation was difficult to manifest. Suddenly, a stone stele, as if leaping out of the Mountains and Seas, or from beyond them, fell into the Mountains and Seas. Mountains trembled, and great waves surged. The Mountains and Seas merged, thus becoming boundless! ... Li Fan abruptly withdrew from the boundless illusion. He was still standing before the stone stele, the scene he had just witnessed seeming like an illusion. But the ancient picture and aura from when the Mountains and Seas were undifferentiated... It was absolutely real! "What is the origin of this stone?" Li Fan tried to re-enter the scene from the stone stele again, but no matter how he tried, he could not succeed. Recalling what he had seen, Li Fan remained silent for a long time. "This stele is called the Boundless Mountain and Sea Stele." "Because of this stele's existence, the Mountains and Seas are boundless." Li Fan couldn't help but recall the prophecy left by Sun Piaomiao. "Based on its description, at the birth of the Mountains and Seas, they seemed more 'independent' than they are now." "There was a record that something born in the sea desired to reach the mountains. After immense effort, though it finally succeeded, it still died." "Unlike now, where immortals and sages stand between the Mountains and Seas as if it were commonplace. While the efforts of the two Sages, Lian Shan and Gui Hai, are undeniable, it now seems..." "This Boundless Mountain and Sea Stele also played an indispensable role." "Or rather, it was even more important." "Without this stele making the Mountains and Seas boundless, perhaps the birth of beings within the Mountains and Seas would have been an extremely difficult matter." Li Fan reached out to touch this ancient object, trying to discern its origin. However, it was still the same; his hand passed through the image, unable to touch its form. "Entering the Dao into the stele, besides the scene of the stele defining the Mountains and Seas, there are other benefits." After a thorough examination, Li Fan discovered more. The Cosmic Cycle guise felt more "fitted," not like an external garment, but like his own skin, blending seamlessly. Even if the three Sages delved deeply, they would find no flaws. These changes were partly due to Li Fan's comprehension of the Dao, and partly due to the stele's assistance! "The Dao is inscribed in the stele, like a form of recognition." "I have indeed become a Sage befitting the Great Dao of [Cosmic Cycle]." "Although my rapid comprehension was all thanks to Return to Truth's assistance, we have reached the same destination..." "Even if I were to lose Return to Truth now and revert to my mortal state, I could still reach the realm of Sage step by step!" Like thunderbolts, these thoughts exploded in Li Fan's sea of consciousness. For a long time, his greatest hidden worry, "What if I lose Return to Truth one day, or Return to Truth leaves me?" was first revealed. Then it shattered like a bubble. Li Fan's expression was dazed, lacking the expected joy. Instead, he felt a sense of loss. It was as if something had changed between him and Return to Truth, yet it also seemed as if nothing had changed. Even if he now had the potential to become a Sage, to give up Return to Truth... What use was being a Sage? At the end of the Mountains and Seas, at the edge of time, even with unparalleled power, one could only be helplessly swallowed by the stars. Without Return to Truth's help, it was ultimately a dead end. And to ask Return to Truth to give him up... In the entire Mountains and Seas, could there be another being with infinite true spirits? Although he didn't know why Return to Truth needed infinite true spirits, Li Fan was certain that he was also irreplaceable to Return to Truth! "The path of ordinary Sages is ultimately not suitable for me." "Carrying Return to Truth, I am destined to possess more." "However..." "It's good to have a fallback." Li Fan silently gazed at the faint imprint he had left on the Boundless Mountain and Sea Stele, thinking this to himself. Despite the drastic changes he had experienced, Return to Truth remained silent. Li Fan was accustomed to this and didn't bother to mull over it. His consciousness returned to the other shore, and his main body suddenly opened his eyes, bowing slightly to the three Sages of Lian Shan. "You actually managed to leave an imprint so quickly..." "I thought it would take you longer to consolidate after changing your path from Profound Woman?" Tai Yi's phantom expressed surprise. "It's just a bit of talent. The imprint I left is faint and incomparable to the three Sages," Li Fan replied, shaking his head. With their conversation, the other Sages finally noticed the stone stele hidden within the endless loops. "I thought Daoist Cosmic Cycle was still consuming the Grand Elixir of Sacred Fortune, but he had another opportunity?" Bai Xiao exclaimed, taking the lead and approaching the Boundless Mountain and Sea Stele. However, after fumbling for a long time, he couldn't even leave his own dao imprint. Naturally, he couldn't see the scene of the stele defining the Mountains and Seas. The other Sages each tried, but only Shou Qiu, Gui Ming, Ye Pan, and Profound Woman succeeded. And when they entered the stone stele, they all saw the ancient scene of the Mountains and Seas before differentiation. Returning to the other shore, the three Sages of Lian Shan explained to everyone. "The Great Dao of Cosmic Cycle's reluctance to depart was due to the existence of this stele." "It was hidden so deeply that even we almost missed it." "With the new Sage of Cosmic Cycle's confirmation, he can rely on imprinting this stele to fully consolidate his path, ensuring his future without worry. Even if there are any slips when infusing True Spirit and reconnecting the Mountains and Seas, his foundation will not be affected. Hence, he was allowed to go first." After Sage Gui Hai finished speaking, Sage Tai Yi added, "When this stele appeared, I had not yet been born. However, I heard fragments about it from other, more ancient beings." Bai Xiao, unhappy about his inability to leave an imprint on the stele, asked, "What is the origin of this stele, that it could establish the pattern of the Mountains and Seas? The Mountains and Seas originate from [God], so isn't this stele..." "Could it be the so-called Misty Creation?" "It can be called that." Tai Yi nodded, then shook his head. "We speculate that Misty Creation is the remnant of the divine essence of the Mountains and Seas. Judging by the various abilities displayed by this stele, it indeed fits the description of originating from God. However..." "Who knows the truth before the primordial era? Perhaps there are beings comparable to gods as well?" Tai Yi said meaningfully. The Sages present fell silent. Li Fan, however, suddenly spoke up, "I don't think so. This stele... is not found at the end of the Mountains and Seas, which means it cannot escape the erosion of Dao Erasure." "Rather than a creation of God, it is more like an evolution stemming from the will of the Mountains and Seas themselves." A hush fell over the Sages. The phantom of Lian Shan chuckled, "This is where you've misjudged, Cosmic Cycle. This stele is different from other things in the Mountains and Seas. It does not continue to exist within the Mountains and Seas like us, but only exists in this instant, this moment." "Before this, and after this, there is no other Boundless Mountain and Sea Stele on that grassland." Li Fan was stunned. The other Sages had not noticed this before, but now, looking back at the existence of the Boundless Mountain and Sea Stele, they slowly discerned some clues. "Indeed, it seems to have its own space-time, independent of the Mountains and Seas." "This is also why the previous Dao of Cosmic Cycle, by creating various cyclical possibilities, could conceal it. The loop revolves around that central point, which is where the Boundless Stele is located. So that's how it is..." "If that's the case, this Boundless Stele is likely a divine artifact. It's unique in the entire span of the Mountains and Seas, and we actually encountered it. What great fortune!" "It's all thanks to Sage Cosmic Cycle. If we weren't looking for an opportunity for him to re-establish himself, we might have missed this fateful encounter." "However... besides leaving a dao imprint, does this Boundless Stele have any other uses?" ... In the following discussions, the Sages deliberated further. However, they ultimately failed to reach any conclusions about this ancient creation. Through this incident, Li Fan also realized that the three Sages of Lian Shan were not omniscient or omnipotent. They had simply lived longer and were stronger than ordinary Sages. They too would encounter things beyond their comprehension.
The White Circle of the Other Shore emitted a brilliant light, enveloping the endless cycles within.
The Boundless Mountain and Sea Stele was extraordinary, standing firm and untouchable. Moving it was out of the question. However, by expanding the coverage of the Other Shore, it could be brought under the protection of the Xuan Ji Ring.
"There is good news and bad news. Next, I have some bad news to deliver."
"As we traversed the void for ninety thousand years and were about to reach the previous Mountain and Sea, we discovered that the Dao Erasure tides were surging and churning, creating a chaotic mess, making it impossible to discern our direction. Based on past experience, this indicates that the Mountain and Sea is in grave danger and on the verge of collapse." Lian Shan's phantom spoke these words, interrupting the gazes of all the Sages.
Everyone was shocked by this news.
"If the Mountain and Sea ahead collapses, causing the void to expand beyond the ten-thousand-year limit, our plan to reconnect the Mountains and Seas will fail."
"The urgent matter is to go ahead and help stabilize the situation. Only then can we discuss reconnecting."
As Lian Shan spoke, the three phantoms of the Sages turned their gaze towards Li Fan.
Li Fan was feeling puzzled when the three Sages revealed the reason, astonishing everyone.
"Our senses of the area ahead have been severed. Either the 'Lian Shan, Gui Hai, and Tai Yi' from the previous Mountain and Sea have already crossed over, not even leaving behind phantoms. Or..."
"We have all perished."
The words "we have all perished" struck like thunder, resounding throughout the Xuan Ji Ring.
All the Sages stared at the three phantoms of Lian Shan with disbelief, their mouths agape, as if filled with infinite doubts.
But in the end, all they could manage was: "How is that possible?"
"Death is a common occurrence. Even the Creator God perished and transformed into Mountains and Seas. Our demise is not impossible," Tai Yi chuckled lightly.
"This also indirectly proves the abnormality of the previous Mountain and Sea. If we were all still here, we would never allow the Mountain and Sea to fall into such a catastrophic crisis," Gui Hai analyzed calmly.
Facing the situation of "their own" deaths, the three phantoms of Lian Shan remained composed.
However, the other Sages in the Other Shore could not remain calm.
The strength of the three Sages of Lian Shan, Gui Hai, and Tai Yi was evident to all.
During their traversal of the void, they led the way, opening paths. Then, they used themselves as beacons, illuminating the path for those who followed.
Without the three Sages, the plan to reconnect the Mountains and Seas would have been nothing but empty talk.
Yet, now they were being told that the three Sages had collectively perished?
What could possibly kill such powerful beings as Lian Shan, Gui Hai, and Tai Yi?
"This also relates to the 'trouble' I mentioned earlier."
"The trouble originates from the void."
"Have any of you ever wondered if our actions to reconnect the Mountains and Seas have been a bit too smooth?"
"As long as there are enough Sages, we can use ourselves as ropes to connect the front and back Mountains and Seas. After that, it's just a matter of some effort to revive the Mountains and Seas. The void, which devours everything, did not react much to this, allowing us to proceed."
Lian Shan's words caused the expressions of the Sages to gradually become solemn.
"The void devours Mountains and Seas, and it has been a grand battlefield from the beginning of Mountains and Seas to the end of time."
"Since it is a battlefield, there are parts that are more important than others. The gains and losses of a specific time and place are not truly important. Today, the Mountains and Seas reappear, and Dao Erasure is forced back. Tomorrow, the void can return, and Dao Erasure can once again swallow everything."
"What truly matters..."
"Lies in the 'Sages'."
"The void originally held a slight advantage over the Mountains and Seas. With a narrow lead, over a long period, it could eventually swallow the Mountains and Seas."
"But because there are beings who can rival the Mountains and Seas, the existence of Sages. This battle suddenly gained many variables. We are naturally thorns in the void's side, bothersome." Lian Shan spoke calmly, as if stating a fact unrelated to himself.
"But even with the void's intervention, it's hard to imagine what means it could possess to kill all three of you simultaneously!"
Bai Xiao voiced the question in everyone else's minds.
After all, with the strength of the three Sages, they were almost fearless of Dao Erasure's encroachment.
Could it be that the void had other special methods?
Lian Shan no longer played coy and said indifferently: "What could kill us..."
"Is only ourselves."
At first, the crowd did not understand his meaning, but as they looked at the unfathomably deep void, they seemed to finally grasp something.
A chill slowly crept into their hearts.
"That's right, the ones who attacked were likely the 'three Sages' from the annihilated Mountain and Sea."
"After being swallowed by the void and disappearing from the world, they reappeared in some way, transforming into the void's claws." Gui Hai nodded, confirming everyone's suspicions.
"When the calamity suddenly descended and the Mountain and Sea was swallowed by the void, we were not killed. Instead, we perished along with the Mountain and Sea. Even though our shoulders were on par with the Mountain and Sea, if our surroundings were completely lost and we were surrounded by the void, unable to distinguish between past and present. Even with a thousand divine abilities, the final outcome would be to be trapped to death."
"But the previous Mountain and Sea still exists, yet we have already perished..."
"There can only be this one possibility."
After Lian Shan finished speaking, the Xuan Ji Ring fell into utter silence.
The Sages looked at each other, not knowing how to respond.
Lian Shan continued, "We have not yet fought against ourselves in that state, but based on our experiences resisting the void, our strength when revived by the void should be comparable to our original selves. In other words, it is us. It's just that..."
"We chose to stand on the side of the void."
"Not only us. All living beings from the swallowed Mountains and Seas could be revived by the void to deal with themselves. Using their own methods against them. This is the void's method of dealing with the Sages of the Mountains and Seas."
"We met an acquaintance with a very different temperament a long time ago. We argued at the slightest disagreement, and it even escalated later. At first, we didn't understand why. Until the end, when we killed him..."
"It was as if a passage to the void had opened within the Mountain and Sea. Endless waves of Dao Erasure surged forth, almost rivaling the intensity of the calamity's outbreak. Even though we struggled to maintain our position, we were still unable to steady ourselves. The Mountain and Sea was lost in an instant, and we could only flee in haste."
"Looking back afterward, we realized that was the void's method of revival."
...
Hearing the narration of the three Sages of Lian Shan, Li Fan gradually understood.
If the confrontation between the Mountains and Seas and the void was a continuous war, then the void they traversed to reconnect the Mountains and Seas was merely a battlefield where the two armies clashed.
With the power of the three Sages, even if they could fight their way in and out, if they were truly surrounded by the void's endless army, there would only be a path to destruction.
This was why the Mountains and Seas were lost and the Sages annihilated under the void's concentrated attack.
Li Fan could understand this point.
After all, he had personally witnessed how the end of time in the Mountains and Seas withered, and how the last few Sages were powerlessly swallowed by the Dao Erasure.
However, he had never imagined that the void could actually manifest the Sages who were swallowed!
The thought of facing opponents with the full strength of the three Sages, who acted recklessly and solely aimed to destroy the Mountains and Seas, made Li Fan's heart falter.
"However, there is no need to worry too much. The void needs to expend its own power to manifest and revive Sages, it is not infinite."
"Otherwise, these creations alone could destroy the Mountains and Seas."
"Therefore, I surmise that the goal of these revived creations is to eliminate the Sages who pose a threat to the void."
"We have not encountered them yet, perhaps it is due to luck."
"But since we have discovered their potential whereabouts, we must be vigilant."
"The action to reconnect the Mountains and Seas must not stop. If the Mountains and Seas completely lose hope of reconnection... we might only be able to sit and wait for death."
Li Fan finally asked: "The three Sages just focused on me..."
"The Mountain and Sea ahead is without our supervision, and there is a constant danger of annihilation. We need to send someone to stabilize the situation. If we were to descend, it might attract those revived Sages to return. Our strengths are comparable, and the outcome of victory or defeat is uncertain. While we are not afraid of them, it might lead to the complete collapse of the Mountain and Sea."
"Therefore, it is best to send someone who is not in the void's memory, meaning, those who do not exist in the swallowed Mountains and Seas."
After Lian Shan finished speaking, all the Sages looked at Li Fan.
Among those present, he seemed to be the only one who met the requirements.
"This..."
Li Fan hesitated instinctively.
Was he kidding? He was being asked to save a dangerous place where even the three Sages had fallen?
As if sensing Li Fan's thoughts, the three Sages continued, "The 'void revival' only targets the original selves. You are not on the void's memory list, so even if you descend, you will not alarm the void."
"You only need to stabilize the situation of the collapsing Mountain and Sea for now. While you are going, we will also be working to reconnect the Mountains and Seas in the void, so you will not have to wait long."
"To prevent any accidents, we will each give you a protective treasure. Even if you truly encounter a 'void revived Sage,' you will be able to escape with ease."
"You possess the ability of True Spirit Infusion. If the situation becomes truly urgent, we will not force you to go."
...
With things having come to this point, under the watchful eyes of the Sages, Li Fan could only nod silently.
Otherwise, it would not fit his persona as a Walker of Mountains and Seas.
However, Li Fan naturally would not clash head-on with any void-revived beings. If anything went wrong, he would immediately revert to his true form.
"The previous Mountain and Sea could collapse at any moment. We must depart immediately."
"However, you must be careful..."
"Those who can provoke the void's revived attacks must be in a sufficiently important Mountain and Sea. Over endless time, it might even surpass the three reunions and our current location. With the three Sages fallen and no leader, it must be an unimaginable doomsday scenario. Stabilizing the situation will likely not be easy. Fellow Daoist, you must be careful." Shou Qiu warned solemnly.
"I understand my limitations." Li Fan nodded slightly and then looked at the three Sages.
He was waiting for the promised protective treasures.
The three Sages did not go back on their word. Each of them sent forth a stream of light, which flew before Li Fan.
As the light solidified, their extraordinary nature could be felt.
Lian Shan presented a wooden staff.
Its surface was uneven, as if casually plucked from a tree.
However, an aura of ancientness occasionally emanated from the staff, indicating that it was far more complex than it appeared.
Indeed, Lian Shan explained with a hint of remembrance: "This staff was what I used when I first ascended Mount Shang. Although it has been by my side for many years, I have not used it again. Now that you are shouldering everyone's hopes and venturing into a perilous situation, I shall give it to you."
Li Fan gently stroked it. The moment he touched it, he seemed to feel the path Lian Shan had walked through the climbing staff.
Mighty mountain ranges, not yet devoured by the Dao Erasure.
Li Fan was overjoyed and stored the climbing staff in his Spatial Ring.
The protective treasure given by Lian Shan was so precious, and Gui Hai's was no less inferior.
It was still a seemingly ordinary iron shovel.
However, it seemed to gather an infinite source of power. Just being near it, Li Fan felt his entire body being nourished and visibly relaxed.
"It was with this iron shovel that I forged a path from the Infinite to the Infinite Sea. With the fusion of Mountains and Seas, this shovel has long been useless. Keeping it with me would be a waste. Take it with you." Gui Hai said faintly.
Li Fan suppressed his inner excitement and accepted the item.
Next, it was Tai Yi's turn.
"These two are quite generous. I, however, have nothing worthwhile..."
"Take this little thing."
Tai Yi said nonchalantly, but from his fleeting expression, it was clear that what he was giving was far from a "little thing."
"Do not disgrace it." As expected, after Li Fan accepted it, Tai Yi couldn't help but say.
It was a stone rod.
It looked quite presentable, its exterior crystal clear, as if cast from jade. But the moment Li Fan's hands touched it, he sensed an immense aura of blood and slaughter.
Even describing it as a "sea of corpses and blood" would be an understatement.
It was as if countless beings had met their end under this rod.
Even with Li Fan's experience, seeing such bloodshed, he couldn't help but slightly change his expression.
But fortunately, he wasn't so startled that he dropped the stone rod.
"I never expected that the Sage Tai Yi, who always smiles and seems the most approachable, would have walked such a terrifying path of slaughter." Li Fan pondered. Even after countless eons, the lingering resentment at the rod's tip was still palpable. Li Fan was inwardly astonished.
A wooden stick, an iron shovel, and a stone rod.
The items gifted by the three Sages appeared ordinary, even crude.
Yet, they were undoubtedly supreme treasures of the Mountains and Seas.
Holding the wooden stick, the iron shovel at his waist.
The stone rod slung across his back.
Li Fan bowed to the people of the Other Shore and prepared to cross the void.
"Be careful with everything."
Everyone, naturally, did not wish for Li Fan to encounter any harm, and thus they all urged him.
"Come here."
Before Li Fan could say his farewells to everyone, the three phantom Sages exerted their collective strength.
Li Fan felt himself being swept away by an immense force, and was hurled into the boundless void.
Fortunately, he did not get lost.
Instead, he swiftly moved towards a predetermined destination.
It was like riding the wind and breaking the waves, cutting through thorns.
Occasionally, waves of the void would rise, but they could not impede him in the slightest.
In the void, ninety thousand years of time passed in an instant.
In the blink of an eye, Li Fan saw the true forms of the three Sages ahead.
They stood like lighthouses in the darkness, repelling all the surrounding storms.
But...
Even with the protection of the three Sages, Li Fan keenly noticed that the activity of the Dao Erasure nearby was far greater than in the previous Mountains and Seas.
"It's almost comparable to the level of rampant destruction at the end of time."
"Though we have treasures to protect us, we must not be reckless. If things go awry... your own safety must come first. With the True Spirit's infusion, infinite possibilities remain. Even if the Mountains and Seas cannot be reconnected, there might still be a way to turn the tide."
The three Sages spoke such words, entirely different from those spoken on the Other Shore, in front of him.
"Remember, after descending to the Mountains and Seas ahead, trust no one. Not even those you know well."
"There is only one ultimate goal: to preserve the Mountains and Seas amid the ravages of Dao Erasure. As for anything else..."
"'Do as you please, without any qualms.' Act as you see fit."
As if foreseeing the chaos in the Mountains and Seas ahead, the Three Sages of Lian Shan gave their solemn instructions.
Without waiting for Li Fan's reply, three streams of power enveloped him. They forcefully broke through the surging tide of Dao Erasure and shot towards the precarious Mountains and Seas in the Void Realm.
The Void Realm's reaction was unexpectedly fierce, quickly reclaiming the passage Li Fan had forged through the waves. As if determined to completely conquer the Mountains and Seas ahead, the faint light representing Li Fan lasted only a few moments before being swallowed by the endless darkness.
The three Sages, impacted by the Void Realm's backlash, their figures flickered slightly.
"We, too, should begin making preparations."
A colossal figure suddenly surged, repelling the darkness around it. The three Sages, like an unbroken mountain range, illuminated the eons of the Void Realm.
...
Even with the assistance of the three Sages to send him off, traversing the Void Realm forcefully against its backlash was an extremely unpleasant experience. It felt as if ten thousand steel knives were continuously hacking at the very foundation of his existence, each strike nearly shattering his Dao foundation.
If not for Li Fan's enlightenment of Cosmic Cycles before the Boundless Mountains and Seas, leaving his unique imprint.
If not for Li Fan possessing infinite spiritual essence, utterly fearless of the Void Realm's corrosion.
He would likely be severely injured by now.
"Heh heh..."
His body finally stabilized, Li Fan coughed lightly, steadying his blood and energy. He paid no mind to the dozens of possibilities that had been shattered by his impact. After all, this particular realm, as far as he could see, was already a scene of shattered landscapes and desolate decay!
The moment he descended, Li Fan sensed the unusual aura here. Chaos, madness, hysteria. Even the Mountains and Seas themselves had undergone inexplicable changes due to the demise of the three Sages.
"Even ants cling to life, how much more so the Mountains and Seas? When they are about to be swallowed by the Void Realm, various distorted phenomena will manifest."
Li Fan frowned slightly, blocking out the howling of the Mountains and Seas, which sounded like the wails of ghosts and wailing demons. He had witnessed the end of the Mountains and Seas before, but that was at the twilight of time. Now, the Mountains and Seas were still in their middle age, so their desperate struggle for survival before death was truly terrifying.
All living beings within the infinite possibilities of the Mountains and Seas originated from them. Now that the Mountains and Seas were collapsing, in their struggle for survival, they sought to reclaim everything to prolong their existence for a little longer. Without even the descent of Dao Erasure, possibility after possibility collapsed like an avalanche, burying all life within.
The Immortal Realm, established by the three Sages upon the continuous chain of mountains, began to crumble.
Even...
Li Fan looked towards where the Other Shore should be. The white light that enveloped the Mountains and Seas had vanished. Instead, it was replaced by a bizarre black luminescence, flickering intermittently, as if a fierce battle were raging within.
"This mess..."
"Preserve the Mountains and Seas." Li Fan narrowed his eyes, observing the scene, then shook his head slightly. "I'll observe for now. If it's truly impossible, I'll use Return to Truth to return. Anyway, I've gained enough from this life..."
Just as Li Fan was thinking this, his expression suddenly changed. For just then, he felt an invisible hand slowly sweep across the crown of his head. The cold, smooth sensation sent an instinctive shiver down his spine, and it felt as if something had been "brushed off" from him!
"Who!"
Before Li Fan could react, the bamboo staff in his hand struck out gently towards the void. At first, it seemed silent. Then, ripples began to spread, growing louder and louder, until they transformed into continuous, earth-shattering roars. A figure was awkwardly revealed. And behind him, in the distance, Li Fan clearly saw that the Mountains and Seas, which had been in a state of self-disintegration due to the impending apocalypse, had somehow temporarily stabilized. It was as if an invisible force were forcefully holding together the collapsing mountains. It looked as if the mountains that had already fallen were rising again!
With the wooden staff's strike, the Mountains and Seas instantly fell silent. Only the roars of mountains reappearing and rising echoed continuously. Li Fan himself was stunned, then felt countless gazes from all directions of the Mountains and Seas! And as the intruder was revealed, the object that had been "brushed off" by the invisible hand returned to him.
"Lian... Shan... Staff."
The figure in front spoke word by word, as if encountering something utterly unbelievable. Li Fan instantly recognized the other party's identity.
Qie Ji.
He had expected that after the other party recognized the symbol of a Lian Shan Sage, their attitude would change. He never expected that Sage Qie Ji would merely freeze in place, then launch another attack at Li Fan. The target was no longer Li Fan, but the Lian Shan Staff in his hand!
Not only that, but Li Fan could sense several familiar auras simultaneously converging on him from all directions of the Mountains and Seas. They were all Sages from the Other Shore! Li Fan's scalp tingled. At this moment, he finally understood why the three Sages had suddenly instructed him words like "Do as you please, without any qualms" before he departed.
Without Li Fan's control, the Lian Shan Staff wielded itself, creating a spectacle of mountain shadows that blocked the Sages' gazes. Even so, it couldn't completely stop Qie Ji's frenzied actions.
"Cough, cough, cough..."
Li Fan felt his "luck" rapidly draining away at an alarming rate. Even the normal circulation of his own vitality was affected, as if he had fallen into Qi deviation and was unable to control himself! More importantly, the Cosmic Cycles Dao Robe he wore had begun to feel ill-fitting!
And besides Qie Ji, a second Sage had already arrived. Starlight paved the way, a wooden boat swayed. A small boat smashed through the infinite mountain shadows created by the Lian Shan Staff and forced its way to Li Fan. Li Fan vaguely saw Sage Xing Cha standing on the boat. However, compared to the one he knew from the Other Shore in later years, the Sage Xing Cha here was shrouded in an extremely intense aura of killing intent. His target was clear: the Lian Shan Staff in Li Fan's hand. Every speck of starlight seemed to contain boundless energy, constantly impacting the rising mountain shadows, scattering starlight. The stability of the Mountains and Seas, just stabilized by the Lian Shan Staff, became unstable again.
At this moment, the iron spade at Li Fan's waist also moved. Like the Lian Shan Staff, it acted on its own, casually striking the Mountains and Seas. The endless starlight, the invisible icy hands, and even the rising mountain shadows were repelled by an unseen, immense vibration. Sound became silent. All noises vanished, and within the Mountains and Seas, only the gurgling of clear springs could be heard. The sound of water grew louder, and in a moment, it became a surging torrent, like the roar of a never-ending river, resounding in the ears of all Sages. A new spring was dug out of the chaotic and depleted Infinite Sea. The madness of the Mountains and Seas weakened.
Li Fan watched the actions of these two magic treasures and understood.
"This is the work of Sage Lian Shan and Sage Gui Hai, who have returned. They are further tapping into the potential of the dying Mountains and Seas, causing it to briefly revive its vitality, like a dying person's final burst of energy."
"However, this is not a long-term solution. If things cannot be stabilized quickly..."
"These Mountains and Seas will collapse even faster!" Li Fan's thoughts raced as he considered returning with Return to Truth.
As the iron spade descended, the expressions of all the Sages in the field towards Li Fan changed again. But it was only a moment of hesitation. They did not abandon their attempt to seize the treasures! No one knew what had happened in these Mountains and Seas after the demise of the three Sages. The temperaments of the Sages of the Other Shore had all drastically changed!
"The creations of Sage Lian Shan and Sage Gui Hai naturally belong to the virtuous. Your cultivation is insufficient, and holding them will only bring disaster."
A faint voice echoed from the depths of the Mountains and Seas. As if to confirm his words, the Lian Shan Staff and the Gui Hai Spade in Li Fan's hands showed signs of losing control.
"Duan Chan." Li Fan's expression changed slightly as he recognized the owner of the voice. He who speaks prophecies, can cause them to come true or make them cease.
"Let go quickly. Otherwise, you risk self-destruction!" Following Duan Chan's words, the wielded Lian Shan Staff actually raised a mountain shadow towards Li Fan's location.
Bang!
Li Fan, caught off guard, collided with it. As a Sage, he wouldn't be easily injured, but his body trembled, and his blood and Qi surged uncontrollably. Most importantly, the Lian Shan Staff and Gui Hai Spade in his hands became increasingly difficult to control. The protective illusory shadows generated by the two supreme treasures were no longer stable. The Sages grew more aggressive.
"I am from the future Mountains and Seas, having crossed over to save them..."
Li Fan spoke with a deep voice, intending to explain.
But to his horror, the words that came out of his mouth had, unknowingly, changed their content.
"What rubbish Sage? They are no more than common rabble."
"First, kill the Three Sages, then slaughter all of you. The Mountains and Seas will fall, and all will return to the Void Realm!"
"Hahaha!" A mad laughter. Even more terrifying was that as these words were spoken, Li Fan's thoughts genuinely began to change. He truly wanted to slaughter all the Sages here like pigs and dogs, then charge towards the Void Realm. It was as if a pen were rewriting his destiny from behind the scenes!
"Gui Ming..." Li Fan gritted his teeth, forcefully resisting the twisting intent in his mind. Because if he couldn't withstand this distortion, he would act like a puppet, fighting the Sages to the death, and would not be able to use Return to Truth.
As Li Fan dedicated a large portion of his willpower to combat Gui Ming's influence, the signs of the Lian Shan Staff and Gui Hai Spade losing control became even more apparent. Gui Ming, Duan Chan, Qie Ji, Ye Pan, Xing Cha... These familiar Sages from the Other Shore, completely disregarding Li Fan's identity as a messenger of the three Sages, displayed their unique abilities, intending to capture Li Fan. The Sages' paths had not changed, but their behavior was as if they were entirely different people. Even with the treasures bestowed by the three Sages for protection, under their combined assault, Li Fan was gradually beginning to lose his footing.
At this critical juncture, the stone club that had been hanging on Li Fan's back finally moved.
"Since the Three Sages have fallen, we naturally have our own fates. Fellow Daoist, why do you still..." Duan Chan's words were interrupted by a choked gasp. Then, a series of dull thuds followed. In just a few moments, Li Fan felt the pressure on him significantly lessen. The stone club, which had disappeared, reappeared before Li Fan. However, it was now stained with various shades of blood.
"The Myriad Beings Staff... Hehehe." Gui Ming, having suffered a hidden loss, let out a cold laugh. Although the encirclement of Li Fan had ceased, the Sages did not disperse. They simply stared.
"We have our own fates." Li Fan clenched the Myriad Beings Staff, recalling Gui Ming's earlier words. Combined with the subtle changes he had undergone within the Xuan Ji Ring, he slowly began to understand.
"The Sages' temperaments have drastically changed."
"The specific instructions given by the three Sages before their departure."
"And..."
"Qie Ji, Gui Ming, Duan Chan..."
"The so-called Sages of the Other Shore were likely never benevolent beings as I perceived them to be."
"They were merely subdued by the three Sages and transformed by the Xuan Ji Ring for an extended period. This allowed the Sages to be of one mind and work together for the salvation of the world."
"As long as the three Sages were present, everything was manageable. Even if the Sages harbored dissatisfaction, they could not cause any major issues."
"But in this segment of the Mountains and Seas, the three Sages were killed by the 'Revived Void Realm.' The Sages of the Other Shore have thus reverted to their original natures..."
The Sages' malevolent aura surrounded Li Fan, pressing in on him. The Myriad Beings Staff in his hand, however, remained unfazed, as if it had not tasted blood for a long time and was even eager for it.
Li Fan could now use Return to Truth to return to his designated anchor point. However, even a clay figurine would show some anger. Having been ambushed by the Sages upon his arrival, Li Fan was utterly frustrated.
"Although you Sages are numerous, I possess the supreme treasures of the three Sages." Li Fan tossed the Myriad Beings Staff in his hand, a dangerous glint in his eyes.
"'Do as you please, without any qualms.'" He repeatedly chanted the four words given by the three Sages, then, without any warning, swung the staff towards Duan Chan in the distance. He didn't need to lock onto the target's position. As long as he thought who he wanted to strike, the Myriad Beings Staff would naturally hit the target. It ignored space and time, hitting as soon as it was launched. And it could not be dodged.
"All beings are beneath this staff." Another dull thud reverberated. Li Fan felt the feedback force from his hand, finally understanding the origin of the name "Myriad Beings Staff." He swept his gaze across the surrounding Sages and swung unceremoniously, striking them in the head each time.
However, the Sages present were not lambs to the slaughter. Though Li Fan temporarily gained the upper hand by borrowing the power of the supreme treasures, the combined efforts of the Sages, enduring the attacks of the Myriad Beings Staff, interfered with Li Fan's movements. His actions and thoughts gradually became uncontrollable.
After venting his frustration, Li Fan was about to use Return to Truth to return, when suddenly his mind raced, and he roared, "Elder Qiu Xin Hui, if you don't help me now, the Mountains and Seas may never recover!"
"Alas..." A sigh echoed from the heart of the Mountains and Seas. It was like a surging tide that obscured the Sages' vision.
"Follow me." A whisper sounded. Li Fan did not resist, but was swept away by this force, safely escaping the Sages' encirclement.
"So, is it truly possible for the Mountains and Seas to reconnect after being lost?"
In a chaotic flux of possibilities amidst the shattered Mountains and Seas, Elder Guardian listened to Li Fan's explanation of the preceding events, his faith wavering.
This traveler, hailing from the end of the Mountains and Seas, had managed to reconnect them twice. He might have believed such a tale before, but now... after the disaster of the three Sages' inexplicable demise, Elder Guardian's state of mind had subtly shifted.
"Knowing the perilous nature of my journey, the three Sages each bestowed a treasure upon me for protection. The Mountain Staff, the Sea Spade, and the Myriad Beings Cudgel. All are treasures of the three Sages, and all can serve as proof," Li Fan explained.
"Moreover..."
Li Fan extended his hand, lightly touching the void outside the broken Mountains and Seas. As if sensing something with his eyes closed, he then grasped it firmly and presented it to Elder Guardian.
Facts spoke louder than any argument. With this accumulated true spirit from the void as witness, Elder Guardian’s belief in Li Fan’s words increased by seventy percent.
"To think such divine arts truly exist! This is truly fortunate for the Mountains and Seas!" Elder Guardian exclaimed, his excitement palpable. However, his expression soon fell. "Alas, it seems to have come too late."
Li Fan knew Elder Guardian was referring to the event of the three Sages' demise in this section of the Mountains and Seas. He was also curious about the "Void Resurrection" that had managed to kill three Sages and promptly inquired about it.
Elder Guardian appeared to still be shaken, and after a brief silence, he slowly recounted, "That day, just like any other, the three Sages' true bodies were opening a passage in the void ahead. We attempted to use ourselves as a bridge to connect the Mountains and Seas before and after. But unexpectedly..."
"The void was engulfed by a storm!"
"It was a Dao Erasure tide I had never seen before. Its ferocity was a thousand times greater than what rages around us now!" Elder Guardian pointed to the torrent of Dao Erasure flowing outside the shattered Mountains and Seas, his expression solemn.
"It was as if the entire void had converged its power in one place. In our unpreparedness, our formation was instantly scattered. In our panic, we could only retreat into the Star Enigma Ring as quickly as possible. But then we discovered..."
"The three Sages had not returned!"
"Even their phantom images, left behind to guard us, had vanished. This situation could only mean one of two things: either the three Sages had perished in that storm, or they had encountered something exceedingly dangerous and needed to exert all their strength to deal with it, thus recalling all their external power. Regardless of the cause, it was an unprecedented event for us."
"Only then did we realize, belatedly, that the terrifying storm in the void was precisely because the three Sages were locked in a fierce battle." Elder Guardian took a deep breath. "Previously, we only knew that the three Sages' strength far surpassed that of the other Sages. But no one knew exactly how strong they were. It was only at that moment that we understood the vast difference between them. Yet, even such Sages..."
"Had perished." Elder Guardian's body trembled slightly, as if he still found it hard to accept this fact.
Li Fan frowned slightly. "Did you personally witness the Sages' demise?"
Elder Guardian shook his head. "It was not necessary to witness it personally. The shattering of the Star Enigma Ring is the best proof. The Star Enigma Ring is a divine artifact jointly forged by the three Sages. Even the most malevolent of beings, if trapped within the ring, would be easily subdued. Only through this method could we unite our hearts and minds to save the Mountains and Seas. However..."
"It is difficult to change one's nature. Initially, I thought they had truly changed their ways. I never expected that once the Star Enigma Ring was broken, their true forms would be revealed in no time."
"Coupled with the chaotic state of the Mountains and Seas, though I wished to salvage the situation, I was powerless. I could only hide for a while and think of a plan, not expecting to witness your reckless descent."
Li Fan also expressed some helplessness. "The three Sages sensed the dramatic changes in the Mountains and Seas ahead and sent me. The Sages from the Other Shore are not too great a problem. The most crucial factor is the 'Void Resurrection.' It was *they* who killed the three Sages in this section of the Mountains and Seas."
"'Void Resurrection'... as expected. It truly is that thing." Elder Guardian's expression turned solemn.
Li Fan continued, "Precisely because I come from the end of the Mountains and Seas and do not exist in the void's memory, I am not in danger of being corrupted by the Void Resurrection. Therefore, the three Sages decided to send me. However, as you just saw, I alone am likely no match for them."
Li Fan's words trailed off abruptly. Elder Guardian clearly understood his meaning and earnestly replied, "Whether for the sake of the three Sages, or for all beings in the Mountains and Seas, I bear no responsibility. However..."
Suddenly, Elder Guardian's expression changed, and he grabbed Li Fan. "We've been discovered. Quickly, let's go!"
Amidst a burst of starlight, Elder Guardian, with Li Fan in tow, once again escaped from the encirclement of the various Sages. They found another turbulent space within the Mountains and Seas and temporarily concealed themselves.
Li Fan was puzzled. "Why did they act so crazed upon seeing me holding the three Sages' treasures, desperately trying to snatch them? Isn't the priority to survive this collapsing realm?"
Elder Guardian was momentarily stunned, then sighed. "It seems you still don't understand the weight of the three treasures you hold. It's no wonder. Perhaps only then would the three Sages dare to entrust them to you."
"What do you mean?"
"Don't be fooled by their appearance as ordinary objects – a wooden staff, an iron spade, and a stone club. Each is a treasure used by a Sage in their path to enlightenment. Sage Lian Shan scaled mountains with his staff. Sage Gui Hai opened springs with his spade. Sage Tai Yi suppressed all beings with his cudgel. In the ancient Mountains and Seas, these three objects were renowned. After proving their Dao, the three Sages, with their immense power, no longer needed to use these treasures. They kept them close, nurturing them. They would only use them in truly dire emergencies..."
"Once, we personally witnessed the three Sages joining forces to rescue the Mountains and Seas from near collapse. It can be said that these three objects possess power no less than that of a Sage!"
Li Fan looked at the staff, spade, and club on his person, which had now returned to stillness, and felt a sense of surprise. He knew these items were extraordinary, but he never imagined they held such profound significance for the three Sages.
"If their full power could be unleashed, those currently rampaging would be easily subdued with a mere wave." Elder Guardian stated with certainty.
"But I can't seem to truly wield them right now. They act entirely on their own instinct." Li Fan replied.
Elder Guardian was not surprised. "The three treasures possess their own sentience. They have been with the three Sages for a long time and have developed their own temperaments. They willingly served the Sages, but..."
"Your strength might not be sufficient yet, so it's understandable that they are unwilling to fully submit." Elder Guardian said tactfully.
Li Fan chuckled. "It matters not. As long as the situation in the Mountains and Seas can be stabilized."
"My arrival with the treasures has attracted their attention. Otherwise, if they were left to fight amongst themselves, the Mountains and Seas would perish within days."
"But this cannot last. If they search for you for too long... based on my understanding of them, they might threaten us by destroying the Mountains and Seas to force us to appear." Elder Guardian warned sternly.
Li Fan was taken aback. "Such esteemed Sages resorting to such despicable tactics?"
Elder Guardian sighed. "Sage is merely a distinction of power, not necessarily of morality. Many of these individuals were unscrupulous even before proving their Dao. They were merely tempered by the three Sages within the Star Enigma Ring. Now that they are free..."
"They will likely become increasingly reckless." Elder Guardian's face was etched with worry.
"Before I arrived, the void had been stretching for nearly a hundred thousand years. If these Mountains and Seas deteriorate further, the plan for reconnection will fail." Li Fan emphasized the severity of the situation and then asked, "In your opinion, Elder Guardian, of the Sages from the Other Shore, who would be the most suitable first target?"
"Though I am untalented, I am willing to risk my life to turn the tide." Li Fan's noble spirit stood in stark contrast to the rampaging Sages from the Other Shore. Elder Guardian couldn't help but feel a surge of respect.
After a moment of contemplation, he said solemnly, "The strength of the Sages has long been categorized. From strongest to weakest, they are: Thief of Opportunity, Calculator of Fate, Weaver of Destiny, Judge of Karma, Star Raft Sage..."
Li Fan declared loudly, "Then we shall start with the Thief of Opportunity!"
Elder Guardian was somewhat perplexed. Li Fan's eyes narrowed slightly. "To deal with such individuals, one must act with decisive force. If we attack the weaker ones first, it will seem as though we are backing down. Conversely..."
"If the strongest among them is taken down in one fell swoop, the rest will be nothing to fear. They will scatter like sand, allowing us to defeat them one by one." Li Fan spoke with utmost confidence.
Elder Guardian found his reasoning sound. "However, the Sage of Thief of Opportunity possesses extraordinary power. All beings in the world, and even the destiny of the Mountains and Seas, can be stolen by him. To oppose him is like standing against the Mountains and Seas themselves..."
Li Fan let out a cold snort, weighing the wooden staff in his hand. "The Mountains and Seas are already in dire straits. What does it matter if we oppose him? Does he truly dare to turn against us? Elder Guardian, you must understand, we are here to save the Mountains and Seas."
"In this desperate situation of shattered Mountains and Seas, opportunities, destinies, and fates are all in disarray. Only survival, living on, truly matters." Li Fan gazed into the distance, taking in the chaotic scene of the ever-collapsing Mountains and Seas, turbulent with possibilities. In this apocalyptic era, he felt not discomfort or a sense of crisis. Instead, he felt an unprecedented sense of freedom, as if all the shackles that had bound him in the past had been removed.
"In the past, in the Xuanhuang Realm, I had the Dharma-Preachers above me."
"Outside the Xuanhuang Realm, the Starving Immortals loomed."
"Beyond the The Great Barriers, there were the extraterrestrial physicians and the Black Su Bai."
"And after leaping beyond the primordial, there were the Sages of the Other Shore."
"I have never felt at ease."
"Until now..." A mysterious gleam flickered in Li Fan's eyes.
"The three Sages. The greatest threat is gone."
"Their treasures have fallen into my hands."
"Unfettered, I can act as I please. Hehehe..."
Li Fan's reason for not leaving Return to Truth yet was simple and pure: to slay Sages. And to do so with a righteous cause. This was a once-in-a-millennium opportunity, and he wasn't about to miss it. Li Fan had not forgotten the time in the Return to Truth simulation when the Sages of the Other Shore had seen through him.
"The debt with the three Sages can be settled later. For now, I'll collect some interest from the others."
"Moreover..." Li Fan's mind stirred, and the Return to Truth panel suddenly appeared before his eyes.
"Great Dao Realization. I wonder if, after killing the Sages of the Other Shore, I can leave my name in it."
Though his plans were grand, the specific course of action still required careful deliberation.
"The Sage of Thief of Opportunity is extremely cautious. Given his nature, he will likely remain in the background, reaping benefits from the sidelines." Elder Guardian said grimly.
"It matters not. To defeat an enemy, one must strike first." Li Fan was full of confidence and conveyed some ideas through a secret transmission.
"This..." Elder Guardian revealed a hesitant expression upon hearing this.
"Trust me, Elder Guardian, and we will surely succeed in this battle." Elder Guardian's expression shifted, and he finally gritted his teeth and agreed.
*Boom! Boom! Boom!*
Not long after, a colossal explosion resounded from the turbulent flux of the Mountains and Seas. In the clash of light and shadow, countless possibilities, already in a state of chaotic disorder, instantly vanished into dust. The already precarious state of the Mountains and Seas became even more critical in an instant, as if a chain reaction had occurred, with vast expanses of Mountains and Seas collapsing into the Dao Erasure.
The void tides surged repeatedly, as if celebrating the imminent victory. Then, a roar filled with both shock and fury echoed through the chaos: "You, Elder Guardian! I thought you were a Sage of esteemed virtue, but you're nothing but a hypocrite!"
"I entrusted my life to you, yet you, like those other beasts, covet the treasures in my hands!" The speaker was Li Fan. At this moment, his face was ashen, his clothes torn, appearing gravely injured. Opposite him stood Elder Guardian, his face etched with an unprecedented gloom.
Before Li Fan could continue speaking, Elder Guardian pointed a finger at him. Amidst the roaring tsunami of the collapsing Mountains and Seas, Elder Guardian's might became even more apparent. He stood unmoving, the tremors caused by the collapsing realm beneath his feet, even appearing to be subdued and controlled by him. This seemingly gentle finger strike, however, seemed to carry the force of a thousand-zhang tidal wave, intending to crush Li Fan completely.
At the critical moment, an iron spade cleaved through the giant wave, rescuing Li Fan.
"Go!" Li Fan roared. The Mountain Staff transformed into a streak of light, carrying Li Fan directly out of the Mountains and Seas. They abandoned the collapsing realm and fled directly into the void.
Elder Guardian would not easily let his prey escape and pursued them closely. In the Mountains and Seas, the other Sages witnessed this bizarre scene and did not immediately follow. However, as the two streaks of light, one in front and one behind, flew out of the Mountains and Seas and into the void, seemingly never to return, they could no longer remain idle.
"Hmph, I thought Elder Guardian was a true gentleman of virtue. Turns out, he's just like us."
"This is the way of the world. Where are there any saints or perfect beings in this world? Even the three Sages of Lian Shan were merely bullies who relied on their power!"
"Excellent, excellent. I initially found Elder Guardian somewhat disagreeable, but it seems he was merely wearing a mask to deceive the world. In that case, he's someone worth befriending, hahahaha!"
"Elder Guardian's drastic change in demeanor is too significant; be wary of a trap."
"A trap? I don't think so; he's simply revealed his true colors!"
"Regardless, the Mountains and Seas are on the verge of collapse. This Dao Erasure is unprecedentedly fierce. Our only sliver of hope lies in the three Sages' treasures. We must pursue that brat..."
"How dare he call us beasts."
...
As if long suppressed, the Sages transformed into streaks of light and flew after Li Fan's vanishing form. Without these savage deities wreaking havoc, the Mountains and Seas briefly regained a semblance of peace. After countless years of accumulation, it had temporarily stabilized against the waves of Dao Erasure. Of course, it was only temporary. The subsequent battle outside the void would decide its fate.
In the Void Realm, a place that existed in opposition to the "future," the figures of three Sages still stood. Thus, it was in the direction of the "past," the realm of Mountains and Seas, that the Mound Guardian and Li Fan were headed. Without the guidance of the three Sages, and without the positioning of the Star Ring's phantom avatars, upon entering the Void Realm, they were met with a boundless chaos, making it impossible to distinguish past from present. It was as if they were caught in a surging tide, with the danger of being swallowed by the waves at any moment.
"A dark and windy night, perfect for murder and arson. This place, isolated from the outside world, is precisely suited for slaying Sages!" Li Fan entered the Void Realm first. Although the Mound Guardian followed close behind, the moment he stepped into the Void Realm, he nearly lost his direction. If Li Fan had not deliberately released the aura of the Lian Shan Staff, the Mound Guardian would have found it difficult to locate Li Fan.
The two quickly rendezvoused and, taking advantage of the fact that the Sages of Stealth were unaware, began to discuss their plan.
"Although the performance was a bit overdone, I imagine they will surely pursue us."
"The plan remains the same: first, we eliminate the ringleader..."
As they communicated, they deliberately engaged in a mock battle, releasing waves of energy to lure the pursuing Sages deeper into the Void Realm.
"This place should be about right."
"Ahead lies the place where the Three Sages perished. We must not go any further."
Following the Mound Guardian’s reminder, Li Fan gradually sensed the unusual nature of the surrounding Void Realm. The Void Realm, by all rights, should be a place of absolute nothingness, devoid of any basis for existence. Yet now, as Li Fan observed carefully, he could clearly feel a faint "aura" drifting and emanating from their surroundings. It was like ice melting into water, or rocks grinding into sand. The foundations of the Three Sages had long since vanished, their existence mostly erased. Only a few residual traces remained, flowing like a trickle, as evidence of their former presence. It was likely that there had been much more originally, but with the Void Realm's encroachment, only faint, almost imperceptible traces remained.
Li Fan attempted to gather these residual fragments. Unfortunately, their divine properties had been erased at the "Dao" level, rendering Return to Truth completely inert.
"The deeper reaches of the Void Realm, no matter how great the commotion, will not affect Mountains and Seas."
"Here, we shall subdue all evils and pay homage to the Sages."
The two continued to maintain their feigned conflict, while Li Fan quietly passed the Lian Shan Staff and Gui Hai Spade to the Mound Guardian. As he sensed the approaching Sages of Stealth, Li Fan wielded the Myriad Beings Staff and, with a single strike, forced the Mound Guardian to retreat.
"Mound Guardian! Why must you press on so fiercely! You have already obtained the Lian Shan Staff and the Gui Hai Spade, is that not enough!"
"Grant me a way out, how about it? I am willing to exchange it for the ultimate secret of Mountain and Sea Odd Fortune. You already possess Mountain and Sea Longevity; if you can also seize the Mountain and Sea Odd Fortune, perhaps you can recreate the might of the Three Sages!"
Li Fan's indignant roar echoed through the Void Realm, reverberating with the residual essence of the fallen Three Sages. The Mound Guardian remained silent. The Lian Shan Staff and Gui Hai Spade danced incessantly, as if intent on dispatching Li Fan. Though Li Fan was still protected by the Myriad Beings Staff, he was ultimately no match for his opponent. He was struck squarely on his chest and back by a staff and spade. The Sages of Stealth, who had been tracking them, clearly saw this. Li Fan was severely wounded, his body shattered, and his true spirit was scattering uncontrollably, further clouding the Void Realm. And yet, the Mound Guardian showed no mercy, appearing determined to kill Li Fan.
"I never expected that the Mound Guardian, who has always presented himself as benevolent, would have such a ferocious true nature," the Sages of Stealth murmured amongst themselves, astonished.
"It seems the Mound Guardian fears that boy might escape and his true colors be revealed to the other Three Sages of Mountains and Seas. Thus, he will not stop until the task is complete," the Star Raft surmised.
"We must not let him have all the spoils!"
Before the Star Raft could finish speaking, it transformed into a beam of starlight, enveloping the Mound Guardian and Li Fan. The Mound Guardian, like the Lianshan and Guihai Sages, held a bamboo staff and an iron spade, easily dispersing the surrounding starlight. In the Void Realm, it appeared as though phantom images of Mountains and Seas rose up, howling incessantly. And the Mound Guardian stood atop these phantom mountains and seas, confronting the Sages who had just arrived.
And seizing this golden opportunity, Li Fan, who was on the verge of death, suddenly unleashed his last reserves of strength. He tossed the Myriad Beings Staff upwards. In an instant, it transformed into two, then four, then eight. An endless sea of staff phantoms rained down upon the heads of the Sages. Without exception, every one of them was struck by this blow. However, from the power contained within this single strike, the Sages knew that Li Fan was truly at his limit. Even the Myriad Beings Staff, a supreme artifact of destruction, felt light and insubstantial as he wielded it. It possessed an imposing presence but offered no real threat. As the Sages watched, their premonition was confirmed: Li Fan's true spirit was becoming increasingly fragmented, like a flickering candle flame, on the verge of extinction. He could no longer concern himself with the Myriad Beings Staff; dragging his broken body, he fled at high speed.
"His true spirit is completely shattered, where can he possibly escape to? He'll likely die in the Void Realm."
"He thought that by taking the treasures of the Three Sages, he could turn the tide and command us? He's far too young."
"The Three Sages themselves dared not come, yet they sent this boy to test us and die. Truly, there is no morality in Mountains and Seas."
The Sages saw no need to pursue the dying Li Fan. Instead, they turned their attention to the masterless Myriad Beings Staff in the arena, and to the Mound Guardian, who now possessed two supreme treasures. As the recent struggle concluded, the residual traces of the Three Sages were about to dissipate completely. The Void Realm would soon reveal its true, ferocious fangs.
"Brother Mound Guardian, we have been brothers within the Star Ring for countless millennia. It seems rather improper for you to hoard these supreme treasures all to yourself," the Karma Judge said slowly.
"If I kill you all, then there will be nothing improper about it," the Mound Guardian replied calmly.
The Karma Judge was momentarily stunned, then burst into exasperated laughter. "Very well, very well. I shall see firsthand what capabilities the ever-virtuous Mound Guardian, who has concealed his true nature for so long, truly possesses!"
The Sages of Eclipsing Fate, Diverting Fate, Karma Judge, and Star Raft slowly revealed their true forms. They surrounded the Mound Guardian. The Mound Guardian’s gaze swept over the Sages present, his expression hardening like ice. But deep within his heart, a ripple of unease stirred.
"This is not good!" It wasn't concern for his own safety. It was the unexpected realization that two Sages had simultaneously vanished. Stealth, and... Sui Jun.
Li Fan had mentioned earlier that Sui Jun did not exist in the subsequent era of Mountains and Seas. He had perished for some reason in the preceding ten thousand years, an era now swallowed by the Void Realm. The original plan was for Li Fan to abandon all the treasures of the Three Sages and escape with only his shattered body. At that point, only Stealth would likely be interested in Li Fan and continue the pursuit. But who could have expected that Sui Jun, ignoring the treasures of the Three Sages, would also go after Li Fan!
"He said that there are other treasures of the Three Sages that can deal with Stealth."
"But if you add another Sage..." The Mound Guardian's heart sank. But at this moment, he had no better options; all he could do was try his best to stall the Sages present.
...
Deeper within the Void Realm. Beyond the area where the remnants of the Three Sages had completely vanished, a figure rapidly retreated. It seemed as though the figure was unable to discern any direction, its target not any particular era of Mountains and Seas, but rather darting about the Void Realm like a headless fly. Initially, it could maintain its movement through a final burst of strength, but gradually, perhaps due to its terribly bad luck, the Void Realm's currents it traversed were noticeably stronger than elsewhere. The winds and waves blocked its path, and Li Fan's aura grew weaker and weaker, until he could no longer escape. He stopped. The currents of the Void Realm surged, seemingly about to swallow him whole in the next moment.
Li Fan's face was ashen, but he still did not abandon hope of survival. He sat cross-legged in the Void Realm and attempted to heal his injuries. However, his fortune seemed to have waned to its absolute limit. The more he tried to heal through sheer luck, the worse his injuries became. He coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood, accompanied by a significant scattering of his true spirit. He seemed truly on the brink of death.
"Stealth. This is all Stealth's doing." Li Fan murmured to himself, looking around. Having once practiced the Heavenly Fortune Scripture, and even having absorbed a remnant of Mountain and Sea Odd Fortune, he could now feel with perfect clarity the draining of his fortune. It wasn't just his fortune; it was the ruthless shattering of future possibilities that represented his very lifespan! As the saying goes, there is always a way out of adversity. But now, under Stealth's relentless pressure, Li Fan was, by all accounts, walking a path of no return! Nowhere to go!
With a wry smile, he seemed to accept his fate and abandoned his struggle. He ceased resisting, allowing the surrounding Dao Erasure to consume him. His body slowly began to dissipate, his true spirit dissolving like melting snow. Just then, a mysterious power enveloped Li Fan, who was on the verge of disintegration.
"Tell me where the Mountain and Sea Odd Fortune is, and I will save your life, how about it?" a spectral voice echoed in Li Fan's ear.
Li Fan ignored it, acting as if he hadn't heard. Only when Stealth's words began to reverberate like demonic chants, as if he would not stop until Li Fan answered, did Li Fan let out a soft snort and shake his head slightly. "You say you'll save me, and you expect me to believe you? It was merely a pretense to deceive the Mound Guardian."
Stealth chuckled. "I pursued the Mountain and Sea Odd Fortune for many years. If I cannot even sense its scent, then my name 'Stealth' would be utterly undeserved."
"It's a truly nostalgic aroma…" Stealth deeply inhaled, speaking with a sigh.
"I shall say it again. Tell me about the Mountain and Sea Fortune, and I will spare your life. I, Stealth, never go back on my word." Stealth declared proudly.
"If you kill me, or if you extract it from my mind yourself, isn't it all the same?" Li Fan retorted.
Stealth was silent for a moment, as if genuinely contemplating Li Fan's suggestion. But then, he shook his head and dismissed the idea. He even moved slightly further away from Li Fan, as if unconsciously maintaining his distance. The phantom figure surrounded Li Fan, yet despite facing this dying individual, he still observed him with extreme caution. "No, no, no. I can sense that although you appear to be in a desperate situation, there is still a sliver of hope for survival."
"And this hope..."
"Corresponds to my own hopeless situation!"
"It cannot be wrong." Stealth murmured to himself, looking around suspiciously. He could not understand, however hard he tried.
"I know you have a contingency plan."
"Although your collaboration with the Mound Guardian was a masterful performance, it ultimately could not deceive destiny and fortune. Seemingly faint, your destinies hold the potential for a counterattack at any moment. Those fools, trapped in the situation, are still unaware."
"However... as long as I remain uninvolved, you cannot harm me." Stealth's voice came from all directions, like a phantom, making it impossible for Li Fan to pinpoint his exact location. This was why Li Fan had believed the Mound Guardian's words: this Sage Stealth was indeed extremely cautious and prudent. Coupled with his Great Dao that could glimpse the destinies of others, calculating against him would be incredibly difficult!
"Fine!" Li Fan sighed deeply. "Although the Mountain and Sea Fortune is my closest friend, it is ultimately not as important as my own life."
"To evade covetous gazes, he underwent two transformations, becoming an ordinary mortal and hiding in the mundane world of Mountains and Seas. But after all, it is the Mountain and Sea Odd Fortune; it cannot truly be buried like a mortal. Even without any knowledge of his past, he ascended to immortality from a mortal background in the Era of True Law. However, upon returning to Mountains and Seas, he was discovered by his adversary..."
"Speaking of which, was the one who has been relentlessly hunting him you?" Li Fan asked with suspicion.
Stealth shook his head and denied it. "I was trapped in the Star Ring before, with the will but not the power. The Mountain and Sea Fortune possesses such divine and wondrous properties that many covet it. I am merely one of them."
Li Fan continued, "At a critical moment, the Angler of Mountains and Seas intervened and rescued him, guiding him out of Mountains and Seas to avoid the calamity. This... is what happened in that era of Mountains and Seas. As for this particular realm of Mountains and Seas, I have only just arrived and know nothing."
"The Angler of Mountains and Seas, you say? As expected, his luck is truly heaven-defying." Stealth looked back in the direction of Mountains and Seas, pondered for a moment. Then, as if speaking to himself, "After the Three Sages perished, I scoured the shattered Mountains and Seas in secret, but found no trace of the Mountain and Sea Fortune."
"It must have sensed its other creation and gone there as well. Only the Mountain and Sea Odd Fortune can sever all perception, acting purely on instinct."
Having obtained the answers he sought, Stealth's interest in Li Fan waned. He immediately withdrew his protective power and gracefully departed. The severely wounded Li Fan cried out in alarm, his face pale, "What about my life, as you promised?"
Stealth chuckled, "Didn't I save you just now? As I said, I never go back on my word."
"However..."
"Saving you for a moment is not the same as saving you for a lifetime. Whether you can survive this storm in the Void Realm depends on your own fortune." Stealth's voice faded into the distance. Li Fan's panicked expression abruptly calmed down.
"Then there is nothing to be done."
"I hope you truly find the Mountain and Sea Odd Fortune."
"Hmm? What do you mean by that?" Stealth's voice suddenly drew nearer.
"Just a sincere wish." Li Fan smiled.
Upon hearing this, Li Fan could feel Stealth's gaze fixated upon him as if frozen in place.
"Trying to trick me. Heh..." With that, he stopped paying attention to the posturing Li Fan and soared away. Li Fan made no move to stop him, but instead took a deep breath. In the Void Realm, something seemed to be stirred. A moment later, Li Fan's shattered true spirit began to recover at a visible rate! Then, Stealth returned.
"What is this..." Li Fan completely ignored Stealth and, on his own, began to draw true spirit from the Void Realm. The blows from the Mound Guardian moments ago, though supposedly a performance, were not light at all. Li Fan had been struck so hard by the Myriad Beings Staff that his soul was almost scattered.
"The Mound Guardian struck with great force..." Fortunately, after some time of recuperation, he had slowly recovered. As for the supposedly shattered true spirit... it was all a sham. Even if he spat out ten or a hundred times more true spirit, it would not make the slightest difference to Li Fan. However, this anomaly, to Stealth, carried a completely different meaning.
"You can actually summon the stagnant true spirit of the Void Realm?" Gradually, he saw through the ruse and exclaimed in shock.
The Sage of Stealth, who had originally decided to distance himself from Li Fan and cease any involvement, couldn't help but cast his gaze back upon witnessing Li Fan's scene of drawing upon the accumulated True Spirits within the Void Realm.
"I wondered why the Three Sages would entrust such a crucial task to you. So you possess such a unique ability."
After carefully observing for a moment and confirming he wasn't mistaken, Stealth had a sudden realization. His expression towards Li Fan became somewhat complex.
"He's not entirely without merit," Stealth mused to himself.
The Saint realm did not equate to invincibility; it merely signified a prolonged existence. In the past, Stealth had sustained injuries on several occasions during his actions in the Mountains and Seas' reunion. One incident even damaged his True Spirit. Such injuries were beyond the healing efficacy of ordinary methods. They could only be recovered through the passage of long stretches of time or with the assistance of the Grand Elixir of Sacred Fortune, refined by the Sacred Emperor of Tai Wei.
"But if," Stealth's heart fluttered at the prospect, "there were an external force capable of replenishing True Spirits at will..." He envisioned a living, inexhaustible spiritual elixir.
"However..." Stealth's mind was not clouded by superficial gains. "This young man is deliberately luring me, undoubtedly with some reliance. Furthermore, my observation of our intertwined destinies remains unchanged: his path to life, my path to utter destruction."
After a period of contemplation, Stealth subtly glanced at Sui Jun, who was concealed nearby, a plan forming in his mind. "If the Three Sages were here, they would never allow you to perish in the Void Realm like this. It's a pity..." Stealth chuckled lightly and abruptly vanished. He seemed to disappear entirely within the Void Realm.
Li Fan, seemingly oblivious, focused intently on absorbing True Spirits to mend his injuries. Only the tide of Dao Erasure surged, a constant threat, as if poised to swallow Li Fan at any moment. As he absorbed more and more True Spirits, Li Fan's complexion gradually regained its healthy color, and his aura returned to its prior vigor, nearing his peak state.
Just then... an immense force descended upon Li Fan's surroundings. It wasn't merely a matter of weight but a tangible essence of time, flowing with overwhelming power! Saints were not immortal; they merely lived exceptionally long lives. However, under such a terrifying acceleration of time, Li Fan, a Sage of Cosmic Cycle, instantly exhibited signs of aging. Even as he desperately circulated the Great Dao of Cosmic Cycle, attempting to deflect the onslaught of prolonged time with the myriad reincarnations, the instantaneous flow of countless years across billions of millennia threatened to annihilate even reincarnation itself. Now at a disadvantage in the battle, Li Fan's appearance grew increasingly aged.
"Sage Sui Jun? He's here too?" Sui Jun's appearance was indeed an unexpected turn for Li Fan, though he was not yet at his wit's end despite his outwardly disheveled state. More importantly, Li Fan was certain that Stealth had not gone far but was lurking in the shadows, hoping to reap the rewards of conflict.
"To discern destiny and vital energy so clearly, it is indeed difficult to scheme against this individual." "Perhaps, only when I am truly in dire straits, using myself as bait, can I lure him out." A flash of understanding enlightened Li Fan. He ceased diverting any attention to anything other than his Reflection, as if he had forgotten his ability to reset himself at any moment. He resolutely engaged Sui Jun in combat.
When Li Fan arrived in the Mountains and Seas, Sui Jun was nowhere to be seen. However, Li Fan had overheard accounts of his deeds from the Sages on occasion. Sui Jun gathered all time, returned it to himself, and then "lent" it to the beings of the Mountains and Seas, calling it "Jun." While countless possibilities and innumerable beings in the Mountains and Seas gained seemingly endless lifespans, this was not their desire but was forcibly imposed upon them. In their endlessly prolonged lives, beings were compelled to labor diligently for their entire existence to repay their borrowed time. Though they offered no aid to Sui Jun in their cultivation, their thoughts, actions, and even their very selves held inherent value. Sui Jun's enlightenment was rooted in the beings of the Mountains and Seas; his strength was undoubtedly formidable. The pressure Li Fan felt at this moment was a testament to that. It was as if he had undergone the complete life cycles of the Mountains and Seas multiple times in a trance, and a touch of grey slowly crept into Li Fan's hair.
He hadn't experienced the feebleness of old age in a long time. Now, crushed by an endless expanse of time, Li Fan was helpless and visibly aged. Consequently, his situation deteriorated. The older he became, the weaker his strength grew, and the less effective the protection of endless time cycles became. Li Fan's body finally stooped, his posture contorted. His hair turned completely white and then shed, falling like snow. His flesh and skin withered, hanging limply on his frail, aged bones. In a short while, Li Fan transformed from a youthful, elegant figure into a decaying, near-death elder! Sui Jun, as if solely bent on killing Li Fan, showed no mercy. The torrent of countless years continued to roar, determined to crush Li Fan.
From an immense distance, Stealth, concealed and observing quietly, hesitated. Ultimately, he chose not to intervene. He was certain Li Fan still possessed trump cards and would not perish here. "While it appears to be a dead end, there is always a path to survival. Conversely, Sui Jun, despite his complete suppression from the start, is..." "His ferocious nature is evident!"
What unfolded next in the Void Realm confirmed Stealth's conjecture. It was as if, at the brink of despair, a ray of hope appeared. Li Fan, who had been sitting with closed eyes and nearing death, suddenly opened his clouded eyes. He murmured something, his lips barely moving. The next moment... as if a dream bubble had burst, it shattered into nothingness. All traces of senility, the signs of imminent death, vanished completely. Without any discernible reason, Li Fan, who had been on the verge of death, returned to his original state, his expression serene, as if Sui Jun's onslaught of billions of years had been utterly useless!
"What?" Sui Jun's astonishment was palpable. The surging torrent of time halted. However, Sage Sui Jun was not one to give up easily. After a brief pause, the endless flow of time once again surged upon Li Fan. From youth to old age, then to decay. Li Fan relived this process. Yet... just as before, as Li Fan neared death, a flash of light illuminated him, and as if nothing had happened, his state returned to the starting point of the battle. All of Sui Jun's efforts were in vain. This time, the temporal suppression lasted longer. But Sui Jun remained undeterred. Time howled, flowing even faster over Li Fan's body. Within mere moments, Li Fan grew exceedingly ancient. Yet, the story repeated itself. With a flash of light, Li Fan was restored to his original state!
Sui Jun seemed utterly enraged, continuously intensifying the temporal assault. The rate of time flow reached a critical limit, even drawing the attention of the Void Realm's currents, as if something in the profound darkness was about to awaken. With every breath, Li Fan flickered between youth and old age dozens of times. But each time, he ultimately returned to his initial form. Throughout this battle, Li Fan remained calm and collected. Conversely, Sui Jun gradually descended into panic. He considered himself knowledgeable, yet he had never encountered such a bizarre phenomenon. Even when he fought against the Three Sages in the past, they had crushed him with their sheer power disparity. Yet, even then, they couldn't achieve what Li Fan did – to disregard the passage of time. He had genuinely experienced a portion of that time passing. It was merely that the Three Sages were so powerful that they quickly subdued him. The lost time, for them, was almost negligible.
"How does this person manage to ignore my divine ability?" Faced with the unknown, even a Sage could feel fear and curiosity. While his mind was in turmoil, the tide of the battle quietly turned. In a battle between Sages, it was either the East Wind prevailing over the West, or the West Wind overpowering the East. As the temporal pressure began to show its strain, it was time for Li Fan to counterattack. Seizing a moment of vulnerability as Sui Jun faltered, Li Fan broke free from the temporal torrent that had suppressed him. His eyes gleaming with ferocity, he unleashed the cycles of aging and decline he had endured upon Sui Jun! Previously, endless reincarnation could not withstand the impact of time; now, the successive reincarnations formed shackles, trapping the boundless time within. Even with Sui Jun's control over the flow of time, he could not escape the轮回牢笼 (reincarnation prison) Li Fan had meticulously woven for him. And with each cycle of aging, Sui Jun was far from as calm as Li Fan had appeared. Every near-death aging was a heavy blow to him. For he could not predict when death would truly arrive. Both physically and mentally, he was subjected to endless torment. After a prolonged struggle, Sui Jun finally lost his composure. Fear gradually crept onto his face, and he abandoned the fight with Li Fan, desperately seeking to escape the endless reincarnation prison.
Even though Li Fan had gained absolute dominance, it was by no means easy to kill a Sage. As Sui Jun unleashed his frenzied counterattack, the reincarnation prison Li Fan had constructed was subjected to violent shocks, on the verge of collapse. Li Fan, however, his eyes resolute and fierce, declared, "I will kill you!" He spared no effort, expending his very essence to fortify the reincarnation prison. The wounds he had just healed worsened due to the excessive exertion. His body began to disintegrate, and his True Spirit scattered once more. Li Fan, however, disregarded this, continuing to weave the reincarnation, while simultaneously absorbing True Spirits from the surrounding Void Realm. He intended to force Sui Jun's death right here!
At this juncture, the situation had escalated from a mere battle to an irreconcilable conflict. Sui Jun did not beg for mercy; even the fear on his face had vanished. Within the continuously aging reincarnation, he silently gathered his strength, attempting one final desperate gamble. Li Fan sensed the impending storm and his expression grew increasingly solemn.
... "A struggle for the Great Dao should be precisely like this!" Sage Stealth, observing from afar, was exceptionally excited. The shifting destinies and vital energies of the two Sages in battle fascinated him. Even at this point, the victor between Li Fan and Sui Jun remained uncertain. "Sui Jun was originally in a desperate situation. But as the saying goes, one can survive by being placed in a land of death. Now, with Sui Jun trapped with no escape, abandoning all else for a desperate gamble, the vitality of Cosmic Cycle has paradoxically become more elusive. Marvelous, truly marvelous!" While observing, Stealth did not forget to employ his divine abilities to pilfer the vital energies of the two Sages. "May all possible paths to life flow into me. May you all perish!" Stealth finally saw the glimmer of hope, the protective charm that always seemed to surround Li Fan, gradually dim. Meanwhile, the path of despair corresponding to his own had disappeared. While secretly rejoicing, Stealth still didn't intervene, opting to wait for the outcome of the deadly struggle.
Li Fan had not anticipated that Sui Jun's final counterattack would be so ferocious. His own Dao foundation began to crumble, and Sui Jun's figure seemed to dissolve into the torrent of countless years, launching a final assault on the reincarnation prison. Li Fan could no longer perceive Sui Jun's presence. However, he knew that if even a single wisp of this temporal torrent escaped, all his previous efforts would be in vain. At this moment, all calculations had left Li Fan's mind. Only one thought remained: he would kill Sui Jun here! It was independent of grudges or emotions, simply a matter of life and death at a critical juncture in battle! To ensure the reincarnation prison could withstand this final assault, Li Fan manifested countless thoughts, channeling them into all the reincarnations. Thus, beside Sui Jun's semblance of aging in each instance, Li Fan's watchful gaze was present. Omnipresent, reaching its extreme. Despite the Earth-shattering onslaught of billions of years, the prison Li Fan had constructed remained impregnable, not receding an inch. The momentum of the counterattack, potent as a thunderclap, eventually weakened. As the greatest waves subsided, Sui Jun's final blow grew weaker and weaker. Residual tremors continued, but could no longer stir the waters. In countless reincarnations, Li Fan's figure appeared before the Sui Jun he guarded. Expressionless, he struck with a palm. *Bang!* In an instant, billions of Sui Jun's phantoms shattered simultaneously. And in reality, a Saint had fallen! The demise of a Saint, if it occurred in the Mountains and Seas, would have caused earth-shattering changes. But this was the Void Realm! Even if a more powerful Three Sages were to fall here, it would not stir significant ripples. Sui Jun perished silently, without a trace, not even a ripple from his own dissipated Great Dao. And Li Fan, the victor, was not in a much better state. His desperate struggle had indeed overdrawn his physical reserves. Blood ceaselessly flowed from the corner of his mouth, and the True Spirits he had forcefully absorbed began to return to the Void Realm uncontrollably. On his face, there was no elation of victory or the thrill of slaying a Saint, but rather a worried expression as he desperately sought to flee the area, regardless of his own injuries. He couldn't afford to heed the increasingly turbulent Void Realm currents.
From afar, Stealth, who had been waiting for a long time, continued his calculations. "With his True Spirit so shattered, even with his ability to absorb accumulated True Spirits, it is a guaranteed death." "Now, as the fisherman, I am assured of victory!" Stealth finally relaxed. He began to contemplate how to utilize Li Fan. "I shall erase his consciousness and refine him into a magic artifact capable of absorbing True Spirits at any time." "With such a treasure, this perilous Void Realm will become an inexhaustible treasure trove for me! Even the Three Sages could no longer trap me!" "Furthermore, I might even have the opportunity to glimpse the beginning of the Mountains and Seas..." Lost in his reverie, Stealth caught up to Li Fan. After all, Li Fan was heavily injured, and even with his best efforts to escape, he could not match Stealth's speed. "I wonder what method he used to repeatedly return to normal from Sage Sui Jun's attacks. But it matters not. Once I refine him into a magic artifact, everything will be under my control." Without further ado, Stealth gently placed his hands upon Li Fan's head. At that very moment, Li Fan, who had been unable to move, suddenly opened his eyes. In that instant, within Stealth's perception, the vital energies and destinies of both individuals underwent a complete reversal! The heavens and earth were turned upside down!
He was clearly the one who stood to gain from this situation, appearing at his leisure as a hunter to reap the benefits. Yet, now he was on the verge of losing his life, his future cut short!
And the one he had already considered within his grasp, Zhou Hui, had instead become the hunter. His aura was unfathomable, and he was in no mortal danger.
This entire shift had happened so swiftly, so unbelievably.
So much so that the man known as Thief of Opportunities, even witnessing it firsthand, was stunned for a moment.
He truly couldn't comprehend how it was possible for Li Fan, who was supposedly on the brink of death, to stage such a comeback from such a desperate situation.
But it didn't matter; Li Fan would soon provide the answer.
"When truth becomes falsehood..."
"Falsehood becomes truth."
A serene, ethereal hum, imbued with a magic that seemed to pierce through the void, suddenly sounded in Thief of Opportunities' ears.
Though Thief of Opportunities didn't understand its meaning, he instinctively felt its extraordinary nature.
His heart tightened, and he desperately tried to suppress Li Fan.
But...
Li Fan suddenly extended his hands, and in an instant, he reversed the situation, seizing Thief of Opportunities and rendering him immobile.
"Huh?!"
Only then did Thief of Opportunities realize with horror that Li Fan's apparent serious injuries were merely a facade!
In fact, the power Zhou Hui suddenly unleashed was no less than his own.
They were locked in a struggle, and for a moment, neither could gain the upper hand.
"Could it be that Zhou Hui was hiding his true strength?" A flash of anger and shock crossed Thief of Opportunities' mind.
But then, something even more terrifying occurred.
Because he only realized it belatedly: it wasn't that Li Fan had hidden his cultivation before. Instead...
He himself had grown weaker.
In an instant, nearly half of his strength vanished as if from thin air, reducing him to the cultivation level of a newly ascended Saint.
How could such an absurd and bizarre event happen in this world!
Fear began to grow in Thief of Opportunities' heart, but he quickly suppressed it, desperately searching for a sliver of hope amidst the impossible.
He recalled the words Zhou Hui had just chanted.
"When truth becomes falsehood, falsehood becomes truth, when truth becomes falsehood, falsehood becomes truth..."
Suddenly, Thief of Opportunities' body trembled slightly.
Recalling the scene of Zhou Hui battling Sui Jun earlier, he instantly understood something.
"It seems like all the negative effects of time's passage have disappeared, rendered completely ineffective. In reality, it's about creating a new self upon a decaying body. In a mere thought, from falsehood to truth. Sui Jun's power is something even the Sages would fear. Yet, it ultimately comes at a cost."
"How can it compare to this endless creation?"
"This is the transformation of [Falsehood Becomes Truth]! And now..."
"My Saintly realm, cultivation, strength, destiny, countless years of accumulation, all lost in an instant. Such incredulity, such unreasonableness..."
"Truth into Falsehoodhood!"
From the very beginning, there was no Saint Zhou Hui, but only Saint True-False.
As he grappled with this realization amidst the entanglement, Thief of Opportunities, far from despair, found his eyes shining with an unprecedented brilliance. His heart pounded violently, something it hadn't done in a long time.
He truly saw a glimmer of hope for himself!
"The Great Dao of True and False, the Great Dao of True and False. I never imagined such an inconceivable principle would actually exist between mountains and seas."
"That legend from back then was actually true."
"In the ultimate abyss of death, hidden opportunities lie. Even if [True and False] is your path, I might still be able to snatch it away!"
Greedy killing intent burned fiercely in his eyes, like a raging inferno.
Thief of Opportunities exhaled, and in an instant, countless rays of light scattered from his body, fleeing outwards.
These were the various fortunes he had accumulated over countless years, some from mortals, some from True Immortals, and even from the Sages of mountains and seas.
It was this foundation that had forged his formidable reputation.
But now, all of it was being abandoned by Thief of Opportunities!
He was making a final, desperate gamble, using the pure principle of "thievery" to seize the Great Dao of True and False from the opponent.
"If I obtain True and False..."
"I shall obtain mountains and seas!"
All the freed fortunes scattered, like dragons ascending to the heavens, stirring the void into turmoil.
And with the loss of his accumulated fortunes, Thief of Opportunities' strength naturally declined further.
But...
By doing so, he could now fully mobilize the Great Dao of "Thievery" to pursue the transformation of True and False before him!
Boom, boom, boom!
"When falsehood becomes truth..."
As Li Fan chanted again, his soul suddenly trembled.
It felt as if something cold and intangible had forcefully inserted itself into his consciousness!
And it was trying to forcefully drag itself outwards!
Hum, hum, hum...
A faint, sharp ringing in his ears gradually grew louder, transforming into blasts of thunder that continuously exploded in Li Fan's heart!
Before Li Fan's eyes, the Return to Truth light screen flickered and then blurred amidst the shaking.
An unbearable pain, originating from his physical body and divine soul, radiated outwards.
It was like a million needle pricks and knife cuts.
No words in this world could adequately describe the agony Li Fan was enduring at this moment.
Distracted by the pain, the casting of the transformation of True and False was forced to a halt!
Sensing that his plundering was effective, Thief of Opportunities' spirit surged, and he pressed his advantage.
He even burned the origin of the Great Dao of "Thievery."
This was a move where he would either succeed or perish.
Once the burning of the Thief of Opportunities' origin began, it could not be stopped. Even if Li Fan interrupted the reduction brought about by "Falsehood Becomes Truth," Thief of Opportunities would eventually degenerate into a mortal with no cultivation as his origin slowly depleted.
But at this moment, Thief of Opportunities showed no hesitation!
"Even if my thievery is completely lost, as long as I can seize the Great Dao of True and False, I can instantly overturn the situation."
With this conviction, flames erupted from Thief of Opportunities' body.
The invisible hand that had inserted itself deep into Li Fan's divine soul churned more violently.
It was determined to find the trace of the Great Dao of True and False!
Extreme pain breeds anger, and anger breeds malevolence.
As Li Fan gradually adapted to the pain caused by "thievery," he managed to regain his composure and reorganize his thoughts.
"False, becomes, TRUE..."
He gritted his teeth and once again cast the transformation of True and False.
Fortunately, after many cycles of reincarnation, the casting of True and False had become as instinctive as breathing.
Even though his consciousness was somewhat blurred, he could still perform it smoothly.
Another cutting tool descended upon him.
However, perhaps because Thief of Opportunities was burning his own origin and his realm was already declining, the effect this time was far less potent than the first.
Flames still blazed brightly from Thief of Opportunities' body.
They were so bright they almost made Li Fan unable to open his eyes.
"Almost there, almost found it."
Thief of Opportunities' senses had always been sharp, especially for things that could be considered "treasures."
And the Great Dao of True and False was undoubtedly among the top-tier treasures in the mountains and seas.
"Legend says that after the Mountain and Sea Divine Split, even at the brink of death, he left behind three trump cards."
"Each possessed the power to overturn mountains and seas."
"After the Divine Split perished, the mountains and seas evolved, but these three trump cards were never found."
"Until the rise of Dao Erasure, heralding the arrival of the Stars."
"The Mountain and Sea Divine Split, the Stars devouring mountains and seas. This is one of them."
"And this Great Dao of True and False before me..."
The closer he got, the more Thief of Opportunities could sense its essence.
"The immeasurable foundation of myriad things, the dark genesis of the transformation between reality and void, the bright balance of all wonders..."
"It is like the lingering thought of a god, capable of shattering mountains and seas, capable of stabilizing the void stars..."
Even from thousands of miles away, Thief of Opportunities could perceive the profound mystery and greatness of the Great Dao of True and False.
Even amidst the surging flames, his body trembled with excessive excitement.
As one of the few powerful beings in the mountains and seas, Thief of Opportunities had never imagined that he would experience the sentiment of "hearing the Dao in the morning and dying in the evening would be sufficient."
Two lines of clear tears suddenly streamed down his face, quickly dissipating into the flames of his origin.
Then, even greater greed surged in his heart.
"Such a wondrous treasure, I must possess it for myself!"
Thief of Opportunities completely lost his mind, holding nothing back. He ignited everything he had left.
This time, it wasn't just his origin Dao, but also his thoughts, his feelings, and even his physical body and divine soul.
All of it transformed into chips for his desperate gamble.
Towards the location of the sensed Great Dao of True and False, he clawed desperately!
"Boom!!"
An unprecedented tremor reverberated from Li Fan's soul.
Li Fan's face showed a look of horror, while Thief of Opportunities was ecstatic.
"Found it!"
Without any regard for the consequences, Thief of Opportunities, with only a sliver of his being remaining due to the burning of his origin, exerted his last ounce of strength.
He wanted to tear the Great Dao of True and False from Li Fan's body and claim it as his own.
But...
Thief of Opportunities' expression slowly froze.
The extremely bright light in his eyes instantly dimmed.
Although he had touched the Great Dao of True and False, it remained motionless.
"How... how could this be?"
Thief of Opportunities stared blankly, incredulous, unable to comprehend it, and strained once more.
The result was the same.
A third attempt yielded no difference.
Thief of Opportunities finally gave up.
Due to his misjudgment, his life was about to end.
But his expression gradually calmed.
"To witness this divine object before my death is enough, I have no regrets."
"It's just a shame..."
"I couldn't make it my own!"
He gently touched it one last time.
But ultimately, he felt nothing more.
Within Li Fan, everything returned to normal. The previously blurred light screen of Return to Truth became clear again.
And Saint Thief of Opportunities, amidst the raging flames,
Turned to ash!
Li Fan gently shook his head, trying to expel the foreign sensation from his mind.
Looking at the Origin Fire of the Great Dao before him, he felt a sense of relief, as if he had narrowly escaped a disaster.
He truly hadn't expected Saint Thief of Opportunities' strength to be so terrifying.
Not only could he endure the transformation of True and False for so long,
He could even sense, and attempt to strip away, Return to Truth from within him!
Although he had ultimately failed, it still left Li Fan with lingering fear.
"I was a bit too overconfident."
"The transformation of True and False is irresistible to those below Saints. In an instant, it can strip away the opponent's True Spirit, reducing them to mortals. But for the Sages of mountains and seas..."
"The Sages' accumulation over countless years in the mountains and seas is too abundant. Even if they cannot escape the influence of True and False entirely, it is enough for them to persist for a period of time. In a battle between Sages, anything can happen within that time."
Li Fan took a deep breath.
If Saint Thief of Opportunities was like this, then how would the even stronger Sage Lian Shan, Sage Gui Hai, and Sage Tai Yi react?
"Fortunately, the three Sages seem to possess a degree of morality. As long as I continue to maintain the True Spirit Infusion and my identity as a Walker of Mountains and Seas, I should be safe."
As Li Fan pondered, he did not forget to absorb the remnants of Saint Thief of Opportunities before him.
Although Saint Thief of Opportunities had self-immolated, the Great Dao of Thievery of the mountains and seas still remained.
However, it was like a severely injured person recovering from an illness; compared to the formidable Saint Thief of Opportunities, the remaining essence was quite weak.
With a thought from Li Fan, the scattered sparks of fire instantly vanished.
And on the "Return to Truth" section of the Great Dao, a few more characters suddenly appeared.
Representing Li Fan's gains from this encounter.
Sui Jun and Thief of Opportunities.
As the streams of light rotated, they were engraved and manifested, returning to the truth.
Third Sui Jun, Fourth Thief of Opportunities.
Li Fan looked at the increasingly rich "Great Dao Realized" section with immense joy.
Suddenly, he sensed that this long line of characters seemed to be undergoing a change.
Seven-colored light flowed, like water, with a slow shifting motion.
Thief of Opportunities, ranked last, moved forward, as if aiming for the first position.
"Thief of Opportunities, Zhou Hui, Sui Jun, Xuan Pin..."
"Is this ordered by strength?"
Li Fan vaguely discerned a pattern.
However, he then thought of something and frowned.
"It's better to order them by the sequence of their appearance."
"There is a destiny in the unseen."
"Order and sequence contain profound principles. As for strength..."
"The trend of strength is inherently without fixed rules. My consecutive victories against Sui Jun and Thief of Opportunities today are proof of this!"
Li Fan said proudly, asserting his preference.
As if sensing Li Fan's firm resolve, the seven-colored flowing light on the Great Dao Realized paused for a moment.
Finally, it returned to its original state.
Everything was according to Li Fan's will.
The stream of light settled, no longer rotating.
However, Li Fan did not leave the void realm immediately but first began to recover from his injuries.
This battle could be described as brutal.
Although he had successfully obtained the Great Daos of Sui Jun and Thief of Opportunities, the backlash he suffered was also quite severe.
Not to mention, the blows he endured from Sage Shou Qiu, to deceive the Sages, were not light.
Furthermore, the battle with Sui Jun and Thief of Opportunities had nearly exhausted him.
"To shatter and absorb True Spirits to the extreme, even with my physique, I could barely withstand it. I could clearly feel symptoms of actual loss, requiring time to slowly recover."
"Moreover..."
Li Fan extended his arms and observed them carefully, his expression grave.
"Although it's not obvious, I can still feel it."
"It's as if I'm oscillating between true and false, as if I'm both present and absent, existing and void."
"This is the price of forcibly using the transformation of True and False to fight enemies."
"Originally, if everything had gone smoothly, I wouldn't have suffered such a strong backlash. However, Thief of Opportunities' ferocity was far beyond my expectations."
"In front of Sage Shou Qiu and the Sages of the Other Shore, I can use my severe injuries as an excuse. But this trace, I fear, will not be hidden from the three Sages of Lian Shan."
"It seems I cannot return to my original mountain and sea in this lifetime."
Fortunately, Li Fan had no intention of returning to his original mountain and sea to report back to the three Sages.
"I just need to suppress and absorb all the remaining Sages here."
Li Fan sat cross-legged in the void realm, using the transformation of True and False to mend his severely wounded body.
Perhaps because an external force had inserted itself before, it seemed to have created a weakness, making the repair process exceptionally difficult.
Li Fan multitasked, taking the opportunity to comprehend the recently acquired Great Daos of Sui Jun and Thief of Opportunities.
On their Dao paths, it seemed the final thoughts of their previous masters still lingered.
Putting Sui Jun aside for now, Li Fan was more interested in Thief of Opportunities.
"The immeasurable foundation of myriad things, the dark genesis of the transformation between reality and void, the bright balance of all wonders..."
"This must be the transformation of True and False?"
After contemplating for a moment, Li Fan was slightly stunned.
"It's actually more profound than what I've understood?"
“Interesting.”
Li Fan's thoughts swirled around the Great Dao of Stealth, filled with lingering unwillingness and an insatiable yearning for the Great Dao of True and False. But all of it vanished with Li Fan's intervention, becoming mere principles of the Dao.
"While the insights gleaned from Stealth seem profound, they are merely the fantasies of someone who has never experienced the transformation between true and false," Li Fan mused after a long while, having thoroughly examined the remnant thoughts of Stealth. "The establishment of all things, the change between void and reality, the balance of all wonders – these are merely superficial aspects of the true and false transformation. Just like the hall that reveals all the Great Daos in the world, it seems to encompass all principles between mountains and seas, but at its core, it is still the four words: 'Great Dao Realization.'"
"The true essence of the true and false transformation... still lies in those seven words."
As if sensing Li Fan's thoughts, a line of small text suddenly appeared on the Reflection Panel: "When truth becomes falsehood, and falsehood becomes truth." It seemed to contain infinite mysteries, then dissipated moments later, vanishing into darkness.
"No matter how much is said, it all boils down to a single thought of truth or falsity. This is what is meant by, the Great Dao is simplicity itself."
Of course, Li Fan had to admit that possessing such insights the moment he touched Reflection was a testament to Stealth's comprehension, which was indeed superior to his own. Li Fan's current understanding of the true and false transformation was the result of gradual accumulation and contemplation through countless cycles of reincarnation.
"Touching Reflection is one thing. Whether Reflection is willing to follow you is another." Li Fan snorted in his heart. On the Great Dao Realization panel, "Fourth, Stealth" suddenly emitted a brilliant, seven-colored light. In an instant, as if embodying the Sage of Stealth himself, Li Fan scanned his surroundings and reached out to the nearby void. Some of the myriad destinies that Stealth had released in his desperate struggle had not yet traveled far. Li Fan recaptured them.
"With destiny empowering me, it truly is different." Li Fan narrowed his eyes, tasting the flavor of boundless luck. "With my current understanding of the Great Dao of Cosmic Cycle, I can attain Sainthood through my own enlightenment. Then, I can attempt to once again don the guise of Stealth. While the power of two Saints may not necessarily mean a doubling of strength, it will provide another trump card in a real battle."
During his confrontation with Stealth, Li Fan had been in a precarious situation and was acutely aware of the deterrent power of the Great Dao of Stealth. "Actually, for me, Stealth is far less useful than Great Dao Realization. But Reflection cannot easily reveal itself to others, so I can use Stealth's name as a guise."
In addition to his insights into true and false, and stealth, Li Fan also glimpsed ancient legends within the residual intentions. "The Gods left three contingency plans? If the second one was Reflection and Star, then what is the last one?" Li Fan had personally visited the end of the mountains and seas and witnessed their demise, with lonely stars descending. At that time, besides Reflection's ability to turn the tide and contend with Star, nothing else in the mountains and seas remained.
"It couldn't possibly be me, could it?" Li Fan thought, half-jokingly. He tried to get an answer from Reflection, but it remained as silent as ever. Li Fan didn’t dwell on it. As his strength grew, allowing him to contend with and even slay Sages, he was getting closer and closer to the realm at the peak of mountains and seas. "I believe it won't be long before I know the answers to everything."
Li Fan shed the guise of Stealth, letting the recaptured destinies dissipate. With Reflection in hand, even boundless luck paled in comparison.
"I wonder how Senior Qiu Gong is doing." Having almost completely healed his hidden injuries, Li Fan rapidly retreated in the direction he came from. He sensing the colossal aura of Sages battling, like a surging tide, from afar. He saw Senior Qiu Gong, wielding the three Sages' supreme treasures, facing the siege of Gui Ming, Duan Chan, Ye Pan, and Xing Cha, yet he was not at all at a disadvantage!
Senior Qiu Gong stood firm, unmoving. He paid no heed to the changes in destiny, the manipulation of prophecies, or the judgments of karma. He remained steadfast. Xing Cha, seizing opportunities, unleashed a torrent of starlight, attempting to break through Qiu Gong's defenses. However, it was easily blocked by the Lian Shan Staff and Gui Hai Spade. The Myriad Beings Cudgel, appearing and disappearing like a phantom, would strike the Sages from behind when they least expected it. Although Qiu Gong was surrounded, he still had opportunities to counterattack. Yet, given the significant disparity in numbers, if the four Sages were determined to contain him, he wouldn't be able to escape for a long time.
At this crucial moment, as the battle raged fiercely, Li Fan, who had seemed to disappear into the depths of the void, returned! Senior Qiu Gong was overjoyed. The other four Sages, however, were stunned. Cosmic Cycle had returned, but where were Sui Jun and Stealth? Their strength was superior to the current four Sages present. If even they had met misfortune… The four Sages of Xing Cha paused their attacks and looked into the depths of the void, trying to find the missing Stealth and Sui Jun.
However, Li Fan's words cruelly shattered their illusions. "Sui Jun and Stealth have already been vanquished. Why don't you surrender quickly!" At first, the four Sages of Xing Cha naturally dismissed this as deception. But with Stealth and the others still absent, the four Sages grew increasingly hesitant. Could it be that they had merely lost track of them? The four Sages exchanged glances.
"Stubborn and foolish. Then don't blame me for showing no mercy. Let me tell you, when I came here, the Three Sages granted me the mandate of 'unrestricted action and flexibility.' I had originally hoped that you would help reshape the mountains and seas and jointly defend against Dao Erasure. But now it seems... you are not to be relied upon." Li Fan's words were directed at Senior Qiu Gong.
With that, he no longer concealed his intentions, revealing Stealth's aura, and lunged towards Gui Ming! Gui Ming instantly felt a cold, invisible hand gently caressing his skull. He was instantly terrified and exclaimed, "Great Dao of Stealth?" Stealth, the strongest among the Sages, had vanished mysteriously, and his cultivation path now appeared on Li Fan, whom he had been pursuing. What had transpired in the depths of the void was self-evident! Although it seemed unbelievable, Li Fan held the Three Sages' supreme treasures and came with their mission. Who knew what other treasures the Three Sages had bestowed upon him besides the staff, spade, and cudgel? The Three Sages' foundations were unfathomable. Even Stealth, the strongest among the Sages, was easily suppressed by the Three Sages.
Thinking of this, Gui Ming and the other three Sages panicked and fled in different directions! Only Senior Qiu Gong, equally stunned, remained. "Qiu Gong, don't be in a daze. It will be too late when they react," Li Fan said. After that, his aura suddenly weakened. Senior Qiu Gong finally understood and grabbed Li Fan, returning rapidly to the mountains and seas.
Amidst the chaotic flow of the mountains and seas, Li Fan explained the entire situation to Senior Qiu Gong, blending truth with falsehood. "So, you managed to barely kill Sui Jun and Stealth with the Three Sages' treasures, but you yourself were heavily injured. Your Great Dao of Cosmic Cycle is destroyed, and you've instead comprehended the Great Dao of Stealth?" Senior Qiu Gong pondered and asked.
"Correct. Knowing he had no hope of escape, Stealth made a final desperate gamble, abandoning the countless destinies he had seized and attempting to seize my body and fortune to escape certain death. He almost succeeded..." Li Fan said with lingering fear. "That's something he would do," Senior Qiu Gong sighed after a long silence.
"Stealth's schemes were numerous, but he didn't know that I, having traversed from the end of the mountains and seas, had long cultivated the ability to rise from nothing even if my cultivation was completely destroyed. Senior Qiu Gong may not know, but in the previous epoch of mountains and seas, I was originally the Sage of the [Mysterious Woman]. However, after the mountains and seas reconnected, two Mysterious Women appeared in this world. I was the latter and, unwilling to fight, I voluntarily proposed to abandon my [Mysterious Woman] Dao path."
"The Three Sages, seeing my ability to infuse true spirits, then guided me in the creation of the [Cosmic Cycle]..." This part was not Li Fan's fabrication; it was a true account of his experiences in this life. Hearing this, Senior Qiu Gong nodded repeatedly, praising, "Fellow Daoist is virtuous! No wonder the Three Sages entrusted such a heavy responsibility to you."
The two then discussed subsequent matters. "Although the Three Sages instructed me to act with discretion, the mountains and seas are in turmoil and could be swallowed by Dao Erasure at any moment. I fear that relying on just the two of us, we cannot stabilize the situation. We still need the assistance of Gui Ming and the other four Sages, so further conflict should be avoided," Li Fan said slowly. This sentiment aligned perfectly with Senior Qiu Gong's thoughts. After all, they had sat together in the Xuanji Ring for countless years, and a certain "emotional bond" had formed.
"However, I'm unsure how to make the four Sages willingly reshape the mountains and seas. Alas, if only the Xuanji Ring were still intact," Li Fan sighed and frowned. Senior Qiu Gong’s expression shifted slightly. However, he did not speak immediately. After careful consideration, he said, "Actually, if we think about it, we sat in the Xuanji Ring for countless years, but it was truly effective only a handful of times. After initially tasting the formidable power of the Xuanji Ring, all the Sages were subdued and no longer harbored other ambitions, being forced to align with the Three Sages."
Li Fan’s eyes narrowed, and he immediately understood the hidden meaning in Senior Qiu Gong's words. "Although the Xuanji Ring is broken, and it's difficult for us to restore it, as long as we can make the Sages believe we still possess the Xuanji Ring, we can trick them into taking their seats again?"
"Based on my understanding of them, that is indeed the case. At the very least, for a short period, they shouldn't notice anything unusual, which should be enough for us to jointly reshape and stabilize the precarious situation of the mountains and seas." "Of course, that Xuanji Ring cannot be too fake. If it's seen through at a glance, we won't be able to fool them," Senior Qiu Gong said slowly.
"After the Xuanji Ring shattered that day, were there any remnants left?" Li Fan asked. Senior Qiu Gong hesitated for a moment, seemingly lost in memories. After a considerable time, he answered with some uncertainty, "There should be. However, at that time, we were shocked by the fall of the Three Sages and didn't pay attention to the whereabouts of those fragments. But since the mountains and seas haven't completely fallen, the fragments of the Xuanji Ring are still hidden within them."
"Then we must find them as soon as possible. By the way, I haven't seen the Sacred Emperor Tai Wei since I arrived. I wonder about him..." Li Fan suddenly asked. Senior Qiu Gong’s expression dimmed. "The fall of the Three Sages caused earth-shattering repercussions. Sacred Emperor Tai Wei sensed the anomaly and, thinking a great change had occurred on the Other Shore, rushed over to investigate. He never expected to be besieged by the unleashed Sages. With concerted effort against an unsuspecting target... he couldn't hold on for long and perished, along with countless beings of the Sacred Dynasty Tai Wei. This is also why I hid when you arrived. I witnessed their brutal actions and did not wish to associate with them, yet I was powerless to stop them," Senior Qiu Gong sighed sadly.
Li Fan comforted him, "It's alright. With my arrival, order will be restored. Once the mountains and seas are reconnected, Sacred Emperor Tai Wei will return to his original state. At most, only the increase in strength from the reconnection of mountains and seas will be lost." Senior Qiu Gong nodded slightly, agreeing with Li Fan's statement. Having resided in the Xuanji Ring for countless years, Senior Qiu Gong was intimately familiar with its aura. After searching the mountains and seas, they soon collected dozens of Xuanji Ring fragments.
To prevent Gui Ming and the other four Sages from suspecting their plan, Li Fan periodically revealed himself to draw their attention. Although the four Sages grew suspicious of Li Fan's earlier claims, the fact that Stealth had perished and Li Fan had survived was undeniable. Even with lingering doubts, none of them were willing to be the first to test Li Fan's true strength. Thus, Li Fan successfully kept them occupied.
"It seems... only these last few remain," Senior Qiu Gong said with a sigh, looking at the scattered fragments before him. Li Fan gazed at the dozens of white jade pieces lying quietly, showing no sign of their past grandeur that once covered the Other Shore and exerted influence over mountains and seas. He picked up a piece and examined it carefully, unable to discern its material.
"It seems that restoring it, even if it's just a forgery, is not as simple as imagined." The Xuanji Ring, as its name suggested, was truly mysterious. Li Fan observed it for a long time, yet could find no clue.
"Naturally. The Xuanji Ring was forged by the Three Sages working together. It can even subtly influence the minds of Sages, truly the pinnacle of creation in mountains and seas. Apart from the Three Sages, even if others were within it day and night, they would find it difficult to fathom its profundities. Otherwise, wouldn't they have found a way to escape after being trapped for so many years?" "This is also why, after the Xuanji Ring shattered that day, the Sages did not actively collect the fragments."
"If I had personally witnessed the creation of the Xuanji Ring, I might have been able to attempt to replicate it. But by the time I entered the mountains and seas, the Xuanji Ring had already existed for a long time..." Senior Qiu Gong said, his expression suddenly becoming serious as he looked at the Lian Shan Staff, Gui Hai Spade, and Myriad Beings Cudgel in Li Fan's hands. These three treasures had been lent to Senior Qiu Gong for combat earlier, and Senior Qiu Gong had voluntarily returned them after Li Fan's return. Although these three treasures would have exhibited their greatest destructive power while in Senior Qiu Gong's possession, Li Fan had still retrieved them. Seeing Senior Qiu Gong's gaze, he was moved. He immediately summoned the three treasures, bowed respectfully, and said solemnly, "Having traversed mountains and seas and endured tribulations of life and death, I have finally found a way to break free. I hope you will not refuse to help."
The three treasures had accompanied the Three Sages since their humble beginnings and possessed their own sentience. They had witnessed all that had transpired in both epochs of the mountains and seas. Now, facing Li Fan's request, they deliberated and seemed to reach a consensus. The Lian Shan Staff floated into the air, and dozens of Xuanji Ring fragments were drawn to it, swirling around. Visions of continuous mountains and rivers appeared. The Gui Hai Spade followed closely. The illusions of mountains and seas merged, as if containing all the laws and all the Daos in the world. The Myriad Beings Cudgel then tapped lightly, and countless beings were born within the mountains and rivers' illusions. The images of mountains and seas shaped by the three treasures appeared as if real. As time passed and ages shifted, a white light emerged from each flash of light representing billions of years. It fell upon the surrounding Xuanji Ring fragments!
Just like replaying the tempering process of the Primal Enigma Ring, it was also like imitating the Three Sages to reforge the Primal Enigma Ring.
As the phantoms of mountains and seas floated, time flowed and changed. The shattered Primal Enigma Ring was being perfectly mended, inch by inch!
After a long time, the Mountain Staff, Sea Spade, and All Beings Cudgel retracted their radiant light, as if they had lost their spiritual essence and almost fell from their floating state.
Li Fan quickly put away the three treasures and then looked at the Primal Enigma Ring, which seemed to have been restored as before.
However, Elder Sage Qiu Xin Hui saw through the mystery first, "It is not truly restored, but the method for re-casting it has been engraved. It's like a mold. We only need to infuse it with materials and power."
"Although it cannot be compared to the original Primal Enigma Ring, it still possesses a third of its power. It is more than enough to fool Gui Ming and the other four Sages for a while," Elder Sage Qiu Xin Hui said with pleasant surprise.
"Perhaps the Three Sages considered that the Primal Enigma Ring would be shattered and that I would need to rebuild it when they handed over the supreme treasure to me," Li Fan mused thoughtfully.
Elder Sage Qiu Xin Hui nodded in agreement.
Li Fan once again examined the Primal Enigma Ring before him.
Or rather, the Primal Enigma Ring mold was a more accurate description.
Reality and illusion intertwined, fully embodying the profound principles of mountains and seas. The ends connected seamlessly, forming a cycle of its own.
It reflected and contained the mountains and seas, while also using the power of "Primal Enigma" to restrain everything within this small ring.
This ensures unity of purpose and adherence to rules.
"This method is subtly skillful, embodying the kingly and domineering spirit. It is incomparably more brilliant than forcibly distorting thoughts!" Li Fan marveled repeatedly after studying it.
When the Sages were seated within the Primal Enigma Ring, their personalities and temperaments would not actually change.
The Sages remained the Sages.
However, under the influence of the Primal Enigma's power, their thoughts and contemplations would first consider the overall situation of the mountains and seas. Simultaneously, they would regard the Sages seated together in the Primal Enigma Ring as fellow travelers.
Coupled with the suppression by the Three Sages, this made them appear so peaceful and benevolent.
But once the Primal Enigma Ring shattered, this collective would instantly be broken.
Towards outsiders, the Sages would naturally employ their own means without any mercy.
As Li Fan savored the wonders of the Primal Enigma Ring, Elder Sage Qiu Xin Hui's expression gradually grew serious.
"The Primal Enigma Ring was forged by the joint effort of the Three Sages. Although it appears to be a unified whole, it actually contains three coexisting and coexisting powers. Therefore, if we want to restore it using this mold, it would be best to have three people as well. Otherwise, its effectiveness will be greatly reduced."
After speaking, Li Fan and Elder Sage Qiu Xin Hui exchanged glances.
"If Tai Wei had not perished, we might have been able to join forces with him. But now..."
"In this dying world of mountains and seas, where else can we find a third Sage?" Elder Sage Qiu Xin Hui was troubled.
Li Fan's brow furrowed as well, "Although I possess the supreme method of infusing True Spirits, it still requires a suitable seed. I wonder if such a person still exists in this shard of mountains and seas?"
After some deliberation, they decided to first complete a portion of the Primal Enigma Ring mold and then search the mountains and seas for materials suitable for achieving the Dao.
Meanwhile, to deter Gui Ming and the Four Sages, Li Fan would occasionally manipulate the stagnant True Spirits in the void realm, creating significant disturbances.
The Four Sages, suspicious and wary, believed Li Fan was plotting something in the void realm.
Their attention was temporarily diverted.
"As the saying goes, 'Beneath the torrential waves, heroes emerge.' In times of crisis and disaster, there will always be those who can turn the tide. You were like that in the past, Elder Sage Qiu Xin Hui, and so is this person in the mountains and seas today," Li Fan said, pointing at a figure as they searched tirelessly.
Elder Sage Qiu Xin Hui also revealed a look of considerable admiration. "This child was only at the Nameless True Immortal realm a hundred years ago, when the mountains and seas were shattered. As the end times descended and the mountains and seas were on the verge of collapse, the restraints between possibilities weakened. He finally broke through his long-standing shackles and achieved the Transcendent realm."
"It's a pity that after jumping beyond possibilities, all he saw was a shattered and precarious state of mountains and seas. He even encountered waves of Dao Erasure several times and almost perished. If you hadn't stopped me, I would have almost intervened and saved him."
Li Fan said calmly, "I observe that this child's destiny is not yet extinguished. Under the conditions of life and death, there are often great opportunities hidden within. If I had saved him, it would have caused him to miss these opportunities."
Elder Sage Qiu Xin Hui nodded, "The Path of Stealing Opportunities is indeed profound. He has indeed escaped death repeatedly, and even... found a Sage Medicine scattered during Tai Wei's demise amidst the chaotic currents of mountains and seas."
"With the aid of this Sage Fortune Grand Medicine, he has completely stabilized his Transcendent realm. If the mountains and seas were still stable, he might have had a chance to aspire to the Sage realm on his own. But now..."
Li Fan chuckled, "Aren't we still here?"
"After observing him secretly for so long, this child truly meets our requirements in all aspects."
"Indeed. After his strength increased, and feeling the chaotic end times of the mountains and seas, he returned to his homeland alone. He led the immortals to resist Dao Erasure, and even shared all his insights without any reservations. In this single possibility, thirteen cultivators in the Transcendent realm were born in a short period. Although it has almost exhausted the potential of this possibility, a solid defensive force has been formed. Now that the wind and waves of Dao Erasure are rising, they can still be considered safe. Even if the mountains and seas collapse, their location will be among the last to survive," Elder Sage Qiu Xin Hui praised without reservation.
"Speaking of potential, after my recent observations, I've noticed that this place seems to have increased its potential, even in a state of exhaustion. I wonder if it's my illusion."
"It's not an illusion, it's actual," Elder Sage Qiu Xin Hui explained to Li Fan.
"The potential originates from the mountains and seas. Under normal circumstances, it is fixed from birth and remains unchanged. How many Nameless beings, how many Transcendent beings it can nurture, and whether Sages will be born are all predetermined. Only in extremely special circumstances can fate be altered..." Elder Sage Qiu Xin Hui paused slightly, perhaps remembering something.
Then, pointing to the possibility they were observing, he continued, "Now that the mountains and seas are shattered and order is lost, this is an opportunity to change fate. To put it bluntly, potential is like nutrients in the soil. While not an absolutely fixed quantity, the rate of replenishment is extremely slow. From the perspective of beings like us, it will seem 'limited.' Moreover, the mountains and seas are already in a state of self-endangerment, and they cannot spare any power to nourish the beings within them."
"And the current increase in potential is due to the shattering of the mountains and seas and the self-loss of potential."
Li Fan immediately understood, "This extra potential has come from other possibilities that have already been destroyed."
Originally, Li Fan found it difficult to perceive the amount of potential contained within a possibility.
However, while searching for suitable candidates for achieving the Dao, he noticed that Elder Sage Qiu Xin Hui could often determine at a glance whether a possibility contained their target, and his accuracy was always very high.
Thus, he inquired.
As fellow travelers in the endeavor to save the world, Elder Sage Qiu Xin Hui naturally did not spare any effort in sharing this small discerning method for possibilities.
He taught it to Li Fan in detail.
This method was called [Observing Mountains and Seas], which allowed one to trace the veins of possibilities originating from the mountains and seas.
Then, by integrating various forms, one could determine the magnitude of its potential.
Li Fan had already cultivated it to a minor success during the years he spent searching for suitable helpers.
"Logically speaking, if the methods are appropriate, it is possible to drain the potential of several possibilities and supply it to one." Li Fan suddenly had a realization while observing and contemplating the Dao, and remarked, "This can indeed be done. But..."
"It doesn't hold much significance."
"For us, although we originate from different possibilities, we are all born within the mountains and seas. There is no difference."
"Furthermore, the potential of possibilities involves the origin power of the mountains and seas. If it is forcibly used, it may provoke a backlash from the mountains and seas. Although we Sages are not afraid, we must also worry about further damaging the already fragile mountains and seas."
The topic was interrupted, and they returned their attention to the Transcendent cultivator they had chosen.
This person cultivates the Dao of [Unending] and follows the method of unifying all selves.
In the end times of mountains and seas, while crises abound, opportunities also burst forth.
With numerous possibilities annihilated, the number of [Unending] beings that needed unification in the entire mountains and seas was only a handful.
Unending walked the path that a Transcendent being might take a lifetime to achieve in a mere century.
"Like Morality, special circumstances have created a unique being in the mountains and seas."
"Although the lack of self-reinforcement from other possibilities will inevitably lead to a weak True Spirit."
"But with my intervention, all worries will disappear!"
"The time has come, Elder Sage Qiu Xin Hui, take action. The situation in the mountains and seas is becoming increasingly dangerous, and we can no longer wait," Li Fan declared loudly.
Elder Sage Qiu Xin Hui nodded slightly, and then, with great tacit understanding, they acted separately.
Li Fan's figure flickered, and he arrived beside [Unending] within the possibility.
Looking down from above, he revealed an unfathomable smile, "Young friend, today I bring you a great fortune!"
With that, he gently waved his hand downwards.
To this sudden development, Unending showed surprise. Instinctively, he wanted to resist, but under Li Fan's restraint, he was completely unable to move.
He could only obediently accept Li Fan's infusion.
Gradually, the fear on Unending's face disappeared, replaced by immense joy.
He closed his eyes to comprehend the Dao, awaiting the final step.
Meanwhile, outside the mountains and seas, to attract the attention of Gui Ming and the Four Sages, Elder Sage Qiu Xin Hui had already flown out.
Wielding the Mountain Staff, Sea Spade, and All Beings Cudgel, he engaged in a fierce battle with the Four Sages.
The three treasures, after years of recovery, had regained some of their combat power.
However, they had not returned to their peak state.
It was inevitable that Elder Sage Qiu Xin Hui would gradually fall into a disadvantage.
As long as he could hold off the Four Sages for a period, the birth of a new Sage of Unending would suffice.
Li Fan was already proficient in creating Sages.
And Unending was an absolute prodigy who had emerged from the end of the mountains and seas.
Without any unexpected events, a moment later, a strange fluctuation descended upon the mountains and seas.
A new Sage was born.
"Not good!"
As if realizing something, Gui Ming and the Four Sages immediately abandoned Elder Sage Qiu Xin Hui and rushed to slay this newly born Sage.
In an instant, Li Fan had completed the exchange of information with Unending.
Unending felt gratitude towards the senior who had enlightened him into becoming a Sage.
Conversely, Gui Ming and the Four Sages were fierce individuals who sought his life without a word. There was no need to consider which side to stand on.
"Elder Sage Qiu Xin Hui, can you return!"
Li Fan's voice boomed, spreading throughout the shattered mountains and seas and reaching into the void realm.
The Mountain Staff and the other two treasures instantly shone brightly, protecting Elder Sage Qiu Xin Hui's return.
"Request the Primal Enigma Ring!"
Li Fan and Elder Sage Qiu Xin Hui said in unison with solemn voices.
Under the watchful eyes of the Four Sages, a white circle, extremely familiar to them, suddenly appeared in the center of the arena.
The Four Sages, who were rushing rapidly towards the mountains and seas, instantly halted their steps.
They looked at the shattered yet reappeared Primal Enigma Ring, filled with horror.
Having been suppressed within the ring for countless years, how could they not know its power?
Thus, they instinctively feared it.
Li Fan, Elder Sage Qiu Xin Hui, and the newly promoted Sage Unending, took their seats within the Primal Enigma Ring one after another.
In that instant, they shared a common heart and mind, their thoughts seemingly becoming one.
"So, the Three Sages who first sat in the ring had such a profound mystery."
Under the white light of the Primal Enigma Ring, Li Fan revealed a complex and unfathomable expression.
Beside him, Elder Sage Qiu Xin Hui and Unending, whose attention should have been focused on repairing the Primal Enigma Ring and resisting the approaching Four Sages, were now ignoring all of that.
They merely looked at Li Fan.
"Refine Gui Ming and the Four Sages completely. The Great Dao of Return to Truth will gain more. Perhaps it will bring some inexplicable help to the Reflection," said Li Fan, but it was not Li Fan speaking.
It was Elder Sage Qiu Xin Hui!
Unending also nodded in agreement, "It seems the mountains and seas are not suitable for immediate return. Absorbing the other Sages, your aura changes can even be subtly perceived by Elder Sage Qiu Xin Hui, let alone the Three Sages. The ancient mountains and seas are unclear, so it is best not to go alone. It is better to return to Reflection and then infiltrate the Sages. Using everyone's strength, we can investigate the situation."
"The Mountain Staff, Sea Spade, and All Beings Cudgel are also considered top-tier treasures of the mountains and seas. After refining Gui Ming and the Four Sages, we will help you jointly study them. If we can subdue them and keep them in Reflection, perhaps they can serve as a hidden force in the next life."
"And this Primal Enigma Ring. After completing all this, there's no rush to return to Reflection immediately. Let us combine our efforts and comprehend it together. If, in the next life, you no longer need the assistance of the Mountain Staff and the other two treasures, you can reproduce it on your own..."
"This will avoid many troubles," Elder Sage Qiu Xin Hui said after a moment of contemplation, dropping an astonishing statement.
Although the secret of carrying the Reflection had been unintentionally exposed, Li Fan showed no signs of panic.
Instead, he was filled with pleasant surprise.
"Primal Enigma, Primal Enigma, worthy of its name."
"I finally understand why the Three Sages of Lian Shan always had unified opinions and acted as one."
"Exquisite, truly exquisite!"
"Indeed, exquisite," Elder Sage Qiu Xin Hui and Unending both nodded in agreement.
The moment the three of them sat in the Primal Enigma Ring, countless unexpected events occurred for Li Fan.
Li Fan had far underestimated the power of the Primal Enigma Ring's [Unity of Purpose].
Especially in this instance, where the three of them jointly forged it and were the first to be seated within.
The so-called Unity of Purpose meant that all memories and emotions of the three of them merged completely.
As if they had become a single entity.
All decisions and thoughts of the three of them thereafter would stem from the perspective of the unified entity's interests.
If Li Fan had not possessed the power of Reflection, and was merely a cunning villain trying to conceal his true nature, he would inevitably have clashed fiercely with Elder Sage Qiu Xin Hui's righteous principles.
There would have been a struggle for self-dominance before they could discuss matters of Unity of Purpose.
But...
Li Fan happened to be blessed with the power of Reflection!
Elder Sage Qiu Xin Hui was committed to saving the mountains and seas.
From a broader perspective, the stronger Li Fan became, the more beneficial it would be for saving the mountains and seas.
As for the various circumstances within the mountains and seas in this lifetime...
Be it Sages or even the mountains and seas themselves, they were all usable resources!
Within the Starry Enigma Ring, Li Fan, Mound Guardian, and Unceasing were one, their identities merging into an indistinguishable whole.
"In the past, you once stumbled upon a fragment of the Great Dao of Longevity. Truly, fate willed it! You underestimated me slightly. Even knowing you possessed Return to Truth, I would never have attempted to seize it. Treasures of the Mountains and Seas belong not to the virtuous, but to those who can obtain them. Just as I obtained the Great Dao of Longevity – it was my destiny. How could others simply snatch it away?"
"Circumstances change. With Return to Truth in hand, one must be cautious. Even though I know Mound Guardian's character well now, in the next life, I might not dare to carelessly reveal Return to Truth to you."
"Perhaps the memory inheritance option of Return to Truth can be used. In my view, this 'memory inheritance' is more like using the transformation of true and false to recreate beings who have already perished. Just like the reincarnation you experienced."
As they conversed, they witnessed the Four Sages of Fate's Arrival charging towards them to stop the Starry Enigma Ring from recreating the world. Li Fan chuckled, "Like gnats trying to shake a great tree, how laughable and presumptuous. Today, we shall use these four Sages as a sacrifice to our banner, to celebrate our acquaintance."
"Well said!" Mound Guardian nodded in agreement.
The wondrous uses of the Starry Enigma Ring were truly unimaginable. Li Fan, Mound Guardian, and Unceasing, their memories, knowledge, and perceptions entirely merged, it was as if Mound Guardian, through countless epochs of life, simultaneously comprehended the transformation of true and false that Li Fan had experienced. Although the comprehension was limited to the mere hundreds of moments Li Fan had activated Return to Truth, Mound Guardian's insights were undoubtedly far superior to Li Fan's. As for Unceasing, though somewhat weaker than Li Fan, he also possessed his unique perspectives.
The three intertwined, becoming a single entity. In the mere moments Li Fan spent within the Starry Enigma Ring, his understanding of the Great Dao of True and False had increased tenfold. The Starry Enigma Ring, which originally required the combined efforts of three individuals and decades to forge, was completed in mere breaths under the influence of the Great Dao of True and False!
As the blinding white light erupted, engulfing the Mountains and Seas, the Four Sages of Fate's Arrival coincidentally arrived. A primal fear surged within the Sages at the sight of that immensely familiar radiance.
"How is this possible? The Starry Enigma Ring was clearly shattered!" Fate's Arrival exclaimed in disbelief.
Mound Guardian declared loudly, "Without seeing its face, how can you comprehend its supreme profound mysteries? Cease your futile struggles, and please enter the Return to Truth of the Great Dao!"
As Mound Guardian spoke, circles of white light, like ropes, began to bind the Four Sages from the outside inwards, from large to small, constricting their bodies. The Four Sages of Fate's Arrival, with their Saintly divine abilities, could break free from one or two circles. However, the Starry Enigma Ring's restraints were innumerable. Just as their original fates had been, within moments they were suppressed by the Starry Enigma Ring.
They had initially believed they were merely returning to the Other Shore to continue their world-saving endeavors. They never expected this...
Compared to the atmosphere when the Three Sages were present, the environment within the current Starry Enigma Ring felt strangely unsettling.
"Mound Guardian, what are you trying to do?" The Four Sages of Fate's Arrival, sensing unease from the phrase "Return to Truth of the Great Dao," voiced their concern.
"What am I doing? Naturally, I am doing what must be done." Mound Guardian chuckled lightly again, but his expression was chillingly cold. He swept his gaze over the bound Sages, "You possess the realm of Sages, yet you are of no use in saving the Mountains and Seas. It would be better to contribute to Fellow Daoist Fan's cause. When the crisis of world destruction passes, your deeds can at least be recorded."
"What Mound Guardian says resonates with my heart," Li Fan concurred.
"Stop spouting nonsense! We were not wrong in our judgment of you; without the Three Sages present, your true nature is revealed! All your talk of great virtue was merely a deception to fool the world!" Severing Fate retorted coldly.
"Even if we are captured now, you are merely relying on the power of the Starry Enigma Ring. The Starry Enigma Ring can only suppress, not harm. You will find it difficult to kill us!" Doom's Judgment sneered, unfazed even while suppressed.
"Is that so..." Mound Guardian's expression was unreadable.
"Mere mortals, how can you comprehend the profound mysteries of thought? Today, let me show you. To be able to glimpse the Great Dao of True and False, you can consider yourselves to have died a worthy death." With a faint utterance, he pronounced the death sentence upon the Four Sages.
"Fellow Daoist Fan, watch closely."
Within the Starry Enigma Ring, a myriad of images of Mountains and Seas instantly surged forth. This was not like past instances, where only illusory forms were created. The Sages could distinctly feel the true aura of the Mountains and Seas. The Undulating Mountain Range stretched boundlessly, the Infinite Sea was vast and boundless. The pressure of the Mountains and Seas alone caused the Sages' breaths to falter. And within the illusory forms of the Mountains and Seas, one figure stood out prominently.
Sitting on the mountain, gazing at the sea, his back to all beings.
"Have you heard the roar of mountains and seas?"
"Have you witnessed the surge of mountains and seas?"
"Have you experienced the calamity of collapsing mountains and sinking seas?"
"Have you feared the end of mountains and seas?"
Surrounded by the illusory forms of the Mountains and Seas, the Sages could no longer see Mound Guardian's true form. All they perceived was the might of mountains and seas, the surge of mountains and seas, the destruction of mountains and seas, all pressing in like blades of wind and swords of frost. This was not only Mound Guardian's past experience and comprehension, but after being infused with the transformation of true and false, it had become as tangible as reality.
The Four Sages of Fate's Arrival, though their strength was considerable, could not escape such a catastrophic event. The illusory forms of mountains and seas appeared and then shattered, returning all to peace. The Four Sages of Fate's Arrival now seemed to have truly experienced a cataclysm of mountains and seas collapsing, and were quietly annihilated, ceasing to exist! Only four faint streams of light remained, suspended within the Starry Enigma Ring, representing the Dao paths of the four Sages.
Li Fan, though astonished by the destructive power displayed by Mound Guardian after he gained control of the Great Dao of True and False, did not falter. He immediately activated Return to Truth. Under his gaze, the Dao paths of the four Sages were instantly absorbed, adding more characters to the "Return to Truth of the Great Dao" section.
"To be able to achieve the Dao path of a Sage is already extraordinary. Now, it merely appears as an insignificant brick on the endless wall of true and false." Utilizing Li Fan's eyes to witness the grand hall of Return to Truth himself, Unceasing exclaimed.
Mound Guardian remained silent for a moment before nodding in agreement, "Even the Great Dao of Longevity is among them."
"When this world ends, we too can enter within." Mound Guardian's intention was clear: before Li Fan returned with Return to Truth, he would voluntarily dissipate himself and become one with Return to Truth of the Great Dao.
"Let us not rush this matter. I observed the divine ability Mound Guardian just displayed; its power is truly terrifying. Even without the Starry Enigma Ring's restraint, ordinary Sages would likely find it difficult to resist."
"The method of perceiving potential is called 'Observing Mountains and Seas.' This Sageslaying divine ability could be named..."
"Mountain Sea Annihilation."
Li Fan meticulously recalled the entire process of the illusory Mountains and Seas appearing and disintegrating. He was both surprised and delighted. Although he understood this divine ability like the back of his hand in their current Triune state within the Starry Enigma Ring, he might not grasp its meaning in the next life without this combined state. Sensing Li Fan's thoughts, Mound Guardian meticulously explained the technique to him.
"All these myriad forms are merely the recreation of events I personally experienced, using the Great Dao of True and False, and then projecting them onto the opponent."
"Without the amplification of the Great Dao of True and False, it would merely be an illusion with a point of reality. However, under the influence of the Great Dao of True and False, it can transform into the methods of Sages!"
"The Three Sages of Lian Shan might survive this. But other Sages in the Other Shore... even the strongest among them, Stealth, would struggle to escape this calamity," Mound Guardian stated with great confidence. Their intentions intertwined, and learning this was even faster than Li Fan's Return to Truth donning the mantle of a Sage. Even though the 'Mountain Sea Annihilation' encompassed Mound Guardian's comprehension from countless epochs, its core remained the transformation of true and false. Within a hundred years, Li Fan had fully mastered it.
During this time, the white light of the Starry Enigma Ring continued to envelop most of the remaining Mountains and Seas, maintaining a state of near-collapse but not truly resolving the crisis. This was to create the illusion that Li Fan was still struggling, preventing the Three Sages of Lian Shan from the future from crossing over.
"This method cannot last indefinitely. The wisdom of the Three Sages is something even I cannot fully fathom. They may have already vaguely sensed your possession of Return to Truth. However, knowing that Return to Truth cannot be seized, or that seizing it is useless, they allowed you to proceed." Mound Guardian stated calmly.
"As long as they don't expose it, it's fine. I will continue to play the role of the True Spirit Infuser and Mountain and Sea Walker. For the sake of reconnecting the Mountains and Seas, the Three Sages will have to compromise, or even lend their support," Li Fan replied after some thought.
"Ascend against the current, absorb numerous Sages, and fill Return to Truth of the Great Dao. I have a premonition that if that magnificent hall reappears from the void, even if the plan to reconnect the Mountains and Seas fails, the Mountains and Seas can still be saved. As for the Three Sages..."
"Do not entirely disbelieve, but do not entirely trust either." Mound Guardian offered this advice.
"Why do you say that?"
"They might act in our favor before the reconnection of the Mountains and Seas. But what about after? It is uncertain. Furthermore, the ultimate goal of the Three Sages is to return to the time of the split sea. Otherwise, even if the Mountains and Seas return to their full glory, they will still be no match for the Stars."
Within the Starry Enigma Ring, Li Fan and Mound Guardian exchanged many words. Mound Guardian's experiences from countless epochs, especially his interactions with the Three Sages, were an invaluable treasure for Li Fan. He had also made general plans for future reincarnations.
"You can continue to ascend against the current until I arrive at the Other Shore; it should be safe. However, further beyond..."
"Perhaps I will no longer be able to assist you."
"It's alright. I have grown accustomed to being alone on my journey. Besides, we might still travel together." Li Fan said calmly.
Three unusual fluctuations within the Starry Enigma Ring interrupted their conversation. Mound Guardian glanced, laughed lightly, "The Staff of Lian Shan, the Spade of Gui Hai, and the Cudgel of Myriad Beings – these three treasures have fully recovered and are struggling to break free."
"Though they do not comprehend our creation, they can sense something unusual from the act of slaying the Four Sages. Their mission goes against that of the Three Sages, so they must depart. However, they are no longer in control." Mound Guardian's hand moved, easily suppressing the three treasures.
Before he understood the transformation of true and false, Mound Guardian might not have been a match for these three treasures. But with the Great Dao of True and False now in his possession, no matter how miraculous the three treasures were, they were ultimately not the true bodies of the Three Sages. Coupled with the aid of the Starry Enigma Ring, they naturally could not escape Mound Guardian's suppression.
"Time is running short. Since we have captured the Four Sages, let us now dismantle the Starry Enigma Ring."
"Although we have reforged the Starry Enigma Ring, most of its structure was built using the molds provided by the Three Treasures. If we lose the molds in the next life, recreating the Starry Enigma Ring..."
"Even with the amplification of the Great Dao of True and False, it will likely not be easy," Mound Guardian said slowly, his gaze sweeping over the white light of the Starry Enigma Ring that enveloped the Mountains and Seas.
"Precisely. And without the Starry Enigma Ring by your side, Fellow Daoist Fan, you likely wouldn't feel at ease either," Unceasing nodded.
Li Fan did not refute Unceasing's teasing. Instead, he frowned, "The Starry Enigma Ring is a supreme treasure forged by the Three Sages. Even if I can recreate it from scratch in the next life, I fear it would still be detected by the Three Sages. I need to fully comprehend its principles, to create *my* Starry Enigma Ring, not *the* Starry Enigma Ring."
"In other words, a Starry Enigma Ring that belongs solely to me." Li Fan's words were a bit convoluted, but Mound Guardian and Unceasing immediately understood his meaning.
"I do not have absolute certainty, but I will do my best to try," Mound Guardian replied. The difficulty of deciphering the Starry Enigma Ring was somewhat beyond Li Fan's expectations. Even with the combined wisdom of the three, their progress was slow and arduous. After all, it was a reliance that the Three Sages used to unite others in their cause, and it was not easily broken.
As they reached an impasse, Li Fan suddenly had a thought.
"With the strength of the three of us, we might fall short."
"What if we involve all the beings of the Mountains and Seas?"
"The subsequent inhabitants of the Starry Enigma Ring can only exert a subtle influence; they cannot achieve a unified will. Perhaps this can work," Mound Guardian nodded in agreement after some thought.
Unceasing also concurred, "The wisdom of the beings of the Mountains and Seas may not be inferior to so-called Sages, but they lack the opportunity and destiny. Once they attain the Dao, they might find a different path, one we have overlooked."
After reaching a consensus, the light of the Starry Enigma Ring suddenly expanded again, its brilliance illuminating the entire Mountains and Seas. At this moment, all the surviving beings of the Mountains and Seas could glimpse the brilliant white circle above them. Although their physical bodies did not enter, their divine souls and lingering thoughts were drawn within. Previously, the Starry Enigma Ring only contained the three majestic figures of Li Fan, Mound Guardian, and Unceasing. But now, around them appeared countless points of light, like a sea of stars.
Upon their arrival, some were startled, some fearful, some excited. They chattered noisily, creating a cacophony. Unceasing frowned slightly, Li Fan's eyes turned cold, while Mound Guardian let out a wry smile.
"Silence!" Unceasing's voice echoed, clarifying their mission to all the boundless beings. Those who were inclined towards the Dao, without needing their requests, spontaneously began to probe the mysteries of the Starry Enigma Ring. As for those who were not interested, Li Fan did not worry about them remaining idle. After all, with the Starry Enigma Ring's influence of unified will, unwillingness would eventually turn into willingness.
Slowly, the Starry Enigma Ring fell silent. Countless points of light drifted about, wandering through every corner of the Starry Enigma Ring. All they knew, thought, and perceived flowed like a gentle stream, constantly converging. Though small and fine, like all the rivers flowing into the sea, they eventually formed an ocean.
Eight hundred years passed. The research on the Starry Enigma Ring had reached a crucial juncture.
"Fellow Daoist Fan's ingenious idea was effective. The collective exploration of the boundless beings of the Mountains and Seas surpasses our solitary research."
"The Starry Enigma Ring was perhaps created by the Three Sages by drawing inspiration from the Mountains and Seas and deriving its principles. For the beings of the Mountains and Seas to decipher it is like finding the key. It is naturally twice as effective with half the effort." Mound Guardian's words echoed within the Starry Enigma Ring. Compared to eight hundred years prior, the place had become much brighter and clearer. The previously obscure and difficult aspects of the Starry Enigma Ring were now as transparent as glass to Li Fan and the others.
"So this is what the Starry Enigma Ring looks like in the eyes of the Three Sages."
"However, there is still one critical core aspect yet to be unlocked."
"That is..."
"The secret of unified will."
Li Fan and the other two simultaneously looked up at the sky.
The three sat cross-legged in the center, as if bound by some mysterious interwoven power. It was this very connection that granted the Stellar Enigma Ring’s initial occupants the characteristic of unified hearts and minds, as if they were one. This unity was the Stellar Enigma Ring’s greatest mystery. All other beings seated within the ring were subtly influenced by this, their transformations stemming from it.
Shou Qiu gazed for a long time, then uttered, "There's no need to rush to uncover this final step. After all, it was forged by the joint efforts of the Three Sages. If this secret were to be deciphered by others, the Three Sages might instantly perceive it. Even across the void, such a possibility cannot be ruled out."
Li Fan nodded in agreement. Shou Qiu had been seated within the Stellar Enigma Ring for many years. Though he didn't share the synchronized thoughts and memories of the Three Sages, through their extended coexistence, he had managed to glean insights into their true strength from occasional details. For instance, the Three Sages' premonitions were terrifyingly potent. They could often foresee events long before they occurred, allowing them to prepare accordingly. The success rate of these premonitions... over countless years and countless instances, it had never faltered. Initially, the Sages of the Other Shore were astonished. Later, they simply grew accustomed to it.
"Even when the Body Manifestations from the Void attacked, the Three Sages seemed to have foreseen it. However, for reasons unknown to me, they chose not to evade but to confront them resolutely."
"This premonition shares some similarities with your intuition, Fellow Daoist Fan, yet it's not entirely the same. The Three Sages' premonitions don't just appear when an event is imminent; they can foresee things far in advance. In fact, the Three Sages can even actively use their divine abilities to sense impending matters. Therefore, their thoughts are profound, and it's difficult for others to fathom them."
"Besides their premonitions, the Three Sages possess another divine ability that they've revealed."
"That is the Indestructible Primordial Unity."
Through their intertwined divine senses, Li Fan instantly understood what Indestructible Primordial Unity meant.
Shou Qiu continued with detail, "This is a divine ability the Three Sages derived at the very instant before the Mountains and Seas were divided. Although, in terms of ancient and modern history, the Three Sages, like the Mountains and Seas, were fragmented into individual segments. Yet, with unfathomable divine power, the Three Sages maintained their unity."
"To put it simply, one can view the Three Sages existing in different temporal segments of the Mountains and Seas as a single whole. The demise of any individual part does not affect the overall strength of this whole; its strength is consistently anchored at the lower limit from the moment the Mountains and Seas were sundered, while its upper limit can grow exponentially over time."
"If an individual were to perish in the current temporal segment of the Mountains and Seas, the overall strength remains unchanged. The consequence would be that the strength of the remaining Three Sages would exhibit a certain degree of growth. In an extreme scenario, if all temporal segments of the Three Sages were annihilated except for one, then the last surviving Sage would regain their peak strength."
"Unified as one, enduring through eternity, difficult to extinguish. This was the contingency plan the Three Sages devised to counter the crisis of the Void fragmenting the Mountains and Seas, ensuring they would have a final blow to deliver even in the worst of circumstances."
"Beyond this, the Three Sages may possess other divine abilities, but those are beyond my knowledge. It's a pity I didn't witness the Three Sages' battle against the Body Manifestations from the Void; otherwise, I could have gained more insight."
Li Fan furrowed his brow. "So, it seems the Three Sages are indeed extremely difficult to deal with. I can hardly think of any way to truly kill them."
Shou Qiu nodded. "However, at the very least, you won't have to contend with the Three Sages for a considerable period. As for the future..."
Shou Qiu chuckled. "Even if the Three Sages are unfathomably mysterious, they are by no means a match for the Great Dao of True and False. If you can truly grasp the Transformation of True and False, not to mention the Three Sages, even the survival of the Mountains and Seas will be within your will."
Li Fan shook his head. "Completely understanding the Transformation of True and False is incredibly difficult!"
"In the past, with my understanding, after countless cycles of reincarnation, I felt I had a rudimentary grasp. Yet, today, empowered by Shou Qiu's knowledge accumulated over countless years, I suddenly realize there is so much more unknown. It is astonishing. What I previously thought I understood was merely the tip of the iceberg."
Within the Stellar Enigma Ring, the three fell into silence. Even Shou Qiu, who could describe the mysterious and unfathomable Three Sages with such detail, became like a beginner when faced with the vast and infinite Transformation of True and False. It was truly taxing for Fellow Daoist Fan.
As time passed and the myriad beings of the Mountains and Seas continuously analyzed, the Stellar Enigma Ring grew brighter and brighter. Finally, when all other secrets were deciphered, only the secret of "Unified Hearts and Minds" remained. Li Fan's journey in this lifetime was finally approaching its end.
"I must prepare thoroughly in advance."
"Whether successful or not, it's not advisable to linger in this lifetime," Shou Qiu remarked, glancing at the void beyond the Mountains and Seas with a solemn expression.
"Could the Three Sages descend upon the Mountains and Seas at any moment?" Li Fan nodded slightly, sensing the impending crisis that Shou Qiu had vaguely perceived.
"As I mentioned earlier, before my Return to Truth, I will merge into the 'Great Dao Realized.' However, unexpected situations may arise. If the merger fails, do not cling or hesitate; depart as soon as possible."
"Are you referring to..." Bu Jue's expression sharpened.
"The Longevity I obtained from the Infinite Sea was merely a fragment. Although it shares the same 'dimensionality' as the Mountains and Seas, and I have cultivated to the Sage realm with it, yet..." Shou Qiu said with a faint tone, "Beyond the boundless void, there might be other 'Longevity' existences. While I am willing to return to Return to Truth, they may not be. At that time, conflicts and collisions might erupt."
"But this is only my premonition; it's possible it won't actually happen," Shou Qiu added with a smile, momentarily easing the somber atmosphere.
"The Three Sages, the Mountains and Seas, the Void, the Stars, and other unknown entities. Even at the Sage realm, the path is fraught with peril and difficult to tread," Bu Jue sighed.
After a final, thorough discussion, during which all possible impending scenarios were rehearsed, Li Fan and the other two finally extended their senses towards the subtle enigma above their heads.
As if touching the Stellar Enigma Ring's forbidden secrets, the previously bright and transparent Stellar Enigma Ring instantly dimmed. It was like dark clouds pressing down on a city, heralding imminent rain. Streaks of light flashed intermittently within, like lightning. The Stellar Enigma Ring seemed on the verge of disintegration.
However, Li Fan and the others ignored these omens. Under their mental manipulation, the countless light spots, formed from the beings of the Mountains and Seas, advanced fearlessly towards the last hidden secret. It was like a reversed meteor shower, vast and magnificent.
The moment the light spots touched the Stellar Enigma Ring's profundity, they withered and vanished like flowers. Every instant, billions of beings disappeared. But influenced by the power of unified hearts and minds, the concepts of life and death were of no consequence to these light spots.
At the cost of their lives, they finally managed to peel back a corner of the Stellar Enigma Ring's ultimate mystery.
"This is..." Even Shou Qiu's expression shifted slightly upon witnessing the scene before him.
Li Fan, though startled, exclaimed in realization, "All beings in the Mountains and Seas originate from the Divine. They were inherently united in heart and mind, and naturally, in spirit. Yet, I never expected the Three Sages could already glimpse the 'Divine'?"
At this moment, before their eyes, floating above the heads of the three, maintaining the secret of the Stellar Enigma Ring's unified hearts and minds, was an indescribable figure. It seemed to possess the same face as the so-called 'human' form, yet it also appeared to have three heads and six arms, as if it were a fusion of the three. It was even more like a formless shadow, elusive and unpredictable.
Even though Li Fan and the other two possessed unified hearts and minds, the specific appearance of the figure they saw at this moment differed. However, without exception, upon seeing this shadow, a single character emerged in their minds.
"Divine."
The profound principles condensed upon this shadow seemed to exist independently of the Great Dao of True and False, not inferior to it. Even with Li Fan's current understanding, comparing the two, he could only conclude they were "neck and neck."
"This is the Three Sages' deconstruction of the Divine."
"Although it might seem like the Three Sages' comprehension arose from nothing, yet..."
"It must have its basis!" Shou Qiu reacted, his voice low, reminding them.
He wished to delve deeper. But the rumbling sounds had already begun to emanate from beyond the Mountains and Seas. Not only from the direction Li Fan had come from in the future, but even from the ancient past of the Mountains and Seas, beings seemed to be rapidly approaching.
Li Fan and the other two's attempt to decipher the Divine shadow within the Stellar Enigma Ring had directly provoked the Three Sages. They were disregarding everything, determined to descend. With every passing instant, the immense rumbling sounds doubled, like the receding tide before a tsunami. The Dao Erasure outside the Mountains and Seas also dissipated at this moment.
"There's no time! We'll have to wait for the next life!" Li Fan, still somewhat reluctant, his gaze deeply drawn to the unfathomably profound Divine shadow. This was the first time he had encountered something comparable to Return to Truth.
But Shou Qiu had already regained his composure. With a low shout, an immensely potent vitality erupted from him. It was precisely the Great Dao of Longevity!
As Longevity manifested, all things were born. The Mountains and Seas, which were on the verge of collapse under the pressure of Dao Erasure, were revitalized by this immense vitality, instantly appearing as if life had returned to withered trees, as if they had returned to their prime. Infinite possibilities erupted, presenting a scene of myriad things flourishing.
However, all these illusions of vitality vanished the moment the Great Dao of Longevity disappeared. In fact, due to this immense stimulus, it backfired. After a brief resurgence of life, an even swifter demise followed. Under the backlash of the Dao Erasure tide, the Mountains and Seas disintegrated.
And in the 'Great Dao Realized' column, a line of seven-colored characters representing the Great Dao of Longevity of the Mountains and Seas quietly appeared. Just as Shou Qiu had predicted, this assimilation into Return to Truth was not as smooth as before! A subtle, invisible pulling force seemed to be at play from the outside. The characters flickered, appearing and disappearing, unstable.
In the real Mountains and Seas, Shou Qiu's form slowly began to fade, disappearing first. Bu Jue, seeing this, did not hesitate and decisively dismantled himself, merging into the 'Great Dao Realized.' Compared to the Great Dao of Longevity, the assimilation of his 'Indestructible Dao Path' was much smoother. Without any complications, a few more lines of characters appeared in the 'Great Dao Realized' column.
Having lost the assistance of Shou Qiu and Bu Jue, as if suddenly deprived of their two brains, Li Fan became disoriented. Even his previously clear thoughts were affected. However, a palpable sense of impending danger instantly pulled Li Fan out of the aftereffects of losing the unified hearts and minds.
At this moment, as if time had stood still, Li Fan discerned the critical situation. The Mountains and Seas were on the brink of destruction, and beyond them, the Three Sages from two different temporal segments were successively approaching. Without external observation, the Divine shadow had vanished. However, likewise, the Stellar Enigma Ring, with no one guarding it, gradually lost its suppressing power. The three treasures – the Lian Shan Staff, the Gui Hai Spade, and the Myriad Beings Cudgel – began to stir restlessly. In the 'Return to Truth' panel, Shou Qiu's manifestation as the Great Dao of Longevity was still caught in a tug-of-war, not yet fully assimilated into the 'Great Dao Realized.'
"Fortunately, apart from the Divine shadow, all other scenarios were within our predictions." A sharp glint flashed in Li Fan's eyes as he proceeded according to plan.
He leveraged the Stellar Enigma Ring's final suppressing power to seize the three treasures. Then, gathering all the remaining beings of the Mountains and Seas, he silently recited the Great Art of True Spirit Incineration. Ordinary life forms possess weak true spirits, but their sheer number is infinite. When piled up, they are comparable to a Sage. Now, ignited by Li Fan, they blazed like a fierce fire, illuminating the near-extinguished Mountains and Seas. Already fragile and on the brink of annihilation, how could they withstand this inferno? In just a moment, flames surged, and the light spread continuously.
Li Fan, hidden within the roaring inferno, held the three treasures like torches. Aiming at the center of the Stellar Enigma Ring, where the Divine shadow resided, his gaze was cold as he hurled them with force. Along with the intensely burning true spirit flames, the magnificent radiance fiercely collided with the concealed Divine shadow.
Yet, Li Fan felt it was still not enough. He took a deep breath and, from beyond the void of the Mountains and Seas, beckoned with a distant gesture.
"Come!"
To the best of his ability, he drew all the accumulated true spirits from the void. Like oil added to a raging fire, the inferno across the Mountains and Seas suddenly surged several times over. And this inferno continued to grow, and grow!
However, the one who lit the fire could not escape. As the prime culprit in igniting the Mountains and Seas, Li Fan was enveloped by the flames. Inevitably, he too was set ablaze.
"Ahhhhhh..." The agony of the true spirit flames burning was indescribable by any earthly language. Every part of his divine soul felt as though it was undergoing the most brutal torture. But Li Fan endured all the pain. His gaze burned, fixed upon the center of the Stellar Enigma Ring, scorched by the great true spirit fire.
Without the unified hearts and minds, relying solely on his own thoughts, Li Fan's choices invariably changed.
"Steady progress, while seemingly viable," Li Fan mused. "If I hadn't glimpsed the Divine shadow, I would probably have followed Shou Qiu's advice. But..."
"This Divine shadow cannot be truly unraveled through conventional means! Only a desperate struggle can unlock its mystery!"
"No matter how many reincarnations, it remains the same."
"It's better to act sooner rather than later!" His body and soul were engulfed in flames, merging into the vast true spirit inferno. His infinite spirituality dissipated, serving as fuel to sustain this raging inferno. The Mountains and Seas were incinerated, and even the void was momentarily repelled.
Under the scorching of the true fire, the Lian Shan Staff and the other two treasures turned to ash. And the Stellar Enigma Ring, unable to endure further, began to shatter layer by layer from the outside. Within it... the Divine shadow reappeared! Freed from the Stellar Enigma Ring's confinement, the Divine shadow seemed to reveal its true form. It resembled the Mountains and Seas, and yet it also seemed to be the myriad beings of the Mountains and Seas. Even the blazing true spirit flames could not harm it in the slightest.
The mountain ablaze with fire suddenly stilled the moment the divine shadow materialized. Under the intangible pressure, the once vigorous flames began to dwindle. Centered on the divine shadow, the fire rapidly extinguished. Not only the True Spirit Flames vanished, but also the mountains and seas, the void realms, and everything within cognition. The area occupied by the divine shadow seemed to become an absolute abyss, siphoning everything around it.
Perhaps because the swallowed mountains and seas were insignificant compared to the divine entity, the profound divine shadow underwent no change despite its voracious consumption. It remained standing silently before them. Beyond the shattered mountains and seas, the deafening roars that had been rapidly approaching gradually ceased after the divine shadow fully manifested. Within observable range, a deathly silence prevailed.
Only Li Fan, whose true spirit was in a state of dispersion, retained some consciousness. However, he was powerless to act, drifting along with the current like a fallen leaf towards the abyss where the divine shadow resided. "This..." "Is this what a god is?" Li Fan's thoughts were remarkably calm. Despite the impending fall into the abyss, he felt no fear. It was as if the divine shadow before him was his homeland, and his return was simply his destined fate.
With a peaceful state of mind, Li Fan was able to observe the manifested divine shadow as thoroughly as possible, to the best of his ability. Insights surged into his mind. "Even an encounter with a god is not something ordinary individuals can comprehend." "A god is like one who resides high above the Ninth Heaven, too distant from the world for ordinary people to see clearly." "But I embody both the True and False Dao, as if I am already in the sky." "I am extremely close to the divine, within reach, and thus can gain some understanding."
Time seemed to stop for Li Fan at this moment. Without fear or apprehension, without greed or desire, without sorrow or anger. There was no sense of "if I could hear the Dao in the morning, I would die content," nor was there any reverence for the unfathomable mystery of the divine. There was only instinctive observation. And then, thoughts arose.
"Neither spirit nor object, neither existence nor oblivion, unblemished and pure, a tribulation beyond tribulations." "It reflects all phenomena yet has no form, gives birth to all laws yet has no thought." "All beings are its children, and also its abyss." "To know it as a boat is to drown in the boat; to see it as the Dao is to lose the Dao." "Unfathomable, immeasurable, unseeable, inaudible..."
Whispered murmurs erupted from Li Fan's mind. It seemed as if, apart from the divine shadow and Li Fan, nothing else existed in this place. As Li Fan observed the divine shadow, the divine shadow also observed him. They were opposed in some unseen way. The fall into the abyss suddenly accelerated. In the silence, faint whispers gradually emerged. Upon closer listening, they were Li Fan's own insights from observing the divine! It was as if the abyss of the divine shadow held countless other versions of himself, waiting for Li Fan to join them!
"Return, return..." As he was about to plunge into the divine shadow, Li Fan seemed to accept this fate, embracing it willingly. For some reason, the Return to Truth remained silent, allowing Li Fan to act as he pleased. As if one foot had already stepped into the abyss, the shadow Li Fan felt gradually expanded. However, the instinctive insights that arose in his heart consequently lessened. His body was infinitely stretched, the front half continually falling towards the divine shadow, while the latter half continued its descent. Li Fan patiently waited for himself to be completely absorbed into the divine shadow. He waited and waited...
After an unknown duration, the surrounding mountains, seas, and void realms had all been devoured. Yet... Li Fan's descent had still not concluded! "What is happening?" "Is this taking too long?" Absolute calm did not equate to complete loss of thought. Instinctively, questions arose in Li Fan's mind. He then resumed his contemplation, and easily found the answer. "Ah... it's because my True Spirit is infinite."
As if a stone had stirred a thousand ripples, Li Fan's "calm" state after encountering the divine was shattered. "It seems..." "The divine isn't all that impressive?" The moment this thought emerged, the world turned upside down! "The Eastern Sea can swallow all the waters of the world, but what if there were waters from beyond the source from the heavens?" "Even with all the power of the Eastern Sea, it would be difficult to contain them." "Heh! In the end..." "It's merely a divine shadow."
Li Fan sighed in his heart. His infinite True Spirit, still outside, transformed into a giant hand and gently pushed, forcefully pulling back the True Spirit that had been swallowed by the divine shadow! Moreover, this returning True Spirit seemed to carry some of the divine's unique shadows. It was always the divine that swallowed the world, but today, the divine was being "plucked" in return.
The abyss-like ink color began to churn after a moment of silence. Previously, it had a divine demeanor, sitting motionless, silently awaiting all things in the world to fall into its abyss. Now, it actively exerted force, intending to swallow Li Fan! Although he had resisted the descent with his endless True Spirit, allowing him to escape earlier, Li Fan now clearly felt he could not withstand the divine shadow's active devouring.
"Let's see what this so-called divine shadow can do before the transformation of true and false." Li Fan finally inwardly recited the words "Return to Truth." The churning abyssal shadow once again stilled. The words "When truth becomes falsehood, falsehood too becomes truth" suddenly appeared in Li Fan's vision. Then, they exploded, engulfing the universe. Everything seemed to be veiled in a layer of mist, becoming blurred and indistinct. Even the profound divine shadow was no exception!
However, unlike the mountains and seas and all other things that had fallen into stillness, the divine shadow, under the veil of mist, became even more active! It lunged towards Li Fan at an almost visible speed! This was the first time Li Fan had been directly threatened by an external force after activating Return to Truth. His heart skipped a beat. Just as the divine shadow was about to touch Li Fan... a ray of light ascended from the white mist. Like a sharp sword, it slashed at the lunging shadow. The shadow was instantly split in two, then submerged by the white mist, becoming blurred once more. The divine shadow's only chance of victory vanished.
As usual, Li Fan, enveloped by Return to Truth, restarted the cycle of mountains and seas. ... This time, he seemed to have fallen into a much deeper slumber. When Li Fan's consciousness cleared, his mind was momentarily blank, and he couldn't recall his last experience. It wasn't until he sat in a daze for a long time that he remembered everything. "Hiss..." "My actions after seeing the divine shadow were a bit reckless. It's not like my usual temperament. Was I influenced by something?" Li Fan frowned, pondering for a long time, but could not decipher the reason.
Lines of text continuously scrolled before his eyes, as if urging Li Fan to make a choice. "Could it be that Return to Truth has changed again?" Li Fan suppressed his chaotic thoughts and focused on observing. Unfortunately, compared to the previous cycle, there were no significant changes.
[End of this simulation]
[You can choose one of the following options to retain:
1. This simulation's own cultivation, possessions, or Dao path.
2. The simulation results of any close Dao companion. This result can overwrite the current mountains and seas.
3. This simulation's outline of changes in mountains and seas.
4. This simulation's Star Radiance Movement Strategy.
5. Forfeit the above choices and accelerate the charging progress.]
... "Logically, the transformation between true and false happens in an instant." "Why can I only choose one out of four, and not have them all?" Li Fan did not make a hasty choice and instead questioned Return to Truth. It was evident that Return to Truth would not answer Li Fan's question.
The lines of text on the screen continued to scroll, seemingly mocking Li Fan. Frustrated, Li Fan did not dwell on it. Without rushing to make a choice, he first examined the changes in Return to Truth. His state had been reset to the anchor point, but Return to Truth had not.
First, in the section for Dao Realization: "Boundless Unity has already entered. But the Dao of [Longevity]..." "Shouxiao's premonition was correct. In the vast unknown, there truly exists another Longevity. Moreover, the power of this entity that wields Longevity has reached an unfathomable realm. It could even resist the influence of [Great Dao Realization] to a certain extent." The Dao of Longevity had entered, but not fully. All other Dao characters were in vibrant colors, their meaning clear to Li Fan upon sight. But this Longevity... was merely a transparent outline. Though it possessed the form of Longevity, it was clearly not complete.
Observing this, Li Fan frowned slightly: "It seems Longevity is not a good thing in this hall of true realization." As if sensing Li Fan's thoughts, the already transparent characters for [Longevity] suddenly vanished, as if they had disappeared into thin air. Li Fan's heart stirred, and upon consciously recalling it, they reappeared. "It can reside between true and false, between imagination and reality, truly marvelous!" Li Fan exclaimed. "I wonder who the true master of Longevity is."
In the previous cycle, united with Shouxiao, Li Fan had learned of some of Shouxiao's own speculations. "They were in the extremely distant beginning of the mountains and seas, an ancient era even before Shouxiao was born. It might even be the very moment the mountains and seas split into divine entities." "Perhaps they suffered heavy damage in the conflict." "Their main body did not fall into the evolution of mountains and seas over time, but a fragment fell into the mountains and seas..." Li Fan suddenly mused. Although there was no concrete evidence, the ability to contend with the limitations of [Great Dao Realization] indicated the extraordinary nature of the true master of Longevity. "Perhaps they are no weaker than the Three Sages. Such a figure should not be provoked for now."
Returning to the anchor point and starting anew, Li Fan regained his characteristic caution. "Besides these two Daos, there is also the Xuan Ji Ring." "The divine shadow." At the end of the previous cycle, Li Fan had met the divine shadow's gaze. Furthermore, he had used the True Spirit Great Fire to shatter its surface, penetrating to its core. Because he had a clear understanding of its essence.
"It is not truly the shadow of that perished Creator God." "Rather, it is an artifact created by the Three Sages through unfathomable power, a manifestation of the concept of 'God'." "Although not a physical entity, the Three Sages' profound understanding of creation has imbued this shadow with some of the true power of a god." "If... if the Three Sages' understanding of mountains and seas, and void realms, were to deepen further, or if they were to possess the transformation of true and false, perhaps what they created would not be a divine shadow, but a divine body."
The divine shadow was the very core of the Three Sages' understanding. Therefore, upon sensing that someone else in the mountains and seas was attempting to spy on it, they abandoned all caution and rushed to stop it. However, upon realizing that the core of the divine shadow had been exposed and the situation could no longer be salvaged, and fully aware of the destruction the divine shadow's appearance would bring to the mountains and seas, they instead abandoned their attempt to intervene.
Undoubtedly, the divine shadow was worthy of its name. Once manifested, it drew all mountains, seas, and void realms into its abyss. It was as if that Creator God sought to be reborn through its shadow. Only Li Fan, not only by relying on his infinite True Spirit to temporarily resist the divine shadow's devouring, but even took something back from the divine shadow. "Gained one, gained all." "This mottled speck is the divine shadow itself." "Like a mold for the Lian Shan Staff, Gui Hai Spade, and Myriad Beings Cudgel, with its help and the assistance of two other Sages, the Xuan Ji Ring can be recreated."
In the subsequent struggle with Return to Truth, the divine shadow's complete defeat undoubtedly indicated that it was merely an illusory shadow and no match for Return to Truth. Naturally, it could not be ignored and still exist within Li Fan's reset body. But... Li Fan closed his eyes slightly. In the next moment, his infinite True Spirit seemed to boil. As if reliving the experience of being pulled into the abyss, his physical body and divine soul remained mortal. However, his infinite True Spirit had silently dispersed. In the void, an intangible mold seemed to emerge. After Li Fan's True Spirit flowed through it, a phantom image stood erect. Compared to the divine shadow created by the Three Sages, this one was clearly much more ordinary.
"The divine shadow is the deconstruction of 'god' by the Three Sages." "And this one, I created by deconstructing the divine shadow through the previous True Spirit Infusion." "Although inferior in other aspects, it has the blessing of the transformation of true and false..." "It possesses a unique charm." "Sufficient to create the Xuan Ji Ring!" Li Fan's eyes gleamed with a brilliant light, he stated with utmost confidence. This phantom image, unlike the divine shadow created by the Three Sages, which aggressively sought to devour all mountains and seas, seemed to exist between reality and illusion, ethereal and indistinct. It floated above Li Fan like a phantom.
The Great Xuan, the Xuanhuang Realm, and even the Primordial Era and the surrounding mountains and seas were reflected within it. Like a set of carving knives, they sculpted the phantom image. Without a trace, yet deeply etched. As the creator of this phantom, Li Fan could clearly observe every moment of change occurring on the phantom. "This divine shadow, while a manifestation of my insights, can also actively help me gain insights into everything it encounters after its creation." "Though not as profound as the insights from Great Dao Realization..." "It's not far off either." The phantom was like a mirror, and Li Fan used it to peer into the mountains and seas. His comprehension seemed to have increased tenfold!
"This change is the ingenious use of the true and false transformation." "My understanding of the transformation of true and false is akin to understanding all the principles in the world. However, where I previously needed to convert them myself, with the help of this divine shadow, that troublesome process is now omitted." "If I had obtained this at the beginning of my cultivation, I would undoubtedly be overjoyed. Unfortunately..." "After reaching the Saint realm, so-called talent and comprehension no longer play a decisive role." "Although it can temporarily bridge the gap with the Three Sages, to truly contend with them..." "It still relies on the aid of [Return to Truth]." Li Fan was very clear-headed.
The vision of a Sage surpassed that of ordinary individuals. Especially in the previous life, Li Fan, Shou Qiu, and Bu Jue, the three Sages, sat together within the Xuanji Ring, their hearts and minds synchronized as if they were one. Li Fan’s own strength had also improved a thousandfold compared to before.
Though he had not yet chosen an inheritance option in this life, remaining an unadulterated mortal, he could already shape the phantom image of a deity solely by perceiving and utilizing his own boundless spiritual essence. This was the fruit of the combined power of the three Sages.
“Therefore…”
“In this life, there is no need to choose an inherited cultivation. Not to mention my profound comprehension of the Cosmic Cycle Great Dao, even any single aspect of the Return to Truth would be enough to help me become a Sage.”
“Purely relying on myself, starting from a mortal, I will ascend to the realm of a Sage step by step.”
As Li Fan’s thoughts flowed, the phantom image of a deity seemed to sense it, and as light flowed, it revealed more scenes.
“What the phantom image of a deity sees now is the Mountains and Seas at the anchor point moment.”
“In my previous life, I also sat within the Other Shore’s Xuanji Ring, witnessing the changes of the Mountains and Seas through the passage of time.”
“The difference between these two…”
Li Fan’s eyes flickered, but he did not immediately differentiate. Instead, he began to cultivate himself, still in his mortal body.
The immortal-mortal miasma, the pressure and shackles of being a doctrine transmitter—all sorts of restrictions, in the eyes of the current Li Fan, were as fragile as paper. A mere flick of his finger could break them.
Li Fan cultivated himself anew from the mortal realm, leaving Great Xuan, ascending Azure Nether, shattering The Great Barriers, and overturning the Primordial. Reaching transcendence and re-entering the Mountains and Seas only took him a little over five hundred years. Though his path was slow and his journey unhurried, the resurrected Li Fan felt a unique experience. The specifics need not be recounted, given the absence of any surprises, dangers, or setbacks.
During this process of re-cultivation, Li Fan made frequent use of Shou Qiu’s transmitted method, “Observing Mountains and Seas,” to observe the potential of the Primordial’s inherent possibilities. He discovered a most interesting phenomenon, which indirectly confirmed a long-held suspicion in his heart.
As Li Fan transformed from a mortal to transcendence, step by step, he found that the potential of the Primordial’s inherent possibilities was being consumed without any cost!
“In the past five hundred years, apart from me, no other powerful figures have emerged in the Primordial. The Primordial’s potential has only slightly weakened. Compared to other possibilities, it is still far superior!”
By merging his consciousness with Shou Qiu’s, many secrets were also revealed. For instance, the reason behind the exceptional potential of the Primordial’s possibilities.
“It is indeed the work of Emperor Tian Luo. However, the Primordial Immortal Realm’s attempt to transcend…”
“This remains unknown.”
“The Sages of the Other Shore reside in the Xuanji, meticulously observing the Mountains and Seas. Yet, the Primordial Immortal Realm, at that time, vanished from the sight of the Sages of the Mountains and Seas in an instant.”
“Perhaps it was destroyed in the Void Realm, or it returned to the stars. Or… it truly transcended the system of the Mountains and Seas’ Void Realm, reaching the height of divinity back then, achieving an alternative form of carefree existence, which is also possible.”
“Even the three Sages are not omniscient and omnipotent. This is the foundation of my confidence in opposing them.”
His thoughts returned to the reason why Li Fan’s re-cultivation from mortal to Sage did not deplete the Primordial’s potential. Li Fan speculated that it was because all the fortune and foundation he obtained came from accumulation in past cycles of reincarnation.
“All were created anew through the transformation between truth and falsehood, generated from the void, and did not consume any part of the current Mountains and Seas.”
“Or, perhaps, there is also a slight reason related to my identity as a transmigrator.”
His strength had already reached the peak of the Mountains and Seas, second only to the three Sages. Yet, Li Fan still had no clue about the whereabouts of his former “hometown.”
“In the previous life, Shou Qiu was merely astonished after learning of this identity. Perhaps I simply came from a particular possibility in the Mountains and Seas that has already been destroyed. Or perhaps, outside the Mountains and Seas’ Void Realm, there truly exist other space-times. But since I am here, I shall accept it. There is no need to dwell on these matters.”
“As for the boundless spiritual essence and intuition…”
“Shou Qiu believes that it may not be closely related to my identity as a transmigrator. Instead, it is likely deeply connected to the cycles of reincarnation I have experienced.”
Upon thinking this, Li Fan suddenly fell silent. Even the steps he was about to take into the Mountains and Seas halted.
“In the endless cycles woven by Zhou Hui, I had a vague premonition, which coincided with my intuition.”
“Of course, this does not mean that I have truly experienced all of this. Rather, in the brief moments of transition between truth and falsehood in the Mountains and Seas, countless possibilities have already played out. As the only one within the Mountains and Seas who retained memories before and after the great changes, I might have unconsciously seen many things.”
“This can also explain why Huan Zhen specifically chose me. Even if Jie Ji reached out to snatch it, they could not take a single bit from Him.”
“Huan Zhen has long seen through the endless possibilities. Only I, yes, only I…”
“…can achieve Huan Zhen’s desired goal together.”
“It is not merely because I possess boundless spiritual essence.”
…
Li Fan’s thoughts churned, while Huan Zhen remained as silent as ever. In the end, within this entire realm of Mountains and Seas, only Huan Zhen Himself could provide the answer. Everyone else could only speculate. But Li Fan believed that the day he discovered the answer was not far off. Where did he come from? Where was he going? Why was he living? Without resolving these questions, how could he be considered free and immortal?
Suppressing his thoughts, Li Fan lifted his feet from their stationary position, as if returning to the Mountains and Seas. Although there was the Dao Erasure separating them, there were also the interconnected veins of the Mountains and Seas. Li Fan walked slowly, but his destination was not the Other Shore. He intended to first stroll leisurely through the Mountains and Seas, wandering and observing.
In the past, in order to find the location of the Other Shore, Li Fan had once divided countless thoughts and set out on boats to search every corner of the Mountains and Seas for possible traces. This targeted search, however, had made him overlook the scenery along the way—the Mountains and Seas themselves.
This time, Li Fan temporarily forgot all the chaotic matters, adopting a pure observer’s perspective, silently watching everything evolve within the Mountains and Seas. At the same time, he silently recited, finally selecting the inheritance option that had been flickering for over five hundred years.
“The third item, in this simulation, is the Outline of the Mountains and Seas’ Changes!” Li Fan stated with certainty.
The flickering small text abruptly stopped. The Huan Zhen panel that Li Fan sensed seemed to fall into a strange stillness. Even the light dimmed. Then, countless points of light drifted from the darkness, gathering like a sea of stars, composing a long scroll!
There were no words, no images. Only countless pulsating starlight! Each ray of light seemed to contain unimaginable and vast information. It was a detailed record of the possibilities observed by Huan Zhen. The entire sea of stars, combined with this immense quantity of light, represented the changes of the Mountains and Seas!
For someone of transcendent cultivation to read the Outline of the Mountains and Seas’ Changes was akin to inviting humiliation. Li Fan’s form instantly shattered, and his divine soul disintegrated. Yet, Li Fan was not the least bit flustered. Such a transformation was naturally within his expectations.
“It is precisely by using the changes of the Mountains and Seas that I will seize the opportunity to become a Sage in this life!”
With no physical existence, only the residual true spirit dispersed. In the past, Li Fan would have certainly panicked and hurriedly activated Huan Zhen. But with the experience of the previous life’s descent into the phantom image of a deity, Li Fan was now exceptionally calm.
“Even Sages cannot fully comprehend the Outline of the Mountains and Seas.”
“But I can, by borrowing my boundless spiritual essence…”
“…shallowly sculpt the Mountains and Seas!”
As the thought arose, the boundless true spirit, braving the cosmic starlight that Li Fan “saw,” began to weave. Like waves chasing the wind, countless starlight-like entities acted as carving knives, leaving their imprints upon the boundless true spirit below. This scene was exactly the same as Li Fan’s attempt to sculpt the phantom image of a deity using his boundless spiritual essence!
In fact, Li Fan was inspired by this very scene and, after five hundred years of pure arduous cultivation, finally embarked on this attempt. Li Fan was not one to follow the beaten path. Otherwise, he would not have resorted to forcefully burning the Xuanji Ring with his True Spirit Great Fire in the previous life to glimpse the phantom image of a deity.
Through countless simulations, Li Fan had long understood a truth: following the prescribed steps would indeed lead to increasing strength. But ultimately, one could not escape the cycle of fate. Sometimes, only a desperate, final blow could achieve the impossible.
“Just like Emperor Tai’s forceful push for the Immortal Realm’s transcendence, it indeed appears insane and unimaginable, with little chance of success.”
“In the entirety of the Mountains and Seas, there is no other example.”
“But perhaps this is the only way to survive.”
Li Fan thought silently. From the Outline of the Mountains and Seas’ Changes displayed by Huan Zhen, a “Diagram of Mountains and Seas” was slowly taking shape, imprinted by his boundless true spirit!
The true spirit is boundless, and the Mountains and Seas are boundless. Thus, the Diagram of Mountains and Seas is also boundless. Because the true spirit is boundless, it can bear the infinitude of the Mountains and Seas. Although the Diagram of Mountains and Seas is boundless, it begins with the boundless true spirit. Therefore, Li Fan can comprehend it all in a single thought.
“Becoming a Sage, in essence, offers another path.” Although he lacked physical strength, only a wisp of consciousness lingering before this diagram of Mountains and Seas, Li Fan felt unprecedentedly powerful.
“Without relying on external objects, without borrowing other methods.”
“Solely by myself, my body and the Mountains and Seas become one.”
In an instant, like wind and thunder, his boundless true spirit surged like a turbulent tide. Within the boundless Diagram of Mountains and Seas, a figure slowly emerged—it was Li Fan himself!
At the same time, the reality of the Mountains and Seas seemed to sense something. All possibilities trembled in unison!
On the Other Shore, within the Tai Xu Sacred Dynasty, all Sages cast their gazes towards Li Fan simultaneously. Even the Sages, who had always remained calm, showed a hint of surprise in their eyes. For what they saw was, in fact, another set of Mountains and Seas!
“This… did we miss something, and a new Sage has been born?”
“And He…”
“Everyone, am I seeing things?”
…
Li Fan ignored the gazes from all directions, silently contemplating his current state. He had returned to the realm of a Sage, and was far more powerful than in his previous life’s Xuan Pin and Zhou Hui Sages. Even Huan Zhen, who had always remained silent, transmitted subtle fluctuations. It seemed to be admiration, or perhaps, some other special meaning was hidden within. Li Fan simply smiled faintly in response, then his expression turned solemn, and he began to expound the Dao! His voice boomed like thunder, spreading throughout the cosmos. All possibilities within the Mountains and Seas, all living beings, could now hear him.
“The world possesses the Upper Mountain and the Boundless Sea, carrying countless sentient beings.”
“A Sage, then, can be one with the Mountains and Seas.”
“For sentient beings within the Mountains and Seas wishing to become Sages, they may either unify all their selves, seek the Great Dao of the Mountains and Seas, or establish their own lineage.”
“Or perhaps…”
“Their bodies become one with the Mountains and Seas.”
…
Within Li Fan’s words, a vast and boundless Diagram of Mountains and Seas slowly materialized. Although sentient beings initially did not understand Li Fan’s meaning, the moment they saw the Diagram of Mountains and Seas, they gradually began to comprehend. Since a Sage is one with the Mountains and Seas, then as long as this standard is met, one would naturally become a Sage.
Sentient beings suddenly understood. But then, they became confused again. Was this not a nakedly obvious statement? If it were easy to become one with the Mountains and Seas, everyone would have become a Sage long ago. It was precisely because it was impossible that they had to compromise and seek other methods. They had initially thought this newly ascended Sage of the Mountains and Seas would impart profound knowledge, but instead, he was openly showing off? Countless such thoughts arose from sentient beings at this moment.
Li Fan observed them, but ignored them. True, this method of becoming a Sage was something that, in the entire realm of Mountains and Seas, only he himself could achieve. Otherwise, he would not have dared to share it so openly.
First, one must possess the Outline of the Mountains and Seas’ Changes, which exhaustively records all specific data and information within the Mountains and Seas. Then, one needs a target vessel capable of bearing this colossal amount of data. Even the three Sages would not dare claim to have glimpsed the secrets of the Mountains and Seas. But Huan Zhen could do it. And only boundless true spirit could bear and utilize the infinite changes of the Mountains and Seas. Huan Zhen, and the boundless true spirit, converging into one person, thus gave birth to this incredible method of becoming a Sage! One self-creates the Mountains and Seas, and their body is on par with the Heavens!
“Congratulations, fellow Daoist, on achieving Dao today.”
In the minds of sentient beings, Li Fan’s figure gradually faded. On the Other Shore, the Tai Yi phantom left the Xuanji Ring and personally came to congratulate Li Fan. After all, such a world-shattering method of achieving Dao was something the three Sages had never witnessed before. They could not immediately ascertain how Li Fan had accomplished it, so they came to probe his intentions under the guise of congratulation. However, Li Fan now was no longer the same as before. In the past, he could be easily seen through by the three Sages; even while clad in the mantle of a Sage, he was still timid and fearful of his thoughts being exposed. But now… he stood like a steadfast mountain, profound and unfathomable. Looking at him, Tai Yi felt as though the Mountains and Seas themselves had taken human form. Boundless and immeasurable, beyond comprehension. He could not help but become even more confused. With the Dao of Mountains and Seas, he had achieved the status of a Sage. In this world, there should only be Sage Lian Shan and Sage Gui Hai. Where then did this new Mountain and Sea come from, giving birth to a new Sage? In alignment with Sage Lian Shan and Sage Gui Hai, Tai Yi naturally felt the exceedingly familiar aura of the Mountains and Seas from Li Fan. It was undeniable! While surprised and bewildered, he then heard Li Fan’s faint reply.
“Achieving Dao is a mundane matter…”
“What is there to congratulate?”
Even though he had lived for countless years, it was difficult for anything in the world to stir Tai Yi’s emotions. Yet, upon hearing Li Fan’s words, Tai Yi still struggled to suppress the surge of anger that suddenly rose within him.
“Moreover, the Mountains and Seas are already in a precarious state. After becoming a Sage, the responsibilities will only increase.”
“It will be difficult to find carefree tranquility again!” Li Fan sighed softly.
These words, however, caused Tai Yi’s opinion of Li Fan to change slightly.
“Why not visit the Other Shore for a while?” the Tai Yi phantom invited.
Before he finished speaking, Li Fan looked up towards the location of the Other Shore within the Mountains and Seas.
“That would be acceptable as well.” After a moment of silence, he nodded in agreement.
The radiance of the Other Shore illuminated the Mountains and Seas. Li Fan, having become a Sage through the Mountains and Seas, naturally perceived the location of the Other Shore the instant he achieved Sagehood. Tai Yi found this unsurprising. With the power of two Sages, the immeasurable Mountains and Seas were like flat ground. Soon, they arrived outside the Other Shore, but Li Fan suddenly stopped. He inexplicably smiled at the Tai Yi phantom.
"This ring seems to hold a unique profoundness," Li Fan remarked, his tone filled with implied meaning.
Taiyi's phantom, about to explain, froze as Li Fan, in the next moment, simply walked in. "This one is truly an interesting individual..." he mused, shaking his head slightly before following Li Fan inside.
Within the Xuanji Ring, the gazes of the Sages from the Other Shore all fell upon Li Fan.
Li Fan, no longer possessing the apprehension of his first encounter with the Sages, received their attention with ease. By shaping an image from the Mountains and Seas and achieving the realm of a Sage, his actual combat power was difficult to ascertain, but at the very least, he would not be seen through by the Sages present. Even if they were the three Sages themselves, the outcome would be the same.
"It is fortunate for us that such a Sage has recently emerged within the Mountains and Seas," the Lian Shan phantom stated first, breaking the silence.
"I have existed for eons, yet I never imagined someone could achieve the Dao through the 'Mountains and Seas.' I wonder, how precisely did you accomplish this? Could you enlighten us?" The Gui Hai phantom, shedding his usual taciturn nature, directly posed the question.
"It is both difficult and easy. It is merely the four words: 'Completely Observe the Mountains and Seas'," Li Fan replied calmly, without refusal.
"Completely Observe the Mountains and Seas?" The phantoms of the Sages all stiffened slightly, their expressions varied as they seemed to ponder the deeper meaning.
"Completely observe the Mountains and Seas! What a remarkable phrase. With all our efforts, coupled with the Sky-Supporting Creation, we could at best grasp a part of Lian Shan, a part of Gui Hai. Yet you, with a mere four words, effortlessly surpass us. Your divine abilities are truly immense!" Gui Hai exclaimed with admiration, though a subtle competitive edge laced his words.
It was understandable that Sage Gui Hai's attitude was somewhat peculiar.
The Three Sages had existed since the Primordial Immortal Realm, at the dawn of the Mountains and Seas, witnessing countless births and destructions of life over an unimaginably long period. They believed they had a thorough understanding of the limits that beings in the Mountains and Seas could reach. To ascend from mortal to Sage was already exceedingly rare. As for Li Fan's method of achieving the Dao… it was utterly unprecedented, and more importantly, defied logic! Could there truly be such a monstrous talent in the Mountains and Seas? Or perhaps… the Three Sages instinctively began to doubt.
Seemingly sensing the Sages' doubts, Li Fan stated with composure, "It is not a matter of immense divine abilities. Although I became a Sage through the Mountains and Seas, I can only grasp their form. Unlike the two Sages, Lian Shan and Gui Hai, I cannot obtain their essence."
"Lian Shan forged my bones, Gui Hai cleansed my heart. Standing at the pinnacle of the Mountains and Seas, there might be a possibility for further advancement. As for me…" Li Fan sighed, shaking his head, "my limit is merely to be as one with the Mountains and Seas." He feigned a look of deep distress and regret.
It was true that Li Fan, having achieved the Dao through the Mountains and Seas, could hardly transcend them or advance further. But this statement was also somewhat disingenuous. Looking across the entire Mountains and Seas, excluding the legendary "gods," who dared to claim they were above it? To stand at its peak, and still feel unsatisfied?
Within the Xuanji Ring, a peculiar atmosphere began to simmer. The Sages, faced with Li Fan, a Mountain and Sea Sage of heaven-defying talent who had suddenly achieved the Dao, harbored various thoughts. However, their attention was soon deeply captivated by the scene Li Fan subsequently revealed. It was, in fact, an endless scroll of the Mountains and Seas!
"Esteemed Sages, behold! This is the foundation of my Dao!" Li Fan stated, gently waving a hand to unfurl a scroll. Light and shadow cascaded, appearing dreamlike and illusory, seamlessly blending reality and falsehood, making it impossible to discern the true from the fabricated. For a moment, it even overshadowed the Xuanji Ring's white light, truly making the Sages present feel as if they were immersed within the Mountains and Seas.
"This is…"
"The Mountains and Seas as I see them!"
"What do you esteemed Sages think?" Li Fan stood with his hands behind his back before the endless scroll of the Mountains and Seas. His faint voice echoed endlessly within the Xuanji Ring. Yet, no one responded. All the Sages' divine senses were already lost in the boundless light and shadow of the Mountains and Seas.
As their divine senses swept across, the Sages were horrified to discover that the depicted Mountains and Seas were indistinguishable from the real ones! While there might be minor discrepancies, the Mountains and Seas themselves were in a constant state of flux. Regardless of scale or magnitude, the scroll Li Fan presented seemed to be a miniature reflection of the actual Mountains and Seas. Not just the present Mountains and Seas, but all observable Mountains and Seas from antiquity to the present! Though it was merely a shadow of the Mountains and Seas, lacking specific details and a divine essence, it was still incredibly astonishing.
"Who exactly are you, Daoist Friend?" the Lian Shan phantom slowly asked. The Sages' gazes converged, awaiting Li Fan's reply.
"Me?" Under the intense scrutiny of the Sages, Li Fan remained unfazed. "My name is Li Fan, merely a humble mortal from the Xuanhuang Realm. I am even from the same place as Sage Qiu Qiu and share the same origin possibility. As for why I can observe all the Mountains and Seas… it is simply because I have looked further than ordinary people."
Li Fan's answer was ambiguous, failing to convince the Sages. "Looked further than ordinary people?" Sage Gui Hai scoffed.
Seeing their disbelief, Li Fan feigned looking towards the void beyond the Mountains and Seas. Though he spoke of looking, his eyes were tightly closed. "The void stretches endlessly, capable of obstructing Sages. However, my gaze can occasionally penetrate the void, allowing me to see more of the Mountains and Seas. For instance…"
After a brief silence, Li Fan suddenly opened his eyes, a sharp glint emanating from them. "The Three Sages before you will perish!" He extended a finger, drawing a line across the phantoms of Lian Shan, Gui Hai, and Taiyi. The doom of the Three Sages!
Upon hearing Li Fan utter such a world-shattering prophecy, everyone present was stunned. The atmosphere within the Xuanji Ring instantly plummeted to freezing point. Those who were unaware believed Li Fan had come to provoke them intentionally. The Three Sages, whose deaths had been foretold, were about to retort, but suddenly, their expressions changed. Following the direction Li Fan had previously looked, they all gazed outward simultaneously. Their expressions slowly became extremely grave.
"Daoist Friend, did you see the reason for our demise?" After a long pause, Lian Shan asked, his tone subtly shifting.
"Phantoms of the Void," Li Fan stated, word by word.
"So that's how it is," came a sigh, and the Lian Shan phantom, no longer ethereal, unexpectedly reappeared from the depths of the void. Following him were Gui Hai and Taiyi. The other Sages also returned one after another. The demise of the Three Sages was a matter of great importance. The operation to reconnect the Mountains and Seas in the void had to be halted. For no one knew if another phantom from the void would descend and slay the Three Sages again!
"Could what this Mountain and Sea Sage says be true?" Back in the Other Shore, the other Sages who had been pulled back by the Three Sages now regarded Li Fan with a mixture of shock and an undercurrent of lingering worry. After all, the Three Sages were undoubtedly the strongest among them. If even they could not preserve their lives…
"Although we possess the divine ability of Primordial Unity Indestructibility, it is a last resort. Each time we lose the opportunity and fortune gained from the reconnection of the Mountains and Seas, our potential limit declines slightly. We should not perish unless absolutely necessary," Taiyi stated slowly, setting the tone.
"Facing imminent death, yet surviving… even an ant cherishes its life… we must save ourselves," Sage Gui Hai added gravely.
"However, the Mountains and Seas have not yet been reconnected. If we forcibly cross over, we gain neither the merit of reconnecting the Mountains and Seas nor significant improvement in our strength. We might not only fail to save ourselves but also lose our lives. Secondly, venturing to more ancient Mountains and Seas, with the void in between, might render even the Xuanji phantoms unable to linger. If the Mountains and Seas are left without our presence…" Lian Shan surveyed everyone present and shook his head.
Li Fan, as if sensing the Sages' thoughts, smiled and said, "No matter. I have a plan that can resolve your worries."
"Oh?" Under the Sages' questioning gazes, Li Fan calmly revealed his solution: "We merely need to reconnect the Mountains and Seas before the Void phantoms descend."
Taiyi furrowed his brow. "Even with your assistance, reconnecting the Mountains and Seas is not something one person can accomplish alone…"
Li Fan waved his hand, "Allow me to inform you all, the reason my gaze can penetrate the void is due to this!" With that, as if plucking stars from the sky, Li Fan gestured remotely towards the void beyond the Mountains and Seas. Like a shower of stars descending, it transformed into a vast, flowing river. Under the watchful eyes of all, the accumulated True Spirits in the void were thus drawn and summoned, willingly gathering around Li Fan. The once somewhat hollow boundless scroll of the Mountains and Seas, which only possessed its shadow but not its spirit, became much more vibrant with the appearance of these accumulated True Spirits.
"Hm?!" The Sages' astonishment surpassed what they had felt moments before. "You can actually draw upon and move the accumulated True Spirits in the void?" Sage Lian Shan's voice involuntarily rose in volume. Not to mention the other Sages within the Xuanji Ring. Their expressions were a complex tapestry of emotions as they looked at Li Fan. After all, a Mountain and Sea Sage was merely a slightly stronger Sage. To everyone else, it simply meant that the Three Sages had become Four Sages. But Li Fan's ability to attract and utilize the accumulated True Spirits in the void carried a completely different implication.
"If that were all, how could I display my true abilities?" Li Fan declared proudly, "The accumulated True Spirits are inexhaustible. For us, their application is commonplace. Only by transforming them into sustenance for Sages…"
"The more the better!" Saying this, Li Fan looked towards the real Mountains and Seas, his gaze scanning as if searching for something.
"Could it be…" Seeing Li Fan’s actions, the Sages seemed to guess something, yet they dared not believe it, remaining silent and awaiting Li Fan's demonstration.
"I possess a method to infuse the accumulated True Spirits from the void into the bodies of Sages, thereby nurturing them into Sages!" He then found Jin Gui. Having been in the Transcendent realm for countless years, Jin Gui was only a step away from becoming a Sage but could never bridge the gap. Initially, Jin Gui was somewhat terrified upon being seized by Li Fan. However, upon seeing the Sages from the Other Shore present, he quickly paid his respects. Before he had finished, Li Fan had already placed a palm on his head. "Esteemed Sages, please witness this spectacle."
Vast True Spirit, as if coming alive, was guided by Li Fan and began to pour into Jin Gui's body! Under the Sages' watchful eyes, a piece of rough stone gradually transformed into a gem! In a short time, a new Sage Jin Gui was thus born within the Xuanji Ring.
"Many thanks for this creation, Senior!" The newly ascended Sage Jin Gui exclaimed, tears of gratitude flowing. The remaining Sages, however, remained speechless for a long time. In such a short span, Li Fan had delivered one shocking revelation after another. Achieving Sagehood through the Mountains and Seas, his gaze penetrating the void to reach more ancient Mountains and Seas, his ability to draw upon accumulated True Spirits, and even his capacity to transform them and create Sages. Had any single one of these occurred, it would have been astonishing. But all of them were concentrated in Li Fan alone!
Even with the status of the Three Sages, it required considerable time to process and accept all this.
"Delay will lead to unforeseen changes. The Three Sages ahead are running out of time!" Li Fan sighed, interrupting the Sages' contemplation. The newly enlightened Sage Jin Gui was startled by these words but did not know how to react, remaining silent. The Three Sages ultimately made their decision. "Reconnect the Mountains and Seas as soon as possible."
In this life, after Li Fan achieved Sagehood in the Mountains and Seas, his ability to summon and utilize the accumulated True Spirits became even more adept. Even after enlightening Sage Jin Gui, he felt no strain. Just like in his previous life, he found the Sages of Morality and Hundred Inquiries and enlightened them successively. With the combined power of the Sages, they swiftly succeeded in reconnecting the Mountains and Seas. With rumbling sounds, the Mountains and Seas naturally regained their vitality. All the Sages benefited greatly.
However, their expressions did not lighten. It was due to Li Fan's words. "The demise of the Three Sages lies ahead," Li Fan said softly, looking towards a more ancient section of the Mountains and Seas. Sage Lian Shan, Gui Hai, and Taiyi sensed for a moment and nodded slightly. "The Void phantoms should have already descended. However, our deaths will not be immediate. We must plan carefully," Sage Gui Hai concluded after a long observation.
"Although we have gained the creation of a segment of the Mountains and Seas, we do not have a guaranteed victory. Of course, if we could receive another boost…" Taiyi looked at Li Fan.
Li Fan replied, "I still have ample power. Any potential candidates here can be enlightened by me. With our combined efforts, reconnecting the Mountains and Seas will be a simple matter. However…" Li Fan paused before solemnly stating, "As Sage Gui Hai mentioned, the battle with the Void phantoms will not be a quick one. Six Sages battling fiercely, without protection, could easily affect the Mountains and Seas."
"Moreover…"
"The Void phantoms are coming specifically to kill the Three Sages ahead. If our assistance causes them to fail, who knows if the void will dispatch even stronger Void phantoms? We have the strength for one battle, but do we have the strength for a second, or a third?" Facing Li Fan's questions, the Sages present fell silent. After all, aside from the Three Sages, no one had truly encountered the so-called Void phantoms.
"Daoist Brother Fan's considerations are indeed thorough. But please rest assured, if the Void phantoms are killed for the moment, they will not immediately reappear. At the very least, it will give us some breathing room. And this 'breathing room,' in terms of the time scale of the Mountain and Sea void, is an extremely long period for us," Sage Gui Hai explained.
"As for affecting the Mountains and Seas…" the Three Sages exchanged glances and then looked at Li Fan, saying, "The Void phantoms are targeting us specifically. We shall handle them ourselves."
"And with Daoist Friend Li Fan presiding over the Mountains and Seas, their safety should be assured." The Three Sages' reply was as Li Fan had anticipated, but he still shook his head slightly. "I can enlighten Sages, but I cannot protect the Mountains and Seas."
"Firstly, after continuous enlightenment, even the Mountains and Seas will become somewhat depleted. Secondly, as you esteemed Sages have seen, the scroll of the Mountains and Seas only depicts their shadows, not their substance. To withstand the aftermath of fierce battles…"
"My power might be insufficient," Li Fan said honestly.
"It could cause the three Sages to face annihilation, and even the Sea of Mountains might shatter under its impact.
"Other matters aside, even if I had to sacrifice my own life, I could protect the Sea of Mountains. But if, at a crucial moment..."
"If this Celestial Enigma Ring were to shatter, what then?"
Li Fan's gaze swept across the assembled Sages. "How many of you can guarantee that you won't suddenly defect?"
Under his cold question, no one responded for a time. Li Fan had paused briefly the moment he arrived in the Other Shore. It was not surprising that he could discern the profundity of the Celestial Enigma Ring's unity. It was just that he hadn't expected him to point it out at such a critical juncture. Even under the influence of unity, the Sages couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed.
"We have been seated within the Celestial Enigma Ring for countless years; we are already like brothers. I believe that even without the Celestial Enigma Ring, not much would change," said Sage Stealth, with certainty.
"Exactly. On matters of great importance like the survival of the Sea of Mountains, we know where we stand. If the Sea of Mountains ceases to exist, where shall we go?"
Sage Fate-Whisper, Sage Interruption-Doubt, and other Sages nodded in agreement. They spoke with fervent conviction, clearly lacking self-awareness of their original natures. Li Fan, having personally witnessed the actions of Sage Stealth and others after their restraints were removed in his previous life, merely smiled without speaking.
The Three Sages, however, fell into silence for a time, contemplating something. After a long while, Sage Lian Shan broke the silence: "Fellow Daoist Li Fan's concerns are not without reason. If we manage to survive this tribulation, but the Sea of Mountains is lost..."
"That would be putting the cart before the horse."
"Since this is the case..." As the Three Sages spoke, they each took out the Mountain Staff, Abyssal Spade, and Myriad Beings Cudgel, presenting them before Li Fan.
"Fellow Daoist Li Fan, you may hold these three artifacts. Firstly, they can assist in protecting the Sea of Mountains and curbing the Sages. Secondly..."
"If the Celestial Enigma Ring truly faces the threat of shattering, you can use these three artifacts to recreate the Celestial Enigma Ring. At that time, we can invite Sage Mound-Guardian and Sage Morality to occupy the seats. We should then be without worry," said Sage Lian Shan, personally designating them.
Sage Mound-Guardian, who was already named, showed no change in expression, seeming to have anticipated this. The newly promoted Sage Morality, however, was clearly taken aback, repeatedly saying he dared not.
"If we fail to overcome this tribulation and still perish in the Void Realm, the matter of reconnecting the Sea of Mountains will fall to you, Fellow Daoist Li Fan," said Sage Taiyi, looking at Li Fan and speaking softly.
Li Fan looked at the three treasures before him and hesitated to agree. Instead, he closed his eyes and pondered. After a good while, he suddenly spoke: "I have an idea."
Under the gaze of all the Sages, Li Fan slowly said, "The avatars from the Void Realm originate from the Sea of Mountains being devoured by the Void Realm. I, however, have only been cultivating for a little over five hundred years since the beginning of my cultivation journey. The Sea of Mountains where I am located remains unharmed, therefore the danger of having Void Realm avatars does not apply to me."
"Originally, with my strength, I was indeed unqualified to participate in the battle of the Six Sages. But..." Li Fan pointed to the three treasures before him, then swept his gaze across the Celestial Enigma Ring, which shone with light covering the entire Other Shore. "Why don't I, Sage Morality, and Sage Mound-Guardian, go to the Void Realm in their stead to assist the Three Sages in overcoming the tribulation!"
This statement was like a thunderclap. Even the Three Sages had not anticipated Li Fan making such a decision, and they were slightly stunned. The other Sages in the Other Shore looked at Li Fan with even greater astonishment. It must be known that the Three Sages were in danger of perishing and did not have the confidence to safely overcome the tribulation. Ordinary Sages were even less capable of getting involved. Perhaps even the residual effects of the battle would be difficult to withstand. It was highly probable that they would fail to rescue and would instead be buried in the Void Realm. In the eyes of the Sages, Li Fan's actions were no different from courting death!
Within the Celestial Enigma Ring, the Sages' expressions varied. Li Fan, however, explained calmly, "The Three Sages also mentioned earlier that without success in reconnecting the Sea of Mountains, even if they were to cross into the Void Realm to support, their strength would not significantly increase. It would still be Three Sages versus Three Sages, not Six Sages versus Three Sages."
"At most, it would be a shift from being at a disadvantage to an even match. As for the final outcome, whether they win or lose, it is still unknown."
"But if it were us three going to support, it would be different." Li Fan continued, "Although my combat power is weak, relying on my True Spirit Implantation divine ability, I can have a greater发挥 in the Void Realm. Not only can I hold back the Void Realm avatars from the side, but I can also help the Three Sages recover from their injuries. At that time, the situation would become a direct Six Sages versus Three Sages."
"Perhaps it would be even more advantageous than the Three Sages going themselves.”
"Moreover, with the Three Sages guarding the Sea of Mountains, no matter how great the turmoil in the Void Realm, I believe they can still successfully quell it..."
After Li Fan's explanation, the Sages found some logic in his words.
"I achieved sainthood through the Sea of Mountains. Although I am weaker than the Three Sages of Lian Shan, I am not necessarily weaker than the rest of you present. Therefore, who else but me should go?" Li Fan said proudly at this moment, without any pretense of modesty.
The Sages' expressions varied as they witnessed Li Fan's bold declaration. Sage Lian Shan was the first to speak, expressing his objection.
"Fellow Daoist Li Fan, we appreciate your good intentions. However, the True Spirit Implantation divine ability is unique to the Sea of Mountains. Its significance in reconnecting the Sea of Mountains is too great. Your safety cannot be compromised! We can perish, but something must not happen to you."
"The worst-case scenario is losing the fortune of reconnecting several sections of the Sea of Mountains. But if you can continue to preside over the situation and fully reconnect the Sea of Mountains, we can accept that," Sage Gui Hai also disagreed with Li Fan taking such a risk.
Li Fan sneered and chuckled, "The Three Sages somewhat underestimate me. Moreover, the true target of the Void Realm avatars' pursuit is the Three Sages, not me. Even if my assistance fails, it will not be difficult for me to escape. I understand my own importance. If the situation is truly impossible, I will not force myself but will retreat early."
With these words, the Three Sages truly began to consider the feasibility of the plan. Li Fan saw this and then said, "Why don't we, within the Celestial Enigma Ring, each send out an avatar to spar first? This way, the Three Sages can have a better understanding of my capabilities. What do you say?"
The Celestial Enigma Ring fell silent for a moment. All the Sages looked at the Three Sages and Li Fan, their eyes filled with anticipation. After all, these individuals hadn't seen the Three Sages truly make a move for an unknown number of years. Moreover, they were genuinely curious about the strength of Li Fan, the 'Sage of the Sea of Mountains.'
"Agreed!"
After a brief silence, the Three Sages agreed. Just like the ordered spars of the Sages in the previous life. The Celestial Enigma Ring shone brightly. The Three Sages and Li Fan each projected a wisp of their divine spirit into it. Within the Celestial Enigma Ring, "to gain one is to gain all." Although it was only a single wisp of their divine spirit, it largely represented their full strength. All the Sages' gazes were locked, fearing they might miss a single detail.
"It is not appropriate for us to bully the young; you may attack first," came the distant voice of Sage Lian Shan from within the divine spirits. The Three Sages, after all, had their pride and would not attack Li Fan simultaneously. Moreover, they even allowed Li Fan to attack first. Li Fan did not hold back. From the start, he unleashed his strongest move, second only to his True and False Transformation. This was a move he comprehended by observing the "Outline of Mountain and Sea Changes" and referencing Sage Mound-Guardian's "Annihilation of Mountains and Seas" divine ability in his previous life. Although its destructive power was greatly reduced due to the absence of True and False Transformation, its influence and impact, augmented by the countless vivid details within the Sea of Mountains, were even more potent!
In the Celestial Enigma light circle, intertwined landscapes of mountains and seas surrounded Li Fan, rising and roaring. He boasted, "There's no need for that. The situation is urgent, and we need to finish quickly. Three Sages..."
"Attack together!"
The moment these words were spoken, the Sages watching within the Celestial Enigma Ring involuntarily looked at Li Fan. Some were surprised, some found it amusing, and some frowned deeply. The Three Sages, however, let out amused chuckles.
"Since Fellow Daoist Li Fan is so confident..."
"Finishing quickly is also good." With a flick of their fingers towards the Celestial Enigma light, the Three Sages’ light dots began to move. Initially, Sages Gui Hai and Tai Yi had been observing from the sidelines, but now they successively joined the battle. Li Fan was instantly surrounded and trapped by the Three Sages. However, his expression remained unchanged; instead, he became even more excited. His figure flickered again, becoming indistinguishable. Only endless phantom images of mountains and seas roared and surged from him, transforming into Li Fan's arms, intending to capture the Three Sages.
But such tactics, naturally, could not harm them. The Three Sages remained motionless, as if separated by an invisible barrier. The endless illusory mountains and seas, whenever they drew near, would mysteriously fail to touch them. They merely encircled the Three Sages.
"Since I proved the Dao, I have witnessed countless mountains and seas born and destroyed. To try and wound me with the Dao of Mountains and Seas..." Sage Lian Shan's laughter echoed as he observed the familiar scenery before him.
However, his expression soon changed. "The Three Sages do not know. This move of mine has a miraculous effect against you!" Amidst the resounding roars of mountains and seas, Li Fan coldly uttered.
"Collapse!"
Then... the mountains instantly collapsed, and the boundless sea boiled. It was as if the tribulation of the destruction of mountains and seas had suddenly descended upon this place! This was truly a catastrophic disaster, engulfing countless mountains and seas without exception. This was not due to the erosion of the Void Realm's Dao Erasure. This force of collapsing mountains and seas stemmed from changes within the mountains and seas themselves. By all logic, mountains and seas so prosperous would not be destroyed without reason. But at this moment, Li Fan, as the Sage of Mountains and Seas, the master of this domain, seemed to be destroying his own Dao path, actively creating this world-ending catastrophe!
The Sea of Mountains diverged into spiritual thoughts, nurturing endless possibilities and endless beings. And if, at its peak, it were to suddenly collapse... just how terrifying would this catastrophe be? At this moment, the Sages within the Celestial Enigma Ring were fortunate enough to witness it. Although it was only a partial rehearsal, it allowed them to vaguely glimpse such an unimaginable and terrifying scene. Even the Three Sages could not escape! Or rather, it was precisely because they were the Three Sages that they could not escape!
Sage Lian Shan, who ascended Mount Shang and was the foremost immortal in the world, always stood at the peak of the mountains, looking down upon all living beings. Sage Gui Hai understood the boundless principles and connected the boundless springs, his power immense and unfathomable. Sage Tai Yi, the innate spiritual being who attained enlightenment, was before all things. The might of the Three Sages was immeasurable. But all their cultivation cultivation came from the Sea of Mountains. Therefore, when Li Fan conjured illusory images of endless mountains and seas, they instinctively sought to counter them.
The powers, originating from the same source, connected at that moment. Li Fan merely possessed the shadows of mountains and seas. The Three Sages, however, possessed the essence of the mountains and seas. Under normal circumstances, Li Fan would certainly not be a match for the Three Sages; he would not be able to harm them in the slightest. But now, he had actively triggered the trend of self-destruction within the Sea of Mountains. And once this world-ending catastrophe occurred, it would be impossible to stop! The chain reaction permeated the Sea of Mountains, originating from afar and instantly arriving. Mountains collapsed, seas surged, and everything within them was annihilated.
Sage Lian Shan, standing on the mountain peak, suffered the gravest fall. Sage Gui Hai, traversing the boundless spring, had nowhere to escape. Sage Tai Yi, displaying infinite transformations, could still not escape this calamity. Endless sounds of shattering and fragmentation buried everything. The Celestial Enigma Ring's light suddenly dimmed, shattering inch by inch! The spar between Li Fan and the Three Sages instantly came to an abrupt halt.
In the Other Shore, a deathly silence ensued.
"Who won and who lost?"
Finally, it was Sage Hundred Inquiries who broke the silence, asking the question. Sage Mound-Guardian sighed, "The Sea of Mountains has been lost; where is there any victor? Fellow Daoist Li Fan, this move of yours is too damaging to harmony."
Within the Celestial Enigma Ring, it was similar to reality. Since Li Fan could use it within the Celestial Enigma Ring, it meant he could also use this move in the actual Sea of Mountains. The implication of this made the hearts of all the Sages skip a beat. Li Fan, however, chuckled, breaking the deadlock.
"Such a move that sacrifices a thousand to wound the enemy eight hundred, how could I possibly use it lightly?"
"Besides, the Sea of Mountains is now separated by Dao Erasure. Even if I exerted all my strength, I might not be able to make it collapse. Moreover..."
"My goal is to save the Sea of Mountains, so how could I truly use this move?" Li Fan said solemnly. "It was merely to prove to the Three Sages that I possess the power to fight."
"The events in the Void Realm will not affect the present Sea of Mountains. This move can serve as a surprise attack and might stabilize the situation." Li Fan said gravely.
In the spar within the Celestial Enigma Ring, the Three Sages were virtually annihilated by Li Fan's "Mountain and Sea Collapse." However, they did not lose their composure because of this. Instead, they shook their heads and smiled, "Fellow Daoist Li Fan, this move can be used once, but not twice. It can indeed be a surprise attack, but it can only be a surprise attack."
Sage Hundred Inquiries curiously asked, "Sage Lian Shan, what do you mean by that?"
Before the Three Sages could speak, Li Fan himself explained, "The Sea of Mountains I saw was not the Sea of Mountains of the Three Sages. I merely seized the opportunity when the Three Sages were instinctively countering the illusory mountains and seas to launch my divine ability with lightning speed, causing the Sea of Mountains to collapse. If the Three Sages had been prepared earlier, or if they knew I had this ability to connect..."
"The boundaries were clear; the collapse of my Sea of Mountains would not affect them in the slightest."
"As Sage Lian Shan said, it can only be used as a surprise attack, only once."
"I see..." After Li Fan's explanation, the Sages secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
"Once is enough. Since it can deal with us, it will naturally be effective against the Void Realm avatars."
The Three Sages seemed to have reached a decision and finally agreed to Li Fan's plan.
"If I go alone, I will inevitably be unable to hold the fort. Therefore, I need Sage Mound-Guardian and Sage Morality to accompany me."
"As for why I chose them..." Li Fan looked at the other Sages within the Celestial Enigma Ring, including Sage Stealth. He smiled slightly and didn't elaborate further. The Three Sages understood Li Fan's intentions and didn't dwell on this matter.
"Even with a supreme technique, more preparations are needed before we actually go," said the Three Sages. Sage Tai Wei Heavenly Emperor seemed to sense something and arrived like a rainbow. This time, since there was no mistake in reconnecting the Sea of Mountains, Sage Tai Wei Heavenly Emperor produced a total of eighteen grand elixirs. Half of them were given to Li Fan.
"Fellow Daoist Fan, when you achieved Sainthood and preached across Mountains and Seas, it caused quite a stir in the Sacred Dynasty. It took considerable effort to quell the disturbance," Immortal Emperor Tai Wei remarked suddenly before departing.
Li Fan instantly understood the reason behind this.
The citizens of the Sacred Dynasty lived their entire lives under the protection of Immortal Emperor Tai Wei, free from disasters and calamities. While this could be considered fortunate, they remained utterly ignorant of the world beyond the Sacred Dynasty.
Concepts like True Immortals, the Nameless, Transcendence, and the entirety of Mountains and Seas were unheard of to the citizens of the Sacred Dynasty.
Upon achieving enlightenment, Li Fan revealed the secrets of the Sages of Mountains and Seas. This allowed countless citizens of the Sacred Dynasty to glimpse realms they should not have seen. They learned that the Sacred Emperor was not the most supreme being in all of Mountains and Seas, and that they too could become as strong as the Sacred Emperor.
Even surpass him!
This caused unrest and unrest began to brew within the peaceful and stable Sacred Dynasty. Although the Sacred Emperor Tai Wei swiftly suppressed the unrest, it resulted in considerable losses, weakening the Dynasty significantly. This was unprecedented in the history of the Sacred Dynasty, which was why Immortal Emperor Tai Wei made his remark.
"What is bound to come will eventually arrive. I merely accelerated its arrival. Perhaps it will prove beneficial to you," Li Fan said meaningfully.
With a slight beckoning gesture towards the Void Realm, he summoned a mass of accumulated true spirits and infused them into a Sacred Fortune Grand Elixir in his hand.
"This elixir is a form of compensation, to mend the losses you've incurred, Fellow Daoist. Furthermore, regarding the countless citizens of the Sacred Dynasty, if any among them truly possess extraordinary talent, what harm is there in opening a path for them?"
Immortal Emperor Tai Wei knew that Li Fan's gaze could penetrate the barrier of the Void Realm, granting him immense foresight.
"Could it be that he has foreseen something in the future?"
"Perhaps, my demise?"
Li Fan's attitude led Immortal Emperor Tai Wei to ponder in his heart. He accepted the Sacred Fortune Grand Elixir infused with true spirits and secretly contemplated Li Fan's words.
"Perhaps Fellow Daoist Fan is correct. If they possess the potential to become Saints, what is the harm in letting them achieve it? If they emerge from the Sacred Dynasty, they will naturally be my allies. Perhaps they could even assist me in refining Sacred Fortune Grand Elixirs, making my future endeavors less strenuous..."
Immortal Emperor Tai Wei's heart stirred, and his perspective was unknowingly reshaped.
The Immortal Emperor took his leave.
Li Fan, Shou Qiu, and Dao De were also preparing to depart for the Void Realm ahead.
"I look forward to your good news."
Under the gaze of the Sages, the three of them entered the Void Realm one by one.
Initially, they could still sense traces of the trio's auras. However, soon, the vast and boundless Void Realm concealed everything.
"Let us hope it is indeed good news."
"This Sage of Mountains and Seas is inscrutable!"
"It matters not. The outcome... should be beneficial to us."
Within Sage Lian Shan's eyes, countless scenes flashed for an instant before he made his conclusion.
Sage Gui Hai paused slightly before nodding in agreement.
"Temporary benefit does not guarantee eternal benefit. It is a pity that we are trapped and cannot witness the full picture," Tai Yi sighed softly, his gaze deep and profound as he, too, vanished into the depths of the Void Realm.
...
Nearly a hundred thousand years passed, a journey that was extremely long. Even with the assistance of the three Sages at the beginning, all their power had been completely depleted by the midpoint of their journey.
Li Fan and Shou Qiu were relatively fine. Li Fan was a Sage of Mountains and Seas, possessing the 'True and False Transformation,' with unfathomable reserves. Shou Qiu, on the other hand, held the Great Dao of Longevity, and merely observing Mountains and Seas was a trivial matter for him.
However, Dao De, being a newly ascended Sage, ranked only in the middle among the Sages in terms of strength, was gradually beginning to falter from exhaustion.
"Let us rest for a while."
Resting within the Void Realm was once considered a fantasy. However, with the infusion of Li Fan's true spirits, it had become a possibility. Both Dao De and Shou Qiu felt their foundations, which were being eroded by the Void Realm, gradually being replenished, even showing signs of improvement. They both exclaimed, "Fellow Daoist Fan, your divine ability is truly unfathomable! It is indeed fortunate for Mountains and Seas!"
"Being able to summon and utilize the accumulated true spirits from countless Void Realms holds immense significance for reconnecting Mountains and Seas," Shou Qiu said excitedly, personally experiencing the benefits of the true spirit infusion.
As the two marveled, they suddenly noticed a figure descending rapidly within the Void Realm. It was an illusionary projection of Li Fan himself.
This phantom figure possessed an unfathomable aura. Even within the Void Realm, the moment it appeared, it drew the attention of Shou Qiu and Dao De.
"Fellow Daoist Fan... what is this?" Dao De stammered. He could see everything in Mountains and Seas on this blurred and distorted phantom. It wasn't merely the superficial manifestations of Mountains and Seas but even encompassed all possible principles within them! The crucial point was that Li Fan had never revealed the existence of this phantom before, neither in Mountains and Seas nor in the presence of the Sages.
"This is the 'Shadow of Divinity'."
"It was created by imitating the secrets within the Three Sages' Vortex Rings."
"Ahead lies Mountains and Seas, facing the Void Manifestations of the Three Sages. We cannot afford any slip-ups."
"I request both of you to join me and enter the Vortex," Li Fan said. Following his words, a brilliant and familiar white light erupted from the phantom. The phantom disappeared, replaced by a white circle, strikingly similar to the Vortex Rings in the Other Shore. However, this white circle flickered, appearing unstable as if it might vanish at any moment within the Void Realm. Li Fan had already taken his seat within it, smiling as he awaited Shou Qiu and Dao De.
"This..." Shou Qiu and Dao De were instantly filled with doubt. It wasn't that they doubted the authenticity of the Vortex Ring before them, as they had sat within it for countless ages. The almost identical aura was clearly discernible. However... when had Li Fan learned to create a Vortex Ring himself, just like the Three Sages? Previously, the Three Sages had indeed expressed their intention to entrust the secrets of the Vortex to Li Fan. But they had relied on the three treasures – the Lian Shan Staff, the Gui Hai Spade, and the Myriad Beings Cudgel – to reconstruct the Vortex Ring. Now, Li Fan had replicated the Vortex Ring entirely on his own, without the aid of any treasures!
"Could it be that during this short period within the Vortex Ring, he has comprehended its profound mysteries?"
"How is that possible?"
They knew Li Fan possessed a degree of foresight, but they could not fathom him seeing so far ahead! Li Fan, observing the subtle changes in their expressions, smiled and said, "Both of you need not hesitate. All your doubts will be resolved once you enter the Vortex. As the saying goes, only those who truly enter first and sit together, with one heart and one mind, can truly face the challenges." Li Fan's voice echoed mysteriously as the Vortex Ring's light flickered.
Shou Qiu and Dao De exchanged glances. Finally, Shou Qiu, with an unyielding resolve, strode into the Vortex Ring. "I can see that Fellow Daoist Fan harbors no ill intentions. This journey is perilous; only by being of one heart and one mind can we better face the crisis."
Seeing this, Dao De gritted his teeth and followed suit. Once the Three Sages were seated, the flickering light of the Vortex Ring instantly stabilized. Li Fan's comprehension of the 'Shadow of Divinity' flowed into their hearts like a spring. Even for Sages, such profound understanding was an invaluable treasure. However, they were too focused to dwell on it, dedicating all their attention to stabilizing the Vortex Ring. There were no further disturbances.
After an unknowable period, a new Vortex Ring, independent of the Three Sages, materialized in the Void Realm. During this time, Shou Qiu and Dao De's expressions underwent dramatic transformations.
"So that's how it is! It's actually like this!"
"Fellow Daoist Fan's fortuitous gains from this 'Return to Truth' far exceed my imagination."
"Indeed, only those who wield the 'True and False Transformation' can truly comprehend its magnificent power. Who would have thought that a mere regression could elevate an ordinary Sage to a level comparable to the Three Sages?" Shou Qiu sighed.
"The Three Sages cultivated for countless years to achieve their current divine abilities. Yet, Fellow Daoist Fan achieved this in just five hundred years of reincarnation... the disparity is truly astounding."
Li Fan smiled and replied, "Shou Qiu's assistance was also instrumental. Without it, how could I have comprehended the 'Shadow of Mountains and Seas' in such a short span?"
Compared to Shou Qiu, with whom he had already cooperated, Dao De appeared somewhat dejected. "Fellow Daoist Fan, you previously used the advantage of reincarnation to toy with me multiple times."
"However, I undeniably played a part in your path to Sainthood," Li Fan retorted nonchalantly.
"Alas..." Dao De was rendered speechless. Shou Qiu chuckled, "If being toyed with in such a manner leads to attaining Sainthood, I believe countless individuals in Mountains and Seas would be willing." Dao De had no choice but to admit that Shou Qiu's words were the honest truth. The past events were now trivialized amidst their camaraderie.
From this point forward, they would be united in heart and mind, becoming a trinity!
"So, Fellow Daoist Fan's plan is truly to save the Three Sages?" Shou Qiu asked, surprised, having learned Li Fan's intentions.
Li Fan nodded slightly. "I have observed the comprehensive outline of Mountains and Seas' changes. While I grasp the overall transformations, the intricate details remain elusive. Thus, I have the 'Shadow of Mountains and Seas' but not its 'Divine Essence'."
"Therefore, I intend to leverage the Three Sages' variable points of interaction to meticulously observe the changes in this segment of Mountains and Seas." Li Fan declared proudly, gesturing forward. "By grasping one, one can grasp the whole. If any enlightenment is gained, it can be used to infer the entirety of Mountains and Seas. Moreover..."
"We can remain hidden in the shadows, observing all the methods of the Three Sages. Under the threat of life and death, they will surely cease to conceal anything. We might even discover their trump cards."
...
Li Fan explained the reasons behind his actions. Shou Qiu, after contemplation, proposed a different approach.
"Why not attempt to eliminate the Three Sages?"
"If we can absorb the Great Daos of Lian Shan, Gui Hai, and Tai Yi into the 'Great Dao Realization Hall,' we might be able to establish dominance in one fell swoop, saving countless troubles."
Dao De sensed the situation and squinted, speaking for Li Fan, "Fellow Daoist Fan, you are afraid."
"It is not solely because of the Three Sages' unfathomable divine abilities. It is also because..."
"Sage Tai Yi is a separate matter, but Sage Lian Shan and Sage Gui Hai are quite inscrutable." Li Fan continued slowly, "This is something I've also gradually discerned from observing the 'Outline of Mountains and Seas's Changes.' The so-called Lian Shan and Gui Hai - there is no such Dao path in Mountains and Seas. These two achieved Sainthood *because* of Lian Shan and Gui Hai, not by proving their Dao *through* Lian Shan and Gui Hai."
"What is Lian Shan? And by what means is Gui Hai?"
"Their greatest trump cards have always remained unclear to us." Shou Qiu agreed with a nod.
Li Fan stated, "The Three Sages originated from the very beginning of the separation of Mountains and Seas, making them difficult to fathom with conventional reasoning. It is possible they gained fortuitous encounters from primordial ancient artifacts. If we rashly expose 'Return to Truth'..."
"It seems the failed attempt to steal 'Return to Truth' has left quite a shadow on you," Dao De chuckled wryly. Shou Qiu came to Li Fan's defense, "That is only natural."
After a moment of deliberation, Shou Qiu added, "There is wisdom in caution. Now that our wings are not yet fully developed, it is indeed not suitable to confront the Three Sages head-on. Especially since you mentioned that the Three Sages might have gained fortuitous encounters from primordial ancient artifacts..."
"I believe that is very likely!"
With their minds aligned, Li Fan quickly responded, "Shou Qiu Gong's suspicion stems from the 'Shadow of Divinity'?" Shou Qiu nodded. "In my previous life, I saw the 'Shadow of Divinity' and merely thought the Three Sages had achieved incredible mastery to glimpse the existence of gods. However, after perusing the 'Outline of Mountains and Seas's Changes' from 'Return to Truth,' I developed a new idea."
"With the might of 'Return to Truth,' I was only able to obtain this chronicle that captures only its shadow, not its essence. How did the Three Sages obtain the 'Divine Essence' of Mountains and Seas? Was it purely due to their unparalleled innate talent?"
At these words, Li Fan and Dao De fell silent.
"There are countless living beings in the world. While some may be extraordinary, there is always a limit. Some matters clearly transcend this limit. The Three Sages, from nothingness to the creation of the world, are indeed divinely gifted. However, I believe..."
"Living beings in Mountains and Seas are, after all, born within Mountains and Seas. To behold true gods, one must forcefully borrow external means." Sage Shou Qiu observed the 'Shadow of Divinity' floating above Li Fan's head, a sense of realization dawning upon him as he sighed.
Li Fan could vaguely empathize with Shou Qiu's feelings. Although Shou Qiu often humbly claimed his cultivation and attainments were mediocre, as someone who rose from a mere guard of Wang Hai to the realm of a Sage, he possessed considerable pride. However, upon witnessing the true power of 'Return to Truth,' all of that pride was instantly smoothed away. Concepts like innate talent and effort were rendered irrelevant before 'Return to Truth.' And landscapes that could not be glimpsed even after billions of years of diligent cultivation became clearly visible under the guidance of 'Return to Truth.'
"This has nothing to do with so-called talent; it is a limitation imposed by our origins."
"The creations of Mountains and Seas are destined to have their vision confined within this realm. To attempt to face the gods, one must rely on external forces." Shou Qiu gradually elaborated, "Fellow Daoist Fan, having the supreme treasure 'Return to Truth' by your side since you were a mortal, you might not deeply comprehend this. Dao De should have a more profound understanding."
After a long silence, Li Fan inwardly agreed with Shou Qiu's deduction. His estimation of the Three Sages' strength implicitly rose another level.
"This is a golden opportunity. Perhaps we can utilize the Void Manifestations to thoroughly understand the secrets of the Three Sages."
Having completed their rest, the trio set off towards their objective once more. This time, however, Li Fan and Dao De acted as escorts while Shou Qiu entered deep seclusion. Li Fan had gained enlightenment of the 'Shadow of Divinity' after obtaining the 'Outline of Mountains and Seas's Changes.' Naturally, Shou Qiu had also gained insights. Over the years, he had personally witnessed the myriad changes in Mountains and Seas. The detailed entries in the 'Outline' mirrored his own experiences as if he were reliving them. As if undergoing another cycle of change in Mountains and Seas, Shou Qiu's aura became increasingly ethereal.
"After comprehending the 'True and False Transformation' in my previous life, Shou Qiu Gong could already instantly kill four Sages. In this life, after obtaining the 'Outline of Mountains and Seas's Changes' from 'Return to Truth,' one can only wonder how much stronger he has become." Li Fan looked at Shou Qiu Gong, who sat in meditation, and felt a sense of security, as if the ground beneath him had solidified. Even if faced with a battle between six Sages ahead, he no longer needed to be so timid.
If crossing the Void Realm was a long sea voyage, then True Spirit Infusion meant an endless supply of provisions, turning what would have been an extremely perilous undertaking into a smooth journey.
Without any mishaps, the mountains and seas ahead soon came into view.
"From our current observation, the mountains and seas ahead appear intact. The Three Sages should not have fallen yet," Li Fan communicated telepathically with Morality, both concealed within the Void Realm. "However, we can already sense the brewing storm, indicating they are likely locked in fierce combat. It seems we have arrived at the opportune moment."
At this point, Old Man Shou Qiu also awoke from his comprehension. His aura was deep and imposing, making him unfathomable, and in a fleeting moment, it felt as if one were seeing the Three Sages themselves.
"I will proceed ahead and merge with my other self," Old Man Shou Qiu declared. "If the Three Sages' main bodies are too preoccupied to notice the other shore's Vortex Ring, I will first suppress the remaining Sages." With that, he transformed into a white streak and shot directly towards the mountains and seas ahead.
Li Fan had no doubt that Old Man Shou Qiu could accomplish this. While Old Man Shou Qiu was comprehending, Li Fan had also felt a similar enlightenment. He could only sigh, lamenting that the greater one's power, the more significant the amplification gained from Return to Truth. With Old Man Shou Qiu's abilities and countless ages spent observing the mountains and seas, his enlightenment had propelled him to a level comparable to the Three Sages.
"If Old Man Shou Qiu had obtained Return to Truth earlier, this world of mountains and seas would have been turned upside down long ago," Morality exclaimed.
Though Li Fan felt a touch of helplessness, he couldn't deny the truth of Morality's words. Fortunately, the three of them were of one mind and shared everything, so no unusual thoughts arose in their hearts.
Old Man Shou Qiu's actions were swift. There were no earth-shattering commotion, and in less than half a day, the other shore was silently taken over. Sensing Old Man Shou Qiu's transmission, Li Fan and Morality descended upon the mountains and seas leisurely.
Within the Vortex Ring, a peculiar phenomenon unfolded. It was as if two suns shone in the sky. Besides the initial white circle, another ring had appeared. This new ring was overwhelmingly dominant, unceremoniously taking the lead and absorbing all the Sages who were previously within the original ring under its command. Old Man Shou Qiu had already secured the core position, leaving a vacant seat for Li Fan and Morality.
"It appears the fierce battle in the Void Realm has reached a critical juncture. The Three Sages have even mobilized their remaining phantom forces. Otherwise, it wouldn't have been this easy for me," Old Man Shou Qiu conveyed. "After merging with my counterpart in this segment of mountains and seas, I launched a surprise attack. The Sages of Stealth and the others couldn't react in time and were instantly subdued by me. I've spared their lives for now, partly to stabilize the mountains and seas, and partly..."
"...perhaps to borrow their strength and absorb nutrients from the Vortex Ring."
In an instant, Li Fan, Morality, and Old Man Shou Qiu exchanged their thoughts. Following Old Man Shou Qiu's words, Li Fan looked towards the wondrous scene of two rings coexisting. Both were Vortex Rings, yet their fates were vastly different. The old ring, though still magnificent, had lost its seated Sages. More importantly, the departure of the Three Sages, who were its core masters, began to show signs of decline. The new ring, though newly formed, possessed a vibrant and unique vitality. Like a newborn calf, it was challenging the status of the old ring.
Li Fan was quite surprised to see the new and old rings coexist without repelling each other.
"The core of the Vortex Ring is the 'Shadow of the Divine.' Whether it's what we comprehend or what the Three Sages comprehend, they are merely crude imitations of the true Shadow of the Divine. In a sense, we are of the same origin and one entity, so naturally, there will be no repulsion," Old Man Shou Qiu explained. "Conversely, just like how different versions of ourselves from different time periods would merge upon meeting, these two Vortex Rings, upon contact, will gradually integrate into one. Of course, this is also because the old ring has lost the rule of the Three Sages and is leaderless."
Li Fan narrowed his eyes, slowly coming to a realization. "In my previous life, I gained enlightenment of the Shadow of the Divine by observing the Vortex Ring. But in this life, it's reversed. Through the merging of the Vortex Rings, it will feed back into the Three Sages' comprehension of the Shadow of the Divine."
"This is undoubtedly more pure and concrete."
Old Man Shou Qiu also cautioned, "Below the True Gods, each has their own comprehension. Therefore, the thoughts and ideas of the Three Sages may not necessarily surpass ours. They should only be taken as references; we must still maintain our own unique characteristics."
"Old Man Shou Qiu is absolutely right," Morality agreed. Although he was the weakest and least experienced among the three, having conceived the art of Moral Division and becoming a Sage through an unconventional path, Morality's comprehension was undoubtedly among the top tier in this world of mountains and seas. Now, with the accumulation of Old Man Shou Qiu's long life experiences and his own insights into the Great Dao of Truth and Falsehood, his strength was progressing at an astonishing rate, possibly the fastest of the three. He was particularly adept at guiding the merging of the Vortex Rings, especially the process of absorption after Moral Division.
Under the watchful eyes of the Sages of Stealth, the two rings gradually merged. The familiar white circle, representing the past glory of the Three Sages, was progressively suppressed by the brilliance of the new ring. Even though the Sages still occupied their positions within the Vortex Ring of Return to Truth, they knew that something had changed.
"Except for the initial three main positions, the rest, while still influenced by the 'Unity of Mind,' have their efficacy greatly reduced," Old Man Shou Qiu conveyed. "However, it's more than enough to achieve our plan. Morality will remain in the mountains and seas, while Daoist Fan and I will infiltrate the Void Realm and act according to the situation."
From the depths of the ancient Void Realm, heart-palpitating fluctuations grew more frequent, suggesting that the intense battle between the Six Sages was approaching its climax. Li Fan and the others wasted no time. Leaving behind two phantom images, their true selves ventured into the Void Realm, cautiously moving towards the source of the fluctuations.
"I only have the power for one strike of 'Mountain Splitting,'" Li Fan stated calmly. "I can unleash it at the critical moment. For everything else, I'll have to rely on you, Old Man Shou Qiu." Simultaneously, he stirred the countless stagnant True Spirits within the Void Realm, covering their surroundings to act as a disguise. The stagnant True Spirits swirled around them, completely concealing their auras as they silently moved within the Void Realm.
"Your 'Mountain Splitting' strike will have its greatest effect only when used at the most crucial moment," Old Man Shou Qiu replied. "Just wait patiently. For everything else..."
"...leave it to me." Old Man Shou Qiu's words conveyed an unspoken confidence. As they conversed, they were rapidly approaching the site of the Six Sages' fierce battle. The stagnant True Spirits churned like disturbed waves, their movements erratic. Within the Void Realm, a colossal entity seemed to be stirring up trouble, causing widespread chaos. Li Fan and Old Man Shou Qiu advanced with increasing caution. Finally, Taiyi appeared in their sight, or rather, Taiyi and his Void Realm Avatar!
Taiyi's demeanor was serious, much like Li Fan had always seen him. His robes were slightly rumpled, giving the impression that he had been forced into a somewhat desperate situation. As for the Void Realm Avatar... its form, appearance, and aura were identical to the original body. However, it seemed to be covered by a layer of dim, mask-like obscurity, making the entire person appear to be shrouded in shadow. Its face was cold and devoid of any expression, with only the original Taiyi in its eyes, determined to kill him.
The battle between Taiyi and his Void Realm Avatar was profoundly mystical. It wasn't just the two of them; two boundless worlds and the infinite beings within them were also involved. These two worlds merged with each other, and the boundary between them became the bloodiest battlefield.
"Old Man Shou Qiu, can you discern the mystery?" Li Fan asked.
"That should be... the Primordial Immortal Realm," Old Man Shou Qiu observed for a moment before suddenly stating.
"The Primordial Immortal Realm?"
"Of course, it's not the one that once existed in our mountains and seas. More accurately, it's a replica derived from within Taiyi, almost identical to the original Primordial Immortal Realm. With Taiyi's power, he has recreated the primordial creation of mountains and seas..."
"And the beings manifested in this world should be those whom Taiyi killed. They have long since vanished from the river of history in our mountains and seas, but because Taiyi slew them, a trace of their existence remains."
Upon hearing this, Li Fan's gaze sharpened, and he couldn't help but recall Taiyi's Sage-enlightenment treasure, the Myriad Beings Cudgel. "Among the Three Sages, it is indeed this one who has the heaviest killing intent."
Li Fan gazed at the scene of the Primordial Immortal Realm, caught in battle, and saw many primordial beings exuding peculiar auras, essentially manifestations of the Great Dao. Among them, the four strongest, leading the charge, radiated the auras of 'Primordial Beginning,' 'Primordial Origin,' 'Primordial Purity,' and 'Great Ultimate.'
"The true face of Sage Taiyi is indeed extraordinary. While the original Sage Taiyi is extraordinary, his Void Realm Avatar has perfectly replicated everything about him. The manifested scene of the Primordial Immortal Realm is identical to the original. Moreover, being in the boundless Void Realm, fighting on home ground with an inexhaustible source of power as support, and unafraid of exhaustion, he has gained a slight upper hand in the battle. However, it's still a stalemate, and Taiyi's defeat is far from imminent."
Li Fan began to search for Lian Shan and Gui Hai. "I can clearly feel the aftermath of their fierce battle, so why can't I see them?" Li Fan pondered, a hint of confusion in his voice. Old Man Shou Qiu, however, looked towards a nearby area, his expression growing more serious.
"From within the mountains and seas, it is naturally difficult to see the mountains and seas. These two have already revealed their true forms." Guided by Old Man Shou Qiu, Li Fan's vision of the Void Realm shifted dramatically! Amidst the seemingly empty darkness, countless swift currents surged. They clashed and collided at times, yet maintained a clear distinction at others. Although chaotic on the surface, they were paradoxically centered around four core elements. These were Lian Shan, Gui Hai, and their Void Realm Avatars.
If Taiyi's battle was the 'motion' of an endless, chaotic battlefield, then the confrontation between Lian Shan and Gui Hai was characterized by 'stillness.' Four figures stood in opposition, each unmoving. Yet, countless currents swirled around them, manifesting as killing intent in contention. Taiyi's battle was still in a stalemate, but the situation between the two Sages had reached a critical point.
Sensing Li Fan's bewilderment, Old Man Shou Qiu explained, "The conflict between the two Sages and their Void Realm Avatars can be seen as a struggle for their respective Dao lineages. 'Lian Shan' and 'Gui Hai' are the reasons why these two Sages reached the pinnacle. Now, this authority is being coveted by their Void Realm Avatars. This involves the very foundation of their power's existence, making it far more perilous than an ordinary battle!"
"Look there!" Following Old Man Shou Qiu's gesture, Li Fan saw that in the process of contention, several streams were being swallowed by other whirlpools. This seemingly minor change in a corner of the battlefield triggered countless other transformations, leading to vast shifts in the entire conflict. In an instant, immense and infinite changes unfolded, causing Li Fan, who was witnessing it, to feel slightly dizzy.
"Each subtle change could be seen as a potential evolution of the mountains and seas as they surge through time. Taiyi uses the Primordial Immortal Realm as the core of his Dao derivation, while Sages Lian Shan and Gui Hai treat the entire world of mountains and seas as their own dojo!" Old Man Shou Qiu exclaimed with genuine emotion, mixed with an indescribable excitement.
"However, this is still just the surface! The infinite changes of mountains and seas are merely the concrete manifestations of the two Sages' power. And the origin of these changes..." Old Man Shou Qiu tried his best to find the true core amidst the immeasurable turbulence of the battlefield.
Even though Li Fan couldn't fully grasp the true nature of the battle, he could discern from the increasingly frequent collisions and engulfments that the situation was intensifying. Occasionally, he could even hear the mournful cries of the mountains and seas.
"The foundation of the Two Sages' connection to mountains and seas is already beginning to be damaged. It's like an armor gradually breaking down. Focus your mind, and perhaps you can glimpse the true faces of Lian Shan and Gui Hai!" Old Man Shou Qiu reminded him. Li Fan calmed his heart. Time seemed to stand still. His consciousness rapidly swept through the countless interwoven lines before him. Slowly, whether it was Li Fan's imagination or not, he began to feel as if these turbulent lines had come alive. Each change in a line seemed to represent... civilization!
The vast and ancient years of mountains and seas had seen countless civilizations born and then destroyed. Each appearance and disappearance of a civilization, though seemingly leaving no trace, had subtly carved ripples on the water's surface and etched wrinkles onto the mountainside, like invisible knives. Mountains and seas, each with their own vague consciousness, naturally perceived the civilizations born within them.
"Mountains and seas are formless, yet they differentiate and manifest," Li Fan suddenly realized. "After mountains and seas separated and gained divine consciousness, they evolved into their current state. While this is their own creation, who's to say it hasn't been influenced by these born civilizations? Drop by drop wears away a stone, and a rope saws through wood. Although the changes brought by each civilization are small, when infinitely accumulated, they can influence the overall trends of the mountains and seas!"
"But what is the source of all these changes?" Li Fan, like Old Man Shou Qiu, felt an inexplicable question arise in his heart. Amidst these billions of turbulent lines, he continued his search. In a trance, he seemed to forget his current situation, existing purely as a seeker of knowledge. Constantly bathed in the vast and ancient aura of the mountains and seas, Li Fan felt as if he had truly returned to the beginning of the world. The stories of mountains and seas left behind by Sun Piaomiao, he remembered, word for word.
"In the beginning, mountains and seas were not merged but separated. Life emerged from the sea, yearning for the mountains, leading to the act of ascent. Although such presumptuous behavior was quickly punished by the mountains, the exploration from the sea never ceased. This led to the mountains and seas of today. 'Why Lian Shan, why Gui Hai...'"
Li Fan's heart stirred, and he seemed to be catching a glimpse of the true faces of Sages Lian Shan and Gui Hai!
Li Fan had once encountered the remnants of a unique civilization from the Mountains and Seas.
The remnants of the ancient Dynasty of [Silence], the "Sacrifice of Mountains and Seas," and Xiao Wangsheng.
Although that ancient dynasty had long since vanished into the river of history, Xiao Wangsheng had miraculously survived and even had a chance encounter with Li Fan.
Through this, Li Fan had glimpsed a corner of the ancient Mountains and Seas.
At this moment, to confirm his suspicions, Li Fan felt as if he had become one of the participants in the Sacrifice of Mountains and Seas. Amidst the countless vast lines of the Void Realm, he searched for a wisp of familiar aura.
The Mountains and Seas, from their initial birth to the present, had endured countless years.
However, the Dynasty of Silence had also endured for countless epochs. If not for the Tribulation of Dao Erasure where Mountains and Seas merged, their kind, who were dependent on the Mountains and Seas, would not have been so easily annihilated.
Silence, in the end, had left its own imprint in the history of the Mountains and Seas.
And now…
Li Fan, as if embodying the Sacrifice of Mountains and Seas, truly sensed the familiar aura of his "homeland" amidst the countless surrounding lines!
The other sacrificers he was familiar with, the countless citizens of the Dynasty of Silence, seemed not to have died. Instead, they were still gathered there, calling for his return!
Li Fan followed the trail, but ultimately did not see what had been destroyed.
What he saw was merely an infinite projection of light and shadow of Silence's past existence in the Mountains and Seas, condensed into a single thread.
This thread represented the imprint left by the civilization of the Dynasty of Silence in the Mountains and Seas!
Li Fan’s consciousness returned to his own body, withdrawing from the scene of the Dynasty of Silence’s thread. He looked around.
Civilization threads like this…
Were endless, boundless, and immeasurable!
Li Fan was deeply shaken.
“When I first emerged from the Primordial, I saw countless possibilities flowing side-by-side in the Mountains and Seas, and thought I understood the vastness of the Mountains and Seas.”
“But seeing all this today, only then did I realize…”
“The longitudinal lifespan of the Mountains and Seas, on the scale of time, is no less than the [Infinite] in its horizontal expanse.”
“It is immeasurably, inconceivably long!”
Li Fan also recalled a strange small black box he had once fished up from the Dao Erasure.
It was an ancient artifact of the Mountains and Seas, a manifestation of its primordial state after turning black.
“Initially, during the period when the Mountains and Seas devoured the gods, it was one of the numerous algal life forms existing in the Mountains and Seas. After countless years of accumulation, it evolved into that form.”
“Even the period after the Mountains and Seas devoured the gods might have been much longer than I initially imagined.”
Algal life forms lacked subjective consciousness, possessing only the instinct for survival.
Yet even it held an impression of its experiences as "extremely ancient," indicating the profound antiquity of the Mountains and Seas.
“Originally heading towards the mountains, thus named Lian Shan (Connecting Mountains).”
“Originally coming from the sea, thus named Gui Hai (Returning to the Sea).”
“The puzzle’s solution was in the question itself.”
Amidst the chaotic currents of infinite civilization threads, Li Fan seemed to see the true source of power for the two Sages, Lian Shan and Gui Hai.
“Every attempt by ancient Mountain and Sea civilizations at bridging mountains and seas propelled the birth of the Sage Lian Shan.”
“And the process of every civilization disappearing and returning to the Infinite Sea was the catalyst for the appearance of Sage Gui Hai.”
“It was not the power of one person, in one moment, to reach the summit, but the joint effort of countless epochs and countless civilizations that led to that astounding leap!”
Li Fan then recalled what Sage Lian Shan had once described about his encounter with the Fate Pivot upon his initial ascension.
After Lian Shan ascended, the Fate Pivot seemed to have encountered something terrifying and hastily fled.
“Thinking back now, perhaps at the moment Lian Shan succeeded, the Fate Pivot, like me, glimpsed its true nature.”
“The source of Sage Lian Shan's power is the sum of all beings who attempted to 'connect mountains' but failed. This means that anyone who attempted to ascend could become its nourishment.”
“What the Fate Pivot saw in that moment was likely a terrifying monster standing upon countless piles of corpses. Its fear and flight were not unexpected.”
Although he understood the methods by which the two Sages attained their Dao, Li Fan was still filled with many doubts.
For example, how did "abstract" concepts like attempts at civilization spanning mountains and seas, and the inertia of returning to the sea after perishing, materialize into true existences and influence the Mountains and Seas?
“The Mountains and Seas fragmented their spirits, giving rise to life and civilizations – was this an inevitability, or a mere accident?”
In the Void Realm, Li Fan had a realization.
Shou Qiu, sharing the same thoughts, also understood something.
“Fellow Daoist Fan, do you still remember the true master of the Great Dao of Longevity? In your previous life, after you achieved Return to Truth, the Great Dao of Longevity strangely resisted returning to the Hall of Return to Truth.”
“I have also vaguely glimpsed traces of its existence amidst these endless civilization threads!”
“It only existed before a certain moment in the ancient past of the Mountains and Seas. It prevented itself from evolving alongside the Mountains and Seas through a method akin to falling into ruin.”
“Perhaps it foresaw the outcome of the Tribulation of Dao Erasure where Mountains and Seas merged!”
“I can vaguely understand its reasoning. The moment the Mountains and Seas were devoured by Dao Erasure, they were fragmented into countless pieces. Even beings as powerful as the Three Sages could not prevent this change.”
“Their strength inevitably declined due to this fragmentation. If they wanted to avoid this…”
“Then they would have to sever their own future on the scale of time!”
“Concentrating all their power into one segment of the Mountains and Seas. The Three Sages still needed to continuously backtrack and slowly recover their peak strength. But they managed to preserve their strength as much as possible during the great tribulation of the Mountains and Seas.”
“Thus gaining an advantage in the struggle for the 'fragmented spirits of the Mountains and Seas'!”
Shou Qiu's thoughts churned, deducing the motivations of that master of Longevity from the endless chaotic civilization threads.
Influenced by this, Li Fan's mind was also swept by a storm of thoughts.
“The decline of the Sages of the Mountains and Seas might not mean their true demise. It is highly possible that, like [Longevity], they intentionally retreated by severing their own future.”
“If the future is destined for an end, then continuing forward with it may not be a good thing.”
“As for the Three Sages…”
“It’s not that the Three Sages are weaker than these Sages who severed their future. Rather, the Three Sages have inextricably linked ties with the evolution of the Mountain and Sea civilization, and these ties are not so easily severed.”
The collision of civilization threads became increasingly intense.
Every intertwining of chaotic lines seemed to represent the mutual slaughter of countless civilizations.
Although no blood was visible, a sense of killing pervaded the air.
This was a battle for survival, a fight to the death!
There was no room for retreat.
Li Fan also vaguely understood why the Void Realm vowed to kill the Three Sages.
Aside from the Three Sages' transcendent power, which made them the greatest obstacle to Dao Erasure devouring the Mountains and Seas, perhaps in the view of the Void Realm, the Three Sages were part of the Mountain and Sea civilization itself.
They might even be the main force that needed to be annihilated!
And the Three Sages were aware of their destiny, which was why they did not retreat when the Void Realm's avatars descended.
“With the foundation of the Three Sages, your ‘Mountain Splitting’ move might exert more power than imagined.”
“When you unleash it, you need not hold back. It’s fine even if it affects the true bodies of the Three Sages.”
“For now, remain hidden and act when the opportunity arises!”
As Shou Qiu spoke, he revealed himself.
Amidst the fierce battle of the six Sages, a new figure suddenly appeared, immediately drawing the attention of the Three Sages and the Void Realm avatars.
Shou Qiu directly used the Lian Shan Staff, Gui Hai Spade, and Myriad Beings Cudgel as tokens, revealing his intention.
“Shou Qiu…”
The Three Sages naturally recognized Shou Qiu Gong.
In fact, from the perspective of the Three Sages, they had only parted ways a short while ago.
But…
In the short time they had been apart, the aura emanating from Shou Qiu Gong had somehow undergone a world-shattering change.
Upon appearing now, without a word, he acted like a sharp sword, piercing into the most intense part of the battle between the two armies!
In an instant, countless jade dragons arose, chilling the surroundings!
The already complex situation became even more chaotic.
Billions upon billions of civilization threads instinctively surged, attacking Shou Qiu, an interloper.
The killing intent emanating from each black thread at this moment was no less than a full-blown attack from a Transcendent powerhouse.
Civilization threads, though phantoms of past existences,
had now transformed into blades capable of destroying the heavens and earth on this battlefield of six Sages' combat!
As if enveloped by numerous twisted black threads, Shou Qiu's clothes were instantly torn to shreds.
But Shou Qiu himself remained resolute.
He chuckled, “I have sat on mountains and gazed at seas, witnessing their collapse.”
“You perish, I do not. You are destroyed, I remain.”
“The merging of Mountains and Seas, the tribulation of Dao Erasure, can subvert countless civilizations. However…”
“What harm can it do to me?”
A profound aura emanated from him, and Shou Qiu Gong, facing the onslaught of countless civilization threads, remained at ease.
As if impervious to all methods and undecaying through all tribulations!
At first glance, it seemed as though Shou Qiu had grasped the essence of the Great Dao of [Longevity].
But only Li Fan, observing the scene clearly, could tell.
Longevity was merely an appearance.
What truly supported Shou Qiu Gong's unruffled demeanor in the face of such immense calamity…
Was the Transformation of True and False!
What were the swords of civilization? What was the invasion of Dao Erasure?
In a single thought of falsification, they could not harm his body!
After establishing a foothold in the battlefield of the six Sages' combat, Shou Qiu once again looked towards the center, where the Void Realm avatars were positioned.
Their bodies, cloaked in dim shadows, were no different from the original bodies of the Three Sages.
Even their expressions, witnessing Shou Qiu’s peculiar display, were identical to their original forms!
Yet, they did not cease their attack due to this unexpected variable.
Instead, they simultaneously unleashed their attacks towards Shou Qiu.
Their movements were formidable, their momentum fierce.
And this time, they did not merely employ the methods of civilization threads!
A thin piece resembling a turtle shell flew out from beside the phantom of Lian Shan.
In an instant, it arrived above Shou Qiu's head.
On the surface, it appeared as light as nothing, but when it truly landed on Shou Qiu…
It felt as heavy as a thousand mountains!
These mountains were the Mount Shang!
Shou Qiu could sit on mountains and gaze at seas, but at this moment, in his eyes, it seemed as if the heavens and earth had inverted.
Endless mountain ranges pressed down upon him!
Shou Qiu grunted, and his body seemed to shrink by half as if suppressed.
Yet he did not lower his head. Instead, he raised it even higher, his eyes gleaming as he examined the turtle shell fragment above his head.
It emitted a faint greenish-blue light, with patterns of profound mystery.
It resembled the veins of mountain ranges.
Although confined to a small area, the images of mountains within it were in a state of infinite transformation.
The pressure Shou Qiu endured seemed to increase with every passing moment.
Shou Qiu Gong had never seen this turtle shell phantom used by Sage Lian Shan before.
However, the Void Realm avatar of Lian Shan threw it out without hesitation upon witnessing Shou Qiu’s transformation.
Clearly, it had glimpsed some of the origin of this variable.
Meanwhile, the Void Realm avatars of Gui Hai and Tai Yi also unleashed their killing moves.
A crystal-clear stone fragment, or perhaps a shard of bone, was suddenly hurled towards Shou Qiu Gong.
Ignoring the distance between them, it arrived the moment it was thrown.
It struck directly at the center of Shou Qiu's brow!
Shou Qiu's figure flickered slightly, and his mind went blank for a moment.
It was Li Fan’s voice that jolted him awake.
“Shou Qiu, protect yourself by upholding the Transformation of True and False! This bone…”
“Is incredibly strange!”
Li Fan didn't need to elaborate; Shou Qiu could already sense the harm the bone shard was inflicting on him.
The damage to his brow was secondary. What truly caused Shou Qiu Gong to change color was the bone shard's parasitic nature and its intention to replace him!
After striking his brow, the bone shard rooted itself, penetrating deeper into Shou Qiu Gong's body, growing incessantly.
Normally, when facing invasion by foreign objects from within the body, one’s own power would erect defenses.
But now, this bone shard seemed to originate from Shou Qiu Gong himself.
His internal power had all chosen to stand aside, allowing it to penetrate unimpeded!
The bone shard took root, growing vigorously along Shou Qiu Gong’s meridians and bones.
It seemed as if it intended to grow another body from within him!
Shou Qiu sensed that if this foreign bone were to fully form within him, he would truly be replaced!
However, ordinary methods, even the Great Dao of Longevity, offered only minimal resistance to this invasive bone.
Shou Qiu Gong could only rely on the Transformation of True and False to delay his transformation as much as possible.
Although he was alarmed, he remained calm, knowing that even if he perished now, everything would return to the starting point after Li Fan achieved Return to Truth.
“Even if I die, it is worth it to have figured out the true methods of the Three Sages.”
He then cleared his mind of any distracting thoughts and carefully observed the foreign bone within his body.
As the bone shard occupied Shou Qiu Gong's body and divine soul, Shou Qiu Gong was also able to observe it up close.
The more he looked, the more horrified he became.
“It’s not deceiving my senses through some method. It's…”
“As if it truly is my bone, my body.”
“No, to be more precise, it’s as if I originated from this bone shard!”
Recalling the source of Sage Gui Hai's power, the inertia of civilizations disappearing and returning to the Infinite Sea, Shou Qiu Gong suddenly understood.
“This bone…”
“The ancestor of all life in the Mountains and Seas?”
It appeared to be the source of all life in the Mountains and Seas, from which it came and to which it returned, making the process seem perfectly natural.
Shou Qiu was inexplicably shaken.
Even a Sage’s body, upon witnessing this seemingly ordinary bone shard, felt an instinctive urge to prostrate and worship.
This was an innate reverence felt upon encountering the origin of life.
At this moment, Shou Qiu Gong could only ascertain that the bone shard was the ancestor of all life in the Mountains and Seas.
As for the relationship between this ancestor of life and that Creation True God…
That was beyond Shou Qiu Gong's knowledge at this moment.
Suppressed by both the turtle shell and the ancestral bone, Shou Qiu Gong was instantly pushed to his limit.
But next, Sage Gui Hai’s Void Realm avatar’s killing move arrived.
It appeared to be just a broken piece of hemp rope.
But upon careful inspection, the countless fine threads that made up the rope were composed of countless different living beings!
It was as if all the life forms that had ever appeared in the Mountains and Seas were blended together. Observing it induced dizziness and a pounding heart!
It seemed as though one could be instantly ensnared within this rope!
The enemy tactic employed by Sage Tai Yi, using the Life Rope, was not a simple binding like a typical rope. Instead, countless smaller black threads poured forth from it.
Like a pair of invisible, skillful hands rapidly weaving, a "Mound Guardian" puppet constructed from the rope quickly appeared in the arena. The moment the puppet was born, it felt as if an unknown entity had somehow locked it and the real Mound Guardian into a single unit. Facing another version of himself, Mound Guardian's hair stood on end; he instinctively sensed a fatal crisis.
What happened next quickly proved Mound Guardian’s premonition correct. In the Void Realm, as if a gentle breeze had passed through, one of the fine threads forming the puppet Mound Guardian floated out from its body and was instantly devoured by the surrounding Dao Erasure. Correspondingly… Mound Guardian genuinely felt a part of himself being ripped away and vanishing into nothingness!
With the turtle shell suppressing from above and the ancestral bone absorbing from his brow, Mound Guardian, already in a precarious situation, found his circumstances growing even more dire due to the sudden drop in his strength. Though his head remained held high, his entire body was forced to shrink by a significant margin. Thin strands of blood seeped out, and the instant they left his body, they were absorbed by the ancestral bone that had attached itself to him. The ossification became more pronounced, and from the outside, it appeared as though his entire skeletal structure was rigidly affixed to Mound Guardian's hunched form.
Severed threads, a life hanging by a thread! The drawing out of life essence continued. Mound Guardian felt with increasing clarity that his lifespan was rapidly draining away. The Great Dao of Longevity, which he had comprehended and mastered, erupted with an unprecedented brilliant green radiance under the fatal crisis, doing its utmost to mend Mound Guardian's injuries. If it were only the pressure from the turtle shell and ancestral bone, Mound Guardian might have been able to hold on for a while longer by relying on the characteristics of the Great Dao of Longevity. However, the consumption by the Life Rope directly extracted his origin essence.
As the puppet Mound Guardian grew increasingly withered, the very substance of Mound Guardian's life became thinner and thinner. Even though the power of Longevity continuously replenished his body, it could only fill his form but could not prevent the reduction of his life's upper limit.
“This Life Rope technique is strangely similar to the divine ability of ‘Truth into Falsehood’!” “But instead of negating my existence through the Great Dao of Truth and Falsehood, it uses some unknown power to extract my life essence…”
Life was like a candle flame in a fierce wind, about to be extinguished. Yet, within Mound Guardian's heart, there was no sadness or joy. He seized his final moments, comprehending the turtle shell, the ancestral bone, and the Life Rope – these three items. He also contemplated a method of response. He even proactively abandoned his resistance, sacrificing himself to hasten his demise, in exchange for experimenting with different countermeasures.
“Though the turtle shell is small and thin, it seems to represent the boundless Mount Shang.” “The Sages spoke of the body being equal to the mountains and seas, but only when the mountains and seas truly press down upon one’s body can one feel their weight.” “Even the realm of the Three Sages might not be able to resist it head-on.” “Perhaps I can use my understanding of the mountains and seas to diffuse some of the suppression, as if I were already within the mountains…”
“The ancestral bone absorbs; all things within my body return to it without resistance, like all the waters of the world flowing east into the sea, seemingly following the will of heaven. But there are waters that flow west, forming another vast ocean! Though you are the ancestor of all life in the world, I am the Mound Guardian of the Mountains and Seas!”
Within Mound Guardian’s eyes, a faint flame seemed to ignite. As if sensing his thoughts, the flow of blood and flesh towards the ancestral bone within his body momentarily halted. It seemed to be in a dilemma, unsure of what to do.
“As for this Life Rope…” “Its method of extracting life essence is truly difficult to guard against. The moment the puppet is born, any negative effects that occur to it are synchronously realized in me. This kind of corresponding binding can perhaps only be resolved through the transformation of truth and falsehood.”
Mound Guardian had faintly grasped a path towards dissolution, but he forcibly suppressed the urge to act. This was different from before; he was now locked onto by the life puppet, and additionally, the ancestral bone was parasitizing him. His internal condition might be perceived by the Void Realm manifestation. If he were to forcefully employ the transformation of truth and falsehood to resolve this at this moment, his opponent might detect the existence of "Return to Truth."
“Wriggling in the face of death is meaningless.” “Forget it.”
As he was about to perish, Mound Guardian’s heart was suddenly filled with a clear emptiness. For he knew that as long as Li Fan initiated “Return to Truth” again, he would return from nothingness. He did not dwell on the question of whether that "me" was truly him. The dying Mound Guardian felt a sense of melancholy. It was precisely because he held the thought that he would inevitably return that, in the face of such immense existential terror, the emotions he should have felt were absent from the depths of his heart. This anomaly made Mound Guardian feel that the "Longevity" he had spent most of his life comprehending had become worthless.
“If there is no death, what meaning does longevity hold?” “The Great Dao of Truth and Falsehood, the Void exhausts the world!”
… Just then, the reinforcement from the true bodies of the Three Sages finally arrived, albeit late. They seemed to be quite wary of employing the turtle shell, ancestral bone, and Life Rope, unlike their Void Realm manifestations, which were decisive. Only upon witnessing Mound Guardian on the verge of death did they release the three items. Silently, they circled Mound Guardian's body. Compared to those released by the Void Realm manifestations, the true bodies of the Three Sages appeared… more malevolent! The Void Realm manifestations merely executed pure "objects," while what the Three Sages produced now seemed like living beings.
Mound Guardian even vaguely felt three pairs of distinct gazes continuously scrutinizing his body. Faint, eerie laughter occasionally echoed by his ears. A cold, sinister aura seeped into his body uncontrollably, causing Mound Guardian intense "discomfort." It was not pain, but an instinctive repulsion, a desire to flee! Fortunately, the three items were ultimately controlled by the Three Sages and did not forget their mission.
Turtle shell against turtle shell; the unbroken shadows of Mount Shang descended, resisting the boundless Mount Shang. Ancestral bone against ancestral bone; with the infiltration of another force from the "Ancestor of All Living Beings of Mountains and Seas," the blood and flesh flowing from Mound Guardian's body lost its direction, unsure of where to go. Life Rope against Life Rope. In the void, another puppet Mound Guardian silently appeared. The life essence that had been drawn out was slowly replenished by it!
With the intervention of the Three Sages' true bodies, Mound Guardian's precarious situation was instantly reversed; he was unceremoniously pulled back from the brink of death! The Six Sages and their Void Realm manifestations were truly like needle tips against each other – evenly matched, neither gaining the upper hand!
Mound Guardian, having narrowly escaped death, had no time to feel relieved. Instead, an inexplicable unease arose in his heart. It was not for himself, but for the Three Sages. “If they were only evenly matched… how did the Three Sages perish in the previous life’s timeline?” “Could it be…”
Mound Guardian's heart trembled, and he was about to speak. But the Void Realm manifestations seemed to have been waiting for this moment. Just as the Three Sages released the turtle shell, ancestral bone, and Life Rope to save Mound Guardian, three more items descended into the Void Realm with ripples. Like celestial stones thrown from beyond the heavens, they hurtled into the arena.
The countless threads within the arena where the Six Sages were engaged in battle were instantly thrown into disarray! The Life Rope bound Lian Shan; the turtle shell suppressed Gui Hai; the ancestral bone captured Tai Yi. As if premeditated, the Void Realm manifested these three items again, forcing them upon the Three Sages!
Witnessing this, Mound Guardian understood instantly. The turtle shell, ancestral bone, and Life Rope utilized by the Void Realm manifestations were, after all, mere derivations of the Void Realm's power, not actual objects. As long as enough power was invested, multiple copies could naturally be created. The Three Sages, however, only possessed the original turtle shell, ancestral bone, and Life Rope. At this moment, a momentary lapse in judgment to save Mound Guardian’s life led to their own critical situation.
The strength of the Three Sages and their Void Realm manifestations was already evenly matched. The additional turtle shell, ancestral bone, and Life Rope became the final straw that broke the camel's back! The Three Sages attempted to recall their treasures to support themselves, but they were already deadlocked with their first copies. The first copies had even abandoned their original target, Mound Guardian, and were willing to disintegrate their own forms to hold them back.
Mound Guardian suddenly glanced into the depths of the Void Realm, where he seemed to see someone who had made a move suddenly reveal a faint, triumphant smile. Given Mound Guardian's character, he naturally could not stand by and watch the Three Sages die because of him. Moreover, Li Fan's plan in this life was to save the Three Lives and observe the changes of the Three Sages closely. Instinctively, he prepared to lend aid. However, that brief glance into the Void Realm’s exterior caused Mound Guardian to hesitate. It was not that he feared death, but…
In an instant, after countless deductions in his mind, Mound Guardian found a suitable method. “The plan has changed.” “Fellow Daoist Fan, do not reveal yourself; merely observe from the shadows.” “If any more anomalies descend from outside the Void Realm…” “They will only target me.”
After transmitting his message, without waiting for Li Fan's reply, Mound Guardian no longer concealed what he had comprehended in this life. The Great Dao of Truth and Falsehood, the Outline of Mountain and Sea Transformations. Without reservation, he unleashed it all. In the span of a single breath, his body, previously ravaged by the turtle shell, ancestral bone, and Life Rope, was restored to its peak condition. He took a step forward, traversing the vast Void Realm, and arrived at the center, encircling the true bodies of the Three Sages.
“The intricacies of fate are like truth and falsehood, like dreams and illusions. To think of them is to make them void; to perceive them is to make them false!” Reaching out from afar, he gently grasped the Life Rope that was entwining Sage Lian Shan. An anomalous object approached, and the Life Rope instinctively attempted to manifest a puppet to control it and then extract life essence. But those myriad differentiated threads wove in the void for a long time, only to end in vain! It was as if the Mound Guardian who had grasped it was not within the mountains and seas, nor within the intricacies of fate!
“In the past, the mountains were tranquil and the seas peaceful; I sat upon the mountains and gazed at the seas. Now that the mountains and seas have reversed, I shall…” “Bear it on my shoulders, carry it with my body.” Casually and effortlessly, he took on the faint, thin layer of suppression pinning down Sage Gui Hai. The turtle shell trembled, as if enraged by Mound Guardian's presumptuous act. But no matter how it radiated light, the Mound Guardian beneath it seemed completely unaffected by the immensity of Mount Shang, as if he felt none of its weight.
“The ancestor of all living beings in the world, whether they exist or not, is but a single thought.” Mound Guardian did not need to say more. Sensing the extraordinary aura emanating from Mound Guardian, the ancestral bone abandoned Tai Yi and actively tried to erode him. But even after exhausting all means of inspection, it could find nothing it desired. Within Mound Guardian's body, it was as if everything was empty! It was even as if Mound Guardian himself did not exist in this world!
Mound Guardian's appearance and his intervention to relieve the Three Sages drew the attention of the turtle shell, ancestral bone, and Life Rope. This all happened in an instant. Within the Void Realm, the situation changed abruptly. The chaotic lines, representing countless possibilities of conflict, all stilled. Even the endlessly surging waves of Dao Erasure entered an eerie state of stillness. Then… Boom, boom, boom.
Faintly, continuous rumbling sounds echoed from various parts of the Void Realm. The boundless Dao Erasure seemed to boil at this moment, surging with immense power. It gradually surrounded the Six Sages and Mound Guardian in the arena. Within the waves of Dao Erasure, countless figures seemed to be taking shape. Most of them resembled the Three Sages, but there were also other Sages present. It was as if the Void Realm had exhausted all its available power, determined to hunt them down successfully.
The Six Sages, who had been battling each other, also stopped in perfect unison. They all turned their gaze towards Mound Guardian, who was surrounded, his expression serene. With the turtle shell, ancestral bone, and Life Rope adorning him, he stood unmoving. The continuous waves of the Void Realm could not harm him in the slightest. The six figures, sensing the aura emanating from Mound Guardian, could not conceal their shock.
“Truth, Falsehood, Great Dao…” The Void Realm manifestation of Sage Lian Shan spoke slowly, word by word. His eyes revealed a fervor and greed unbecoming of "Sage Lian Shan." The other two Void Realm manifestations were no different! “We have already perished and were resurrected by the Void Realm's power. But if we can grasp the Great Dao of Truth and Falsehood…” “What is life? What is death?” The Void Realm's dimly formed body writhed, as if resisting the mission assigned by the Void Realm, desperate to seize truth and falsehood and start anew.
As for the true bodies of the Three Sages, though not as blatant as their Void Realm manifestations, their expressions were immensely complex. “We never imagined that the Great Dao of Truth and Falsehood was hidden right beside us.” “Mound Guardian has truly hidden himself exceptionally well!” Mound Guardian merely smiled and remained silent. Sage Lian Shan then frowned and asked, “Since you have been hiding for so long, why did you choose to reveal yourself so suddenly?”
Just as he was about to press further, Mound Guardian interrupted him. “Sage Lian Shan, you have misunderstood.” “The profound mysteries of truth and falsehood have never been about hiding or revealing.” “What if I tell you? With a single thought, I can return to ‘Return to Truth,’ and you will have no recollection.” “It is because I could not bear to see you all perish while saving me.” “With the Great Dao of Truth and Falsehood upon me, I must naturally do…” “What my heart desires!” Mound Guardian spoke as if discussing something unrelated to himself. He regarded the covetous gazes of the Six Sages around him as nothing, remaining utterly unfazed. Even the numerous figures taking shape in the depths of the Void Realm were not considered by him.
“The Great Dao of Truth and Falsehood can return to the stars with a single thought.” “They are merely creations of the Void Realm…” “What if ten thousand of them come?” Mound Guardian said indifferently, and then calmly closed his eyes. “This is a perfect opportunity to… verify what I have comprehended!” It was as if he had returned to the time when he sat on the mountain and gazed at the sea in the Primordial Immortal Realm. Mound Guardian's mind and body were at peace; without joy or sorrow, he reflected everything he saw in his heart. As his thoughts moved, the power of truth and falsehood descended silently. “I think, therefore I am not.” Mound Guardian’s voice echoed through the Void Realm. It was like a gentle breeze passing through. Seemingly harmless, yet… the surging waves were suppressed by a pair of invisible hands, forcibly calmed. The numerous forming figures diminished significantly, and the three Void Realm manifestations closest to Mound Guardian became transparent! Until the breeze swept by and they vanished.
The Void Realm manifestations only realized belatedly, their faces filled with shock.
One strike eradicates three Sages, and the entire assembly is stunned!
Though only the void realm avatars of the three Sages have vanished, their strength is undoubtedly equal to their true bodies.
Since Mound Guardian can now instantly kill their void realm avatars, it means…
Lian Shan, Gui Hai, and Tai Yi are filled with uncontrollable shock.
Even though they already knew Mound Guardian possessed the Great Dao of True and False, they never imagined that with the transformation of True and False upon him, Mound Guardian would be this powerful!
Then… was Mound Guardian’s countless ages of guarding the Vortex Ring and all his previous actions merely an act?
What exactly did he seek?
Just as the three Sages were pondering these doubts, they suddenly noticed that Mound Guardian’s body seemed to have become somewhat transparent compared to before.
The degree was not particularly obvious, but it did not escape the Sages’ observation.
"This is…"
"The price of forcibly activating the True and False transformation and erasing the void realm avatars?"
"It seems Mound Guardian's comprehension of the Great Dao of True and False has not yet reached its apex." Thinking this, the hearts of the three Sages calmed considerably.
But Mound Guardian completely disregarded his own changes.
His mind was as clear as a calm lake, perceiving the myriad figures within the surrounding void realm.
Wherever he went, he used the Great Dao of True and False to forcibly erase those void realm avatars that had not yet been born or descended.
"What is true, and what is false?"
"Truth and falsehood, existence and non-existence, all within a single thought. Truly profound and mysterious, beyond the imagination of living beings."
As Mound Guardian easily annihilated the void realm avatars of all the Sages surrounding him, as if crushing ants, even though he had accomplished this himself, Mound Guardian felt an overwhelming sense of unreality and illusion.
With each activation of "True Becomes False," his comprehension of the Great Dao of True and False improved slightly.
Amidst countless overlapping projections, Mound Guardian progressed as he slaughtered.
The Great Dao was like the heavens, but after Mound Guardian had effortlessly annihilated all the void realm avatars that surrounded him, he found that he seemed to have not moved at all.
The pinnacle of the Dao of Enlightenment was still a distant prospect.
This path of enlightenment truly seemed to have no end in sight.
Mound Guardian let out a wry smile and shook his head slightly, "Indeed. If Return to Truth were to act, why would it need to be as troublesome as me, personally crushing them one by one?"
"With a mere thought, the mountains and seas would be overturned."
Although he had seemingly resolved the crisis brought about by the void realm, Mound Guardian did not relax.
In the dead silence of the darkness, a larger storm was brewing.
"In the war between the void realm and the mountains and seas, Dao Erasure can be called the vanguard, and the void realm avatars of the Sages are the capable generals."
"As for who will appear next…"
"They can be called the Grand General."
Mound Guardian sensed something and focused his attention on a certain spot ahead.
The surrounding accumulated void realm images receded.
With the ebb and flow, the mountains and seas were revived by this, appearing full of vitality.
But whether it was Mound Guardian or the three Sages looking on, the more vitality the mountains and seas displayed, the thicker the signs of death became!
Everything stemmed from the terrifying storm about to descend from the void realm.
If the prior summoning of the void realm avatars of the Sages was merely deploying troops, then this moment was truly accumulating power.
On an almost infinite timescale, the void realm, in direct opposition to the mountains and seas, had now mobilized a massive portion of its power to attack the current section of the mountains and seas.
Forming a sky-rending tsunami.
Though the waves had not yet arrived, the pressure, as if tangible, had already manifested.
The mountains and seas were gradually distorted by it!
It must be known that the long war between the mountains and seas and the void realm was almost evenly matched. The void realm held a slight advantage, requiring the accumulation of vast amounts of time to completely erode the mountains and seas.
The current contraction of the void realm's front lines across all temporal nodes meant that the vast majority of its previously accumulated advantage would be lost in a single blow.
The mountains and seas would counterattack and revive, and if the void realm wished to return to its original state, it would have to expend endless time once more.
Despite such a great cost, the void realm had done so without hesitation.
Mound Guardian seemed to see the resolve of the mastermind behind the scenes, the one playing chess.
"Such decisiveness is truly remarkable."
"Unfortunately, it is destined to be in vain."
As the storm brewed before the arrival, Mound Guardian stood like a blade between the void realm and this section of the mountains and seas, bearing the ever-increasing, terrifying pressure from the entire void realm with his lone strength.
His form was like a pond's surface rippled by a gale, ceaselessly undulating.
His body grew dimmer and more transparent.
Like a dying star, ready to be swallowed by darkness at any moment.
Yet he stood firm, awaiting the "Grand General's" appearance.
"With my current physical state, I should be able to hold on for a while longer, to probe the depths of this individual."
"While the True and False transformation is indeed profound and mysterious, ordinary beings of the mountains and seas truly cannot withstand it."
"Even if one can make ten thousand things false with a single thought, one's own self will still be affected."
"Furthermore, the process of Return to Truth and the reshaping of the mountains and seas is also a process of oneself being erased by the Great Dao of True and False. Unlike our rebirth, one still needs to maintain one's own state and connection with the true self of the previous life…"
"Return to Truth is indeed not something any ordinary person can endure."
"A sword, however sharp, can wound a child who wields it. Countless beings in the mountains and seas and the void realm seek to seize Return to Truth, yet few understand this principle."
Mound Guardian's thoughts were calmer than ever.
After being able to truly unleash a fraction of the power of the Great Dao of True and False, the last vestiges of his greed and possessiveness towards Return to Truth in his heart completely vanished.
No one else understood Mound Guardian's change, only Li Fan, hidden in the shadows, knew everything.
"Mound Guardian's billions of years of accumulation, in one go after obtaining the Great Dao of True and False, unleashed a grand spectacle!"
Compared to the scene before him, Li Fan deeply felt that all his previous actions, even boiling mountains and scorching seas, were trivial.
"Mound Guardian's words resonate deeply with me."
"The mysteries of True and False have never needed hiding or exposure. Since Return to Truth is in hand, one should indeed act according to their heart!"
"In the past, when my strength was low, being cautious and prioritizing safety was correct."
"But now that I have the capital to contend with the three Sages, there is no need to be so timid and hesitant."
Under the unified effect of the Vortex Ring, it was as if he himself had annihilated the avatars of the three Sages and suppressed the endless overlapping projections with a single thought. Li Fan's heart surged with emotion.
It was as if a blocked path had suddenly opened, and his thoughts and ideas were vastly different from before.
As the saying goes, it was a new perspective.
Of course, despite his excitement, Li Fan did not forget Mound Guardian's instructions and remained hidden in the shadows, revealing not the slightest trace of himself.
The pressure from the void realm, after condensing to its limit, suddenly lightened.
The accumulated momentum was unleashed, replaced by a figure confronting Mound Guardian.
This figure was naturally the embodiment of the void realm's concentrated power, but what was intriguing was that its appearance was precisely that of Mound Guardian.
Shedding the characteristic dim shadow that covered the void realm avatars, Mound Guardian looked at his own image before him and felt a sense of looking in a mirror.
It was not just similar.
Mound Guardian could feel that the void replica of himself before him had absorbed the data of countless versions of himself that had been swallowed by Dao Erasure. In other words, it was formed from a portion of myriad void realm avatars of Mound Guardian.
"There are countless capable individuals in the mountains and seas, why did it choose to imitate me?"
Mound Guardian did not believe that the mastermind behind the void realm would do anything in vain.
Soon, he understood the reason from the subtle connection that gradually formed between his own body and the void replica before him.
"If it succeeds in killing me, it can take my place."
"Even if it fails, as long as it can hold me off, it can slowly assimilate me through this inexplicable connection."
"This connection originated from myself being swallowed by Dao Erasure, and it cannot be severed. If I did not have the Great Dao of True and False to protect me, and were not within the Vortex Ring, collaborating with Fellow Daoist Fan and the Spirit of Morality as mutual support, the speed of [assimilation] would likely be hundreds of times faster!"
"The Grand General of the void realm indeed has formidable methods."
However, this assimilation was merely a ripple before the Grand General's true attack.
The void replica of Mound Guardian’s true strike was a world-shattering, surging wave!
Dao Erasure had swallowed endless mountains and seas, reaching the extreme of destruction.
With a gentle wave of the void replica of Mound Guardian, it was the epitome of void realm engulfment.
Countless vortexes erupted around them, and Mound Guardian felt as if he were trapped in a muddy whirlpool, almost unable to move.
The ancient and vast power that could swallow mountains and seas now focused entirely on Mound Guardian.
This was the power of encirclement from all temporal nodes, concentrated into a single moment.
The greater the span of time the mountains and seas endured, the more the destructive power multiplied.
Facing this surging wave that could obscure all of heaven and earth, Mound Guardian felt his past and future being blocked by wind and rain.
Past memories slowly faded, and in the darkness, the future became invisible.
Only the present self remained, struggling to hold on.
Instinctually activating the Great Dao of True and False to protect his body, even though many memories had dissipated, Mound Guardian still remembered his mission clearly.
Looking at the other self before him, Mound Guardian attempted to negate it with a single thought.
However, the effect was not satisfactory.
If the void realm avatars of the three Sages he had erased earlier were like thin sheets of paper,
then the void replica of Mound Guardian before him was formed by countless stacked paper figures.
It had a corresponding thickness and substance.
Although it still could not prevent the erasure by the Great Dao of True and False, it could withstand it for a considerable period!
"It is still me; my comprehension has not reached the essence."
"Otherwise, no matter how thick the accumulation, it could be shaved away in an instant."
While in stalemate and contemplating, Mound Guardian had already devised a plan.
"This strategy can slay the Grand General, and perhaps force the mastermind behind this to reveal a hint of their true face!"
Once the thought arose, Mound Guardian did not hesitate in the slightest.
"Fellow Daoist Fan, watch closely!"
With that, he released all his defenses, allowing the void replica to encroach and assimilate.
If Mound Guardian truly possessed Return to Truth, he would not have so easily given up.
Alas…
He was merely bait.
"When true becomes false, false also becomes true!"
As his body gradually sank into the void realm, Mound Guardian sang loudly and resolutely struck himself with a "True Becomes False" blade.
Slaying all things is difficult, but slaying oneself is easy!
Having sat and observed the seas for countless ages, Mound Guardian had long ago understood himself, enlightened himself, and known himself.
At this moment, the act of erasing himself was as smooth as a butcher dissecting an ox.
With a single slash, Mound Guardian's form grew even more transparent.
But it also caused the void replica before him to dim!
Never expecting the "Master of the Great Dao of True and False" to choose such a mutually destructive method, the void replica of Mound Guardian was shocked.
But the ripple effect of "True Becomes False" had already spread like a mountain collapsing.
The blade of True and False seemed to ignore time and space, crossing the long river of time.
Slaying the present Mound Guardian was equivalent to slaying the past Mound Guardian and the future Mound Guardian.
And also Mound Guardian who was swallowed by Dao Erasure.
The myriad stacked data condensed within the void replica of Mound Guardian, originally meant to deal with Mound Guardian, now became fuel for self-immolation.
"He who is too clever is often outwitted!"
Mound Guardian, seizing the advantage, accelerated his integration into the void realm, while relentlessly striking himself with the blade of True and False.
"Since you want to devour me, I will fulfill you!"
"In my life, there is no past that cannot be seen!"
As he perished, Mound Guardian laughed heartily.
The past, present, and future would all turn to nothingness.
Suddenly, Mound Guardian remembered his name.
Prosperous Virtue.
Prosperous Virtue Mound Guardian.
…
Mound Guardian's demise was merely a beginning.
Like a chain reaction of fire, like a cascading avalanche.
The void realm's accumulated strike, built over vast expanses of time, was met with an empty fist.
Instead, it ignited itself, and the endless changes of True and False spread unstoppably.
Like a beam of sunlight dispelling darkness.
The void realm, like vast, dark clouds, gradually became riddled with holes and began to disintegrate.
The observing three Sages finally understood, the so-called void realm was not absolute nothingness.
Its existence could still be erased by "True and False."
The fires of True and False spread, engulfing everything, and the endless dark clouds that had shrouded the mountains and seas slowly dispersed.
The vitality of the mountains and seas revived, and the crisis of fusion seemed to have been resolved.
But for some reason, the three Sages felt an even greater sense of crisis.
As if by telepathy, they simultaneously looked towards a certain spot in the field.
From where Mound Guardian had perished, thin black threads, like spider silk, quietly appeared.
In an instant, they wove into an unfathomable net.
The threads' origin was unknown, but they were rooted in the void. As they slowly wove, they forcefully halted the void realm's previously disintegrating momentum.
It was as if these threads were forcibly stitching together the void realm's collapsing situation.
Not only that.
Within the net of the void, a single thread grew out.
Originating from the place where Mound Guardian perished.
Heading towards…
The hiding place of someone!
The Master of the Great Dao of True and False could never simply dissipate so easily.
Since Mound Guardian was now dead, it meant that the true Master of the Great Dao of True and False was someone else!
Mound Guardian was merely a probing chess piece released by them.
Although the mastermind behind the void realm suffered a setback,
they quickly realized this.
Seizing the remnants left behind by Mound Guardian's demise, they attempted to find the similarly hidden individual!
Even though countless eons of accumulation were undone in an instant, it was not yet a complete defeat.
As long as they could find the location of the Great Dao of True and False, it would all be worth it.
The net of the void moved in sync with the extending thread. Wherever it passed, spacetime seemed to freeze.
The net grew larger and larger. As if sensing the danger, the revived mountains and seas paused their growth to avoid its sharp edge.
The three Sages' faces were grave as they dodged, joining forces to protect themselves.
At first, this net was only palm-sized.
But in an instant, it had formed a sky-spanning net, encompassing the entire universe!
The Void's Net instantly enveloped the entire battlefield outside the Mountains and Seas, which was in the void realm.
At its center, a black, thread-like line, moving with the agility of a dragon, had just completed a full circle.
Li Fan…
Was within it!
The moment Elder Guardian of the Mound perished and the mastermind behind the void realm revealed themselves, Li Fan had already silently recited the name of Return to Truth in his heart.
An endless white mist surged forth, attempting to conceal everything.
However, this seemed to accelerate the exposure of Li Fan's hiding place. The void realm's net abruptly shifted, locking Li Fan within!
A vastly different scene unfolded compared to previous activations of Return to Truth.
*Bang! Bang! Bang!*
It was as if an invisible heavy hammer was relentlessly striking and pounding the surrounding white mist. Li Fan's vision was subjected to continuous tremors.
The frequency of these impacts steadily increased.
Each strike seemed to correspond precisely with a critical juncture, causing the process of the white mist devouring everything to falter for a moment.
Threads of black lines snaked like venomous vipers. Despite the white mist's blockade, the violent impacts caused the vast expanse of white mist to seemingly develop a few fissures.
This unexpectedly provided an opportunity for the mastermind of the void realm!
The activation of Return to Truth appeared to have been thwarted by the opponent!
Facing such a perilous situation, Li Fan remained unruffled despite his surprise.
Due to the effect of United Hearts, he still seemed immersed in the transcendent state of Elder Guardian of the Mound's resolute self-sacrifice, aiming to sever all things.
Fearless of life and death, he was naturally unafraid of any unforeseen events.
Even though this state was rapidly fading with Elder Guardian of the Mound's departure, it did not diminish Li Fan's current clarity of mind.
He had personally witnessed Return to Truth taking action, returning to stars with a single thought.
The mastermind of the void realm was clearly no match for Star.
Therefore, it was not because they had surpassed the true and false transformation of Return to Truth.
"Those consecutive strikes merely interrupted my casting process."
"Although Return to Truth is but a thought away, the void realm's mastermind, with their methods, could forcibly prolong that brief moment of thought as much as possible."
"As for the countless black threads invading from outside the white mist now…"
In a past life, the White Bones of Origin had entered the Return to Truth space and accompanied Li Fan in performing Return to Truth.
What the void realm's mastermind was doing now was likely similar.
"The mastermind of the void realm knows they cannot stop Return to Truth, but they wish to try and replace me."
"I should truly display Elder Guardian of the Mound's enlightenment."
"Return to Truth cannot be wielded by ordinary individuals!"
He coldly snorted in his heart, and Li Fan acted as if the thousands of invading black lines were nothing.
He held his breath, concentrated, and calmed his mind, slowly dispelling the interruption from the void realm's mastermind.
The rhythmic pounding sound from outside the white mist seemed to diminish considerably.
Simultaneously, he used his hand as a brush, rapidly inscribing in the air.
As his brushstrokes flowed like dragons and snakes, the traces of his fingertips mirrored the invading black lines precisely.
"When truth becomes falsehood, and falsehood becomes truth!"
With each stroke Li Fan made, one of the void realm's mastermind's invading methods was forcibly erased!
Under United Hearts, Elder Guardian of the Mound's enlightenment was Li Fan's enlightenment!
Just as Elder Guardian of the Mound could obliterate countless phantom images of the three saints with a single thought and negate the void realm's concentrated attack, Li Fan could do the same!
Moreover, unlike Elder Guardian of the Mound, who would suffer the backlash of "truth becomes falsehood," Li Fan, having undergone the baptism of Return to Truth more than a hundred times, could completely ignore the negative effects of "truth becomes falsehood."
Initially, Li Fan's writing was somewhat hesitant, reflecting the gap between 'comprehension' and actual 'practice.'
But the effect of United Hearts was truly profound.
It was as if he had done all this before, and was now simply using a better body. After a brief period of adaptation, Li Fan's phantom finger movements accelerated, becoming increasingly smooth.
Li Fan erased the thousands of black lines created by the void realm's mastermind one by one.
Even if you possess myriad divine abilities, what of it?
Before the Great Dao of Truth and Falsehood, all are illusions.
The void realm's mastermind's strength was undoubtedly far superior to Li Fan's.
However, in the face of Li Fan's "truth becomes falsehood" divine ability at this moment, they were like a divine power unable to be exerted.
It was effortlessly neutralized.
"This is the authority of the Great Dao of Truth and Falsehood, which transcends all else."
"Even if you are a lonely star in the heavens, you must avoid its edge! Let alone your mere void realm!"
Li Fan's eyes snapped open after erasing all the black lines. His spirit was high, and his voice boomed like thunder as he declared to the unknown entity outside the white mist.
Unfortunately, he was destined not to hear a response from the void realm's mastermind.
Having repelled the influence of the void realm's mastermind, Li Fan's mind also returned to normal.
The previously seemingly frozen white mist began to surge again.
This time, there were no detours.
It swallowed all light, and the familiar darkness returned.
However, Li Fan's consciousness did not fall into slumber directly.
Instead, he forced his eyes open, attempting to maintain his consciousness.
He had extinguished the phantom images of thousands of saints and repelled the invaders from the void realm.
When all the turmoil gradually subsided, the surroundings fell into complete silence.
The entire world seemed to contain nothing but Li Fan.
But Li Fan could vaguely perceive countless fleeting phantom images within the darkness.
These were all the events that the Mountains and Seas were destined to experience.
"Right now, led by Return to Truth, I am traversing the Mountains and Seas, heading towards their end. Awaiting the manifestation of [Star]."
"To put it plainly, out of everything in the Mountains and Seas and the void realm, none are worthy of Return to Truth's personal intervention; even the so-called mastermind behind the void realm is no exception. With my current rudimentary grasp of the Great Dao of Truth and Falsehood, I could easily repel them…"
"Only Star! It will swallow the Mountains and Seas, and the void realm will vanish entirely. Only when Star manifests will Return to Truth truly act."
"This is the true meaning of impartiality towards the final outcome."
During the journey, Li Fan could initially maintain a semblance of consciousness.
But gradually, it was as if he had been working continuously for eons without a moment's rest. Waves of fatigue washed over him.
Like a collapsing mountain, Li Fan felt his eyelids growing heavier, unable to resist the overwhelming drowsiness.
"This is not merely a feeling of sleepiness. It is…"
"Due to being depleted, a sense of weariness arises."
"I… am being depleted?"
In his extreme exhaustion, Li Fan finally realized that as he traversed the Mountains and Seas, something within him was being consumed in parallel.
This left Li Fan with little capacity to focus on the overlapping images of the Mountains and Seas, and he concentrated his dwindling attention on his own body.
The feeling of his body being hollowed out intensified,
even giving him the illusion of being on the brink of death, having exhausted all his vitality. Li Fan began to feel an unprecedented terror.
The transcendent state brought about by Elder Guardian of the Mound had already faded with the activation of Return to Truth.
At this moment, Li Fan reverted to his original disposition.
"What exactly is Return to Truth?"
"Why is my infinite spiritual essence draining so rapidly?"
"What is being used? Where am I going?"
A mixture of shock and doubt overwhelmed him, even surpassing the boundless weariness.
This kept Li Fan from succumbing to a complete stupor, allowing him to maintain a sliver of lucidity.
However, it was as if he were trapped in a dream, his mind hazy, with only instinctual thoughts flitting by, lacking natural reasoning.
After an unknown period, the unfolding events outside the darkness seemed to cease.
As if they had reached the end of the Mountains and Seas, a deathly stillness became more profound.
A wisp of starlight seemed to pierce the darkness,
but it was once again suppressed.
In the absolute void where a lone star hung and then departed, countless lights and shadows rippled anew.
The Mountains and Seas, along with the void realm, reappeared!
Li Fan sensed that the depletion within him had finally stopped. A taut string in his heart snapped.
Unable to resist the drowsiness any longer, he fell into a deep sleep.
…
Anchor Point, Year 1.
When Li Fan awoke again, his eyes were initially filled with bewilderment.
Then, Elder Guardian of the Mound, the mastermind of the void realm, and the subsequent endless draining of his true spirit…
Scene after scene flooded his mind like a tide.
That feeling of his body being hollowed out persisted, as if tangible, even after Return to Truth.
This caused Li Fan's pupils to contract sharply.
"Return to Truth!"
Li Fan shouted in his heart.
But it was not to activate Return to Truth again.
Instead, he wanted to confront Return to Truth and demand an explanation.
As expected, Return to Truth remained silent.
Li Fan grew angry within his heart, but after a moment, he calmed down.
"Thinking carefully, previous countless instances of Return to Truth were likely no different from this one."
"It's just that before, I was always asleep, and only this time, I witnessed the entire process of Return to Truth's activation with my consciousness fully awake."
"……"
"Return to Truth has been attached to me and refuses to leave. There must be a reason."
"It's just that this reason…"
Li Fan's mouth twitched.
But having experienced so much, he was no longer a hot-blooded youth driven by impulsive passion.
Return to Truth seemed inseparable from him, but equally, he was inseparable from Return to Truth.
"Furthermore, even if I were to idle away my days, Return to Truth would still activate after my death. I would have suffered the torment of being drained in vain…"
After careful consideration, Li Fan had to temporarily accept this reality.
The resistance in his heart slowly subsided.
"This experience, prompted by Elder Guardian of the Mound, though it allowed me to glimpse the truth of Return to Truth's operation while maintaining a clear mind, has instead led to more questions…"
"The Great Dao of Truth and Falsehood, in theory, possesses the power to create Mountains and Seas. What is the purpose of draining my infinite true spirit?"
"To recreate the Mountains and Seas?"
"Where does my infinite true spirit itself originate?"
Li Fan raised his hand, feeling his mortal body that had not yet inherited its cultivation.
"The feeling of being depleted has disappeared."
"I have returned to a normal state."
"Infinite true spirit, it seems truly infinite."
But the feeling of being on the verge of exhaustion due to excessive demand during Return to Truth's activation was still vivid.
Li Fan's eyelids twitched, his emotions unsettled for a long time.
"No wonder you've been so eager to interfere, why the rush!"
Feeling vexed, he directly ignored the continuously flashing inheritance option characters before him.
Li Fan strode briskly to the summit of Dissolution Mountain, attempting to alleviate his inner turmoil.
"It's laughable that I've always pursued longevity and freedom."
"Return to Truth, while being the key to unlocking the path of longevity, is also its shackles."
"Only when I can completely cast it aside will I achieve true freedom."
Li Fan suddenly recalled his previous hundred lifetimes of Foundation Establishment.
He abruptly realized how profoundly wrong he had been.
"My true Foundation Establishment should not be about incorporating Return to Truth into building my Dao foundation."
"Instead, it should be about completely excluding Return to Truth and forging my Dao foundation with my pure self."
"However, both paths lead to the same outcome, and both are incredibly difficult!"
Li Fan frowned, sitting atop Dissolution Mountain for several years.
He spent his days observing the ebb and flow of clouds, and finally slowly accepted his current situation.
"The transformation of truth and falsehood…"
Li Fan rose and lightly gestured towards a blank space on the mountaintop.
A wooden hut materialized out of thin air, born from nothingness, existing as both false and real.
Li Fan then lightly gestured again, employing the divine ability "truth becomes falsehood," and erased it once more.
Savoring the difference between these two actions, Li Fan revealed a thoughtful expression.
Afterward, Li Fan repeatedly performed the process of "false becomes true" and "truth becomes falsehood" on the summit of Dissolution Mountain.
Slowly, a realization dawned upon him.
"My comprehension of 'truth becomes falsehood' and 'false becomes true' is not on the same level."
"Especially after experiencing the previous life where Elder Guardian of the Mound obliterated the saints with a single thought."
"The level of 'truth becomes falsehood' is far superior to 'false becomes true'."
"If I operate with all my might, I can maximally erase the influence created by the void realm's mastermind. But conversely, to generate calamity of that magnitude out of nothing…"
Li Fan narrowed his eyes and attempted to sketch a stroke in the distant sky.
He raised his brush a few times, only to gently put it down.
Finally, he let out a sigh and concluded, "I cannot."
He then mused again, "Although they are two sides of the same coin, the Great Dao of Truth and Falsehood is different from Morality. The degree of comprehension in Dao and Virtue, even with slight differences, remains within a certain limit, maintaining corresponding overall perfection."
"But now, my comprehension of the Great Dao of Truth and Falsehood exhibits such a vast disparity…"
"It's as if the Great Dao of Truth and Falsehood is pieced together from two separate Daos."
"Truth becomes falsehood, falsehood becomes truth. When truth becomes falsehood… falsehood becomes truth."
"Return to Truth."
Li Fan seemed to have glimpsed something.
But it was all just his speculation, lacking any concrete evidence.
"Perhaps, if I were to meet that final saint at the end of time, I might resolve many of these doubts. But…"
"It is meaningless."
"To touch upon the true answer and unravel all mysteries, one must stand at the corresponding height."
"Star, the Divine."
A flash of sharp light crossed Li Fan's eyes.
Desire reignited within him.
If before, it was the ethereal pursuit of longevity and freedom that had propelled Li Fan to repeatedly simulate and progress through reincarnation,
then now, it was the instinct to break free from all shackles that had been added.
With the experience of his previous life, coupled with learning the 'truth' of Return to Truth, Li Fan's thoughts and actions underwent a complete transformation.
"Even the void realm's mastermind cannot stop me. Moreover, even if I am no match for them, Return to Truth will intervene."
"As Elder Guardian of the Mound said, the profound mysteries of truth and falsehood have never been truly hidden or revealed."
"I will act according to my heart!"
With this realization, Li Fan no longer hesitated and directly chose to inherit Elder Guardian of the Mound's memories!
He waved his sleeve, sat down on the ground, and patiently awaited the dramatic changes within the Other Shore's Vortex Ring.
In the void realm, Elder Guardian of the Mound, who was diligently attempting to re-establish connection with the Mountains and Seas, saw his expression shift several times.
Then, the phantom image within the Vortex Ring quietly departed, arriving in the Xuanhuang Realm, the Great Xuan pocket world, and the summit of Dissolution Mountain.
"How does it feel to be alive?" Li Fan asked with a light smile.
"Rather, how does it feel to have died once," Elder Guardian of the Mound pondered for a moment before seriously answering.
"…Not bad."
"What a 'not bad'! Elder Guardian of the Mound is truly open-minded; I am inferior!" Li Fan exclaimed, clapping his hands in praise.
"In my previous life, I relied entirely on your assistance to glimpse the truth behind the Void Realm. However, I also witnessed the true nature of Reflection. My heart is filled with both joy and sorrow."
Li Fan sighed, shaking his head as he relayed the discoveries he made after activating Reflection. "I spent years here on Dissolution Mountain, yet I still haven't completely resolved it. I don't suppose you'd laugh at me, Guardian."
Guardian Gong's form became solemn. After a moment's thought, he said, "Fellow Daoist Fan, there's no need for such words. Possessing the Great Dao of True and False is a fortune countless cultivators in the Mountains and Seas, even many Sages, would yearn for."
"Even if what you suspect is true..."
"Reflection requires your Infinite Spirituality to constantly reshape the Mountains and Seas with the power of true and false. With the convenience of Reflection's continuous reincarnation, in just a hundred lifetimes, you could achieve the realm of a top-tier Sage in the Mountains and Seas. As the saying goes, it's a match made in heaven; the two are inseparable."
Guardian Gong's phantom pointed towards the Xuanhuang Realm beyond the boundless clouds from Dissolution Mountain and asked, "Fellow Daoist Fan, honestly ask yourself: without Reflection's help, how long could you have survived in the Xuanhuang Realm, and to what cultivation realm would you have reached?"
Li Fan recalled all the experiences he'd had in the Xuanhuang Realm over the years. After a moment of silence, he replied with a hint of helplessness, "I'm afraid I would have struggled to even leave this Great Xuan pocket world."
"Exactly. With Reflection in hand, you were already blessed by heaven. How could there be no price to pay? If that were the case, wouldn't all the good things in the Mountains and Seas be yours alone?" Guardian Gong chuckled lightly.
"Moreover..."
As if recalling something, Guardian Gong's smile quickly faded. He asked, "Do you feel now that your Infinite True Spirit has recovered?"
Li Fan carefully examined himself and nodded slightly. "It should be fine. There's no difference compared to how I felt after waking up in previous instances of Reflection."
Guardian Gong couldn't help but marvel, "Infinite True Spirit... Thinking about it now, it truly is incredible. Its creation is so wondrous it's almost on par with Reflection. In that case, the feeling of being utterly drained and on the verge of death you experienced during your journey across the Mountains and Seas might have been an illusion caused by your True Spirit being consumed at an astonishing speed. Once the consumption stopped, you would naturally recover slowly, even without doing anything."
"Of course, it's also possible..."
"It's true that it was almost completely depleted. However, after falling into a slumber, you replenished it through some means. Of course, both possibilities lead to the same outcome." Guardian Gong offered another guess after hearing Li Fan's account.
Li Fan pondered for a moment and slowly nodded in agreement.
"Regardless, so far, Reflection's operational mechanism hasn't had any significant negative impact on you. Even the most outstanding of Sages are far from being able to participate in the game between Reflection and the Stars. Fellow Daoist Fan, what you need to do now is to enhance your own strength as much as possible." Guardian Gong advised earnestly.
"This lifetime's inheritance option should still be the Outline of Mountains and Seas Transformation; it shouldn't be wasted on enabling me to inherit memories. In the previous life, the actions of the Void Realm's behind-the-scenes manipulator must have had a great impact on the Mountains and Seas..."
Li Fan waved his hand. "Since it can be observed again, it's not a big deal. I believe having your assistance, Guardian, is more important. This is also the first time in all my reincarnations that I've allowed someone else to inherit..."
Guardian Gong smiled. "What about your aunt? Doesn't that count?"
Li Fan's words faltered, as he had almost forgotten about that. However, given his current familiarity with Guardian Gong, he didn't feel particularly emotional and quickly moved past the topic.
"Guardian, after inheriting all your memories from the previous life, do you feel any changes in yourself?"
"Indeed, there's been an enhancement. However, the effect is similar to your True Spirit Infusion divine ability. The increase in True Spirit leads to an improved aptitude, and the more ordinary the starting point, the more significant the effect. Once one possesses the potential to become a Saint, even a further increase will not bring about a particularly noticeable change. This is because..."
"The limit of creation in the Mountains and Seas lies here."
"Living beings originate from the Mountains and Seas, and Sages are on par with the Mountains and Seas. Therefore, Sages represent the limit of living beings in the Mountains and Seas."
"To go further, to contend with the Stars and the Gods..." Guardian Gong looked at Li Fan and said, "You might need the help of external forces and rare treasures, or imitate the Mountains and Seas by devouring Gods!"
Li Fan naturally understood that the "external forces and rare treasures" Guardian Gong mentioned referred to Reflection. As for imitating the Mountains and Seas by devouring Gods, that was something countless Sages in the Mountains and Seas, including the Three Sages, were attempting.
"With the experience from the previous life, this lifetime's plan can be even more thorough. Reflection is truly useful..." Guardian Gong couldn't help but lament as he discussed this lifetime's course of action with Li Fan.
"Reflection is equivalent to your Reflection, Guardian. Since you find it useful, then use it more. As the saying goes, the more the better."
For over a hundred reincarnations, Li Fan had always guarded the secrets of Reflection and his own unique abilities alone. Now, being able to share everything with someone else, he felt an unprecedented sense of relief.
More importantly, Guardian Gong was trustworthy, and Li Fan retained full control over the situation. Whether to inherit or share, the decision was entirely his. If things went awry, he could choose not to let Guardian Gong inherit in his next life and continue guarding the secrets of Reflection alone.
Guardian Gong naturally understood Li Fan's thoughts perfectly. However, he had no objections. Just as he had advised Li Fan, everything in this world came with a price. Li Fan was blessed by Reflection; wouldn't it be a great fortune for him, Guardian Gong, to be invited into Reflection?
"To witness scenery that I couldn't see before is already a great fortune. There's no need to be too demanding; just proceed and observe as we go." Guardian Gong held this principle, and he harbored no resentment at Li Fan's half-utilization, half-cooperative approach.
"In the previous life, you directly achieved the Saint realm by embodying the shadow of the Mountains and Seas, which was too conspicuous. You must know that even a slight True Spirit Infusion was enough to draw the attention of the Three Sages. It would be better to lie low, quietly assist the Three Sages in reconnecting the Mountains and Seas, and move towards an older era."
"As for the incident of your demise in the Mountains and Seas in the void at some point, my suggestion is to observe it quietly. Even if the Three Sages disappear for a period, it won't affect their overall strength. On the contrary, the weaker the Three Sages around us, the more you can achieve. It might even be possible for the control of the Vortex Ring to change hands."
"Of course, if you wish to act alone, bypassing the Three Sages, that's also an option. However, my suggestion is to stay behind the Three Sages initially upon arriving in the Mountains and Seas..." Guardian Gong analyzed with a calm demeanor, presenting the pros and cons without interfering with Li Fan's choice.
After contemplating for a long time, Li Fan nodded in agreement. "Guardian is right. It's better to have a large tree to provide shade. Let the Three Sages be our large tree for a few more lifetimes!"
"However, that's for later. I am determined to investigate the changes in the Mountains and Seas caused by the Void Realm's manipulator as soon as possible. I have a premonition that it might be of great help in comprehending the transformation between true and false, and even in recreating the Mountains and Seas through Reflection."
Guardian Gong recalled his experiences from the previous life and mused, "The battle between the Void Realm and the Mountains and Seas involves the clash of the highest powers within them. It's like a game of chess that has been ongoing for countless years."
"'The transformation between true and false, 'recreating the Mountains and Seas.' It can be seen as returning all scattered chess pieces inside and outside the board to their original positions. By observing changes on the chessboard, we can glimpse the hand outside the board..."
"It should be feasible." Upon hearing Guardian Gong's words, Li Fan's conviction in his plan grew stronger.
After discussing for a while, they decided to proceed accordingly. This lifetime, having not chosen to inherit his cultivation, Li Fan was technically still a mortal. However, with his current experience, it wouldn't be difficult for him to rise from a mortal back to the Saint realm step by step.
To prevent any unexpected events, Guardian Gong left behind a trace of power for Li Fan's defense before his phantom departed.
Li Fan no longer relied on his visualized divine shadow to become a Saint of the Mountains and Seas in a high-profile manner. Instead, he cultivated step by step. The path he chose was the "Cosmic Cycle" Dao. Although he progressed methodically, his comprehension and understanding of the Cosmic Cycle Dao, coupled with his familiarity with the possibilities of his original realm, made his journey incredibly swift.
It took him five hundred years in the previous life; this time, at an even faster pace, he reached the Saint realm in just over three hundred years, shaking the Mountains and Seas!
"Reincarnation itself is a profound fortune." Through personal experience, Li Fan gained new insights into the Cosmic Cycle Dao. Correspondingly, on the Reflection panel for Great Dao Realization, the glowing, multi-colored characters of "[Second Cosmic Cycle]" began to change. The brilliance gradually faded, as if returning to its original, unadorned state, revealing its most fundamental appearance. On the surface, it seemed no different from other Great Dao characters in their initial state. However, as the master of the "Cosmic Cycle," Li Fan could clearly feel that "[Second Cosmic Cycle]" was now truly recognized by Reflection.
Li Fan looked at the remaining empty spaces in the Great Dao Realization Hall, a peculiar glint in his eyes. "Great Dao Realization might not mean entering Reflection; it's about returning to their original states. The Great Daos of the Mountains and Seas all originate from the Divine. However, after the separation of the Mountains and Seas, they were tainted by the changes in the Mountains and Seas, and the Daos were thus altered. Only by removing the influence of the Mountains and Seas can their original essence be restored to some extent, revealing their true appearance."
This realization could only be achieved if Li Fan personally walked the path of cultivation. It was Guardian Gong's influence that allowed him to regain this enlightenment by retracing his steps. This further solidified Li Fan's decision to bring Guardian Gong into Reflection.
Becoming a Saint through the Cosmic Cycle Dao was naturally not as earth-shattering as in his previous life. He merely joined the Other Shore and took his seat in the Vortex Ring as a "friend of Guardian Gong." However, Li Fan's "accidental" display of his True Spirit Infusion ability once again attracted the attention of other Sages. Li Fan himself claimed to have no knowledge of the origin of this ability, attributing it perhaps to Emperor Tianluo.
"After the Immortal Realm was devoured by Dao Erasure, I narrowly escaped death. My main body perished, leaving only a sliver of True Spirit, which fled to the lower realm's Star Sea. After countless reincarnations, I reached this point today. After my rebirth, I noticed a peculiar, indescribable change within myself. Not only was my talent superior to before, but I also developed wondrous anomalies."
"Try as I might, I couldn't figure it out. Upon careful reflection, it might be related to Emperor Tianluo's desperate plan back then. I asked Guardian Gong, and he also benefited from it after our home Immortal Realm vanished. However, his power surpassed mine, so the impact wasn't as pronounced as mine." Li Fan frowned, speaking slowly. Guardian Gong nodded in agreement. With him as a witness, the credibility of Li Fan's words increased by more than threefold. The other Sages in the Vortex Ring pondered his words. Li Fan seized the opportunity to ask, "With the abilities of the Three Sages, the Mountains and Seas should be under your control. Did you detect any clues about the anomaly in my homeland back then?"
Sage Tai Yi sneered, "The Mountains and Seas are constantly changing. The possibility of their demise at any moment is unpredictable. We are not omniscient or omnipotent, so it's not strange to have oversight. However..." Tai Yi paused, as if deducing something. "Now that you mention it, Fellow Daoist Cosmic Cycle, at that precise moment, we did seem to have a peculiar premonition. The Three Sages exchanged glances, but their words stopped short.
After a long while, Lian Shan finally spoke, "It felt like some opportune moment slipped through our fingers. That sensation was quite similar to the stirrings when we attained the Dao. However, it was only a fleeting, extremely subtle premonition. If not for Fellow Daoist Cosmic Cycle reminding us today, we wouldn't have noticed it."
"This Emperor Tianluo..."
"He shaped the Mountains and Seas. Apart from the Void Realm of the Mountains and Seas, there is nothing else. If he seeks further transcendence, where could he transcend to? The blessings you received might not be feedback from a successful transcendence. It's also possible that the entire potential Immortal Realm, along with the Great Dao wondrous object that Emperor Tianluo waited for, perished simultaneously in an instant, and these are merely the residual waves..."
Guardian Gong immediately understood Sage Lian Shan's meaning. "In other words, the changes in us might all stem from the object Emperor Tianluo guarded? If it caused such a drastic transformation, what kind of fortune would that be?"
Gui Hai smiled. "Everything turned to nothing, so it's impossible to discern. However, perhaps there are still some clues in the past of the Mountains and Seas. When we reconnect the Mountains and Seas and travel to the time when Emperor Tianluo was still alive, we can investigate it in person."
"With the help of Fellow Daoist Cosmic Cycle, the probability of success in this matter has greatly increased." Li Fan immediately showed humility and shifted the topic. The True Spirit Infusion method indeed offered a revolutionary advantage in reconnecting the Mountains and Seas. It could not only generate a continuous supply of backup Sages but also allow the Sages to focus entirely on reconnecting the Mountains and Seas without worrying about the encroachment of Dao Erasure in the Void Realm. As Li Fan had experienced in his previous lifetimes, the seemingly monumental task of reconnecting the Mountains and Seas, which previously required serious consideration even from the Three Sages, could now be accomplished with laughter among the Sages.
After the first successful reconnection, the Sages all obtained their own fortunes, and there was great joy on the Other Shore. Only the Three Sages, looking towards the more ancient Mountains and Seas, sensed their impending demise.
"May I ask the Three Sages, are there any issues ahead?" Guardian Gong asked at this point. After a period of contemplation, the Three Sages revealed the danger of death they faced in the Mountains and Seas ahead, instantly dispelling the joyous atmosphere on the Other Shore.
Li Fan said solemnly, "The Three Sages are our support and the key to reconnecting the Mountains and Seas. There must be no mistakes. Since they face danger in the Mountains and Seas ahead, we should rush to their aid!"
"A temporal space where the Three Sages face a crisis. What difference does it make if we join them?" His words were filled with righteous indignation and fervent passion.
Li Fan's words left everyone speechless.
Under the influence of the Vortex Ring's unity, the Sages, from their subjective standpoint, naturally did not wish to see the three Sages of Mountains and Seas perish. However, the three Sages possessed transcendent strength, far surpassing the others. Even if they desired to aid in their tribulation, they likely lacked the ability.
Elder Qiu Qiu, with a worried expression, stated, "If the Three Sages fall, Mountains and Seas will be without leaders. It might be difficult to resist the Dao Erasure Tribulation. If two sections of Mountains and Seas are wiped out by Dao Erasure..."
"May I ask, Three Sages, how long does the void realm ahead extend?"
Sage Gui Hai replied solemnly, "The void realm ahead has already spanned nearly a hundred thousand years. If Mountains and Seas are destroyed again, the plan for reconnection will fail."
Thus, the obvious outcome lay before the Sages. No matter how slim the hope, they had to fight with all their might. "Although we are destined to fall, we must not act rashly. Let's first successfully reconnect the hundred thousand years of void realm, and simultaneously carry out rescue. As long as we can hold on until our reconnection of Mountains and Seas, with the sudden aid of creation, perhaps the crisis can be resolved directly."
"Therefore, we don't necessarily have to win. We simply need to help us stall the battle."
Li Fan's arrival at a different point in time, creating divergent circumstances, led the Three Sages to make a different decision. However, they all turned their gaze towards Li Fan. After a moment of contemplation, they did not ask Li Fan to go.
"The infusion of true spirits is no ordinary feat. As long as Fellow Daoist Li is here, the reconnection of Mountains and Seas can succeed one day earlier. If you were to be implicated and perish, it would truly be a regret beyond measure," Sage Tai Yi said, shaking his head.
Li Fan smiled, yet he still volunteered, "The Sages' concerns are merely about my infusion of true spirits and assisting in the reconnection of Mountains and Seas. Who says only my true self can accomplish this?"
With that, Li Fan took a deep breath and, with a distant grasp towards the void realm outside Mountains and Seas, he seemed to stir a colossal tide to attack Mountains and Seas. Even the Other Shore felt its might, trembling slightly.
As if it was extremely strenuous, Li Fan's brow furrowed, and his expression was serious. The Three Sages, following the direction of Li Fan's gesture, also looked with surprise. "Could it be..."
The Sages then realized that Li Fan was extracting true spirits from the void realm. But with such a massive stir, how much true spirit was he drawing? Soon, they would know the answer. Even with the Sages' vast experience, they were somewhat dumbfounded.
"Elder Qiu Qiu, lend me a hand!" Li Fan gritted his teeth, as if he had reached his limit. Elder Qiu Qiu responded by lending his support with the endless vitality of the Great Dao of Longevity. Nourished and invigorated, Li Fan's drawing force seemed to increase exponentially.
Finally, the accumulated true spirits from the void realm were drawn into Mountains and Seas. In that instant, due to the arrival of this immeasurable and countless accumulated true spirits, the current Mountains and Seas trembled. Endless Mountains and Seas seemed to manifest layers of overlapping shadows, giving the illusion of Mountains and Seas appearing above Mountains and Seas. This was all because the accumulated true spirits that Li Fan forcibly drew from the void realm could almost reshape a segment of Mountains and Seas!
Although true spirits were formless, such a massive accumulation would inevitably impact Mountains and Seas. However, as the Sages observed, all the extracted true spirits were skillfully contained by Li Fan within a circular ring. It appeared to be a simple circle, yet within it lay countless cycles, subtly resolving the impact brought by the accumulated true spirits. The weight of one circle, as heavy as mountains and seas, was easily managed by Li Fan as if it were a trifle.
"The Dao of Cosmic Cycles has reached its zenith!" "Coupled with the divine ability of true spirit infusion... among those below the Three Sages, he is likely the strongest." Amidst the Sages' astonishment, they also faintly glimpsed Li Fan's true strength.
"I have not failed in my mission," Li Fan said with a long sigh of relief, having successfully gathered the ring of true spirits within the Other Shore. He cupped his fists and said, then paused, and pointed to the strange circular ring. "The true spirits accumulated in this ring are definitely sufficient to meet the needs of the Sages' reconnection of Mountains and Seas. At the same time, I will leave behind a phantom image to cooperate."
"Even, if the situation becomes truly dire, this ring of true spirits can be forcefully broken. With the dispersion of immeasurable accumulated true spirits, we can temporarily fight against the impact of Dao Erasure, thus gaining a chance for a brief respite." Li Fan slowly explained the marvelous uses of this ring to everyone.
Sage Tai Yi nodded slightly, "The words of Cosmic Cycles are not false. We truly did not expect that one who has just attained sainthood would possess such might. To support Mountains and Seas, and handle it with such ease..."
Li Fan chuckled, "You Sages see the true spirits in this circle as heavy as mountains and seas, but in my eyes, it's merely my arm. It's just slightly heavier."
"Even so, without Elder Qiu Qiu's assistance, I would have almost failed. It is truly embarrassing." He attributed all his success to the peculiar ability to manipulate true spirits. Furthermore, Li Fan had previously stated that this ability seemed related to the vanished Immortal Realm of Transcendence. At present, Mountains and Seas could not be investigated. Even the Three Sages found it difficult to discern the truth of Li Fan's words. Moreover, now was not the time for deep inquiry.
Since the most crucial logistical problem had been solved, the next step was to formally discuss the aid plan. The reasoning remained the same. Reconnecting Mountains and Seas required the Three Sages to bear the brunt. They could not leave their posts. Without the merit of reconnecting Mountains and Seas, even if they went, they would not have a synergistic effect. However, if the Three Sages ahead could receive Li Fan's support, perhaps their demise could be averted. The Sages had already collectively witnessed the miraculous effect of true spirit infusion.
"I need Elder Qiu Qiu and Sage Morality to accompany me, and also..." Just like in his previous life, Li Fan began to assign tasks. "I also request the Three Sages to impart all their divine abilities without reservation. This way, I will have a clear understanding." Li Fan's gaze was fervent, and his expression was candid as he looked at the Three Sages.
A moment of silence descended within the Vortex Ring. Although they shared a common heart and will, in reality, the Three Sages knew about everyone, but everyone found it difficult to know the Three Sages. Li Fan, at this moment, sought the ultimate foundations of the Three Sages to support the rescue. This was reasonable and justifiable. The Three Sages did not remain silent for long.
"It is as it should be." "Listen carefully." What followed was not only conveyed to Li Fan, Elder Qiu Qiu, and Sage Morality but was openly shared within the Vortex Ring.
"Besides our various Dao-proving divine abilities, such as those of Lian Shan, Gui Hai, and Tai Yi, we also possess some immortal artifacts." "You may have seen the Lian Shan Staff, Gui Hai Spade, and Myriad Beings Cudgel." "However, besides these, there are three innate fierce items that have never been revealed to others. We fear they might harm heavenly harmony and would only use them to face enemies in the most critical life-or-death situations."
These words immediately drew the attention of the Sages. "Innate fierce items? What are these?" "I have heard of the existence of Misty Creations. These innate fierce items are unheard of." Sage Tai Yi provided the answer to everyone: "These are the fragmented spirits of Mountains and Seas. Although the divine beings have perished, their lingering traces have dispersed immense malevolent energy. Mountains and Seas have evolved, and some have been tainted by this, thus becoming innate fierce items." "Originating from divine beings, they have actually absorbed some divine abilities. They are not within the scope of the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas, making them extraordinarily profound."
Saying this, Sage Tai Yi produced an item. It was the [Fate String] that Li Fan had seen in his previous life! "It looks like an ordinary hemp rope," Sage Bai Xiao muttered softly. Sage Tai Yi chuckled softly and tossed the hemp rope towards Sage Bai Xiao. Countless threads, like a dance of dragons, instantly wove a straw figure before Sage Bai Xiao. It was a straw figure in Sage Bai Xiao's likeness. Sage Tai Yi made a gesture in the air, and a thin thread was gently pulled from Sage Bai Xiao's straw figure. Sage Bai Xiao cried out simultaneously, touching his neck with a look of terror.
Seeing the sages' incomprehension, Sage Bai Xiao looked at the straw figure before him, calmed his emotions, and explained, "The moment the thread was pulled, I had the illusion of my head being severed. It felt as though the life force within me truly vanished in that instant..." "This rope is so terrifying." As if truly escaping a calamity, Sage Bai Xiao no longer dared to underestimate this mere length of rope. Sage Tai Yi restored the straw figure from which the thread had been pulled and retracted the Fate String. Sage Bai Xiao then breathed a sigh of relief.
"This string is called [Fate]. In the beginning of Mountains and Seas, countless innate beings met their end at its hands." "It is said to have created a nation of straw figures. I only managed to subdue it through a fortunate encounter," Sage Tai Yi said nonchalantly, a glint of killing intent flashing in his eyes.
Next, Sages Lian Shan and Gui Hai displayed the turtle shell and the ancestral bone. "This carapace is a remnant shedding of Mountains and Seas. Mountains and Seas in their infancy were not as they are today. They also evolved over a long period. This object is the first shedding of Mountains and Seas. It was originally a paramount oddity in Mountains and Seas, but it was unfortunately tainted by innate malevolence, making it extremely perilous." "If not for my ability to connect mountains, I would not have easily subdued it." He merely suspended the turtle shell above the Sages' heads, slightly retracting his control. The Sages immediately felt as if the entire Mountains and Seas were pressing down upon them.
"The weight of an object can be this immense?" Li Fan, feigning surprise, said with a serious expression, "My ring of extracted true spirits is merely in form and spirit like Mountains and Seas. But this shedding of Mountains and Seas before us... truly possesses the might of Mountains and Seas! If this object were to crush me, I fear my life would be instantly extinguished!"
The Sages expressed their astonishment, then turned their attention to the final innate fierce item. "This is the bone of the first living being in Mountains and Seas," Sage Gui Hai said, his expression somewhat peculiar. "In the beginning of Mountains and Seas, all evolution was under the control of Mountains and Seas. The appearance of this first living being was also intentional. It was deliberately nurtured by Mountains and Seas, favored above all else. There were no restrictions on talent or aptitude. From birth, it was destined to reach the pinnacle of Mountains and Seas."
"Born a Sage?" The Sages immediately understood Sage Gui Hai's meaning. Sage Gui Hai nodded slightly, "The first living being was the painstaking deduction of Mountains and Seas for the infinite variables of the future. At that time, Mountains and Seas had not yet foreseen the future crisis of annihilation, hence they placed great importance on this first living being, dedicating almost all their resources to its growth." "Alas, fate is predetermined. The stronger the first living being became, the more easily it could sense the remnants of divine beings. Unintentionally, it became tainted by a strand of innate malevolence." "Although Mountains and Seas gained divine power, they had no effective solution for divine remnants. Witnessing the changes in the first living being after being infected, they could only painfully destroy it themselves." "Only a skeleton remained." "The existence of the first living being was not long, but it held extremely significant meaning for all subsequent evolved beings. Without it, it can be said that none of us would exist." "Of course, with the innate malevolence attached, the first living being would not willingly die. It constantly yearned to possess a body and seek revenge on Mountains and Seas." As he spoke, Sage Gui Hai released his restraint on the ancestral bone. In that moment, all the Sages seemed to see their own decaying bodies, their own final resting places. All their flesh and blood, their divine souls, uncontrollably yearned to return to the bone before them! They were all horrified.
After the demonstration, the Three Sages put away their respective innate fierce items. "Extraordinary items are only used in extraordinary times." "It has been a long time since we took them out." Lian Shan looked at Li Fan, his expression unreadable, "However, Cosmic Cycles' words are indeed accurate. In times of life and death, we will indeed use them to fight enemies." "The phantom images from the void realm are also like this."
"I never imagined that there were such ferocious items in Mountains and Seas. Their mystique is no less than my true spirit infusion," Li Fan said, still immersed in the marvels of the three items. After a long time, he cupped his fists and asked, "With the innate malevolence attached, we would likely be unable to last even a moment. May I ask, Three Sages, is there a method to exempt or break it?" "If we are suppressed upon meeting, even if we want to rescue, we wouldn't know how to begin." Li Fan said helplessly.
Silence fell again within the Vortex Ring. Not only Li Fan but all the other Sages wanted to know this answer. It was one thing to be inferior to the Three Sages, but to be easily suppressed by mere artifacts casually produced by the Three Sages was truly difficult to accept. The silence was broken by Sage Tai Yi's chuckle.
"Innate fierce items are for dealing with enemies, not friends. It's not a problem to tell you all." "At the beginning of Mountains and Seas, there were not only these three innate fierce items. It was by our luck that we subdued these three. The other fierce items either slowly dissipated with the changes of Mountains and Seas or still exist in the ancient beginning of Mountains and Seas." "As for the method of dealing with them, it is both difficult and easy." "It's only eight words." "Contain it with divinity, subdue it with thought."
Sage Tai Yi's gaze swept over everyone and then produced the Fate String. The feeling of having one's life controlled by the intangible, as if it could be extracted at any moment, resurfaced in everyone's hearts.
"You must know that the source of innate fierce items is the residual influence of fallen divine beings." "It arises from thought, naturally it can vanish with thought." Saying this, Sage Tai Yi tossed the Fate String, suspending it above his head. Instantly, countless threads surged from the rope, attempting to weave a straw figure of Sage Tai Yi. However... Within Sage Tai Yi, countless light projections flickered. It was like a vast Immortal Realm. The straw figure could only weave one, but not all of them. The resulting fate straw figure was pulled by the countless light projections within Sage Tai Yi, like a puppet, and was manipulated back into the Fate String. Resistance was futile, and the Fate String temporarily became docile.
"If you can all achieve what I have, theoretically, you can subdue the Fate String," Sage Tai Yi said indifferently. Sage Lian Shan then continued, "The same principle applies. To resist the shedding of Mountains and Seas, you only need to be able to truly withstand the might of Mountains and Seas." Sage Gui Hai added, "To cancel the influence of the ancestral bone, you must disregard your sense of belonging to the first living being. You are not its descendant, nor is it your ancestor. Thus, its peculiarities will naturally disappear."
"Cosmic Cycles, are you satisfied with this answer?" The Three Sages looked at Li Fan and asked in unison.
Even though it seemed to offer an answer, it was something only they themselves could likely achieve.
Not just the other Sages of mountains and seas, but even the Sages Lian Shan, Gui Hai, and Tai Yi, in relation to the Turtle Shell, Ancestral Bone, and Fate Rope, had a unique countermeasure for each.
In his previous life, Li Fan had personally witnessed the scene where, under a sudden attack from the Void Realm, the Fate Rope bound Lian Shan, the Turtle Shell suppressed Gui Hai, and the Ancestral Bone captured Tai Yi.
However, an answer had been provided.
Li Fan nodded slightly, "The three Sages' guidance is etched in my heart and will not be forgotten."
"These innate ferocious items, if held by the three Sages, would surely be held by the Void Realm's avatars as well. Although they may not possess the profound mystery of the main bodies,..."
"The Void Realm might be able to amplify them exponentially with unfathomable power. We must be on guard."
Li Fan slowly explained the reason why he absolutely had to clarify the nature of the innate ferocious items held by the three Sages.
"Amplify them exponentially..." Tai Yi's expression grew thoughtful upon hearing Li Fan's words.
Infinite lights and shadows seemed to surge within his pupils, rapidly deducing something.
"Under normal circumstances, the Void Realm's avatars are exact replicas of their main bodies. Their cultivation, divine abilities, and treasures are all identical, not a bit more, not a bit less."
"Unless..."
"The Void Realm has deployed other pieces on the board," Gui Hai interjected abruptly.
After a moment of silence, Sage Lian Shan finally uttered softly, "The Void Realm and the mountains and seas face each other, and every ounce of power is used with extreme precision. They strive not to waste even a tiny bit. If they truly have the spare capacity to act, perhaps the Void Realm, from the unseen depths, has also foreseen the possibility of us crossing into the mountains and seas to provide aid."
"Fellow Daoist Zhou Hui's considerations are truly thorough."
Li Fan smiled, "I wield the Great Dao of Zhou Hui. In endless cycles of reincarnation, I foresee all things. Even the most minuscule possibility, in the face of infinite cycles, is bound to be something we must consider and face."
"As the saying goes, 'preparedness averts disaster.'"
The deduction images in Sage Tai Yi's eyes gradually subsided, and he said with a stern expression, "Even if the purpose of this reinforcement is to stall the situation as much as possible, if the Void Realm truly presses us with multiple levels of innate ferocious items..."
"Unless we personally appear, it will be difficult to resist."
Tai Yi looked at Li Fan, Shou Qiu, and Mo De.
Shou Qiu had not revealed his creation of true and false, and even with the strength Li Fan had previously displayed, he indeed did not possess the qualifications to subdue the three great innate ferocious items.
Therefore, his words were not incorrect.
Lian Shan pondered for a moment before offering the final solution: "I can entrust a wisp of my divine sense to reside within you. I wonder if you are willing."
"Under normal circumstances, the divine sense will remain in a dormant state. It will only manifest to assist in dealing with the innate ferocious items when they appear. This will not significantly affect your actions. However..."
"Since it's a divine sense that needs to contend with innate ferocious items, even a wisp will not be weak. Residing within your bodies will inevitably cause your minds and souls to tremble."
Li Fan was initially expected to hesitate.
To his surprise, he agreed without the slightest hesitation.
"To be able to house the divine senses of three Sages within my body, what great fortune that is!"
Since Li Fan had no objections, Shou Qiu and Mo De naturally agreed as well.
Before entrusting their divine senses, Sage Gui Hai cautioned, "The instant the divine senses merge with your bodies, you may witness all sorts of experiences that we have undergone. They will feel extremely real, making it difficult to distinguish. You must maintain your original heart. Otherwise, your Dao path will suffer varying degrees of distortion."
"However, there is no need to worry too much. We will also be observing from our side. If things become unmanageable, we will halt the process of divine sense transference in time."
It seemed that entrusting a mere wisp of divine sense was no ordinary matter. The three Sages became unusually cautious.
Under the gaze of all the Sages, Li Fan and the other two were ready.
"I shall bear Lian Shan's," he said in a deep voice.
Shou Qiu followed, "I am willing to bear Gui Hai's."
Mo De spoke last, "I am willing to bear Tai Yi's divine sense."
The three Sages remained motionless.
They each lightly tapped the brow of the one receiving their divine sense.
On the surface, nothing seemed to happen.
In reality, within Li Fan and the other two, an earth-shattering storm had already erupted.
Li Fan did not know what others saw.
He himself, in that instant, saw countless overlapping figures!
Just as he had speculated in his previous life.
It originated from the attempt to connect mountains, hence its name, Lian Shan.
The source of Sage Lian Shan's power was the summation of all beings who had attempted to 'connect mountains' and failed. From the first living beings born in the mountains and seas to the current temporal point, all attempts to connect mountains were the foundation upon which Sage Lian Shan achieved his Dao.
Innumerable civilizations, individuals, and even some attempts by the mountains and seas themselves were implicitly recorded and encompassed within it.
Although what was now being bestowed upon Li Fan's body was merely a wisp of Lian Shan's divine essence, just like in the Grand Constellation Mirror, gaining one meant gaining all.
The depth and realism were slightly inferior, but the sheer quantity of layers was nearly the same!
The three Sages were, in the strict sense, not ordinary beings.
What they were accustomed to could be an unbearable disaster for a "person" with a single consciousness!
In this instant, Li Fan perceived the countless civilizations and individuals of past mountains and seas that wished to merge into his body.
Not mere illusions, but actual entities with tangible thoughts and data, akin to real beings.
It was as if his spirit had momentarily split into countless individuals, venturing into different historical phases of the mountains and seas, experiencing a myriad of things.
An ordinary divine soul would hardly be able to contain such a transformation.
However, Li Fan was no ordinary person.
Theoretically, his divine sense, forcibly occupied and divided by countless civilizations, should have plunged him into a state of utter chaos, like a leaderless flock, leading to an unprecedented upheaval.
But what actually happened within Li Fan was that his original wisp of consciousness calmly occupied the center.
Regardless of the surrounding commotion, the unknown remained unchanged.
It sat on its throne, watching the noisy jostling of others.
Occasionally, a civilization or individual would attempt to challenge Li Fan's dominant position.
But the moment they conceived the idea, they were forced to cease due to an inexplicable sense of dread that arose spontaneously.
Both civilizations and individuals possessed the instinct for self-preservation.
It was often their instinct for self-preservation that profoundly influenced their destinies.
And at this moment, within Li Fan's body, despite not knowing the reason or the principle, the countless illusory figures of civilizations, driven by their instinct to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages, made their own choices.
Countless images flickered in the outside world, fighting each other, creating a vibrant spectacle.
Only at the center, where Li Fan resided, was it utterly silent.
The profound weight of the mountains and seas, added to Li Fan's being, felt like a mere wisp, as light as nothing.
As he gradually adapted to the splitting influence brought by the civilizations of the mountains and seas, and was able to reside in solitude, Li Fan finally slowly recovered his independent consciousness.
Looking forward, amidst the countless overlapping images, he seemed to see Sage Lian Shan gazing back at him from afar.
Li Fan nodded slightly in acknowledgment.
Just as Sage Lian Shan had said, it was merely a weak, differentiated divine sense. Sage Lian Shan only responded slightly to Li Fan's greeting.
There was not much communication between them.
Sage Lian Shan's divine sense resided within Li Fan's body.
Li Fan could thus glimpse Lian Shan's manifestation.
Similarly, Lian Shan could see Li Fan clearly amidst the infinite illusory figures.
However...
He saw, yet it was as if he did not see.
Li Fan seemed to possess an invisible shield around him, concealing the most core secrets within.
This was precisely why the civilizations of the mountains and seas instinctively avoided him.
Sage Lian Shan obviously knew this.
But the civilizations that formed the source of his power instinctively sought to avoid danger and benefit, without exception. How could Sage Lian Shan make a contrary choice?
He also chose to give way a little, as if not seeing.
In fact, as early as when Li Fan stirred up the vast number of stagnant true spirits in the Void Realm, making it appear like a real world of mountains and seas, Lian Shan, or rather the Three Sages, had already detected the strangeness about Li Fan.
He was by no means simply a friend of Shou Qiu.
However, in the vastness of mountains and seas, how many beings harbored secrets? Moreover, they had already deduced that Li Fan's actions were indeed to save the Three Sages who were about to perish in the previous epoch of mountains and seas.
It benefited themselves, and their goals were aligned.
For now, there was no need to investigate further.
As for appearing to reveal his own and the innate ferocious items' details...
These were common knowledge from the very beginning of mountains and seas.
There was no question of leakage.
Within Li Fan's mind, the storm created by the civilizations of the mountains and seas finally subsided.
Returning to his normal self, Li Fan bowed to the three Sages' main bodies in the Grand Constellation Mirror, "I have not failed my mission."
Then, under the astonished gaze of all the Sages, he looked at Shou Qiu and Mo De, who had also accepted the divine senses of the other two Sages.
Shou Qiu's strength was beyond doubt.
Especially after inheriting the creation from his previous life, if they were to truly fight, even the current Three Sages might not be his match.
Naturally, there was no need to worry.
What surprised Li Fan was Mo De.
Although his expression was somewhat contorted, as if he were trapped in a terrifying nightmare, Mo De's aura remained exceptionally stable, showing no signs of collapse.
"If Lian Shan is the collective manifestation of the mountains and seas' civilizations, then Tai Yi represents the constant changes and conflicts of the mountains and seas' Great Dao from beginning to end. Mo De was originally one of the mountains and seas' Great Dao, and should have been swept into it, unable to escape the vortex. But..."
Mo De's ascension to Sainthood was personally guided by Li Fan.
In the Great Dao Realization, Mo De had already returned to his rightful place.
Although he could not clearly see what was happening within Mo De at this moment, Li Fan could vaguely guess some things based on the changes in his aura.
"Firstly, Tai Yi must have held back. After all, it's a divine sense residing within, not a true act of consumption. Secondly..."
"Mo De has achieved perfection and formed his own cycle. With the principles of morality, he can resolve the infinite changes of the mountains and seas' Great Dao. Although Mo De's current knowledge and cultivation are still somewhat strained,..."
"The future is promising!"
"Perhaps, besides Shou Qiu, Mo De can also be considered a successor candidate."
Shou Qiu recovered his normalcy shortly after Li Fan.
Mo De took even longer.
However, all three successfully accepted the divine senses of the three Sages.
Before they departed, Li Fan, as usual, requested the use of the Grand Constellation Mirror's method of unified hearts and minds.
Since they had already imparted a wisp of their divine senses, this method was truly indispensable.
After entrusting the Three Treasures of Lian Shan's Staff and establishing the connection of their intentions, Li Fan, Shou Qiu, and Mo De bid farewell to the Sages and set off towards the mountains and seas ahead. "We have made every thorough preparation. If we still fail..." Gui Hai's voice was tinged with melancholy.
"It should be an auspicious omen," Tai Yi suddenly said.
"We should also expedite the matter of reconnecting the mountains and seas. We cannot place all our hopes on Shou Qiu and the others. The sooner the mountains and seas are reconnected, the sooner we can resolve this tribulation." After Sage Lian Shan finished speaking, the remaining Sages of the Other Shore began to act.
In the Void Realm, far from the mountains and seas, Li Fan and the other two suddenly stopped.
Originally, they had faced the three Sages' divine senses individually. However, now, under the effect of the unified hearts and minds, they formed a triangular formation, like an inner circle, resisting the surrounding divine senses of the three Sages.
"With the protection of Return to Truth, it's truly effortless. We can directly ignore the probing of the strongest among the Three Sages. It truly makes us envious," Mo De said with a hint of sourness.
Although he did not inherit the memories of his previous life like Shou Qiu, he understood the cause and effect from Li Fan's knowledge.
"I hope Fellow Daoist Fan doesn't go back on his word and truly allows me to inherit and experience it in a future life," Mo De added.
Shou Qiu slightly shook his head and chuckled, "As long as you enter the Grand Constellation Mirror, there is no substantial difference in who inherits it. What if it's you in the next life?"
After their playful banter, the three simultaneously became solemn and looked towards the three Sages' divine senses encircling them.
Lian Shan, the illusory figures of the mountains and seas' civilizations.
Gui Hai, the origin and destination of all living beings.
Tai Yi, the constant changes and conflicts of the infinite Great Dao.
Any one of these alone was a supreme creation.
Now, interwoven together before them, they exuded a more chilling aura.
With the protection of the Great Dao of True and False, they were not worried about being spied upon by the Three Sages' divine senses.
Li Fan and the others were able to observe and comprehend more meticulously.
Through the mutual verification of the threefold perceptions, they truly glimpsed the clues they had previously missed.
"It seems there is some power, like the Grand Constellation Mirror, that also connects the Three Sages to each other."
"Indeed, it's not merely the power of unified hearts and minds, but a step further."
"Or rather, the unified hearts and minds of the Grand Constellation Mirror were created by the Three Sages imitating it."
Li Fan, Shou Qiu, and Mo De exchanged glances, all startled.
"The civilizations of mountains and seas, the origin and destination of life, the changes of the Great Dao. These were originally abstract concepts, yet they transformed into human forms."
"It seems this connection is inseparable," Shou Qiu said solemnly.
"Although I am somewhat curious, now is not the time to investigate. In this life, we will still execute the original plan: save the Three Sages and observe the changes of the mountains and seas." After a moment, Li Fan withdrew his gaze and said.
Shou Qiu and Mo De nodded in agreement.
The three then continued their journey towards the mountains and seas ahead.
"Since we intend to save the Three Sages, it is inconvenient to reveal the Great Dao of True and False."
"Fortunately, we only need to stall for time and await the reconnection of the mountains and seas."
"If the Great Dao of True and False does not appear, the mastermind behind the Void Realm will not show themselves. All we need to contend with is multiple levels of innate ferocious items, which is not as difficult to deal with as imagined."
Shou Qiu and Mo De looked at Li Fan and said in unison.
Li Fan wore a smug expression at this moment, "Ordinary beings' divine senses naturally cannot resist the influence of innate ferocious items."
"But with my Return to Truth bestowed upon me..."
"Using my divine sense to control them is not a problem!"
This was not Li Fan boasting, but a genuine realization after personally witnessing and even experiencing the might of the innate ferocious items.
"Even the origin of your transmigration, Fellow Daoist Fan, has a miraculous effect in resisting them," Shou Qiu added in agreement.
"With the assistance of the two fellow Daoists, we should be able to last longer. Perhaps we can even probe the reality of the innate ferocious items."
"After all, they are formed from the influence of divine remnants. If we can truly gain some insight from them, it will be immensely beneficial to us!" Li Fan's gaze turned stern.
In the mountains and seas ahead, the battle of the six Sages seemed to have just begun.
The ripples in the void realm were gradually emerging, and the true forms of the three Sages had not yet shown signs of collapse. Therefore, the mountains and seas were still unharmed, and the Sages within the Vortex Ring were still seated.
As Shou Qiu traversed through, he merged with his present-moment self.
His expression shifted several times, and he suddenly stood up.
Under the watchful eyes of all, he moved towards the place where the six Sages were battling.
The other Sages were surprised and hesitant, but none chose to follow.
"We should still follow the words of the three Sages and wait and see."
"Indeed, the three Sages did not specify the danger in the void realm. But since it is a trouble that even they find difficult to handle, we truly have no right to interfere. Going there will not only be of no help but will also become a burden."
"The three Sages said to wait and see, and perhaps a variable will arise. I just don't know where that variable will come from?"
"Shou Qiu has always been steady, why is there such a sudden change?"
Qie Ji, Gui Ming, and others' thoughts churned, but they could not figure out the reason.
Shou Qiu and Dao De, who had completed their self-merger, had quietly arrived in the void realm where the six Sages were battling.
With the experience of his previous life, this time he lurked more patiently.
He hid in the dark, observing every change on the battlefield.
Even as the three Sages' true forms seemed to be gradually falling into a dangerous situation, they did not easily reveal themselves.
It wasn't until the void clone, in an attempt to achieve success in one battle, took the initiative to unleash the innate fierce items.
The Fate Rope bound Lian Shan, the Turtle Shell suppressed Gui Hai, and the Ancestral Bone captured Tai Yi!
Initially, the three Sages were still unwilling to use the innate fierce items they held against their enemies, seemingly still fearing something deep down.
It was only when they could no longer endure that they were finally forced to unleash them.
The innate fierce items restrained each other, and for a moment, the situation turned from danger to safety.
The battle fell into a stalemate once more.
Li Fan and the other two observed every subtle change.
"Does Shou Qiu know what the three Sages fear?"
Dao De and Shou Qiu also felt the hesitation displayed by the three Sages.
"Even if they die, they will only disappear in a certain period of time. On the overall level of mountains and seas, the three Sages will still exist. Moreover, the three Sages have the divine ability of 'Primordial Unity Undying'. The loss caused by their death is likely less than we imagine. Compared to being killed by the void clone, the three Sages are more worried about the complete severance of the mountains and seas."
"From the performance of the three Sages, the innate fierce items have been suppressed and subdued by them. However, there is still the danger of backlash. And once they are backlashed..."
"It is likely that what will be affected will not just be the three Sages of a certain period." Shou Qiu's eyes deepened as he observed for a while before slowly speaking.
Dao De also pondered, "The Annihilation of the Dao has divided the mountains and seas into countless parts, each severed and unable to connect. However, the innate fierce items, after all, come from that fallen True God, and perhaps they can penetrate the obstacles of the void realm. There may still be subtle connections between them."
"If they can successfully backlash against the three Sages in one part of the mountains and seas, they can use this opportunity to expand the influence to the entire mountains and seas, thereby escaping their fate of being suppressed."
"In this way, the three Sages' subjugation of the innate fierce items may not be as easy as they say. The strand of divine thought they each sent out and bestowed upon me, I'm afraid..."
Recalling the unprecedented caution displayed by the three Sages when they divided their divine thoughts, Li Fan nodded slightly.
The battle in the void realm continued.
The void clone, relying on the inexhaustible power support of the void realm, was reckless and unconcerned about the expenditure.
Although the three Sages were at a disadvantage, their foundation was deep.
They were in peril but not annihilated.
Li Fan and the other two, however, already knew that the three Sages were destined to perish and never revealed themselves.
In patient waiting, they felt the battle of the six Sages.
The comprehension of the three was top-tier in the mountains and seas. Their life experiences and the Dao paths they pursued were different, so their angles of comprehension also varied. With the addition of unity of heart and mind, their insights intertwined and merged.
Their progress was more than a thousand miles a day.
The efficiency was almost not inferior to Li Fan directly comprehending the Dao in the Great Dao Realization Hall.
As the saying goes, know yourself and know your enemy. Although he possessed the Great Dao of True and False, Li Fan did not think that comprehending the Dao of the three Sages was useless.
"The civilization of mountains and seas, the living beings of mountains and seas, the Great Dao of mountains and seas."
"When we see the three Sages, it is as if we see the mountains and seas."
The insights in his heart, when corroborated with the 'Outline of Mountains and Seas Transformations' obtained from Return to Truth, made the originally empty data projections gradually become substantial.
Li Fan had a premonition that if he were to prove himself as a Sage of Mountains and Seas in his next life, his might would be even greater than before.
The three of them thirstily absorbed nourishment from the battle of the six Sages.
The final act of this battle finally began quietly.
Around the three Sages, the countless threads representing mountains and seas were like being eroded by wind and frost, becoming rusty. Their operations and transformations slowed down, and a sense of deathly stillness gradually arose.
Sensing the impending death of the three Sages, dark waves surged in the void realm.
The true forms of the three Sages showed ferocious expressions, and new innate fierce items were evolved from the void realm.
They descended upon the bodies of their true forms!
"Make your move!"
Shou Qiu's voice had not yet fallen when he stepped out, appearing in the midst of the battlefield.
He carried the divine essence of Gui Hai and went to relieve Tai Yi's predicament.
Just as the second Ancestral Bone was about to attach itself to Tai Yi's body, Shou Qiu gently blocked it.
Li Fan and Dao De also made their moves simultaneously.
Dao De, holding the divine essence of Tai Yi, helped Lian Shan resist the invasion of the Fate Rope.
Li Fan, embodying the divine essence of Lian Shan, helped Gui Hai escape the fate of being suppressed by the Turtle Shell.
The three Sages, on the verge of death, looked at Li Fan and his companions, who had suddenly appeared. A flicker of astonishment finally appeared on their always calm faces.
But soon, sensing the strand of their divine thought that they carried, they understood.
"Control with divine thought, subdue with intent."
The three Sages transmitted their voices, speaking the key to subduing the innate fierce items.
Although they were fighting separately, due to their unity of heart and mind, the three were like one, witnessing the arrival of the innate fierce items at the same time.
The heavens and earth roared, and in the first transformation after the separation of divine thoughts of mountains and seas, remnants were born.
It was the mountains and seas themselves, and it also represented all the discarded old past by the new mountains and seas.
Its weight was immeasurable, and it was born from the infinite resentment of the mountains and seas.
"Why abandon it? Why change it?"
"Discarded because it is useless, changed because it is death!"
"Death, death, death, death, death, death!"
Within the small turtle shell, malevolent energy soared, carrying the weight of the mountains and seas, smashing down fiercely towards Li Fan's head.
"You gave me life and nurtured me, why do you want to kill me?"
"If I am unforgiving, why are you?"
"Go with me!"
As if flesh and blood were growing from the Ancestral Bone, a figure who had died many years ago seemed to come alive at this moment, staring at Shou Qiu with a venomous glare.
"Born as predetermined, why were you born?"
"If your fate is death, what is the point of striving?"
"It is all for naught!"
As the Fate Rope was woven, Dao De vaguely saw another self.
...
"Control with divine thought, subdue with intent."
The reminder from the three Sages echoed in his mind again.
Simultaneously, the divine thoughts of the three Sages floated out.
As if to demonstrate, they faced the innate fierce items head-on.
"The old dies, the weak dies, the deserving dies!" Facing the turtle shell that was pressing down with immense power, the divine essence of Lian Shan coldly replied.
With a mere flick of his finger, he stopped the immense force of the turtle shell.
The entity residing within Li Fan's body was merely a divine thought projected by Sage Lian Shan. It naturally couldn't directly neutralize the oppressive aura emanating from the turtle shell. Its appearance as a "stop" sign was due to this divine thought almost completely suppressing the turtle shell's malevolent energy, thereby momentarily halting its onslaught.
Given the immense disparity in power, a single divine thought from Lian Shan was destined to fail. However, Li Fan soon took over. Experiencing Lian Shan's divine essence felt like being there personally. Li Fan agreed wholeheartedly, "Indeed, those who deserve to die must die. For things of the past, no matter how unwilling, it is useless. It is best to obediently accept one's fate!"
In an instant, Li Fan's form seemed to merge with Lian Shan's divine essence. His majestic intent collided fiercely with the remnants of the mountains and seas. In a moment of illusion, Li Fan saw past mountains and seas within the countless patterns of the turtle shell before him. The scenes were vastly different from those of the present day. They were also not from when the mountains and seas were first created in the Primordial Realm. Instead, they were from an even more ancient past – the time when the mountains and seas were still separating their divine entities!
As a creature born from the mountains and seas, it was difficult to imagine what they would be like without the power of the divine. But now, Li Fan could glimpse it. The attribute of "infinity" was absent. Mountains, though they ascended to their utmost heights, eventually had their limits. After reaching their peak, they inevitably declined. Seas, though seemingly boundless, could not escape the fate of exhaustion. The desiccation of seas and the erosion of mountains were calamities that even the mountains and seas could not evade. Even though the life forms of the mountains and seas had become incredibly powerful, they still could not escape such limitations. Thus, the mountains and seas sought to devour the divine!
As for how the "Divine," the origin of all things and the source of all creation, perished, the turtle shell offered no record whatsoever. The mountains and seas, after their separation from the divine, had ruthlessly abandoned their past selves. "Having gained divine might, it is natural to discard the crude past as worthless." "To think of retaliating and rising again." "Truly asking for trouble!" With such thoughts, it was as if they were rooted to the spot. Though the turtle shell carried an overwhelming malevolent energy, it could not shake Li Fan in the slightest. Of course, this was only a spiritual sensation. The pressure from the remnants of the mountains and seas was indeed real.
However, Li Fan had his own way to resolve it. Suddenly, circles upon circles of fine, faintly glowing lines appeared around Li Fan's body. This was not due to the Great Dao of True and False, but rather a clever application of the power of "Cosmic Cycle" reincarnation. The mountains and seas, though possessing life forms that could barely withstand immense pressure, could they endure it if such pressure were distributed among countless beings in endless reincarnation? To the common beings, it only felt like a slight burden while moving forward. Initially, the threads of reincarnation slightly bent under the sudden immense force. But as the reincarnation expanded infinitely, they entirely absorbed the pressure from the remnants of the mountains and seas.
The divine could not harm Li Fan, nor could his physical strength harm him. The attack from the turtle shell, formed by the void realm, was therefore destined to be futile. Though it seemed effortless, Li Fan had actually pushed his understanding of the "Cosmic Cycle" Dao to its limit. And with the guidance of Lian Shan's divine essence, his spirit had successfully ignored the influence of innate malevolence. Otherwise, without employing the Great Dao of True and False, Li Fan's current strength might not have been able to completely withstand a single blow from the turtle shell. It could be said that innate malevolence, even if merely a imitation by the void realm, was indeed extraordinarily fierce.
With himself unharmed, Li Fan was able to divide his attention to observe the battle situation between Shou Qiu and Mo Dao. Shou Qiu's performance was undoubtedly much better than Li Fan's. "If we can give birth to you, we can also kill you." Facing the ancestral bone, filled with surging malevolence and resentment, Shou Qiu uttered a single, indifferent sentence, effortlessly blocking its corrosive influence. No matter how fiercely the ancestral bone tried to embed itself deeper, Shou Qiu remained as unyielding as a majestic mountain, unmovable.
Of the three, Mo Dao was the only one in slight peril. "If its fate is death, what use is it to merely linger?" If it were Mo Dao alone, facing the soul-piercing interrogation of the Fate Rope, he would undoubtedly fall into doubt and turmoil. But with Mo Dao now within the Vortex Ring, things were naturally different. Even without the guidance of Tai Yi's body, Mo Dao's divine sense would not be significantly affected. After all, Li Fan had said that those who inherited the memories of Return to Truth in the future would surely have a share. How many people in the entire world of mountains and seas could truly feel the Great Dao of True and False and benefit from it? How fortunate he was! Even if he died immediately, he would have no regrets.
Mo Dao's disadvantage lay in his relatively weaker strength. Li Fan had only hastily enlightened him in this life, lacking the prolonged accumulation and explosive growth of Shou Qiu. Relying on his perfect moral compass, Mo Dao could continuously dissolve the influence of the Fate Rope. But he was ultimately not as effortless as Li Fan or Shou Qiu, constantly teetering on the brink of death. Fortunately, with Li Fan occasionally providing him with true spirit nourishment, he could withstand the consumption.
The three Sages of True and False continued their fierce battle. The innate malevolence, a last resort of the void realm, was neutralized by Li Fan and the other two who suddenly appeared. The battlefield entered a stalemate once more. The response from the entity behind the void realm was not as intense as in the previous life upon seeing the Great Dao of True and False. Instead, it fell into a strange silence. It seemed to be contemplating whether it was worth dividing its forces further. After all, the void realm was confronting the mountains and seas across the entire timeline. If more was dispatched here, it would inevitably mean a slight reduction in the power of Dao Erasure erosion at other temporal nodes. A decrease in one place and an increase in another, a single change leading to a hundred changes. Every move made by the mastermind behind the void realm was extremely cautious.
It did not ponder for too long. After a brief silence, the void realm suddenly stirred, like a surging tide. "Be careful!" As if sensing something, the true bodies of the three Sages couldn't help but send voice transmissions to warn them. Li Fan looked towards the source of the disturbance in the void realm and saw over a dozen anomalies approaching. His expression also changed slightly, "The mastermind behind the void realm has made a grand gesture and a decisive plan." "Even if we hadn't revealed the Great Dao of True and False, which is a creation they must obtain, they are still willing to dispatch four times the force!" They were already barely coping with the addition of three innate malevolences. With another twelve innate malevolences attacking, under normal circumstances, they would be utterly incapable of resisting.
"Should we...?" Mo Dao's heart stirred, and he asked. Shou Qiu's expression grew serious as he looked at Li Fan. Li Fan pondered for a moment, then gritted his teeth and replied, "No. If we use the transformation of True and False, the outcome will inevitably be the same as the previous life. What meaning would our current attempt have?" "Let's withstand it head-on! Let's test our limits!" "Rest assured, even if we perish, it will only be a matter of starting over! In the past, I laid the foundation of my cultivation a hundred times, turning the impossible into the possible." "What we face today..." "Is no more difficult than what I faced before!" Li Fan's thoughts greatly influenced Shou Qiu and Mo Dao. Shou Qiu's serious expression instantly relaxed. With a slight smile, facing the surging twelve innate malevolences, he regained his usual nonchalant demeanor. Mo Dao also let out a cold snort, bringing himself to his optimal state. "If we don't fear death, how can we fear these innate malevolences?" "They are nothing extraordinary."
The multiple levels of innate malevolence brought not only a stronger spiritual erosion but also a more arduous, overwhelming force akin to tangible pressure.
One must remember that each single instance of innate malevolence, with a surprise attack, could inflict fatal damage on the three Sages. Now, with fifteen of them striking simultaneously, though not comparable to the thousands of Sage phantoms that besieged in the previous life, the defense of Li Fan and his companions became precarious in an instant.
With each additional protective artifact – the turtle shell, ancestral bone, or fate rope – the pressure intensified exponentially. The fact that they hadn't been instantly overwhelmed spoke volumes about the profound depth of their foundations.
Facing such a desperate situation, not a hint of despair crossed their minds. Instead, they desperately searched for a sliver of hope amidst the impossible.
"United hearts, united minds, a trinity."
Li Fan and the other two were slowly compressed by the onslaught of the fifteen innate malevolences into a single point, forming a tight defensive corner, their backs literally against each other. One person's sight became the sight of all three. One person's vision was the observation of all three. One person's heart forged the willpower of all three.
The influences from different innate malevolences simultaneously assaulted them. However, at this moment, Li Fan not only fully possessed his own creation but also incorporated Shou Qiu's far-reaching foresight and broad-mindedness, coupled with the perfect state of Morality. The infinite malevolent energy surged like violent waves, but he, using the collective will of the three, dissolved them one by one. Shou Qiu and Morality did the same.
The innate malevolences were amplified fivefold, yet Li Fan's defensive line instantly tripled. Moreover, as the external pressure increased, Li Fan felt their "united hearts and minds" becoming more seamless and smooth. He could weave endless cycles with the Great Dao of Cosmic Cycles, simultaneously wielding Longevity, sitting on mountains, and gazing at the sea, or embodying perfect Morality, flowing endlessly. It wasn't just their subjectively united hearts and minds; even the Great Daos they controlled began to mutually acknowledge each other.
Li Fan had a sudden flash of inspiration. During a gap in the attacks of the innate malevolences, he drew a large amount of accumulated true spirits from the void realm.
"I call upon the true spirits of mortal Shou Qiu!" he declared solemnly, pointing outwards. True spirits surged, radiating a colorful glow, and a phantom figure slowly emerged. Its aura and demeanor bore a strong resemblance to Shou Qiu, yet its appearance was eighty percent similar to Li Fan. It could be called the Shou Qiu version of Li Fan. This was Li Fan using his own Great Dao of Longevity, mobilizing infinite true spirits, and in an instant, proving himself another Sage!
Under normal circumstances, there would never be two Sages with the same Dao path in the Mountains and Seas. However, due to the profound effect of their united hearts and minds, the inexplicable influence inherited from Huan Zhen, and the overwhelming external pressure, even the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas gradually began to perceive Li Fan, Shou Qiu, and Morality as one entity. Since they were now seen as one, there was no longer any conflict.
As soon as Li Fan's Shou Qiu avatar appeared, it joined the defensive line of the three. It was still united in heart and mind, with no gaps. Its form was as majestic and towering as mountains and seas, shielding them from the external storms.
"I call upon the true spirits of mortal Morality!" Li Fan continued without pause, creating his Morality avatar. As two streams of energy flowed, a Morality-infused Li Fan strode forth. His expression was a mixture of a smile and a frown, both righteous and evil. Black and white colors rotated around his body, absorbing the immense pressure bearing down on everyone.
It wasn't just Li Fan. At the same instant, Shou Qiu and Morality each spawned two avatars. This corresponded to the other two. In a moment, six top-tier Sages were created out of thin air, adding to their strength. The pressure they faced immediately lessened. With the three main bodies forming the core inside, the other six avatars circled around them. Wherever the defense was weak, their combined strength would converge. Their power reached wherever their thoughts reached. The result was as if Li Fan and the other two could simultaneously wield nine times their original strength, yet their combined defense remained fluid and natural, without any awkwardness or flaws.
Conversely, the void realm's forces, though seemingly vast and terrifying with fifteen innate malevolences, fought as individual entities, merely fivefold replicas of the original. After gradually adapting to the attacks of one, the threat posed by the other four replicas seemed less fatal. Li Fan and his companions, along with their six avatars, coordinated with increasing synchronicity. While neutralizing the attacks of the innate malevolences, they could even contemplate and gain insights.
"In truth, if we were truly pushed to the brink, without resorting to the Great Dao of True and False, we still have a final desperate move," Li Fan mused, his thoughts racing as he deduced the possibilities. "Just as Morality did before proving his Dao, we can perform the 'Separation of Morality'!" "Each of our avatars can be further divided like this, instantly doubling our fighting strength!" "However, simple separation is easy; achieving perfect Morality again is not so simple. The consequence could be a fall from the Sage realm, or even the shattering of our united hearts and minds, leading to a situation where we turn on each other," Li Fan’s thoughts raced as he deduced.
Morality deeply agreed, "But with Huan Zhen, we no longer need to consider such things. Let's first overcome this tribulation and observe the changes in the Mountains and Seas!" Shou Qiu gazed into the depths of the void realm, lost in thought. "Diverting twelve innate malevolences will significantly impact the battle in the Mountains and Seas. I have a premonition that the 'Outline of Mountains and Seas Changes' after this Huan Zhen might bring pleasant surprises."
...Every moment of insight gained by the three during the battle was shared and integrated into their minds. Unlike the innate malevolences, whose existence was destined to remain unchanged from the moment they appeared in this world, Li Fan and his companions were genuinely growing stronger with each passing moment. And the speed of this growth was outrageously fast.
The outcome of this battle was decided at this very moment. Provided the mastermind behind the void realm did not introduce further variables. Of course, even with their united hearts and minds, the power Li Fan and his group could wield had its limits. Coupled with Li Fan's envisioned "Separation of Morality," they could at most muster eighteen Sages of the Mountains and Seas. If the mastermind behind the void realm acted as in the previous life and, regardless of the cost, summoned thousands of Sage phantoms from other timelines, Li Fan and his companions' defense would be instantly shattered. But in this life, Li Fan and the others showed no signs of the "True and False Transformation." In the eyes of the void realm's mastermind, they were merely Sages who were a bit stronger and possessed novel methods. As a rational commander, it would never make such a foolish move.
Therefore, after a final assessment of the current situation, it decisively ordered a retreat. Faster than their arrival, the innate malevolences and the three Sages' void realm avatars vanished without a trace. However, this temporary retreat did not signify that the void realm had abandoned its claim over the current Mountains and Seas. Li Fan keenly sensed that as the void realm avatars departed, the obstruction to the Dao Erasure became even more profound. While it couldn't harm powers at the level of the three Sages, it posed an increasingly devastating blow to ordinary Sages and the Mountains and Seas. Since they couldn't seize this place for now, they would devise a way to delay it. Once they resolved the power from other timelines, they would mobilize their main forces and crush it with absolute strength.
To some extent, the void realm mastermind's decision was not wrong. Unfortunately, when the Lone Star appeared, even the entire void realm was engulfed. Then, with the activation of Huan Zhen, it was reset. Therefore, it did not know that it was abandoning the very location of the Great Dao of True and False!
Without the external threat, the atmosphere in the arena did not lighten. The three Sages and Li Fan and his group exchanged glances, each with their own thoughts. There was no need for Li Fan and his companions to explain their origins. After resolving the crisis of the three Sages' potential demise, the divine thoughts they held automatically separated from their bodies and returned to the respective True Sages. Thus, the three Sages knew the entire cause and effect. However, even now, they were somewhat astounded by how Li Fan and his group managed to withstand the attack of fifteenfold innate malevolences.
"Fellow Daoists, what immense divine abilities!" Sage Gui Hai exclaimed, sweeping his gaze over them. "Pure luck. We fought for so long that we're utterly exhausted. If not for the swift retreat of the void realm, we would have perished on the spot!" Li Fan said, his face unblushing and his heart steady. Shou Qiu also smiled, "We must also thank the three Sages for their united hearts and minds. Otherwise, we would never have been able to resist." Morality nodded in agreement, "If not for this unity, we wouldn't have realized how compatible we are." Those within the sect knew their own affairs. As the creators of the Vortex Ring, the three Sages were well aware that unified hearts and minds could multiply combat power, but they could hardly achieve the more than tenfold amplification that Li Fan and his group managed so casually. However, judging by their performance in the recent battle, the combat power of Li Fan's trio was no longer inferior to theirs. It was not appropriate to press for details.
"The turmoil in the void realm has not yet subsided. At this juncture, let us first reintegrate the Mountains and Seas." The six looked at each other, reaching a temporary consensus. Turning back, they faced the two halves of the Mountains and Seas separated by the void realm.
Times had changed. With the presence of the three Sages and Li Fan's support, even a hundred thousand years of being swallowed by time could be easily restored. Under the concerted efforts of all the Sages, strands of the Mountains and Seas' pathways reappeared in the void realm. First, a beam of light pierced the darkness. Then, thousands of beams of light shone brightly. The Mountains and Seas were restored.
At the moment of reintegration, the Sages seated on the Other Shore all radiated an effervescent aura. Clearly, they had benefited greatly. After all, gaining a hundred thousand years of accumulation out of nowhere, combined with the merit of restoring the Mountains and Seas. Their strength, if not doubled, had certainly advanced significantly. Perhaps the only exception was Li Fan. This segment of the Mountains and Seas did not contain his existence, so there was no question of their merging together. Yet, the changes on his body were no less significant than others. Aside from his own pretense of swirling accumulated true spirits, it was also due to the feedback from Shou Qiu and Morality's gains. Although they were still seated within the Vortex Ring, with the three Sages present, Li Fan, Shou Qiu, and Morality had now become a unified entity. They could vaguely contend with the three Sages, and thus, they no longer needed to act hesitantly as before.
However, with this reintegration, the three Sages seemed to have benefited the most. Originally, Li Fan had felt confident facing them, but with another reintegration of the Mountains and Seas, the three Sages became unfathomable once more.
"After all, they are ancient beings who have existed since the beginning of the evolution of the Mountains and Seas." "Shou Qiu's foundation is already unimaginable, let alone the three Sages?" "The sum total of the civilizations, beings, and Great Daos in the Mountains and Seas will inevitably become stronger with the reintegration." "Or rather, they are regaining their original strength." Li Fan had long anticipated this. Even so, Li Fan believed that the three Sages would not be able to easily distinguish between him and the trio of Shou Qiu and Morality in a short period. With the same goal of saving the Mountains and Seas, the balance would not be easily broken.
"The reintegration of the Mountains and Seas has successfully restored a hundred thousand years of time. This is truly a great fortune!" "However, although the reintegration was successful, why do I always feel that this newly born Mountains and Seas... is a bit strange?" Bai Xiao looked at the newborn hundred thousand years of Mountains and Seas and suddenly asked. Sage Lian Shan replied, "It's not your imagination. The Mountains and Seas have been separated by the void realm for too long. Although there are past traces as a basis for their re-emergence from the void, the current Mountains and Seas will inevitably have some differences from the past ones." "Some possibilities might have ceased to exist, while others might have become unrecognizable." "Correspondingly, the entire downstream of the Mountains and Seas will be affected to some extent." "However, it is of no detriment to the overall trend of the Mountains and Seas."
Shou Qiu suddenly said to Li Fan in his heart, "The traces of the Heavenly Net Emperor's existence have vanished." Li Fan was suddenly startled and looked towards the original possibility in the Mountains and Seas. In the Primordial Immortal Realm, it was supposed to be Emperor Tianluo who governed. The new Mountains and Seas should have followed past inertia and reproduced all previous events. But for some reason, in the current Primordial Possibility, Emperor Tianluo was no longer present. Instead, another Immortal Emperor named [Ling Xi] was listed. The upstream waters had rerouted. This caused the original possibility to change subtly. Li Fan saw clearly, as if cut apart by a knife, it was trending towards evolving into two completely different possibilities. The one growing robustly was the subsequent development of the newly emerged Primordial Possibility, inheriting Immortal Emperor [Ling Xi]. As for the Primordial possibility Li Fan was familiar with... It had truly become water without a source, a tree without roots. Without the power infusion from the upstream of the Mountains and Seas, it was bound to slowly wither away.
"What does this mean?" Li Fan frowned slightly. He naturally wasn't worried about himself and his two companions, who originated from the Primordial realm, being affected by this anomaly. Those in the Transcendent realm were no longer constrained by the possibilities from which they originated, let alone their current strength. "The Mountains and Seas have been restored, but Tianluo is not among them." "Could it be..." Shou Qiu was also uncertain for a moment. "The three Sages mentioned earlier that Emperor Tianluo did not transcend with his entire Immortal Realm. Perhaps it's not true," Morality mused secretly. "With the restored Mountains and Seas, there is no trace of Tianluo. What truly happened back then may be unknowable. We can only deduce it by searching for the opportunity that Emperor Tianluo found in the lower realm during the ancient times of the Mountains and Seas," Shou Qiu's gaze fixed on the Mountains and Seas ahead. "If my prediction is correct, it should be within the Mountains and Seas ahead."
Li Fan felt a tinge of daze, "The matter of Emperor Tianluo was something I thought was in the distant past. I didn't expect that we have only taken a few steps in the Mountains and Seas. In the grand scheme of the Mountains and Seas, it is but an insignificant period of time." Morality also seemed to fall into recollection, "The change concerning Tianluo occurred only at the end of his reign. It seems it was after finding his supposed fortune that things changed. Indeed, we can glimpse its secrets." "However..." "If it was truly an opportunity for transcending the Mountains and Seas, I fear it is lost forever," Morality suddenly said.
Li Fan nodded slightly to Elder Guardian.
Even Sages would not witness the reconnection of the Mountains and Seas in their entirety, let alone the potential opportunity that could lead the entire Immortal Realm to transcendence.
"It is truly a great regret not to know of such secrets," murmured Morality with a sigh.
"Infinite matters exist within the Mountains and Seas. Even the Three Sages, who, in a sense, represent the Mountains and Seas themselves, cannot claim to know all. The change we have undergone, marked by the shifts between true and false, is already a great fortune," Elder Guardian replied with a smile, unperturbed.
Suddenly, Li Fan spoke, startling them, "I have a thought. The Outline of Mountain and Sea Transformations recorded in Reflection might hold clues related to Emperor Tianluo."
"It may not directly record that unknown opportunity, but by comparing the changes in the Mountains and Seas before and after the First Era's disappearance, we might be able to infer something."
"I already possess the Outline of Mountain and Sea Transformations from the later period. If I can derive another version from the period before the First Era vanished, a comparison between the two might reveal something."
The three shared a common purpose and understood the immense detail of the Outline obtained by Reflection. Li Fan could even use it as a template to achieve sainthood within the Mountains and Seas.
"Since Reflection can repeatedly reshape the Mountains and Seas, all changes within them must be within its purview," Elder Guardian mused before agreeing.
"In that case, it becomes simpler. We only need to perform the reconnection ritual again, setting the time node to before Emperor Tianluo's disappearance, and then allow Reflection to operate. This way, we can both observe the impact of the Three Sages' fall on the changes within the Mountains and Seas, and investigate Emperor Tianluo's secrets."
The three communicated silently.
Within the Vortex Ring, the Sages were already discussing the next reconnection of the Mountains and Seas. Until the threat of the Mountains and Seas' collapse was completely resolved, the Sages had no rest. Fortunately, their repeated victories, including their combined effort to avert a crisis of death at the hands of Void Manifestations, had boosted their morale.
"The Void ahead spans only thirty thousand years. Compared to our hundred thousand years of reconnection, it is but a trifle. However..."
"It is not a conquest to be taken lightly," Sage Lian Shan's words caused the surging emotions within the Sages to suddenly quieten.
"Do you all know why the Void manifested and attacked our incarnations within its realm?"
Faced with Sage Lian Shan's question, the Sages instantly seemed to grasp something, their expressions changing.
"Before this reconnection, we who were ambushed were not particularly special. In terms of strength, we were no stronger than at other times; nor did we do anything to deliberately attract the Void's attention..."
"We were merely intercepted by the Void on our way to the forward Mountains and Seas."
Through these two probing encounters with the shadowy entities behind the Void, Li Fan had gained some understanding of their modus operandi. They were extremely calm and rational decision-makers who did nothing without purpose. Yet, at critical junctures, they would commit all their resources in a desperate gamble.
Upon hearing the Three Sages' words, Li Fan finally understood. The struggle between the Mountains and Seas and the Void was a vast battlefield. In insignificant corners, the Void's hidden powers would not gratuitously dispatch forces to intercept the Three Sages.
"Which means..."
"The Mountains and Seas ahead are like strategic mountain passes and vital military strongholds, places that must be contended for. To prevent any unforeseen circumstances, they dispatched forces to eliminate the Three Sages before they could make contact."
Li Fan, the three exchanged glances.
Elder Guardian directly asked, "May I ask, Sage Lian Shan, what is the special significance of the Mountains and Seas ahead?"
Sage Lian Shan pondered for a moment and then, instead of answering directly, began to explain to everyone: "The Mountains and Seas are a continuous existence across the entire timeline, from antiquity to the present, and into the future. Within the Mountains and Seas themselves, infinite possibilities evolve, and the Mountains and Seas are constantly in flux."
"However, the overall direction of the Mountains and Seas remains unchanged. After the fragmentation of the Mountains and Seas, they became interconnected, their boundaries blurred, and ultimately moved towards the end of time, facing their final demise. This is the destiny of the Mountains and Seas."
"The actions of the living beings within the Mountains and Seas, and even we Sages, may influence various possibilities within them. However..."
"It is difficult to alter the general trend of the Mountains and Seas!"
Sage Lian Shan gestured lightly, and an image of continuous mountains and seas appeared before them. Compared to the Mountains and Seas that the Sages currently perceived, this scene was more complete. From the distant beginning of the Mountains and Seas to their dim and lightless end, the continuity and vastness of the Mountains and Seas were thus materialized.
"It appears that after three reconnections, the Three Sages' strength has indeed advanced considerably."
"Sage Lian Shan's casual action already embodies some of the essence of the 'Outline of Mountain and Sea Transformations'."
Li Fan observed the scene, secretly astonished. He could see the entirety of the Mountains and Seas because of the Outline taught by Reflection, whereas the Three Sages had achieved this through their own enlightenment.
Ignoring the inner thoughts of the Sages in the hall, Sage Lian Shan continued his lecture: "The Mountains and Seas flow, their form unchanging. Even when severed by the Void, they still maintain their overall structure."
"Even with the Void's immense power, it remains so. How much more so for us?"
"The Mountains and Seas are difficult to change. It is precisely like this."
Sage Lian Shan paused here. Then, he abruptly changed his tone: "Although difficult to change, it is not impossible. We often say that certain events within the Mountains and Seas are irrelevant to the final outcome and do not need to be concerned about. This is not due to our negligence, but because even if their impact were maximized, it would hardly shake the overall trend of the Mountains and Seas. They are truly irrelevant to the final outcome."
"Even if an entire segment of the Mountains and Seas were to be destroyed, as long as the overall structure remains, there is a possibility of its revival."
"However, there exist entities that can truly alter the form of the Mountains and Seas. Throughout the long existence of the Mountains and Seas, there are only a few such critical junctures."
"What lies before us is one of them."
As Sage Lian Shan uttered these words, a grave expression fell upon all the Sages in the Vortex Ring. Elder Guardian recalled his past experiences but found no peculiar observations. The other Sages in the Vortex Ring felt the same.
Sage Lian Shan seemed to perceive their thoughts: "Humans possess an instinct to conceal themselves, and the Mountains and Seas are the same. These critical nodes are like vital acupoints of a human body; they are extremely important. The Mountains and Seas will actively conceal themselves."
"Even ordinary Sages, if they were within such a place, would find it difficult to detect."
"Only those who can observe the entire panorama of the Mountains and Seas, looking at the global picture, can vaguely discern its underlying patterns."
"This involves the lifeblood of the Mountains and Seas, and one cannot casually reveal it. However, the Mountains and Seas have already fallen into peril, so in this situation, it matters little."
Sage Lian Shan said this, and Sage Gui Hai then projected a segment of the Sages' panoramic view of the Mountains and Seas, instantly magnifying it.
"As the saying goes, 'a subtle sign, a thousand miles foreshadowed.' The actions and affairs of seemingly insignificant individuals can have unimaginable impacts on the overall trend of the Mountains and Seas. Initially, they are not apparent, only erupting after a long time."
The image continued to enlarge, focusing on a specific possibility and a certain cultivator. This cultivator was on the verge of transcendence. He could leave his current possibility at any time, but for some reason, he repeatedly looked up at the sky, sighed, and ultimately gave up. He had not truly transcended.
The realm of transcendence was insignificant in the eyes of the Sages. Seeing this scene, they were all puzzled.
Li Fan's heart stirred, "Elder Guardian, do you not find this cultivator somewhat familiar?"
"Although there is only a slight resemblance, I am confident he is related to that person."
"The Sage of the End of Mountains and Seas, Qiu Xin Hui?" Morality also noticed something.
The Three Sages did not prolong the suspense: "This cultivator is named Qiu Tian Hui. He hesitates before taking the step of transcendence, not due to lack of aptitude, but because..."
"Let us listen to his inner thoughts." Sage Tai Yi flicked his finger, and a point of light shot into the image of the Mountains and Seas, merging with Qiu Tian Hui's figure. His inner thoughts then echoed in the Vortex Ring, reaching the ears of all the Sages.
"Troublesome, vexing."
"To leap beyond possibility, yet still be trapped and severed within the Mountains and Seas. What kind of transcendence is this?"
"This step, it is better not to take it at all!"
"I wonder if there exists a more perfect method in this world."
...
Qiu Tian Hui's inner thoughts echoed, and all the Sages raised their eyebrows, finding it hard to believe.
"Without even taking the step of transcendence, he can see the truth of the Mountains and Seas? Observing the entire sky from within a well?"
"When I transcended, I was far from having such troubles. Is this true or false?"
The Sages were shaken, and the scene of Qiu Tian Hui continued to unfold. He was shown toiling for years, yet achieving nothing. Thus, he left his homeland and wandered. Of course, he did not truly leave that possibility, merely changing his surroundings within the starry sky. Time flowed, and countless years passed. Qiu Tian Hui became disheveled, appearing increasingly erratic.
One day, he suddenly sensed something, his expression shifting from foolish laughter back to normalcy. He phased to the side of an ordinary small pond.
"This place... seems peculiar?"
Within the Vortex Ring, some Sages recognized the pond's origin.
"The Fishery of Mountains and Seas?"
Initially, Qiu Tian Hui's expression was grave, but soon he rejoiced, clapping his hands and exclaiming, "The path to escape lies within!" With that, he leaped into the pond.
Li Fan knew the profound nature of the Fishery of Mountains and Seas, also known as the Fishing Pond. Only a true angler could perceive the myriad mysteries within the pond. Only by truly engaging in fishing could one capture various treasures from it. However, what Qiu Tian Hui did next greatly exceeded Li Fan's expectations.
Though he held no fishing rod, he used himself as bait. He lured the Angler of Mountains and Seas from the other side of the Fishery of Mountains and Seas!
"Could it be that he intends to escape his current realm with the help of the Angler of Mountains and Seas?"
"This is merely exchanging one cage for another. Or worse, falling into the angler's net, with no control over his fate and a more tragic ending."
"With his comprehension and wisdom, he should not engage in such an unwise act."
As the Sages discussed, Qiu Tian Hui was instantly pulled away by the Angler of Mountains and Seas. There was nothing surprising about this. The Angler of Mountains and Seas was a Sages-level existence. The gap between him and a cultivator not yet transcended was immeasurable. Qiu Tian Hui should have had no room for resistance. If he could grapple with the Angler of Mountains and Seas... that would be a great fortune, similar to Li Fan's possession of Reflection, but he did not.
The Vortex Ring fell silent as the Sages looked to the Three Sages for an answer. Sage Lian Shan merely gestured for them to continue watching.
As expected, after Qiu Tian Hui disappeared and the Fishing Pond had been silent for a while, a change occurred. The pond water churned, growing more intense. It was as if something was about to emerge from the water. Moments later, with a bang, the entire Fishing Pond exploded. This spot of the Fishery of Mountains and Seas vanished from that possibility, and a figure reappeared, returning to this location. It was Qiu Tian Hui!
Although it seemed as if he had only been gone for a short time, Qiu Tian Hui's attire, appearance, and even his mental state were vastly different from before. He respectfully bowed to the former location of the Fishing Pond as a junior. When Qiu Tian Hui looked up at the sky again, his confusion had vanished.
"As I suspected, although the Mountains and Seas are separated by Dao Erasure, since they still exist themselves, it means that the disconnected parts are subtly connected by underlying threads. Ordinary means cannot perceive this. Only through various special methods can one align with these threads."
"The Fishery of Mountains and Seas is one such method. However, it is already occupied by Senior Angler of Mountains and Seas, leaving no room for others. I had to find another way..."
Qiu Tian Hui waved his hand, restoring the destruction caused by the annihilation of the Fishing Pond, and returned home. Yes, Qiu Tian Hui had a Dao Companion. They had been inseparable since childhood, supporting each other on their cultivation journeys until today. Qiu Tian Hui's cultivation had reached the extreme of possibility, and his Dao Companion was only slightly inferior, having long ago attained the realm of a Nameless True Immortal, only half a step away from transcendence. Her name was Shao Zi Dai. Her Dao path was one of love!
Qiu Tian Hui had been missing for several years, with no news of his whereabouts. However, Shao Zi Dai never worried that he would leave her. She also firmly believed that no matter what happened, Qiu Tian Hui would return sooner or later. At this moment, Qiu Tian Hui reappeared, and their eyes met. Countless unspoken words were conveyed in their gentle embrace. Afterward, they engaged in a passionate union of spirit and flesh. In this practice, Shao Zi Dai learned of Qiu Tian Hui's experiences.
"In that case, Senior Angler of Mountains and Seas is truly a pure angler. His interest lies only in the act of fishing itself, not in the so-called captured prey. That you could escape is truly a stroke of luck..." Shao Zi Dai said with a light smile, nestled in Qiu Tian Hui's arms.
Qiu Tian Hui replied with a touch of self-satisfaction, "It is not luck. The moment I saw the Fishery of Mountains and Seas, I discerned the true temperament of the Angler of Mountains and Seas on the other side. That is why I dared to use myself as bait and venture into the unknown."
"Then has my husband thought of a foolproof plan?" Shao Zi Dai did not refute but asked again.
Qiu Tian Hui's expression suddenly became solemn: "I have a vague idea. It is..."
"The Mountains and Seas are One!"
"The Mountains and Seas are One? What does this phrase mean?" Not only Shao Zi Dai, but even the Sages in the Vortex Ring unconsciously pricked up their ears.
"The threads of the Mountains and Seas run through antiquity and into the distant, unseen future."
"Our transcendence, this step we take, is not to step inwards within the Mountains and Seas. Instead, we should walk along the direction of the Mountains and Seas' existence." Qiu Tian Hui said, pointing upwards with his eyes shining.
Elder Qiu Tianhui's finger, perhaps by chance, pointed directly at the various Sages observing the projected scene.
The Sages remained impassive, listening as Qiu Tianhui continued. "From time immemorial, the Mountains and Seas have stretched unendingly, like a surging river. To be caught within it naturally makes it difficult to alter one's form, and one can only drift with the current."
"Ordinary methods of transcendence seek a single leap out of the river, to stand above its surface. If one is strong enough, standing high enough, one can then survey the entirety of the Mountains and Seas!"
"However, we are in the latter stages of the life cycle of the Mountains and Seas, with many opportunities already depleted, and hidden powerful beings watching from afar. Even a prodigy would find it difficult to alter this situation."
Shao Zidai's gaze drifted towards the heavens, as if she could perceive the true state of the Mountains and Seas. She nodded slightly in agreement, "Then, what is this method of transcendence your husband speaks of?"
"To follow the form of the Mountains and Seas, and merge with their intent. To exist subtly, to grow and sustain oneself effortlessly. Then, one's fate will be intertwined with the Mountains and Seas, and one's spirit will coexist with them," Qiu Tianhui responded, his words filled with mystery.
Yet, Shao Zidai seemed to be on the same wavelength as him. With a graceful wave of her hand, a phantom image of a rushing river appeared before them. The scene focused underwater, where a new, nascent undercurrent grew steadily. Following the river's flow, it strove to extend and perpetuate itself.
"Your husband means that like this undercurrent, we should leverage the grand momentum of the Mountains and Seas to nurture our own lives."
Qiu Tianhui smiled faintly, "You understand me best, Zidai!"
His expression grew proud. "The lifeforms of the Mountains and Seas have limited lifespans. Even so-called transcended powerhouses cannot escape the decay of calamities. But this method borrows the grand momentum of the Mountains and Seas to extend one's own lifespan. For as long as the Mountains and Seas endure, so will one's life, and the worries of ordinary mortal lifespans will vanish!"
"And as one's lifespan grows, so too does one's dominion over the Mountains and Seas. Until…"
Qiu Tianhui pointed at the projected image Shao Zidai had conjured. Initially, the undercurrent was no thicker than a thumb. But as it surged forward, absorbing more and more surrounding moisture, its form gradually thickened. By the end of the river, it had come to occupy half of the underwater landscape. It was almost on par with the entirety of the Mountains and Seas!
"This is what is called 'Coexisting with the Mountains and Seas'!"
Shao Zidai, witnessing the scenario Qiu Tianhui had manifested for her, was lost in thought.
"It sounds plausible, but is it truly feasible?" After a long silence, she still expressed some doubt.
"I've heard that the Mountains and Seas are separated by Dao Erasure. Are we not merely fish trapped in a pond? How can we endure and persist like the Mountains and Seas themselves?"
"Ordinary methods of transcendence are already fraught with difficulties. Let alone this unorthodox method of transcendence. It is almost like stealing the spirit of the Mountains and Seas and altering its form. Without great fortune, great perseverance, and great destiny, it cannot be achieved."
"Given our origins as beings of the Mountains and Seas, attempting such a rebellious feat is like an egg striking a rock. However…"
"My dear, don't forget that the Mountains and Seas are not everlasting. From the current scene of widespread Dao Erasure, it seems they are gradually losing ground in this battle. The Mountains and Seas are weakening, too preoccupied to attend to themselves. This presents our opportunity!"
Shao Zidai began to grasp Qiu Tianhui's intentions. But then she frowned, "To coexist with the Mountains and Seas, yet the Mountains and Seas ultimately decline. This method…"
Qiu Tianhui chuckled. "Where in the world is there a perfect method? My dear, do not be too greedy. Given our origins, if we are fortunate enough to cultivate to the stage of 'Mountain and Sea Compatibility,' that would be more than enough. Besides…"
"Let's take it one step at a time. Once we reach that level, perhaps new solutions will arise. A living person will not be stifled indefinitely."
Shao Zidai also chuckled, no longer dwelling on the matter.
The two then spent hundreds of years in intimate discussion, exploring this so-called method of "Coexisting with the Mountains and Seas," never once stepping out of their grotto-heaven.
Then, the image abruptly cut off.
Within the Vortex Ring, the assembled Sages looked at the Three Sages of Lian Shan with astonishment, puzzled by the preceding events.
"This method of 'Coexisting with the Mountains and Seas,' while seemingly reasonable, is incredibly difficult to truly cultivate successfully… Even with our talents, it would be a struggle," Sage Qie Ji said with a furrowed brow, shaking his head after careful consideration.
"But since the Three Sages said it is one of the vital脈络 and important nodes of the Mountains and Seas… could he have actually succeeded?" Sage Bai Xiao muttered with a hint of disbelief.
"If he truly succeeded, why haven't we seen these two individuals in the later eras of the Mountains and Seas?" Sage Ye Pan looked out beyond the Vortex Ring, scanning the current state of the Mountains and Seas. Indeed, there was no trace of Qiu Tianhui or Shao Zidai.
"Are they truly nonexistent?"
"Although Qiu Tianhui is not present, there is Li Tianhui and Zhang Tianhui. Although Shao Zidai is absent, there is Xia Zidai and Bai Zidai."
As Sage Lian Shan spoke, numerous points of light seemed to appear within the projection of the Mountains and Seas. Following his gaze, everyone saw countless beings scattered throughout the Mountains and Seas, representing different possibilities and circumstances. Their births, experiences, realms, and strengths were all varied. If not for Sage Lian Shan's collective marking, even the discerning eyes of the Sages present would have struggled to discern their common thread.
"Could it be that these individuals are somehow impersonations of Qiu Tianhui and Shao Zidai? Impossible," the Sages mused, confident in their own perception. After further scrutiny, they collectively shook their heads in doubt.
At this moment, Sage Shou Qiu spoke, "They are not Qiu Tianhui and Shao Zidai themselves, but their descendants. A truly remarkable technique!"
"Descendants?" The Sages were taken aback, and looked again. They became even more perplexed.
"Elder Shou Qiu, what do you mean? If there were a bloodline connection, we would not fail to discern it."
Sage Shou Qiu explained, "I do not mean descendants in the ordinary sense of blood ties. Rather…"
"It means that if Qiu Tianhui and Shao Zidai had not existed, these beings would not have appeared in the Mountains and Seas. They used the power of the Mountains and Seas to give birth to these beings. Thus, they can also be called their parents."
"Precisely," Sage Gui Hai chimed in at this moment, confirming the explanation.
"Giving birth to beings by borrowing the power of the Mountains and Seas?" The Sages savored these words, slowly beginning to understand what Qiu and Shao had been doing in their grotto-heaven for hundreds of years. They were not merely indulging in carnal pleasures but were genuinely cultivating and comprehending the Dao!
"The evolution of lifeforms in the Mountains and Seas is one of the fundamental Great Daos of the Mountains and Seas themselves. Qiu Tianhui and his wife actually managed to meddle with it?" The Sages were all astonished, looking towards Sage Gui Hai.
Sage Gui Hai replied emotionlessly, "It’s not quite 'meddling.' As Qiu Tianhui said earlier, they were merely borrowing the momentum of the Mountains and Seas. As long as the Mountains and Seas exist, they will continue to evolve lifeforms. This is one of the hidden, crucial脈络 of the Mountains and Seas."
"This couple is indeed extraordinarily gifted to have glimpsed its profound mystery and intertwined their power within it."
Sage Lian Shan gestured again, and within the grand panorama of the Mountains and Seas they had been observing, like stars rising, countless points of light began to illuminate. They were dense, covering the entirety of the Mountains and Seas! From the era in which Qiu Tianhui and his wife originated to the very end of time. Although the Mountains and Seas gradually weakened, their starlight never extinguished!
"As expected!" Li Fan narrowed his eyes, gazing at the end of the projection of the Mountains and Seas, recalling the Sage of the End, Qiu Xin Hui.
"At the end of time, when the Great Dao of the Mountains and Seas had withered, such a peerlessly gifted individual as the Sage of the End, Qiu Xin Hui, was born, as if he alone occupied most of the Spirit Qi of the final era. Yet, his origins were ordinary, with no renowned family lineage. If Qiu Tianhui's 'Coexisting with the Mountains and Seas' method was the crystallization of a lifetime lived by extending the Mountains and Seas, then it makes perfect sense."
Li Fan, Shou Qiu, and Sage Dao all shared a synchronicity of thought. In a flash, Li Fan’s reasoning was met with affirmation from the other two.
"Qiu Tianhui's method leverages the overall momentum of the Mountains and Seas to strengthen oneself. The weaker the Mountains and Seas become, the stronger one becomes. Only at the end of time, when the Mountains and Seas are at their weakest, can its effects be fully realized. The Sage of the End, Qiu Xin Hui, was indeed as Qiu Tianhui demonstrated countless years prior, standing in opposition to the Mountains and Seas themselves. He could even accomplish what the Mountains and Seas could not, single-handedly saving the Mountains and Seas from Dao Erasure." Sage Shou Qiu commented.
"However, Qiu Tianhui and Qiu Xin Hui do not seem to be the same person. This so-called method of transcendence…"
"It's truly difficult to say," Sage Dao mused.
Inside the Vortex Ring, Sage Lian Shan continued, "Although Qiu Tianhui and his wife hid themselves in the earlier eras of the Mountains and Seas, by interfering with the crucial脉络 of lifeform evolution in the Mountains and Seas, they have impacted countless epochs."
"The Mountains and Seas are constantly changing. The birth and evolution of lifeforms are ceaseless. Billions of lifeforms are like ants compared to the Mountains and Seas, yet they are born from and live within them. If such a vast number of lifeforms were to instantly disappear on a cosmic scale…"
"It would be enough to inflict severe damage upon the Mountains and Seas. More critically…" Sage Lian Shan's expression turned solemn, "The method by which Qiu Tianhui and his wife intervened in the evolution of lifeforms within the Mountains and Seas is still unknown. If this method were to be controlled by the Void Realm…"
"Then the Void Realm could, just as Qiu Tianhui did, instantly deploy countless avatars of Dao Erasure throughout the internal regions of the Mountains and Seas. The defenses of the Mountains and Seas would likely become riddled with holes in an instant."
"This is why the earlier stages of the Mountains and Seas are such crucial nodes."
With the Three Sages' explanation, the others finally understood.
"May I ask Sage Lian Shan, what was Qiu Tianhui's actual strength? Logically, to be able to interfere with the Great Dao of lifeform evolution in the Mountains and Seas, he must have at least the cultivation of a Sage. Yet, his method of transcendence seems unable to directly benefit himself…" Sage Qie Ji asked with uncertainty.
Sage Gui Hai answered instead. He gestured towards the countless lifeforms appearing like stars in the panoramic view of the Mountains and Seas. "The crystallization of this couple's Dao lies in their birth of these spiritual beings. The more lifeforms there are, the stronger they become. They do not require conventional methods of self-enhancement, as they borrow the grand momentum of the Mountains and Seas. Thus, with each birth of a lifeform, their cultivation advances."
"This is why we could only observe so much in the earlier projection. At a certain moment, they suddenly vanished from our sight. It was the accumulation over time, reaching a level beyond our comprehension."
The assembled Sages fell into silence. With their vast experience, they found it difficult to even imagine such an unorthodox cultivation method existing within the Mountains and Seas. To directly ascend from the realm of Nameless True Immortal to that of a Sage of the Mountains and Seas, and moreover, to be among the top-tier Sages.
"A fine tactic of 'borrowing the momentum of the Mountains and Seas.' I suspect these two are partly responsible for the gradual decline of the Mountains and Seas," Sage Xuan Pin said with a cold snort, her expression filled with indignation.
Sage Tai Yi smiled. "The demise of the Mountains and Seas began with the story of 'Devouring the Gods' in the past. It was due to the act of fragmenting their divine will that the Void Realm and Dao Erasure emerged. The merging, integration, and eventual dissipation of the Mountains and Seas were their fated destiny. It has nothing to do with Qiu Tianhui and his wife."
"Even without Qiu Tianhui, the fate of the Mountains and Seas at the end of time would not have been much better."
"Strictly speaking, this couple, with their mortal bodies, managed to differentiate, steal, and seize a portion of the Great Dao of lifeforms within the Mountains and Seas. Their Dao being established, they can be considered a part of the Mountains and Seas."
Sage Xuan Pin's indignant expression vanished instantly. Sage Tai Yi's words had made it abundantly clear. In a sense, Qiu Tianhui and his wife were similar in nature to Lian Shan, Gui Hai, and Tai Yi. The only difference was that one was a manifestation of the Great Dao of the Mountains and Seas, while the other had stolen and seized a portion of the Great Dao's authority from the lifeforms.
"If they are a part of the Mountains and Seas, they should be able to jointly resist the Void Realm."
"However, reality suggests otherwise."
"Do you all recall Qiu Tianhui's words earlier: 'Let's take it one step at a time'?"
"We don't know what he foresaw, but when faced with the conflict between the Mountains and Seas and the Void Realm, he chose to hide away," Sage Lian Shan said with a smile.
"We can only be certain that the couple is still within the earlier eras of the Mountains and Seas, but their hiding place is unknown." The Sages all frowned. With a comprehension comparable to that of the Three Sages, if they truly decided to conceal themselves, finding them would be incredibly difficult.
"Could it be that even after the Mountains and Seas fall, they can continue to hide?" Li Fan suddenly blurted out.
"Fellow Daoist Zhou Hui, don't speak in frustration. Although finding them is challenging, there are still traces. If it truly comes to the point where the Mountains and Seas are devoured by Dao Erasure, the Void Realm will undoubtedly deploy numerous forces to seize the secrets of the Mountains and Seas' lifeforms. The situation will become even more difficult to handle," Sage Bai Xiao said with a wry smile.
The Sages pondered for a moment, their gazes once again converging on the Three Sages.
"What is our plan now?"
"Not long ago, the Void Realm attempted to eradicate us and failed. However, their siege on the earlier eras of the Mountains and Seas has intensified, not diminished. Although we have the enhancement of Zhou Hui's True Spirit Infusion, reconnecting the Mountains and Seas will not be as easy as before."
"In addition to the invasion of Dao Erasure, avatars from the Void Realm could appear at any moment to attack."
The words caused the Sages present, with the exception of Li Fan and the other two, to subtly change their expressions.
Sage Lian Shan continued, "A forceful reconnection of the Mountains and Seas might trigger an extreme reaction from the Void Realm. We must proceed slowly."
"On one hand, we must ensure the safety of the earlier eras of the Mountains and Seas."
"On the other hand…"
"We must find Qiu Tianhui and his wife."
"They are the greatest variable in this battle. If they are not under our control…" Sage Lian Shan's voice became somber.
"Although they are in hiding, their act of leveraging the momentum of lifeforms continues unabated. We can start from here to track their whereabouts," Sage Gui Hai added.
"Ordinary methods will not suffice to track the lifeforms of the Mountains and Seas. Only through constant reincarnation within the Mountains and Seas, encountering Qiu Tianhui and his wife during the 'birth' of lifeforms, can we…"
"There will be a subtle connection, allowing us to trace their path upstream and find their location."
The Sage of Lian Shan spoke, and an odd expression flickered across the faces of the Sages.
Although it was a tracking method akin to fishing, it inherently involved the process of creatures being born within the Mountains and Seas.
In a sense, those who were born this way could be considered descendants of Qiu Tian Hui and his wife.
"Then it depends on who has such luck," Sage Gui Hai chuckled. With a flick of his finger, myriad jade lights scattered, disappearing into the Mountains and Seas.
This served as an example, his own power dividing and embedding itself within the world. Whenever a creature was about to be born, he would attach himself to it.
The Three Sages were unconcerned, and the remaining Sages could only follow suit.
In an instant, the Sages of the Other Shore unleashed their methods, each infusing an immeasurable amount of power into their respective Mountains and Seas.
It was estimated that about one-tenth of the newly born creatures in the Mountains and Seas would be manifestations of the Sages' power, lying in wait.
It was as if a formidable net was slowly being woven across the Mountains and Seas.
Time flowed on, indistinguishable.
After an unknown period, a fish finally took the bait.
"Hmm?!" The lucky one, however, was Stealth.
His expression was far from pleased, and he let out a cold snort, displaying a scene.
In the mortal world, an ordinary infant was born.
It seemed no different from any other newborn creature. However, this newborn, possessing a trace of Stealth's consciousness, vibrantly perceived its own anomaly.
"The amount of True Spirit a person possesses is almost predetermined at birth, closely tied to their innate talent and aptitude. To increase it later in life, there are only a few special methods. One is to absorb oneself from other possibilities, another is a flash of insight when breaking through via Dao comprehension, or perhaps, receiving an external infusion of energy from the Void of Dao Erasure."
"In short, the amount of True Spirit in the lives of the Mountains and Seas is entirely allocated by the Mountains and Seas themselves. This is what is called the 'will of heaven,' the destiny of each individual. However..."
"Apart from the portion naturally allocated by the Mountains and Seas, this fortunate body I inhabit has received another portion!"
The infant, still within the womb, had yet to fully form its features.
Yet, curled up as it was, it suddenly opened its eyes, clearly perceiving itself.
Sage Gui Hai nodded slightly, "This is Qiu Tian Hui, manifesting his Dao Fruit by borrowing the power of the creatures of the Mountains and Seas. Qiu Tian Hui's offspring are fewer than one in ten million of the total population of the Mountains and Seas, yet by borrowing the Great Dao of sentient beings, they can occupy more True Spirits."
"As the proportion of their offspring continues to increase, Qiu Tian Hui and his wife's ability to interfere with sentient beings will grow stronger..."
"I fear these creatures will indeed come to dominate half of the True Spirits of the Mountains and Seas."
A silence fell upon the Sages.
Then, Li Fan chuckled, "In that case, it's fortunate that the Mountains and Seas ultimately returned to the Void. Otherwise, wouldn't this region of Mountains and Seas eventually be renamed Qiu?"
Though spoken in jest, the Sages clearly harbored reservations about Qiu Tian Hui and his wife's method of cultivating by borrowing the power of sentient beings.
"Strictly speaking, it is only when the Mountains and Seas are being devoured by Dao Erasure and are in decline that their Great Dao of sentience can be cultivated so smoothly. Otherwise, they would inevitably be repulsed by the Mountains and Seas. Initially, the Mountains and Seas might not have noticed this borrowing of power, but as it grew stronger, how could the Mountains and Seas remain ignorant?"
"However, being embroiled in the conflict with the Void, they were unable to divert their attention to deal with it," Sage Tai Yi stated calmly.
"Since the Mountains and Seas cannot attend to themselves, let us do it for them."
Stealth's eyes narrowed. He followed a subtle, ethereal sensation, gazing into the distance.
Ordinary offspring of Qiu Tian Hui would naturally be unable to perceive this connection to their "ancestral parents."
This was because the connection was most apparent during infancy, a state of unawareness. By the time they grew older, this connection would become so faint that it would be difficult to discern.
But this body that Stealth had now found was in its earliest stages of gestation, a moment when the connection was strongest.
Furthermore, the Sages of the Other Shore, the most powerful cultivators in the Mountains and Seas, were the ones initiating this pursuit.
With deliberate planning against unprepared targets, no matter how hidden Qiu Tian Hui and his wife's actions were, they could not escape this tracking.
Stealth's gaze was intense. Through his eyes, the Sages saw a thread piercing through the Dao Erasure and crossing into the Void ahead.
Normally, crossing the Void would sever all information.
But this thread was hidden beneath the Void, concealed within the vanished Mountains and Seas that had already been swallowed by Dao Erasure.
Leveraging this, the Sages' vision transcended layers of Void, looking towards the Mountains and Seas ahead.
Though not as clear as looking at something at hand, as if viewed through a misty veil, it was sufficient for the Sages to trace the clues.
"Is this what is called the 'veins' of the Mountains and Seas?"
"I wonder how Qiu Tian Hui managed to detect and utilize it."
The Sages of the Other Shore wished to follow the thread, but after examining all the related beings in the Mountains and Seas ahead, they were astounded to find no trace of Qiu Tian Hui and his wife!
"This..."
The Sages concentrated, searching carefully once more.
The result was still the same.
"Since they dared to brazenly borrow power, they must have made preparations beforehand, unafraid of being traced. Interesting," Sage Gui Hai praised lightly.
"However, they may have underestimated the heroes of this world."
In an instant, countless illusory figures flashed before Gui Hai's eyes.
Among the clues observed by all the Sages, most were arranged in dense patterns and rapidly shifting, with the vast majority dimming and disappearing.
The remaining lines grew fewer and fewer, yet brighter and brighter.
Finally, only three remained, exposed before the Sages.
One was rooted in the Mountains and Seas ahead, pointing to an ordinary pair of cultivator companions. Their appearances bore no resemblance to Qiu Tian Hui and his wife. Their cultivation was only at the Nameless realm, not having transcended or broken free from a single possibility.
As for the other two threads...
One pointed to the very beginning of the Mountains and Seas, impossibly distant.
One pointed to the very end of the Mountains and Seas, stretching across eternity.
This strange phenomenon caused Sage Gui Hai's deductive gaze to falter.
As his heart trembled, the three fine threads in his vision abruptly snapped and vanished without a trace!
After a moment of silence, Bai Xiao inquired, "May I ask Sage Gui Hai, what was the meaning of that anomaly just now?"
"They, the couple, no longer exist in the Mountains and Seas ahead," Sage Gui Hai stated with a grave tone.
"However, our initial judgment was not wrong. A portion of them indeed still remains in the Mountains and Seas ahead," Sage Tai Yi added.
The Sages, recalling the three different threads they had just seen, vaguely understood.
"They are doing this..."
"By borrowing the power of sentient beings, they are scattering their own existence among their descendants?"
Bai Xiao exclaimed in astonishment.
"If confined to one place, their trail would be traceable. If scattered throughout the Mountains and Seas, it would be incredibly difficult to track them. Especially against the backdrop of Dao Erasure separating everything. While we can trace back through the previous segments of the Mountains and Seas, this vast expanse makes it truly insurmountable," Sage Tai Yi admitted involuntarily.
"By transforming their own bloodline, they achieve more thorough concealment while also enjoying the benefits of borrowing the power of sentient beings."
"It is almost predictable that even without intentional manipulation, as long as they arrange for their descendants to be born at the end of the Mountains and Seas, they would uniquely possess half of the True Spirits of the Mountains and Seas..." The more the Sages thought about it, the more extraordinary they found this couple's methods.
Among the Sages present, only Li Fan had truly been to the end of the Mountains and Seas.
The Sage of the End, Qiu Xin Hui, indeed bore a striking resemblance to Qiu Tian Hui, as if she were his reincarnation.
"However, what about the threads pointing to the beginning of the Mountains and Seas and the one in the Mountains and Seas ahead?" Li Fan asked.
"The pair in the Mountains and Seas ahead are both Qiu Xin Hui and his wife, and yet they are not. A portion of them, after borrowing the power of sentient beings, has already departed. They merely left behind their past selves... This action, besides retaining a thought, might also be related to the other two threads, one from the beginning and one from the end." Sage Lian Shan finally spoke after observing for a long time.
"Originally, I thought that the couple, even if reincarnated, would remain together. But now it seems..."
Infinite deductive light flickered before Sage Lian Shan's eyes, more concrete and complex than Gui Hai's deductions.
"They have separated their paths. One headed towards the beginning of the Mountains and Seas, and the other went to the end. The span of time from the beginning to the end of the Mountains and Seas is too vast. Fearing mutual severance, they chose to leave a trace of themselves in their original location within the Mountains and Seas as a relay point. This is how they managed to maintain these three threads, spanning the entirety of the Mountains and Seas."
Lian Shan's deduction was like a ray of light dispelling clouds, yet it brought more confusion.
"What is it that this couple seeks?"
"Could it be that they have truly seen more?"
The Sages, watching the three threads gradually fade, all fell into deep contemplation.
"Those who headed to the beginning of the Mountains and Seas are bound to be related to the fragmentation of the Mountains and Seas' spirits in the past."
"And perhaps only at the end of the Mountains and Seas, with the support of half of the Mountains and Seas' True Spirits, can the other individual's actions at the beginning of the Mountains and Seas be sustained. The fragmentation of the Mountains and Seas' spirits in the past was fraught with peril. Even if this couple was already incredibly monstrous, trying to interfere would result in instant annihilation."
"But now..."
"They indeed have the qualifications to participate." Sage Lian Shan nodded.
Coming from Sage Lian Shan, this was an exceptionally high compliment.
While the other Sages did not know the specific meaning behind Lian Shan's words, Li Fan understood them clearly.
At the beginning of the fragmentation of the Mountains and Seas' spirits, many Sages who foresaw the future tribulations of the Mountains and Seas chose to "sever their future" and remain perpetually in the past.
This was to preserve their strength as much as possible.
The reunion of the three segments of the Mountains and Seas by the Lian Shan trio had nearly doubled their strength.
It was truly unimaginable what power the Three Sages possessed in their prime.
And the Sages who could discuss the Dao with them at the beginning of the Mountains and Seas...
Would certainly not be much weaker than them.
"It is indeed exceptionally dangerous."
"However, this makes the Qiu Tian Hui couple even more remarkable."
"To be born in the mid to late stages of the Mountains and Seas, having lost all advantages of time and place, yet through their unique 'borrowing the power of sentient beings' method, they have managed to stand on par with the Primordial Sages..."
"Impressive," Li Fan marveled inwardly.
"From the fragments of the true Longevity Lord, I can sense the extraordinary power of these Sages who 'severed their future.' Qiu Tian Hui, born in our era, managed to cultivate to such a realm. It is truly astonishing," Sage Keeper of the Mound also exclaimed with admiration.
Li Fan suddenly asked, "Sage Keeper of the Mound, what do you believe is the relationship between Qiu Xin Hui and Qiu Tian Hui?"
"The Sage of the End of the Mountains and Seas is upright and forthright. Her heart is just and she does not seem to be falsely portrayed. She is likely not Qiu Tian Hui himself, but a sagely genius naturally born after the Great Dao of borrowing the power of sentient beings reached its extreme. It is not surprising that she possesses such capabilities, having occupied half of the Mountains and Seas' True Spirits," Sage Keeper of the Mound replied after some thought.
"It's as I thought. I just can't quite understand where Qiu Tian Hui and his wife went. Did all their hard work end up benefiting others?" asked Morality with some doubt.
"Walkers of the Mountains and Seas..." The three of them simultaneously thought of something.
"To travel upstream against the flow of time from the end of time itself is truly a romantic endeavor. However, upon closer consideration, it is indeed somewhat inconceivable. We have experienced several reunions, and we know how perilous it is to traverse and traverse the Void. Yet, she who was born at the end of the Mountains and Seas truly managed to travel all the way to the beginning. And this was even with Qiu Xin Hui occupying half of the Mountains and Seas' True Spirits..."
"Only someone with great perseverance and great wisdom could accomplish this," Sage Keeper of the Mound mused.
"I do have a guess," Li Fan's heart stirred.
Then, he slowly expounded his inner thoughts, "Through the method of borrowing the power of sentient beings, Qiu Tian Hui and his wife's perspective and lifespans have successfully extended to a realm unattainable by ordinary Sages. However, as they observed more, they ultimately reached a bottleneck limited by their own capabilities."
"After all, they were merely beings born in the mid to late stages of the Mountains and Seas. No matter how talented they were, their limits were still there, ultimately unable to be broken."
"And then they encountered a problem that they could not solve, no matter how hard they tried..."
"Qiu Tian Hui, after much thought, finally conceived of the only method to break through."
Within Li Fan's eyes, like those of the Three Sages, countless illusory figures flickered as he deduced.
However, the images shifted not with great speed, but in a very peculiar, jerky, sequential flashing manner.
This was not pure deduction, but Li Fan, based on the information he currently possessed and using the Great Dao of True and False as a foundation, was simulating a virtual world within his mind.
He was performing what could be called "simulation."
With Li Fan's current strength, he was capable of supporting such an undertaking.
Naturally, it could not compare to Return to Truth, which could almost substitute falsehood for truth in simulations. However, it was undoubtedly far superior to ordinary deductive methods.
The simulation consumed a tremendous amount of mental energy, and Li Fan gradually began to falter.
He had to borrow mental strength from Keeper of the Mound and Morality.
Observing the virtual world within his mind, he continued, "As the creator of this method of borrowing the power of sentient beings, Qiu Tian Hui naturally knew how terrifying the True Spirits of the Mountains and Seas would be when evoked at the end of the Mountains and Seas.
"The beings born at that time, their talents, their ambitions, their emotions, would surely surpass ours. What we struggle to solve even after much thought, perhaps he would have a solution?" In the simulation, Qiu Tian Hui excitedly said to Shao Zi Dai.
Shao Zi Dai naturally agreed.
Thus, Qiu Tian Hui generated his own descendants, and through the veins of sentient beings in the Mountains and Seas, headed towards the end of time.
He managed to witness the birth of Qiu Xin Hui, who was born with half of the Mountains and Seas' True Spirits.
And, indeed, he found the answer he sought from her.
Then, step by step, he proceeded towards his original goal.
The beginning of the Mountains and Seas.
There, his Dao companion, Shao Zi Dai, was also waiting for him.
"...How was my deduction?" Li Fan asked, a hint of pride in his voice, as the deduction consumed immense effort and the images abruptly ceased.
“What is false is true, who can distinguish it, who can know it?”
“Fellow Daoist, the world you just derived is already in a state of utmost illusion, surpassing the ordinary meaning of [derivation].” Elder Qiu Tian Hui seemed to still be immersed in the simulated image, sighing with emotion.
Morality also exclaimed: “The Great Dao of Truth and Falsehood, how profound it is. Rather than calling it derivation, it is a real world. It exists only in Fellow Daoist Fan’s mind, arising and disappearing with thought.”
“From the information currently available, it is indeed possible that the mysterious walker of mountains and seas is Qiu Tian Hui. He wanders through mountains and seas, observing the overall situation. What he is planning is no small matter.”
Li Fan smiled: “Let them fight! With the Transformation of Truth and Falsehood in our hands, we are almost invincible. We only need to proceed step by step to smoothly reach the beginning of mountains and seas. Even the matter of splitting the spirit, it may not be impossible to investigate!”
…
As Li Fan's trio secretly communicated, within the Other Shore Vortex Ring, the Sages were also discussing.
They had intended to follow the vine to find the true whereabouts of Qiu Tian Hui and his wife. They did not expect that they had already escaped by transforming.
Yet, they had left behind two thoughts, two anchors.
Although not their true bodies, they still involved the secrets of the sentient beings of mountains and seas.
If they fell into the hands of the Void Realm, mountains and seas might be in danger in an instant.
Finally, the Three Sages of Lian Shan made up their minds.
“No matter what, the importance of the mountains and seas ahead is undeniable. With the Void Realm’s heavy encirclement, our open and aboveboard reconnection might provoke fierce resistance. Since we have discovered the spiritual脉 they left behind, we can use it to infiltrate.”
“Suppress and protect these two. After ensuring their safety, we will launch the reconnection from the downstream mountains and seas. Cooperating from within and without, we will break the Void Realm’s encirclement!”
As the Three Sages of Lian Shan spoke, their gazes fell upon Qie Ji.
“Lucky creature of sentient beings, you are the only one present…”
Qie Ji showed no unusual expression and nodded in response: “I was just thinking of meeting them.”
“After you go, you must maintain your original intention and prioritize the overall situation of mountains and seas,” Sage Lian Shan instructed meaningfully.
Then, under the gaze of all the Sages, Qie Ji instantly closed his eyes.
The infant he had possessed dissipated like a speck of light.
Floating in the void, it struggled upstream along the invisible spiritual脉 of mountains and seas, moving against the current towards the upstream mountains and seas.
Trembling, it swam with great difficulty.
With every distance it traveled, the condensed light spot would dissipate a little more.
When it finally succeeded in infiltrating the mountains and seas ahead, it had become extremely dim, almost indistinguishable from an ordinary mortal.
“It seems that the sentient beings of mountains and seas have an instinctive rejection of external objects, which is indeed extraordinary. The power attached by Fellow Daoist Qie Ji has been mostly worn away. After being born into the mountains and seas ahead, I fear he will no longer possess his Sage strength and will be like an ordinary mortal.” The Sages all shook their heads slightly upon seeing this.
“The most important thing is whether Fellow Daoist Qie Ji can retain his memory. If so, with his ability, even if he starts again from the realm of mortals, it will be a matter of time.” Gui Ming had great confidence in Sage Qie Ji.
“Let’s wait and see.”
Qie Ji's true body remained motionless like a statue, while the other Sages patiently awaited changes.
After an unknown period of time, as if seeing something, Sage Lian Shan suddenly said again: “There is no need to wait idly. Let’s proceed with the bait. If Qie Ji fails, there will still be room for retreat.”
The Sages’ hearts suddenly chilled upon hearing this.
Although not explicitly stated, the meaning in his words was obvious. Qie Ji's action this time was very likely to fail. They needed to make other plans.
“I wonder what Lian Shan saw?”
Li Fan was also somewhat puzzled.
He had exchanged blows with Sage Qie Ji and knew his character and perseverance were among the best of the sentient beings of mountains and seas.
He should not have failed.
Although doubts arose, it did not hinder the Sages from scattering more sentient being baits.
In an instant, starlight speckled, and countless new sentient beings began to be nurtured.
This time, the lucky one who was chosen was Sage Bai Xiao.
He muttered to himself with a crestfallen expression.
Just then, Sage Qie Ji suddenly opened his eyes.
He did not know what calamity he had suffered, but his true essence was unstable, and he spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, his complexion instantly paling. Under the gaze of all the Sages, it was as if his control over the Great Dao of [Stealing Opportunity] had been severed, losing some of its power!
This sudden change immediately startled all the Sages in the Vortex Ring.
Li Fan narrowed his eyes, thoughtfully infused him with true essence, and at the same time, used the opportunity to observe at close range whether Qie Ji was faking it.
He discovered that Qie Ji’s injuries were indeed severe, not like a pretense.
He was even more astonished.
The Sages did not urge him, but after Qie Ji recovered slightly, they inquired about what had happened ahead.
“Strange! I clearly flowed upstream into the mountains and seas ahead. Even with the Dao Erasure across the way, the difference would be at most a hundred thousand years. But…”
“What I saw was a desolate scene! Mountains and seas were not visible, the Great Dao was chaotic… fierce people emerged one after another. It was like the Primordial Immortal Realm of legends!” Qie Ji took a deep breath, his expression solemn.
“The Primordial Immortal Realm?” The Sages were stunned and looked up again to confirm Qie Ji's previous destination.
Although the mountains and seas ahead were heavily surrounded by the Void Realm, the general situation was not significantly different from the current mountains and seas.
“It seems my observation was correct,” Sage Lian Shan said at this moment.
“May I ask Sage Lian Shan what exactly you saw?” the Sages quickly asked.
“I did not see anything. It’s just that the moment Fellow Daoist Qie Ji entered the mountains and seas ahead, he disappeared from my sight,” Lian Shan replied truthfully.
Sage Gui Hai’s expression gradually became serious: “Vast and boundless, obscuring the heavens and the sun. Spanning through ancient and modern times, connecting mountains and seas. Has one of our old friends appeared? He’s not…”
“How could he appear here?”
“The Great Dao of sentient beings in mountains and seas pertains to the origin of mountains and seas. Even we must treat it with caution. If those guys at the beginning of mountains and seas detect us, it would be within expectation for us to follow the vine to find their origin and then attempt to devour them, just like they would,” Grand Master Tai Yi’s eyes flashed with killing intent.
Before him, the Myriad Beings Cudgel seemed to sense something and appeared inexplicably, looking eager to fight.
Qie Ji finally couldn't help but ask: “May I ask the Three Sages, who is this divine being who laid out the plan ahead? The Primordial Immortal Realm I experienced…”
“His name is [Suo]. He likes to use the power of latitude and longitude to devour mountains and seas. The scene you experienced earlier should be the appearance of the mountains and seas that were devoured by him at that time. Now he has released them to cover the current mountains and seas,” Sage Lian Shan explained to everyone.
The Sages of the Other Shore could not hide their shock.
None of them had expected that under the gaze of all the Sages, an invisible net had already enveloped the mountains and seas ahead.
The current situation was that [Suo] had already regarded it as his own possession!
“Suo has always been timid and cautious, always hiding in the beginning of mountains and seas, never leaving any trace in later generations. For him to appear now…”
“It seems that there are great variable changes at the beginning of mountains and seas. He can finally not hold back anymore,” Sage Gui Hai’s Gui Hai Spade also appeared silently before him, following his words.
Obviously, like Grand Master Tai Yi, he was truly filled with killing intent.
“Don't panic,” Lian Shan interrupted him.
Sage Lian Shan’s expression remained as calm as ever.
“We are not at our full strength, but [Suo]…”
“is extremely rare, having descended in his true form. If we were to confront him directly, I fear we would not fare well. We still need to plan carefully.”
As Sage Lian Shan said this, the Vortex Ring fell into a dead silence.
Sage of the Primordial Beginning, descending in his true form.
His strength, capable of competing with the Three Sages at their full strength, was naturally imaginable.
Although they were all at the Sage realm, their combat power was worlds apart.
Now, after several reconnections, even the Three Sages said they would not fare well, so they would likely be even less of a match for him.
“To encounter such a fierce person, no wonder Qie Ji suffered such a miserable defeat,” Li Fan suddenly realized.
With unexpected changes obstructing their path, the Three Sages did not rush.
Instead, they inquired further about Qie Ji’s encounter.
“After that spiritual manifestation of mine was devoured, I did not fully inherit the memories. I only vaguely remember that after falling into the Primordial Immortal Realm, I felt hostility from the entire world. All sentient beings around me attacked me for no reason, to the death!”
“I fought and fled, exhausting my strength, but ultimately could not escape such a deadly tribulation!” Qie Ji seemed unwilling to give up.
“Moreover, the sentient beings who chased me initially were not much stronger than when I first descended. But as my strength gradually recovered and increased, the strength and number of the pursuing enemies also increased exponentially. It was as if…”
“It was as if the opponent was deliberately toying with me, making me think I had hope of survival, and then slowly tormenting me to death step by step!” Qie Ji's face became increasingly grim as he recalled.
Tai Yi nodded: “Indeed, these are [Suo]'s methods.”
“Being not yet born, and not yet dead. Only in such a situation can the full potential of sentient beings be stimulated, allowing Suo to complete this complete meal.”
“I suppose you were forced to use the means of [Stealing Opportunity] to deal with the crisis. By chance, you were exploited by him in this way…”
Only now did Qie Ji understand the reason for the damage to his Great Dao.
He was both shocked and angry, and also somewhat incomprehensible: “With my profound control over the Dao, I was still encroached upon by others?”
Sage Lian Shan gently waved his hand, calming Qie Ji's state of mind.
He slowly said: “The Great Dao we control all originate from mountains and seas. [Suo]'s greatest skill is to devour mountains and seas. It is merely taking food from others’ plates.”
“Doesn't that mean that my injury cannot be healed?” Qie Ji was startled for a moment and then understood.
“Not necessarily. [Suo] only cares about mountains and seas themselves. He devoured Qie Ji only to devour mountains and seas. After he fully comprehends the principles of the mountains and seas within, he will voluntarily spit out the devoured Dao of [Stealing Opportunity]…”
“If he only took without giving back, Suo would have become the target of public criticism long ago and would not have survived until now,” Sage Gui Hai comforted him.
Qie Ji breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. However, the Great Dao he originally controlled had been taken and devoured by someone else. Whether it could be returned depended on when the opponent finished digesting it.
This indeed made Qie Ji feel unprecedentedly wronged.
“I only regret that I am merely a spiritual manifestation, a divided spirit. If my true body had gone personally, who would have been able to devour whom more…”
“It is yet to be known!” Qie Ji snorted coldly.
Even so, he was still within the Vortex Ring and, influenced by the unified will of the Three Sages, Qie Ji would not easily risk his life in a desperate struggle.
“Suo’s goal should be [Sentient Beings of Mountains and Seas]. We cannot let him have his way.”
“However, how to break the situation…”
Lian Shan glanced at Sage Bai Xiao.
Bai Xiao, despite his helplessness, could only follow suit. He divided his consciousness and entered into it along that mountain and sea spiritual脉.
Whether intentionally or unintentionally, Bai Xiao's performance was even worse than Qie Ji's.
Before the light spot could even formally enter the mountains and seas, it had already dissipated more than half.
When it finally disappeared, only a speck of light remained. Looking at its appearance, it should be no different from a mortal.
As expected, not long after, Bai Xiao’s eyes opened again.
“It is indeed the scene of the Primordial Immortal Realm!”
“Both grand and fierce!”
However, Bai Xiao did not lose his origin like Qie Ji.
Presumably, he had learned his lesson and did not use his own Great Dao of [Stealing Opportunity].
He recounted his encounter to everyone with lingering fear: “My experience was similar to that of Fellow Daoist Qie Ji. As soon as I was born, I was chased by all sentient beings in the surrounding world. However, with Fellow Daoist Qie Ji's experience, I tried to hide my strength in the resistance. But…”
Bai Xiao said helplessly: “That world seemed to be able to completely perceive everything in my body. The fierce beings sent to descend were all at a level that I could just barely deal with. Understanding this, I ended my own life to avoid being toyed with.”
The Sages fell into silence.
“Let’s test again,” Sage Lian Shan said after a moment of contemplation.
Thus, the story repeated itself.
The third lucky one was Fang Cun.
Fang Cun did not care about the temporary loss of his origin and dealt with it with all his might.
The time he managed to persist even exceeded Qie Ji's by several times.
However, he ultimately failed.
It was evident that the longer he persisted, the more origin he was imperceptibly plundered and devoured.
When Fang Cun’s consciousness returned, he was indeed in a severely injured state.
His face was as pale as paper, and his breath was faint!
Li Fan quickly infused him with true essence.
The Three Sages also each emitted a breath to stabilize Fang Cun's injuries.
After the situation stabilized, Fang Cun described his encounter to everyone: “With the experience of the previous two Fellow Daoists, I was preparing to try a different method. Relying on my speed, I would only snatch and not kill.”
“In the beginning, it was effective. Although the fierce beings came in vast numbers, they could not touch me at all. Without having to fight, the strength of the fierce beings remained at the initial level for a long time. But later…”
Fang Cun coughed lightly: “They also gradually mastered my Great Dao of [Fang Cun]! Their speed became faster and faster, and eventually, they were on par with me. I was forced to fight them…”
“Naturally, I followed in the footsteps of Fellow Daoists Qie Ji and Bai Xiao.”
“Fellow Daoist Fang Cun, in order to resolve the crisis in mountains and seas, did not hesitate to lose his origin and Great Dao. Truly a model for me!” Bai Xiao said with some shame.
Fang Cun said seriously: “Since [Suo] will eventually spit it out, it is more important to quickly figure out his plan and find a solution than to temporarily lose it.”
The Sages nodded, all deeply agreeing.
The Three Sages did not try again but closed their eyes and began to deduce.
The inherent nature of the Net is to devour mountains and seas. All beings within its domain, once ensnared, can hardly escape its grasp.
Once caught in the Net, one must endure four stages: sensation, enemy crafting, pursuit and kill, and consumption.
It can absorb the Great Daos controlled by the territory within the Net, transforming them into fierce beasts that pursue and kill. They are endless, waxing and waning eternally…
Unless one possesses overwhelming power to directly tear apart the Net laid out by its creator, defeat is inevitable.
…
As the Three Sages deduced, a diagram of the Net suddenly appeared within the Starry Enigma Ring.
Upon touching it with their divine senses, all the Sages instantly grasped its general principles.
"So, the scene of the Primordial Immortal Realm that I witnessed was indeed a past state of the Mountains and Seas. And those constantly appearing monsters that pursued me originated from the powerful beings previously devoured by [The Net]?" Fang Cun nodded slightly.
"The troublesome part is that these fierce beasts not only possess their own innate divine abilities from their former lives but also complement each other's abilities. Furthermore, as time passes, they slowly manifest the abilities of those who enter the Net. Just like fellow Daoist Fang Cun…"
While the Sages deliberated, they reached a conclusion.
To break the Net, one must either infiltrate the mountains and seas ahead with minimal consumption, starting with strength almost equivalent to one's true self. Then, tear apart the Net directly with brute force before its devouring power can spread.
Alternatively, one must be a peerless prodigy, capable of escaping dire straits and even growing stronger through battle. They would transform the endless pursuit from the Net into opportunities and resources for self-tempering. According to the Three Sages, there were indeed such powerful beings at the dawn of the Mountains and Seas, who walked the path to the pinnacle of the Mountains and Seas through brutal battles. It was a pity that the current Sages of the Mountains and Seas seemed to lack such a characteristic.
There was a third method. A divine weapon descends from the heavens, transcending external affairs. By infiltrating with power that exists outside the Mountains and Seas, one would surpass the Net's range of perception. Towards things beyond its comprehension, the Net would be blind and deaf, naturally preventing corresponding fierce beasts from manifesting.
"Transcending the Mountains and Seas…" All the Sages shook their heads, not taking this possibility seriously. They treated it as a mere hypothetical, an ethereal possibility in their deductions.
Li Fan maintained the same demeanor, without revealing any change.
He wondered if the Three Sages deliberately mentioned this to test him. But Li Fan pretended to be oblivious.
He calmly observed the Sages displaying their unique abilities.
For a moment, there seemed to be no good solution to break the formation. The Tai Yi Sage's expression shifted subtly, as if he were considering intervening personally.
Just then, a beam of light traversed the mountains and seas, descending upon the Other Shore.
It was the Tai Wei Sacred Emperor.
In this lifetime, with Li Fan's presence, the several reunions had proceeded exceptionally smoothly. Coupled with the infusion of true spirits, the reliance of the Sages on the Grand Fortune Sacred Medicine had also decreased.
The Tai Wei Sacred Emperor was undoubtedly one of the greatest beneficiaries among all the Sages.
"Perhaps I can try this killing game set by the Net."
Li Fan was slightly stunned by his words.
Not only him, but all the Sages on the Other Shore felt the same.
From the Tai Wei Sacred Emperor's simple sentence, they sensed a hint of disharmony and strangeness. Yet, for a moment, they could not pinpoint what was amiss.
All eyes converged on the Tai Wei Sacred Emperor. After a while, a clear light surged within the Starry Enigma Ring.
Everyone was startled and quickly reacted.
"Fellow Daoist Tai Wei, have you achieved a major breakthrough?"
The Tai Wei Sacred Emperor nodded in response.
Previously, when facing the Sages of the Other Shore, the Tai Wei Sacred Emperor had referred to himself as "I" or "this Emperor," without adopting the lofty demeanor of the "Sacred Emperor."
Today, upon meeting them, he referred to himself as "朕" (Imperial "we"). Most importantly, the Sages of the Other Shore initially did not find it strange, only instinctively sensing a subtle oddity.
It was as if they had unconsciously acknowledged him as truly deserving of the titles "Sacred Emperor" and "朕."
Without revealing the catalyst for his breakthrough, the Tai Wei Sacred Emperor looked towards the mountains and seas ahead and solemnly declared, "All of you, witness my methods."
With that, his figure dispersed into countless points of light, hidden within the veins of the mountains and seas, flowing upstream!
"Eh? Tai Wei actually didn't use the reincarnation lucky ones as a connection. Instead, he directly fragmented his power and infiltrated?" Bai Xiao exclaimed in surprise.
"When did he gain such a profound understanding of the Dao of beings within the Mountains and Seas?"
The discovery of the veins of beings within the Mountains and Seas occurred under the watchful eyes of all the Sages.
Logically, the Tai Wei Sacred Emperor should not have undergone such a change.
After a moment of silence, it was the Lian Shan Sage who revealed the secret.
"So that's how it is. The citizens of the Sacred Dynasty, a considerable portion of the beings within the Mountains and Seas, naturally include descendants of Qiu Tian Hui."
"The thoughts, desires, and even the entire being of the Sacred Dynasty's citizens are under Tai Wei's control."
"Previously, it was because he was unaware of the connection to the beings of the Mountains and Seas. Therefore, he could not perceive it."
"Now that we have revealed the connection…"
"There are no less than ten thousand descendants of Qiu Tian Hui among the Sacred Dynasty's citizens. Each of them is like a fragment of Tai Wei. Their efficiency in comprehending the Dao is hundreds of times greater than ours."
"This change is not surprising."
Bai Xiao muttered with emotion, "We're so accustomed to thinking of Tai Wei as an alchemist that we've forgotten his original identity as 'Sacred Emperor.'"
Seeing the peculiar expressions on everyone's faces, the Gui Hai Sage understood their thoughts. He chuckled, "The Tai Wei Sacred Emperor was able to build a vast Sacred Dynasty from nothing. His talents and disposition are beyond comparison. However, he was previously burdened by the need for Grand Fortune Sacred Medicine. With the help of Daoist Zhou Hui, without such a large consumption of elixirs, Tai Wei can focus more energy on cultivation."
"Perhaps this is the Dao Fruit he deserves."
The Lian Shan Sage stated calmly, "Tai Wei never speaks in vain. Since he has spoken, it means he has absolute confidence. Let us see how he breaks the formation."
As the Lian Shan Sage spoke, a beam of light projected from the Sacred Dynasty of the Mountains and Seas, directly reaching the Other Shore.
It was the Tai Wei Sacred Emperor's true form, sharing the visuals he perceived.
After a period of flowing upstream, the Tai Wei Sacred Emperor had successfully entered the mountains and seas ahead and was captured by the Net.
Perhaps it was due to the comprehension of the Dao of beings within the Mountains and Seas from over ten thousand fortunate individuals, the Tai Wei Sacred Emperor's consumption while moving through the veins of the Mountains and Seas was almost negligible.
This formed a stark contrast with the arduous journey of Jie Ji, Bai Xiao, and Fang Cun.
Seeing such a favorable start, all the Sages were shaken.
Upon closer inspection.
The Tai Wei Sacred Emperor, who had entered the mountains and seas ahead with nearly his full strength, first did something that greatly surprised everyone.
Facing the first wave of fierce beasts that aggressively attacked as soon as he appeared, the Tai Wei Sacred Emperor voluntarily dispersed all his cultivation!
The drastic reduction in his strength caused the originally ferocious monsters to pause.
Because the difference in strength was too great, easily killing them did not align with the rules followed by the Net's consumption. Thus, after a brief pause, the first wave of manifested monsters dissipated like smoke.
Then, perhaps re-evaluating the Tai Wei Sacred Emperor's strength, there was a momentary silence.
"Fellow Daoist Tai Wei's move is brilliant! To resolve the predicament, one cannot be led by the nose. This preemptive strike in the first step invisibly disrupts the Net's consumption rules."
"It's just that, with his cultivation completely dispersed, how will Tai Wei survive in such a dangerous world?"
"Fellow Daoist Tai Wei must have a brilliant plan. We need only watch patiently."
…
The Tai Wei Sacred Emperor's voluntary dispersal of cultivation was premeditated.
It was a retreat, and also an advance.
It was not a mere dispersal of power, but an active strike.
Taking advantage of the brief interval while the Net was reconfiguring, the Tai Wei Sacred Emperor used his dispersed cultivation to awaken several surrounding beings.
There were pure warriors brimming with ferocious energy, strategists with sharp glints in their eyes.
There were also numerous ignorant, fearless soldiers.
In just a moment, a "Sacred Dynasty" of small scale was instantly formed.
With the Sacred Emperor's boundless experience in ruling the Sacred Dynasty of the Mountains and Seas for countless years, manipulating these subordinates was as easy as turning his hand.
They shielded the powerless Sacred Emperor in the center, beginning to battle the first wave of fierce beasts that charged forward.
They were merely fierce beasts to ordinary mortals.
In front of the army enlightened by the Tai Wei Sacred Emperor, they were no match.
Like slaughtering chickens and dogs, the enemies were quickly defeated.
Of the first wave of Net beasts, one-third were killed, one-third were absorbed by the Sacred Army soldiers, transforming into their own strength.
One-third were enlightened and incorporated, joining the Sacred Army ranks.
As if foreseeing this, the Sacred Emperor sat calmly in the center of the army, his expression serene and composed.
He awaited the arrival of the next wave of enemies.
Meanwhile, the Sages watching from the Other Shore were mostly astonished.
"This… is also possible?"
"The fierce beasts derived from the Net's consumption rules are all based on the cultivation of the target within the Net. Each time, their strength is just a bit higher, allowing for the complete exhaustion of potential through struggle. But now, fellow Daoist Tai Wei is merely at the level of a mortal, yet he has a group of extremely fierce soldiers protecting him… Doesn't this put him in an invincible position?"
"It's not that simple. The Net will surely change soon. Even if Tai Wei's true self is weak, the soldiers he commands are also a part of his strength."
"However, having taken the initiative twice. Fellow Daoist Tai Wei has a chance to break the formation!"
The Sages could not help but become more expectant, their gazes continuing to focus on the scene unfolding.
Just as the Sages had predicted, after a temporary pause in its offensive, the Net quickly changed again.
The strength of the second wave of manifested fierce beasts was significantly greater than the first.
They were almost on par with the Sacred Army soldiers. The two sides engaged in a bloody battle, with the Sacred Army ultimately suffering a narrow victory.
The army that the Tai Wei Sacred Emperor had painstakingly assembled was reduced to less than a fifth of its original strength.
The Net's ability to adapt and change was remarkably swift, exceeding expectations. Its underlying principle remained to keep the enemies within the Net in a state of near-death struggle.
Despite the apparent setback, the Tai Wei Sacred Emperor looked up at the sky, a subtle smile appearing on his face.
The Net did not allow for much respite.
The Sacred Army soldiers had barely recovered when the third wave of enemies arrived.
However, the situation in the field became somewhat peculiar.
Although the third wave of enemies was stronger than the second.
The Sacred Army soldiers found it surprisingly easier to deal with them.
If the previous battle was a life-and-death struggle between equals, this battle felt like a slight advantage!
"How can this be?" the Sages exclaimed in bewilderment.
But after careful observation, they immediately discovered the secret.
It turned out that at the beginning of this battle, the Tai Wei Sacred Emperor himself had personally appeared on the front lines.
Wherever his banner went, the soldiers were ignited with fervor.
The soldiers, already fearless, now fought with berserk intensity.
Their morale soared. Led by the Sacred Emperor, they moved like a dragon, easily piercing the enemy lines.
The previously stalemated situation underwent a dramatic transformation because the Sacred Emperor, who should have been commanding from the rear, personally appeared on the battlefield.
The outcome was a complete rout!
This great victory replenished the previous losses.
The army quickly regrouped and replenished its strength.
After bestowing customary rewards upon the soldiers, the Tai Wei Sacred Emperor returned to the rear.
The spoils of this battle were, as before, not claimed by the Tai Wei Sacred Emperor. All were distributed to his soldiers.
With a mortal body, he commanded an endless stream of fierce creatures.
The Tai Wei Sacred Emperor was still adept at this.
He gazed into the distance, awaiting the arrival of the next wave of enemies.
…
"Another step forward!"
"Fellow Daoist Tai Wei is truly remarkable!"
"It seems we have underestimated Fellow Daoist Tai Wei. This time, using the battlefield as a chessboard to play against [The Net] truly reveals his prowess," Bai Xiao exclaimed in admiration.
Li Fan had also been an Emperor.
He could naturally discern the profundity of Tai Wei's strategy.
"The fierce beasts evolved by the Net's principles must follow certain rules."
"However, the strength of the Sacred Dynasty's soldiers under Tai Wei's command is an element that is difficult to quantify precisely. The greatest variable is the Tai Wei Sacred Emperor himself."
"The appearance of the Sacred Emperor on the battlefield can more than double the overall morale and combat strength of the Sacred Dynasty's soldiers!"
"If the Net's previous estimations were made based on the assumption that the Sacred Emperor would not appear on the front lines, it would greatly underestimate their combat power. And yet, whether the Sacred Emperor appears on the front lines or not depends entirely on his whim. I believe even the Three Sages cannot predict…"
"The same applies to the Net."
"And if the Net were to set the strength of the attacking beasts based on the peak morale of the Sacred Dynasty's soldiers…"
"It would likely fall right into the Tai Wei Sacred Emperor's plan!"
Li Fan's heart stirred.
What happened next in the arena precisely matched his thoughts.
The attacking enemies this time were determined based on the peak morale of the soldiers, inspired by the Sacred Emperor's presence.
With the Tai Wei Sacred Emperor not making an appearance, the Sacred Dynasty's soldiers fought an extremely difficult battle.
Their recently recovered strength was almost entirely depleted.
Of the elite soldiers, fewer than one in a hundred survived.
Although they ultimately won, it was a pyrrhic victory, a devastating victory.
"Why didn't Fellow Daoist Tai Wei show himself on the front lines? If he had repeated his tactic, this battle would not have been so difficult."
"The casualties were too heavy. The advantage accumulated previously was lost in a single blow!"
As the Sages were discussing, Jie Ji suddenly spoke.
"Excellent! Excellent! If the Net does not change its rules again, I believe this situation will be resolved!"
The Sages were astonished and all asked for the reason.
Jie Ji excitedly said, "Unlike fighting ordinary cultivators, those who survive such fierce battles are all elites, one in ten thousand!"
"With equal strength, in the desperate situation of life and death, they can unleash several times, even tens of times, greater power. Although Tai Wei's move seems to have resulted in heavy losses, it is actually like sifting through sand to refine gold!"
"This is just after a few battles. If this situation can be maintained after a hundred battles."
"One person fighting ten, or even a hundred, would not be an issue!"
"And if we add the variable of Tai Wei himself appearing on the front lines…"
"If the Net does not change its rules, it is bound to be defeated!"
As the Sages had foreseen, the repeated assaults from the Net, like fire refining gold, slowly forged a true army of a hundred battles. From the initial contingent, fewer than a hundred soldiers survived. However, their combat prowess, honed by facing life and death extremities, was far beyond that of ordinary troops. Each could contend against a hundred, unleashing astonishing and terrifying power. With these elites as the core, the Sacred Dynasty's soldiers gradually expanded into an invincible legion. The middle ranks of this legion consisted of soldiers with slightly less combat talent, but their sheer numbers compensated for it. In terms of overall contribution to the war, they were even more significant. Lastly, there were the common soldiers, the most numerous, the most consumed, and the quickest to be replenished after battles. Like layers of a filtering net, they gradually dissolved the impacts of the Net, simultaneously refining a mighty force that grew increasingly adept at combat and response. Even though the Sacred Emperor Tai Wei remained in his mortal state, as long as he sat within the army, no one in this realm could harm him. From his descent, the Sacred Emperor Tai Wei had not displayed any special divine abilities. He had merely utilized the inherent principles of this Primordial Immortal Realm, guiding them with his countless years of experience as an emperor. Not only had he survived, but he was also on the verge of claiming dominion within the Net meticulously woven by the Net. By the established rules of the Net, the Sacred Emperor Tai Wei, who had achieved such a dominant position, should have been insurmountable. Any further creations would only serve as sustenance for the Sacred Dynasty's burgeoning forces. The Net, however, could not have failed to comprehend this. Thus, the predator quickly decided to reweave its hunting net. The pervasive aura of slaughter within this Primordial Immortal Realm instantly vanished, replaced by a profound stillness. All things ceased their operations. Simultaneously, it seemed that some new rule was taking shape. With the Net's power, even a complete change of strategy would be accomplished in mere moments. The opportunity was fleeting, precisely the break the Sacred Emperor Tai Wei had long awaited! Looking around at the thousands of soldiers surrounding him, the Sacred Emperor Tai Wei, who had been sitting with his eyes closed within the Sacred Dynasty's army, suddenly rose. His expression was impassive. He merely asked, "My generals, are you willing to die for your Emperor?" Though his voice was soft, it resounded like thunder in the ears of the Sacred Dynasty's soldiers. Without hesitation, without defiance, every soldier instantly knelt, roaring in unison: "We obey!" "We obey!" "We obey!" The thunderous roars of the soldiers still echoed in the skies of the Primordial Immortal Realm. Their bodies, however, had already transformed into myriad streams of blood-red light, surging towards the Sacred Emperor Tai Wei at the center. The Sacred Dynasty's formidable army of a hundred battles vanished, and the Sacred Emperor Tai Wei's aura began to expand at an astonishing speed. One must remember that the Sacred Emperor Tai Wei's strength had not significantly diminished upon his initial descent. After engaging in fierce battles, he had absorbed a vast amount of nourishment from this Primordial Immortal Realm. However, this power had been dispersed amongst his numerous soldiers. Now, all this might was once again gathered, returning to the Sacred Emperor Tai Wei. Suddenly, a Sage of Mountains and Seas descended. He wore a long robe, black as the emperor's might, intricately woven with ten thousand golden dragons. A crown of twelve jade tassels hung before his forehead, yet it could not conceal the sharp glint that erupted in the Sacred Emperor Tai Wei's eyes. At this moment, as the Net was in transition between rules, the Sacred Emperor Tai Wei made a sweeping gesture with his sleeve. The sun and moon sewn onto his robe stirred, and their energies surged madly. The heavens and earth changed their colors, as if the Sacred Emperor Tai Wei had seized the mysterious entity lurking behind the Net and ripped it apart with all his might! The world twisted and then shattered inch by inch! Within the Other Shore, the illusory light viewed by the Sages suddenly dimmed. It flickered and struggled for a few moments like a firefly, before finally extinguishing in resignation. The beam projected from the Sacred Dynasty of Tai Wei also vanished instantly. "What is this..." The Sages were startled, turning their gaze towards the location of the Sacred Emperor Tai Wei. "Tai Wei has worked hard this time," said Sage Lian Shan, simultaneously transmitting a surge of energy. Li Fan also realized that after the Net revealed its true form, the Sacred Emperor Tai Wei's avatar was instantly devoured, and his true self seemed to have suffered heavy injuries. He then casually sent over a mass of accumulated True Spirit. "The Net had a notorious reputation at the dawn of mountains and seas. Tai Wei only sent a clone, so its immediate defeat is understandable," Sage Gui Hai stated calmly, showing no surprise. "Although Tai Wei's last endeavor failed, it allowed the 'Net' hiding behind it to reveal its presence. This point is crucial and is the key to our breaking this predicament." Sage Gui Hai's Xuan Ji Ring glowed again. It displayed the events that occurred in the fleeting moment between the Net being torn apart and the Primordial Immortal Realm plunging into darkness. Although blurry, Sage Gui Hai's restoration allowed them to see a figure that seemed to coil outside the world, casting a gaze upon the beings within the Net. Around its edges, ten thousand shadowy tendrils resembling spider legs drifted chaotically. It was once a being of supreme height, but because it was entangled in the tearing of the similar shadowy Net, it appeared somewhat... flustered. "Although the Net possesses the ability to devour mountains and seas, it is destined to hide in the shadows and cannot reveal itself. Once exposed, not only will its own abilities be greatly affected, but its power to devour mountains and seas will also be significantly diminished for a time," Sage Gui Hai explained the reason for the Net's flustered state. Seeing some confusion among the Sages, he continued, "You can consider it a flaw brought about by its mountain and sea devouring ability. At the dawn of mountains and seas, most powerful beings had similar weaknesses. The reason for this was the backlash from pushing their own Dao path to its extreme, beyond the boundaries of the mountains and seas." Sage Gui Hai seemed unwilling to elaborate further, only mentioning it briefly. He then refocused on the captured image. "Heh, it seems the Net was not decisive enough to bring its true self to the end of the mountains and seas ravaged by Dao Erasure." "The Net before us is not its true complete form, but a clone that has gathered most of its power. With such a significant draw, the 'Net' at the dawn of mountains and seas would have been unable to do anything but retreat into seclusion. For the Net, this could be considered a gamble of everything." It seemed to have discovered something, and the Sages spoke with renewed ease, their tones much lighter. "Mountains and seas are one. Since it has been exposed here, someone at the dawn of mountains and seas already knows its current weakened state." "It will be forced to leave before long," Sage Lian Shan added. "Based on my understanding of it, it must be hesitating between returning and not returning. We only need to pressure it a little more, and the encirclement of the mountains and seas ahead will be broken." Hearing this, the Sages breathed a collective sigh of relief. With the previous probing by Stealth, Hundred Inquiries, Inch-by-Inch, and Tai Wei, the Net's strengths and weaknesses were largely understood. They were no longer as resistant to becoming the next fortunate recipient. Thus, amidst the vast starlight, the next to be captured by Elder Sage Qiu Tian Hui's Great Dao of Mountains and Seas Beings... was Li Fan.
Li Fan's expression was somewhat complex, but he did not refuse.
"My abilities are far inferior to fellow Daoist Tai Wei. Moreover, with the re-evolution of the net's rules, I fear I may not be able to hold out for long."
Sage Gui Hai said, "Since the net has been exposed, we will inevitably have to flee soon. What we must do now is to delay for as long as possible, ensuring the safety of the Dao of All Living Beings of Mountains and Seas before it departs."
"Fellow Daoist Zhou Hui need not worry, proceed with confidence. Even if you fail, we will quickly follow." Sage Shou Qiu said with a chuckle.
Li Fan cupped his hands, then sent out a strand of his consciousness along the sensed pathways of Mountains and Seas.
Upon entering, he understood why others like Sage Qie Ji had suffered such severe damage during their transit. The pathways of Mountains and Seas were the cornerstone of their existence, a secret within secrets, instinctively repelling all external things.
He could only rely on the familiarity with the "Dao of All Living Beings of Mountains and Seas" as a tether, preserving a portion of his strength.
Although Li Fan was certainly not as fortunate as Sage Tai Wei, who, with the support of the myriad citizens of the Sacred Dynasty, could traverse almost at full strength.
However, with the blessing of "United Hearts," he shared perceptions with Shou Qiu and Dao De.
His performance was considerably better than that of Sage Qie Ji and the others.
With strength approaching that of a Nameless True Immortal, he successfully descended into the net.
Like Sage Tai Wei, his true form projected the scenes he experienced into the Vortex Ring, allowing all the Sages to observe.
"Fellow Daoist Zhou Hui's comprehension is indeed extraordinary. The beginning is quite good; you should be able to stall the net for a while," Sage Tai Yi nodded slightly.
Li Fan and the other two inwardly communicated: "If it is our turn to play next, we must conceal our strength. Otherwise, if we perform similarly, it might arouse suspicion."
Furthermore, Li Fan successfully arrived at the moment when the net wove the Primordial Immortal Realm, and he immediately felt the dense killing intent pervading the heavens and earth.
Recalling how, during his Foundation Establishment, he had comprehended a technique called "Formless Killing Intent" and used it under the guise of Heavenly Mandate. He was naturally no stranger to such malicious killing intent from the world.
He merely furrowed his brow slightly, having already grown accustomed to it.
Following Sage Tai Wei's precedent, Li Fan also learned to dissipate his cultivation at the outset, reducing himself to mortal levels.
However, Tai Wei had utilized the dissipated cultivation, combined with countless years of imperial experience, to forge an immortal legion.
As for Li Fan...
He willingly offered his cultivation to the monsters that were slowly appearing around him and charging towards him!
He had, from the moment of his arrival, committed the act of aiding the enemy.
"Hmm? What is Fellow Daoist Zhou Hui doing?"
"He's actually sending his cultivation to the enemy. How can a mortal survive the ensuing encirclement?"
Such an anomaly naturally attracted the attention of the Sages.
And the subsequent changes that occurred within the horde of ferocious beasts revealed the reason for Li Fan's actions.
The ferocious beasts that were originally united in their intent to kill Li Fan, because of the cultivation Li Fan had voluntarily offered, began to diverge.
Those who accepted Li Fan's gift instantly took his place and became the primary targets of the ferocious beasts' attack.
Although they were manifestations of the net, when their own lives were threatened, they would not passively await death.
Thus, they began to fight amongst themselves.
After encountering Sage Tai Wei, the net had altered its rules. The strength of the first wave of ferocious beasts was determined by Li Fan's cultivation realm at the moment of his arrival.
Even though Li Fan voluntarily dispersed his cultivation, the monsters that manifested around him maintained a corresponding level.
Only after Li Fan had given away this cultivation, and not used it to strengthen himself in any way, did the strength of the second wave of spawned monsters begin to decrease.
However, this presented a fatal problem.
Among the first wave of attacking ferocious beasts, those that had accepted Li Fan's gift and turned against the net still retained the strength of a Nameless True Immortal.
Facing these newly spawned "fellow creatures," they hesitated briefly before quickly raising their butcher knives once more.
Completely outmatched, they were soon slaughtered.
In the sky of the net, there was a momentary pause, as if time had stopped.
It was as if another rule had been forcibly rewritten in that instant.
With the rules re-evolving, a rare moment of quiet ensued.
Li Fan, however, voluntarily approached these ferocious beasts that were caught between him and the net.
Having accepted gifts from this outsider, Li Fan, although compelled, was destined not to be assimilated by the net.
They were quite wary of Li Fan's arrival, this "benefactor."
However, perhaps due to receiving his gifts, they did not act directly.
"Our lives are now intertwined. We must face this tribulation together."
"Though you were born of this world, having received my creation, you have the chance to break free from your restraints. You are no longer the same as those ferocious beasts of the past who knew only slaughter..."
Li Fan, unconcerned that he was addressing creatures who were once mindless, calmly explained the cause and effect to them.
Like a sermon of enlightenment, the expressions on the faces of the many ferocious beasts changed rapidly within a short period.
Some found it difficult to accept, others were lost in thought.
There were even those who were wholeheartedly convinced, regarding Li Fan as a master.
"May I ask, Teacher, what is our path forward?"
Li Fan looked up at the sky, smiled, and said, "Let us plot against this heaven together!"
Before the multitude of ferocious beasts could comprehend Li Fan's words, the third wave of ferocious beasts had already been born.
After the rules changed again, they had already considered the rebellious beings as part of Li Fan's strength.
Thus, the strength of the newly spawned ferocious beasts returned to the realm of Nameless True Immortal.
"You have all seen it. We are now one. We prosper together, and we suffer together."
"Obeying my command is your only path to survival."
"If I disappear, you will undoubtedly be dealt with."
The enlightened beings were not foolish. From the current situation in the net, they quickly understood that Li Fan was speaking the truth.
Though they felt a sense of unease for reasons unknown, for the moment, they could only unite against a common enemy.
Directing their accumulated rage entirely towards the enemy.
However, the net's generated enemies had also factored in the enhancements to morale and character.
This battle remained fiercely contested.
The newly allied enlightened beings suffered over half their losses.
The only advantage for Li Fan was that, for the net, eliminating these traitors was more important than killing him.
Therefore, as long as the enlightened beings had not been completely annihilated, he remained safe.
After a bloody battle, he had not even moved his muscles and bones.
He merely looked up at the sky from time to time, as if observing something.
Li Fan narrowed his eyes, coldly sneering in his heart: "In such a short time, the rules have changed several times."
"Whatever changes, there must be a trace. Even the first beings of Mountains and Seas cannot escape this principle."
Li Fan was deducing with extreme intensity in his heart.
The world before him, the Primordial Immortal Realm, seemed to recede like a curtain.
Revealing within its core, a vast net woven horizontally and vertically.
"This net, though woven by you, who is to say it cannot be used by me."
Li Fan slowly extended two fingers towards the sky.
As if plucking harp strings, Li Fan attempted to touch and alter the rules of this world with two fingers.
"Using the power to swallow mountains and seas, weave a great net. Evolve it into a world, forcing the beings that enter to fight with all their might, to the death..."
"When a being perishes within the net, it will instinctively absorb them."
Li Fan looked again at the battling factions in the war. As if after they perished, spheres of light floated out, representing the lives and the principles they had mastered during their existence. Perhaps not all of it, but certainly the most essential parts, forged in desperate life-or-death situations, pushed to their limits.
Upon the sea of corpses and blood created by the great battle, countless spheres of light of varying sizes rose and floated into the "Net of Grasp" that spanned heaven and earth. The sight was extraordinarily strange. Li Fan seemed mesmerized, his fingers plucking repeatedly, trying to alter the direction of the light spheres. He failed repeatedly, yet he did not give up.
By the time the great battle concluded, though Li Fan had not succeeded even once, a spark of confidence began to ignite in his eyes. As usual, he took nothing for himself. He only reclaimed what he had bestowed upon the enlightened beings after the bloody battle. The surviving enlightened beings did not express profound gratitude to Li Fan; they merely seized every opportunity to recover and strengthen themselves. As original inhabitants of this world, they knew all too well that the battles to come would be increasingly brutal, until they were completely annihilated. However, the instinct for survival did not allow them to give up. Even if there was only a sliver of hope, they would continue to fight!
"This is the attribute bestowed upon them by the Net of Grasp. It has nothing to do with my persuasion. It's quite convenient for me."
Before the enlightened beings had fully recovered, the next wave of enemies had already arrived.
"Form up and resist the enemy!" Li Fan's divine sense rippled outwards. Instantly, a profound and mysterious formation appeared simultaneously in the minds of all the enlightened beings. Though they couldn't fully comprehend its principles, it didn't prevent them from entering the formation in an orderly fashion. With Li Fan as the central core of the formation, all the enlightened beings were connected as one. Killing intent converged, forming blood-red clouds that surged towards the sky, obscuring the heavens.
This formation was created by Li Fan, drawing upon the synergistic properties of the Vortex Ring. Empowered by the great formation, the enlightened beings shared their senses, acting as one. Although their strength and cultivation levels were not amplified, it transformed countless desperate fighters into an intangible whole. They had no need to worry about being attacked from behind; their companions' support always appeared in the most timely manner. From fighting independently, they automatically divided into countless small groups to efficiently surround and annihilate their enemies. The battlefield situation instantly changed. What had been a fierce, evenly matched struggle became a one-sided slaughter due to the appearance of this formation.
Li Fan had anticipated this outcome and kept his attention focused on the heavens of this world. "Thank you, honored teacher, for bestowing this art!" Only when the battle was won and the enlightened beings collectively roared did he slightly shift his gaze.
"You may devour the fallen remnants," Li Fan said indifferently, pointing to the blood-soaked battlefield. The enlightened beings were stunned for a moment. However, having been created for desperate combat, they lacked many scruples. Upon hearing Li Fan's command, they immediately began to feast heartily, quickly clearing the ravaged battlefield. The remnants of the fallen, apart from vaguely satisfying their hunger, seemed to have no other significant use. This was true for the vast majority of the enlightened beings.
However, there were a few exceptions.
"You, you, and you." "Come here." Li Fan motioned, and three to five figures quickly flew before him, kneeling respectfully. Although Li Fan's cultivation appeared to be that of a mortal, the subtle aura he exuded made them instinctively tremble and submit, daring not to act presumptuously.
"So that's how it is." After observing for a long time, Li Fan suddenly said this, though it remained unclear what he had seen. Moments later, one of the kneeling figures exploded without warning, shattering into pieces of flesh and blood.
"You all consume this." Li Fan commanded the remaining figures. Their bodies trembled slightly, but they hesitated not, each devouring the flesh with large bites. This time, as they ate, Li Fan's fingers continuously traced slow arcs in the void, as if touching, or perhaps playing a melody. With the flesh entering their bellies, the kneeling figures gained varying degrees of enhancement.
At this moment, the next wave of enemies descended.
"Kill!" Without further ado, Li Fan gave a single command, and the enlightened creations once again clashed with the ferocious beasts of the net. This time, Li Fan did not gain an easy advantage. The newly evolved creatures' strength, clearly incorporating the formation's synergistic buffs, was more than a notch stronger than the previous wave of enemies. However, this did not account for the slight reinforcement the enlightened beings had gained by previously devouring flesh and blood. This led to Li Fan's side still holding a slight advantage. And...
Amidst the fervent slaughter, Li Fan's divine sense reverberated once more. The enlightened beings were astonished to discover that as their enemies fell, wisps of incomprehensible, indescribable power were captured and absorbed by them. Some merely increased their vitality and cultivation, while others contained fleeting glimpses of insights and memories of divine abilities and battle techniques! The enlightened beings, though initially ignorant, gained wisdom as Li Fan's enlightenment progressed. They were naturally adept at divine abilities and combat. Without Li Fan needing to teach them actively, many among them instantly grasped the memories. Even those few who remained bewildered quickly understood the profound mysteries from their companions. The battles transitioned from a mere contest of strength and vitality to the manifestation of divine abilities.
The battle was swiftly concluded. If it had been a slight advantage at the beginning, then after the enlightened beings universally awakened their divine abilities, it became a complete blowout. The enlightened beings, having benefited greatly, fought like hungry wolves, scrambling for the remnants on the battlefield. But there was insufficient for all, leading to an unprecedented anticipation for the next wave of enemies! A peculiar emotion and atmosphere began to grow and fester in their hearts. After their initial confusion, they quickly understood; this was the fortune Li Fan had bestowed upon them. Thus, they all knelt respectfully, offering their gratitude and submission.
"Rise." "I do not require your kneeling. What I need is..." "To tear this sky apart with me!" Li Fan stated calmly, pointing at the net-like sky. Seemingly, an irrepressible emotion was building within him. After a moment of deathly silence, the created beings roared towards the heavens. Simultaneously, in the sky, a shadow seemed to flash and disappear. Then, an endless sea of dark clouds began to gather. A fierce wind arose, and thunder rumbled. This was the net's response. The army of enlightened beings had indeed grown stronger, but as long as they did not exceed the net's tolerance, the net could always create matching enemies. The next wave of evolved ferocious beasts was undeniably much stronger than the previous one. This made the enlightened beings, who had just received reinforcements, almost feel as if they hadn't grown stronger at all. Without Li Fan's instruction, they spontaneously began to strive to absorb and strengthen themselves in between battles.
And in Li Fan's eyes, within the vast net of this world, it seemed another, smaller net was being woven and gathered. "Not enough," Li Fan declared after observing for a long time. He then increased the stakes again.
"You are all chaotic by nature and ignorant. Therefore, you can kill enemies based on instinct, but ultimately you will fall. I have a method that can be passed down to all beings." "Absorb the Spirit Qi of heaven and earth to gather your qi. Borrow the oddities of heaven and earth to build your Dao foundation..." As Li Fan spoke, the gazes of the countless enlightened beings present at the scene towards the surrounding net-world quietly changed. They saw it like the battlefield remnants, fragrant and tempting. This world was created by the "Net of Grasp" in imitation of its past consumption of mountains and seas. Truly, oddities were everywhere, and treasures lay on every path. But they all became nourishment for the enlightened beings' cultivation.
"Swallowing mountains and seas..." "Who can't do that?" "If it doesn't change again, even with the foundation of the Primordial Immortal Realm, it will only meet the same fate as the Xuanhuang Realm." Li Fan’s gaze was cold. Although he borrowed the name of the Azure Nether's ancient method of imparting knowledge, it was not the same cultivation method. The reason the enlightened beings could truly devour this world was entirely due to Li Fan's deconstruction of the current Net of Grasp. The essence of the net was another manifestation of the "Net of Grasp's" past engulfment of mountains and seas. Li Fan, with his Return to Truth in hand, had witnessed countless transformations of mountains and seas, both real and illusory. Especially with the support of the Mound Guardian and Morality's synergistic unity, his comprehension of the transformation between truth and falsehood, while not yet perfected, could certainly be considered as having made initial progress. One must remember that the Mound Guardian had once erased the phantom bodies of thousands of sages with a single thought, and he himself could ascend to sainthood through the illusory forms of mountains and seas. Since this world originated from mountains and seas, Li Fan found its deconstruction not that difficult. What was truly rare was finding the "Net of Grasp" that hid behind the scenes. Therefore, Li Fan had been waiting for the "Net of Grasp" to rewrite the rules again. When change occurs, flaws emerge. Leaping from being able to only devour evolved ferocious beasts to being able to devour the world itself—the significance represented by this was worlds apart. The "Net of Grasp," possessing the ability to swallow mountains and seas, naturally understood this principle. As Li Fan said, if there were no change and these enlightened beings continued their reckless actions, this net would soon be shattered. Representing the will of the "Net of Grasp," a dramatic upheaval occurred in heaven and earth. Ten thousand streaks of lightning appeared simultaneously, illuminating the dim world in an instant. The lightning did not flash and disappear; instead, it seemed frozen, gradually filling the sky. Like countless fissures, or like threads of light. Densely packed, they covered the sky. Moments later, countless beings poured out from these fissures. Their target was Li Fan and his enlightened army! Even though they knew no fear, the created beings, upon witnessing this scene, could not help but stiffen. As their honored teacher had said, the sky had been torn open by them. But... the number of enemies appearing simultaneously was simply too great! Faced with such a terrifying disparity in numbers, their struggles would only result in them being easily crushed into fragments.
"What good is it now?" "It's just a desperate struggle. Killing one is enough, killing two is a profit." While their spirits were shaken, Li Fan's voice echoed in their minds, allowing them to weakly recover their senses. They retreated defensively, gathering together to face the surging enemy. However, the power disparity was too immense. The enlightened creation army collapsed instantly. This was no longer the net's normal procedure of forcing a deathmatch and then absorbing; it had turned into a complete purge.
Li Fan ignored the enlightened creations rapidly disappearing around him. He even ignored the ferocious beasts of the net that were about to attack him. "Finally, found you!" A cold glint appeared in his eyes. His movement mirrored that of the Sacred Emperor Tai Wei. He extended his hands and tore forcefully. Yet, his action was not merely an imitation of the Sacred Emperor. The Sacred Emperor's desperate strike had only exposed the "Net of Grasp" hidden behind the scenes. Li Fan's true purpose was to tear off a piece of its flesh! Not for the mountains and seas, but for himself.
"Mountain and Sea First Sage, I wonder how your current Dao differs from then!" "Swallowing mountains and seas, this Dao suits me perfectly!" Separated by the void, connected only by the脉络 of mountains and seas, the Sages in the Other Shore's Vortex Ring only saw what Li Fan transmitted. Li Fan had no fear of exposing his secrets. With a thought, truth and falsehood transformed. "Since you've come, don't leave." Li Fan, in his mortal body, was so insignificant amidst the tidal wave of millions of monsters, barely worth mentioning. Yet, without him making any discernible move, all the approaching monsters vanished in an instant. As if they were wiped away by an invisible hand. Without exception. And as Li Fan slowly strode upwards, a long, vast void appeared in the sky filled with monstrous dark clouds, following his footsteps.
Even though they were programmed to fear no death, the evolved creatures of the net instinctively felt a sense of resistance and unwillingness to rush to their deaths. Beyond the shock of the instant erasure of truth and falsehood, it was fundamentally because of their creator. The "Net of Grasp" also felt a trace of fear. Despite its ability to swallow mountains and seas, its dissipation in the face of the transformation of truth and falsehood was only momentary. The "Net of Grasp" was a top-tier hunter, but also extremely cautious. Facing Li Fan, whose origins were unknown yet who wielded unimaginable divine abilities, it made a decision almost instantly. Retreat! It could no longer stay in this mountain-sea realm. Even with heavy losses, it was better than annihilation. As if time had resumed its flow, the frozen lightning in the sky slowly dissipated. The world began to disintegrate, and the shadow hidden behind the scenes seemed to be receding. As for the evolved ferocious beasts... they became a feast for the remaining enlightened beings.
"Honored teacher's divine abilities are invincible, and his words hold true. He has indeed led us to tear through this sky!" They were ecstatic, doing their utmost to hunt the surrounding evolved beings. Some of the evolved beings were even stronger than them, but at this moment, they seemed to have lost their target and stood motionlessly, allowing themselves to be slaughtered and devoured. "Indeed, it is crucial to follow the right person." A nascent, naive thought began to sprout in the minds of the enlightened beings.
With the full strength of His Dao, Anchor would not have collapsed so quickly.
Firstly, Li Fan’s attack with the Great Dao of True and False was truly terrifying.
Anchor’s meticulously crafted net of devouring was shattered at a touch before Li Fan, utterly incapable of resistance. The gap between them seemed as vast as the difference between clouds and mud. Unknown entanglements and overwhelming fear left Anchor devoid of any will to fight.
Secondly, Anchor was not truly a native creature of the current Mountain and Sea Realm. It had only come to hunt for the Great Dao of "Mountain and Sea Creatures." Even if the hunt failed, it would suffer no substantial loss. However, if it were to truly entangle with the unfathomable and dangerous Li Fan…
Stealers of Opportunity, Hundred Inquiries, Inch-by-Inch, Tai Wei, Li Fan…
All those who had fallen into the net had come prepared and one after another. Even if Anchor defeated Li Fan, perhaps even stronger individuals would appear.
Furthermore, its existence had been exposed, and this place was no longer safe for lingering.
These reasons, piled on top of each other, led Anchor to focus solely on escaping, having no desire to continue fighting.
It allowed Li Fan to rampage through Anchor’s net as if entering an uninhabited land.
The Primordial Immortal Realm, painstakingly woven by Anchor, was largely turned into sustenance for Li Fan and his enlightened creations to comprehend the Dao.
The process by which True-False erased Anchor's traces on the net was also Li Fan's process of comprehending its essence.
In ordinary times, the Mountain and Sea Realm was guarded by numerous Sages. Even if Li Fan wanted to freely unleash his True-False divine abilities to test his comprehension, he wouldn’t have had a suitable opportunity. But now, Li Fan could act with impunity, fully unleashing himself.
Although the Primordial Immortal Realm was merely a projection of the "Anchor," derived from the initial devouring of the Mountain and Sea Realm, its reality was no less than the current Mountain and Sea Realm.
As True-False continuously erased the surrounding scenery, profound insights flooded into Li Fan’s mind.
It was like a feast after a long period of starvation, an unprecedented sense of satisfaction engulfing Li Fan.
“As the saying goes, ‘What is learned on paper is ultimately shallow; to know the truth of the matter, one must practice it oneself.’”
“Just knowing something versus truly experiencing it. Indeed, there is a considerable difference.”
“Even the shared memories of united hearts cannot completely replace my personal experience. I have, from the perspective of Mound Guardian, experienced erasing the phantom images of countless Sages with a wave of my hand, but the feeling then pales in comparison to the exhilaration I feel now…”
For the first time since his reincarnation, Li Fan unleashed the full power of True-False. While fully displaying his ultimate techniques, he did not forget his current objective.
The net of concealment was gradually falling apart, and the "Anchor" hiding behind it, this initial Sage of the Mountain and Sea, finally revealed its true form.
It did not appear as a "human" but as a massive aggregation of swirling, circular shadows.
Innumerable tiny black tendrils coiled around its form, flickering with images of Mountain and Sea scenes it had devoured.
Observing its appearance, Li Fan instinctively felt discomfort.
It was as if the black shadow, through its gaze, had invaded his body and begun to attempt erosion.
Li Fan coldly snorted, and with the transformation of True and False, he instantly erased Anchor’s influence.
The "Art of Cowardice" was also activated instantaneously.
On the Great Dao of Return to Truth panel, the "Stealer of Opportunity," previously enveloped in colorful brilliance, instantly lost its color, becoming plain black and white, its profound charm gone.
And in the reality of the Mountain and Sea Realm, Li Fan, in that instant, transformed from the Sage of "Cosmic Cycle" into the Sage of "Stealer of Opportunity"!
He looked at Anchor’s receding figure and said coldly, "You stole my Great Dao, and you wish to simply leave?"
"What you took from me… you will return!"
Of Anchor's countless swirling shadowy tendrils, one suddenly exploded without warning.
It transformed from inky black to a similarly cold gray.
Then, as if losing control, it surged into the other tendrils, devouring and plundering wantonly like ravenous wolves!
Anchor possessed the ability to swallow mountains and seas, yet under the frenzied plundering of this suddenly uncontrolled gray anomaly, it found itself struggling to resist!
It could only watch helplessly as the other entity snatched away a portion of its accumulated essence.
Although both were forms of devouring, their underlying principles were fundamentally different.
Anchor’s devouring of mountains and seas was like a hunter preying on its prey, a forceful seizure.
But this cold, gray anomaly…
Taking without permission is theft!
This out-of-control gray aura within Anchor’s body was precisely the portion of the Great Dao’s origin that it had unceremoniously seized from the Stealer of Opportunity Sage.
It had already been devoured and assimilated into its own power.
However, as Anchor attempted to flee under the pressure of the Great Dao of True and False,
under the control of Li Fan, who had transformed into the Sage of "Stealer of Opportunity," this wisp of origin instantly lost control.
It returned to Li Fan's embrace and then, in turn, began to frantically steal Anchor's essence.
Within Anchor's body lay its accumulated efforts of countless years of devouring mountains and seas.
It was an absolute treasure trove.
Under normal circumstances, even a true Stealer of Opportunity would find it difficult to steal the Great Dao from within.
But now, the thief had entered the treasure vault! The most stringent defenses on the outer perimeter were no longer a concern; all that remained was to plunder as much as possible before the vault was moved!
Although the vault contained myriad treasures, Li Fan deeply understood that the most valuable item was not the Great Dao Anchor had devoured over the years.
It was the vault itself!
It contained the fundamental structure that constituted Anchor's ability to devour mountains and seas, the very cause of Anchor’s attainment of Dao.
“Such a rare opportunity, truly once in a millennium!”
Li Fan narrowed his eyes, sensing a torrent flowing from Anchor to himself.
Aside from Anchor's accumulation, its cultivation, and its innate aptitude, it also contained its luck, destiny…
The entirety of its substantial existence was being meticulously stripped away by Li Fan, who then emptied the vault with masterful skill.
“Scoundrel!”
Anchor, this primordial Sage of the Mountain and Sea, finally let out a furious roar.
Its voice was piercingly high-pitched, not like a human sound but rather like the shrieking of myriad insects.
The black shadow trembled violently, seemingly driven mad by the theft from its treasure vault.
“What? You can steal, but others cannot?”
Li Fan remained unfazed, continuing his skillful plundering.
He even occasionally mocked.
“You…” Anchor’s dim silhouette seemed to show signs of regaining its inky blackness.
But after considering something, it ultimately chose not to tangle further with Li Fan.
It decided to flee as quickly as possible to minimize its losses.
Before departing, it did not forget to issue a parting threat.
Its venomous voice echoed through the rapidly fragmenting world.
“Stealer of Opportunity… very well! I will remember this!”
The inky blackness completely faded.
The treasure vault gradually became insubstantial, as if vanishing into the Mountain and Sea Realm from thin air. Li Fan could only steal progressively less.
In the end, he could only watch as Anchor disappeared without a trace.
Li Fan let out a sigh of lingering dissatisfaction: “The Great Dao of Stealing Opportunity is truly extraordinary. It could even probe and sense ‘Return to Truth’ within my true spirit back then.”
This brief test of his abilities made him understand its mystical nature even more. No wonder even someone as cautious as Stealer of Opportunity was willing to abandon everything and fight for their life back then. Aside from their innate disposition, it was their absolute confidence in the Dao they wielded.
“A pity. If Return to Truth itself hadn't been unwilling, perhaps it might have succeeded.”
As the Sage of Stealer of Opportunity, Li Fan had managed to strip a layer of skin from Anchor.
In the Hall of Great Dao Realization, a new line of characters was added.
Although currently just a phantom image, it had already displayed its distinctiveness.
It was not covered in a colorful sheen but enveloped in a weathered gray aura.
It exuded an indescribable sense of ancientness.
Besides "ancient," there was a peculiar charm entwined.
Upon careful observation, Li Fan vaguely discerned its meaning.
It was the word "forbidden"!
It seemed an outcast of the Mountain and Sea Realm, and even of this Hall of Great Dao.
Unlike other Mountain and Sea Great Daos that Li Fan had encountered and absorbed, which behaved obediently once incorporated, this one was constantly restless, with an intent to break free and escape.
Though suppressed by the "Great Dao Realization," its struggle was destined to be futile.
Yet, this "rebelliousness" already showcased the uniqueness of Anchor's Dao.
Li Fan mused, “The Three Sages once said that Anchor, which always lurked in the shadows, would be affected in its own manipulated Dao once exposed, a backlash from pushing its Dao to its extreme and beyond the Mountain and Sea Realm.”
“From the wisp of aura I stole from the Great Dao Realization, Anchor’s Dao indeed bears the mark of surpassing the limits of the Mountain and Sea Realm.”
With no time to savor his gains, the simulated Primordial Immortal Realm, without Anchor’s support, began to fragment. Li Fan suddenly shed his "Stealer of Opportunity" guise and reverted to his original "Cosmic Cycle" form.
“Master, save us!”
Suddenly, cries for help, one after another, reached Li Fan’s ears.
They came from the sentient beings Li Fan had enlightened.
After the tribulation of world destruction, only a fraction of them remained.
However, those who survived had gained immensely.
Li Fan pondered for a moment and then collected them all.
He wasn't worried about them leaking any secrets.
Could the True-False transformation be understood by ordinary sentient beings?
Let alone them, even if the Sages of the Other Shore had witnessed Li Fan's battle with Anchor, they would have only seen a blur, unable to comprehend its intricacies.
The Anchor’s net shattered, and Li Fan reappeared in the true Mountain and Sea Realm.
Instantly, he entered the perception of the Sages in the previous section of the Mountain and Sea Realm.
Li Fan’s expression remained unchanged, allowing the subtle energies coiling around him to guide him into the Vortex Rings.
Looking around, this part of the Mountain and Sea Realm was far less lively than where Li Fan had been.
It even appeared somewhat desolate.
Not to mention those who later attained Sainthood, among the original Nine Sages of the Other Shore, only six remained.
It seemed that the Void Realm and Anchor had indeed placed immense pressure on their survival.
“May I ask, fellow Daoist, from whence do you hail?” Sage Gui Hai asked solemnly.
Li Fan recounted the entire sequence of events.
He only concealed the fact that he had transformed into the Sage of the "Stealer of Opportunity" and indulged in a feast.
“Is that so?”
Upon learning that reinforcements were coming to the later stages of the Mountain and Sea Realm, and that they were so powerful, even the Three Sages could not help but show joy.
“Your ability of True Spirit Infusion is truly a great fortune for the Mountain and Sea Realm!”
Li Fan, however, stated, “The current priority should be to quickly reunite the fragmented Mountain and Sea Realm and build a common defense line.”
“Although the Void Realm’s siege is grand, it cannot withstand our combined efforts!”
With that, Li Fan looked towards where his true body resided.
…
In fact, the moment Anchor's net collapsed and Li Fan's clone officially entered the forward section of the Mountain and Sea Realm,
a blurry image had already faintly appeared within the Vortex Rings.
However, due to the sudden disappearance of Li Fan's projected image the moment before, the Sages were still in a state of doubt.
“I observed Daoist Fan’s progress and was about to break through the situation; what happened?”
Li Fan frowned, sensed for a moment, and then slowly said, “The spiritual veins of the Mountain and Sea Realm were affected, and I could not sense what was happening within Anchor’s net.”
“However, at the last moment, I detected signs of that world about to collapse. This should be good news for us.”
The Sages remained silent.
They had initially expected Li Fan’s journey to be merely a delaying tactic, but they never imagined he would actually break Anchor's net.
Although, in reality, seven-tenths of the credit belonged to Tai Wei Sacred Emperor’s earlier exposure of the mastermind.
However, this move was truly beyond the expectations of the Sages.
The Three Sages looked towards the front section of the Mountain and Sea Realm and, after a moment, nodded slightly, “Anchor’s power covering the Mountain and Sea Realm is indeed dissipating. It is leaving.”
With the confirmation from the Three Sages, the other Sages within the Vortex Rings breathed a collective sigh of relief.
“Without Anchor's covetous gaze, we will only need to face the threat of the Void Realm henceforth.”
“Although its power is formidable, we have all gradually grown accustomed to it.”
Compared to the Dao Erasure of the Void Realm, the Sages felt that the existence from the early stages of the Mountain and Sea Realm was more troublesome.
This was not to say that the initial Sage of the Mountain and Sea was stronger than the Void Realm.
Rather, the tribulation of the Void Realm, though terrifying, lacked so many variables.
Everything was laid out in the open.
In contrast, beings like Anchor, the initial Sage of the Mountain and Sea, possessed unfathomable strength, and their thoughts and actions were filled with unknowns.
For example, its adventurous journey to the later stages of the Mountain and Sea Realm was entirely beyond the Sages' expectations.
Regardless of the outcome, it had introduced numerous variables.
If it were a simple skirmish between the two sides, it would have been manageable, a matter of responding to moves.
However, they also had to simultaneously face the greatest threat, the Void Realm.
With both troubles present, even the Three Sages felt a sense of difficulty.
Yet, Anchor's departure had finally cleared the skies.
With Li Fan's clone as the link, the two sections of the Mountain and Sea Realm quickly reached a consensus.
On the surface, both sides would maintain a passive stance to avoid provoking a fierce reaction from the Void Realm.
In secret, Li Fan's clone would use the True Spirit Infusion technique to create as many newly ascended Sages as possible.
Then, the Sages in the latter section of the Mountain and Sea Realm would slowly "smuggle" their own clones to the front through the spiritual veins of the Mountain and Sea Realm.
Once all preparations were complete, both sides would launch a simultaneous offensive.
The front section of the Mountain and Sea Realm would draw the Void Realm’s attention, while the Sages from the latter section would emerge together to reunite the Mountain and Sea Realm as quickly as possible.
Once reunited, the Void Realm's siege would be broken!
“This was originally a near-death situation. Who would have thought it would turn into such a great opportunity!”
“Daoist Fan’s True Spirit Infusion divine ability is indispensable!”
“Alas, without Tai Wei Sacred Emperor, we would still be agonizing over how to break the net.”
…
As the Sages chatted, the atmosphere in the Other Shore gradually became more relaxed.
Only Stealer of Opportunity privately transmitted a message to Li Fan.
“May I ask, Daoist Fan, did you encounter anything unusual when Anchor fled?”
Li Fan asked with some confusion, “Daoist Stealer of Opportunity, why do you ask?”
“The Primordial Immortal Realm shattered, chaotic everywhere. I could only focus on self-preservation and did not notice anything unusual.”
“Or rather…”
Li Fan’s words suddenly paused: “When Anchor left, it seemed extremely enraged. Not just because it was fleeing.”
Stealer of Opportunity mused upon hearing this.
"Fellow Daoist Qie Ji, have you perceived something amiss?" Li Fan asked, feigning ignorance.
"Indeed, it is rather peculiar. A moment ago, I… I felt as if another *Sage of Stealth* had descended upon the mountains and seas," the Sage of Stealth whispered after a pause.
"Two Daos standing alongside each other, appearing at the same time within the mountains and seas. I felt my very foundation waver, as if it were about to be usurped. Simultaneously, a sense of fear and avarice arose within me… That sensation was utterly unprecedented!" Sage of Stealth said with a worried expression.
"Oh? Such a thing occurred?" Li Fan feigned surprise. He then furrowed his brow deeply. "How is this possible? Daoist Friend, you became a Sage through 'Stealth.' One Dao cannot accommodate two masters. How could there be another within the mountains and seas… Hmm?"
At this point, Li Fan seemed to recall something, and his words abruptly halted.
Sage of Stealth immediately sensed Li Fan's change in demeanor and quickly asked, "Daoist Friend, did you remember something?"
Li Fan hesitated several times before speaking. "The strange changes that occurred to you, Daoist Friend, indeed have their origins. However…" Glancing at Sage Shou Qiu beside him, Li Fan slowly continued, "This matter involves another's secret, and it is not appropriate to speak of it directly. Daoist Friend, do not be anxious. First, allow me to inquire."
"Then I thank you in advance, Daoist Friend!" Sage of Stealth said with a solemn expression.
After a moment of feigned communication, Li Fan finally transmitted his voice to Sage of Stealth, speaking leisurely: "Daoist Friend must know that Sage Shou Qiu became a Sage through a fragment of the Great Dao of 'Longevity'…"
Sage of Stealth, being intelligent, understood Li Fan’s hint instantly. "You mean, Sage Shou Qiu experienced a similar sensation as I did?"
"Even more intensely, in fact. Shou Qiu once said that he is not the true master of Longevity, but merely obtained a fragment by chance. However, the true master of Longevity does not exist in the current era of the mountains and seas. They exist only at the very beginning of the mountains and seas, much like many formidable beings of that era."
"To avoid the tribulation of Dao Erasure, they wielded the divine ability of 'Cutting Off the Future.' Thus, they could exist permanently in the past. Under normal circumstances, they would never set foot in the middle or later stages of the mountains and seas. That 'Net' originated from the beginning of the mountains and seas and left in a hurry due to its own exposure…"
"Before leaving, it seemed both rushed and furious. Coupled with Daoist Friend's perception of another aura belonging to Stealth…"
Synthesizing these conditions, Li Fan offered his conclusion: "Could it be that the one who descended at that time was an ancient Sage from the beginning of the mountains and seas, the master of Stealth?"
Before Li Fan could even finish, Sage of Stealth's body shuddered. He had already arrived at this conclusion. While it seemed unbelievable, his fleeting sensation was undeniably accurate.
"Indeed, there is another existence in the mountains and seas that wields the 'Stealth' Dao?"
"Have I… not yet fully mastered the Dao of Stealth?"
"Born at the beginning of the mountains and seas, their foundation must be far more profound than mine. Coupled with the active emotions that arose in my heart at that time…"
"Could it be that this person's creation is even superior to mine?" Sage of Stealth fell into deep self-doubt.
Subsequently, Sage of Stealth appeared somewhat distracted. Only after successfully differentiating an intention and having it reside within a lucky being of the mountains and seas did he finally regain his composure.
Through the network of the mountains and seas, he saw the Sages gathered. There were the Six Sages from the earlier stages, such as Lian Shan, Gui Hai, Tai Yi, Gui Ming, Duan Chan, and Shou Qiu. There were also over ten figures resembling Sage of Stealth, who, although not outwardly Sages, were actually incarnations of Sages from the later stages of the mountains and seas.
Sage of Stealth was already in a state of mental turmoil. Upon seeing the battlefield of the mountains and seas before him, where he was absent, his heart lurched violently. Although he had learned from Li Fan about the brutal war in the mountains and seas, leaving only six Sages alive, he was confident in his own strength and firmly believed he was one of the six surviving Sages. To his surprise, upon arriving here, he found his own seat empty!
He became even more distraught. "Those with far less power than I have survived. Does this not signify something in the grand scheme of things?" Fortunately, this was merely an incarnation of a mortal, traversing the network of the mountains and seas forcefully. The other Sages did not immediately detect Sage of Stealth's inner turmoil. They were engaged in discussing their grand plan to reconnect the mountains and seas.
"Daoist Friend Zhou Hui is already scouring the mountains and seas, searching for ordinary, moldable talents. While the later generations are full of talent, this current era is exceptionally barren. And yet, the Void Realm's onslaught grows fiercer…"
"Although we have reunited now, we must not be careless," Sage Gui Hai sighed. Unbeknownst to them, having endured some cruel and brutal battles, the Three Sages of this temporal segment possessed less arrogance and more foresight and caution. Before the mountains and seas were formally reconnected, although they were the same being, their different experiences had led to slightly different personalities. The intention-incarnations of the Three Sages did not steal the spotlight, remaining centered around the Three Sages of the current temporal segment.
All of them nodded in agreement. The atmosphere in the hall became solemn. Sage Lian Shan continued, "Fortunately, as long as we overcome this tribulation, the mountains and seas ahead, as far as the eye can see, will be smooth sailing! If this reconnection is successful, for the next thirty million years, nothing will be able to stop us in the mountains and seas."
Upon hearing this, everyone's spirits were lifted. Having undergone several reconnections, they were well aware of the benefits. The sum total of the fragmented mountains and seas amounted to less than a million years. Now, Sage Lian Shan claimed that thirty million years of extended time lay ahead of them. If they could connect all of it, how much would their strength increase? The Sages fell into contemplation. Even the somewhat dazed Sage of Stealth, invigorated by this prospect, felt a surge of renewed spirit.
"Indeed. He hides at the beginning of the mountains and seas, his power fixed. But I am moving against the current, merging all my past selves. The true inheritor of Stealth is yet unknown!"
…
Li Fan suddenly asked, "May I ask the Three Sages, what is precisely the time frame for the 'beginning of the mountains and seas'? And how long do these reconnections typically last?"
Upon his question, the Xuanji Ring fell silent. Not to mention the Sages present, even the Transcendent cultivators within the mountains and seas knew that the passage of time was immeasurable. Measuring it with steps might sound romantic, but in reality… Furthermore, each segment was separated by Dao Erasure and the Void Realm. The phrase "a thousand difficulties and ten thousand hardships" could not even begin to describe it. In the past, the Three Sages deliberately obscured the specific years, providing only vague answers. Influenced by the Xuanji Ring and intentionally avoided by the Sages, this question had been overlooked. Now, with Li Fan bringing it up, the Sages present had no choice but to confront it.
How long had the life of the mountains and seas continued? Aside from the Three Sages, no one present knew the answer. Sage Shou Qiu, who embodied Longevity, had the longest lifespan among the Sages. However, in front of the Three Sages, he could only consider himself a youth. Even Shou Qiu had no accurate answer to this question. The Sages could only shift their gaze to the Three Sages. It was evident that the Three Sages truly did not wish to answer this question. A prolonged silence descended upon the Xuanji Ring.
It was a divine thought-incarnation from the later era that finally broke the deathly stillness. "Since Daoist Friend Zhou Hui asks, then let us speak."
"We did not mention it before because we feared it would hinder your ambition to reconnect the mountains and seas. However, after several successful reconnections of the mountains and seas, I believe you all possess sufficient resilience now."
Sage Lian Shan, hearing his other self's words, finally nodded. "Knowing sooner has its benefits. Since that is the case…" The Three Sages simultaneously waved their hands, displaying a consecutive stream of images of the mountains and seas before everyone. Although they had seen miniature panoramas of the mountains and seas before, the Sages had no precise sense of which epoch or segment they themselves inhabited.
"The mountains and seas merge, and there are traces to follow."
"Like tree rings, for every inch deeper, it is called a '[Year]' (Sui)."
"One Year of the mountains and seas, in our more familiar calendar…"
"Is approximately one hundred million years of time."
Up to this point, the Sages' expressions remained relatively calm. The number '[hundred million]' sounded daunting, but some Sages present had indeed lived that long. Therefore, they could still accept it for a while.
Glancing at the reactions of those present, Lian Shan continued slowly, "Since the mountains and seas began to merge and we were born, from the time we have memories, the mountains and seas have already endured nearly a thousand Years." As if imbued with the aura of that long, distant past, Lian Shan seemed to age slightly in the eyes of the Sages at that moment.
Silence fell upon the Xuanji Ring. One Year was one hundred million years. A thousand Years of mountains and seas meant one hundred billion years. At first glance, it didn't seem like an exceedingly long period. However, all the Sages present had personally traversed and reconnected the mountains and seas with their own two feet. Their arduous efforts had only managed to repair a million years of time. And now, a hundred billion years of long journey awaited them… Even with the temperament of a Sage, upon grasping this truth, they couldn't help but feel a momentary dizziness.
Even with the additional ten million years of smooth sailing forward mentioned by Sage Lian Shan, they had only traversed one ten-thousandth of the path! Could they truly complete it? This thought suddenly surfaced in the minds of the Sages. Within the Xuanji Ring, the six main bodies of the Sages were still somewhat composed. Bolstered by the unity of the Three Sages, they still possessed a sliver of hope even after knowing the truth, barely supporting them. However, the divine thought-incarnations of the Sages who had traversed the mountains and seas beforehand through the network were plunged into varying degrees of mental storms.
If the saying "those who walk a hundred miles are ninety percent complete" held true, then what they were doing now was far from even the beginning. To comprehend the arduousness of their mission and not collapse on the spot was a testament to their Sage-like nature.
Li Fan, like the other Sages, wore an expression of stunned disbelief. In reality, he had already made some estimations. After all, while others could only roughly infer the scale of the mountains and seas from the occasional panoramic projections shown by the Three Sages, Li Fan had actually obtained the '[Outline of the Mountains and Seas' Transformations]' from the Return to Truth. It recorded not just a snapshot of the mountains and seas, but their entirety. Even with Li Fan's resilient spirit, he had almost lost himself when witnessing such a vast amount of data. It was no wonder Return to Truth had kept this option hidden until Li Fan had matured to a certain extent.
After fully imprinting the mountains and seas with infinite spirituality and becoming a Sage of the mountains and seas, Li Fan harbored deep doubts about the reconnection plan proposed by the Three Sages. The past epochs of the mountains and seas were simply too long. The Sages' current reconnection method was akin to ants crawling. Moreover, this did not even account for the obstacles posed by the Void Realm. With Li Fan's appearance and the assistance of True Spirit Infusion, they had indeed managed to reconnect a few segments of the mountains and seas. But what if Li Fan had not existed in the mountains and seas? Could the mountains and seas truly be reconnected?
The mountain and sea reconnection began at the end of the mountains and seas, passed down by the wanderers of the mountains and seas. With their strategic minds and temperaments, even the Three Sages had recognized and believed in it. And they had acted upon it. Granted, in theory, if one segment could be reconnected, then a hundred, or even a thousand, or ten thousand, could be done sequentially. The mountains and seas indeed held the possibility of reconnection. But this was all predicated on the assumption that the Void Realm remained calm and peaceful. Yet, in just a million years of going against the current, Li Fan had already encountered Void Realm incarnations and ancient Sages weaving nets, among other complications. It was difficult to imagine how many more twists and turns lay ahead on their journey. Li Fan already felt that his life so far was sufficiently long. But compared to the scale of a hundred billion years, he was truly like an infant in swaddling clothes. Under such a vast disparity, Li Fan's doubts grew.
This question had been harbored in his heart for a long time, but there had been no suitable opportunity to voice it. Now, finally speaking it, Li Fan felt a sense of relief. This question was not merely intended to provoke or doubt, but truly carried a sense of seeking guidance. Even Sage Shou Qiu, who embodied Longevity, could not resolve Li Fan's doubts. He could only place his hopes on the Three Sages.
Witnessing the bewildered expressions of those present, Sage Lian Shan chuckled and shook his head slightly. "It was precisely because we foresaw this scene that we were reluctant to reveal the true age of the mountains and seas."
"From the perspective of ordinary beings, seeing the genuine vastness of the mountains and seas would indeed inspire profound confusion."
"However…"
"Since we have resolved to execute the plan to reconnect the mountains and seas, it means this plan is bound to succeed!"
"A hundred billion years, though seemingly long, is merely the path we have already walked."
"If you are willing, you may truly experience the past hundred billion years of the mountains and seas within our divine consciousness."
"I believe that once you have personally walked through it, the confusion in your hearts will naturally dissipate." Sage Lian Shan's voice echoed through the Xuanji Ring, stirring faint white light. A sense of renewed spirit surged through the Sages, and their fighting spirit was somewhat reignited.
Li Fan also began to understand. From the perspective of ordinary lifespans, one would naturally be intimidated by the terrifying magnitude of a hundred billion. But the Three Sages were, in a sense, the personification of the mountains and seas. As they said, a hundred billion years was merely the road they had already traveled. Re-traversing it, even with added hardships, what was there to fear?
"It is precisely because we have experienced it that we believe," Li Fan mused thoughtfully. He was the first to speak, "I dare to borrow the memories of the Three Sages to traverse a thousand miles of the mountains and seas."
"It is as if fulfilling the prophecy of reconnection."
"Otherwise, I fear I may not be able to truly endure." Li Fan's emotions appeared somewhat downcast. The other Sages, though silent, largely felt the same way in their hearts. The logic was sound. However, the difference between personally experiencing it and relying solely on vague faith was immense.
The Three Sages exchanged glances, as if after careful deliberation. Then, they nodded in agreement.
"One hundred billion years of time is indeed long."
"I will guide you through the experience, but you may not be able to endure the entire journey."
"Do not force yourselves; just do your best."
"With intention-incarnations, it is impossible to bear. We must use our true forms."
The one speaking was Lian Shan's intention-incarnation.
The scene shifted back to Li Fan's true form, currently within the Xuanji Ring of the mountains and seas. Ethereal radiance began to emanate from the bodies of the Three Sages. It was as if boundless light and immeasurable landscapes were contained within them. After the Three Sages asked one final question and received affirmative nods from all the Sages, their figures were enveloped by a rapidly intensifying radiance and completely consumed!
Connected Mountains, the civilization of the Sea of Mountains.
Abyssal Sea, the living beings of the Sea of Mountains.
Primordial Beginning, the Great Dao of the Sea of Mountains.
The Three Sages could roughly represent the Sea of Mountains itself.
Under Li Fan's propulsion, the Three Sages cast all the sages within the Vortex Rings of the Heavens into their long memories.
It did not begin from the time the Sea of Mountains diverged.
Instead, it began after the Primordial Immortal Realm’s fragmentation and the gradual merging of the Sea of Mountains.
As it was an experiential memory, no independently existing individuals were differentiated.
All the sages gathered like numerous green light spots.
What the Three Sages saw and heard was displayed as three separate light screens, positioned before all the sages.
It was merely “watching,” yet the Three Sages imbued it with an “experiential” feeling through their unfathomable might.
It was virtually indistinguishable from personally experiencing it.
Through the eyes of the Three Sages, they vaguely glimpsed a corner of the true Primordial Immortal Realm. What was previously an empty concept gradually became concrete and clear.
The Primordial Immortal Realm was born and evolved after the Sea of Mountains diverged and during the initial creation of the Sea of Mountains.
Perhaps it was because the All-Encompassing "True Gods" were boundlessly numerous, and the Sea of Mountains could not fully consume them. Or perhaps, when the True Gods fell, the Sea of Mountains did not obtain all of them.
In any case, within the Primordial Immortal Realm, there were many peculiar beings nurtured by heaven and earth, some even feeding on the Dao. Living beings fought amongst themselves, and some coveted the Sea of Mountains' miraculous encounters.
All things competed, and life flourished vibrantly.
There were no boundaries, no restraints, and no taboos.
Who lived and who died.
It was all based on their own capabilities.
The Primordial Immortal Realm had existed for an unknown duration. But the Sea of Mountains could not endure eternally, and it ultimately met its doom today.
Innumerable small black voids appeared in every corner of the Primordial Immortal Realm.
Like terrifying vortices, they devoured everything around them.
The fundamental principles that constructed the Primordial Immortal Realm vanished within them in an instant.
Living beings scattered and struggled for survival, no longer concerned with their fights.
The green light spots flickered incessantly, the intentions of all sages intertwined.
"The Primordial Immortal Realm, such a magnificent and majestic existence, nurturing countless Daos and living beings. Yet, under the merging of the Sea of Mountains, it has fallen apart in an instant!"
"No matter how extraordinary, it was merely an experiment of the Sea of Mountains. When the Sea of Mountains understood its destiny was to merge, it was naturally discarded."
"It was born from a thought of the Sea of Mountains, and it will perish by a thought of the Sea of Mountains…"
"Who would have thought that even the inner hearts of the Three Sages would harbor fear."
"This scene is too similar to our struggle before the advent of the Dao Erasure. All that we have experienced, our predecessors experienced it trillions of years ago. In this regard, the Sea of Mountains seems like a vast cycle."
The fragmentation of the Primordial Immortal Realm was like a storm, ruthlessly sweeping away the surviving beings within. Even those as strong as the Three Sages could only be like ants in the wind, buffeted by the storms. They were utterly unable to resist this grand tide of the Sea of Mountains, and could only desperately flap their wings to maintain their survival.
The sages who moments ago were calmly discussing amongst themselves, now, as time elapsed, were caught in the storm of the Sea of Mountains' collapse and gradually lost the ability to speak.
Only then did they realize how fortunate they were to have been protected by the Primordial Immortal Realm.
It was similar to the calamity of the Dao Erasure that obliterated all things, yet fundamentally different.
This storm was the Sea of Mountains’ act of utilizing everything and eliminating anomalies.
All that had originated from the Gods, and that the latter had not absorbed, was now to be utterly reclaimed.
Nothing existed beyond the Sea of Mountains.
There were no transcended beings, no one's existence surpassed the Sea of Mountains.
To survive the storm, one could only become a part of the Sea of Mountains.
The storm lasted for tens of millions of years before it finally subsided.
If they had personally experienced this calamity instead of merely observing it within the memories of the Three Sages, perhaps fewer than one in ten sages would have survived.
As if it had absorbed all the essence obtained from the Gods, the Sea of Mountains finally revealed its form.
The Infinite Sea, nurturing all possibilities.
Without the concept of time, starlight twinkled, birth and death spiraled, all evolving and dissipating within it.
Mount Above ascended majestically. Though formless and intangible, it represented eternal energy and a foundation. It was like a pillar; it was precisely because of Mount Above's existence that the infinite possibilities within the Infinite Sea could continue.
The Sea of Mountains depended on each other. They seemed independent, yet they also relied on one another.
"Everyone, this initial Sea of Mountains… it seems vastly different from what we see later?"
"The later Sea of Mountains, with its so-called infinite possibilities, still existed within the constraints of the river of time, like myriad great rivers flowing side by side. But this Sea of Mountains at this moment…"
"The possibilities were like ripples and waves occasionally stirring in a calm pond. They appeared, then disappeared, yet did not affect the Infinite Sea itself. Compared to the Sea of Mountains in the present era, the state of the initial Sea of Mountains was undoubtedly more stable. Why was it forcibly merged?" Doubts arose in the hearts of all sages.
However, their myriad thoughts within their hearts could only arise as onlookers. The beings truly caught within it were now focused on one thing.
That was to survive!
Compared to the land of bliss that was once without restrictions, the formed Sea of Mountains had incredibly strict rules.
It was even somewhat cruel.
Regardless of one's strength, one could not endure forever. One could only live and die as the countless possibilities that constantly evolved and perished within the Infinite Sea did, with no control over their fate.
Even those who once roamed freely in the Primordial Immortal Realm could only silently perish now.
The new rules of the Sea of Mountains were, to the beings of the past, nothing short of cruel. Yet, they forged a new, sufficiently stable order.
Between the birth and demise of possibilities, it seemed to follow some unfathomable law. Though starlight twinkled within the pond, the water itself remained as calm as ever.
Mount Above was like a pillar at the edge of the pond.
The Sea of Mountains depended on each other, in balanced harmony.
Most of their former companions had perished. The Three Sages, however, either lay dormant within the Sea of Mountains, or had merged with the Sea of Mountains, or were simply waiting for an opportunity.
The initial Sea of Mountains was exceptionally peaceful.
The possibilities that evolved within it were also extremely simple.
There were not even truly living beings in the strict sense, only simple life forms resembling algae.
However, as the light spots flickered differently within the Infinite Sea.
The forms of evolving possibilities gradually became richer.
Within some possibilities, intelligent life began to appear.
The Three Sages, struggling to survive under the harsh rules of the Sea of Mountains, took this opportunity to slip into them, seeking respite.
Compared to the ignorant beings born from new possibilities, the Three Sages, originating from the Primordial Immortal Realm, were undoubtedly true "Sages."
But the Three Sages did not attempt any intervention, merely observing silently.
When they sensed that a possibility was about to perish, they would timely withdraw, and seek survival anew within the Infinite Sea.
An unknown amount of time passed like this.
If no accident had occurred, the Sea of Mountains might have remained peaceful forever.
On this day, the Infinite Sea suddenly became turbulent and agitated without any warning.
The sea of stars filled the sky, like a bright mirror, as if reflecting the scene beyond the Sea of Mountains.
The Three Sages looked up, attempting to seize this opportunity to glimpse.
But they only saw fragmented scenes and instantly understood the reason for the Sea of Mountains' turmoil!
After engulfing the Gods, the Sea of Mountains desired to maintain a state of "eternity" without the passage of time.
Without beginning or end, it could naturally endure forever.
It did seem successful.
But…
At this moment, outside the Sea of Mountains, time was still quietly flowing!
Unbeknownst to the Sea of Mountains all along!
It was as if, from beginning to end, a pair of eyes had been coldly watching them.
The multitude of sages, not just those immersed in memories, but the very Mountains and Seas themselves, were shaken to their core and trembled uncontrollably at this discovery. The Infinite Sea instantly churned with countless ripples, giving rise to more possibilities in this single moment than had occurred in the preceding ten billion years combined. The towering Above-Sea Mountain also seemed to suffer an unseen impact, quivering without end.
After absorbing the gods, Mountains and Seas had believed that all within the world had returned to their embrace. They envisioned a harmonious co-existence, shaping an eternal world. Yet this discovery, occurring now, ruthlessly shattered the long-held aspirations of Mountains and Seas. Thus, change was naturally born.
… "Where does that gaze from beyond the Mountains and Seas originate? Could that be what is referred to as the [Star]?"
"Without this gaze, perhaps Mountains and Seas could truly maintain this so-called eternity. Possibilities would arise and vanish, yet it would not affect Mountains and Seas themselves. Time held meaning for the irregular emergence of possibilities within the Infinite Sea, but it held no meaning for Mountains and Seas themselves. But with this gaze from beyond Mountains and Seas… everything has become different!"
"Mountains and Seas have transformed from eternal creators and sustainers into observed entities. They are no longer beyond all things, no longer eternally unchanging."
"This inexplicable gaze is likely the perpetrator of Mountains and Seas' current predicament. What…?"
After their fear, numerous questions arose in the minds of the surrounding sages. However, if Mountains and Seas themselves could not ascertain the answer, how could the sages present possibly do so? They could only watch on with bewilderment.
In the past, unaware of the gaze of Mountains and Seas, they might have maintained their balance on their own. But ever since sensing that beam of light from beyond Mountains and Seas, they could no longer maintain their former tranquility. As more and more ripples emanated from the Infinite Sea simultaneously, a small pond could no longer contain its waters. It was as if a great wind had been constantly blowing, carrying the water outside its confines. This led to the merging of Mountains and Seas, shattering the tranquility.
Time, quietly, began to flow upon Mountains and Seas. After absorbing the gods, the situation where Mountains and Seas strived to condense their existence into a single point did not last long before it was shattered. Perhaps this indicated some inevitability. The merging of Mountains and Seas was destined to be a calamity for them. Yet, for the beings within the possibilities of Mountains and Seas, it was undoubtedly a fortunate creation.
Some beings, amidst the upheaval of Mountains and Seas, glimpsed the Above-Sea Mountain standing tall within the Infinite Sea. Thus, they began their attempts to ascend. Although most ended in failure, they pressed onward, never admitting defeat. It was as if some inexplicable force was driving them. Though beings were born within Mountains and Seas, the ambition to connect mountains and cross seas was an innate instinct!
Time was like a carving knife, altering the original shape of Mountains and Seas. The water in the pond slowly flowed outward, transforming from a gentle stream into a vast river flowing in myriad directions. The wind and water erosion caused the Above-Sea Mountain, which had once stood by the pond's edge, to be encroached upon. It slowly merged into the great river.
As time passed, the merging of Mountains and Seas intensified. Perhaps it was an unavoidable fate for Mountains and Seas, or perhaps some attempt by Mountains and Seas themselves. From the ancient state of Mountains and Seas existing in parallel and maintaining eternity, to their current state of merging. One hundred and fifty billion years of long time had passed. Possibilities no longer appeared and vanished; instead, they flowed endlessly into the future along with Mountains and Seas, carried by the torrent of time. The great waves washed over the sand.
As the life cycles were continuously extended, the upper limit of strength for new beings born between Mountains and Seas was constantly elevated. Eventually, a being leaped from the Infinite Sea and touched the boundary of the Above-Sea Mountain. Although it perished shortly after, having not survived for long, the impact on Mountains and Seas was undoubtedly immense. It was like a massive stone dropped into the Infinite Sea, creating myriad waves. More and more beings began to emulate and repeat the act of ascending. It seemed to have no reason, yet it also seemed to have perfect reason. Because the Above-Sea Mountain was right there.
Another ten billion years of tedious time passed. The limits that beings of Mountains and Seas could reach grew ever higher. Even with the designation of infinity, the Above-Sea Mountain was destined to be conquered one day. In recent years, Sage Lian Shan, witnessing the continuous attempts at ascension, felt a certain sentiment. He, too, joined the ceaseless stream of people and embarked on his journey. Eventually, he left everyone behind and ascended to the summit of the Above-Sea Mountain.
The gazes of the sages shifted along with the memories of Sage Lian Shan. Originally, the experiences of the three sages unfolded concurrently, but the scene originating from Sage Lian Shan forcefully suppressed the other two. Standing at the pinnacle of Mountains and Seas, Sage Lian Shan did not survey the vastness of Mountains and Seas. Instead, instinctively, he recalled that beam of light from beyond Mountains and Seas that he had sensed many years ago. Thus, he could not help but look up, attempting to peer outward. In just a fleeting moment, Sage Lian Shan felt the presence of that beam of light! Even though he was now the strongest being apart from Mountains and Seas themselves, he could not withstand it at that instant, his form and divine soul shattering.
However, Sage Lian Shan's efforts were not in vain. In that instant, he clearly felt that after ten billion years, that gaze from beyond Mountains and Seas seemed to have drawn even closer! He felt a sense of "Hearing the Dao in the morning, one could die in the evening," and did not regret his momentary impulse that led to his demise. Even as he was about to perish, he remained immersed in the shock brought on by that gaze.
But as the first being to reach the peak of Mountains and Seas, Sage Lian Shan was destined not to perish like this. In the hazy moments before his complete disappearance, scenes of countless beings within Mountains and Seas vigorously exploring and fearlessly ascending the Above-Sea Mountain, with their fiery spirits, flashed through his mind once more. "Mountains and Seas are majestic, and the beings of Mountains and Seas are no less so." "Mountains and Seas are boundless, yet with the limited steps of their beings, they can still measure their expanse." Various insights flashed through Sage Lian Shan's mind like lightning. At the very last moment before his demise, Lian Shan once again attained the Dao. He became a bridge, paving a smooth path for all beings to ascend to the mountaintop.
"My past self would likely not have possessed such comprehension to gain such insights in the throes of near death." "It is because of…" "That gaze." Sage Lian Shan descended into the world.
Mountains and Seas then changed once more. Mountains and Seas were originally independent existences. The beings of Mountains and Seas, their civilizations, their Great Daos – all were unrelated to Mountains and Seas themselves. However, ever since the appearance of Sage Lian Shan, Mountains and Seas themselves became intricately connected with everything within them. Subsequently, Sage Gui Hai and Sage Tai Yi were born. The three sages acted as catalysts, leading to the emergence of more and more beings who could rival Mountains and Seas. It was like a hundred flowers blooming and ten thousand trees vying for spring. The unprecedented liveliness and prosperity within Mountains and Seas made it seem as though the merging of Mountains and Seas was a beneficial endeavor with no drawbacks.
The prosperity of Mountains and Seas continued for over thirty billion years. During this period, countless possibilities unfolded freely. Yet, guided by the three sages from the shadows, they all pointed towards the path of Lian Shan crossing the seas by utilizing the power of Mountains and Seas. The three sages were born from the civilization of Mountains and Seas, and in turn, they influenced the beings of Mountains and Seas.
The sentient beings of Mountains and Seas acted as catalysts, further accelerating the process of their integration.
When prosperity reaches its peak, decline follows, and calamities are inevitable.
The true origin of the first Dao Erasure remained a mystery, even to the three Sages who had attained the Dao.
It seemed to arise from nothingness, suddenly emerging.
However, Mountains and Seas were still at their zenith then. The disappearance of a few possibilities was akin to humans shedding hair – it couldn't truly signify anything.
Until the wave of Dao Erasure, with the passage of time, persistently accompanied Mountains and Seas.
One day, it finally matured.
Unbeknownst to them, it had grown to a point where it could contend with Mountains and Seas. Like a phantom, it suddenly emerged and confronted them.
Where it touched, possibilities collapsed, and the Great Dao ceased to exist.
Mountains and Seas were severed.
What was once a continuous whole was forcibly cut into countless pieces.
Mountains and Seas could rely on their internal connections to maintain a subtle link.
But the beings within Mountains and Seas, on the temporal plane, were shattered into fractured individuals.
Not only was their strength greatly diminished!
Even some of their memories were affected, becoming distorted and incomplete.
When the Sages looked back at the past, recalling billions of years of Mountains and Seas' history from the perspective of the three Sages, they often encountered fragments of memories that seemed veiled in a grayish hue.
These were the parts that had been broken and lost by Mountains and Seas, and subsequently filled in by the Sages' self-contemplation.
In the Sages' perception of memory, five hundred billion years had elapsed from the first appearance of Dao Erasure to the present.
This was an immeasurable expanse of time.
Furthermore, the Sages’ thoughts were not singular entities but manifested into billions of forms, spread across almost all possibilities.
The sheer volume of data was unimaginable. If the Sages had not intentionally blurred it, this five-hundred-billion-year torrent of memories would have been enough to partially erode, distort, and rewrite the personalities of any observing Sages.
Although it was a veiled and abbreviated experience, it did not prevent the Sages from genuinely reliving the journeys the three Sages had undertaken.
However, they did not delve into the myriad possibilities within Mountains and Seas but focused on the overall temporal progression experienced by Mountains and Seas.
The Sages saw that the initial calamity of Dao Erasure was indeed negligible.
The possibilities lost to Dao Erasure were even fewer than those that naturally perished during the evolution of Mountains and Seas themselves.
Yet, in the struggle of the Great Dao, one side's decline meant the other's growth.
Once a destructive trend began, if not halted, it would inevitably continue to escalate.
Even the smallest variable, compounded over billions of years, would grow into an astronomical figure.
By now, the Void Realm, formed by Dao Erasure's erosion, was capable of standing on par with Mountains and Seas.
Furthermore, in the distant future's end, the demise of Mountains and Seas seemed to have become a foregone conclusion.
A long journey was slowly approaching its destination.
After withdrawing from the memories of the three Sages, it took a long time for the Sages' gazes to regain their clarity.
"Even though we have retraced the path we once took, the thought of having to traverse it again makes my scalp tingle."
"This path is truly too long and too arduous," Hundred Inquiries sighed, filled with emotion.
"From an outsider's perspective, the birth of Dao Erasure seems utterly illogical. Outside of Mountains and Seas, there was no Void Realm. Beyond that single gaze, there was nothing else. Yet, as Mountains and Seas evolved, Dao Erasure inexplicably arose and eroded them..."
"Could it be that the Void Realm originated from the gaze of Mountains and Seas?"
After their initial exclamations, the Sages refocused on the peculiar aspects within the three Sages' memories.
"In my opinion, that's unlikely. Even with the current state of Mountains and Seas' decay, the Void Realm is merely on par with them. It is only through the accumulation of erosion over a vast span of time that Mountains and Seas have reached this state of decay. As for that gaze..." Stealthy Inquirer spoke, looking at Sage Lian Shan.
"If Sage Lian Shan's perception at the time was accurate... the pressure from that gaze was unquestionably above and beyond that of Mountains and Seas!"
The other Sages, after recalling the events, wholeheartedly agreed.
"Sage Lian Shan's attainment of Dao essentially placed him on par with Mountains and Seas. Yet, before that gaze, he could not withstand it for even a moment. It is understandable that Mountains and Seas changed because of it."
At this point, the Sages collectively fell into an eerie silence.
Since the gaze from beyond Mountains and Seas had been brought up, its origin could not be avoided.
The answer seemed obvious, yet it was so unbelievable that they hesitated to voice it first.
Sage Li Fan, however, uninhibited, directly posed the question.
"It seems the doubts in your hearts are the same as mine."
"With such immense power, capable of altering Mountains and Seas with a single glance, could this gaze have originated from a 'God'?"
This appeared to be the only logical answer.
The Sages found it difficult to answer Li Fan's question and looked at Sage Lian Shan, the only one who had truly seen that gaze.
"I do not know..." After a moment of silence, Sage Lian Shan offered a rare bitter smile.
"No one has ever seen the true face of a 'God' except for the separated consciousness of Mountains and Seas. I have not seen a God and do not know its form. Even if I were to meet its gaze, how could I be certain?"
"However, if we reason conventionally... your speculations are likely not wrong," Lian Shan added.
Tai Yi shook his head. "A 'God' transcends Mountains and Seas, and thus cannot be deduced by conventional reasoning. Our various speculations and deductions may not lead to the correct conclusion."
"However, one thing is certain. Even if that gaze did not belong to a 'God,' it must have originated from an existence superior to Mountains and Seas. It can be compared to a 'Star'."
"Perhaps it was a residual fragment of Mountains and Seas' separated consciousness that was not fully consumed. Or perhaps it originated from a mysterious, unknowable place, from an entity of equal standing to a 'God.' All the changes in Mountains and Seas since their eternal state are due to it," Gui Hai concluded.
A warmth spread through the Sages' hearts with Gui Hai's words.
It not only alleviated the sense of ancientness felt from witnessing billions of years of memories but also gradually dispelled the subconscious influence of that gaze.
Lian Shan looked at Li Fan. "Fellow Daoist Zhou Hui, how do you feel? Do you still have any doubts?"
Li Fan nodded, then shook his head. "Even after experiencing it once and retracing the path, it still feels incredibly difficult. I lack the wisdom, courage, and perseverance of the three Sages. However..."
"Even an ant clings to life. As Sages, apart from reuniting and saving Mountains and Seas, there seems to be no other better way to survive. We can only try our best for the sake of survival."
Li Fan's candidness surprised the Sages present.
However, they all nodded slightly in agreement.
"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Let us first conquer this peak before us," Li Fan smiled.
What Li Fan referred to, naturally, was Mountains and Seas, currently besieged by the Void Realm.
With their spirits refreshed, the Sages refocused their attention on the self-divided bodies of Mountains and Seas ahead.
The three Sages from the previous temporal phase began to explain the situation.
"Compared to the desperate situation of facing encirclement by the Void Realm's avatars, the current situation is not worse."
"The reason for the current decline is the severe encroachment of Dao Erasure. Despite our protection, Mountains and Seas are still gradually fading," Sage Lian Shan said, pointing to the waves of energy emanating from outside Mountains and Seas.
The Radiant Ring, enveloped in gentle white light, covered the entire stretch of Mountains and Seas.
However, it was visibly and continuously distorted and vibrating.
As if being casually manipulated by an invisible hand, its shape was constantly shifting.
The Radiant Ring itself, and the Mountains and Seas it protected, were like fragile bubbles, precarious and on the verge of shattering at any moment.
"The severity of Dao Erasure is truly rare."
"Even in Sage Lian Shan's billions of years of memory, such a concentration of Dao Erasure is extremely uncommon. No wonder they say that after overcoming this hurdle, the path ahead will be smooth sailing."
"Within this Dao Erasure, if we were merely to protect ourselves, it might not be difficult. However, to simultaneously protect Mountains and Seas..."
For the first time, the Sages directly felt the immense pressure emanating from beyond Mountains and Seas, each frowning and contemplating a solution.
"The pressure of Dao Erasure is on par with that of Mountains and Seas. Only Sages who can stand on equal footing with Mountains and Seas can bear it. Previously, in a desperate situation, the number of Sages was dwindling. But now..."
"With my True Spirit Infusion divine ability, as long as Mountains and Seas are preserved, we can eventually create enough Sages. With each additional Sage, the pressure from the Dao Erasure tide will lessen. With a sufficient number of Sages, this tribulation will dissipate on its own, without us needing to act," Li Fan said softly.
Then, he changed his tone. "However, this can only be a last resort. Firstly, although True Spirit Infusion can alter destiny, it requires suitable candidates. The number of cultivators at the Transcendence realm, just one step away from becoming a Sage..."
"Is actually not very large. Secondly, I fear time is not on our side."
Sage Lian Shan nodded slightly. "As expected, Fellow Daoist Zhou Hui's perception is sharp. Perhaps sensing the departure of the 'Net,' the pressure from the Void Realm beyond Mountains and Seas has intensified. The waves of Dao Erasure are escalating one after another. Soon, they will reach their peak. We do not have much time to slowly create Sages."
As if to confirm Lian Shan's words, the white light outside the Radiant Ring suddenly distorted violently.
Even the Sages seated within the ring felt a sharp jolt.
Looking up, in the pitch-black Void Realm, seemingly overlapping figures began to descend.
Like an approaching army, their sharp points aimed directly at them.
"Avatars of the Void Realm..."
The three Sages frowned simultaneously.
Previously, to intercept Li Fan and the others who were coming to provide support, the Void Realm was willing to deploy more than ten avatars.
Now, to completely claim Mountains and Seas, this segment of the Great Dao of Sentient Beings, the Void Realm would naturally commit more forces.
Especially after Li Fan forced back the 'Net.'
Even the Dao Erasure tide alone was somewhat difficult to resist.
Now, with so many avatars of the Void Realm...
"What is the plan?"
For a moment, all the Sages found themselves in a difficult predicament.
"I have a plan, though I am unsure if it is feasible," said Sage Shou Qiu.
Of course, this represented Li Fan's thoughts, as they shared a unified will.
"Sage Shou Qiu, please proceed."
"In the previous glimpse into the three Sages' memories, we witnessed the scene where Mountains and Seas changed in response to the circumstances. And this place is the vital nexus of Mountains and Seas..."
"Perhaps we can awaken the power of Mountains and Seas itself to counter the Dao Erasure tide!" Shou Qiu said calmly.
The Sages fell silent, seemingly in thought.
Shou Qiu continued on his own. "Mountains and Seas appear to be weak and precarious, needing our salvation. However, after observing the three Sages' billions of years of memories, I have gained new insights."
"Are the civilizations of Mountains and Seas, the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas, and the sentient beings of Mountains and Seas truly Mountains and Seas?"
"They are merely derivatives that arose after Mountains and Seas changed in response to circumstances! In the very beginning, the scene where Mountains and Seas relied on each other and existed eternally was the true form Mountains and Seas were meant to have."
"In other words, these things are relative to the external world for Mountains and Seas, much like human clothing."
"And not the essence of Mountains and Seas themselves!"
Shou Qiu's words were earth-shattering.
The Sages now understood that the so-called civilizations, beings, and Great Dao of Mountains and Seas were likely derived from the three Sages.
Yet now, Shou Qiu spoke such astonishing words, implying that the three Sages did not represent Mountains and Seas.
Within the Radiant Ring, a deathly silence descended.
The Sages focused their gazes inward, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, but silently observing the reaction of the three Sages.
"Civilizations belong to civilizations, and Mountains and Seas belong to Mountains and Seas. Sage Shou Qiu's words are excellent, and I wholeheartedly agree. What are the thoughts of the three Sages?" Li Fan strongly supported Shou Qiu's stance.
Following Li Fan, Morality also voiced his agreement.
The other three Sages simultaneously raised their doubts, and they could no longer remain indifferent.
"Having observed Mountains and Seas for countless years, Sage Shou Qiu has truly gained deeper insight into their mysteries after receiving our memories."
"In a sense, you are correct."
"All attachments within Mountains and Seas cannot represent Mountains and Seas itself."
"Since the creation of the first sentient being, which was tainted with innate ferocity, forcing Mountains and Seas to destroy it. The perfect state that Mountains and Seas envisioned was the eternal time after the destruction of the Primordial Immortal Realm."
"Possibilities would ebb and flow like ripples, with sentient beings arising and perishing within them, without affecting Mountains and Seas in the slightest."
"Mountains and Seas would remain eternally independent, enduring for eternity. But alas..."
"This attempt failed."
"Mountains and Seas, and the civilizations derived from them, became entangled again, the entanglement deepening. However, if we trace back to the root, their essence is still different," Lian Shan did not deny Shou Qiu's conjecture.
The Sages fell into contemplation at Lian Shan's words.
"In a sense, our appearance was actually detrimental, not beneficial, to Mountains and Seas."
"The ideal outcome for Mountains and Seas' separated consciousness would be for them to jointly create a new 'God.' Even if not, maintaining the initial eternal state would still be the best option. But..."
Li Fan recalled the scene he had once witnessed – a solitary star descending and engulfing everything. With a sense of realization, he slowly said, "Any sentient being, civilization, or Great Dao within Mountains and Seas is merely a manifestation of the power differentiated from the origin of Mountains and Seas. In truth, it represents the loss of their power..."
"The stronger the civilizations and sentient beings of Mountains and Seas become, the weaker Mountains and Seas themselves become."
In an instant, Li Fan thought of something and abruptly stopped speaking.
He had a guess, but it was too unbelievable to voice rashly.
He continuously recalled the scene of the solitary star descending.
"The Outline of Mountains and Seas' Transformations, the Strategy of Star Radiance's movements..."
Sage Lian Shan, seemingly unaware of Li Fan's inner turmoil, continued, "Shou Qiu's idea is indeed good. Mountains and Seas are on par with the Void Realm, and now that the Void Realm's army is pressing in, Mountains and Seas can naturally mobilize troops to fight back. The key issue is..."
"How can it be done?"
"Behind the Void Realm, a hidden will seems to be directing the command. But Mountains and Seas..."
Sage Lian Shan shook his head slightly. "Since the collapse of Mountains and Seas' eternal state, it has been a long time since I have felt its true will. Even if I can sense it occasionally, it is merely mere instinct."
"Unconscious instinct might be able to muster a fight in the face of crisis, but it cannot mobilize troops and strategize as the Void Realm does. This is perhaps the most critical reason for Mountains and Seas falling into a disadvantage."
"Even though we are known as Lian Shan and Gui Hai, we cannot truly gather the power of the mountains and seas in one place."
"Moreover, our attacks can be arbitrarily shifted, but how can our defenses be changed at will? Under the background of Dao Destruction's encroachment, every part of the mountains and seas is almost at the limit of what it can withstand. If we draw the power of the mountains and seas from here, I fear that the remaining parts will be immediately swallowed by the Void Realm."
"We are blocked by the gaze of the Void Realm and cannot survey the entirety of the mountains and seas. Even if we could control the power of the mountains and seas, we would not be able to contend with the entity behind the Void Realm." The Three Sages concluded.
Li Fan pondered for a moment and sighed, "It seems I was being too optimistic. However, the current situation is dire. The mountains and seas have abundant power yet are unable to utilize it, leaving us vulnerable to the Void Realm without any means to resist. It is truly frustrating."
"If there were Sages, whose eyes could span from beginning to end, and whose strength could move mountains and seas… wouldn't this crisis be resolved in an instant?"
Upon hearing this, all the Sages fell silent.
"I, however, believe that Daoist Zhou Hui's previous idea may not be entirely infeasible," said Qie Ji, breaking the silence. His words suddenly captured the attention of all the Sages.
"As the saying goes, 'place oneself in mortal peril and one shall survive.' In times of life and death, extraordinary strength is bound to emerge. Although we cannot actively mobilize the power of the mountains and seas now, perhaps we can force their hand."
The memories of a hundred billion years had washed away the gloom in Qie Ji's heart. He had regained his former confidence and spoke slowly, "We will not only force out the power of the mountains and seas themselves, but also that of Qiu Tian Hui and Shao Zi Dai!"
"They are the central nodes maintaining the vital network of life in the mountains and seas. How could such important people leave behind no protective measures? The Great Dao of Sentience, after all, is dependent on the mountains and seas. If these mountains and seas are destroyed, regardless of their plans or where they are, they will undoubtedly be affected!"
Qie Ji's analysis, it must be said, had some merit.
As the Sages pondered the possibility, only the Three Sages and Li Fan noticed the other implications hidden within Qie Ji's words.
"To force the mountains and seas… Qie Ji's idea is rather dangerous."
"It's interesting. If it were the Qie Ji influenced by the 'Concentric Mind' of the Xuan Ji Ring, he wouldn't have such a thought. It's more like the Qie Ji who has broken free from his shackles and regained his true nature. Could it be…" Li Fan observed subtly, scanning everyone around him.
"Even after a hundred billion years, the 'Concentric Mind' has somewhat faded. My situation with Shou Qiu and Dao De is relatively good, as we are a trinity, sharing and communicating closely. However, the other Sages within the Xuan Ji Ring… seem to show signs of losing control."
"Even if it's still faint, it cannot be ignored."
Li Fan had noticed this, and the Three Sages had naturally also detected it. But they, too, did not explicitly mention it, only causing the Xuan Ji Ring to emit a faint white light, flickering imperceptibly.
Whether they were losing control or not was a separate matter from the feasibility of their suggestion. After some deduction, the Three Sages admitted that Qie Ji's plan indeed had a chance of success. However, it could only be used as a last resort, not as a primary strategy.
"Let us first accumulate our strength and fight a battle."
"Although the Void Realm is powerful, we do not need to be timid before fighting. Not to mention ourselves, the scenes of Daoist Shou Qiu and Daoist Zhou Hui repelling the avatars of the Void Realm are still vivid in our minds!" Tai Yi looked beyond the Void Realm, his calm eyes flashing with a cold glint.
The strength gained from several 'reconnections' of the mountains and seas had gradually shifted the Three Sages towards their "complete" personalities. As a ruthless individual who wielded the Myriad Beings Cudgel and had assimilated all other Primordial Tai, Tai Yi would certainly not surrender easily.
In response to Tai Yi's praise, Li Fan and the other two merely smiled and did not respond excessively. As the wielder of the 'True Spirit Infusion' divine ability, he was the most crucial source of backup power after the reconnection of the mountains and seas. The Sages would certainly not send him into battle unless it was absolutely necessary. Unless he volunteered.
However, this time, Li Fan had made up his mind to observe the unfolding events. Therefore, in the following period, Li Fan's actions were to roam the mountains and seas daily, searching for potential talents and guiding them towards sainthood.
Hundreds of thousands of years had passed on the River of Time, advancing from the period he was familiar with. Innumerable geniuses had emerged from the mountains and seas. It was no easy task to successfully screen them. This time, Li Fan had also proactively informed the Sacred Emperor Tai Wei and selected promising individuals from the Sacred Dynasty.
Previously, when selecting backup Sages, their focus had primarily been on cultivators at the Nameless or Transcendent realms. However, the Sacred Dynasty was unique, a world where one person dictated the laws. Although its population numbered in the billions, apart from the Sacred Emperor Tai Wei, the highest cultivation level was only True Immortal. Even those who met the requirements for becoming Sages in terms of resources and talent would require an extremely long time, which they could not afford.
But this time, Li Fan had a premonition that this battle in the mountains and seas ahead might be a protracted one. The countless people of the Sacred Dynasty could not be ignored. Li Fan's appearance greatly alleviated the Sacred Emperor Tai Wei's pressure of alchemy, thus earning him considerable favor. Therefore, he readily agreed to Li Fan's request. Not only were all beings in the vast Sacred Dynasty open for Li Fan to choose from, but the Emperor also proactively recommended several individuals to him.
"Although these individuals have not yet cultivated, their character and talent are of the highest caliber. They are among the best in the entire Sacred Dynasty. All they lack is the corresponding opportunity."
After the battle with "The Net," the Sacred Emperor Tai Wei seemed to have undergone another transformation. Previously, he was a Sacred Emperor who was incomparably noble and aloof, ruling from on high. Now, an ethereal and transcendent aura occasionally emanated from him. Li Fan cast a few more curious glances at him and couldn't help but ask, "Daoist Tai Wei, do you seem to have found new enlightenment?"
The Sacred Emperor Tai Wei did not hide anything. "I used to believe that as the Emperor who ruled a Sacred Dynasty, I should govern all my people and oversee everything. However, after observing the memories of the Sages of the mountains and seas from a thousand years ago, I realized that even the mountains and seas cannot maintain eternity, and my thoughts have changed."
"Being omnipresent and omniscient is indeed excellent. But perhaps…"
"To be hidden between heaven and earth, both present and absent. To let the people be unaware, accepting it as commonplace and forgetting it. Perhaps this is even better."
Li Fan furrowed his brow and did not offer his agreement. The Sacred Emperor Tai Wei smiled upon seeing this. "It is merely an attempt. Daoist Zhou Hui need not worry too much."
"The Sacred Dynasty, after all, is my Sacred Dynasty."
"Even if there are earth-shattering changes, reverting to a stable state is within my power."
"Daoist Tai Wei is truly majestic!" Li Fan could not help but praise.
Pausing slightly, Li Fan suddenly brought up an unrelated question. "Daoist Tai Wei, you have also clashed with 'The Net' before. I wonder…"
"How did it feel?"
The Sacred Emperor Tai Wei, observing Li Fan's expression, understood his intention. He replied frankly, "It was nothing special."
"If the beings of the so-called Primordial Immortal Realm are all of this caliber."
"Then perhaps the Sacred Dynasty Tai Wei can expand its territory in the early days of the mountains and seas!"
The implication in the Sacred Emperor Tai Wei's words coincided perfectly with Li Fan's thoughts. Li Fan simply smiled in understanding and then changed the subject.
After traveling through the Sacred Dynasty for eighteen years, Li Fan had only selected three suitable candidates. Two of them were personally recommended by the Sacred Emperor. One was a preceptor of the Sacred Dynasty, whose life should have been dedicated to spreading the words of the Sacred Emperor to all his people. However, this individual did not believe what he taught. Within the Sacred Dynasty, he was naturally considered an absolute traitor. But he hid it well, never being discovered by those around him. If that were all, he would never have been valued by the Sacred Emperor.
The most interesting point was that this individual, as a preceptor, was well-versed in various classics. He knew clearly what a great existence he served in the Sacred Emperor. Therefore, he was also well aware that his minor 'rebellion' could never be hidden from the great Sacred Emperor. "The Supreme Sacred Emperor is like heaven and earth, encompassing all phenomena. How could he not tolerate my little heresy?"
Even though he harbored unfaithful thoughts, he knew the gravity of the situation. The Sacred Dynasty was the Sacred Emperor's foundation for cultivation, and he would never allow anyone to disrupt it. While he did not believe in the Sacred Emperor, he did not spread his rebellious ideology to others. Instead, he was absolutely loyal to the task of imparting knowledge. He worked diligently and never slacked.
"This person is truly contradictory," Li Fan remarked with a smile upon his initial understanding of the person's life.
"I don't think it's contradictory. He is merely seeking a possibility to break free from the Sacred Dynasty. Since he wishes for it, why shouldn't I grant it to him?"
"Moreover, his cultivation will never disgrace the prestige of the Sacred Dynasty," the Sacred Emperor Tai Wei said placidly. The preceptor was named Su Shao Zhong, an ordinary name that seemed to hold a hidden meaning. The other person recommended by the Sacred Emperor was a martial artist of the Sacred Dynasty, Hong Qian Quan. Within the cultivation system permitted by the Sacred Dynasty, he effortlessly reached the pinnacle of his power. He was indeed like a celestial being, useful.
As for the last of the three, he was personally chosen by Li Fan. Compared to Su Shao Zhong and Hong Qian Quan, he was incredibly ordinary. Even the Sacred Emperor Tai Wei was somewhat puzzled by Li Fan's choice. However, the Sacred Emperor did not inquire further, and Li Fan did not explain. The reason for choosing this individual was that Li Fan felt a trace of familiarity from him. This familiarity did not stem from this world, nor from any of his past lives. It was… from intuition.
Earlier, when Li Fan experienced the endless cycles of reincarnation woven by the Great Dao of Zhou Hui, he had begun to doubt and speculate about his keen intuition. What was intuition but a memory of past experiences after countless cycles of reincarnation? Whether this speculation was true or not was a matter for later. Now, Li Fan was sensing a familiarity, as if he had met this mortal from the Sacred Dynasty a few times. How could he not pay attention?
Li Fan silently stared at this mortal named Mo Yong Ge, attempting to find any clues in his intuitive memories. Everything from the past seemed to have completely faded. No matter how hard he searched, he could not find its presence. But this time, Li Fan was very patient. He took all three with him to cultivate and continued to search for individuals worthy of becoming Sages amidst the mountains and seas. With the addition of three Sages, it might offer some help in the current situation. But the assistance would be limited. Li Fan still needed to continue.
Over a hundred years passed, and the situation in the mountains and seas grew increasingly precarious. Indeed, with the assistance from the future mountains and seas, they managed to resist the pressure from the Void Realm. However, the Void Realm soon sensed this external force. Without hesitation, it chose to escalate its efforts. Like dark clouds covering the sun, the accumulated might of the Void Realm surpassed anything before. Under the severe obstruction of the Void Realm, even the Sages’ vision could no longer penetrate the crossing. They were completely trapped within their limitations. Fortunately, their foundation remained, and they were not easily breached for the time being. They even repelled the attacks of the Void Realm's avatars several times with the cooperation of Li Fan, Shou Qiu, and Dao De.
"However, we cannot hold on for much longer."
"At most, another five hundred years."
Li Fan was content to only act during critical moments. He continued to search for promising candidates while observing Mo Yong Ge. It was as if he were piecing together fragments. The vanished past was slowly beginning to surface.
"If I'm not mistaken…"
"The time period is roughly the same as now, but the experiences encountered are completely different."
"The Sacred Emperor perished, and before his death, he dispersed his creation among his people, leading to a rise of the masses. Mo Yong Ge was one of them. He reached the Saint realm and was even someone with whom I shared 'Concentric Mind' in the past."
"Similar to Dao De and Shou Qiu."
Li Fan slowly closed his eyes, concealing the immense turmoil within his heart. Even witnessing the collapse of the mountains and seas would not have made him lose his composure to such an extent. Perhaps only the shock he felt when the lone star first appeared could compare.
"The more I recall, the clearer it becomes, as if I had personally experienced it."
"It is definitely not a baseless fantasy."
"But the crucial question is, when did this happen?"
Li Fan knew the key was not with Mo Yong Ge, but with himself. Once again, Li Fan reviewed all his memories since his transmigration. He even asked Daoist Shou Qiu and Dao De to help him recall. This was to ensure no detail was missed. Finally, he was certain that he had never experienced such a life before.
"Daoist Fan, have you noticed that the mountains and seas in this memory are vastly different from the ones we are in?"
"The death of the Sacred Emperor Tai Wei is something that has never happened, even in your multiple reincarnations."
"It's as if…"
"It exists in another set of mountains and seas."
Shou Qiu's words sent Li Fan into deep contemplation.
"Another set of mountains and seas."
These five words seemed to have triggered a switch. Coupled with the continuous effort to piece together his lost memories, another segment of Li Fan's forgotten memories began to surface. It was at the end of time. The Void Realm was about to devour everything, and although the final Sage, Qiu Xin Hui, tried her best to turn the tide, she could not alter the outcome.
"Heh heh. Daoist Fan, aren't you going to act yet?" Then, he said something to Li Fan, after which Li Fan lost control of his body in a daze. He even lost his memories of that period, only vaguely recalling the scene of the mountains and seas ceasing to exist and the lone star appearing. At this moment, these lost memories were slowly reappearing in Li Fan's mind. With a single finger, he made the star appear and then return.
"It can block the stars for a while, but it cannot block them for an era."
"I, too, am searching for this answer."
"If I hadn't seen it before, where would my 'Return to Truth' come from?"
Various scenes flashed through Li Fan's mind like lightning, illuminating his mind. Enduring the immense pain in his mind, Li Fan desperately maintained his inner peace, analyzing all the newly acquired information.
"Did I say these words, or did 'Return to Truth' say them?"
"No, it couldn't have been 'Return to Truth,' otherwise, why would there be 'my Return to Truth'?"
Previously, Li Fan had only assumed that his body was controlled by 'Return to Truth' when he lost his memories. Now, it seemed… that was unlikely.
"There's a greater possibility that these are my own personal experiences," he mused. "It's just that I've lost my past memories, so they only manifest as vague, plausible intuitions."
In that instant, Li Fan couldn't help but doubt if he was still within a simulation of Reflection.
However, having already attained the realm of a Sage, Li Fan's state of mind was no longer what it used to be. After a brief moment of shock, he quickly calmed himself down. "Such doubts are meaningless," he reasoned. "Truth becomes falsehood, and falsehood becomes truth. The so-called real mountains and seas were merely re-evolved from the absolute void consumed by the Star, re-manifested through Reflection. What matters is my past. If my guess is correct, then what I considered my first life was likely not the true first life."
"What exactly is Reflection?"
Li Fan had witnessed the divine abilities of various Sages at the end of the mountains and seas. These included the techniques of turning truth into falsehood, deducing indeterminate futures, flowing upstream against the river of time, and inheriting through celestial selection. Li Fan had already harbored suspicions about these. Coupled with the sudden recovered memory of himself saying, "If I had never seen it before, how could my Reflection come to be?" the answer seemed to be on the verge of revelation.
However, it was precisely because of this that Li Fan found it even more unbelievable. "Could it be that Reflection is merely a mixture of the Great Dao of 'Truth into Falsehoodhood, Falsehood Becomes Truth,' and the Great Daos wielded by various Sages?"
"Then... who is the consciousness hidden deep within Reflection?"
Reflection undeniably possessed its own independent consciousness. This was beyond doubt. Whether it was the sense of hunger and consumption when encountering something useful to itself, or the guidance it provided to Li Fan at crucial moments, all unequivocally proved this point.
Then the question arose: if Reflection were truly just a collection of Great Daos, a pure tool, it shouldn't possess its own consciousness.
Could it be that the aggregated Great Daos within Reflection gave birth to an independent will?
Or could it be...
Recalling the appearance of another "himself" at the end of time, at the final moment of the mountains and seas' annihilation, a shocking thought suddenly surged within Li Fan. Once it appeared, it was like a breached dam, gushing forth uncontrollably. It filled Li Fan's mind, making him instinctively crave to immediately verify whether this guess was correct.
"Reflection is me?"
"I am Reflection?"
As this thought arose, the mountains and seas changed, and all phenomena vanished.
Mo Yongge and the other two who had followed him closely for years, having attained Sainthood, vanished without a trace. Gong Qiu Gong and Moral, who had shared the Vortex Ring with him and worked together with one heart, also suddenly disappeared. Even the Sages of the Other Shore, the entire realm of mountains and seas, seemed to vanish in an instant. It was as if an unfathomable power, beyond description, had completely and utterly isolated Li Fan from the outside world.
Beyond Li Fan, there seemed to be nothing else in existence.
Then, a figure drifted out from the void. Its form and appearance were identical to Li Fan's. However, its demeanor and temperament were vastly different!
At the moment Li Fan saw the other "Li Fan" before him, his heart skipped a beat. He felt an indescribable familiarity, yet also a profound strangeness. With just one glance, he understood the reason for this strangeness.
The "Li Fan" opposite him stood there quietly; even without speaking, he exuded a sense of innate peace from the depths of one's heart. It was as if everything could be entrusted to him, and he would never disappoint. He was the epitome of sincerity, purity, and nobility. As benevolent as Su Bai, as virtuous as Gong Qiu Gong. He was the savior of the mountains and seas, truly a perfect person in the world.
...
"You... are me?" Li Fan was utterly shocked.
The "Li Fan" opposite him offered no explanation. As Li Fan spoke, it was as if ice was melting and snow was dissolving. Countless unimaginable memories flashed from the darkness, like a sky full of shimmering starlight, arriving in succession.
Not long ago, Li Fan had, from the perspective of the three Sages, experienced a hundred billion years of time, from the beginning of the mountains and seas to their present end. The journey of the mountains and seas over a hundred billion years, though long, was something Li Fan, with his current strength, could barely endure. But now, Li Fan was about to be annihilated and destroyed by his own past memories. It was like an ant facing the vast ocean, instantly drowning and unable to see its entirety. He could only vaguely glimpse the past through the countless overlapping water droplets surrounding him.
A hundred billion years, a large portion of the mountains and seas' history, was undoubtedly a very long time. But at this moment, in Li Fan's sea of memories, it was merely a single drop of water condensed from one reincarnation. In the vast ocean, the number of water droplets, could it be trillions? That was the path the past "Li Fan" had walked. Countless reincarnations, countless attempts. All for the sake of saving the mountains and seas from the Star.
However, as "Li Fan" had said, "It can only delay the Star for a moment, but not for an era." The final outcome of all the memories of the ultimate reincarnation was the descent of the lone Star, devouring everything. The mountains and seas, in the end, could not be saved.
...
Compared to the other "himself" hidden within Reflection, the current Li Fan was indeed pitifully weak. He could observe and accept the memories of one or ten reincarnations, but gradually, after a hundred or a thousand, he began to struggle to endure. It was as if he had fallen into the depths of the sea, the surrounding pressure unimaginably immense, almost crushing Li Fan's divine soul into pieces.
"It's not time yet."
"Go back for now."
Just as Li Fan was about to be completely swallowed by the surrounding darkness, a voice appeared, rescuing him in time. The darkness receded, and the vast, ocean-like past memories dissipated before Li Fan's eyes like bubbles.
The two looked at each other. Combined with the clues he had gleaned from his memories earlier, Li Fan had finally pieced together the truth. The past Li Fan had countless times tried to save the mountains and seas from the Star. But like the countless beings struggling within the mountains and seas, it was all in vain. He had tried countless times, yet not once could he truly prevent the Star's arrival. With persistent failures and no foreseeable future of success, he never gave up. In the end, he decided to make a change. This change was the origin of the current Li Fan.
Li Fan finally understood why "Reflection" had always resisted contacting him from the very beginning. Aside from the vast disparity in their magnitude, where a casual thought from the other party could have easily swallowed Li Fan, the more important reason was to preserve the current Li Fan's independence. To act according to his own instincts, unaffected by the past. After all, they were from the same origin. If they had come into close contact, the result would have been what Li Fan experienced just now: instantly falling into the abyss and being swallowed by his own past memories, his divine soul utterly destroyed.
"Saving the world..."
"Save myself first."
Only the last voice echoed in Li Fan's heart. The veil that had sealed off all external contact suddenly receded. As if surfacing abruptly from underwater, Li Fan instinctively gasped for breath. Although he had finally found the answer he had desperately sought, Li Fan felt no sense of sudden enlightenment. Instead, various emotions arose uncontrollably in his heart.
"The only fortunate thing is..."
"That past 'me' is likely truly dead."
Regardless of how powerful his past self had been, the moment he decided to "change," that self had conceptually vanished.
What was now sealed within the Reflection was not a true consciousness, but "experience" built upon an immense volume of data. The owner of this memory was Li Fan himself. Thus, upon initial contact, it began to converge relentlessly into Li Fan's mind.
However, because this past Li Fan had reached an unimaginably powerful state, even with his existence extinguished and his cyclic memories of countless Mountain and Sea lifetimes, he could still react to external situations as if he were a real will. He would become "hungry" and "devour" when encountering important paths, would "warn" of fatal crises, and even "greet" old friends with whom he had fought side-by-side.
But ultimately, he no longer existed. All that remained were instinctive reactions based on his vast memories. Therefore, when he discovered that Li Fan's current strength was insufficient to fully process his past experiences, he decisively broke off the connection.
Li Fan then returned to reality.
"Fellow Daoist Fan, are you alright? I sensed a disturbance in your state of mind. What happened?"
Almost instantly, kind greetings from Guardian Sage and Morality echoed in Li Fan's mind. Only then did Li Fan realize with astonishment that even under the influence of the Vortex Ring's "united heart and mind" effect, his encounter with his past self's memories had gone unnoticed by others.
"This indicates that the past Li Fan's strength far surpassed that of the Three Sages. Even as mere accumulated memory, he could disregard the Vortex Ring's rule of unity." Li Fan was not particularly surprised by this. After all, no matter how strong the Three Sages were, even in their peak state before the separation of the Mountains and Seas, they had only cultivated within the Mountains and Seas themselves. Li Fan, however, had the accumulation of countless Mountain and Sea reincarnation cycles.
"They call it 'united heart and mind,' yet I can unilaterally block certain memories. I can deceive others, but others cannot deceive me. Doesn't this grant me an inherent advantage?" In an instant, Li Fan narrowed his eyes, having thought of this.
"However, in this current situation, there's no need for concealment from Guardian Sage and Morality." After a moment of thought, Li Fan decided to share his recent experience with them.
A short while later...
Guardian Sage marveled, "We initially thought that Fellow Daoist Fan, possessing the Reflection and reliving situations multiple times, was already extraordinary enough. We never expected there to be an even more convoluted past. So, the Mountains and Seas have been destroyed and recreated countless times already. It is truly fortunate for the Mountains and Seas to have Fellow Daoist Fan!"
Morality was also lost for words, "To be united in heart and mind with Fellow Daoist Fan, we have no regrets even in death."
Li Fan snorted, "I don't think it's that great. If he had truly succeeded in saving the Mountains and Seas, then any boasts would be justified. But to always end in failure, what's the difference between repeating it countless times and repeating it once?"
Guardian Sage and Morality exchanged wry smiles, unsure how to respond.
"Alright, let's put the past aside for now. I truly need your help to make some judgments. I have a few lingering questions."
"First, even though I am extremely certain, I still have doubts. Is my past self truly gone? Or is it some form of belief imposed upon me? Could there be some hidden contingency left within me? What if, after I finally succeed in saving the Mountains and Seas, he makes a move to counter me?"
"Second, the source of my keen intuition has finally been answered. But the origin of infinite spirituality remains unknown. I only vaguely feel that my past self was not perplexed by this matter, and thus did not clarify it for me. Is infinite spirituality truly infinite? Or is it the accumulation from countless reincarnations of my past self?"
"As for the third point: 'Save the world by first saving oneself.' What exactly do these five words mean?"
Li Fan spoke fluently, pouring out all his doubts at once. He was forthright and showed no unusual expression. This was his nature; even when facing his past self, and even if that self outwardly appeared incredibly great, noble, and divine, he would still not trust easily. Doubts were meant to be harbored.
Under the "united heart and mind" rule, Guardian Sage and Morality already knew Li Fan's character. They were not surprised but began to ponder seriously.
After a long while, Guardian Sage spoke slowly, "Regarding the first point, my judgment aligns with Morality. The past Fellow Daoist Fan should indeed be gone."
"Exhausting all possibilities and finding no way out, only a desperate gamble, severing the old self to create a new life. It's like the re-creation of heaven and earth; only then is there a sliver of possibility. This action is seeking possibility within impossibility. If there were still some hidden contingency left..."
"And it caused the effort to fail at a critical moment, rendering all past efforts in vain. Wouldn't that be a wasted effort? Considering the past Fellow Daoist Fan's deliberations and disposition, he would never do something so meaningless."
Li Fan nodded slightly. Of course, he didn't entirely believe Guardian Sage's words either. Even he doubted himself; how could Guardian Sage, who was influenced by his past self, not be influenced by the "united heart and mind"? For now, he was simply seeking some solace.
Guardian Sage naturally understood this and quickly moved on, focusing on Li Fan's second question. "Regarding the source of infinite spirituality, I have two conjectures now."
"The first is that it's an innate trait accompanying your transmigration. It is precisely because of such a characteristic that the past Fellow Daoist Fan could have achieved those admirable experiences. Otherwise, for an ordinary being born within the Mountains and Seas to escape the cycle of reincarnation... even the Three Sages would likely be unable to achieve it."
"As for the second conjecture... it stems from what you said, that your past self was not perplexed by the origin of infinite spirituality. If it originated from your transmigration, he would certainly question its cause. Unless he knew certain memories that you are unaware of, witnessing the origin of infinite spirituality at the moment of transmigration. Given his character, he would certainly not conceal such an important matter from you. Since he didn't mention it, we must assume it didn't happen. Therefore, we can only infer that infinite spirituality might be the accumulation from his countless reincarnations."
Guardian Sage seemed to vividly imagine Li Fan countless times striving to save the Mountains and Seas, only to rise again after every failure. His eyes were filled with admiration and a touch of yearning.
"It's not just his personal accumulation. Perhaps it also includes the entire Mountain and Sea," Morality interjected.
"Oh? What do you mean by that?" Li Fan asked.
"When the Mountain and Sea were annihilated, there was residual True Spirit. The Mountain and Sea were reborn from nothingness through the True and False Dao. How that residual True Spirit behaved is still unknown. If it returned to a new Mountain and Sea, then this conjecture would be invalid. But if the Mountain and Sea reappeared without relying on the past True Spirit..."
"Then it might explain where the infinite True Spirit on your person came from. It is the remnants of the past Mountains and Seas, from cycle after cycle of reincarnation," Morality stated emphatically.
After the Mountain and Sea Worlds were destroyed, only the accumulated true spirits remained in the void. We witnessed their immeasurable numbers as we traversed against the current. This is merely a fraction of one cycle in the long life of the Mountain and Sea Worlds. What about the accumulation from hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of cycles? It’s likely unimaginable, akin to infinity! Morality spoke his guesses slowly. Li Fan instantly recalled his previous life, after he initiated the Reflection, he remained conscious for a time. He then noticed that his boundless true spirits were being consumed. He instinctively retorted: "The recreation of the Mountain and Sea Worlds requires true spirits as a medium. The accumulated true spirits were likely used to reshape the worlds after the Reflection was activated. My previous experience is the best proof!" Facing Li Fan’s confident words, Guard Hill and Morality fell silent and pondered for a while. Then, as if they had reached a common understanding, they smiled without a sound. "What are you two laughing at?" Li Fan was initially baffled, but after sensing their thoughts, his expression also became somewhat strange. Disregarding Li Fan's awareness, Guard Hill shook his head and said, "Fellow Daoist Fan, the reason you felt your true spirits were being depleted was because you grew increasingly weary during the traversal. Could it be… 'Besides the weakness caused by being extracted, a large intake of accumulated true spirits from the Mountain and Sea Worlds, exceeding your physical limits, would produce a similar sensation?'" Guard Hill and Morality stared at Li Fan. "Otherwise, with your boundless true spirits' foundation, how could you have recovered so easily if they were truly depleted? Furthermore, with the Great Dao of True and False and supreme divine abilities, why would reshaping the Mountain and Sea Worlds require so-called accumulated true spirits? The solitary star's descent will undoubtedly consume all things, including the void and accumulated true spirits. The process of Reflection activating and traversing to the end of time is also a process of collecting true spirits. With your current strength, being unable to silently accept such a large quantity of true spirits in a short period would undoubtedly be unbearable." Li Fan instinctively frowned and retorted, "Absurd! How can I not distinguish between being overstuffed and starving to death! As for the Great Dao of True and False…" He paused, Li Fan actually felt that what the other party said had some logic. However, due to his inherent suspicion, Li Fan quickly discarded this sense of agreement. Narrowing his eyes, Li Fan scrutinized Guard Hill and Morality. He vaguely understood. Because his past self and he were essentially the same person, Guard Hill and Morality, who acted with one heart and one mind, did not treat him as an "outsider." Coupled with his display of a noble existence, Guard Hill and Morality always speculated about Li Fan's past actions with utmost kindness and mercy. This was completely opposite to Li Fan's current disposition. After realizing this, Li Fan chose not to continue arguing. "This matter is not difficult to verify. The next time I activate Reflection, I will watch with clear eyes." "Having endured the baptism of billions of years of experience in this life and witnessed countless cycles of the Mountain and Sea Worlds, my capacity to bear it has increased. I will certainly not be as muddle-headed as in my previous life," Li Fan said solemnly. Guard Hill and Morality both nodded. The three tacitly moved on, no longer dwelling on this matter. "Then let's talk about saving oneself before saving the world." These five words were clearly a message from Li Fan's past self to his present self. There was no special profound meaning to them; they were meant literally. To save the Mountain and Sea Worlds, one must first save oneself. "In your past life, Fellow Daoist Fan, your heart was with the Mountain and Sea Worlds. In order to save them, when faced with a choice between yourself and the worlds, you often leaned towards the worlds." "As the saying goes, one's nature cannot be changed. With his noble character, even after countless reincarnations, some things he would never do. This also led to the Mountain and Sea Worlds not experiencing all possibilities despite countless cycles. Perhaps the spark of life lies in you, Fellow Daoist Fan!" Grand Sage Guard Hill commented. "No matter how you try to turn the tide, you cannot ultimately prevent the solitary star from descending. To save the Mountain and Sea Worlds, you must contend with the star, or even defeat it." "But…" After a long period of thought and silence, Morality continued, "Perhaps it is impossible to contend with the star while maintaining the existence of the Mountain and Sea Worlds." "The Mountain and Sea Worlds are fragmented and return to the star. Our cultivators also originate from the Mountain and Sea Worlds. To break free from one's origins, to save the Mountain and Sea Worlds while contending with the star… even if the True Gods came back then, they couldn't do it." Morality's words sparked an idea in Li Fan. Like a bolt of lightning, his heart suddenly understood: "The Mountain and Sea Worlds and the star are in a zero-sum game. To prevent the Mountain and Sea Worlds from returning to the star, one must either go back to the beginning of the fragmentation and take its place. Or…" "Before the star devours the Mountain and Sea Worlds, seize the opportunity and take them into your own hands." "The Mountain and Sea Worlds cease to exist, but I remain. And then I face the star." "Is this what is meant by saving oneself before saving the world?" A strange gleam flashed in Li Fan’s eyes. Guard Hill and Morality vaguely perceived the fleeting images in Li Fan's heart and his surging emotions. They neither vocally agreed nor disagreed. They remained silent. Putting aside whether it was truly possible to contend with the star after swallowing the Mountain and Sea Worlds, even if Li Fan were to win… What Li Fan would become after swallowing the Mountain and Sea Worlds and destroying the solitary star was beyond all imagination. And how could they be sure that he would ultimately still choose to "save the world"? It was unknowable, unreckable, and helpless. However, it was the only option left after countless failed reincarnations. At this moment, Guard Hill and Morality could faintly sense the internal struggle Li Fan must have felt when making such a decision. Li Fan naturally sensed the thoughts of the other two. He chuckled, "You two think further ahead than I do. Swallowing mountains and seas, snatching food from the star's mouth, it's not that easy to digest, is it?" "Let alone the star. I can't even get past the barrier of the Three Sages, let alone the Sages of the early Mountain and Sea Worlds. Do you think they will obediently accept my actions of swallowing mountains and seas under the guise of saving the world? Is Li Fan the only one who can do it, and I cannot?" "In the end, it all comes down to cultivation." Li Fan’s words were undeniably reasonable. Guard Hill and Morality pondered again and realized the truth, sighing, "We have observed Fellow Daoist Fan’s past actions and from the bottom of our hearts, we have unilaterally recognized Fellow Daoist Fan as the only savior of the Mountain and Sea Worlds. We will unconditionally support you, even if you intend to swallow mountains and engulf seas." "As for others, they truly won't be like us." "Unless…" "Unless all beings in the Mountain and Sea Worlds are brought into the Vortex Ring, sharing the same heart and mind!" Guard Hill suddenly blurted out. Even Li Fan's heart skipped a beat at this. Given his nature, he would never share his inner thoughts with others. However, through a fortunate coincidence, he had his first attempt. After tasting the sweetness and realizing it caused no harm to himself, he repeatedly engaged in it. However, the united hearts of the three of them was already the limit that the current Li Fan could accept. To open his heart to all beings in the Mountain and Sea Worlds, as Guard Hill suggested, was something he had never even considered. "Fellow Daoist Guard Hill, isn't that a bit too extreme?" "There are countless beings, and the variables are too many," Li Fan said in a low voice. Guard Hill, however, did not abandon his idea, his eyes growing brighter as he thought. "The nobler the character, the more one can feel the greatness of Fellow Daoist Fan's past self. I believe that even ordinary beings in the Mountain and Sea Worlds, after feeling everything that has happened in the past, should be able to understand and make the right choice. As for those who are stubborn…" "They cannot impede the general trend!" Morality added solemnly, "Upon careful consideration, it is indeed feasible!" Guard Hill continued, "If it weren't for the restraint of the Three Sages' Vortex Ring, why would the Sages of the Mountain and Sea Worlds have cooperated? Our plan is merely to emulate the story of the Three Sages, except that the Harmonious Circle we wish to create will be far grander than the Vortex Ring. Our aspirations will also far surpass those of the Three Sages!" "If the Mountain and Sea Worlds are not enveloped by a greater Harmonious Circle, how will all beings in the Mountain and Sea Worlds unite for their own survival?" Guard Hill and Morality looked intently at Li Fan, their eyes filled with undisguised fervor. Li Fan naturally knew that this fervor was not directed at him. It was, due to the effect of unified hearts, directed at the past sage of salvation. "In a sense, my past actions were infinitely close to the ideal self depicted by Guard Hill and Morality. Though I couldn't achieve it, I yearned for it. And through the Vortex Ring, I experienced it firsthand. Naturally, I would acknowledge it even more infinitely." The rapid transformation of Guard Hill and Morality was peculiar, yet understandable. Fundamentally, it was because Li Fan's past self was too powerful. His actions were too legendary. Even after his death and the dissipation of his thoughts, his past deeds alone could command and influence the Sages. "But what of it?" "Today, the survival of the Mountain and Sea Worlds still depends on me," Li Fan thought with a cold snort. "Upon careful consideration, the plan of Guard Hill and Morality may indeed be feasible." "However, it requires long-term planning." "The Hall of Great Dao Realization, Stealth, Net, and Mountain and Sea Odd Fortune…" Countless thoughts swirled in Li Fan's mind, deriving possibilities. The Sages were working together, striving to reconnect and save the Mountain and Sea Worlds from the threat of the void army. Yet, they were completely unaware that within their own ranks, three Sages, three extremely important Sages, had quietly undergone a change. Although he had a vague plan, Li Fan dared not reveal a single detail. He knew very well that as long as he did not reveal his thoughts and intentions in a way that unified hearts, he would immediately become the public enemy of the Mountain and Sea Worlds! The countless memories of his past self should become treasures in the eyes of others. His current strength was far from enough to execute his plan, and he needed to continue lying in wait. "However, perhaps I can start considering increasing the number of people who share unified hearts." After witnessing the transformations of Guard Hill and Morality, Li Fan looked at Mo Yongge, who had not yet become a Sage, with a thoughtful expression. "Choosing people must be done with great care." "The minimum requirement is that they, like Guard Hill and Morality, spontaneously care for the Mountain and Sea Worlds." "Ideally, they should be those who fought alongside my past self and whose character has been proven." From all aspects, Mo Yongge was undoubtedly a suitable candidate. His ability to leave a vague memory for Li Fan indicated he was no ordinary person. He could be considered a loyal follower and comrade of Li Fan’s past self, who never abandoned him, even in life and death. He achieved his Dao through "Song," his ethereal music echoing through the shattered Mountain and Sea Worlds, inspiring and encouraging the Dao hearts, making the Sages fight valiantly without giving up even in despair. Although Mo Yongge had not yet become a Sage, with Li Fan's help, it was a certainty. "The only troublesome aspect is that the principle of unified hearts originates from the Three Sages' Vortex Ring." "Those who are truly united in heart are only the first three Sages to take their seats. Others who join later are merely subtly influenced." "The Three Sages can be one entity. However, there is a natural gap between them and other beings in the Mountain and Sea Worlds, so it is impossible for them to be truly united in heart. But I am different." "For absolute certainty, only those I choose must truly share my heart!" A cold glint flashed in Li Fan's eyes. "The profound mysteries of the Vortex Ring are immense. Cracking it initially was already extremely difficult. To further modify it now…" "It can only be done by understanding its principles." Li Fan was not deluded by his past self. He still had a clear understanding of his own strength. "With my current comprehension of the Vortex Ring, even with Guard Hill and Morality, we might not be able to add another person to it." "The one who tied the knot must untie it. To achieve the goal, we must still rely on the Three Sages." "But how to subtly push this forward?" Li Fan looked at the increasingly perilous situation of the Mountain and Sea Worlds shrouded in the dark clouds of the void. A general idea immediately formed in his mind. "However, I must not be impatient, lest I reveal myself." "Compared to my past self, the number of reincarnations I have experienced is negligible. I can take my time." Once he understood the truth of Reflection, his worry about it leaving him at any moment disappeared. This allowed him to plan everything more cautiously. Acting in accordance with his thoughts. Li Fan did as he thought. Within the Mountain and Sea Worlds, he continued to search for aspiring Sages. In addition to the three from the Sacred Dynasty, he found two more potential talents. He generously poured his true spirits into them, doing his best to infuse them. Compared to his perfunctory efforts in the past, Li Fan was now even more serious and attentive. This was because, in his view, these newly appointed Sages might very well become his allies in the future. While infusing True Spirits, Li Fan was also comprehending the True Spirits he was mobilizing. With his past self's memories, his understanding of them had subtly changed. "The accumulated true spirits are remnants after the destruction of the Mountain and Sea Worlds." "And the Mountain and Sea Worlds originated from the Divine." "In a sense, this is also the fundamental reason why humans can become Immortals and Sages." "There is no essential difference between accumulated true spirits and the true spirits inherent in living beings." "In other words, the disaster of the Void and Dao Erasure has no effect on 'True Spirits' themselves." "Only the emergence of the solitary star can erase them." "However, is it eradication, or absorption?" Li Fan recalled what he had seen then and pondered. He had once considered releasing all the true spirits stored within himself. Reflection, upon sensing this, had issued an unprecedented warning. "Theoretically, even if the Mountain and Sea Worlds were to collapse, they could be restored with a single thought through the True-False Transformation." "This means that…" "The torrent of true spirits can even influence Reflection's reshaping of the Mountain and Sea Worlds?"
"Reshaping mountains and seas relies on the transformation of true and false. The transformation of true and false is not merely a single Great Dao, but the doctrine that when the false is true, the true also becomes false. This 'True Becomes False' erases the influence of stars. Then, 'Falsehood into Truth,' from a void of destruction and nothingness, remakes the mountains and seas.
'Life and death, illusion and reality, existence and oblivion. It all depends on a single thought...'
Li Fan's thoughts churned. As his mind willed it, a phantom image abruptly formed before him. Yet, it was only a shadow, its features indistinct.
'With my current understanding of the Great Dao of True and False, conjuring life from nothingness might still be difficult. But if it's merely a single inanimate object...'
Li Fan waved his hand. The phantom image of the unformed life dissipated, replaced by a plain, unremarkable tree branch. It lacked any special energy fluctuations, purely an ordinary piece of wood. Yet, because Li Fan had created it from nothingness, it held a certain extraordinary significance.
Li Fan had been able to perform 'Falsehood into Truth' and create objects from nothingness long ago. For instance, he had once conjured the 'Ancient Primordial Source,' which provided Emperor San Mo with possibilities for leaps. However, creations from 'Falsehood into Truth' were unstable and could not persist for long. As Li Fan's understanding of the Great Dao of True and False deepened, the duration of his creations' existence continuously increased. The branch Li Fan had now created could endure for a hundred years without external interference.
He repeatedly observed the process of its appearance and disappearance. For a long time, he finally confirmed one point: 'This process indeed does not involve the consumption of any True Spirit. Then, what connection does reshaping mountains and seas have with True Spirits?'
Li Fan gazed into the distance, his sight seemingly piercing through countless void realms, reaching the very end of the mountains and seas. He recalled everything he had encountered in the mountains and seas, and various void realms, throughout his journey.
'If the torrent of True Spirits were to pour out from within me, the Great Dao of True and False would naturally not be affected. The only thing that might change because of it would be...'
'Stars.'
Li Fan suddenly seemed to grasp something. 'Even the corpses left behind from the cycles of mountains and seas can still be devoured by the stars, transforming into their energy. The past me has perished, but the stars might grow stronger because of it. One wanes while the other waxes.'
Before him, it was as if a solitary star leaped out from the darkness, its destructive radiance more dazzling than anything he had seen before. Li Fan's heart skipped a beat. He vaguely understood the true meaning of the phrase, 'You can obstruct the stars for a moment, but not for an eternity.'
'Not only must I save people, but I must also deal with the aftermath. Being a savior of mountains and seas is truly no easy task.'
Truthfully, Li Fan had no interest in becoming the savior of mountains and seas. But he was very interested in devouring mountains and seas, and achieving ultimate supremacy. As for whether Li Fan, who would be unrestrained after his success, would still be willing to save the mountains and seas, even with just a casual effort... that would depend on his mood.
...
While cultivating his potential, Li Fan also participated in several battles between the Sages of Mountains and Seas and the armies of the void realms. Even so, the Sages' side was inevitably at a disadvantage. Just as they had analyzed before, the void realms could draw upon the power of other time periods endlessly. With the power to surround and kill the entirety of the mountains and seas, they could naturally suppress a singular, fragmented mountain and sea with ease.
Not to mention the increasing number of void realm avatars, reaching thirty-six in total. The continuously overlapping clouds of Dao Erasure, after a prolonged accumulation, seemed to have reached a qualitative transformation. Although the mountains and seas had not yet been swallowed by Dao Erasure, they were as if shrouded in a collective shadow. Various colors in the mountains and seas slowly faded, and the once colorful world gradually turned black and white.
'What has happened? Why do I feel as if everything around me has become ephemeral and illusory?' Bai Xiao's divine sense avatar, crossing space to provide support, flickered incessantly, its emitted light growing dimmer. It was like a book whose pages were gradually torn away, leaving only a thin sheet.
It was not just Bai Xiao; the divine sense avatars of the other Sages, including the Three Sages, could not escape this change.
'This feeling... it's as if I am within the void realm, not within the mountains and seas. My very existence is melting away.'
'Although the void realm has not yet completely encroached upon the mountains and seas, the intensity of the encirclement has caused the power of nothingness to permeate in advance. If this continues, the mountains and seas may not hold on for long!'
'In the last moment, the power of the void realms piled up outside the mountains and seas has increased tenfold. It is dark and deep, devouring everything. I fear even the brilliance of the Three Sages' radiance cannot illuminate it.'
The Sages, feeling the changes in the mountains and seas, all wore grave expressions. They looked to the Three Sages, awaiting their decision.
'Strange, the reaction of the void realms...'
'Something is not right.'
Whether it was the Sage Gui Hai of the current timeline or the divine sense avatars of later generations crossing through mountains and seas, they all frowned. Looking at the sky, countless images seemed to emerge before their eyes. Even with the void realms obstructing them, their deductions were hard to be cut off. The fleeting images became the only source of color in the present black and white mountains and seas.
'A change has occurred at the beginning of the mountains and seas.'
'The fall of a Sage, chaos, upheaval.'
'The resistance of the mountains and seas has been greatly weakened, allowing the void realms to channel more power here.'
Gui Hai's deductions took longer than usual, and perhaps due to the void realm's obstruction, the consumption had become immense. A strand of white hair appeared on Sage Gui Hai's head! Yet, he paid it no mind, attempting to continue his deductions. Sages Lian Shan and Tai Yi also joined in with remarkable tacit understanding. The Three Sages sat cross-legged, and the seven-colored rainbow light flickered, revealing some clear images. Though fleeting, all the Sages could clearly see who the Sage that fell at the beginning of the mountains and seas was. It was exactly the 'Lock' who had just retreated from this section of the mountains and seas!
'He actually died?' All the Sages were astounded.
And at this moment, as if sensing the Three Sages' probing across time and space, dozens of malevolent gazes simultaneously emanated from the light and shadow. They were like starved beasts, looking at edible lambs! The Three Sages reacted with extreme speed, stopping their deductions before the gazes could spread. Even so, strands of malevolence, through some unseen connection, scattered within the vortex rings. They solidified into tangible forms.
'Roar!' Some took the form of ferocious beasts, some appeared as ghostly specters, and others were like grinning skeletons. Although their strength was vastly inferior to the Sages present, they still ferociously roared and charged towards the Sages. The outcome was obvious; they were easily exterminated by the Sages. But the Sages' expressions did not lighten in the slightest. Instead, they grew more somber. Especially the Three Sages.
'We just sensed dozens of gazes, but none of them were our own.'
'We are no longer within the Primordial Immortal Realm,' Sage Lian Shan said with a grave expression.
'Could it be that the Three Sages also perished together?' Li Fan asked in surprise.
'No. Not only us, but some old friends have also vanished without a trace. It seems...'
'The time for Separation of Divine Souls has arrived.'
After the Three Sages finished speaking, they exchanged glances. Then, as if by prior agreement, their figures transformed into streams of light and faded away. In an instant, they perished on the spot, leaving behind a group of dumbfounded onlookers!'
The changes occurred with alarming speed. Even Li Fan couldn't react in time.
The foremost Sages, the leaders of the United Mountains and Seas, Lian Shan, Gui Hai, and Tai Yi, perished without any warning—they took their own lives!
"How... how could this be?"
It wasn't just the Sages of the current Mountains and Seas who met this fate; the Sages in Li Fan's original timeline's Mountains and Seas also chose to end themselves upon sensing the anomaly.
With the departure of the guiding figures, the white light of the Vortex Ring began to dim. The expressions of the Sages shifted subtly. An unsettling atmosphere settled over the Other Shore.
"Unity!" Li Fan declared decisively, signaling Shou Qiu and Dao De to act.
Before the Sages could be consumed by their original natures, Li Fan and the other two took the places previously occupied by the three Sages. The Vortex Ring’s brilliance returned, and the ominous clouds dispersed.
The Sages were once again influenced by the Principle of Unity.
However, Li Fan, Shou Qiu, and Dao De were not Lian Shan, Gui Hai, and Tai Yi. The natures of the Sages had indeed changed.
"What fine Sages! They spoke of uniting the Mountains and Seas to save them, but when it mattered most, they fled faster than anyone."
"It wasn't exactly fleeing, but rather adding a bargaining chip for the Mountains and Seas' splintered consciousness."
Although the recent events were bizarre, the Sages had witnessed too much before. They quickly recovered their composure.
In the Primordial Immortal Realm, the Sages were absent. The Era of Splintered Consciousness had arrived.
It was now clear that the Sages at the Mountains and Seas' inception had all participated in that grand spectacle of splintered consciousness.
And the three Sages possessed the divine ability of "Indestructible Primordial Unity."
Bound together in Primordial Unity, they were ancient and difficult to destroy. If all three were annihilated across all timelines except for one survivor, that final surviving Sage would return to their peak state.
To gain an advantage in this great battle, the three Sages had decisively chosen to eliminate themselves in all other timelines, consolidating all their power at the inception of the Mountains and Seas.
"A pity, the splintering of the Mountains and Seas. Such a thrilling scene, and we, alas, have no chance to witness it. And..." Bai Xiao sighed, looking beyond the Mountains and Seas.
The existence of the three Sages was like the pillars of the Mountains and Seas.
Their sudden disappearance left the already precarious situation of the Mountains and Seas even more vulnerable.
Across the Mountains and Seas, many possibilities had become frozen, devoid of vitality. They had fallen into a state of still suspension, as if they could shatter into countless pieces at any moment.
The remaining worlds, though still extant, seemed to have slowed down millions of times, with everything within them proceeding at an excruciatingly slow pace. This was a sign of further existential decay.
Their fundamental existence was no longer sufficient to sustain their continued evolution; they were like a parched stream upstream, slowly drying up.
"If the Mountains and Seas perish, besieged by the Void, we will likely have nowhere to escape."
Without the three Sages' penetrating gaze to pierce the Void and illuminate the correct path forward, without their towering figures standing like lighthouses to guide their way,
even with Li Fan's continuous True Spirit infusion, the Sages would struggle to escape the myriad layers of the Void.
The Sages understood this all too well. When Bai Xiao spoke, no one offered any objection.
"So what if the three Sages are gone?"
"If we work together, we might still forge a path to survival!"
The future was cast in shadow, yet at this moment, Li Fan suddenly spoke.
His words were bold and utterly devoid of panic.
"Fellow Daoist Zhou Hui, do you have any plans?" Influenced by the Principle of Unity and the subjective impression Li Fan had created through his previous silent True Spirit infusions,
Li Fan now held an indispensable position in the Sages' hearts, second only to that of the three Sages.
Li Fan narrowed his eyes, his gaze shifting. "Since the Mountains and Seas have changed, our plans must change as well. Previously, the paramount task was to reunite and save the Mountains and Seas. Now..."
"We have only three words."
"Survive!"
Compared to the Sages' imposed mission to save the Mountains and Seas, the goal of survival better aligned with their original natures.
When Li Fan proposed this, none of the Sages demurred; they all nodded in agreement.
"Living beings can be utilized, the Mountains and Seas can be utilized, everything can be utilized!"
The situation was critical, and Li Fan, speaking concisely, shared his plan with the Sages.
It was the very plan Shou Qiu had proposed earlier.
To rely on the interconnectedness of living beings within the Mountains and Seas to unleash their inner potential.
"Given the circumstances, we can't be too particular!"
"The three Sages went to participate in the feast of splintered consciousness, a feast we cannot partake in, but we cannot let them gain an advantage for nothing!"
"Tell us, how shall we proceed!"
Without hesitation, the Sages agreed to Li Fan's plan.
"The reason the Mountains and Seas remain indifferent to the threat of the Void is that, after all, the Void only devours the Mountains and Seas of the current timeline, not the entirety of the Mountains and Seas."
"Given the vast scale of the Mountains and Seas, they can naturally disregard such losses. However..."
"What if we spread the danger of the Mountains and Seas' collapse throughout all its regions?"
Li Fan's words stunned the Sages.
They had been so consumed by the notion of saving the Mountains and Seas that such a brilliant idea had never occurred to them. Faced with Li Fan's question, their minds momentarily went blank.
It was Li Fan who pointed the way forward.
"Everyone! Do not forget, we previously used the interconnectedness of living beings in the Mountains and Seas to traverse the Void and complete inter-dimensional travel. Similarly, we can now use this network to travel to other Mountains and Seas!"
"Of course, what we need to do is not just to leave ourselves, but to bring the Void's erosion with us to various regions!"
Li Fan's trio led the Other Shore with remarkable efficiency.
Before his words had even faded, a blinding brilliance erupted from the Vortex Ring.
It enveloped the current fragile Mountains and Seas.
The descendants of the extant Qiu Tian Hui's Great Dao of Living Beings were instantly marked.
The Sages' intentions flowed into them like a surging river.
Moments later, countless stars ascended from the paper-thin Mountains and Seas, following the hidden network of the Mountains and Seas, traveling to the past and future.
And, just as Li Fan had requested.
This time, the Sages did not merely possess the consciousness; they also acted as "guides," radiating their own light, pointing the way for the Void.
The hidden network of the Mountains and Seas was like a subterranean passage crisscrossing the land.
The Void devoured the Mountains and Seas but was unaware of its existence.
But now...
New lights flickered and ascended within the network of the Mountains and Seas.
And they rapidly transferred and traversed between different Mountains and Seas.
It would be difficult for the Void to ignore them!
Compared to the segments of erosion, attacking along the hidden network within would increase efficiency by several times.
Without hesitation, the Void immediately adjusted its offensive strategy.
The pervasive Dao Erasure no longer indiscriminately consumed every part of the Mountains and Seas.
Instead, it primarily followed the flaws left by the Sages, penetrating relentlessly along the network of the Mountains and Seas.
With the redirection of the Mountains and Seas' network, even with the extensive invasion of Dao Erasure, the pressure on Li Fan and the others within the Vortex Ring was significantly reduced.
"Satisfying! Satisfying!"
"In the past, it was we who protected the Mountains and Seas, but now the Mountains and Seas have become our cover! Truly, karma is a cycle, and retribution is swift!"
Amidst the booming laughter of the Sages, the Mountains and Seas were already shattered into countless pieces by the torrent of the Dao Erasure.
Under normal circumstances, the Mountains and Seas, having suffered such destruction, should have long since ceased to exist. Yet, a hidden power seemed to be resisting the erosion of the void realm, forcibly mending the countless fragments of the Mountains and Seas together. This maintained the "complete" appearance of the Mountains and Seas.
Li Fan's divine sense swept across the Mountains and Seas, instantly pinpointing the source of this sustaining power. As expected, it was the pair of divine senses left behind by Qiu Tianhui and his wife.
As the embodiment of the Great Dao of Mountain and Sea Sentience, a pivotal node from the beginning of the Mountains and Seas to the end of time. This couple, formed by these divine senses, was not truly sentient beings but rather materialized concepts.
Normally, they were unaware of this, but with the Mountains and Seas facing imminent destruction, this couple instinctively looked up at the sky. Their expressions gradually turned vacant.
Their forms seemed to be vibrating rapidly, and with each fluctuation, an image of a sentient being detached itself, transforming into a light point and drifting towards the sky.
These light points did not birth sentient beings but instead flew to various parts of the shattered Mountains and Seas, like nourishing supplements. After being absorbed by the Mountains and Seas, the fragmentation immediately slowed.
"Qiu Tianhui and his wife indeed left a contingency!"
"This is the power of sentient beings feeding back into the Mountains and Seas. Like a potent medicine for the dying,
it might cause a final surge of vitality, but it cannot save the Mountains and Seas in the end!"
The Sages understood, yet they remained spectators.
Most of their attention was still focused on the hidden meridians within the Mountains and Seas.
As the torrent of the Dao Erasure continued its erosion, the Mountains and Seas' intrinsic reaction finally occurred. And its intensity somewhat surpassed the Sages' expectations.
Throughout the Mountains and Seas, it was as if a fierce wind had suddenly arisen.
The residual possibilities, which had been struggling to withstand the impact of the Dao Erasure, instantly found themselves caught in a terrifying vortex as this wind swept through the internal meridians of the Mountains and Seas.
Countless possibilities were annihilated, transforming into the purest power of the Mountains and Seas.
Sentient beings, civilizations, possibilities, and Daos – everything that existed within the Mountains and Seas was reduced to nothingness in this immense storm.
What remained was simply the Mountains and Seas themselves.
Utterly pure, and immensely powerful.
It was as if, after the initial fragmentation, the Mountains and Seas were simply the Mountains and Seas.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Loud collisions echoed from various parts of the Mountains and Seas, and several torrents surged towards the sky. These were the streams of the Dao Erasure that had previously entered the meridians of the Mountains and Seas, now being forcefully repelled by the majestic power of the Mountains and Seas.
When the enemy retreats, we advance.
An ineffable, immense vitality flowed out from the meridians of the Mountains and Seas.
The shattered Mountains and Seas, due to this, slowly began to reform.
Perhaps sensing the specific crisis outside, the newly formed Mountains and Seas no longer evolved into numerous possibilities.
Nor did they reveal the legendary appearance of the Primordial Immortal Realm.
Instead, like a stone carving, all the myriad phenomena of the Mountains and Seas were imprinted within it.
Having lost its so-called "variability," it exuded a different kind of solemn and majestic aura.
The Stone Tablet of Mountains and Seas manifested, and everything within the Mountains and Seas seemed to be enveloped by its power, losing its vitality and becoming a part of the carvings on the tablet.
Even the Sages within the Vortex Ring were not spared.
The white light surrounding the Vortex Ring froze, solidifying like ice. The petrifying power relentlessly encroached inward.
"Go!"
Seeing the unfavorable situation, Li Fan decisively chose to operate the Vortex Ring with the Sages and escape into the void realm.
What should have been an instantaneous movement was now inch-by-inch progress in the petrified Mountains and Seas.
An intuition told the Sages that if they did not leave now and remained, they would likely share the same fate as the Mountains and Seas – to be carved into stone.
On the brink of life and death, they unleashed their full potential. Grand Daos flashed, illuminating the Vortex Ring in a myriad of colors.
They forcefully broke through the blockade of the stone-carved Mountains and Seas, successfully escaping into the void realm.
What remained was a long streak of light traced by the Vortex Ring, frozen within the petrified Mountains and Seas.
Hiding in the void realm, the Sages, still shaken, looked back.
It was laughable, in the past, everyone avoided the Dao Erasure void realm, but now, compared to the raging void realm, the petrified Mountains and Seas were paradoxically more dangerous.
At least, with the Sages' strength, even facing the torrent of the Dao Erasure, they could have survived for a time.
But faced with this petrification of the Mountains and Seas…
If the Sages hadn't fled, their fate would have been the same as everything else within the Mountains and Seas: the Mountains and Seas had completed their transformation, turning into a complete stone tablet.
Like an unmoving monolith, no matter how the storms of the Dao Erasure raged, it remained unfaltering.
Faintly, through the patterns on the stone tablet, one could glimpse the final scene within the Mountains and Seas.
But now, life was gone, and the future was gone.
The Mountains and Seas were forever frozen in this moment.
"Tai... Tai Wei Fellow Daoist!"
As the Sages lost themselves in silence, Shou Qiu exclaimed, causing their hearts to leap again.
Following Shou Qiu's gaze, they saw the majestic figure of Tai Wei Sacred Emperor etched onto the sky of the Mountains and Seas.
Like a blazing sun, he had sought to protect his empire and all its people from this sudden disaster of Mountain and Sea anomaly.
Despite being petrified, Tai Wei Sacred Emperor's expression was still clearly visible.
He stood with his head held high, looking towards the sky, his hands behind his back, showing no fear.
It was a pity, however, that a Sage's strength was insufficient to withstand this calamity of petrified Mountains and Seas.
Not only did he fail to save the citizens of his Sacred Dynasty, but he was also buried alongside them.
"How foolish!" Why didn't Tai Wei Fellow Daoist escape?"
"It was not that he could not, but that he would not. Tai Wei's entire foundation was intertwined with his vast Sacred Dynasty. Now that the Sacred Dynasty is gone and its people are gone, even if he could barely escape, his strength would be less than one-tenth of what it was. Rather than becoming sustenance for others, he chose to end himself."
"What do you mean by that, Gui Ming Fellow Daoist?"
"Heh heh..."
The petrification of the Mountains and Seas, Tai Wei's demise, and these immense shocks brought the Sages closer to recovering their true nature.
Li Fan, however, was not particularly concerned. He and Shou Qiu and Morality had already formed an alliance of one heart, easily able to suppress the other Sages.
At this moment, his gaze was fixed intently on the Mountain and Sea stone tablet before him.
This stone tablet gave him a feeling that was exactly the same as the Mountain and Sea Boundaryless Stele.
The Mountain and Sea Boundaryless Stele was inscribed with traces of various Great Daos, and the raised lines on the Mountain and Sea stone tablet corresponded precisely to the various principles of the Mountains and Seas within!
"If I could absorb this stone tablet, it would be like devouring all the myriad Great Daos of the Mountains and Seas!" Li Fan's thought suddenly surfaced.
However, after witnessing the aftermath of the collision between the void realm and the Mountain and Sea stone tablet, he instantly abandoned this idea.
He saw that the power of the Dao Erasure, which had previously lurked into the meridians of the Mountains and Seas, was not only repelled but also, with the progress of the petrification, the void realm's previous encroachments on the Mountains and Seas were now reasserted under the control of the Mountains and Seas.
What the Mountain and Sea stone tablet displayed was not a fragment riddled with holes from the void realm's erosion, but a complete picture.
At the cost of its own vitality, the void realm's millennia of accumulated invasion were all lost in one fell swoop!
And facing the Mountain and Sea stone tablet, the great waves of the Dao Erasure, and even the manifestations of the void realm, were all eager to invade again.
But the stone tablet was as one, unwavering.
It reconnected the severed Mountains and Seas in some mysterious way, while also completely concealing the meridians of the Mountains and Seas.
"The Mountains and Seas are hardening, like drinking poison to quench thirst. While it momentarily severs the possibility of Dao Erasure's encroachment, it also signifies that these Mountains and Seas..."
Li Fan gazed at the stone tablet of the Mountains and Seas before him, a feeling akin to facing an ancient tomb rising in his heart. It was ancient, solemn, and filled with the stillness of death. It had repelled the void's attack, but at the cost of severing its own future.
"This is a delaying tactic by the Mountains and Seas. The Dao Erasure encroaches through the veins of the Mountains and Seas, like poison entering the bloodstream. The Mountains and Seas actively petrifying themselves, though it may prevent immediate toxin infiltration, it is ultimately detrimental to the entirety of the Mountains and Seas. In fact, its harm is no less than being devoured by the void. Otherwise, faced with a full-scale invasion by Dao Erasure, the Mountains and Seas could have chosen to petrify themselves long ago..."
Li Fan's divine sense swept across the petrifying Mountains and Seas, a multitude of thoughts arising. He keenly sensed that the stone tablet of the Mountains and Seas was slowly expanding its territory as time passed, its growth gradual but incredibly resolute.
He then understood: "This process is irreversible. Once initiated, all of the Mountains and Seas will eventually become a single stone tablet. It can fend off the void's invasion, but it still cannot prevent the descent of the Lone Star. The day the Mountains and Seas are fully transformed will be the day the Lone Star appears."
"Ultimately, the fragmentation of the Mountains and Seas was to inherit the power of the Gods. But this stone tablet before us..."
"Though it possesses the myriad Daos of the Mountains and Seas, it is not qualified to be called a 'God'."
Shou Qiu sensed Li Fan's thoughts and transmitted his feelings with a sigh: "In the past, when I sat by the mountain and gazed at the sea, I felt my own insignificance against the vastness of the Mountains and Seas, thus gaining various insights. However, facing these petrifying Mountains and Seas now, no comprehension arises. Though its domain is vast and its Daos are profound, they are ultimately of no benefit to sentient beings."
Morality also concurred: "If we can all sense this, the Mountains and Seas would surely not be ignorant of it. To choose a path of绝路 (desperate end) for the future, merely to delay for a moment. It seems that at the dawn of the Mountains and Seas, a great upheaval truly occurred!"
"What the three Sages said before was that 'the time for fragmentation has arrived,' not that 'the Mountains and Seas are fragmenting.' Undoubtedly, it meant that at the dawn of the Mountains and Seas, the initial Sages were going to contend with the Mountains and Seas for the fortune of fragmentation. If the fragmentation back then was not by the Mountains and Seas, then the Mountains and Seas would not exist today. Everything concerning the evolution of the Mountains and Seas required a desperate struggle. The actions of the Mountains and Seas were likely out of desperation. They had to face the gluttonous Sages while also preserving themselves under the strong assault of Dao Erasure..." Li Fan sneered.
"The Sages contending with the Mountains and Seas for divinity. The thought alone is exhilarating, but it's a pity we have no part in this feast. However, Fellow Daoist Fan, why did you not encounter this change in your previous lives?" Morality asked.
"The origin of this anomaly likely traces back to the 'Lock'," Li Fan looked at the ancient, unmoving character on the Grand Dao Hall.
"After I devoured some of its essence with the Dao of Stealth, the Lock's strength must have greatly diminished. The Primordial Immortal Realm is full of ruthless individuals. Any abnormality with the Lock would inevitably be discovered by others, possibly becoming a meal for someone else."
"Perhaps this is the fuse for the fragmentation," Li Fan's brows furrowed, trying to deduce something. However, his knowledge of the Primordial Immortal Realm was too limited, yielding no results.
"However, it can be inferred that the initial Sages of the Mountains and Seas were merely one step away from achieving fragmentation. With a little help, they could have crossed that invisible restriction."
The three of them exchanged thoughts in silence.
As the void witnessed the petrification of the Mountains and Seas, its encircling force receded. Although it remained completely black, to Li Fan and the others, it seemed to have brightened considerably. This region of the Mountains and Seas no longer held value for devouring, and the crisis was thus resolved. This transformation was something they had never anticipated. The act of diverting disaster had provoked an unexpected reaction from the Mountains and Seas, achieving the same ultimate effect.
"The petrification of the Mountains and Seas is like a colossal stone blocking the way. Efforts to reestablish connection have also become meaningless."
Li Fan and the others returned to the now-normal Mountains and Seas of later ages, sitting within the Vortex Orb. The remaining Sages, their long-held goals now vanished, became somewhat lost.
"We are now like a small boat on a river. Whether the boat sinks or not is decided by others. Our fate is not in our own hands... it's truly frustrating," Bai Xiao sighed.
"If it were still about the fragmentation of the Mountains and Seas, then so be it. But what if other Sages had seized the original path of the Mountains and Seas? We were all born from the Mountains and Seas; if the Mountains and Seas had never existed from the beginning, wouldn't we also perish?" Gui Ming's concern was not unfounded.
Since the departure of the three Sages, a deep unease had permeated the hearts of all the Sages, an unease they could no longer conceal. They had initially attributed it to the void's erosion, but now, as the wave of Dao Erasure receded, this uneasiness not only failed to dissipate but grew even more intense. It felt as if a great disaster was imminent, a calamity about to descend. Yet, the Sages could do nothing but wait for their fates, as if powerless to act otherwise.
"Even ants strive to survive; must we simply wait to die like this?" Stealth's eyes were filled with unwillingness.
"If only we had been a little faster at the dawn of the Mountains and Seas!"
Just as the Sages' minds were in turmoil, Li Fan suddenly spoke: "I have a plan that might save you all from this calamity. However, I don't have absolute confidence."
"Fellow Daoist Zhou Hui, please speak!"
"The outcome of the fragmentation will determine our fate. To avoid its influence, the only way is to transcend the Mountains and Seas. Though we, as Sages, are tied to the Mountains and Seas, we are far from being solely bound by them," Li Fan said slowly.
"Indeed. But the time left for us is dwindling. The outcome of the fragmentation will be revealed soon. Transcending the Mountains and Seas... how can we achieve that before then?" the Sages were puzzled.
"Since the Mountains and Seas can no longer accommodate us, let us seek refuge within the void," Li Fan pointed towards the darkness outside the Mountains and Seas.
"Over the years, I have continuously infused my true spirit, accumulating it and burying it deep within the void. After years of calling out, I've seemed to establish some inexplicable connection with the void. However, in the past, our focus was on re-establishing the Mountains and Seas, so it was inconvenient to reveal this. But now that circumstances have changed, it's alright to tell you all."
Having fought against the void and Dao Erasure for so long, it had become an instinct. The Sages were initially startled by Li Fan's words. However, considering their current predicament, their expressions of serious caution gradually faded.
"Retreating into the void? Fellow Daoist Zhou Hui, have you truly tried this before?"
"In the void, all existence vanishes. If we join it, where will we go?"
Although not opposed, the Sages' doubts lingered.
Li Fan said, without batting an eye: "Though I have never truly tested it, I believe there's a great possibility of success. Have you not seen the void's manifestations previously, attacking the Mountains and Seas? Their forms were indistinguishable from true Sages."
"If they can accommodate manifestations, how can they not accommodate true Sages?"
Li Fan said gravely: "We only need to try. With disaster looming, do any of you have a better method?"
Despite his words, they had not yet reached the most critical moment. The Sages still harbored doubts.
Until...
The Mountains and Seas, in an instant, became ethereal and indistinct.
This emptiness, as if swallowed by the void, is fundamentally different from being consumed by the void realm.
The annihilation of the Dao devours it, yet the Mountains and Seas still exist. It's like a tree that has been gnawed through and riddled with holes, existing in patches. As long as the great tree hasn't collapsed, all the Sages who can freely walk within the Mountains and Seas can exert their abilities, avoid the fallen areas, and still maintain their own survival.
However, the emptiness of the Mountains and Seas now is like a great fire starting from the roots of the tree. The raging flames, from beginning to end, engulf the Mountains and Seas, and nothing can escape.
Even if the Sages hide within the void realm, it merely changes their location. Their connections to the Mountains and Seas remain. This invisible fire will follow these subtle connections and bury all the Sages together!
"The struggle for divided consciousness, and the Mountains and Seas have actually lost?"
While the Sages were shaken, a sense of immense fear instinctively arose in their hearts.
This was a premonition of their own impending demise.
Once the Mountains and Seas perish, a new god will be crowned. All that the living beings gained from the Mountains and Seas, and all that they received from the divine, must return.
As long as one has not transcended the Mountains and Seas, and their temporal node falls after the divided consciousness, they cannot escape this calamity.
The Sages gazed from afar towards the end of the Mountains and Seas, where countless memories from billions of years seemed to transform into specks of radiance, flowing and converging towards the origin of the Mountains and Seas.
Initially, it was silent. Then, as the light continued to gather,
it gradually formed a surging tide.
Even with the void realms intermittently present, the giant waves gently brushed them aside, overcoming the obstacles.
In the face of this unstoppable tide, the Sages felt a pull, like a sense of归宿 (guīsù - destination/home), from the origin of the Mountains and Seas. Although they could temporarily stabilize their forms, shimmering specks within their bodies had already begun to leak uncontrollably.
It wasn't just the sentient beings of the Mountains and Seas.
Even the void realm could not escape this change.
In the darkness, shadows seemed to be constantly churning and surging. Obscure threads of light flew out from the void realm, rushing towards the origin of the Mountains and Seas.
As if forcibly segmented and pulled away, a colossal roar accompanied by a piercing friction sound emerged.
"Even those that were once swallowed by the void realm cannot escape this... "
"Who is this Sage of Divided Consciousness?"
Amidst this drastic upheaval, Li Fan's attention was more focused on the stone tablet of the Mountains and Seas.
Petrified Mountains and Seas possessed a stronger resistance to this regression than in their normal state.
However, it wasn't much.
It held out for about twice the normal duration, but in the end, it could not escape the destiny of returning to the divine.
Like gusts of wind that slash like knives, the undulating patterns on the stone tablet were gradually smoothed out. The various Dao principles that Li Fan had previously sensed on the stone tablet were swept away by the torrent, heading towards the new god at the origin of the Mountains and Seas.
Finally, the so-called hard stone tablet slowly disintegrated into countless grains of sand, vanishing without a trace.
“Fellow Daoist Zhou Hui, regarding the return to the void realm you just mentioned, I… would be willing to try.” At this moment of crisis, Duan Chan was the first to speak.
The trend of returning to the divine was intensifying.
During the time the Sages hesitated, not only had their own existence leaked by nearly a tenth, but their forms could no longer be maintained stably. They resembled a pool of stirred ink, uncontrollably flowing towards the origin of the Mountains and Seas.
Even the influence the Sages could exert on the outside world was greatly diminishing. This manifested as their transmissions becoming intermittent, as weak as the chirping of insects, and almost inaudible.
If Li Fan weren't currently in his prime, he might have overlooked them amidst the grand spectacle of the Mountains and Seas returning to the divine.
While the Sages were in distress, Li Fan could still maintain his peak strength.
This was because the moment Li Fan sensed the anomaly, he enveloped himself with the Transformation of True and False.
Existing between truth and falsehood, he could remain seated and move freely, unfazed by the surging tide of returning to the divine.
If the current Mountains and Seas were a great river flowing ceaselessly towards the East Sea, then Li Fan, Shou Qiu, and Dao De, who formed an alliance, were a small boat on that river.
While they could not stop the mighty current of the river, they could temporarily protect themselves.
Li Fan did not respond to the Sages' calls for the moment and instead asked with a frown, "What does Shou Qiu think of this new god?"
“Although it has reaped the fruits of the Mountains and Seas’ divided consciousness…”
“It likely cannot be called a true god. At best, it's just another cycle of Mountains and Seas.” Shou Qiu spoke to the point.
Li Fan couldn't help but smile, “At the very least, within the Hall of Great Dao Realization, all Daos remain unmoved. At the very least, the Transformation of True and False we possess remains as stable as Mount Tai.”
“Since we are like this, there are likely others like us within the Mountains and Seas. Compared to that true god, we are still far behind.”
“There's even the void realm. Although the void realm was forced to regurgitate what it swallowed from the Mountains and Seas, the void realm itself hasn’t dissipated. Not to mention the [Star]. This new god will inevitably clash with the void realm. I see it as yet another cycle restarting, ultimately leading to the same outcome of a solitary star descending.” Dao De nodded in agreement.
“However…” Shou Qiu suddenly became solemn, as if foreseeing something.
“Compared to the Mountains and Seas, this new god probably won't sit idly by. After dealing with the old Mountains and Seas, what it will likely do is absorb us remnants.”
“No matter, it will have to taste the power of Return to Truth then!” Li Fan chuckled.
Having awakened some memories of his past self, Li Fan had no doubt about whether Return to Truth could suppress this new god.
In past cycles beyond count, scenes similar to the present had occurred.
But in the end, Return to Truth always managed to reset everything.
“Since Return to Truth can return to the stars with a single thought, it can naturally shed divinity with a single thought.”
“Let us, then, go with the flow and get a closer look at the true face of this new god.” Li Fan squinted his eyes.
Shou Qiu and Dao De naturally agreed.
“As for the other Sages…”
In the torrent of returning to the divine, the Sages could no longer maintain their forms.
Only distorted afterimages remained, their appearances unrecognizable, still shouting something towards Li Fan.
However, their connection to reality was becoming increasingly weak, making it difficult for even Li Fan to hear them clearly.
“However, the foundation of their Great Dao still exists.”
“Rather than letting the new god benefit, it’s better to let me benefit.”
“Let us enter the Hall of Great Dao Realization, then!”
Initially, the talk of returning to the void realm was merely a trick to deceive and delay. Now that the Sages had no power to resist, Li Fan no longer concealed his true intentions and revealed his sharp fangs.
With a wave of his sleeve, he gathered all the struggling afterimages of the Sages into his grasp.
Stealth, Fate's Arrival, Duan Chan, Karma Judge, Star Raft…
Lines of text silently appeared on the Return to Truth panel.
Some were already present and became clearer after this absorption. Others newly occupied their seats, adding bricks and mortar to the Hall of Great Dao Realization.
As for how the Sages felt in their bewilderment, Li Fan naturally didn't care.
While savoring the essence of the Sages, he rapidly advanced along the torrent of returning to the divine, heading towards the origin of the Mountains and Seas.
Without the obstruction of the void realm, and going with the mighty current, their speed was incredibly fast. Billions of years of time were traversed in an instant, covering one-fifth to one-sixth of the journey.
However, as they drew closer to the new god, the pull towards returning to the divine grew increasingly intense.
Even with the protection of the Transformation of True and False, Li Fan's own existence and Dao foundation were gradually becoming unstable.
He had to rely on Shou Qiu and Dao De for warmth and support.
“The new god is being nurtured. Even without seeing its face, looking at this momentum, one knows it is extraordinary,”
Dao De and Shou Qiu both commented with emotion.
The three of them, as one, instantly crossed another fifty billion years of time.
They moved closer to the origin of the Mountains and Seas and the location of the new god.
With Li Fan's current understanding of the Transformation of True and False, he could no longer preserve the Dao of Zhou Hui under the new god. The winds of returning to the divine twisted and warped the Transformation of True and False, seemingly on the verge of breaking apart at any moment.
“At this point, the guise of Zhou Hui is no longer useful to me.”
Li Fan no longer forced it and decisively discarded the Dao of Zhou Hui.
Streams of golden light dispersed into the surrounding torrent. Having shed its outer layers, Li Fan immediately felt much less pressure.
The Transformation of True and False no longer needed to maintain other things; it only needed to protect Li Fan's consciousness.
Dao De followed suit.
Only Shou Qiu could still persist.
As the helmsman of this small boat, he continued to lead them towards the new god's location.
“I noticed Fellow Daoist Li seemed to be searching for something along the way. Was it the two white dots you saw hidden within the Mountains and Seas before?” Shou Qiu asked while steering.
Li Fan nodded, “At the end of time, the Mountains and Seas were lost to the void. Everything vanished, except for two white dots that leaped out. Their resilience against the void realm's erosion was even greater than that of the entire Mountains and Seas. This shows the strength of those two white dots.”
“However, they hid extremely deeply. Apart from the final outcome of a solitary star descending, I never saw their true faces under any other circumstances. Now that the Mountains and Seas are returning to the divine, even the obscuring void realm has been swept away. This is the perfect time to observe them. It’s just…”
Li Fan frowned slightly, “After traversing more than half the lifespan of the Mountains and Seas, I still haven't seen any trace of them. It's strange…”
“The Mountains and Seas haven't completely vanished yet, so they might still be able to hide. Let's observe further.”
The closer they got to the origin of the Mountains and Seas, the faster their return became.
Only a final hundred billion years of journey remained until the new god's location.
Even Shou Qiu had to abandon his own Dao path.
The three of them were left with only their shared consciousness united as one, riding on the small boat named the Transformation of True and False.
“The true Lord of Longevity must have perished in the battle of divided consciousness.”
“For a period of time in the past, I enjoyed the Great Dao of Longevity alone.”
“Compared to before, I indeed have gained new insights. I wonder if I can contend for the position of Lord of Longevity.”
Shou Qiu suddenly spoke.
“Hmm?” Li Fan was taken aback by this.
Because, in their state of unity, he hadn’t sensed Shou Qiu's enlightenment.
A moment later, he finally understood.
Not only were their Dao paths weakening, but even the effect of "Oneness" was gradually disappearing as they got closer to the origin of the Mountains and Seas.
Even though they had known each other for so long and experienced so much,
a sense of vigilance naturally arose in Li Fan's heart.
The Oneness had not completely failed yet, and Li Fan’s thoughts were naturally sensed by Shou Qiu and Dao De.
They couldn't help but smile wryly, "Fellow Daoist Li, you are truly... cautious."
“It seems only through Oneness can you truly feel at ease.”
“However, caution is never misplaced.”
Li Fan did not feel awkward by their teasing.
“With Shou Qiu's stature, the position of Lord of Longevity will be easily within his grasp.”
“Moreover, in this battle of divided consciousness, perhaps in the next life, we can also…”
Li Fan suddenly stopped speaking.
In that fleeting moment, amidst the rapid traversal of the current, he caught a fleeting glimpse of a figure standing tall.
The small boat carrying Li Fan and the two others was speeding towards the origin of the Mountains and Seas with the tide of returning to the divine.
But that figure seemed to be able to remain motionless within the torrent.
They passed each other instantly, and Li Fan could only vaguely see its outline.
“Just now…”
“It was one of the two white dots.” Li Fan was certain.
Appearance and form could be disguised, but that unique aura was unchangeable.
“It wasn’t the one I encountered when I first entered the boundless depths of the sea.”
“Yet its strength was equally unfathomable.”
Li Fan, currently within the torrent of returning to the divine, clearly understood how terrifying the devouring power from the new god was at this moment.
However, that figure still exuded an air of effortless calm.
To Li Fan, a passerby he brushed past, it seemed to show a hint of surprise. It didn't follow to investigate.
Instead, it chose to remain hidden and observe.
“Could Shou Qiu perceive the other party's details?” As the effect of Oneness weakened further, Li Fan proactively asked.
Shou Qiu pondered for a moment and slightly shook his head.
“Now that all Daos are returning to the divine, everything within the Mountains and Seas should be inescapable. Yet that figure was unaffected? Truly strange. Moreover…”
“It neither advances nor retreats, neither draws near nor stays away. It seems to be waiting for something.”
“Waiting? Could it be…” Li Fan had a sudden premonition and looked up, gazing forward.
The final hundred billion years of time suddenly passed.
Upon reaching this point, their speed abruptly slowed.
Like a hundred rivers merging, the essence of life from various periods of the Mountains and Seas converged here, forming a dazzling and bizarre vortex.
Stillness, rotation.
Devouring, outward projection.
Convergence, outburst.
…
Numerous contradictions filled the space, but because of the existence at the center of the vortex, all mutually exclusive presences coexisted.
The Divine.
It wasn't an intentional gaze.
But the moment Li Fan saw this enormous vortex, the figure of the divine automatically appeared in his vision.
Subsequently, his consciousness was churned and shattered like waves in a stormy sea.
All other consciousness ceased to exist, and only the divine figure echoed incessantly.
Li Fan could never have imagined that even a new god that merely replaced the Mountains and Seas, even one still in the process of nurturing, would possess such terrifying might.
Even with the protection of the Transformation of True and False, even with the reliance of the Three Sages' Oneness.
Under the reflection of the divine shadow, his consciousness was easily shattered.
With almost no power to resist.
The small boat capsized, plunging into the giant vortex.
Along with all things in the Mountains and Seas, they slowly converged towards the new god at the center.
After an unknown period of losing consciousness, Li Fan gradually regained clarity.
In a daze, he recalled what had just happened. Observing his current situation, he was greatly astonished.
Although it felt like he had slept for a long time, he hadn't gotten any closer to the divine.
The speed at which the new god digested the essence of the entire Mountains and Seas didn't seem particularly fast.
Li Fan had only moved slightly closer within the vortex.
The reason he had awakened…
was because Dao De had sacrificed himself, using his remaining consciousness as nourishment. Coupled with Shou Qiu's continued nurturing, they had managed to awaken Li Fan.
“Fellow Daoist Li, look at the new god ahead.”
“It seems to be in an unusual state.”
Shou Qiu's weak voice came through. Li Fan's heart stirred, and he followed his gaze.
Though I stood on the edge of the vortex, a mere step away from the new deity, I could not truly see its form. I only perceived a colossal, dark silhouette within the swirling chaos, silently absorbing the brilliance of countless lights. It appeared to be slumbering, devoid of any palpable aura. If one were not to look, its presence would be entirely undetectable. This was a stark contrast to the commanding display earlier, where the phantom of the deity had appeared in my mind and instantly rendered me unconscious.
"Fellow Daoist Shou Qiu, what has happened?" Li Fan asked, his voice filled with doubt. "How do I feel..."
"It seems I am not alone in this perception. The new deity is truly dead," Shou Qiu replied, breathing heavily, his voice weak.
"The new deity is dead."
A sense of validation settled in Li Fan's heart as he stared ahead. The feeling shifted. The divine phantom remained, still sacred, majestic, and unreachable. Yet, within it, there was no trace of sentient thought. It was like an empty shell, mechanically fulfilling the new deity's mission to consume everything. Li Fan focused his gaze for a moment, then suddenly realized that the colossal figure before him seemed to be taking form within his mind. He immediately shut his eyes, refusing to look further. Only when the divine phantom in his mind completely vanished did he manage to heave a sigh of relief.
"Even if it's merely the corpse of a deity, it's not something we, in our injured state, can covet," Shou Qiu advised, having perceived Li Fan's thoughts in an instant, even without the aid of the Unity of Hearts. "Even with our full strength, we could at best only protect ourselves."
Though reluctant, Li Fan tried again and had to admit Shou Qiu was right. The Convergence of Gods and Mountains signaled a complete reshuffling of all power in the world. All beings would lose, with only the newly born deity emerging victorious. Under this immense torrent, all the Sages could only perish like ants in the wind. Li Fan and Shou Qiu's survival until now was solely due to the protection of the True-False Transformation. Looking around, all things within the mountains and seas had vanished, reduced to pure energetic brilliance, continuing to flow silently into the vortex towards the central divine shadow. When the vortex was fully absorbed by the deity, the new god would truly descend. However, something unexpected had occurred. The new deity had perished before it could even be established!
"The Sages of the Primordial Mountains and Seas sacrificed their lives in the struggle for the fragmented deity. They likely never imagined that becoming a god would take mere moments, only to meet such an end," Li Fan mused as the vortex drifted, his gaze occasionally returning to the corpse of the deity, unable to resist looking. He had also attempted to sense and absorb the surrounding brilliance, but it was neither the Great Dao nor the essence of the mountains and seas. It was unlike anything he had encountered in his past myriad rebirths, appearing to be mere nourishment solely for the creation of the new deity. After trying every method, including the "Great Dao Realization," he could not utilize even a speck of it. He could only focus all his attention on the divine corpse.
Li Fan suddenly recalled the figure he had glimpsed in the torrent of divine convergence. A thought sparked: "Could it be that they were waiting for the new deity's demise? Did they foresee this? If so..."
As his thoughts stirred, the True-False Transformation enveloped him once more, completely concealing him within the vortex's endless brilliance, leaving no trace of his presence. "I hope that individual arrives sooner," Li Fan silently calculated the remaining time before he would be pulled into the divine shadow, while waiting.
Time passed. Li Fan was already halfway submerged within the vortex. Even without actively looking, the influence of the divine phantom permeated through the True-False Transformation, manifesting within Li Fan's consciousness and threatening to consume him. A sense of crisis he could not suppress forced him to abandon the thought of using "Return to Truth" to observe further changes. "They should be arriving soon."
Outside the vortex, no more light emerged. The divine phantom seemed to have completed the absorption of all mountains and seas. The mountains and seas were no more. The only remaining existence was within the outermost luminous circle of the vortex: the divine nourishment. "Why is the Void Realm so slow? Or perhaps, being within the vortex, I cannot perceive what lies outside that luminous circle?" "Besides me, are there other beings hidden here?" The divine form occupied a significant portion of his thoughts. Li Fan tried his best to ignore it, desperately using his thoughts to resist the assimilation by the divine phantom. Compared to these questions, his past memories from countless rebirths seemed more suitable for protection. As he began to recall the past, the divine form inexplicably dimmed.
As if grasping a lifeline, Li Fan plunged into the torrent of past memories. Though still fragmented, they were clearer than he could normally perceive. "In the past, I did encounter the birth of a new deity. And there was indeed a reset. But a new deity being born and then quickly perishing, like my current experience... This has never happened before." "Why did the new deity perish?" Shielded by both the torrent of memories and the True-False Transformation, Li Fan grew closer and closer to the divine phantom, almost to the point of glimpsing its secrets.
At this very moment, the figure Li Fan had been waiting for finally appeared. A blinding white light shattered the outer luminous circle of the vortex and shot into the divine corpse's nourishment. As if anticipating the scene within the vortex, it moved directly towards the central divine shadow without hesitation. The previously tranquil, radiant nourishment instantly erupted into a colossal storm, intending to engulf this intruder who dared to profane the deity. The wrath of a god was indeed unbearable for mortals. Even though the white light was one of the few survivors after the Great Tribulation of Divine Convergence, it dimmed by half in a short time under the鲸吞 of the surrounding brilliance. Yet, its momentum, like thunder, remained unceasing. In an instant, it tore open a corner of the vortex and reached the edge of the divine shadow. It seemed that in the next moment, it would enter the divine corpse's body and seize the deity's creation!
Li Fan, observing secretly, felt his heart momentarily stop. Instinctively, he wanted to intervene and contend for it. Fortunately, his intentions were beyond his capabilities, and Shou Qiu's calm counsel dissuaded him from this suicidal act. However, other hidden entities chose not to remain mere observers. In the midst of the turbulent vortex, just as the white light was about to crash into the divine corpse, three other lights of different colors suddenly erupted: one white, one purple, and one green. This other white light was precisely the existence Li Fan had sensed at the bottom of the Infinite Sea. Now, the two finally met again, and the situation had changed. Li Fan was hidden in the shadows, while the other was exposed in the light. Upon seeing the other figure again, a series of scenes flashed through Li Fan's mind.
"Fellow Daoist Fan, have we met before?" a figure in white, slender and courteous, asked. Li Fan remained silent. Around them, the roaring tide of Dao Erasure could vaguely be seen. Without dwelling on the question, the two joined forces to resist the calamity.
"... This is the fourth time I've asked you this question, Fellow Daoist Fan. Will you still choose not to answer?" It was still the voice of the slender figure. However, the surrounding mountain and sea environment had changed dramatically. The bright, vibrant background was now dark and dead. And the two who had fought side-by-side as companions were now facing each other, swords drawn. Facing the slender figure's question, Li Fan remained silent. "Hmph. If you will not answer... then you will die." Billions of brilliant white lights erupted simultaneously, dispelling the darkness momentarily. Each ray of light was like a sharp sword, exuding killing intent, aimed directly at Li Fan.
"...Fellow Daoist Fan, have we before..." "...met?" Another scene, eerily familiar. This time, the slender figure's expression, compared to the countless previous iterations, seemed to have undergone a subtle shift. Li Fan still chose to answer with silence. However, the cultivator's figure did not become enraged. Instead, a look of contemplation appeared. "When the true becomes false..." "And the false becomes true." Even after countless rebirths, Li Fan could discern every subtle change. He keenly sensed the subtle shift in the slender figure and, without hesitation, activated the True-False Transformation, resetting the mountains and seas. "There are countless heroes among the mountains and seas. How can they all be deceived...?" A sigh of resignation echoed.
*Boom! Boom! Boom!* The violent collision and the resulting ripples jolted Li Fan from his memories. Without time to ponder their meaning, Li Fan looked at the unfolding scene. The white, purple, and green lights, arriving later, managed to block the initial light that came from outside the vortex. With the four light points gathered, Li Fan could finally distinguish between the two white lights. The slender figure, suspected to be an acquaintance of Li Fan's, hidden within the divine nourishment vortex, was a silvery white, like a star. The light from the outside world, which had brushed past Li Fan earlier, was a deathly pale white. Although seemingly similar, their respective Dao paths were entirely different. As for the purple and green lights...
Before Li Fan could ponder further, another change occurred. The pale white light, the instigator of the disturbance, after being blocked by the other three lights, reversed its direction after a brief pause. It retreated rapidly, and a white streak tore through the vortex again. It had come and gone! "Have they retreated, knowing it's impossible, or..." Li Fan felt a chilling dread as not only the pale white light, but also the other three lights, after a moment's pause, dispersed and fled, attempting to escape the vast vortex.
*Bang! Bang!* Li Fan's heart inexplicably pounded violently. The outermost luminous circle of the vortex flickered and dimmed. The turbulent nourishment vortex fell into absolute stillness for an instant. Then... the divine corpse in the center, which Li Fan believed to be dead, suddenly opened its eyes. The four beams of light entered the divine gaze. The divine body stood tall and disappeared from Li Fan's observation. What followed was the disappearance of the green light, the closest to the divine shadow. It vanished silently, without even causing a ripple. Witnessing this, the remaining two white lights and the purple light accelerated their escape. The pale white light had already collided with the outermost edge of the vortex. However, escaping proved more difficult than arriving. The dim white circle was no longer as easily pierced as before. Under the violent impact, the pale white light instantly shrank slightly. Yet, it managed to create a gap. After flickering a few times, the pale white light successfully escaped. The silver-white point, representing the slender figure, followed in its wake, also escaping before the encirclement could close. As for the purple light, it was not so fortunate. Like a mosquito being easily crushed by an invisible hand, the purple light spot was instantly erased. Having effortlessly dealt with two hidden "insects," the deity did not reveal itself. Nor did it pursue the two white lights. The nourishment vortex remained still. The luminous circle at the outermost edge of the vortex flickered alternately. It was as if the deity's gaze was sweeping through the vortex, searching for something. Li Fan held his breath, doing his utmost to maintain his "Illusion is True" state. He now understood. There was no such thing as divine demise! It was all a trap set by this newly ascended deity. Crude, but remarkably effective. After all, no one had ever witnessed the aftermath of successfully seizing a deity's creation. When faced with a seemingly defenseless divine corpse and an abundance of nourishing essence, even the remaining Sages would find it irresistible. They had come here precisely to contend for the fragmented deity. Even if someone had foreseen it might be a trap, the moment other Sages made their move, the rest would be unable to resist. To seize a deity was a gamble; a moment of fear meant handing over the creation to others! Even knowing it was a trap, one had to fight with all their might. It was both a trap and an open scheme. "Having become a god, it's as easy to crush other Sages as it is to crush ants. Yet, it still resorts to such underhanded tactics." "Who is it?" The new deity's gaze swept more frequently, as if convinced that there were still "insects" hidden within the vortex. It persisted, repeating the action. Li Fan's premonition of danger grew stronger, as if he would be discovered at any moment. He dared not, however, rashly activate "Return to Truth." Under the new deity's scrutiny, his consciousness would likely be instantly blanked, leaving no time even to initiate "Return to Truth." "Fellow Daoist Fan, act as the situation dictates," Shou Qiu's voice echoed slowly. "Allow me to face this so-called deity." A majestic figure then leaped into the divine vortex. Wherever its steps fell, the brilliance parted. Shou Qiu parted the seas, revealing his true form. His beard and hair flowed, confronting the new deity. "Having achieved godhood, have you become unrecognizable?" "I sense a familiar aura about you, but I cannot discern who you are," Shou Qiu's voice resonated, as if deliberately spoken for Li Fan to hear. The new deity remained unmoved. The turbulent vortex dimmed once more, as if Shou Qiu was about to be crushed in the next moment. But... "When the true becomes false..." "And the false becomes true." Shou Qiu chanted slowly, his long robe billowing without wind. His figure suddenly became ethereal, and as if a pair of invisible hands flashed around him, they grasped at nothing. "I once sat on the mountain, gazing at the sea..." "Now the mountains and seas are no more." "So I shall stand and destroy this deity!" Like a gust of wind, Shou Qiu's robes fluttered. He poured all his understanding of the True-False Transformation into a gentle finger pointing towards the unseen new deity outside. Ripples gently spread through the nourishment vortex, as if something had changed, yet as if nothing had. "Return to Truth!" At this opportune moment, Li Fan roared in his heart.
The familiar white mist, born from the vortex of nutrients.
Silently.
At the same time, the figure of Qiu Qiu stood tall, as if frozen in ice.
His expression was frozen, fixed at the moment he extended his finger towards the new god.
An invisible ripple spread, and Qiu Qiu's silhouette shattered inch by inch.
Compared to the purple and green light dots, Qiu Qiu's demise caused a slightly larger commotion.
It was no longer a silent crushing like an insect, but it even stirred up some ripples in the vortex of nutrients.
But that was all.
Unstoppably, it vanished with the wind.
However, with the enhancement of Return to Truth, Qiu Qiu's strength undoubtedly stood at the pinnacle of saints.
His final virtual void finger still brought a slight impact to the god.
It caused a slight flaw in the originally impenetrable vortex of nutrients, the birthplace of gods.
The Return to Truth white mist, because of this, wrapped Li Fan within it.
Li Fan, located at the core, now had a main body and a source of power.
The white mist no longer feared the so-called brilliance of the gods, rolling in mightily from the void.
Such a commotion naturally did not escape the new "god's" notice.
As if tightly gripped by an invisible giant hand, the rolling white mist instantly solidified.
Then, as if repeatedly compressed, the white mist, almost visibly, became even thicker.
"When true becomes false, and false becomes true!"
Li Fan repeatedly chanted in his heart, like a protective charm.
Although it was an instinctive reaction born of fear, it was indeed effective.
The frozen white mist, surged again. It became thicker and thicker, blocking all external threats.
The divine pressure from the god seemed to disappear.
In the world, besides the white mist and Li Fan within it, there was nothing else. It was incredibly quiet, so quiet it was suffocating.
"Did Return to Truth succeed?" Li Fan thought with lingering fear.
At this moment, the white mist suddenly vibrated violently.
It was as if countless fists were pounding it from the outside. With each blow, the thick white mist became more transparent.
Soon, the white mist, which had originally disappeared, could be vaguely seen again from the outside.
Then...
A huge, cold, and merciless eye suddenly appeared at the edge of the white mist.
Its gaze indifferent, it stared intently at Li Fan, who was cowering within the white mist.
At this moment, Li Fan's heart felt as if it were being squeezed. He trembled and ached from extreme fear.
His mind went blank.
Without him as the backbone, the transparency of the white mist became more apparent.
It even showed signs of gradually dissipating!
"No! He didn't discover me!"
On the brink of life and death, after a brief moment of blankness. Survival instincts made Li Fan's thoughts return to normal.
In an instant, countless thoughts raced through his mind, even more agile than usual.
"Previously, when I entered the new god's line of sight, my divine sense was like being hit, and I fainted completely."
"That was when the new god was disguised as a corpse. Now, the new god's eye is so close, yet I only experienced a brief blankness?"
"The blankness was due to fear, not an external influence from the new god."
In a flash, Li Fan understood.
Because of the concealment of the Return to Truth white mist, no matter how close the new god's eye was, it still hadn't discovered him hiding within.
It wasn't that the god saw him.
It was he who saw the god.
"So I wasn't discovered."
As this thought arose, the fear vanished.
The white mist, in an instant, became thicker again.
In a short period, twists and turns occurred. And as Li Fan's mood changed, the corresponding changes in the Return to Truth white mist were naturally noticed by him.
"The transformation of true and false is thus."
As if enlightened, Li Fan sat down, ignoring the divine eye hanging high in the sky like the sun.
He desperately recalled his past glorious deeds in his mind.
"The sages of mountains and seas, and even the new god, had all receded under my single thought."
"Regardless of who wins the godhood this time..."
"It is still impossible to escape this fate."
"True, becomes, false!"
Li Fan's eyes were calm, all fear having receded.
What remained was absolute confidence.
The mist moved with his thoughts.
More and more white mist emerged from the void.
It rolled in, its speed increasing.
For a time, it was as if wind howled and thunder roared.
Layer upon layer, they stacked upon each other.
The divine eye, in the end, could no longer see.
In the last moment before the divine eye vanished, a trace of anger finally flashed in its always calm eyes.
Then, a faint roar seemed to come from outside the white mist.
"It's done!"
Sensing the departure of danger, Li Fan, narrowly escaping, couldn't help but sigh in relief.
Then, without warning, a wave of weakness washed over him.
He felt dizzy and extremely weak.
It was as if all his strength had vanished, leaving him to be carried forward by the white mist.
"The consumption is this huge?"
Li Fan's head was groggy, his eyelids felt as heavy as a thousand pounds.
He had originally planned to observe the subtle changes before and after Return to Truth.
But it was in vain.
He simply fell into a deep sleep.
...
Anchor Point: 1 year.
The initial anchor point.
When Li Fan woke up again, he seemed not to have fully escaped the danger of the previous life.
His body felt as if it had undergone continuous arduous training, with aches all over.
And this pain seemed deeply rooted in his soul, as if innate.
Even though Li Fan quickly cultivated to the Dao Integration realm, this soreness did not disappear.
It only lessened slightly.
Li Fan did not rush to ascend again, nor connect to the Infinite Sea.
Instead, he reviewed the experiences of his previous life.
"It truly is a case of pulling one hair and moving the whole body."
"I never expected that by casually taking some advantage from [The Net], I would lead to a conclusion in the battle of fragmented consciousness at the beginning of the Mountains and Seas."
"The Mountains and Seas returned, and a new god was established. What a grand occasion!"
Even now, recalling the previous torrent of divine return, Li Fan felt quite shaken.
"It was vast and powerful, obliterating everything. Even the sages of the Mountains and Seas were like ants. The power of this torrent itself was not much inferior to the new god. If not for the protection of the transformation of true and false, I fear the outcome would have been the same as the other sages, perishing on the spot."
His thoughts seemed to follow the torrent of divine return back to the beginning of the Mountains and Seas.
Two white dots, one purple, one green, and the new god, all gathered in that giant vortex of nutrients.
"That white dot..."
Li Fan's gaze sharpened.
The memory from earlier resurfaced.
"Fellow Daoist Fan, have we met before?"
"The Mountains and Seas are filled with countless heroes, how could they all be deceived!"
Li Fan savored these two sentences, his eyes narrowing unconsciously.
"This white dot, like Qiu Xin Hui, the Sage of the End of Mountains and Seas, vaguely sensed the truth of the Mountains and Seas being constantly reset."
"After encountering me again, it developed a vague sense of familiarity and kept questioning."
"Although I never answered, after another reincarnation, this white dot's intuition was still amplified..."
"It couldn't be stopped, hence the sigh that the heroes of the Mountains and Seas could not be easily deceived."
"Hmph, still too pedantic. At first, one should have just concocted a reason to fool it. Remaining silent, wouldn't that be equivalent to betraying oneself?"
"If not to be deceived, then either kill or suppress them, or be of one heart and mind. Instead, they allowed it to grow..."
Li Fan shook his head slightly, utterly unimpressed with his past choices.
Recalling the scene he had witnessed at the end of time, at the final moments when the void swallowed the Mountains and Seas, the two white dots only then jumped out.
He was almost certain that after countless reincarnations, these two white dots had probably vaguely understood that the Mountains and Seas were constantly undergoing reincarnation.
Although they might not have known that the instigator was Li Fan, and that it was the transformation of true and false.
It did not prevent them from hiding themselves and lying dormant.
Until the Mountains and Seas rebooted.
"It's really uncomfortable to be parasitic in Return to Truth."
Return to Truth reset, and the Mountains and Seas returned to their original state.
But these two existences were like stains.
With each reset, they were still faintly imprinted.
"They definitely wouldn't retain complete memories of the previous life like me. But they should have a similar intuition to mine."
"If both of them are like this, then what about that new god?"
A sudden worry arose in Li Fan's heart.
However, after careful consideration, the worry slowly subsided.
"Having past intuition is not frightening."
"What is truly frightening is the power of a god."
"Returning to the present time, that new god was merely an ordinary sage of the early Mountains and Seas."
"The battle of fragmented consciousness had countless variables. Even if this life were to repeat itself, the victor might not necessarily be Him."
He had to admit that the new god, having absorbed almost all the energy of the Mountains and Seas, was indeed a being far superior to the sages.
Those purple and green dots were among the very few sages who survived until the end.
Yet they were easily crushed by the new god.
Even powerhouses like Silver Glow and Pale White, who could maintain their intuition within Return to Truth, had no resistance before the new god and could only flee in dismay.
The gap was so vast it was despair-inducing.
"Looking across the Mountains and Seas, only the transformation of true and false could have had a slight impact on the new god."
"I wonder if Qiu Qiu Gong can learn something from his final killing blow in the previous life."
Qiu Qiu Gong's finger of true and false had definitely touched the new god.
Even if it was far from "injuring" him, Li Fan believed that with Qiu Qiu's comprehension, as long as he touched it, he would definitely gain something.
"If he could touch it the first time, then the second, and even the third time..."
"It might not be impossible to have the strength to fight a god!"
"However... that new god is not yet in its truly perfect state," Li Fan's gaze sharpened, thinking thus.
All things in the world originated from the god.
Not to mention Li Fan, those two dots of Silver Glow and Pale White had not yet returned to the divine.
Adding to that the vortex of nutrients not fully absorbed by the god...
"The new god I saw in my previous life was merely a demigod."
"Compared to the time when the Mountains and Seas were divided by the [True God], there is still a huge gap."
"He is probably still no match for Star."
"I'm afraid the new god knows this itself, which is why it resorted to underhanded tactics like feigning death to lure the hidden four dots to complete their true transformation."
"Unfortunately, it was not successful."
"In that case, it was truly a stroke of luck. A mere demigod almost shook the Return to Truth white mist. If a true god were to appear..."
"Even so, He is not someone that the ordinary sages or ordinary means of the Mountains and Seas can contend with."
"At that time, I almost thought the Return to Truth white mist would be torn apart."
The image of the new god's merciless giant eyes reappeared before Li Fan's eyes.
Even while in contemplation, Li Fan's heart skipped a beat again. But the current Li Fan was no longer the Li Fan who had developed psychological trauma from being scared by Cat Treasure.
With a calm mind, he expelled the influence brought by the new god.
"Return to Truth white mist..."
"The transformation of true and false."
With a thought, Li Fan conjured a branch in his palm.
It was purely fabricated by Li Fan using the transformation of true and false.
Clutching it, he enveloped it with his divine sense, meticulously observing every detail.
Then Li Fan began to try and recall his past glorious deeds.
Although they were still just countless fleeting moments like a rushing river, as Li Fan contemplated, he truly felt as if he had returned to the past.
His strength and confidence grew steadily.
"I think this branch should be more realistic."
As this thought arose, Li Fan keenly sensed that the branch in his hand had indeed become more "real"!
It wasn't just a feeling, but it could be concretely seen in the duration this imagined creation could last.
"If it were purely based on my mastery of the transformation of true and false, this branch could last for at most..."
"A thousand years without decay."
"But if it were combined with the sense of control from my past self..."
"It could last for ten thousand years without decay?"
Li Fan was somewhat shocked.
Simply adding his mental intent had increased the efficacy of the transformation of true and false by more than tenfold!
This was a discovery Li Fan had made in his past life during the crisis when the new god was about to tear open the Return to Truth white mist.
Now that it was confirmed, his heart was still stirred with excitement.
"Could this be called 'borrowing the power of my past self'?"
Li Fan knew very well how powerful his past self was.
The sages of the Mountains and Seas, the gods of the void.
Even Star could be reset by his single thought.
If Li Fan could borrow some power from his past self, he would be able to handle the battle of fragmented consciousness with ease.
"Although... there are some side effects."
A new soreness spread from the depths of his soul.
Li Fan's hand softened, and he almost failed to grasp the newly created branch in his hand.
"I can borrow strength, but I cannot exceed my limit of endurance."
"Otherwise..."
"The injury might be irreversible," Li Fan realized.
"I need to rest well. But it is absolutely worth it."
The strength borrowed from his past self would not disappear.
Instead, it would deepen his understanding of the transformation of true and false and accelerate the recovery of his memories from the past.
When Li Fan rested for a while and looked back at the torrent of past memories,
The flow of time seemed to slow down, allowing him to see more of the scenes within.
"The experiences of my past self are definitely a treasure trove comparable to the Mountains and Seas themselves."
"If utilized properly, I can quickly locate reliable allies who share the same heart."
"Combined with insights into various Great Daos..."
However, Li Fan did not rashly delve into it.
Only after hiding in the Xuanhuang Realm for a hundred years, and the throbbing sensation in his soul completely disappeared, did he take the next step.
First, he skillfully opened the Return to Truth panel and then chose to inherit...
"The Star Radiance Movement Strategy."
The moment he made his choice, Li Fan felt as if the entire sky of the Xuanhuang Realm had dimmed.
Not only the Xuanhuang Realm and the Primordial Realm.
But the entire Mountains and Seas did so as well.
Against the dim backdrop, a strange radiance permeated and pulsed.
It was like the rhythmic beating of a heart, or like a gaze that kept sweeping over.
【Outline of Mountain and Sea Transformations】 was the general outline of all data regarding the Mountains and Seas, as recorded by Return to Truth.
And 【Star Radiance Movement Synopsis】 was Return to Truth's observation of the 【Star】 hidden behind the scenes.
Every final moment of reincarnation, the Solitary Star would inevitably descend and devour everything. Afterward, Return to Truth would valiantly turn the tide and reverse everything.
It had never changed.
But, in each reset by Return to Truth, had it completely affected the Star?
Did it endlessly return to the starting point, or was its progress temporarily delayed, still undergoing substantial changes?
This point remained unknown.
However, even the silvery radiance hidden in the infinite seabed could retain some intuition. As for that Solitary Star, there was no need to dwell on it further.
"In my previous life, through countless cycles of reincarnation, I attempted it. What changes the Solitary Star underwent truly caused great worry. This is likely why Return to Truth specifically left these two inheritance options."
"The Outline of Mountain and Sea Transformations is the capital for establishing the Dao and cultivating the Way. As for the Star Radiance Movement Synopsis, it serves more as a reminder to prevent unforeseen events."
In Li Fan's view, any change in the Mountains and Seas, even the birth of new gods, was not to be feared. Only the Solitary Star could pose a genuine threat to him, who held the change between true and false.
Currently, Return to Truth could still reverse everything. But one day, if Return to Truth could no longer shake the Solitary Star…
That would be eternal damnation.
Thoughts swirled in his mind as Li Fan attempted to discern something from the pulsating star radiance before him.
But unlike the obvious changes in the Outline of Mountain and Sea Transformations, this record of Return to Truth’s observation of the Star was filled with an indescribable strangeness.
As the starlight permeated, Li Fan faintly heard obscure murmurs in his ears.
The sky of the Xuanhuang Realm seemed to come alive.
Countless yellow and black eyes opened.
Li Fan naturally observed them.
The moment he met the gaze of one of them, it seemed to detect Li Fan's presence. All the other eyes instantly turned towards Li Fan.
And more and more eyes appeared on the sky’s curtain.
They continuously opened, densely packed, almost obscuring the sun and moon.
All stared intently at Li Fan.
The rhythm of the star radiance became increasingly unpredictable.
The sounds in his ears began to be intermittently interspersed with tragic screams.
And Li Fan actually felt a sense of familiarity in these sounds.
It was identical to the echoes from the deranged Heavenly Dao of the Azure Nether, which had once been sealed by Su Bai and carried by Xu Ke.
Li Fan couldn't help but listen closely.
"Huh! It's you!"
"You look familiar!"
"A mere Dao Integration cultivator, yet you make me instinctively feel fear? Where does this feeling come from?"
"Damn it! You are truly damned!"
"Why did you harm me! Why did you appear here!"
"Ahhhhhhhhh, save me, please save me…"
"No, I… I am no longer myself!"
…
Chaos, madness, strangeness, and inexplicable confusion.
Li Fan frowned slightly, then suddenly realized something and withdrew from his contemplation of the Star Radiance Movement Synopsis.
The pulsating starlight on the background of the Xuanhuang Realm disappeared.
But…
The countless eyes densely covering the sky did not vanish with it!
They still stared intently at Li Fan, their gazes filled with mad hatred!
"Hm?"
Li Fan felt a slight shock in his heart; it wasn't fear of the maddened Xuanhuang Realm.
Even with his current cultivation of Dao Integration, he could crush the Azure Nether Heavenly Dao with a single finger.
What startled him was that the Star Radiance Movement, which he had merely "seen" during his comprehension, could actually affect the real Mountains and Seas.
"The Star's record, as long as it is observed by the outside world, can also alter and distort reality."
"This power…"
Li Fan frowned, his gaze penetrating the Xuanhuang Realm and looking at the entire Primordial Possibility.
Perhaps because the observation occurred within the Xuanhuang Realm, the external star contamination was significantly weaker than in the Xuanhuang Realm. But once it appeared, it did not disappear. Instead, like a terrifying epidemic, it spread rapidly.
The Primordial Possibility, already on the brink of collapse under the threat of Dao Erasure, now resembled a fading photograph, becoming mottled and withered.
And in Li Fan's ears, the low murmurs of the Xuanhuang Realm continued incessantly.
"I will kill you! Kill kill kill kill kill kill!"
"Hurry and kill me! Please kill me!"
"No! Don't listen to them! Please save me, I beg you! Father!"
"Mom, please save me! I'm in so much pain!"
…
A man's despairing roar, a little girl's sad cry, a boy's weak moan.
A thousand sounds converging, harmonizing with each other.
It was not mere meaningless madness, but rather seemed to be imbued with memories from certain past reincarnations.
"Noisy!"
Facing this cacophony, a cold glint flashed in Li Fan's eyes.
Disregarding any past affections, his divine sense enveloped the Xuanhuang Realm, as well as all areas of the Primordial Possibility contaminated by starlight.
And even dozens of surrounding possibilities.
Then, the power of True and False was unleashed.
The cries of the Azure Nether abruptly ceased, and Li Fan's ears were finally quieted.
What met his eyes was the normal scenery of the Mountains and Seas restored.
The void surrounded him, and Dao Erasure surged, yet Li Fan felt an unprecedented peace.
Compared to the inexplicably strange pulsating star radiance, Dao Erasure seemed somewhat endearing.
The demise of dozens of possibilities was, to the vastness of the Mountains and Seas, like the disappearance of a single wave. But with the Sages seated in the Vicissitude Ring, overlooking the Mountains and Seas, such an anomaly could not escape their notice.
Fortunately, Li Fan, under the protection of Illusory and True, had temporarily hidden himself in other possibilities at the first opportunity.
True and False utterly annihilated the traces.
Even the divine senses of the Sages scouring the area found no clues, and they could only retreat in frustration.
"I never expected that merely reading the records about the Star would be so dangerous."
"Although I reacted in time and excised the Star's contamination, however…"
"I'm afraid the influence wasn't completely erased. This lifetime has produced a new variable."
Li Fan frowned, deducing where this variable might lie.
Regardless, he could not find it.
He had to temporarily give up.
"Star radiance…"
"It seems a suitable opportunity is needed to fully decipher Return to Truth's records."
He temporarily abandoned trying to analyze the Star Radiance Synopsis and instead focused on restoring his cultivation.
Naturally, he still chose the Cosmic Cycle Great Dao.
But the moment he began cultivating, Li Fan sensed an abnormality in his body.
"This feeling…"
After carefully experiencing it for a moment, Li Fan snorted coldly and put it aside for now, continuing to cultivate.
Ten years later.
The familiar sensation returned.
As long as Li Fan willed it, he could take one more step and ascend to the Sage realm.
"In my previous life, it took me nearly three hundred years to cultivate from the Mortal realm to the Cosmic Cycle Sage. This lifetime, it only took ten years?"
Recalling those days, Li Fan had spent a similar amount of time just to break through and shed the miasma.
Now, in ten years, a mortal could become a Sage.
Such speed made even Li Fan, who had inherited his past memories, feel a sense of trepidation.
"This is absolutely not due to the enhancement of my own talent."
"It is because…"
"It's the influence of the Star Radiance contamination."
"Besides the Xuanhuang Realm and Primordial Possibility, have I also become corrupted to some extent?"
"No wonder I couldn't figure out where the variable lay no matter how I calculated. It has manifested within myself."
Li Fan observed himself but detected no signs of "fading."
However, he had become somewhat certain about being contaminated by the Star Radiance.
He had not hesitated to remove the corrupted Xuanhuang Realm and other possibilities.
But when the source of the corruption was himself…
Li Fan naturally would not choose to harm himself.
"Interesting. An experience I've never had before."
Li Fan was not flustered. He could sense that the Star Radiance contamination was not particularly severe.
The Solitary Star's descent could be reversed by Return to Truth;
how much more so this mutation caused by merely reading records of the Star Radiance?
"The reason my cultivation talent has undergone such a dramatic change is, in a sense, because I have already become a member of the 'Star' faction. However, I am situated within the Mountains and Seas."
"The stronger my power becomes, the more beneficial it is for the Star to devour the Mountains and Seas."
"It's as if the Star has planted a spy in the Mountains and Seas."
"The enhancement of my cultivation talent is the assistance provided by the Star. Although it might not be intentional on the Star's part, it is a result of the change itself."
Li Fan gradually understood.
Then he thought that the Void of Dao Erasure was also a pawn of the Star.
"Since that is the case…"
Li Fan’s heart stirred, and he withdrew his intention to ascend to the Sage realm.
With a gentle step, he leaped into the Void.
Without any protective power, using only his pure physical body, he plunged into the infinite Dao Erasure.
In theory, in a moment, Li Fan would be devoured by the Dao Erasure, leaving no trace behind, and would have to start anew.
However, a peculiar scene unfolded before him.
The power of Dao Erasure, capable of devouring mountains and seas, seemed to encounter something terrifying the moment it touched Li Fan's body.
Not only did it refrain from devouring him, but it actively avoided him.
The waves of Dao Erasure were like a million-strong army.
Yet Li Fan could walk leisurely among them, as if strolling in a garden.
No one dared to stop him or question him!
Li Fan's guess was confirmed.
All of this was because of the faint aura of Star Radiance clinging to him.
"So, in this lifetime, I cannot become a Sage."
"I fear that the moment I enter the sight of the Three Sages, they will join forces and strike me down without question," Li Fan said with a wry smile.
This outcome was something Li Fan could never have imagined when he inherited the Star Radiance Movement Synopsis.
"I still underestimated the Star's power."
"Admittedly, the Star contamination on me can be slowly cleansed through the change between true and false. However, firstly, it is too troublesome. It would be simpler to start anew."
"Secondly…" Li Fan, situated within the Void, gazed at the Mountains and Seas ahead.
"Having reincarnated multiple times, I have never experienced this perspective before. Why not…"
Recalling the birth of new gods in his previous life, Li Fan's thoughts turned, and an idea began to form in his mind.
With a thought, the Dao Erasure in the Void, without warning, surged in colossal waves, violently crashing towards the Mountains and Seas.
As if an emperor himself was leading the charge, or an arm commanding its will.
The Dao Erasure, instead of resisting, appeared extremely excited.
Like soldiers on the battlefield seeing their emperor personally lead the charge.
It displayed a destructive power far exceeding the norm.
Roaring, it swept and collided with the Mountains and Seas.
The Sages on the Other Shore were caught off guard by this sudden attack of Dao Erasure.
However, thankfully, through years of defense, they had accumulated rich experience. The Vicissitude Ring emanated white light, protecting the entirety of the Mountains and Seas.
Although Li Fan had bolstered the Dao Erasure, it could not fundamentally alter the situation.
For the time being, it could not overcome the steadfast Mountains and Seas.
"I can summon more Dao Erasure power from elsewhere. Even the Void manifestations of the Sages are not out of the question."
"However…"
Li Fan sat firmly within the Dao Erasure, his eyes narrowed, not acting in haste.
Currently, although he could manipulate the power of Dao Erasure, it was because, as an envoy of the Star, he had bypassed the true master of the Void and directly commanded the soldiers of Dao Erasure on the front lines.
But this did not mean that the hidden master of the Void had lost control over Dao Erasure.
It was fine for him to cause minor disturbances in a small section of the Mountains and Seas; it was unlikely that the hidden master of the Void would notice.
If he were to forcibly recruit soldiers from other regions, he might immediately attract the attention of the Void.
The current Li Fan was not ready to engage with it.
"The Star Radiance on my person is not yet that intense."
"I will wait a while longer."
The Void was the vanguard of the Star. In the face of the Solitary Star, the Void had no room for resistance.
Even after laboring for the Star for a long time, its ultimate fate was to be devoured along with the Star.
But Li Fan was not the Star; he was merely a "mutation" tainted with a trace of Star Radiance.
He might be able to deceive Dao Erasure, but he would never be able to deceive the hidden master of the Void.
Of course, this was only based on his current level of contamination.
If the changes on Li Fan progressed further…
That would be a different story.
"My actions may seem reckless, but with the foundation of True and False transformation…"
"It is not as dangerous as it appears."
"As long as it can be ensured that Return to Truth can completely eliminate the Star Radiance contamination."
"There is no harm in entering the dragon's den!"
"As for how much is too much, it must be, and can only be, controlled by me personally."
Although there was some regret, it was clear that in this lifetime, he could not bring Shou Qiu and Moral Daos into his alliance.
Even with the benefit of united hearts, Li Fan could not guarantee that Shou Qiu would willingly follow him and turn towards the Star's side, becoming a "spy" for the Mountains and Seas.
Shou Qiu's character and morality were truly too high. Li Fan had experienced this deeply.
If he were to forcibly pull him into the Star's camp, it might lead to internal strife at a critical moment.
"This lifetime, let us be opponents."
Li Fan looked at Shou Qiu, who was sitting in the Vicissitude Ring, and smiled softly.
"Although I can now manipulate Dao Erasure, the ultimate control still rests with the hidden master of the Void."
"But… there might not be a way to counter it." Li Fan's eyes flickered.
"Ink Slaughter!"
"Dao One Insect!"
As his thoughts arose, two wriggling shadows appeared before Li Fan.
The Void did not tolerate external objects; Dao Erasure devoured everything.
The moment Ink Slaughter and the Dao One Insect appeared, they caused the Dao Erasure to churn instinctively.
However, partly because Ink Slaughter was subtly related to Dao Erasure by origin, and partly because Li Fan was present, the Dao Erasure managed to control itself and did not truly swallow them.
"Condense!"
Li Fan raised his hand and pointed. Ink Slaughter and the Dao One Insect merged into one.
Their forms disappeared simultaneously.
In their place appeared countless wriggling black dots.
"Go!"
Li Fan pointed again. A small wave of Dao Erasure power, like fierce soldiers, charged towards the newly formed Dao One Insect.
Instantly, a hundred black dots were reduced to one.
However, this remaining one had endured the first wave of Dao Erasure's assault.
Just like the mountains and seas.
Although they had barely survived the initial wave of Dao Erasure, the Dao One Insects were now extremely weak and could not withstand any further erosion. Fortunately, Li Fan was the controller of the Dao Erasure. With a slight shift of his will, he restrained the surging waves of Dao Erasure, giving the near-dead Dao One Insects a chance to breathe. With Li Fan's sustenance, the Dao One Insects quickly prospered once more.
And then, the Dao Erasure returned.
The Dao One Insect swarm, having undergone a round of transformation, indeed possessed slightly stronger survival capabilities when facing the same scale of Dao Erasure.
"But with this rate of growth..." Li Fan frowned slightly. "It's also impossible to determine whether this slight increase is due to the Dao One Insects themselves becoming stronger, or simply an occasional factor."
So, Li Fan conducted another experiment.
Within the void realm, Dao Erasure surged. He divided the insect swarm into a million pieces of equal size and simultaneously unleashed attacks on them. Under Li Fan's meticulous control, the strength of these Dao Erasure attacks was such that they would almost annihilate the insect swarms after one strike, but not completely kill them. Like waves crashing ashore, the once prosperous insect swarm was instantly reduced to scattered remnants.
"Compared to before, there are both increases and decreases. It seems to be due to random factors, not that the Dao One Insects have truly become stronger in such a short time," Li Fan shook his head slightly. This was only to be expected. The Dao One Insects, even after integrating with Ink Slaughter, had not yet reached the transcendent realm. How could they resist the Dao Erasure that could destroy saints?
"However..."
"Through my hands, it may not be impossible to turn decay into the miraculous."
"In the mountains and seas, I can elevate mortals to sainthood. In the void realm, I can also transform insects into dragons!"
Li Fan summoned a tiny Dao Erasure Insect and, with his will like a knife, began to carve and modify it. As the patterns on its back were continuously perfected, this Dao One Insect began to exude a different aura. It seemed to emit a peculiar allure, even enticing the nearby Dao Erasure into becoming restless once more. Fortunately, Li Fan forcefully suppressed the agitated Dao Erasure.
He gazed at his own creation. Numerous undulating lines adorned the back of the Dao One Insect, imbued with infinite Dao charm, resembling a miniature depiction of the mountains and seas. Or rather, these lines were Li Fan's imitation of the petrified mountains and seas he had seen in his previous life!
"Compared to the true stone tablets of mountains and seas, it's still slightly inferior." Li Fan, dissatisfied, crushed the creation and began to carve anew. "What I saw in my previous life was, after all, just a segment of the mountains and seas. The complete depiction of all mountains and seas is contained within this "Outline of Mountains and Seas Transformation." With it as the general principle..."
In his previous life, Li Fan had directly achieved the status of a Mountain and Sea Sage by embodying the shadows of the mountains and seas. In theory, if the entire landscape of the mountains and seas were carved onto a single Dao One Insect, it might even give birth to the first Dao One Insect at the Sage realm in the history of mountains and seas. However, after several attempts, Li Fan decisively abandoned the idea.
"A single Dao One Insect is simply too weak. It cannot bear the immensity of the mountains and seas. Even swarms of millions or tens of millions of insects would be insufficient. More are needed."
As his thoughts churned, the Dao One Insect swarm began to multiply wildly once more. Li Fan even commanded his subordinate Dao Erasure to scour the mountains and seas for nourishment to feed them. After devouring several possibilities of the mountains and seas, the scale of the Dao One Insect swarm finally reached a barely usable level.
"Hundreds of billions of them is already the limit." This refers not to the limit of insect swarm proliferation, but to the number of Dao One Insects that Li Fan could meticulously carve with the imitation of the mountain and sea stone tablets simultaneously.
Li Fan's divine sense covered billions of Dao One Insects, as if manifesting an equal number of arms, carving onto the backs of each insect. The patterns on each Dao One Insect were unique, each representing a corner of the mountains and seas. But when combined... they formed a magnificent panorama of the mountains and seas, almost complete!
To imitate the entire landscape of the mountains and seas, even with the "Outline of Mountains and Seas Transformation" as a guiding principle, Li Fan's task was essentially like tracing a drawing. It was still an extremely taxing endeavor on his mind. With each passing moment, Li Fan's black hair would turn a little whiter. As his white hair grew, signs of aging began to appear on his skin. The carving continued, and Li Fan's outward appearance became increasingly aged.
"Without achieving sainthood, my resistance to external influences is ultimately too weak." But Li Fan didn't pay too much attention, continuing to focus on the meticulous carving of the mountain and sea landscapes.
After an unknown period, the mountains and seas in front of him suddenly shone brilliantly, creating waves that shook the surrounding Dao friends guarding Li Fan, threatening to dissipate.
"Huh? Without me, they actually succeeded in reconnecting the mountains and seas?" Li Fan was somewhat surprised. However, looking at the nearly completed "Dao One Mountain and Sea Diagram" in his hand, Li Fan felt a sense of relief. "It took so long just to reconnect a segment of the mountains and seas. To truly save the mountains and seas from the Dao Erasure, who knows when that will be."
Ignoring the Saints of the Mountains and Seas who were invigorated by the successful reconnection, Li Fan coughed weakly and refocused on his work.
When the mountains and seas shone again, and the Sages of Mound Guardian completed another reconnection, Li Fan was only one stroke away from completing the "Dao One Mountain and Sea Diagram." But for some reason, Li Fan couldn't bring himself to make that final stroke. At this moment, Li Fan had also reached the end of his life.
"After a lifetime of toiling, I still cannot achieve complete success." He looked at the newly born insect swarm, surrounded by Dao Erasure. Billions of Dao One Insects gathered, carrying the continuous mountains and seas. Although called an insect swarm, they were essentially shadows of the mountains and seas. The aura they exuded was already strikingly similar to the mountains and seas themselves, causing the surrounding Dao Erasure to repeatedly lose control and attack them at times, disregarding Li Fan's commands. However, compared to their initial fragile state, they were now vastly different. The towering momentum had been established; minor storms could no longer overcome them. But they were still a far cry from the ideal state Li Fan desired. Before completing the final touch, Li Fan had reached the end of his lifespan for this life. He didn't force himself and silently chanted "Return to Truth!"
...
Another year of anchor points passed. This time, Li Fan directly chose to inherit the unfinished "Mountain and Sea Dao One Diagram" from his previous life. With a slight movement of his mind, an exquisitely carved masterpiece appeared before him.
"To walk a hundred miles, ninety is ninety. This last step is still difficult to take." Li Fan sat in contemplation for a hundred years, repeatedly comparing it with the "Outline of Mountains and Seas Transformation." He still couldn't find the optimal moment to make the final stroke. "I still need to learn from the mountains and seas!" Li Fan put away the "Dao One Mountain and Sea Diagram," stood up, and began to cultivate. After more than two hundred years, he had returned to the realm of the "Cosmic Cycle" Sage.
"Without the blessings of the stars, my cultivation is still swift," Li Fan thought to himself. New Sages descended, and the Sages of the Mountains and Seas cast their gazes upon him. Li Fan ignored them and leaped directly into the void realm, causing widespread astonishment. Li Fan's movement was so swift that even the Three Sages couldn't intercept him. They could only watch as Li Fan vanished into the void realm, his whereabouts unknown.
"That is... the Great Dao of Cosmic Cycle. Although this path is extraordinary, venturing alone into the vast void realm is likely to be perilous."
"What reasoning is this? It's as if they're trying to avoid us."
"What a shame, truly a shame. If we had the assistance of another Sage, we might have hope of reconnecting the mountains and seas." The Sages debated amongst themselves. Finally, the Three Sages made a decision: "Everyone has their own aspirations; there is no need to force them. Let him be."
Little did the Sages know that Li Fan's journey across the Dao Erasure was not as effortless as it seemed, nor was it without risk. Compared to being surrounded and consumed by Dao Erasure, the greater obstacle was the lack of direction and the inability to discern past from present. In the past, with the Three Sages as guiding lights, he only needed to traverse towards a predetermined goal. However, now, traveling alone without anyone to guide him, Li Fan had to find his own way. The presence of the Three Sages had accompanied the mountains and seas throughout their existence, allowing them to maintain a clear direction in the void realm. But Li Fan was just Li Fan. His journey forward was not smooth. Fortunately, with the experience of reconnecting and repairing in his previous lives, this dark path was one he had personally traversed step by step. In a vague sense, it held a degree of familiarity.
He arrived at his destination without major incident, which was the very place surrounded by "The Net" before the mountains and seas.
"When the real becomes false, the false also becomes real!" With a thought, the Great Dao of True and False enveloped him, his form turning into an ethereal nothingness. Instantly, he disregarded the devouring net intricately woven by "The Net" and entered the mountains and seas. The scene within was similar to the ordinary mountains and seas. It bore a resemblance to the Xuanhuang Realm when the Profound Net spanned the skies. Above the sky, intertwined horizontal and vertical lines were faintly visible. There were also many gaps, as if a portion had been directly devoured, revealing a strange, swirling blackness. The entire mountain and sea realm was filled with the devouring hunger of "The Net," distorting the temperament of living beings and the heavens and earth.
"All things contend, heaven and man contend. But in the end, it all benefits the gluttonous maw of 'The Net'."
"If there were no external intervention." Li Fan snorted coldly.
"Dao Erasure..."
"Return!" His gaze penetrated the mountains and seas, passing through the multiple layers of "The Net's" blockade, reaching deep into the void realm. Relying on the familiarity gained from his previous life's immersion in starlight, Li Fan now used himself as bait to lure a large amount of Dao Erasure from the void realm to this place! It's important to note that at this time, the mountains and seas were already a place highly valued by the void realm, and the convergence of Dao Erasure forces was exceptionally dense. Upon discovering a vulnerable loophole, they naturally swarmed in.
The Dao Erasure, in immense quantities, suddenly appeared in the mountains and seas! "The Net" was stunned, unable to comprehend how the void realm had broken through its blockade and snatched food from its mouth.
But Li Fan's objective was not merely this.
"Traveling a long distance, arriving through hardships. Can such a small commotion satisfy me?"
"The meridians of living beings." Li Fan's eyes narrowed, and he directly extracted tens of thousands of living beings from the mountains and seas. These were not naturally born from the mountains and seas, but were produced by Qiu Tianhui's Great Dao of Sentience. With a gentle pinch, the living beings in his hand shattered, turning into scattered remnants. These remnants were then injected by Li Fan into the hidden meridians of the mountains and seas. Half went to the past, and half went to the future. In his previous lives, the Sages of the Mountains and Seas only sought to stimulate the mountain and sea's instinctual resistance, thus limiting the scale of Dao Erasure invasion. But this time, Li Fan acted with reckless abandon. The light from tens of thousands of living beings guided the way, the meridians clearly visible. The Dao Erasure army advanced unimpeded! The mountains and seas, shrouded in darkness, were instantly plunged into turmoil and peril. Even "The Net" was shaken. With "The Net's" strength, it could undoubtedly survive within the Dao Erasure, but it could not protect the mountains and seas. Moreover, "The Net" had risked crossing over precisely for the Great Dao of Sentience of the mountains and seas.
Now, the meridians of the mountains and seas' living beings were inexplicably detected by the void realm and used as an invasion channel... "The Net" was extremely frustrated. However, the situation in the mountains and seas was now extremely chaotic, and despite its search, it couldn't find the reason for this. It could only retreat helplessly. All its previous efforts were in vain, and the process of traveling and crossing was also quite draining for "The Net." It was truly a case of trying to steal a chicken and losing the rice.
Li Fan, hidden in the shadows, watched as "The Net" gradually disappeared. His gaze turned cold, and he reached out and grabbed the air.
"Who?" Feeling a cold sensation moving over itself and taking away some of its essence, "The Net" was both surprised and furious. But after a moment of hesitation, "The Net" decided to flee faster. "This anomaly is clearly aimed at me." "Despite my careful concealment, I was still detected?" "Which old friend is it?" "The Net" felt a sense of suffocation as it sensed a piece of itself missing. But with the situation unclear and a trap clearly set against it, if it stayed any longer, it might truly perish here. Despite its immense reluctance, "The Net" returned to the origin of the mountains and seas.
"What a pity." Li Fan secretly savored the taste of "The Net's" Great Dao of devouring mountains and swallowing seas, looking at the increasingly clear line of text in "Great Dao Realization." He felt somewhat unsatisfied. With his current strength, he was not yet capable of confronting "The Net" directly, so he could only resort to this method of 'fleecing' it. "If I 'fleece' it enough times, perhaps I can become the rightful successor!"
With "The Net's" net receding, what remained was the confrontation between the void realm and the mountains and seas. And with Li Fan acting as an insider guiding the way, the outer defenses of the mountains and seas, and even the "Vortex Rings" laid out by the Sages, were like mere decorations! The torrent of Dao Erasure flowed unhindered along the meridians of the mountains and seas' living beings. What was originally the source of life for the mountains and seas had now become a connection pipe for a deadly poison. The efficiency was hundreds of times greater than slow erosion from the outside!
Moments later, although the current mountain and sea realm remained intact, the three isolated segments of mountains and seas in the front and back had already fallen into the tide of Dao Erasure. It was predictable that if this momentum continued, the mountains and seas would be in danger of immediate collapse. The Sages' faces changed, but with the situation so dire, they were powerless to intervene. The Three Sages exchanged glances, seemingly making a firm decision.
At this moment, the mountains and seas themselves, facing crisis, suddenly roared. A powerful force erupted from within the mountains and seas. For a short time, it managed to push back the surging torrent of Dao Erasure. However, it was far from the effortless effort of the previous life. The Dao Erasure had already gained an initial advantage. Although resisted by the immense power of the mountains and seas, it still deeply entrenched itself within the sacred spirit meridians. Like a strategically vital location, neither side was willing to yield. For a time, it fell into a stalemate. The Sages made every effort to prevent the situation from deteriorating.
Li Fan, still hidden in the shadows, thought: "As I expected. Without reaching that critical point, even with the danger of widespread destruction, the mountains and seas would not choose petrification as a delaying tactic." "I hope my luck this life is good enough to witness the birth of a new god."
Unfortunately, things did not go as he wished. Li Fan waited for a long time, but the anomaly did not appear. This time, the conflict for the fragmented spirits at the dawn of the mountains and seas did not conclude quickly. "Could it be that I didn't 'fleece' it hard enough?" Li Fan couldn't help but stroke his chin.
How does one become a god?
Without personally participating in the fierce struggles of the Primordial Immortal Realm, this question might never be answered accurately.
Li Fan could only speculate by observing the different outcomes caused by various variables.
"It seems that besides the body's severe injuries, there might be other factors."
Li Fan waited for a long time, but still, the Three Sages did not utter the words, "The time for spirit manifestation has come."
Choosing not to waste any more time, Li Fan decisively initiated a Return to Truth reset.
He decided to preserve the "Mountain and Sea Diagram of Dao One," which was only a step away from completion.
Pausing his actions, Li Fan meticulously reviewed all the details of the era when the new god descended.
"Could it be that, in addition to the body's severe injuries, the Sages' spiritual intrusion and battle with it were also key factors?"
"Since I cannot ascertain the cause, I must recreate all variables as much as possible."
With this thought, Li Fan extracted dozens of spiritual beings from the realm of Mountains and Seas.
These beings would serve as pawns.
Previously, the Sages who entered the Net to contend with it were Stealth, Hundred Inquiries, Inch-by-Inch, and Tai Wei. Li Fan was the last.
Among them, the first three had already left their marks in the Great Dao Realization. Recreating their effects should not be difficult.
"The key lies with the Sage Emperor Tai Wei. Ordinary beings cannot possibly embody the aura of an emperor."
Li Fan's gaze swept over the chosen fortunate individuals, selecting the most suitable vessels. Then, he gently blew upon them.
These beings were originally in a state of stupor, but gradually, their temperament and expressions underwent subtle changes.
The beings gathered around him seemed to sense something and instinctively moved away, daring not to approach. What Li Fan infused into them was not just a simulated memory, but more importantly, the mindset of an emperor.
Li Fan observed for a moment, still unsatisfied, and shook his head slightly.
"Though it possesses the spirit of a Sage Emperor, it lacks the substance. It's not enough!"
In the era when the new god was born, the Sage Emperor had comprehended the Great Dao of Sentient Beings and infiltrated the Net with his own power, a consumption that was almost negligible.
Therefore, for Li Fan to perfectly replicate the conditions for the birth of a new god, he needed to create a Sage Emperor of comparable strength.
"Based on my understanding of the True and False Transformation, I cannot forge a Saint with a single thought. However..."
"I can transform my cultivation!"
"The Great Dao of Cosmic Cycle, shed!"
A peculiar scene unfolded. The outer layer of Li Fan's body began to writhe as if being grasped by an external force and violently torn apart.
Slowly, a figure detached itself from Li Fan.
It was faceless and formless, flickering and unstable, yet it exuded the immense aura of a Saint realm.
Li Fan, on the other hand, had reverted to the mortal realm!
Compared to a Saint, a mortal was like an ant to a mountain. Under normal circumstances, if Li Fan were to do such a thing, he would immediately lose control of the Saintly exterior the moment he shed his own cultivation.
But Li Fan was different.
The foundation of his strength largely resided in the "True and False Transformation." Even as a mere mortal, Li Fan could still suppress the Saintly exterior.
Furthermore, the Great Dao of Cosmic Cycle had already been registered in the Hall of Great Dao Realization. With both reasons combined, Li Fan's control was absolute.
"It's not time to act yet. I shall wait until I cultivate to the Saint realm once more."
For his second cultivation, Li Fan chose the Profound Woman Dao.
Li Fan's comprehension of the Great Dao of Cosmic Cycle had, after all, left a mark on the Boundless Mountain and Sea Stele. Naturally, his understanding of the Profound Woman Dao was not as profound.
However, to become a Saint again, Li Fan only took four hundred years.
Constantly resetting and re-proving the Dao. For other cultivators, the path to sainthood was unattainable and as difficult as ascending to heaven, but for Li Fan, it had become as simple as eating and drinking.
"In the future, creating Saints will be as easy as a mere thought."
Li Fan, now a Profound Woman Saint, felt invigorated. Cloaked in the "Cosmic Cycle" exterior, he headed towards the Mountains and Seas, which were sealed by the Net.
He entered as before, using the "Illusion is True" approach, quietly infiltrating the realm.
Subsequently, he released the fabricated "Stealth," "Hundred Inquiries," and "Inch-by-Inch."
The Net reacted accordingly. Although not entirely identical to the era of the new god's descent, the general trajectory was the same.
"Next, it's your turn."
Li Fan looked at the "Sage Emperor" phantom in his hand, smiled slightly, and draped the "Cosmic Cycle" exterior over it.
As the Saintly presence enveloped it, Li Fan simultaneously vied for ownership of the Great Dao of Cosmic Cycle in the Hall of Great Dao Realization.
An ownerless garment, how could it contend with Li Fan?
The Great Dao of Cosmic Cycle vanished.
The exterior quickly fell from the Saint realm, leaving behind accumulated cultivation but no Saintly status.
This matched the performance of the Sage Emperor Tai Wei when he traversed and descended into the Net.
Li Fan's "Sage Emperor" had already been programmed by him.
He acted as a rogue cultivator, building an immortal army, and forcing the Net to reveal itself and change the rules.
After the fabricated "Sage Emperor" was annihilated, Li Fan would then make his grand entrance.
"Whoa? You..."
Even though Li Fan had concealed himself well, the Net instinctively sensed something was amiss.
An inexplicable sense of crisis arose in its heart.
"A mere ant from a later era, causing me such unease?"
The Net was filled with suspicion. However, as one of the Primordial Sages of Mountains and Seas, an ancient existence that had survived the harsh environment of the Primordial Immortal Realm, it could not be simply scared away by Li Fan.
Another round of the performance ensued.
The outcome, needless to say, was predetermined.
Li Fan showed no mercy, using the Great Dao of Stealth to gain another advantage.
A chillingly strange sensation spread through its core. The unease, deliberately suppressed by the Net earlier, was now amplified a thousandfold.
"Interconnected, clearly a meticulously planned trap."
"Who is calculating against me!"
The Net roared in its heart. For some inexplicable reason, this scene evoked a sense of déjà vu.
The thought, once conceived, could no longer be dispelled. It started as an insignificant snowflake, but within moments, it transformed into a roaring avalanche.
Unease turned into fear.
The Net even glimpsed a vision of its own tragic demise!
"I will die?"
"I will die!"
Overwhelmed by shock and confusion, its heart filled with incomprehension, bewilderment, and terror. The Net could no longer hold back and fled in disarray.
"Did I push it too hard this time?"
Li Fan keenly sensed the subtle shift in the Net's demeanor at the last moment, his expression unreadable.
His form flickered and vanished before the Net completely dissipated.
The mysterious disappearance of the Net puzzled the Sages of Mountains and Seas. However, unable to find a reason, they attributed it to changes in the Primordial era of Mountains and Seas.
Li Fan remained hidden, patiently awaiting the outcome.
The appointed time arrived, but there was still no sign of the spirit manifestation.
"Failed again?" Li Fan frowned.
Just as he was about to initiate another Return to Truth reset, his mind was suddenly stirred.
"Although the Net sensed something and became more cautious, it cannot compensate for the damage to its origin."
"It will die. It is bound to die."
His gaze seemed to pierce through the layers of Mountains and Seas and the barriers of the void, reaching the very beginning of time. Li Fan seemed to have an epiphany.
He then concealed himself again, patiently awaiting signs of the new god's descent.
This time, he was not disappointed.
That ephemeral sensation, as if falling from the highest heavens, suddenly struck.
In various places within the Mountains and Seas, the Three Sages abruptly rose and looked up at the Primordial, their expressions grave.
At the pronouncement, "The time for spirit manifestation has come," all Three Sages sacrificed themselves, their power converging towards the Primordial Immortal Realm.
Only the bewildered Sages and the chaotic Mountains and Seas remained.
"After waiting for so long, I have finally awaited this moment!"
Taking advantage of the temporal instability caused by the chaos in the Mountains and Seas, Li Fan threw out millions of sentient beings.
These were all "lucky ones" he had collected during his journey against the current.
He infused them into the spiritual veins of the Mountains and Seas.
"Dao Erasure, return!"
As starlight filled the Mountains and Seas, Li Fan pointed towards the vast void.
Although initially leaderless, under Li Fan's guidance, they suddenly became a pack of beasts that had caught the scent of prey.
They roared and stampeded, charging forward with unstoppable force!
The Mountains and Seas were instantly overwhelmed.
All life was annihilated, and most of the Sages scattered and fled.
Only Mound Guardian attempted to resist with all its might.
However, without Li Fan's unity and the support of the True and False Transformation, Mound Guardian was merely a Saint of ordinary strength. Facing such a catastrophe, its efforts were but a drop in the ocean.
Li Fan paid them no mind, focusing intently on the Mountains and Seas.
"Whether the three lifetimes of effort will succeed depends on this moment."
The Mountains and Seas, invaded by the overwhelming force of Dao Erasure, displayed unexpected resilience. Roars from within the Mountains and Seas temporarily repelled the torrent of Dao Erasure.
And then...
The exact same scene as in the era of the new god's descent occurred.
Everything within the Mountains and Seas, except for the realm itself, was shattered.
Only the pure Mountains and Seas remained.
The Stone Tablet of Mountains and Seas reappeared!
Moreover, because Li Fan's manipulation of Dao Erasure in this era far surpassed previous attempts, its invasion through the spiritual veins led to the swift collapse of the Mountains and Seas. This extended the petrification of the Mountains and Seas not just to the current period but to a span of thirty-six connected segments, covering approximately twenty-five million years.
Even on the scale of hundreds of billions of years for the Mountains and Seas, this was no longer a negligible fraction but akin to carving out a piece of flesh from oneself.
Countless lives were lost in this process.
As the instigator, Li Fan remained calm, even managing a sarcastic remark: "Cutting off one's limb to save the body. Impressive, truly impressive!"
"But it perfectly suits my needs!"
The Stone Tablet of Mountains and Seas, extending continuously for twenty-five million years, was far more detailed than anything Li Fan had seen before.
The boundless infinity of the Mountains and Seas seemed to have taken tangible form.
Even mere observation from the void showed signs of being drawn in and lost.
It stood like a mighty dam, blocking the torrent of Dao Erasure in the void, its waves crashing but unable to breach it for a time.
Li Fan no longer resisted his own descent towards the Stone Tablet of Mountains and Seas.
Instead, he used this power to lengthen his divine sense, spreading it across every corner of the Stone Tablet of Mountains and Seas.
Every minute grain was clearly visible.
Li Fan immersed himself in it, his spirit soaring.
Compared to the "Outline of Mountains and Seas Transformation," which recorded all the data of the Mountains and Seas, this tablet, naturally evolved by the Mountains and Seas themselves, was far more minute and specific.
"From knowing one, one can know all. However, with the boundless infinity of the Mountains and Seas, the 'one' required to know all could be considered immeasurably vast."
Li Fan compared the patterns on the tablet with the records in the "Outline of Mountains and Seas Transformation" and cross-referenced them with his own writings in the "Mountain and Sea Diagram of Dao One."
New insights surged within him.
That final stroke, which had been delayed, could finally be made.
"But..."
"It seems something is still missing."
Li Fan pondered, his divine sense continuing to explore the Stone Tablet of Mountains and Seas.
Suddenly, at a seemingly insignificant "point," he paused.
"What is this..."
Amidst the destruction of all else, on the tablet where only the Mountains and Seas existed, there was an "external object."
It was like a drop of ink falling onto the tablet, alien to everything around it, yet seeming to complement everything harmoniously.
This was also why Li Fan's divine sense, when sweeping across, had not detected its anomaly.
And this external object was no stranger to Li Fan.
It was the Boundless Mountain and Sea Stele!
"Even after the Mountains and Seas petrified, it remained here."
"Boundless Mountains and Seas, eternal and unchanging. Life and death are both predetermined."
His divine sense rapidly retracted from the twenty-five million years of Mountains and Seas, returning to his human form, and integrating into the Boundless Stele.
He replicated the story, using his comprehension of the Great Dao of Cosmic Cycle to engrave a mark upon it.
His divine sense then attached itself to this mark.
"Fortunately, I found no trace of my previous markings on this Boundless Mountain and Sea Stele. Otherwise, I would have been greatly alarmed."
"This Boundless Mountain and Sea Stele will be my final touch, the finishing stroke."
Gazing at the faint, subtle mark on the Boundless Stele, Li Fan felt a sense of enlightenment.
"Mountains are mountains, and seas are seas. Even if they share the manifestation of the spirit, they are ultimately independent entities, mutually dependent yet not staining each other."
"But ever since the existence of this Boundless Mountain and Sea Stele..."
"Only then can Mountains and Seas truly be called 'Mountains and Seas'."
Li Fan's eyes gradually brightened. Having understood everything, his mood was exceptionally elated, and he couldn't help but let out a hearty laugh.
However, his laughter was quickly interrupted by the roaring sounds from outside.
"What is this..."
"The Convergence Torrent?"
Li Fan's expression turned solemn.
During the time he was comprehending the Dao on the tablet, the struggle for spirit manifestation in this era had also concluded.
Like a hundred rivers returning to the sea.
All things within the Mountains and Seas, derived from the divine, now returned to the new god.
The torrent was immense, a force that crushed all, even pushing the frozen Stone Tablet of Mountains and Seas towards the primordial beginning of the Mountains and Seas.
If he had encountered this scene for the first time, Li Fan would have been terrified and immediately fled through Return to Truth.
But now, Li Fan watched it all with a calm demeanor.
Because the descent of the new god in this era was entirely orchestrated by him.
This eliminated Li Fan's fear from his first encounter with a god.
"A god..."
"Is nothing more than this."
"Malleable, able to be shed."
"This is the True and False Transformation..."
Li Fan meticulously recalled the various variables across the three eras.
He summarized the conditions for the birth of a new god.
"It seems that the mere demise of the Net is not enough."
"The battle between the Net and the Sages was also a key factor."
"But why is that?"
Although he did not know the specific reason, he had grasped a method for stably creating the descent of a new god.
"However, with the precedent of the Silver Glow Light Spots, one cannot overdo it."
"Otherwise, it might awaken memories of its past godhood, even faintly detect the existence of Return to Truth, and could not be erased by a Return to Truth reset..."
"This is too dangerous for me."
"This era was undertaken solely to perfect the 'Mountain and Sea Diagram of Dao One'."
As Li Fan was contemplating, his thoughts suddenly halted.
Because he discovered that the Boundless Mountain and Sea Stele, which had been flowing towards the new god along with the Stone Tablet of Mountains and Seas, had suddenly stopped.
As if knowing the fate of being devoured by the new god that awaited ahead, the World-Unbounded Stele remained fixed in the void, allowing the torrent of returning gods to surge without changing even a bit.
"To actually be able to contend with the great momentum of returning gods..."
Li Fan's eyes flickered, and his divine sense swept across the World-Unbounded Stele, trying to find the reason for its fixation in the void.
The remnants of the mountains and seas, like a river flowing east, rushed towards the nutrient vortex of the new god at the beginning of time, converging. The World-Unbounded Stele, however, stood like a stone mountain beside the river, unmoving.
Li Fan stood on the mountain, observing the upheaval of mountains and seas, feeling a unique sentiment in his heart.
"This stone tablet..."
"It can gather mountains and seas, and it can also exist independently of them. It can also serve as a mirror, reflecting and engraving the principles of mountains and seas. What is its origin?"
Li Fan couldn't help but suddenly recall the scene he perceived when he first encountered the World-Unbounded Stele.
Beyond the mountains and seas, in an unknown and misty realm, where creation was hard to manifest, a stone tablet suddenly appeared, as if it had sprung out of the mountains and seas from nowhere. Or perhaps, it came from beyond the mountains and seas, falling into them.
The mountains trembled, and the great waves surged. The mountains and seas merged, thus becoming unbounded.
"Could it be, as the Three Sages said, that it is the remnant of a god, or perhaps..."
"One who rivals a god?"
As his thoughts churned, Li Fan had already made up his mind.
At the end of this life, he would stay by the World-Unbounded Stele. He would observe how the stele would fare under the arrival of the new god and the subsequent return of the new god to the stars.
"Perhaps, I can also take this opportunity to further improve my [Dao One Mountain and Sea Diagram] with this World-Unbounded Stele."
Li Fan's heart stirred, and a Dao One Worm suddenly appeared in his hand.
Even ordinary Sages would find it difficult to leave a clear, personal trace on the World-Unbounded Stele. Let alone a Dao One Worm.
As expected, unable to be accommodated by the stone tablet, the Dao One Worm instantly turned into wisps of ink and vanished with the wind.
Next, Li Fan began to gradually increase the number of Dao One Worms.
One, a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand…
All of them perished within the stone tablet within moments.
It wasn't until the number reached tens of billions that the Dao One Worm swarm, with the mountains and seas diagram engraved on their backs, could persist for a short while.
"There's hope..."
Li Fan keenly sensed that during the brief period when the worm swarm struggled desperately for survival, changes did occur on the World-Unbounded Stele.
However, as the worm swarm disappeared, the new engravings also vanished.
"Dao One Worms, engraving mountains and seas, can also be considered a path. Naturally, they can leave traces on the World-Unbounded Stele, just like other principles. Even more so, those who leave traces on the World-Unbounded Stele are the most correct mountain and sea diagrams." Li Fan seemed to have an epiphany.
He increased the number of worm swarms again.
Billions upon billions of worm swarms, composing a complete picture of mountains and seas.
Coupled with Li Fan's enlightenment, the finishing touch of "World Unbounded."
The moment the Dao One Mountain and Sea Diagram took shape, the billions of Dao One Worms all emitted a strange black light, condensing into one.
It was like an ink wash painting of mountains and seas, with undulating peaks and roaring waves. All the great Daos were revealed within it.
It truly possessed the attributes of real mountains and seas. The moment it descended into the world, it almost escaped Li Fan's control, drawn into the vortex of returning gods at the beginning of the mountains and seas.
Facing the suppression of the World-Unbounded Stele, this Dao One Diagram, with its flowing ink light, its mountains and seas vibrating, its surging waves, and its unified mountains and seas, was actually able to contend with the World-Unbounded Stele for a time.
Amidst the roars of mountains and seas, the shadows of mountains and seas were slowly engraved onto the World-Unbounded Stele.
The mission of the World-Unbounded Stele was to make mountains and seas unbounded. It seemed to have a special connection with the existence of mountains and seas.
As the Dao One Diagram’s depiction of mountains and seas became more brilliant and closer to reality,
The World-Unbounded Stele, which had been stagnant in the torrent of returning gods, suddenly moved again, leaping into the Dao One Mountain and Sea Diagram!
Without any pause, it fell towards the finishing touch Li Fan had previously drawn with his own understanding.
Boom!
As if it were meant to be, it took its place.
With a single stroke, countless changes occurred within the mountain and sea diagram, as if a divine brush were continuously painting and rewriting the landscape of mountains and seas.
The ink flowed like clouds, obscuring the mountains and seas.
As the ink flowed, the mountains and seas gradually merged into one.
Before the World-Unbounded Stele had entered it, Li Fan did not feel that his depiction of mountains and seas was crude.
Only when the World-Unbounded Stele provided the finishing touch and took its place,
Comparing the two, the one before and the one after,
He realized he had merely been imitating poorly.
This new mountain and sea diagram, although just a painting, gave Li Fan the feeling of real mountains and seas.
"It is not just the Dao of mountains and seas, but the mountains and seas themselves!"
He had initially only intended to use the World-Unbounded Stele to correct his Dao One Diagram, but he never expected the World-Unbounded Stele to leap into the painting itself.
This was truly an unexpected joy!
The stone tablet illuminated, and the Dao One Mountain and Sea Diagram reached a state of perfection, no longer alterable.
"Dao One Worms engraved mountains and seas on their backs."
"Although there are images of mountains and seas, in reality..."
"They are fundamentally Dao One."
Li Fan looked towards the Void Annihilation in the distance, outside the torrent of returning gods.
The ink-colored mountains and seas paved the way, parting the torrent. Li Fan charged straight into the Void Annihilation.
The aura of the Dao One Diagram, which closely resembled mountains and seas, immediately drew the numerous Dao Erasure entities to surround him. The ink color surged, colliding and churning with the Dao Erasure.
In a fierce battle, the Dao Erasure finally discovered the true nature of their opponent.
It was subtly like their "own brothers"!
Although this brother looked a bit strange and was a bit weaker, the shared origin of their aura was undeniable.
Thus, the great battle ceased.
They did not remain distinct but became one, merging into a single entity!
Witnessing this scene, Li Fan could not help but nod in secret.
"After the Dao One Worms merged with Ink Slaughter, they could already bear the power of Dao Erasure. It's just that their initial form was too weak to survive in Dao Erasure, let alone be compatible."
"But after my modification, integrating the principles of mountains and seas. Coupled with the finishing touch of the World-Unbounded Stele..."
"Now, the Dao One Mountain and Sea Diagram, though shaped like mountains and seas, belongs to Dao Erasure in essence."
"It can merge into Dao Erasure when advancing, and re-enact the world of mountains and seas when retreating. It can be said to have infinite uses!"
"With this diagram as protection, there is no need for the power of True Spirit Infusion. I can ignore the risks of Dao Erasure and traverse the eternal void!"
"Of course..."
"It only resembles Dao Erasure, it is not truly Dao Erasure. It can fool the army of Dao Erasure filling the void, but it definitely cannot deceive that entity behind the void. Even the avatars of Sages in the void can easily see through it. Traveling within, one still needs to be cautious."
Li Fan was not carried away by temporary success.
He had not forgotten the goal he had set earlier.
The return of gods to the mountains and seas was nearing its end.
However, the events that transpired had deviated slightly.
The new god born this time had a completely different style of action from the one in the previous life.
In the previous life, the new god feigned death, luring out the hidden surviving Sages.
But the new god born in this life acted openly, conquering all directions.
With every breath, the speed of the mountain and sea nutrient vortex accelerated, consuming everything.
Gradually, except for the void, only the new god remained independently.
The mountains and seas perished, leaving no place to hide. The blue, purple, and white, four points of light, were forced to reveal themselves.
As the new god's gaze fell upon them, the green light point was swallowed into its maw without any resistance.
The remaining three points scattered like birds and beasts.
But their escape speed visibly slowed down.
Finally, they all stopped, returning to the god.
"Perhaps it's because of the World-Unbounded Stele. By hiding in this Dao One Diagram, I can minimize the influence of the god."
"As long as I don't make eye contact with the new god, but observe from the shadows, it is difficult to be detected."
After the new god completed the consumption of the mountains and seas, the next step was to fight the void.
Li Fan manipulated the Dao One Diagram, continuously diving deeper into the Dao Erasure.
The new god, having completed its consumption, stood in the void, motionless for a long time.
It seemed to sense something was missing and was still searching for something.
But unfortunately, Li Fan had already hidden himself within the layers of Dao Erasure, making it difficult for even divine power to find him for a while.
And the void, which had been accumulating strength for a long time, finally sounded the horn for battle against the new god.
In the eyes of the void, the so-called mountains and seas, the new god, were no different.
They were merely different manifestations of the same power.
Its mission was to completely destroy them and offer them to the greatest master.
The new god's consumption of the mountains and seas meant that its strategic objective was reduced to only one final task, saving considerable strength.
In the final battle, the myriad Dao Erasure entities became unprecedentedly fervent.
Undercurrents surged like dragons, intertwining.
The siege and annihilation descended upon the new god!
As the number of Dao Erasure "brothers" that served as a cover decreased, Li Fan's hiding place, the Dao One Diagram, gradually became exposed.
Li Fan could even vaguely sense the existence behind the void.
However, he dared not truly pry, only striving to remain hidden and await the outcome of the battle between the void and the new god.
The battle lasted only a moment before it exceeded Li Fan's observational range.
In the endless darkness, the elusive silhouette of the new god flickered from time to time.
Turbulent ripples surged, one wave higher than the next.
Even with the boost from the World-Unbounded Stele, the Dao One Diagram was repeatedly on the verge of being shaken into revealing itself.
Fortunately, at the crucial juncture of the fierce battle, neither the new god nor the entity behind the void had the leisure to attend to anything else.
Only then could Li Fan continue to hide.
Although he could not see, Li Fan still focused his full attention to meticulously record the battle between the new god and the void.
"After repeated contemplation in the future, the knowledge gained will likely be no less than observing the mountains and seas."
Under the constant wash of ripples, the mountain and sea engravings on the mountain and sea diagram also underwent inexplicable changes.
Li Fan naturally noticed this.
After some thought, Li Fan sensed that it might be a good thing, so he did not stop it.
He allowed the aftermath of the battle between the new god and the void to reshape the Dao One Diagram.
In the void, time flowed by without notice.
The descending new god was clearly more vibrant than the dying mountains and seas.
The battle between the two seemed endless, with no clear outcome.
Under the constant refinement of the ripples, the Dao One Diagram gradually adapted to the residual power of the great battle.
Li Fan sat within the diagram like an old monk in deep meditation.
He recorded every detail of the fluctuations in his heart.
His mind gradually became devoid of joy or sorrow, calm and without thought.
Unbeknownst to how much time had passed, even for Li Fan, who was at the Sage realm, a strand of silver-white appeared at his temples.
The reverberating ripples in the void finally began to weaken.
At the same time, Li Fan's heart skipped a beat.
In the darkness, something seemed to be breaking free from its cage.
Li Fan was not unfamiliar with this feeling.
It was the "Star"!
However, in the past, he had seen the descent of the "Star" as the demise of the mountains and seas, and the solitary star leaping forth.
This time, as the new god gradually weakened, the cage imprisoning the solitary star became increasingly fragile, and that solitary star seemed to be constantly pounding, announcing its re-descent with increasingly colossal movements!
"It seems that, just as I predicted. Whether it be the mountains and seas, or the new god, they will ultimately be unable to escape the fate of the solitary star's descent."
Li Fan became even more cautious, dispelling all thoughts in his mind, no longer contemplating anything related to the "Star."
The outcome was already decided; the new god's struggle was merely futile.
However, the demise of a god was not a matter of moments.
When Li Fan's hair turned completely white, there was no longer any movement from the void.
Pure silence nurtured pure vitality.
The void churned and vibrated unceasingly, the heartbeats growing more intense.
The solitary star was about to descend into the world at any moment.
But for some reason, it seemed to be missing something.
Could it not manifest?
Li Fan's mind, having been blank for so long without thought, finally began to function again as a peculiar fluctuation swept through all the void. It then finally locked onto Li Fan's location.
Just like the giant vortex that nurtured the new god, a similar, massive vortex was subtly forming in the void, centered around Li Fan.
However, it was not to nourish Li Fan.
But to devour him!
The Dao One Worm was, after all, not Dao Erasure itself.
When the disguise was ruthlessly torn apart, Li Fan would have to face an impact several times more ferocious than the Dao Erasure he had encountered before.
As if during the battle to slay the god, the Dao Erasure had also undergone some form of sublimation.
Under the impact of the Dao Erasure tide, everything on the mountain and sea diagram seemed to be wiped away.
The rich depiction quickly became sparse.
"Now is the time!"
Li Fan, neither surprised nor flustered, executed the True-False Transformation, which instantly enveloped him.
He did not become clumsy due to the long period of not using it, as if it were innate, he handled it with ease.
The moment the Illusion of Reality and Illusion Concealment masked his existence, Li Fan mercilessly tore apart the last remaining mountain and sea diagram.
Countless Dao One Worms scattered and fled under the tribulation of destruction, but no longer united, they were quickly annihilated by the Dao Erasure.
And in the center of the Dao One, the World-Unbounded Stele was once again exposed to the world.
The void vortex paused.
The pulsing of the "Star" also seemed to halt because of this.
Then, as if receiving a command, the myriad Dao Erasure entities, ignoring the fleeing Dao One Worms, swarmed towards the World-Unbounded Stele!
"This is..."
Li Fan clearly felt the excitement emanating from the Dao Erasure.
And the reason for the surged Dao Erasure stemmed from the will of the "Star."
"How does it feel..."
"As if the 'Star' did not devour the World-Unbounded Stele?"
Witnessing this scene, Li Fan's heart suddenly harbored a strange feeling.
And the astonishing scene that followed also confirmed his suspicion.
As the Dao Erasure impacted, the various Dao engravings on the World-Unbounded Stele also became clearer and clearer.
Even figures began to vaguely emerge.
They were the Sages who had once left their marks on the World-Unbounded Stele.
There were Primordial Beings, and the Three Sages.
Li Fan even saw himself.
As the figures flew out and circled, the World-Unbounded Stele gradually faded into the void.
As if completing its mission, it suddenly collapsed inward, converging into a single point.
Just as it was about to vanish, a ray of starlight pierced the darkness.
It locked onto this point.
The Stellar Radiance descended, and all things submitted!
Though the Solitary Star had not truly descended, its mere projection of a wisp of radiance was enough to crush everything.
The Void’s Dao Erasure, witnessing their sovereign, froze in stunned silence. They were swept away by the stellar radiance and vanished without a trace.
Meanwhile, the Mountain and Sea Boundaryless Stele, on the verge of collapsing, unexpectedly regained its form under this pure radiance. It was no longer a towering stone tablet, but… a severed finger!
This finger seemed to have existed for an eternity, battered by time and weather, its original form completely lost. It resembled a solitary mountain peak, scornful of the world. Yet, everyone present who witnessed its existence instantly understood in their minds. This was the Finger of a God. Or, more accurately, the Finger of a True God.
Boom!
The moment this thought arose, it was as if the fallen True God had truly traversed time and space, lightly pressing down with a single finger. The Dao Erasure devourer vortex instantly exploded and dissipated. Even ten million mighty lions would scatter before the True God’s finger.
Even with the augmentation of True-False Transformation, Li Fan felt all his cultivation vanish, his Profound Woman Great Dao dispersing like a wisp of smoke, returning to the vast Primordial Beginning. The Solitary Star’s projected radiance was forcibly twisted and broken.
With the shackles gone, the True God’s Finger instantly retracted and disappeared.
A moment later, the stellar radiance erupted a thousandfold, filling Li Fan's vision.
Having witnessed the Solitary Star's descent before, Li Fan did not panic. He quietly recited in his heart, “Return to Truth!”
At this moment, time seemed to reverse. The profusely sprayed stellar radiance, as if encountering a fierce wind, immediately flowed backward. Despite a thousand kinds of unwillingness, under the suppression of Return to Truth’s invisible hand, it was forced to return to its origin.
The stellar radiance faded, and darkness consumed everything. After an unknown duration, or perhaps an instant, a wisp of stellar radiance reappeared, piercing the darkness like the first dawn sun, illuminating the world. However, for reasons unknown, the radiance lasted only a moment before it seemed to sense something. The brilliance inexplicably dimmed and vanished, its destination unknown.
…One year of anchoring, the "True God's Finger!" Li Fan, now conscious, seemed still immersed in the scene where the Mountain and Sea Boundaryless Stele revealed its true form under the Solitary Star's radiance. Narrowing his eyes, he imitated the posture and pressed down in the air.
“Shatter Sages, break void realms, crush stellar radiance.”
“Truly a remnant of a former True God.”
Even though Li Fan had just awakened and was still in a mortal body, his words were infused with the intent of the True God's Finger. As he gently pressed down, the entire Great Xuan pocket world faintly trembled. The sky rumbled as if it were shattering, and cracks spread like a spiderweb. The Immortal Execution Great Formation that sealed the Great Xuan pocket world instantly shattered, allowing wisps of Spirit Qi from the Xuanhuang Realm to flow in.
Moreover, the profound finger force even penetrated, reaching beyond the Xuanhuang Realm. In the Immortal Ruins, the Dao Comprehension Starving Immortal inexplicably felt a jolt in his heart and was about to open his eyes. However, Li Fan forcibly suppressed him, causing the Starving Immortal to sink back into his Dao comprehension as if he had lost his recent memory. Throughout this entire process, the Starving Immortal remained unaware of any external influence.
“Wherever the finger force reaches, it can modify at will. It matters not one’s cultivation or realm.”
“This is merely my imitation of its intent.” Li Fan retracted his hand, gazing intently at his fingertip. The True God’s intent had vanished from it. He was once again an ordinary mortal body. No one would have imagined that he could unleash power approaching transcendence.
“The various cultivation realms within the Mountains and Seas are merely divisions agreed upon by us cultivators. In reality, they are all based on the Mountains and Seas as a benchmark. Those who can traverse the Mountains and Seas are considered transcendent. Those who can rival the Mountains and Seas are considered Sages.”
“However, everything within the Mountains and Seas originates from the Gods. When the True God’s Finger fell, it dictated the fate of the Mountains and Seas. Lending its profundity, distorting and rewriting the beings within the Mountains and Seas would naturally be effortless.” Li Fan, wielding the True God's Finger in his mortal body, felt no discomfort. He vaguely sensed that this might be related to his long-term cultivation and comprehension of True-False Transformation.
“If it were anyone else, let alone a mortal body, even a Saint would not be able to use this divine ability so smoothly. But for me…”
“Having been nurtured by True-False Transformation for years, I have become somewhat different.” Li Fan continuously savored the experience of distorting and rewriting the Starving Immortal’s consciousness with the True God's Finger. Though he merely made the latter ignore external disturbances and return to his meditative state, it was undoubtedly a direct modification of his consciousness.
One must realize that although the Starving Immortal was now hardly a threat to Li Fan, he was still a cultivator merely one step away from the Nameless True Immortal realm. Yet, he was toyed with by a mortal as if he were a mere plaything. What if Li Fan had regained his Saint cultivation? What if Li Fan's comprehension of the True God's Finger intent progressed further? It was truly unimaginable.
“If Return to Truth resets the Mountains and Seas in a single thought, then the True God's Finger possesses the possibility of modifying the Mountains and Seas. From this perspective, both are powers of the same caliber. No wonder it was so smooth for me to comprehend the True God's Finger after achieving success in True-False Transformation.”
“But such a divine artifact…” Li Fan frowned, attempting to search the vast, cyclical memories of his past self for any traces of the True God's Finger. Perhaps it was because his past memories were too immense, and he could only recall a tip of the iceberg. Or perhaps his past self was always desperately fighting against the Void at the last moment, never noticing this Boundaryless Stele hidden within the Mountains and Seas.
In any case, Li Fan recalled no images related to the True God's Finger. This was his first true contact with it. Li Fan did not dwell on it further.
“Possessing such a divine ability is definitely a stroke of luck for me now. With True-False Transformation and the True God's Finger combined…”
“The nascent Sages of the Mountains and Seas are not to be feared.” Li Fan was filled with a surge of pride. However, recalling that in his previous life, a new God seemed to have appeared, he immediately calmed down.
“The two new Gods I encountered had vastly different styles of action. This can basically confirm that the Gods who achieved divinity in the two lives were not the same person. This means that the nascent Sages of the Mountains and Seas all had the potential to replace the Mountains and Seas and achieve Godhood, lacking only a bit of luck.”
“They are indeed difficult to deal with. No wonder the Three Sages always spoke so cautiously when discussing the nascent Sages of the Mountains and Seas.”
“No rash actions. I will proceed according to the original plan.” Li Fan’s excitement immediately subsided.
“With True-False Transformation on my person, I have no need to contend with them. The so-called splintered consciousness creation is fundamentally a dead end.” Li Fan compared the myriad situations after the descent of different new Gods in his previous lives, solidifying his judgment.
“The Mountains and Seas, the New Gods, all cannot escape the pursuit of the Stars; this has long been destined.”
“The Mountains and Seas are boundless and merge with each other, marking the beginning of Dao Erasure.”
“From the day they began to merge, the ultimate fate of the Mountains and Seas was sealed… However, this is looking back with hindsight. At the initial moment of the Mountains and Seas’ boundless merging, the Mountains and Seas themselves seemed unaware of their tragic future, remaining optimistic instead.”
“This point is quite suspicious. Setting aside myself, an outsider, even the nascent Sages of the Mountains and Seas could foresee the terrifying future calamity and choose the method of cutting off the future to escape it. How could the Mountains and Seas not perceive it? This makes no sense!”
Suddenly recalling his modification of the Starving Immortal's consciousness just now, an idea flashed through Li Fan's mind.
“The Boundaryless Stele, the True God's Finger, not only caused the Mountains and Seas to merge but also distorted and rewrote the concept of Mountains and Seas?” Li Fan’s heart trembled.
“Perhaps the merging of the Mountains and Seas was merely superficial. The true purpose of the True God's Finger was to tamper with the consciousness of the Mountains and Seas and alter their future trajectory.”
Instantly, Li Fan’s thoughts turned to the three legends about the Gods' posthumous arrangements.
“It is rumored that the God, upon near death, left behind three arrangements for the splintered consciousness of the Mountains and Seas.”
“Each item possessed the power to overturn the Mountains and Seas.”
“Previously, I guessed that the Stars and Return to Truth were among them.”
“However, I now realize that Return to Truth is my past self, obtained through supreme talent and the integration of all Sages’ Dao paths; it is not a gift from a God.”
“At present, this Mountain and Sea Boundaryless Stele seems to be one of the God’s posthumous arrangements.”
“The key is, where did He go?”
Li Fan's heart stirred, and he chose to inherit the [Dao One Mountain and Sea Diagram] created by his past self. A scroll painting appeared in Li Fan's hand. It was significantly different from its initial creation. Washed by the ripples of countless years of struggle between new Gods and the Void, the Mountain and Sea Diagram now possessed a unique profundity and rhythm. However…
“The Mountain and Sea Boundaryless Stele is gone.”
“Only its shadow remains.”
“A faint wisp…”
“Even Return to Truth, with its True-False Transformation, cannot fully replicate it?” This was the first time Li Fan encountered something that Return to Truth could not reproduce. After all, he could recreate mountains, seas, and even all the Sages with a single thought. If there was truly something he could not replicate…
“Undoubtedly, it must be something beyond the Mountains and Seas, something belonging to the True God.” Li Fan carefully examined the lingering remnant of the Mountain and Sea Boundaryless Stele. Even as a faint afterimage, it was a thousand times more profound than anything Li Fan could have sketched or engraved.
After observing for a long time, his insights bloomed like springs in the mountains. Li Fan vaguely understood where the Mountain and Sea Boundaryless Stele had gone after its collapse.
“It did not go anywhere; it simply ceased to exist.”
“The Mountain and Sea Boundaryless Stele existed solely for the merging of mountains and seas. If the Mountains and Seas no longer exist, and the Mountain and Sea Diagram, as its lesser substitute, also disappears, then the Boundaryless Stele will naturally no longer manifest in the world.”
“But if, in the void, new Mountains and Seas were to reappear…”
“Then the Mountain and Sea Boundaryless Stele would descend again, like a phantom lingering on the bones!”
“So, the Boundaryless Stele seen in each cycle of the Mountains and Seas was not reset by Return to Truth, but manifested anew on its own.”
“As for the various etchings upon it…” Li Fan recalled the scene from his previous life where the residual images of all Sages rose from the Boundaryless Stele under the impact of Dao Erasure.
“They were merely the Dao Principles of the Sages etched upon it, not the stele itself.”
“When it reappears, it naturally will not carry them.”
“The True God’s remnants are indeed extraordinary.” Li Fan looked up, his gaze seemingly piercing through the Infinite Possibilities of the Mountains and Seas, reaching towards the location of the Boundaryless Stele.
“This single finger has completely sealed off all subsequent possibilities for the Mountains and Seas. No matter how they struggle, no matter what variables arise, as long as the Mountains and Seas themselves exist, the Boundaryless Stele will descend and fix their destiny.”
“Coupled with the Solitary Star that ultimately devoured everything…”
“The fate of the Mountains and Seas was essentially sealed the moment the God was devoured.”
“No wonder it was said ‘it matters not the outcome.’”
Immediately, Li Fan pondered if such means by the God to restrain the Mountains and Seas truly required three posthumous arrangements.
“Perhaps it was for mutual checks and balances, to prevent failure. Or perhaps…”
“To facilitate His eventual return.” The more Li Fan observed the True God's Finger, the more he recognized the immeasurable power of the former True God. Then, the question that had always lingered in his mind resurfaced.
“How did the God die?”
“It has always been the splintered consciousness of the Mountains and Seas versus the God, not the Mountains and Seas slaying the God. It is obvious that the Mountains and Seas were no match for that True God. For what reason did the source of all power, the God, perish?” Perhaps the answer to this question could only be vaguely glimpsed at the beginning of the Mountains and Seas, during the splintering of consciousness.
Li Fan did not trouble himself further and proceeded with his plan.
“With this Boundaryless Stele as a cornerstone, my Dao One Diagram can undoubtedly be considered the ultimate treasure of the Mountains and Seas.”
“In its normal state, it can reconcile the Dao Erasure and the Mountains and Seas. If I add my own projection of the True God's Finger…”
“Confining and suppressing all Sages with a single thought would be effortless.”
Having successfully forged such a treasure, Li Fan did not forget his original goal: to… become the Master of the Void!
The Dao One Mountain and Sea Diagram transformed into a black and white robe, enveloping Li Fan. He sat in meditation. All the Dao principles within the Mountains and Seas seemed within his grasp, ready for him to select. In reality, what Li Fan was touching were not the true Great Dao within the Mountains and Seas, but mere replicas within the Mountain and Sea Diagram. However, the imitation was so perfect that Li Fan could directly use it to comprehend the Dao and become a Saint!
“This can greatly reduce the difficulty of comprehending the Dao, but it cannot be the foundation for increasing my strength. To truly become a Sage of the Mountains and Seas, one still needs to rely on the Great Dao within the Mountains and Seas. However, this ingenious use of the Mountain and Sea Diagram is already astonishing enough!”
“True Spirit Infusion solves the issue of potential for Sainthood. The Dao One Mountain and Sea Diagram allows for bypassing the requirement of Dao comprehension for Sainthood. With these two combined, as long as I am willing, I can cultivate an ample reserve army of Sages!”
“Sages? They can be replaced at any time!” As his thoughts turned, Li Fan's aura surged. From mortal cultivation back to the Saint realm, Li Fan this time only took fifty-odd years! This was without the aid of Stellar Radiance, relying entirely on Li Fan himself! With the Mountain and Sea Diagram draped over him, it was as if the entire Mountains and Seas belonged solely to Li Fan. Cultivating and comprehending the Dao was as easy as eating and drinking. On the day he became a Sage, hidden by the Mountain and Sea Diagram, even the Sages of the Other Shore did not perceive the arrival of yet another Sage in the Mountains and Seas.
Wrapped in rolling ink, Li Fan plunged directly into the Dao Erasure. Like ice melting into water, Li Fan, without using True-False Transformation, was completely integrated into the surrounding Dao Erasure environment solely under the protection of the Mountain and Sea Diagram. But this was not enough. Li Fan narrowed his eyes, recalling the inherited [Stellar Radiance Movement Strategy]. The bizarre pulsing light, like a beating heart, reappeared, illuminating Li Fan's body. The surrounding Dao Erasure seemed to sense something and instantly became turbulent and chaotic.
“Go!” Li Fan threw the Mountain and Sea Diagram in his hand into the surrounding Dao Erasure, which had now submitted.
Although the Void Realm's Dao Erasure submitted to Li Fan with reverence, it was not out of allegiance to him personally.
Instead, it was due to the layer of starlight he wore. As an envoy of the "Stars," he naturally possessed the authority to command the Dao Erasure army. However, should the power behind the Void Realm reveal itself, the Dao Erasure would instantly lose control.
Li Fan's current goal was to become the undisputed "Master of the Void Realm."
"Let the Dao Erasure change its name and surname!"
Li Fan revealed his starlight, firmly controlling the myriad Dao Erasure surrounding him.
Then, he manipulated the Mountain and Sea Diagram, transforming them in batches.
As the inky mountains and seas churned, the formless Dao Erasure was gradually imbued with the "Dao One" aura.
Before entering the Mountain and Sea Diagram, they were pure Dao Erasure energy, but after passing through it, they emerged with the "Li Family Army" label. These reformed Dao Erasure were now absolutely loyal to Li Fan.
Although their current strength was infinitesimal compared to the vast Void Realm, Li Fan believed that change had begun. With the land's colors altered, a complete transformation was only a matter of time!
The Dao One Mountain and Sea Diagram acted like a whirlpool, slowly corroding the original Dao Erasure.
Yet, Li Fan still felt it was insufficient: "The speed of changing allegiances is still too slow..."
His gaze narrowed, and he looked towards the mountains and seas beside him.
With a slight shift of his intent, his subordinate Dao Erasure became like a sharp spear, piercing directly into the mountains and seas!
The Sages on the Other Shore were no strangers to Dao Erasure.
In the past, even if the Dao Erasure surged like a tide, the white light of the Xuanji Ring, guarded by the Sages, could temporarily resist it.
But this time...
The white light only provided a brief resistance before shattering in the collision!
Li Fan's elite Dao Erasure forces were able to advance unimpeded, descending upon the mountains and seas.
Transforming into a world-ending torrent, they instantly turned countless possibilities into dust.
The Sages on the Other Shore were stunned by this sudden turn of events. The fact that the Dao Erasure could disregard the Xuanji Ring's defenses was unprecedented!
The Sages' gazes turned to the Three Sages.
Sage Gui Hai's eyes saw countless illusions flash before him, but they all converged into a chaotic void. He was unable to deduce the reason for this change.
However, Sage Lian Shan had already recalled his true body from the Void Realm. With his Lian Shan Staff, he timely intercepted the rampaging sword-like Dao Erasure.
"Retreat!"
Among the Sages on the Other Shore, only the Three Sages were capable of making Li Fan feel wary. With Sage Lian Shan's true body returned, Li Fan, aware of his strength, naturally chose not to engage him directly.
One-third of his elite forces chose to cover the retreat, while the rest of the main force rapidly withdrew.
Their arrival was swift, and their departure was even more decisive.
In a short moment, what seemed like a world-ending catastrophe vanished without a trace.
"Sage Lian Shan's prowess is truly divine, effortlessly resolving the Dao Erasure tribulation with a mere gesture," the Sages praised.
Yet, Sage Lian Shan vaguely sensed something was amiss.
"This surge of Dao Erasure... its arrival is peculiar."
"Indeed. It might return soon. We must be cautious."
...
In the Void Realm, although Li Fan lost some of his elite forces due to Sage Lian Shan's intervention, it was absolutely worth it.
"The Dao Erasure devours the mountains and seas, its essence returning to the Void Realm, and ultimately to the solitary Star."
"It should be so. But..."
Li Fan stared intently at the scattered points of light slowly rising within the Mountain and Sea Diagram.
The destination of these light points seemed preordained.
Even though Li Fan's trusted Dao Erasure had completed the world-ending cleansing, they could not retain a single trace. The gleam flowed out of the Mountain and Sea Diagram, heading towards the unknown solitary Star above the Void Realm.
No force could stop it.
"This is why the power behind the Void Realm is destined to be a pathetic wage slave."
"After going to great lengths to destroy the mountains and seas, they cannot enjoy any of it. It all benefits the solitary Star that descended..."
The image of the solitary Star devouring everything reappeared before Li Fan's eyes. His heart suddenly stirred.
"Perhaps, it is not that they are unwilling, but unable."
"By splitting consciousness to evolve the mountains and seas, after their destruction, everything returns to the divine."
"Even if the power behind the Void Realm covets it, they are likely powerless."
"But..."
As Li Fan's thoughts flowed within the Dao One Mountain and Sea Diagram, the Mountain and Sea Boundless Stele, which he possessed, suddenly emitted a faint, profound radiance.
Even though it was not the true Boundless Stele, merely a faint afterimage, the moment its brilliance appeared, the direction of its flow towards the starlight seemed to be instantly lost.
It fell into a state of wavering uncertainty.
"As expected..." Li Fan rejoiced at this discovery.
However, his joy did not last long. The illusory Boundless Stele, after all, could not contend with the influence of the true solitary Star.
In the end, the vast majority of the swallowed essence of the mountains and seas unknowingly disappeared towards the solitary Star's location.
Only about a millionth of the residue was lured by Li Fan, lingering in the Dao One Mountain and Sea Diagram.
Starlight descended, attaching itself to the Boundless Stele.
This made the originally illusory afterimage momentarily clearer.
Although it was only a few wisps of starlight, Li Fan clearly felt that the "Dao One Mountain and Sea Diagram" had become more substantial.
The surprise did not end there.
Intercepting and stealing the starlight depended entirely on Li Fan's own abilities.
While his subordinate Dao Erasure swallowed the mountains and seas, the power behind the Void Realm offered its own "rewards."
A trace of divine will suddenly descended and then receded.
It arrived abruptly, but with the dual blessings of Li Fan's Illusory True and the Mountain and Sea Diagram, he was not discovered.
After examining the changes, Li Fan discovered that the Dao Erasure under his command had been promoted by the acknowledgment of the power behind the Void Realm, becoming the "leader" of the surrounding myriad Dao Erasure.
"I can mobilize more nearby mountain and sea Dao Erasure forces, and even, based on 'Void Realm Memories,' mold Mountain and Sea Sages! Although the number is currently limited to one, the potential is immense!"
From this change, Li Fan began to subtly discern the operational mode of the Void Realm's Dao Erasure.
The will behind the Void Realm surveyed the overall situation.
The Dao Erasure each fought independently, carving up and devouring the mountains and seas.
Those who achieved success were promoted. Through effective infiltration methods, they influenced and transformed the surrounding Dao Erasure.
"As for the Void Realm Memories..."
"They originate from that mysterious will behind the Void Realm."
"Although the Dao Erasure cannot hoard what they devour from the mountains and seas, during the erosion process, all beings within the mountains and seas, including the Sages, are observed with extreme clarity. If there is sufficient power, reshaping and evolving them is within reach."
Li Fan sensed faint, fleeting figures within his subordinate Dao Erasure.
They were precisely the familiar Sages.
"With the current scale of Dao Erasure under my control, it is insufficient to mold the Three Sages. However..."
With a flicker of thought, the Dao Erasure churned, and shadows converged.
The inky Mound Guardian soon appeared before him.
Upon manifestation, it seemed slightly confused for a moment.
But it quickly understood its situation and cupped its fist in greeting towards Li Fan. Having been molded by Li Fan's subordinate Dao Erasure, it naturally obeyed Li Fan's commands.
"It is not merely an empty shell; it still possesses some of its former will and thoughts."
"But it is not the true Mound Guardian."
"However..."
Li Fan had shared a common heart with Mound Guardian on multiple occasions and repeatedly chosen to inherit Mound Guardian's memories.
He was intimately familiar with all of Mound Guardian's nuances.
A dot of light emerged from his fingertip and was then pressed into the inky Mound Guardian's brow.
The ink-black face of the Mound Guardian contorted in a moment of struggle.
His very being, now a claw of the Void Realm, directly contradicted the principles he had always upheld. This caused a profound and violent shock to his soul. The intensity of his reaction even surpassed Li Fan's expectations.
"My thoughts and the Dao are in opposition; I cannot exist within myself. I fear I will perish!"
Li Fan had not anticipated that the Mound Guardian's conviction would be so firm and righteous. Upon understanding his predicament, he would rather choose self-annihilation than become a running dog of the Void Realm.
However, now that he was under Li Fan's control, his life and death, his desires and dislikes, were no longer his to decide.
With a mere thought, rolling tides of Dao Erasure surged forth, re-stitching the Mound Guardian's shattered body. Then, Li Fan began to imbue him with memories of his own endless cycles of saving the world.
"Destroying the world is for saving it; killing is for protecting life. Mound Guardian, fellow Daoist, you have misunderstood me deeply!" Li Fan sighed with a lament.
As expected, after learning of Li Fan's past deeds, the Mound Guardian's struggles gradually weakened. Yet, he clearly still harbored reservations about his identity as a manifestation of the Void Realm. He simply gazed at Li Fan, remaining silent.
"When the Solitary Star descends, regardless of your stance or identity, Mountains and Seas will not escape its destined demise."
"Whether it perishes by our hands or by the Void Realm's, what fundamental difference is there?"
"Rather than being passively consumed by Dao Erasure, it is better to become sustenance for our efforts against the Void Realm and the Solitary Star."
"It is not about the final outcome, Daoist. You have ultimately failed to see through it!"
Facing Li Fan's words, though the Mound Guardian still offered no reply, his disdain was evident. Li Fan was unfazed and chuckled lightly.
"Very well, I know you, Mound Guardian, would not sully yourself with my methods."
"However, even if you do not approve of my actions, you should at least acknowledge my aspiration to save the world."
"The future of Mountains and Seas rests entirely upon me. If I do not employ extraordinary means, how can I possibly find a sliver of hope in the impossible?" Li Fan spoke with a sense of profound melancholy.
The Mound Guardian's gaze shifted slightly, his expression turning serious.
"In this life, I intend to become the master of the Void Realm myself."
"Since you are unwilling to accompany me, why should I not walk my own path alone?"
"However..."
"I have an item that I wish for you, fellow Daoist, to help me comprehend."
As Li Fan spoke, he slowly unfurled the Diagram of Dao One Mountains and Seas. Ink-black mountains and seas churned and roiled, appearing as real as they were illusory.
The moment the Mound Guardian first saw it, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes. Soon, his attention was drawn to the Nexus of Mountains and Seas Boundary Stele situated at the center of the Dao One Diagram.
"This is..."
"True God's Finger."
Li Fan's voice echoed softly.
Upon hearing these three words, even with the Mound Guardian's composure, his ink-black form could not help but tremble slightly.
"When the Divine Finger descends, Mountains and Seas are reshaped. This is the original source of the fusion of Mountains and Seas."
"Within this diagram of Mountains and Seas, this is merely a phantom manifestation of a Dao I've comprehended. Even so, it possesses the power to alter heaven and earth!"
Li Fan said this and, with a light gesture, pointed towards the ink-black Mound Guardian in mid-air. It was as if, in that instant, he faced the entirety of Mountains and Seas, and also as if he glimpsed the True God from beyond these realms.
The primal Dao Erasure body within him surged uncontrollably. The ink-black Mound Guardian's complexion subtly changed. He had never encountered the power of the True God's Finger before; it directly rewrote the origins of all things in Mountains and Seas, a power that could not be simply described as "profound."
The fluctuation emanating from Li Fan's fingertip, as it was about to fall upon the Mound Guardian, stopped just in time.
"I believe you can see that with this True God's Finger, even if you are unwilling, I could easily rewrite your will. However, after all, we have fought side-by-side countless times..."
Perhaps it was the inherent yearning of the cultivators of Mountains and Seas for the mysteries of their True Gods, or perhaps it was Li Fan's final words that moved him. After a long period of silent contemplation, the Mound Guardian finally nodded. He would not assist evil, but he would help Li Fan comprehend the secret of the True God's Finger.
"I request, fellow Daoist Mound Guardian, that you first comprehend the phantom manifestation of the True God's Finger that I have left behind. When its true form appears in this life, that will be the most crucial moment for comprehension."
The ink-black Mound Guardian sat down, transforming into a tiny particle, floating beside the Nexus of Mountains and Seas Boundary Stele.
"As the saying goes, one must always guard against others. Although you, fellow Daoist Mound Guardian, have agreed, and I trust your character, this matter involves the secret of the True God..."
"To prevent any unexpected occurrences, I must take some precautions. I hope you, Mound Guardian, will not take offense."
As he spoke, threads of ink-black energy from within the Diagram of Dao One welled up, like countless shackles binding and restraining the Mound Guardian. The Mound Guardian chuckled disdainfully, clearly unconcerned. He simply focused his will upon the Nexus of Mountains and Seas Boundary Stele.
Li Fan clasped his hands in a salute. More and more ink-black energy churned, completely isolating the Mound Guardian from the outside world. Only the faint radiance of the Boundary Stele penetrated inward.
The faint smile on Li Fan's face vanished abruptly. He mused to himself, "My decision was indeed correct. The reaction of this Void Realm manifestation is so intense; how much more so would the main body be? If I were still in league with him, I fear he would have dragged me to my death."
"However, although I have finally managed to persuade him, he is still merely a manifestation. His comprehension ability will naturally not be as great as the true Mound Guardian."
Li Fan's eyes flickered as he formulated a plan. "If quantity is insufficient, then quality must compensate."
Looking towards the distant Mountains and Seas, Li Fan's gaze was cold and serene. Although a significant portion of his Dao Erasure power was used to shape the Mound Guardian's Void Realm manifestation, it did not affect Li Fan's progress in encroaching upon Mountains and Seas.
As a former Sage of Mountains and Seas, he was intimately familiar with his targets. Even the actions of the Sages from the Other Shore were largely within his predictions.
He employed the same tactic again.
While the Sages were present in Mountains and Seas, he lay low and amplified his own power. Once the Sages shifted their focus to the Void Realm, attempting to restore their connection, Li Fan would dispatch his Dao Erasure subordinates to advance unimpeded, devouring everything within Mountains and Seas.
The tide of Dao Erasure surged a thousand feet high, poised to swallow countless possibilities.
Just then, a staff, a spade, and a club suddenly appeared. They seized the dense Dao Erasure, imprisoning it. The three artifacts formed a formation, their white halos like a dike. No matter how the Dao Erasure churned, it could not break through this barrier.
Phantoms of the three Sages suddenly materialized within the white circle, their expressions grave as they gazed upon the imprisoned flood of Dao Erasure.
"This wave of Dao Erasure seems different from before."
"Could a second will have been born within the Void Realm?"
After some deduction, the three Sages arrived at an astonishing conclusion.
Just as the Sages' expressions turned peculiar, the Dao Erasure that had been sealed seemed to come alive. It seethed, converged, and ultimately formed a phantom image. It then smiled ominously at the three Sages before suddenly exploding.
The dark light, wherever it passed, instantly pierced the seal of the Vortex Rings. The trap, personally set by the three Sages with the Lian Shan Staff, Gui Hai Spade, and Myriad Beings Cudgel, was treated by the opponent as if it were nothing. The white light remained, seemingly unaffected, but the sealed Dao Erasure within had completely vanished.
"What!"
The phantoms of the three Sages wavered, revealing their immense inner turmoil. Sage Gui Hai, through all his deductions, could not ascertain the origin of this newly formed will of the Void Realm.
"The situation was already precarious, and now another variable has been introduced... Where did this variable come from?"
Instinctively, the three Sages turned their gaze towards the origin of Mountains and Seas.
"Could it be that an old friend has fallen into depravity?" the Sage of Tai Yi mused, his brow furrowed.
"Since the dawn of the Mountains and Seas, countless eons have passed, and dozens of Sages have emerged. Yet, the Void Realm has always possessed a singular will. Forging an allegiance with the Void Realm is no easy feat. Were it otherwise, traitors would have long ago emerged from the Mountains and Seas," the Sage of Gui Hai replied with a slight shake of his head.
"Perhaps the variable originates from within the Void Realm itself."
The three Sages' gazes intertwined, as if deliberating some matter. Then, light flickered, and a Ruyi scepter materialized before them. It solidified like autumn water, emitting a crisp, radiant glow that even the Sages' brilliance could not fully suppress. Clouds of light swirled around it, occasionally revealing a deep, dark luminescence—as if an eye, hidden within, was scrutinizing all things. The scepter's curve was as if naturally formed. As for its tail, it seemed to exist in a state between solidity and ethereality, like countless rivers converging towards the boundless sea, their boundaries blending and merging.
Had Li Fan still been present, he would have immediately recognized this Ruyi artifact. It was the treasure, "As My Heart Desires," forged by Bai Xiao. However, despite being forged by Bai Xiao before his transcendence, the three Sages treated it with extreme caution. Even when the army of Dao Erasure had arrived, threatening to engulf a large portion of the Mountains and Seas, the Sages had not displayed such solemnity.
Facing the peculiar radiance emanating from "As My Heart Desires," the three Sages, as one, closed their eyes.
"Let us use this item to investigate," one of them declared.
"We must proceed with caution," another added.
The Sages made no visible movement, yet "As My Heart Desires" began to dissolve from its tail, its integration with its surroundings accelerated thousands of times. The exquisite Ruyi scepter gradually vanished, becoming formless. The hidden eye at the head of "As My Heart Desires" suddenly opened, gazing into the Void Realm.
...
"The three Sages are not to be underestimated; they detected the anomaly and laid their defenses within a single encounter," Li Fan mused. "Fortunately, my skills are superior!" The spoils from this endeavor were not as bountiful as the first surprise raid, but they were sufficient to fashion a second Mound Guardian avatar. "The true bounty lies in the reward from the Void Realm's will. The more Dao Erasure I can control, the faster it is converted by the Dao One Mountains and Seas Map. The Master of the Void Realm—?"
As Li Fan pondered, a prickling sense of extreme danger washed over him, as if he were being spied upon. Without a moment's hesitation, the power of "Illusion is True" assailed him instantly. Simultaneously, he overlaid the Dao One Mountains and Seas Map.
*Thump... thump... thump...*
Deprived of Li Fan's control, the Void Realm returned to its original silence. In the darkness, Li Fan could almost hear the beating of his own heart. It was a trembling born from his physical body's instincts.
"This power is no less than facing a New God. What...?"
Li Fan dared not move rashly. He forcefully suppressed all thoughts, hiding beneath the Great Dao of True and False to observe the unfolding events. Within the Dao Erasure, ripples began to form. From an unknown origin, a wave spread, instantly permeating the entire Void Realm. It was as if a gaze swept across everything. Following a brief silence, the infinite Dao Erasure of the Void Realm erupted, responding as if in answer!
Even when the Solitary Star descended and its radiance consumed all, the Void Realm had never reacted with such intensity. It was as if encountering something of paramount importance. The Dao Erasure, or perhaps the mastermind behind the Void Realm, was employing every means to trace the source of that gaze. Li Fan could feel an uncontrollable frenzy emanating from the Dao Erasure under his command.
"The usually calm Master of the Void Realm is so distraught. He has temporarily abandoned his mission to engulf the Mountains and Seas. The engulfment of the Mountains and Seas was for the descent of the Solitary Star, but tracing the source of the gaze... is for... himself?" Li Fan gradually grasped the obsession driving the Void Realm's mastermind. It was akin to how cultivators of the Xuanhuang Realm witnessed the Scarlet Flame, how transcendent experts encountered the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas, and how Li Fan himself had faced the Finger of a True God. Despite differences in cultivation realms and strength, the pursuit of "advancement" and the possibility of further evolution remained the same.
"Could the Void Realm, through this gaze, or more accurately, its source, attain a different kind of fortune?" Li Fan's heart trembled. The mastermind of the Void Realm seemed to exist solely for the descent of the Solitary Star. He had toiled to engulf the Mountains and Seas, but when the Solitary Star broke free from its cage, even he would be unable to preserve himself. Naturally, the mastermind understood this. But just as the Mountains and Seas were fated to return to the stars, this was his unavoidable end. He could not resist. However, what if... he could advance further? If even the newly born gods after the destruction of the Mountains and Seas were no match for the Void Realm's Dao Erasure, then if he could advance further, would he not possess the might of a True God?
How could this be possible?!
"Could it be that this gaze originates from a True God? Just like the Finger of a True God?"
"The third contingency left by a god?"
"Why have I never encountered it in my countless past reincarnations?"
Instantly, Li Fan's thoughts raced. He immediately conceived of its possible origin.
"I had just escaped the encirclement of the three Sages, and this gaze pursued me immediately."
"Could it be...?" The coincidence was too striking to dismiss.
"Sage of Lian Shan, Sage of Gui Hai, Sage of Tai Yi!" A cold glint flashed in Li Fan's eyes. However, with the chaotic intertwining of the Void Realm's tides and the mysterious gaze, Li Fan dared not reveal himself. He could only continue to hide under the protection of the Great Dao of True and False.
The Void Realm was boundless, yet that gaze seemed to encompass it all. After a fruitless search, it slowly dissipated on its own. The mastermind of the Void Realm desperately tried to retain it, but the ripples slipped through his grasp like sand between fingers. With the gaze gone, the turbulent Void Realm returned to silence. Afterward, Li Fan felt a command from the Void Realm's mastermind. The Dao Erasure surged once more, roaring towards the Mountains and Seas. Its momentum was immense, like a final, all-out assault. The Mountains and Seas were momentarily plunged into peril.
However, Li Fan frowned slightly. "Although the Void Realm holds an overall advantage, it shouldn't be the decisive battle yet. By drawing out the conflict, continuously engulfing the Mountains and Seas, and gradually weakening their strength, victory could be achieved decisively. Now, due to the appearance of that mysterious gaze, the Void Realm has thrown itself into disarray. Moreover, I've managed to pilfer some..."
"Could it be that in this lifetime, the Mountains and Seas will actually triumph over the Void Realm?" An unbelievable thought suddenly arose in Li Fan's mind. Originally, Li Fan would have dismissed it as a joke, shaking his head and casting it aside. But it was as if he had touched upon a keyword. Li Fan's mind experienced a sharp pain, and a flood of images flashed through his consciousness.
"After countless reincarnations, I have finally succeeded."
"The Mountains and Seas have suppressed the Dao Erasure. The will of the Void Realm has been shattered, and the danger of the Mountains and Seas' demise is no more!" Joy overflowed. Li Fan and the surrounding Sages were all celebrating this moment. But for some inexplicable reason, a sense of foreboding suddenly struck Li Fan. The other Sages remained oblivious. Li Fan was the first to look up. A sliver of starlight, from an unknown source, descended like falling snow upon the Mountains and Seas. The jubilant Mountains and Seas, without them noticing, grew quiet. They all stared at Li Fan with an unnervingly strange gaze. A chill spread through Li Fan's heart as, moments later, he was simultaneously attacked by everyone around him. Even the Mountains and Seas he had desperately saved turned against him.
"Mound Guardian!"
"Eternal Song!"
"Lian Shan!"
Starlight showered across the Mountains and Seas. Once close comrades had become mere slaves. Li Fan’s desperate shouts to awaken their minds were in vain. Their firm eyes had long turned black and listless. No struggle flickered on their faces, only contorted ferocity as they unleashed their divine abilities without reservation. Even the surviving Mountain and Sea cultivators, their spirits howling, swore to extinguish Li Fan.
The figures who had once fought alongside him now surrounded him, viewing him as an enemy despite their past struggles together. One moment, they celebrated the successful salvation of the Mountains and Seas; the next, the situation had undergone a drastic reversal. Friends and family lost, their efforts rendered futile. Under the eerie starlight, all beings were twisted. The Mountains and Seas experienced a new genesis, but it was no longer the same. Everything familiar was instantly rewritten by the solitary star. Li Fan’s heart ached as if being sliced, tears streaming down his face. He was on the brink of despair.
Repeated failures were not frightening. What was truly terrifying was that after enduring a thousand tribulations and countless reincarnations, it seemed they had finally resolved the disaster, yet the solitary star's descent could not be prevented. To offer hope first, only to plunge into despair thereafter. Li Fan's indomitable will was almost shattered. He allowed the familiar Sages to attack, their divine abilities piercing his body without offering any resistance.
Yet, in his final moments, witnessing the ecstatic and terrifying state of the Mountains and Seas under the starlight, Li Fan forced his will to life. Using the Great Dao of True and False, he intended to reverse everything.
"Hoo..."
Li Fan awoke from the boundless illusion. This time, the memories were not fleeting fragments as they had been before. They were incredibly real, as if he had personally experienced them in a past life. Li Fan discovered a faint tear track on his eye, evidence of his immersion in the memories.
"It's not just my emotions that are affected. Even..."
An intense sting emanated from his entire body, as if the divine abilities of the Sages from his memories had truly been unleashed upon him in reality. To Li Fan's greater horror, small specks of starlight began to emerge from various parts of his body, as if a solitary star had indeed descended above his head, casting its gaze upon him. If the starlight he'd absorbed from casually reading the 'Star Radiance Movement Strategy' was but a drop, the starlight now gathering on Li Fan was a thousandfold. And this was just the beginning.
The surrounding Dao Erasure seemed to react, spontaneously surging towards Li Fan as if paying homage to their king. The feeling of being exposed to an unseen gaze intensified, as if he were being roasted in a fire, his entire being on the verge of evaporation.
"When the true becomes false, and the false becomes true!"
Fully aware of the star's power, Li Fan, upon witnessing his own abnormalities, resolutely employed the Transformation of True and False, attempting to suppress the starlight's influence. However, the corrosion brought by the solitary star's eerie glow had already silently begun.
"When the true becomes true, then the false is false and true!" Although his mind was focused on the Great Dao of True and False, the ability Li Fan exhibited was a distorted imitation, having lost most of its essence – a four-unlike-anything divine ability! The starlight did not fade; instead, it spread further as a result.
"Slap!"
Unexpectedly, Li Fan’s right hand struck his own face. It was not his intention, but his arm was controlled by the starlight, attempting to further its advance and erode his head. And it succeeded. Traces of starlight began to appear in Li Fan’s left eye. Then, as if pulled by immense force, his eyeball sprang out of its socket. Although flesh and blood were still connected, the starry eyeball rotated halfway, eerily meeting Li Fan’s gaze.
Through his own eyeball, Li Fan seemed to glimpse a future where he was entirely engulfed by starlight, transformed into a servant of the solitary star.
"Hmph!" Li Fan was unfazed. Mustering his resolve, he used the Transformation of True and False as a blade, severing the starlight eyeball’s connection to his flesh. Yet, the eyeball did not break its contact with Li Fan. With a flash of light, it returned to its socket.
*Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!*
After a brief silence, the starry eyeball began to violently strike inward. Blood gushed forth like a spring.
"Damn it..." It wasn't the pain that was unbearable. In countless past reincarnations, Li Fan had endured suffering many times greater and emerged unscathed. The reason for his current state was that as the eyeball repeatedly struck, starlight began to fill Li Fan's vision. The starlight's corruption accelerated.
"Damn it, damn it, damn it!" Mad laughter erupted from Li Fan's mouth, not from his own volition, but from his uncontrollably mutated lips. With each utterance, his mouth seemed to tear further. Moments later, Li Fan's entire jaw was ripped apart, rendering him speechless.
Following the silence, Li Fan's remaining upper lip constantly moved. Initially, there was no sound. But gradually, faint murmurs emanated from Li Fan's mouth. The Dao Erasure waves stirred, like a strong wind blowing. The commotion was comparable to the mysterious gaze that had swept over them earlier. The light spots on his body erupted again, like festering sores. Apart from his sea of consciousness, Li Fan's entire body was lost.
The murmurs from his own mouth did not just affect Li Fan's body but also distorted his memories. For instance, the 'Star Radiance Movement Strategy' he had once casually perused now became subtly understandable with the persistent voices in his mind. *So that's how it is, it's actually like this?* Li Fan was almost lost in this revelation.
Fortunately, at the critical moment, the distorted and tragic state of his former comrades under the starlight flashed into his mind. This startled Li Fan, temporarily pulling him away from his yearning for the starlight. The allure of the starlight, like a shadow, threatened to drag Li Fan back into the abyss.
In this moment of crisis, Li Fan became unprecedentedly calm. He abandoned the defense of most of his sea of consciousness, focusing only on protecting its core. His thoughts raced: "The Transformation of True and False can undoubtedly reverse the trend of the solitary star's descent. There is no doubt about this. The reason I am in such a dire state now, and so vulnerable to the starlight's erosion, is that my comprehension of the Transformation of True and False has been distorted by the star."
"The only way to survive..."
"I must find a countermeasure, to restore my original level of understanding of the Transformation of True and False!"
Li Fan resolutely channeled his last trace of will into the Dao One Mountain and Sea Diagram floating serenely beside him. Or, more accurately, into the True God's Finger on the diagram! The Boundless Stele bore the traces of the Sages, and yet it was merely the Boundless Stele. But when all subsequent traces faded, returning to its original form, the one who descended upon the world would be the True God's Finger!
Li Fan’s divine sense hid within the Boundless Stele, and the starlight instinctively followed. As the starlight spread, the True God's Finger also manifested! Although it was merely a phantom inspired by Li Fan's comprehension, it surprisingly produced an inconceivable change when it collided with the starlight Li Fan had drawn! The Dao Comprehension Sages who had been by the Boundless Stele were instantly consumed without even a chance to struggle.
The starlight dispersed.
The aura that stood proudly in the world gradually manifested. The True God's Finger, originally ethereal, transformed into reality and reappeared in the mortal world!
To the starlight, this severed finger's allure far surpassed Li Fan's.
Everything visible, all radiance, converged towards the True God's Finger.
Even the points of light that occupied more than half of Li Fan's body showed no reluctance, directly abandoning them.
Gradually regaining control of his body, Li Fan still seemed unaccustomed. He felt alienated from this physical shell, each part incredibly stiff.
"After being bathed in starlight for a moment, it felt as if I had been separated from the mortal world for tens of thousands of years."
The extreme discomfort of his body seemed to have corroded Li Fan's thoughts.
However, driven by his survival instinct, he did not forget his current perilous situation.
With a thought, he activated the Transformation of True and False, empowering himself.
It was as if, in a storm, a straw cape was suddenly donned. His mind and body entered a state of unparalleled tranquility and stability.
The corrosive feeling was expelled, and Li Fan's thoughts and divine abilities returned to normal levels.
He observed the anomaly before him.
There should only be one True God's Finger in the world.
Therefore, when the starlight illuminated and the True God's Finger manifested, the Boundless Stele within the Mountains and Seas immediately fell into turmoil. Its foundation vanished, leaving only Dao marks left by the Sages. It could no longer bear the destiny of "Boundless Mountains and Seas."
All traces of the Great Dao snapped like fragile branches, breaking inch by inch.
The existing fusion of Mountains and Seas, at this moment, seemed to be separating!
Within the Vortex Ring, due to the intense side effects of using "As My Heart Desires," the Three Sages closed their eyes, suppressing the Ruyi scepter once more.
"Hmm?"
At this moment, Sage Lian Shan was the first to perceive the anomaly in the Mountains and Seas.
Lian Shan represented all civilizations and beings who had ever attempted to bridge mountains and seas. a significant portion of their strength and cultivation was built upon the fusion of Mountains and Seas.
Now, with the Mountains and Seas showing signs of separation, he was naturally the most affected.
His shoulder-level companion, Mount Shang, seemed to have risen inexplicably, distancing itself from the mortal world's beings.
Even though the bridge of Lian Shan desperately extended, attempting to repair the emerging rift, the speed of separation far outstripped Sage Lian Shan's mending speed.
Humming sounds...
When the gap exceeded a certain limit, a faint cracking sound emanated from between the Mountains and Seas.
It echoed resonatingly.
Mortal beings remained unaware.
But all True Immortals, sensing impending doom, displayed looks of terror.
Immortals stood on Mount Shang, connecting to the Boundless Sea.
Possessing the lofty demeanor of Immortals, they wielded boundless divine abilities.
But at this moment, the bridge connecting to Mount Shang collapsed.
The countless Immortals on the bridge, naturally, could not escape calamity and fell with it.
Their cultivation realms and auras rapidly declined at a visible rate.
Sages, Transcendents, Nameless, True Immortals.
Regardless of their realm, strength, or struggles, none could avoid it.
All fell to the realm of mortals.
Having become mortal bodies, how could they wield the boundless?
Trapped in the Dao Erasure, unable to protect themselves, they perished in an instant.
Those who sought refuge in the Mountains and Seas were then backlashed by the immense power of the Boundless Sea, transforming into part of the boundless ocean.
With the disappearance of the Boundless Mountain and Sea Stele, in that single moment, 99.9% of True Immortals and above in the Mountains and Seas died. The remaining fortunate ones, though still struggling, were destined to face annihilation.
Because...
The Mountains and Seas had awakened!
Without the True God's Finger, the Mountains and Seas separated, reverting to their original Devouring God appearance. The countless fallen cultivators in the Mountains and Seas turned into nourishment, rejoining the Mountains and Seas. This revitalized the once dying Mountains and Seas as if they had swallowed a potent elixir, instantly recovering some of their vital essence.
Not to mention returning to their peak state, they at least possessed the strength for a final desperate struggle.
More importantly, the will of the Mountains and Seas, which had been distorted and rewritten by the True God's Finger, had returned to normal.
The continuous mountain ranges stood majestically.
The boundless ocean reflected the great thousand realms.
Two true wills representing the Mountains and Seas descended into them.
When the Mountains and Seas merged, they intertwined, becoming chaotic and indistinct. Only instinct prevailed.
But now, separated into two, Mountains were just Mountains, and Seas were just Seas.
Each independent will, after being freed from the other, became incredibly prosperous.
Thus, the fates of the Three Sages differed.
Although the Three Sages were also affected by the change, falling to the mortal realm, they survived for various reasons.
As if sensing what was about to happen, Sage Lian Shan looked at the other two and sighed, "All feasts in the world must eventually end..."
Before his words were finished, Sage Lian Shan, not a specific figure from the Mountains and Seas, but all his manifestations, turned into streams of light and vanished into Mount Shang.
Sage Gui Hai, with a soft sigh, responded in kind.
Countless blue light spots floated and surged into the endless, boundless possibilities of the Infinite Sea.
As for Sage Tai Yi,
Countless figures vanished as if evaporated. Tai Yi, and the Great Dao of Infinite Evolution it represented, all returned to the Mountains and Seas!
The Mountains and Seas had once evolved countless Great Daos and infinite beings.
But now, everything was reclaimed.
Everything returned to its most primordial state!
Just like the moment before the separation of Mountains and Seas.
...
The anomaly that occurred within the Mountains and Seas was already astonishing.
However, compared to the changes produced by the collision of starlight and the True God's Finger in the void, it seemed insignificant.
As if it had obtained the key to breaking free.
Centered around the True God's Finger, an endless amount of starlight instantly permeated the surroundings.
Compared to the solitary star that Li Fan had seen descend, the pervasive starlight before him was gentler.
At the very least, the Void Realm could still exist under the starlight's illumination.
At the very least, Li Fan could still barely maintain the Transformation of True and False state, continuing to observe.
As the boundless starlight first appeared, for a fleeting moment, one could vaguely see blurred figures hidden behind the starlight.
But as the starlight expanded tenfold in an instant, Li Fan's vision was completely obscured.
"Could this be my hallucination?" Li Fan wondered in disbelief.
However, he soon had no time to ponder this question.
The starlight spread from the depths of the Void Realm without end.
As the central node of the Star Descent, the True God's Finger also seemed to sense the increasing amount of surrounding radiance, undergoing further changes.
The change was not in the True God's Finger itself, but in its "posture."
Remarkably, although it was merely a severed finger, it could perform various actions.
The "Boundless Mountains and Seas" Li Fan had witnessed earlier twisted the will of the Mountains and Seas, causing them to merge.
Now, the finger shifted, pointing towards the myriad starlight.
In an instant, the brilliant starlight seemed to lose its color, transforming from dazzling brightness to dim black and white.
The entire void turned dim as a result.
The starlight, no longer bright, was like a blunted weapon, its threat greatly reduced.
Looking up, Li Fan faintly felt that he could now withstand its influence even without relying on the Transformation of True and False.
However, Li Fan did not recklessly test the waters. The changes before him were truly beyond his expectations.
"What is happening? Why is the True God's Finger attacking the starlight?"
"The Solitary Star and the True God's Finger should both be remnants left by Gods, meant to facilitate the merging of Mountains and Seas, hence the descent of the Solitary Star?"
The reality unfolding before him completely contradicted Li Fan's conjectures.
While Li Fan was filled with doubts, he also faintly touched upon the truth concerning Gods, Mountains and Seas, and Stars.
"Since the identities and motives deviate from the actual actions, I must re-evaluate."
"Among the three, Mountains and Seas are both the perpetrators of the consciousness division and the victims."
"The True God's Finger..."
"The faint ancient aura upon it, coupled with its ability to rewrite the will of Mountains and Seas, resulting in their fusion. And its ability to disperse the myriad starlight, re-imprisoning the Solitary Star. Such power, such divine ability. Only a True God could possess it."
Li Fan first affirmed this point.
"Finally, the Stars."
What were the Stars?
At the end of each reincarnation, the Solitary Star descended, consuming everything.
Clearly, the Stars seemed to be the contingency left by the True God, meant for rebirth after being consumed.
With the descent of the Solitary Star, Mountains and Seas would be destroyed, the Void Realm would cease to exist.
This would pave the way for a new God's rebirth.
Li Fan had always believed this.
But was this truly the case?
The scene of the True God's Finger sealing the starlight before him completely shattered this assumption.
"The Stars are not Gods?"
"Then the Stars..."
There were no other known options for an answer.
If the Stars were not Gods, then...
The Stars were the Mountains and Seas.
"Stars are Mountains and Seas? Stars are Mountains and Seas!"
The moment this thought arose in his mind, Li Fan's body and soul trembled violently. The shock from this stark contrast almost caused him to lose his protective Transformation of True and False, revealing himself amidst the confrontation between the True God's Finger and the Starlight.
"How could this be? How is this possible?"
Li Fan forced himself to calm down.
But a premonition had already surged in his heart, and before he could even think, he knew the conclusion of his deduction.
In his mind, the infinite memories of his past self, like a breached dam, could no longer be suppressed.
They exploded and burst forth.
Countless figures flickered, countless past scenes burned like firewood.
Finally, they converged into an overwhelming sense of unwillingness.
And endless rage born from despair.
This was the final emotion of the past Li Fan before making a decision.
And the reason for the existence of the current Li Fan.
"So that's how it is." Li Fan's expression became extremely peculiar.
Gazing at the confrontation before him, his cold disposition acted as a stabilizing force, meticulously sorting all unwillingness and rage.
What the past self could not accept, the current Li Fan found merely ordinary.
"It's just... I feel it was a bit of a waste for you."
Li Fan let out a light scoff.
With the reinforcement of past memories, everything became logical.
Li Fan's heart was now free of doubts.
"If the Stars are not Stars, then the Stars are the Mountains and Seas."
"Mountains and Seas devouring themselves, seems absurd and illogical. But when combined with the predetermined fate of the Mountains and Seas merging, and the attributes and actions set by the True God's Finger..."
"Then everything can be explained."
"When time reverted to the moment the True God perished and the Mountains and Seas split their consciousness..."
Suddenly, an eerie scene appeared before Li Fan.
In the darkness, it seemed as if two formless beasts were silently gnawing at something.
Greedy and enjoying themselves.
The True God vanished, and two new Gods were about to be born.
But...
Suddenly, a sense of fear spread from the hearts of the Mountains and Seas.
After devouring a portion of the God's body, they also gradually acquired some of the God's abilities.
Thus, they seemed capable of foreseeing future events to some extent.
They saw that the True God, after death, had not completely dissipated.
It was as if the God's sole eye was still coldly watching them.
As long as the Mountains and Seas existed, the True God's Finger would appear.
The Mountains and Seas gradually merged and finally returned to nothingness.
Only pure energy remained.
On this boundless, endless fertile ground, on the corpses of Mountains and Seas.
The True God would be reborn.
The True God would return once more.
The True God's remnants in his hand instantly became unappetizing.
As newly born Gods, the Mountains and Seas naturally did not want to suffer the same fate as the food in their mouths.
After foreseeing their own destruction, the Mountains and Seas devised countless possibilities.
But in all the outcomes, there was no depiction of their survival.
The True God's final strike before perishing had annihilated all possibilities of the Mountains and Seas turning the tables.
The Mountains and Seas had no chance of winning.
They had just transformed and reborn, only to embark on a path of inevitable destruction.
How could these two newly born deities accept this?
Even an ant strives to survive.
Let alone deities?
After completely devouring the True God's body, an unknown amount of time passed.
Expending countless epochs, the Mountains and Seas worked together to deduce the only possible method to turn defeat into victory.
"Since the Mountains and Seas are destined to perish, then..."
"Let the Mountains and Seas perish."
"Bury yourselves completely, and then, before the True God awakens, gestate anew."
"Is this your method of survival?"
Li Fan's gaze seemed to pierce through the dark void, directly reaching the will behind it.
In his mind, the scene of the Solitary Star descending and consuming everything flashed again.
"The existence and activation condition of the True God's Finger is the existence of the Mountains and Seas."
"As the Void Realm's Dao Erasure encroached, the Mountains and Seas ceased to exist, and the True God's Finger vanished into nothingness."
"The only formidable opponent finally disappeared. The Stars, or the reborn Mountains and Seas, impatiently descended."
"Allowing no other entity to exist, only I shall remain."
"Only I survive, only I live, only I win."
"So, the Void Realm's Dao Erasure was merely a tool for the Mountains and Seas to destroy themselves."
"So, all of this was just a meticulously crafted play."
"The beings of Mountains and Seas, Lian Shan, Gui Hai, Tai Yi. Shou Qiu, and Morality. All were merely actors in the play."
"As long as they followed the script and performed their assigned roles, then everything would be perfect."
"The True God completely perished, the new Gods would have no worries."
"The grand play concluded, the new Gods ascended."
"Perfect."
"But alas..."
Li Fan sighed.
Not for any other reason, but for the past lost "Li Fan."
"Into this wonderful play, intruded someone who should not have existed."
"The Mountains and Seas committing suicide, in his eyes, was an extremely terrifying disaster. The suffering of sentient beings; he wanted to save them from dire straits."
"If it doesn't work once, then a hundred times. If it doesn't work a hundred times, then a thousand, ten thousand times."
"Countless times."
"Finally, finally, finally..."
"He turned the impossible into the possible. He broke through the script set by the [Mountains and Seas]."
"The [Mountains and Seas] finally won. But..."
"In this case, how could the script continue?"
Just as the [Mountains and Seas] had foreseen.
As long as the Mountains and Seas existed, the True God's Finger would not vanish.
Without the Void Realm, without the Dao Erasure,
The Mountains and Seas merged, but did not disappear.
Thus, the [Mountains and Seas] were furious.
Towards Li Fan, this disruptor, they finally revealed their sharp claws.
For the [Mountains and Seas], even countless reincarnations were but a fleeting moment. They were indifferent to them all.
But Li Fan had shattered their predetermined script.
Therefore, Li Fan must die.
Thus...
Starlight permeated the Mountains and Seas, the Sages drew their swords against each other, and the Mountains and Seas regarded Li Fan as an enemy of extermination.
At this moment, Li Fan truly understood why his tears had flowed then.
It was not despair.
But utter despair.
No longer resisting, allowing what he had once protected to pierce through his body.
But fortunately, at the last moment, he changed his mind.
Thus, the Li Fan of today was born.
Having understood the past, Li Fan felt no great anger.
The actions of the Mountains and Seas were understandable.
If it were him, he would do the same.
However...
"What you did, I can naturally do as well."
Li Fan looked calmly at what lay before him.
The Mountains and Seas, the Void Realm, and the Stars.
He suddenly, inexplicably, thought of something.
Even the Mountains and Seas, who devoured the True God's corpse, could foresee their own demise.
Then, could that fallen True God, when setting up the True God's Finger, truly not have foreseen a countermeasure to the Mountains and Seas' "Golden Cicada Sheds Its Shell" strategy?
"Unless..."
"Someone from outside the play arrives to break the Mountains and Seas' plan."
"This, then, is the reason for my existence here."
In Li Fan's mind, a scene from long ago suddenly appeared.
It was his life before transmigration.
Parents were present, children were healthy.
"Go to hell!"
"All of you, die!"
As Li Fan's memories of his past largely returned, long-standing questions were finally answered.
Ever since he became aware of the existence of "my past self," Li Fan had been unable to comprehend how his very first self managed to cultivate successfully in the perilous Xuanhuang Realm.
Li Fan had personally experienced it, and he knew firsthand how harsh that journey was.
For a mere mortal, let alone cultivation, survival itself was nearly impossible.
Li Fan's current success was entirely due to the Reflection, the countless reincarnation experiences of his past self, and the Great Dao of True and False.
How could his very first self have managed to go so far?
Simply attributing it to "extraordinary talent" felt too weak an explanation.
Great Xuan, Azure Nether, the Abyssal Star Sea, the High Wall.
Countless dangers and hidden traps.
Without precognition, even the most gifted cultivator would struggle to break free.
If his first life ended prematurely, how could he have later encountered the Sage of the End of Mountains and Seas and grasped the Transformation of True and False?
"But if I was an outsider to the grand play, pulled in by a fallen True God to break the stalemate, then everything makes sense."
"A detached finger of a True God could rewrite the will of Mountains and Seas, dim the radiance of a solitary star. Protecting a mortal to smoothly reach the Saint realm would be effortless."
Looking at the "Divine Blessing" inscription on the Reflection panel, before the Art of Cowardice and Illusion is True, Li Fan finally understood.
Everything had not been an exaggeration.
Divine Blessing, truly, a blessing from a god.
"With a True God's protection, combined with my past self's supreme talent, not only did we shatter the script written by Mountains and Seas, but we also found a way to indefinitely postpone the day Mountains and Seas ascend to godhood."
"But as I've said before, one can delay things for a time, but not forever."
"Mountains and Seas fade, the solitary star ascends. If this script remains unchanged, the final outcome will be the same."
"Damn it all!"
Li Fan's anger stemmed not from losing his past parents, wives, and children.
Back when he was the Grand Tutor in the Xuanhuang Realm, with a multitude of wives and children, he might have cherished such familial bonds.
But now, Li Fan, who wielded the Great Dao of True and False, having personally destroyed and restored countless lives with a single thought, saw no difference between his past family and any other so-called living beings.
If he wished, he could conjure his departed kin from memory at any time.
When truth becomes false, false also becomes true.
True and false, there was no distinction.
Li Fan's rage was directed at himself.
It could only be at himself.
Regardless, that past "Li Fan" was also Li Fan.
For no apparent reason, he was dragged into this world by a fallen True God to work.
He was an outsider to the play, yet he became too deeply immersed without realizing it.
He struggled desperately through countless reincarnations, only to discover that all his efforts were a joke.
The past Li Fan was utterly disheartened.
The current Li Fan felt only an uncontrollable surge of malevolence.
What of a True God?
Did they even ask for my opinion when they dragged me here?
"What you couldn't do, I will do. The revenge you couldn't exact, I will."
"Mountains and Seas, Stars, Gods..."
"None of you will escape!"
A fierce glint flashed in Li Fan's eyes, and boundless killing intent spread outwards.
This killing intent was so potent that even the Great Dao of True and False temporarily couldn't suppress it.
The True God's Finger, the dim starlight, and the division of Mountains and Seas all seemed to react as if sensing something.
Li Fan felt as if countless eyes were fixing upon him.
He instantly calmed down.
The Great Dao of True and False once again concealed him.
Ferocity was instinct, but caution and discretion were also instincts.
Despite his impassioned vow of vengeance, Li Fan knew that with his current strength, he could ensure his own survival, but to slay a god...
He was far from capable.
He had once believed that fully comprehending the Great Dao of True and False would naturally solve any problem. But everything he now knew suggested otherwise.
"My past self could break the True God's script, indicating the Great Dao of True and False had reached its peak. Yet, facing the new god's arrival in the final act, he was still helpless."
"The Great Dao of True and False only allowed him to shift his existence to a time before the new god appeared; it couldn't completely prevent the new god's descent."
"Slaying gods..."
Li Fan's thoughts drifted back to another question.
Why did that True God perish?
They could foresee their own future, even devising a method to escape the script by bringing in an outsider.
Yet, they couldn't prevent their own demise?
"If an old god can be slain, so can a new god. If I can find the reason for the True God's death..."
Li Fan once again looked at the True God's Finger standing in the void.
It seemed to have instinctively reacted to being stimulated, suppressing the starlight.
Now that the starlight had dimmed and gradually vanished, the True God's Finger resumed its original purpose.
Mountains and Seas are Boundless!
The True God's Finger shot into the recently divided Mountains and Seas like a meteor.
The Mountains and Seas, which had just separated, seemed poised to repeat their past fate.
At that moment, two figures, one from Mount Shang and the other from the Infinite Sea, flew out and intercepted the True God's Finger.
Li Fan recognized these two figures instantly.
"Lian Shan and Gui Hai?" Li Fan's pupils contracted as he observed them from afar.
The two Sages looked vastly different from before.
Sage Lian Shan's appearance was gone, only vaguely maintaining a humanoid form, but his face was etched with billions of marks, each one recording a civilization that once existed in Mountains and Seas.
Sage Gui Hai, on the other hand, seemed rooted in the infinite possibilities of the Infinite Sea, with billions of tentacles supporting him as he emerged beyond Mountains and Seas.
Without expression and with resolute determination, Lian Shan and Gui Hai stood in the path of the rapidly descending True God's Finger.
While the Three Sages were powerful, Li Fan found it hard to believe they could block the True God's Finger.
However, events unfolded in a way Li Fan hadn't anticipated.
Two streams of light leaped from Lian Shan and Gui Hai.
Then, a final wisp of light emerged from Mountains and Seas itself.
As the three lights merged, a Ruyi scepter instantly took shape!
"Heart's Desire?"
Upon seeing the Ruyi scepter, its name naturally surfaced in Li Fan's mind.
He also understood that it was this object that had been searching for him in the void earlier.
"Indeed, it originated from the Three Sages."
"Using the Eye of God to counter the True God's Finger?" Li Fan immediately thought.
The appearance of Heart's Desire caused a commotion similar to before.
The void became turbulent, with ripples spreading uncontrollably. It even abandoned its mission of consuming Mountains and Seas, frantically converging towards Heart's Desire.
And this time, Lian Shan and Gui Hai did not quickly retrieve the Ruyi scepter.
They merely let it rest in the center of the chaotic vortex.
Li Fan even discerned that the two Sages seemed to be desperately manipulating Heart's Desire, allowing it to be swallowed by the void.
"To break free from the True God's Finger, Mountains and Seas chose to become a solitary star."
"But to deceive the True God's Finger, the act had to be thorough. On the opening day of the grand play, Mountains and Seas were no longer Mountains and Seas, but a solitary star, their identity completely transformed."
"The beings dependent on Mountains and Seas were merely actors fulfilling the script. And the Dao Erasure of the Void was a prop to advance the plot."
"Because this play was so convincing, Mountains and Seas remained unaware of their identity as actors. Hence, under the erosion of Dao Erasure, they instinctively awakened their will to survive."
"Only when the script was broken and the performance halted would Mountains and Seas realize their true identities. This is also why, after Mountains and Seas defeated Dao Erasure in the past, they betrayed me."
"And now..."
Li Fan glanced upwards calmly.
The starlight descended, only to be blocked by the True God's Finger.
Mountains and Seas were about to merge again, proceeding according to the established script.
Despite Li Fan's intervention, causing numerous variables, the final outcome remained unchanged.
"Still within the script, which means Mountains and Seas do not know their true identities."
Li Fan's eyes narrowed as he focused on Heart's Desire at the center of the converging Dao Erasure.
In this life, Mountains and Seas experienced an unprecedented process of merging, separating, and merging again.
The True God's Finger shifted twice, leading to a scenario Li Fan had never encountered.
Dao Erasure surged like waves, constantly eroding Heart's Desire.
The influence of the Ruyi scepter gradually faded, and within the dark and silent void, a consciousness seemed to be rapidly awakening.
The entire void came alive!
"It seems I only guessed half of it before."
"The void did undergo a transformation upon receiving Heart's Desire, which is why the force behind the void craved it so much, even above consuming Mountains and Seas."
"But the transformation wasn't a further ascension to godhood. It was..."
"The void, as a tool to advance the plot, awakening, or rather, recovering its original consciousness!"
The void, which had been completely dark since the beginning of Mountains and Seas, suddenly became less lifeless.
The destructive power of Dao Erasure gradually receded.
If the void's Dao Erasure was an army of infinite soldiers before, now, billions of soldiers had converged into one being.
A distorted figure silently appeared.
Looking at Mountains and Seas, a trace of hatred seemed to flash in its eyes, but it ultimately intervened, blocking the approaching True God's Finger!
To be precise, it was delaying it.
The True God's Finger was unstoppable, but it now seemed to be trapped in an endless mire of Dao Erasure.
The light continuously dispersed but never managed to escape the void's confines.
"It is..."
Li Fan felt a sense of familiarity from this figure.
It stemmed from an extreme anger and hatred towards the solitary star.
"The Dao Erasure of the void was created by Mountains and Seas as a tool to advance the plot."
"But where did this tool come from..."
"After the split, besides Mountains and Seas, there should have been nothing else in the world."
The void figure, having temporarily blocked the True God's Finger, ignored Mountains and Seas.
Then, it arrogantly flew outwards, beyond the realm, towards the dim, solitary star!
Infinite ripples emanated from the void figure.
Each ripple was like a sharp blade, tearing through the veil separating reality and drama.
Layer after layer of dark curtains seemed to be peeled back under this violent collision.
The originally dim starlight actually brightened slightly.
"It is..."
"Pulling the star into the script?"
Li Fan was pleasantly surprised to have gained a potential ally, though his stance was unclear.
However, he chose to wait and observe.
After all, the void figure's identity was still unknown, and its appearance was extremely bizarre.
As the starlight under the celestial curtain grew brighter, the True God's Finger, trapped in the void, once again felt the presence of the starlight.
Its target shifted from Mountains and Seas, directly towards the solitary star hidden within.
Only then did Li Fan fully understand: "If one hides outside the script, they might deceive the True God's Finger. But if one enters the script, it's difficult to escape the True God's Finger's discernment!"
The void figure, exuding ripples, drew in the starlight.
Unlike ordinary creatures that mutated upon contact with starlight, it became even more profound.
However, it did not absorb the starlight for its own use.
Instead, it channeled it into the existing Mountains and Seas!
The starlight beams were not as overbearing as when the solitary star truly manifested. Instead, they resembled the light scattered when Mountains and Seas had previously overcome Dao Erasure.
Witnessing such a familiar scene, Li Fan was deeply moved: "This means the script has been broken, and the solitary star has entered the game!"
In a single thought, the world transformed.
A peculiar change occurred amidst Mountains and Seas, as the starlight continuously painted over them.
The void figure suffered the same fate as Li Fan in the past.
Eroded by starlight, Mountains and Seas repeatedly changed.
Li Fan faintly sensed an intense anger emanating from the roaring mountains and seas and the blooming starlight.
"You know how to get angry too?"
Li Fan felt a touch of schadenfreude.
Compared to the past Li Fan, the void figure seemed to have anticipated all the changes around it.
Especially the betrayal by Mountains and Seas.
Without hesitation, it transformed into a surging tide, engulfing Mountains and Seas.
It consumed them as if venting its rage.
As a tool designed to consume Mountains and Seas, the void's strength was already superior.
Now, having obtained Heart's Desire and become more "complete," the void, unleashed without restraint, was something Mountains and Seas could no longer resist.
Like wilting flowers, they were all transformed into nourishment for the void figure.
Li Fan, gazing at the figure standing amidst the withered Mountains and Seas, felt an increasingly strong sense of familiarity.
It was no longer the shared hatred towards the solitary star, but rather...
A sense of déjà vu.
"Sun, Piao, Miao."
A peculiar gleam flashed in Li Fan's eyes as he spoke each word softly.
He wasn't entirely certain, but as the void figure continued to consume Mountains and Seas, its form became more distinct.
Li Fan's premonition grew stronger.
"It's really him? How is that possible?"
Li Fan suddenly recalled a previous question.
Mountains and Seas had foreseen their own future and deduced a method to escape the script by shedding their form and bringing in an outsider.
But at that time, Mountains and Seas had just diverged.
Besides the devoured god and Mountains and Seas themselves, there was nothing else in existence.
Where did the tool come from?
It couldn't be that they drew upon their own origin power to create a world-ending tool.
"No. When Mountains and Seas first diverged, others still existed."
"It was Sun Piao Miao, who wrote the allegory of Mountains and Seas!"
The allegory of Mountains and Seas meticulously described various aspects of Mountains and Seas.
At the beginning of the notes, Mountains and Seas had not yet merged.
At the end of the notes, Mountains and Seas were no more, replaced by a solitary star hanging like a solitary eye above them.
"If it could withstand Mountains and Seas before merging, it could withstand them after diverging. A time traveler would never suddenly stop progressing."
"And the last chapter in the notes..."
Li Fan suddenly remembered something.
It was precisely because he had seen Sun Piao Miao's notes and the mention of "Stars" that he subconsciously referred to the power Mountains and Seas transformed into as stars.
In reality, it was a power of pure, unadulterated dominance.
The god formed by Mountains and Seas was a star.
When the True God returned...
It was also a star.
Li Fan froze.
"So, the last chapter of Sun Piao Miao's notes doesn't refer to what happened in the current Mountains and Seas. It refers to the fate Mountains and Seas encountered in their infinite deductions."
"To glimpse into the heart of Mountains and Seas..."
Li Fan felt as if he could see Mountains and Seas, struggling to create a world-ending tool, suddenly discover Sun Piao Miao, who had been observing their inner heart since the beginning of their divergence.
The passage translates to:
To proceed against the currents of the mountains and seas was arduous, each step a struggle, reaching the point where the mountains and seas themselves fragmented. And with this fragmentation, one could glimpse the inner workings of the "Mountains and Seas."
Sun Piaomiao's strength was undeniable.
However, he ultimately could not contend with the entities who had just devoured the True God, the peak of the Mountains and Seas. Discovery by them, and their fate was clearly sealed.
Thus, Sun Piaomiao was fashioned into a tool to break the deadlock of the Mountains and Seas.
Behind the Void Realm, he led an endless torrent of Dao Erasure, intending to dissolve the Mountains and Seas entirely, returning them to a solitary star.
"Perhaps only the degree to which the Mountains and Seas understand themselves can create 'Dao Erasure.'"
"In reality, even without the existence of the Void Realm's Dao Erasure, with the True God's Finger suppressing it, the Mountains and Seas were destined to merge anyway. It's just that, with the original scale of the Mountains and Seas, complete dissolution would have taken too long. So long that the Mountains and Seas themselves could not wait, fearing unforeseen variables."
"And thus, the calamity of the Void Realm's Dao Erasure arose."
Witnessing Sun Piaomiao continuously devouring the Mountains and Seas, Li Fan rapidly deduced within his mind.
"'As My Heart Desires' was not what I thought – the eye of a god. Instead, it was a portion that the Mountains and Seas stripped from Sun Piaomiao. After this part was lost, Sun Piaomiao was left with a singular will, obediently following the execution of the Dao Erasure invasion plan."
"After all, Sun Piaomiao's strength was already unparalleled. If he were also given the identity of the Void Realm's master…"
"Even the 'Mountains and Seas' might have shown him some deference."
"The scene before us is the best proof!"
Heavy whirlpools of Dao Erasure intertwined, completely burying and obscuring the Mountains and Seas within.
Sun Piaomiao stood atop the great tide.
Above his head, a brilliance grew, rising with countless starlight.
Forced into the script by Sun Piaomiao, the "Mountains and Seas" were no longer untouchable.
Starlight shot down like sharp swords, piercing downward.
Sun Piaomiao neither dodged nor evaded, his face contorted with ferocious madness.
While being wounded by countless rays of starlight, he used himself as a bridge, sending the True God's Finger into the continuous starlight above.
The Mountains and Seas could deceive all people, even themselves.
Perhaps outside the script, they could even deceive the True God's Finger.
But now, they had both fallen into the mortal world. They could not escape the suppression of the True God's Finger.
Just as the Mountains and Seas had predicted countless years ago.
Within the endless brilliance, there seemed to be billions of overlapping shadows.
The peculiar light gradually faded.
What replaced it was the image of the Mountains and Seas fusing and shattering.
Boundless, continuous mountains and seas. Infinite, churning oceans.
The manifestation of the Mountains and Seas descended and appeared in the Void Realm.
In the world, there was only one true Mountains and Seas.
When the real Mountains and Seas appeared, the "actor" Mountains and Seas, instantly vanished, escaping the encirclement of Dao Erasure.
They merged with their lost main body.
The momentum of the Mountains and Seas surged, as if returning to their strongest state after fragmentation. Amidst the roars of mountains and seas, the tide of Dao Erasure was temporarily repelled.
But…
Prosperity was merely an illusion.
The moment they were forced back to their original form, they began their fated "merger" once more.
Even if they escaped for eternity, what was destined to come would still come.
Their end was predetermined annihilation.
This time, it was no longer a rehearsal script, but a destructive tribulation that was about to befall the Mountains and Seas.
The Void Realm's master, Sun Piaomiao, witnessed all this, as if his great vengeance had been realized, laughing maniacally.
Then, without any pause, the army of Dao Erasure, obeying his command, continued to swarm and devour.
Returning from behind the scenes to the forefront, although the Mountains and Seas' plans were thwarted, they were also at their most powerful state.
And Sun Piaomiao, who had pulled stars into the mortal world and devoured a large portion of the Mountains and Seas, was also at his most triumphant.
Both held insurmountable grudges. Their conflict was irreconcilable, a battle to the death!
Compared to the scenes of the Dao Erasure and Mountains and Seas fighting that Li Fan had witnessed in countless reincarnations, the current battlefield was even grander and more intense.
Every clash was comparable to the previous blockade and encirclement of the Mountains and Seas by the Void Realm against the life-veins.
Both sides were putting forth their full effort, aiming for a swift victory, vowing to kill the enemy before them.
For the Mountains and Seas, Sun Piaomiao, this mere tool, not only betrayed them but also ruined their plan to become gods. He deserved death.
As for Sun Piaomiao, he was originally a Medicine King dedicated to saving the world, yet he was forced to commit acts of devouring and destroying all living beings. Every act of consumption was akin to torture. He was truly in an eternal purgatory during this millennia-long script of the Mountains and Seas' tribulation. This hatred was irreconcilable.
When enemies meet, their eyes blaze with fury.
The Mountains and Seas and the Dao Erasure, regardless of their own consumption or future losses, sought only the death of the other!
BOOM BOOM BOOM!
The Mountains and Seas sank and fell into the Dao Erasure, stirring up ripples of intense shockwaves.
Threads of light and shadow intertwined, and the Mountains and Seas, from ephemeral to solid, dispelled the boundless darkness.
It was as if the billions of years of conflict between the Mountains and Seas and the Dao Erasure were compressed into a mere few days.
The clashes and upheavals occurring every moment were incredibly violent.
Li Fan felt as if he were in a pool at the bottom of a ten-thousand-foot waterfall.
Millions of giant drums pounded simultaneously, the deafening sound reverberating. The collision of the two forces was accompanied by a low hum.
The ripples were like surging giant waves, each with the power to overturn the world.
In the face of such a terrifying battleground, Li Fan, sheltered by the transformation of reality and falsehood, was like a thin straw cloak in a storm, at risk of being blown away at any moment.
With Li Fan's current strength, without the protection of the Great Dao of Reality and Falsehood, his fate would be instant death.
But he did not revert to reality lightly.
Firstly, during the most dangerous moments of the battle, if he were to rashly revert to reality, he would undoubtedly attract the attention of both the Mountains and Seas and Sun Piaomiao, increasing the risks significantly.
Secondly…
Li Fan still wanted to witness the return of that fallen True God!
"Don't be fooled by how fierce the fight looks; it's just a fight between caged beasts."
"It doesn't matter who wins or loses; it's irrelevant to the final outcome."
"Since the Mountains and Seas' plan to break free has failed, what awaits them is the destiny of returning to the True God."
"The more violent the offense becomes, the more it shows their futile rage."
Thinking this, Li Fan no longer found the Mountains and Seas' behind-the-scenes manipulation as terrifying as before.
The battle seemed endless.
However, during this process, Li Fan could keenly sense that the scale of the Dao Erasure and Mountains and Seas was constantly shrinking.
And above their heads…
Where the Mountains and Seas had previously remained aloof and hidden, something terrifying seemed to be awakening.
The deathmatch continued for an unknown duration, but ultimately, the inherent foundation of the Mountains and Seas proved superior.
Under the stimulus of their impending return to divinity, the true Mountains and Seas unleashed numerous divine abilities that Li Fan had never witnessed before.
Pure imageries of the Mountains and Seas, with mountains supporting their might and seas denoting infinity.
Even within their fusion, numerous creations emerged.
A magnificent, indescribable mountain range rose from the sea, as if possessing the sharpness to suppress the infinite.
Tides surged, rising endlessly. Inverting the world above.
…
It could be seen that to deal with the approaching return of the True God, the Mountains and Seas had exhausted almost every possible countermeasure, employing all their skills.
Although he had reversed his life journey through the Mountains and Seas and witnessed their process from existence to non-existence once more as the Void Realm's master,
Sun Piaomiao, however, gradually faltered amidst the infinite transformations newly evolved by the Mountains and Seas.
He eventually vanished, consumed by the endless images of the Mountains and Seas.
All else vanished. The victor, a sage, should have been elated.
But in reality, Li Fan clearly sensed a trace of fear from the Mountains and Seas before him.
When Sun Piaomiao was present, the Mountains and Seas could still suppress their inner fear through endless deathmatches.
But now, their only enemy had disappeared.
What the Mountains and Seas had to face next was that fallen True God.
Just as they had done before, the Mountains and Seas still stubbornly tried various methods to save themselves.
Attempting to prevent their fated merger.
But now, the Mountains and Seas were no longer the fragmented ones of the past.
They were pure Mountains and Seas, having undergone several instances of immense absorption.
Without any other living beings, without scapegoats.
The Mountains and Seas could no longer avoid facing their fate alone.
Another billion years passed.
The Mountains and Seas, from prosperity to gradual decline.
Then, they merged and vanished.
Outside the Mountains and Seas, a speck of light had become faintly discernible.
Just as Sun Piaomiao had foretold in his prophecy.
Like a solitary star, like a divine eye.
Hovering high above, gazing down upon the majestic Mountains and Seas.
The Mountains and Seas trembled because of it.
In the final moments, they still did not forget a deathbed struggle.
But it was all in vain.
As the Mountains and Seas finally perished, Li Fan, who observed everything from his seated position, suddenly felt as if he had replaced the position previously occupied by the Mountains and Seas.
He was directly facing the True God's gaze!
Li Fan could even clearly feel that the Great Dao of Reality and Falsehood, which served as his protective charm, was creaking under the True God's pressure.
It felt as if it could shatter and become ineffective at any moment.
It seemed that everything previously devoured by the fragmented entity had now returned to the fallen True God.
Although the starlight still maintained a faint presence, its power had become imperceptibly heavier.
The weight on Li Fan's shoulders grew heavier and heavier.
Even the Great Dao of Reality and Falsehood could not fully protect him. His body gradually turned into dust, drifting towards the solitary point in the sky.
Only the tenacious [Great Dao of Reality and Falsehood] continued to struggle.
Until this moment, Li Fan had not reverted to reality, all to confirm a conjecture in his heart.
That is, did the Great Dao of Reality and Falsehood truly belong to the True God?
Based on the current information, everything in the world—all phenomena, all objects, all principles—originated from that fallen True God.
If the True God desired to revive, then he would have to reclaim all that was once his.
If the Great Dao of Reality and Falsehood was indeed a part of the True God, then undoubtedly, it would also return to the shining point above as the True God's revival progressed.
While Li Fan maintained his own existence, he observed the changes in the Great Dao of Reality and Falsehood.
The Mountains and Seas had perished, but the True God had not immediately descended.
It was as if he was one step away from revival, his brilliance growing ever more dazzling.
The radiance frantically searched, trying to find Li Fan's hidden whereabouts.
Brilliant and dazzling, it filled his vision.
The stronger the radiance, the greater the pressure and attraction it exerted on Li Fan.
Finally, with a crisp cracking sound.
The Great Dao of Reality and Falsehood collapsed.
This was the moment Li Fan had been waiting for.
At the instant of collapse, Li Fan was able to witness the disintegration of [Reverting to Reality].
The immortal hall of the Great Dao, with the two great paths of [Reality is Falsehood] and [Falsehood is Reality] as its core pillars and other various paths as filler, collapsed with a rumble under the True God's might.
The other various paths, like scattered stars, returned to the impending True God.
Only the Great Dao of Reality and Falsehood continued to resist.
However, even between reality and falsehood, there were distinctions.
[Falsehood is Reality] demonstrably offered weaker resistance than [Reality is Falsehood].
In this perilous situation, it was [Reality is Falsehood] that stubbornly held onto [Falsehood is Truth], maintaining the integrity of [Reverting to Reality].
"So, it's just as I first learned. All laws, all things, originate from the god."
Witnessing this, Li Fan sighed in his heart.
The connection between reality and falsehood was about to be shattered by the True God's tearing force, and Li Fan dared not hesitate further.
He called out to "Revert to Reality" in his heart.
A ray of light erupted from both [Reality is Falsehood] and [Falsehood is Truth].
The brilliance of this light, and the intensity of its intent.
At this moment, it seemed to surpass the divine radiance from the heavens.
[Reality is Falsehood] acted like an invisible hand, wiping away the starlight filling the sky.
[Falsehood is Truth] acted like a divine brush, reshaping the departed Mountains and Seas.
In an instant, billions of years were compressed.
The world, which had become empty due to the True God's resurrection, was once again filled with vitality.
Li Fan returned to the anchor point: 1 year!
Having escaped from the True God's grasp several times, Li Fan no longer felt fear or apprehension.
Instead, he had gradually become accustomed to it.
At this moment, his expression was calm as he reviewed what he had witnessed in his previous life.
"The fallen True God and the 'Star' formed by the successful plans of the Mountains and Seas were actually different."
"Of course, without me, the variable, the completed Mountains and Seas might have truly achieved ascension and become 'gods'."
"But because I held [Reverting to Reality], privately hoarding the Great Dao of Reality and Falsehood originating from the True God, the transformation and ascension of the Mountains and Seas were incomplete. They could only ascend to become a 'star,' not a 'god'."
"I previously conflated 'star' and 'god' because, whether it's a star or a god, their power is overwhelmingly dominant and allows no foreign elements. Moreover, their strength far surpasses that of the beings in the Mountains and Seas. Once they appear, ordinary beings have no power to resist."
"It's impossible to discern the difference between a 'star' and a 'god'."
"Perhaps, throughout the entire Mountains and Seas, only I know."
"The only difference is between 'reality' and 'falsehood'."
Thinking of this, Li Fan could not help but recall the Heavenly Emperor Tianluo of the Primordial Immortal Realm.
He had once thought that Emperor Tianluo, leading the Immortal Realm, had successfully transcended the Mountains and Seas when they vanished without a trace.
But now, facing the star and the descending True God, he finally understood.
How could anything escape the Mountains and Seas' predetermined script? How could they achieve transcendence?
Outside the script of the Mountains and Seas, they could only await the impending doom, the true Mountains and Seas.
"Perhaps the moment they escaped, they would be destroyed and then return to the Mountains and Seas' script."
"The only thing Emperor Tianluo could do…"
"Was to ensure that after the destruction of himself and the Immortal Realm, the resulting nutrients would be as much as possible attributed to the primordial beings."
"This might be why the surviving beings after the destruction of the Primordial Immortal Realm all had improved innate talents."
Li Fan shook his head slightly. "The cage built by the words 'no matter the outcome,' how could it be so easily escaped?"
"Even with my countless reincarnations, gathering the Great Dao of Reality and Falsehood, and comprehending all the hidden truths…"
"I cannot think of a way to break free in a short time."
Li Fan frowned slightly, truly feeling at a loss.
How could he possibly annihilate a god?
Could he use his own methods to create countless sages and have them attack together?
Under the True God's radiant gaze, the fate of all sages would be to melt away like snow.
"They originated from the True God; how can they oppose him?"
"The fate of the Mountains and Seas has already proven this."
"Divine Fall…"
Li Fan's gaze drifted to a place beyond the Azure Nether, at the dawn of time.
"Perhaps only by going to the time of fragmentation, like Sun Piaomiao, can one glimpse the mysteries of divine fall."
In my previous life, I walked to the brink of the true god's arrival, losing everything save for the Great Dao of Truth and Falsehood.
But… it’s not a big problem.
Li Fan gazed at the Reflection panel.
As if unfolding for the first time, the characters no longer appeared all at once but emerged one by one, then dissolved. The complex content vanished, leaving only a few lines.
Name: Li Fan.
Dao Path: Truth, Falsehood.
Great Dao Realized:
…
The Dao Path column flickered with the words “Truth” and “Falsehood,” as if these two alone encompassed all laws and all things in the world. The once-established Hall of Great Dao Realization was now empty. The First Profound Woman, the Second Cosmic Cycle, and all the other Great Daos Li Fan had captured had disappeared.
At the end of his previous life, to verify the origin of the Great Dao of Truth and Falsehood, Li Fan had held on until the very last moment. The divine entity devoured all things, even dismembering and separating the Reflection itself. The functions derived from the various Great Daos of the Sages, and the myriad Great Daos within the Hall of Great Dao Realization, had all been consumed by the awakening true god. Only Li Fan and the Great Dao of Truth and Falsehood remained.
However, for Li Fan now, possessing Truth and Falsehood meant possessing everything. The rest was unimportant.
"False is True!"
Li Fan stared at the flickering characters before him, recalling the two solitary rays of light that had enveloped him at the end of his previous life, and his past understanding of the Great Daos within the Hall of Great Dao Realization. With a thought, something arose from nothing. Lines of multicolored characters appeared from the void, written out of thin air.
The First Profound Woman, the Second Cosmic Cycle… and the Dao paths of the Sages on the Other Shore, all listed. The Hall of Great Dao, which had been blank, was now filled with myriad Dao paths, shining brilliantly. It was no different from what Li Fan had held before but did not exceed the original limits of existence.
Li Fan then contemplated the Diagram of Mountains and Seas of Dao One. Unfortunately, while the Diagram of Mountains and Seas took shape amidst the surging primordial clouds, it could not perfectly recreate the peak state it had achieved with the Boundless Stele of Mountains and Seas. Presiding within the Diagram of Mountains and Seas was the Finger of the True God, now even more ephemeral and indistinct than before. If not observed closely, its existence was barely perceptible.
"The transformation of True and False is based on my perception of all things. Through countless cycles of reincarnation, my mastery of the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas is sufficient to materialize it with a single thought."
"But…"
"The Finger of the True God is not so simple."
The scene of stars filling the sky before the true god's awakening flashed in Li Fan's mind once more. "Even after witnessing the god, I can hardly comprehend it. With my experience and knowledge from reincarnation, I am still far from deciphering the divine. But perhaps my past self could."
Li Fan’s mind stirred, and the inheritance option of Reflection, long suppressed, finally appeared. It bypassed all previous options and jumped to the last line. A new option, never seen before, emerged:
"The Pantheon."
Li Fan stared intently at these three characters but hesitated to choose. For some reason, a chilling sensation spread through him, difficult to quell. "The Pantheon. What does this mean?" Li Fan already knew that Reflection was the summation of his memories and experiences from countless reincarnations, the Great Daos of the Sages, and the transformations of Truth and Falsehood. "The Pantheon is my past self's perception after witnessing the awakening true god. But why 'the Pantheon'?"
Li Fan recalled the legends about the Creator God. "A powerful Creator God defeated its own kind, extracted their power, and gave rise to all sentient beings in the world…" "The only source of this record is from Sun Piaomiao's notes." "The Allegory of Mountains and Seas, and all other accounts, have aligned with my observations of the Mountains and Seas. Only this one about the Creator God remains incomprehensible."
Li Fan’s expression shifted between hope and despair. He did not choose to inherit it directly. Instead, he cultivated himself back to the Sage realm, at least gaining a degree of self-preservation, before reopening the option.
As if starlight returned to the earth, profound darkness swallowed everything around him. The Xuanhuang Realm, Primordial Origin, Mountains and Seas, all ceased to exist. In absolute nothingness, Li Fan vaguely sensed the presence of indescribable entities. They were beyond his comprehension and observation, thus invisible and unknowable, yet he could feel the dramatic changes occurring within the darkness. Without warning, one of these incomprehensible entities suddenly vanished, as if suddenly devoured. Then came the second, and the third. The original "Pantheon" seemed to be reduced to its last remaining being. This scene aligned with Sun Piaomiao's writings.
Li Fan’s heart was suddenly enlightened. "Sun Piaomiao likely glimpsed this scene from the thoughts of the Mountains and Seas at the beginning of their divergence, thus writing the allegory of the Creator God slaying other gods."
"But…" Li Fan frowned slightly, feeling something was still amiss. "At this time, there were no Mountains and Seas. How could Mountains and Seas know of this scene?"
The boundless darkness did not recede, constantly surrounding Li Fan. Li Fan suppressed his doubts and waited for further changes. It took longer than the combined time for the "Pantheon" to vanish. Suddenly, a faint light appeared, illuminating this unknowable world. Li Fan could glimpse blurry images hidden within the darkness. Multiple figures overlapped, merging into one. It was as if they were devouring and chewing, or perhaps integrating and sublimating. The many became one, and the one encompassed all.
Yet, within this, something discordant was quietly brewing. Li Fan seemed to see two images struggling to break free. Compared to the other unknowable and invisible entities, these two figures were quite familiar.
"Mountains, Seas!" Li Fan's mind was profoundly shaken.
At this moment, the void suddenly erupted with light, dispelling the darkness, and Li Fan returned to reality. Compared to studying the Outline of Mountains and Seas Transformations and the Strategy of Star Radiance Movements, this so-called Pantheon did not bring any special effects. It was as if he had experienced a dream; once Li Fan emerged from it, he quickly escaped its influence.
"This doesn't mean the true god is weaker than Mountains and Seas or Stars."
"But rather…" "My past self's experiences and memories have finally lost their utility in such a situation." "It surpasses my comprehension too much; his insights and mine are practically indistinguishable in this context, only generating such an obscure image." "The legacy of my past self has finally been depleted."
Li Fan was not surprised by this day's arrival. In fact, he had already achieved what his past self could not: he had understood the truth of Mountains and Seas and Stars, and witnessed the scene of the awaking true god's imminent arrival.
"The path ahead will truly be up to me alone."
The moment this thought crossed his mind, another self seemed to appear before Li Fan. With a faint smile, his form completely shattered, transforming into countless starlight that surged into Li Fan. All past memories, like a torrential flood, rushed towards Li Fan. While before he had only partially reviewed them, now, he inherited everything. Besides the experiences from countless reincarnations, there were also insights into the myriad Great Daos of Mountains and Seas.
"This is the cornerstone of the operation of the Great Dao of Truth and Falsehood, the fundamental reason why Reflection can be realized." Although these were Li Fan's own memories and insights, he now felt a certain disconnect upon inheriting them. "My past self was me, yet not me." "The Li Fan of the past has truly perished. Only with such a degree of severance can a fundamentally different path to breaking free be nurtured." Li Fan understood. Although he could not directly convert all his past divine abilities and cultivation, this gift was almost equivalent to a direct enlightenment. Li Fan's understanding of the Great Dao of Mountains and Seas and the transformations of Truth and Falsehood was increasing exponentially. From another perspective, it was as if Li Fan and Reflection were gradually merging, no longer distinguishable.
"The day the integration is complete will be the day Reflection ceases to exist." "But one could also say that Reflection has not ceased to exist." "Because I am Reflection, and Reflection is me."
Li Fan's heart was exceptionally calm. He looked up towards the origin of Mountains and Seas.
"The Great Dao of Truth and Falsehood is merely a means of self-preservation. To truly break this dead end, one still needs to seek a method to slay the gods." "The Pantheon I glimpsed is too ambiguous. When Mountains and Seas diverged, there should have been more clues." "I will proceed according to the established plan, moving upstream towards the origin of Mountains and Seas." "Even with my current cultivation, a hundred billion years is an extremely long journey. I will take my time." "By the time I arrive…" "Perhaps the integration and absorption of Reflection will be largely complete."
Li Fan's thoughts flowed, and his form transformed into a thread, vanishing into the void. The void was vast, fraught with the danger of Dao annihilation and the peril of being unable to distinguish past from present. This was the greatest obstacle for ordinary Sages attempting to traverse upstream. Li Fan did not know how Sun Piaomiao had managed to reach the origin of Mountains and Seas step by step. However, for him, traversing upstream was no longer a difficult task. Empowered by the transformations of Truth and Falsehood, Dao annihilation could not harm him in the slightest. With the memories and experiences from the past, from countless cycles of saving the world, Li Fan had personally walked through every corner of the Mountains and Seas, and even the void. What others found indistinguishable from past to present felt intimately familiar to him.
He strode leisurely, without hesitation, Li Fan journeying onward. Ignoring the conflicts between Mountains and Seas and Dao annihilation, his sole focus was on the possible whereabouts of Sun Piaomiao and Qiu Tianhui. He had indeed discovered traces left by Sun Piaomiao, further verifying his past journey upstream. But strangely, Qiu Tianhui and his wife seemed to have evaporated from the Mountains and Seas. "Only their life force remains, yet their figures are nowhere to be seen." "From the end of the Mountains and Seas to the beginning, what is their objective?"
As the creator of the two, Qiu Xin Hui could faintly sense Li Fan's Reflection. Perhaps Qiu Tianhui and his wife were also aware of it. "The plan for reuniting Mountains and Seas… is utterly useless for saving the world. They must know this." Li Fan traveled upstream, contemplating. He was like a passerby in the Mountains and Seas, traversing them all without leaving a trace.
After an unknown period, with a single step forward, it was as if the world spun. The sight of Mount Shang towering and the Boundless Sea flowing vanished inexplicably. He suddenly found himself in a vast, desolate world.
"Primordial Immortal Realm." A sharp glint flashed in Li Fan's eyes. This was the initial stage of the fusion of Mountains and Seas, even encompassing an attempt by Mountains and Seas to prevent their own fate. However, it was interfered with by the Finger of the True God, leading to the realm's destruction. "Only the Sages within vaguely sensed something and sought temporary peace through the art of severing the future."
"Primordial Sages…" "Hmph, all just cowards." In his countless past reincarnations, Li Fan had naturally interacted with these Primordial Sages. Yet, none had become allies. "Failing to contend for godhood, failing to save the world, they could only hide in this realm, fighting amongst themselves."
Although Li Fan disdained them, he did not underestimate them. The Primordial Immortal Realm seemed isolated from the Mountains and Seas, with time frozen. The internal strife among the Sages had continued for an unknown duration. Those who could survive here possessed the potential to become gods, lacking only an opportunity. Li Fan had witnessed the birth of two different new gods before, serving as the best proof.
He looked up at the sky, attempting to peer into the more ancient past, but it was as if something blocked his view, preventing him from seeing clearly. He tried to advance, to move upstream, but it was like being trapped in mud, unable to move.
"This is why, despite the gathering of Sages in the Primordial Immortal Realm, the contention for godhood has been delayed." "Before the Primordial Immortal Realm was the time of the divergence of Mountains and Seas." "Mountains and Seas would not allow their creations to disturb or influence them, hence they established this limit between the divine and the mortal." "Severing time and space, cutting off karma."
Li Fan reached out, attempting to break the divine-mortal limit with the art of True and False. But the moment he acted, all the Sages in the Primordial Immortal Realm turned their gazes towards him! In the next instant, various Dao arts and divine abilities rained down like a storm.
"The Three Sages of Lian Shan are here, and also an old acquaintance, [Grasp]." "And [Transformation], [Stabilization], [Flow]…" Ripples of light emanated before him, blocking all harm. Although he ignored the Sages' attacks, Li Fan felt his energy rapidly depleting. The protective Great Dao of Truth and Falsehood began to shake. Frowning slightly, Li Fan’s form faded again, vanishing from everyone's sight. Although several divine senses could still track him, Li Fan escaped from the Sages’ sight after several consecutive shifts.
"Firstly, the limit between the divine and the mortal is a restriction left by Mountains and Seas, not easily broken." "Secondly, all Sages are covetous. Anyone who attempts to step forward, regardless of their potential success, will be attacked by all. With one less opponent aspiring to godhood, one's own chance of becoming a god increases." "The opportunity to become a god has arrived. What is the condition for breaking the stalemate?"
Hidden Li Fan rapidly deduced based on his previous two lives' experiences of creating gods. "The gods have been locked in combat for years, forming a strange balance." "No one can defeat the other, and no one can advance further." "It is like a stagnant pool." "When static, there is no change; at such times, an external pebble is needed to smash it forcefully."
A glint of light flashed in Li Fan's eyes, and with another flicker, he silently appeared beside [Grasp]. Grasp had been "fleeced" by Li Fan several times, and his name was recorded in the Hall of Great Dao Realization. Naturally, he could not escape Li Fan's search. Countless tentacle-like black shadows writhed and swayed, sensing Li Fan instantly and enveloping him like a net.
Without a word, the moment the Net sensed Li Fan, it unleashed all its divine abilities.
It was as if Li Fan had departed from the Primordial Immortal Realm and entered the vast net that the Net had woven for countless years.
Innumerable fine threads and shadows intertwined, crisscrossing. Upon them lay countless remains, and billions of resentful souls. All wailed at the top of their lungs, surging towards Li Fan in unison, their hands reaching out, trying to pull Li Fan into their midst. Those who could still linger after being consumed by the Net were naturally not weak. In the later eras of the Mountains and Seas, they might possess transcendent power capable of crossing the rivers of Dao annihilation, but in this Primordial Immortal Realm, they were merely feasts for the Saints.
Billions of transcendent resentful souls crashing down, even the Saints of the Primordial Immortal Realm would be stunned for a moment.
Li Fan, caught within the Net, froze on the spot. Facing the attacks of countless resentful souls, he neither dodged nor evaded, as if he had given up resistance.
The Net, instead of being pleased, was alarmed.
Even though the prey was powerless to struggle, it inexplicably felt a sense of danger, as if it had been locked onto.
Countless tendrils of the Net continued to entangle Li Fan.
But the master of the Net had already slipped away without a sound.
Li Fan did not rush to pursue. With his name registered in the Hall of Great Dao Realization, the Net and its master had nowhere to escape in the Mountains and Seas.
"This Net is excellent. It can be of use to me."
A cold glint flashed in Li Fan's eyes. Wherever he came into contact with the Net's resentful souls, a visage emerged.
Grinning sinisterly, they devoured their counterparts mercilessly.
In an instant, the guest became the master.
The vast Net, woven by the Net with its life's effort, seemed to be changing its owner in the blink of an eye.
A stream of light flashed, and wherever the hazy luminescence touched, the Net's former claws and teeth were all transformed into Li Fan's lackeys.
In a short while, Li Fan had gained control of more than half of the Net.
And at this moment, the Net actually returned!
"You actually know the Great Dao of the [Net]?"
"No wonder you could so easily accept the Net I wove."
The Nether voice of the Net came from all directions, making it impossible to discern its exact location.
Upon hearing the voice of the original master, the countless resentful souls in the Net first felt a primal fear, and then, signs of them breaking free from Li Fan's control emerged.
"Ignorant and greedy junior! My creation is not something you can so easily snatch away!"
Li Fan flipped his hand, suppressing the anomaly within the Net, and squinted outwards, but the Net's trace was nowhere to be seen.
However, he keenly sensed that danger was approaching.
"This is..."
Li Fan, who was in the Net, suddenly trembled.
A familiar feeling emerged from the resentful souls in the Net and from Li Fan's heart.
It was as if they were now within another, even larger Net!
"So that's how it is. This Net on the surface is nothing but a trap."
Compared to the Net that served as bait, the true threads of the Net were formless and intangible.
But in an instant, the prey within the Net was tightly bound.
Beyond the darkness, an eye resembling a rising sun slowly appeared.
Utterly indifferent, it gazed at Li Fan.
It was like watching prey that was already in its grasp.
Pulling forces came from all directions. The binding tightened, becoming increasingly difficult to break free.
The bait Net, occupied by Li Fan, was easily torn to shreds.
And Li Fan, trapped within the Net, seemed to be facing unavoidable doom.
If Li Fan were an ordinary Saint, in such a predicament, he would indeed be in danger of perishing.
But...
Compared to the terrifying scene of a lone star descending and devouring everything, the Net's display of power held no deterrent whatsoever.
"No matter how many Nets you weave, it's all futile."
"The one who deserves to die will ultimately die."
Firmly ensnared by the formless Net, Li Fan's expression remained as calm as ever.
He took a step forward, seemingly ignoring all restraints of the threads, and walked out of the Net from thin air.
"Trying to escape?"
Li Fan's gaze sharpened. His foot lightly tapped the ground.
Like rippling waves, an identical replica of the Net emerged from Li Fan's toes.
Its scale rapidly expanded, then enveloped the original Net.
Li Fan reached out, grasping in the void.
A figure was unceremoniously dragged out by him.
Innumerable threads danced like dragons, instantly wrapping him tightly.
"How is this possible!"
Even as he was captured by Li Fan, the Net was still filled with disbelief. No matter how hard he tried to figure it out, he could not understand how Li Fan had turned the tide of battle in an instant.
Li Fan, naturally, would not explain.
His slender fingers pressed down from a distance.
The Great Dao of True and False was instantly activated.
It was not to directly erase the existence of the [Net], but rather to "forge" it while absorbing and comprehending the Dao of the [Net].
In the Hall of Great Dao Realization, the character representing the Net gradually became clearer.
And in reality, the flow of time condensed on the Net's body grew dimmer.
In the Primordial Immortal Realm, the Dao paths of Saints were all the culmination of tempering in the Mountains and Seas, and the remnants of fragmented consciousness from the Mountains and Seas that had not been fully digested.
Even with the added memories and experiences of his past selves, Li Fan could not fully master them in a short time.
Fortunately, the world there formed a complete whole, and the passage of time had no real significance.
The Net was also deeply bound and unable to struggle.
It could only allow Li Fan to absorb and comprehend.
Unbeknownst to how much time had passed, the light and shadow that condensed on the Net's body completely dimmed. This Primordial Saint also revealed its true form before Li Fan.
A spider's body with a human face, yet its tentacles resembled human arms.
The countless tiny eyes on its body were all fixed on Li Fan.
The hatred in its eyes was engraved in its bones.
Li Fan looked at one of the Net's eyeballs.
Like a crushed flame, the eyeball vanished without a sound.
As Li Fan's gaze shifted, the eyes on the Net's body slowly decreased in number.
The rate at which they were extinguished was stable and resolute.
Initially, the Net could still glare with defiance.
But when only a little over ninety eyeballs remained, the Net's body trembled slightly.
Finally, it averted its gaze.
"Even ants cling to life, let alone a Saint of the Mountains and Seas?"
"There is no shame in bowing to me," Li Fan said faintly, without mockery.
"You have two choices. First, perish here and now. Leaving no trace in the Mountains and Seas."
"Second..."
"The Net's sacred spirits, though losing their freedom, may yet have a chance to reclaim it in the future."
"Net's sacred spirits?" Upon hearing Li Fan's words, the Net first gave a slight start.
Then, it saw the Net that had captured it suddenly reveal its true form.
Compared to the formless Net it had meticulously woven, this replica created by Li Fan was instead colorful and dazzling.
It was as if the Great Dao of the Mountains and Seas was contained within it, filled with infinite vitality.
Only now did the Net clearly understand the insurmountable chasm that lay between itself and Li Fan.
"Although our strength is both at the Saint realm, his foundation..."
"Where did it come from?"
In the Primordial Immortal Realm, all opponents were very familiar with each other.
There was no one like Li Fan.
As it pondered, a sense of void emanating from all parts of its body interrupted the Net's thoughts.
"I am willing to become a sacred spirit of the Net!" the Net said repeatedly.
The oppressive feeling vanished.
A moment later, the Net felt its vision blur, and it found itself in a magnificent and boundless hall.
It was boundless in all directions, vast and without beginning or end.
It saw numerous Daos standing tall in the sky. They seemed like bricks and tiles, jointly constructing this indescribable hall.
With its perception, the Net was almost lost in this scene.
However, driven by an instinctive impulse, it flew towards its designated position.
[Net].
Its heart was filled with immense peace, and all its previous calculations vanished. Upon seeing the flashing character before it, the Net understood that this was where its life's cultivation of the Great Dao resided.
With a thought, it drifted into it.
The moment the Net returned to its rightful place, a beam of light swept from heaven to earth and then completely concealed itself.
...
The Net opened its eyes again.
It was as if everything that had just happened was merely a bad dream.
"Huh?"
It was stunned and quickly checked its condition.
"Nothing is missing, and the Great Dao is not damaged in the slightest."
"Could it be that it was just an illusion?"
The Net frowned, and at that moment, it suddenly sensed a figure standing behind it.
It tried to turn around, but found itself unable to move!
Only then did the Net fully understand that what it had just experienced was not an illusion.
After such a dramatic turn of events, the Net could only reluctantly accept the reality.
"Although it appears to have returned to its full strength, my life is now in this person's hands. Every move I make can be controlled by him."
The Net could not fathom the method of control, but it instinctively understood that if it tried to break free, it would perish and its Dao would be annihilated instantly.
In other words, the current existence of the Net was sustained by Li Fan's control.
If the connection of control disappeared, the Net would also vanish into nothingness.
"This kind of method..."
Thoughts surged like a tide in the Net's mind, but it heard Li Fan's faint voice from behind it.
"Do your best to sow chaos in the Primordial Immortal Realm."
Before the words even finished, the Net felt itself returned to the Primordial Immortal Realm.
The heavens and earth were still vast, but the Net was no longer the same Net as before.
It quickly rallied its spirits and, as Li Fan had instructed, began its actions.
The word "chaos" seemed simple enough.
But with the addition of "do your best," its meaning changed drastically.
The Net did not dare to slacken. It first targeted its long-planned opponent, the [Tower].
The Dao of the Tower was "everything has its order, and ranks are distinct."
The Tower sat at the highest level, while all other Great Daos were beneath it, suppressed by it.
The Net and the Tower had always been at odds.
Years ago, when the Net was at a critical juncture in its attainment of the Dao, the Tower had launched a sneak attack, intending to suppress the Net.
Fortunately, the Net had some fortune and managed to escape this calamity.
However, it also resulted in a strand of its origin being suppressed within the Tower.
From then on, whenever it encountered the Tower, it felt an invisible inferiority and was naturally constrained. Yet, it also allowed it to vaguely know of the Tower's existence.
For many years, the Net had tried every means to plot against the Tower.
But it had never succeeded.
Now that it had fallen into another's control, since its life and death were no longer its own, it might as well go all out!
The Net deliberately created the illusion of being severely injured, hoping to lure the Tower into a trap.
The Tower, having suppressed and sealed a strand of the Net's origin, should have been able to immediately sense the Net's severely injured state.
But having survived in the Primordial Immortal Realm for so many years, all the Saints were extremely cautious.
This level of injury was not enough to make the Tower act rashly.
With a ruthless heart, the Net directly severed one-third of its origin.
It also deliberately created a great commotion.
A broken Net appeared in the sky of the Primordial Immortal Realm.
The Net's voice echoed continuously: "If there is a chance for retaliation, I will make you repay it a thousandfold!"
The venomous tone sounded utterly genuine.
And the Saints clearly sensed the Net's severe injuries.
Thus, they began to stir.
Just as the Net had deduced, the Tower was the first to make a move against it.
Relying on the sealed strand of origin, the Tower successfully locked onto the location of the heavily injured Net.
Threads, like heavenly pillars, pressed down from above.
They sealed the heavens and locked the earth, suppressing everything within.
Just like the method used against Li Fan previously, the manifest Net was merely a trap to lure the enemy.
The true killing blow was the other Net, meticulously woven over countless years.
To the Net's confusion, this true Net could only be used once, and it had indeed been consumed in the previous confrontation.
But after defecting to Li Fan's command, this Net had somehow recovered as good as new.
The Net covered the sky and the sun, leaping out of the void and entangling the Tower that pierced through heaven and earth.
The one who was originally suppressed had now become a hunter with covetous eyes.
However, the Tower did not show the slightest panic.
"Your petty tricks, who in this magnificent world doesn't know them?"
"To think you'd use this to fight, truly laughable!"
"You are suited to hide in the shadows forever. Once you step out, it's a dead end!"
The Tower's mocking voice echoed throughout the Primordial Immortal Realm.
Although the Net had entangled the Tower, the Tower's body flowed with light, and it suddenly became indistinguishable from its surroundings, as if it were part of the Net itself. The Net could devour external things, but it could not devour itself.
An irresistible suction force came from within the Tower.
The meticulously woven Net, out of control, plummeted into the Tower.
"In the past, the Tower only seized a strand of origin. After all these years, it has researched this to such a degree that it can almost perfectly mimic me, forcibly posing as me!"
"I have been scheming against it all along, and has it not been scheming against me as well?"
Before its consciousness disappeared, a hint of realization flashed through the Net's mind.
But to its impending demise, the Net was surprisingly not very afraid.
"Rather than always being controlled by others, it is better to disappear now and be completely free."
"As for you..."
A malevolent thought flashed through the Net's mind.
The vast Net instantly disintegrated, its form vanishing, transforming into pure energy that erupted.
Darkness engulfed the Net.
...
"Huh?"
After an unknown period, the Net awoke from the darkness again.
"What happened? I'm still alive?"
The Net was somewhat stunned, unaware of what had occurred. It quickly checked its condition.
It had returned to its full strength.
"Was what just happened just an illusion?"
But soon, the Net negated its own guess.
Because at this moment, chaos had already begun to manifest in the Primordial Immortal Realm.
Although the Tower had successfully devoured the Net, the Net's final desperate blow had also injured the Tower severely.
Two Saints, one dead and one injured.
This was truly a situation unseen in the Primordial Immortal Realm for a long time.
It was as if the opportunity for the divine and mortal realms to merge had arrived, and all the Saints began to harbor their own intentions.
"I'm dead. But why am I alive again?"
Just as the Net was filled with confusion, Li Fan's voice sounded behind it once more.
"Well done."
"But it's still far from enough."
The moment he heard Li Fan's voice, Suo once again felt that invisible control.
"Now, all the Sages of the Primordial Immortal Realm believe you are dead, which is perfect for secretly weaving a net and laying out a plan."
"You have three more chances."
"If you still fail to capture another Sage..."
Before finishing, Li Fan's figure suddenly faded. Only Suo remained, his heart sinking in secret.
When he died before, Suo was truly unafraid of death. But now that he was alive again, he had lost that courage.
"You speak well, even ants cling to life. As long as one is alive, there is hope."
Suo carefully examined his own condition again, finding it more and more incredible.
"Being resurrected from death is understandable. But I spent countless years painstakingly weaving the Net, and it was clearly consumed in the battle with Ta. Yet it reappeared complete along with my revival. This..."
"Could it be?" Suo instantly thought of the only possibility, his eyes flashing.
However, he dared not show the slightest abnormality on the surface, as his survival now depended on the other party's whim.
"If that's the case, it's not something to be ashamed of."
Suo's thoughts churned, and he quickly suppressed the many杂念, beginning to plan.
"Ta!"
"Now I am completely hidden in the shadows, and I have three chances to fight desperately without fear of life and death. I will surely kill you!"
Suo looked sinisterly at the chaotic Primordial Immortal Realm.
He could sense that Ta was not only dodging the encirclement of the Sages but also healing his injuries.
His residual essence from his previous life was becoming nourishment for the other party.
"Eat up, no matter how much you eat, you'll have to throw it all up later!"
Unnoticed by any of the Sages, Suo wove a dark net and began to slowly envelop the Primordial Immortal Realm.
...
Naturally, all of Suo's actions fell into Li Fan's sight.
Li Fan could even discern some of his thoughts.
"It seems he knows about my mastery of the Great Dao of True and False?" Li Fan smiled.
If he had been fearful of Return to Truth's exposure before, now he was qualified and strong enough not to care.
His opponents, in his eyes, were now only Xing and Shen.
"Let's use the Sages of the Primordial Immortal Realm as chess pieces to probe the secret of Shen's demise."
Li Fan's plan was to go to the origin of the Seclusion of Mountains and Seas to find the truth behind the true God's fall.
But he naturally wouldn't rashly charge in.
"The strength of the Seclusion of Mountains and Seas is roughly equivalent to Xing. Even Sun Piaomiao, with his abilities, was captured without any resistance. I am still far from that. However, these Sages of the Primordial Immortal Realm can be used by me."
Li Fan sat cross-legged in the void. As he visualized, infinite light and shadow erupted from the top of his head.
All of them were memories of his past reincarnations in the Mountains and Seas.
"The Great Dao of True and False lies within. By understanding the true and comprehending the false, one can control all Sages."
Li Fan gave Suo three lifetimes of leeway, not out of sudden benevolence. It was because Li Fan's creation of one Sage had reached the current limit of his endurance. He needed to further comprehend the Great Dao of True and False before he could manifest a second Sage simultaneously.
"Let's see who is faster."
"If this plan fails, it will be like trying to get a tiger's skin and only resulting in my own ruin. Then I'll have to start over with Return to Truth."
Feeling a slight pressure, Li Fan's divine sense was completely submerged in the infinite memories of the past.
...
The Sages of the Primordial Era were generally of comparable strength. Moreover, they were all extremely cautious beings.
Therefore, battles often lasted for thousands of years.
Although the Primordial Immortal Realm appeared chaotic now, only a few were actively fighting. The vast majority of Sages were still lurking in the shadows, waiting for their opportunity.
Ta was indeed capable of killing Suo. Although besieged, Ta always managed to escape danger. Not only did its injuries heal during the siege, but by absorbing Suo's essence, its strength subtly advanced.
The Tower that stood connecting the heavens and earth repeatedly emerged, accompanied by a dark net.
The net first identified enemies, and then Ta suppressed them.
As time went by, and faced with the siege of the Sages, Ta became increasingly at ease.
Seeing that the situation was unfavorable, some Sages chose to give up.
However, two Sages persisted, refusing to give up. They were Guang and Hua.
Knowing that the longer the delay, the more disadvantageous it would be for the battle. At this moment, the two Sages, without prior agreement, unleashed their full divine abilities, making a final attempt.
The Primordial Immortal Realm was instantly plunged into darkness.
All light converged into a single point.
As the light vanished, time itself seemed to freeze. This was followed by absolute cold and deathly silence.
The Tower within the net released ripples, resisting this sudden darkness.
But it was as if an invisible giant hand was erasing all of its influence on the outside world.
The combined efforts of the two Sages caused the unfinished net to gradually wither.
The single point of infinite light suddenly leaped out, colliding violently with Ta's horizontal and vertical lines.
Light corroded along the Tower's body, as if the entire Tower were ignited by the light.
In the absolute darkness, the Sages of the Primordial Immortal Realm silently watched the magnificent scene unfolding in the sky.
When facing the encroachment of light, Ta repeatedly wanted to use its own rules to suppress it.
But something in the void was always obstructing it, rendering its countermeasures futile.
It seemed that under the siege of the two Sages, Ta had fallen into a desperate situation.
However, just as the lines representing Ta's Dao of Suppression were completely engulfed by the light, a drastic change occurred.
From the boundless light and fire, towers rose without any warning.
The light boiled, wanting to devour them.
Yet, it was as if a brush was constantly drawing and strengthening Ta's image.
Instead of being submerged by the light, Ta began to imprison and suppress large expanses of light.
Four thin lines, horizontal and vertical, appeared silently.
They connected with each other, forming a siege, sealing off the battlefield.
Hua, who had been hidden in the dark, also seemed to be forced to reveal its trace.
Looking at its appearance, it was a mass of drifting mist. The mist tried to escape, colliding with the surrounding sealing lines. Upon contact, the lines rapidly dissipated.
However, outside the forced siege, a new siege immediately rose. Layer upon layer, endlessly.
Although Hua could break through one or even a thousand sieges instantly, it was difficult to break through all the defending sieges in a short period. It was thus somehow contained within the battlefield, unable to escape.
"It seems Ta has been hiding something all these years."
"Heh heh, who hasn't? Guang and Hua were a bit reckless."
"But I don't think they will necessarily be annihilated like Suo. However, they will definitely be severely wounded."
"I wonder who it was that previously severely wounded Suo? If Suo were in his prime, even Ta might not have been able to capture him easily."
"With Suo's essence, Ta's Dao principles have become more stable. It might even be possible to break through the limits of the Mountains and Seas."
...
In the darkness, intentions exchanged with each other.
While waiting for the outcome of the battle, they were also constantly prepared to act.
Even as Guang and Hua gradually became unable to resist, the battle continued for another thousand years.
In the eternal night, the light grew weaker and weaker.
The scale of the drifting mist also became smaller.
Although Ta maintained an advantage, its consumption was visibly immense. The lines representing the Dao of Suppression were no longer as stable, even showing some distortions.
After an unknown period, the final scene of this long battle finally arrived.
Boundless light detached itself from the gathered point.
The Primordial Immortal Realm saw light again.
A battered figure was exposed under the layers of Ta's suppression.
Flames of light surged, yet it remained fearless in the face of Ta's overwhelming pressure.
"As long as Guang exists, I exist!"
"You cannot do anything to me!"
Ta swallowed the surging light and shadow without hesitation, firmly and slowly.
As if scorched, the lines of the Tower, already at their limit, began to fade.
Only a small wisp of mist remained, and at this moment, it advanced instead of retreating.
It transformed into a finger, pointing towards a single spot.
Like a popped bubble, Ta shattered with a crash after holding on for a moment.
"Too bad! Just a little bit more!"
"Fighting two opponents alone was still a bit too much."
"To be able to hold on for so long has exceeded our expectations. This battle ended with all three suffering heavy losses."
As if seeing extremely delicious prey, the Sages waiting in the heavens and earth began to stir. They each locked onto their next target.
At this precise moment...
A dark net suddenly descended from the sky, enveloping Ta, Guang, and Hua!
"This is..."
"Suo?"
The Sages were naturally familiar with this net, and their hearts were even more shaken.
"How is this possible? Suo's demise was witnessed by all of us!"
The Sages were instantly filled with doubt and began to deduce.
However, none of them gained anything.
And in the battlefield, Suo, who had been planning for a long time, began to cast the net. At this moment, Suo felt an unprecedented sense of exhilaration. It turned out that being overlooked by everyone and quietly laying plans was such a satisfying experience! Because he was inadvertently ignored by all the Sages, he was able to capture three Sages in one fell swoop.
Within the shattered body of Ta, a figure could be vaguely seen. Trembling, it stared in disbelief at the net that imprisoned it. Guang and Hua were also stunned by the sudden turn of events. They vaguely sensed the aura of a conspiracy. After a moment of愣, the three Sages who had been fighting each other simultaneously chose to join forces, attempting to tear the net apart.
Infinite light, formless mist, and crisscrossing lines... Collisions erupted, causing the net to bulge and expand dozens of times. The lines of the net became distorted and transparent. The desperate counterattack of the three Sages, unleashed at the brink of their lives, possessed enough terrifying power to drag Suo down with them!
Light extinguished, mist dissipated, lines vanished. As for the Suo net, which had only recently appeared, it was as if ignited, gradually burning away. All four Sages perished! This tragic scene caused the observing Sages of the Primordial Immortal Realm to tremble in awe. But soon, they turned their attention to the residual divine souls in the heavens and earth. Just as they were about to make their move, something that made them tremble with shock occurred. Suo, who had clearly dissipated... had returned to the world! The incinerated net suddenly reappeared, enveloping the remnants of Ta, Guang, and Hua! They no longer struggled. Suo's net tightened, capturing them all. Having completed this, Suo did not linger. He merely gave the observing Sages in the heavens and earth a smile with an unknown meaning. Then he vanished from their sight, as if having died again.
"This..."
"What kind of divine ability is this?"
Never could they have imagined that Suo, who perished first, was the one orchestrating everything behind the scenes. Furthermore, the divine abilities Suo displayed in this battle far exceeded the Sages' previous understanding of him. These strange events, along with the other Sages, made everyone feel untrustworthy. The Sages rapidly concealed their traces. However, since the undercurrents in the Primordial Immortal Realm had already begun to surge, there was no longer any possibility of calm.
...
"Well done."
The remnants of Ta, Guang, and Hua, the three Sages, were all absorbed by Li Fan using the Great Dao of True and False. Amidst the surging light and shadow, the three newly reborn Sages emerged one after another. Like Suo's initial performance, they first showed a hint of confusion. But soon, they understood their predicament.
"So that's how it is! To be defeated by the Great Dao of True and False, it's not an unjust loss," Ta glanced at Suo and said with relief.
"The Great Dao of True and False..." Seeing Ta directly speak what coincided with his own guess, Guang and Hua's bodies trembled slightly. They had already resigned themselves.
"So, there truly is such a Dao in the Mountains and Seas!" They understood that even resisting and committing suicide would be futile. The other party could reshape them with a single thought, making escape impossible.
Li Fan's figure was nowhere to be seen, only his faint voice could be heard, repeating the same words he had told Suo earlier.
"Let the Primordial Immortal Realm be more chaotic." However, this time, he added another sentence.
"I intend to go to the time of the Seclusion of Mountains and Seas." Even though they had guessed Li Fan's intention long ago, hearing it directly caused the Sages to tremble. Competing with the Mountains and Seas for the opportunity to become a God was the lifelong pursuit of all Sages in the Primordial Immortal Realm. They were no exception. But with Li Fan's appearance, it seemed they no longer had a chance.
Suo, Ta, Guang, Hua... Four Sages stirred up a storm in the Primordial Immortal Realm. First, Suo appeared, drawing the attention of the other Sages. When Suo was besieged and on the verge of death, Ta, Guang, and Hua suddenly appeared. Sages who had supposedly perished reappeared in full condition. The same tactic achieved remarkable results once again. Li Fan's subordinates gained several more sentient beings. As the paths in the Grand Dao Realization Hall increased, the capture of Sages from the Primordial Immortal Realm became smoother and smoother. There was no longer a need for scheming and trickery; they were crushed with overwhelming force. Soon, only seven Primordial Sages, including the three Sages of Lian Shan, remained resistant. The other twenty-eight Primordial Sages were all under Li Fan's control.
"This net is already strong enough." Li Fan sat cross-legged in the void, looking around. Twenty-eight Sages orbited him like stars. The Dao paths of all Sages, as well as their thoughts and desires, were under his observation.
"What immense power! Unfortunately..."
"Before Xing and Shen, it's still like a fragile branch."
Li Fan deduced in his mind and then shook his head slightly. "The Sages of the Mountains and Seas still originate from the Mountains and Seas. No matter how many are piled up, it's useless."
"The Great Dao of True and False can indeed reverse the advent of the True God, but it cannot stop the trend of returning to the True God. If I were to stay any longer, the Great Dao of True and False would no longer protect me, and I would return to the True God, never to have another chance."
"However, this power is enough to cross the boundary."
Li Fan suddenly stood up and attempted to take a step forward. The process of shaping the Sages was also the process of refining the Great Dao of True and False. While the Primordial Immortal Realm was in turmoil, Li Fan's comprehension of the Great Dao of True and False also advanced by leaps and bounds.
"The myriad Daos of the Mountains and Seas are the foundation of True and False. The more I understand, the more familiar I will become with the Great Dao of True and False."
With the twenty-eight Sages caught in the net, the ethereal "True and False" became increasingly tangible. It was as if he could see the boundary of the Primordial Immortal Realm. Enveloped by the Great Dao of True and False, Li Fan and the twenty-eight Sages within the net passed through gently. The next moment, the Primordial Immortal Realm ceased to exist. In the darkness and void, it seemed as if two behemoths were feeding.
The Great Dao of True and False draped over Li Fan like a light veil, concealing his presence and the Net of the Sages he carried. Even so, the instant he stepped into this divine separation, Li Fan felt two gazes sweep over him.
Mountains and Seas, their feasting momentarily paused.
Li Fan held his breath, concealing himself. After a long and fruitless search, Mountains and Seas refocused their attention on devouring the True God.
"This place seems like a vast void, with no sight of Mountains and Seas, nor any True God."
"No past, no future."
Li Fan did not act rashly. Instead, he carefully observed the current situation. It was as if he had entered an independent spacetime. The moment Li Fan crossed the boundary between the divine and the mortal, he was separated from the later Mountains and Seas, trapped in the present.
"Divine separation is not a momentary event."
"With the True God's magnitude, for Mountains and Seas to divide and devour it, and even to digest it slowly, it must have taken a considerable amount of time."
"No... that's not right."
Li Fan's heart stirred. He temporarily shifted his attention away from the two colossal beings in the void and focused on this spacetime itself.
"In reality, there is no such thing as 'the passage of time' here."
"What determines the existence here is the 'Incomplete Devouring of the True God by Mountains and Seas.' In other words, whoever arrives here must be at the moment when Mountains and Seas have not yet completed the devouring of the True God."
"When Mountains and Seas complete the devouring of the True God, they will give rise to the later Mountains and Seas and the Primordial Immortal Realm. This spacetime will naturally dissipate."
"Although there is no concept of time passing, it does not mean I can stay here forever."
"Entering this place means one has already participated in the competition for divine separation."
"Separation and devouring, growth and decay. If one remains inactive and completely loses the qualification to compete, they will be expelled by this spacetime."
Li Fan vaguely sensed that he had landed on the colossal corpse of the fallen True God, formally participating in the gluttonous feast of contention.
"From the perspective of Mountains and Seas, they are still in a state of unstable separation. All future events have not yet occurred."
"But from our perspective as reverse-travelers, everything has already been predetermined."
"A frozen yet infinitely cyclical moment of divine separation..."
Li Fan vaguely felt that the True God's corpse was like a cage. It trapped Mountains and Seas, or any being that dared to covet the True God's remains, right here.
"To transcend space and time is to be conceptually anchored as a prisoner entering this place and participating in the divine separation competition."
"Anyone who participates in divine separation cannot truly escape."
In the pitch-black darkness, Li Fan seemed to see the fallen True God, its remains standing sternly, watching indifferently.
"Although I have come here, I have no intention of competing for divine separation. I merely wish to glimpse the secrets of the True God's demise."
"But I must first truly see the corpse of the god."
The True God's existence surpassed Li Fan's current understanding. Thus, his eyes could not see, nor his ears hear.
"You all shall be my eyes and ears, thoroughly discerning the secrets of the True God."
"If any among you can achieve enlightenment in this life, perhaps you can shatter this net of restraint with divine power and regain your freedom."
Li Fan smiled as he spoke to the twenty-eight Sages caught within the net. Even though he clearly understood that the chance of success he described was close to zero, a flicker of hope still lingered in the Sages' hearts.
To contend with Mountains and Seas for divinity, this was something the Sages of the Primordial Immortal Realm had always dreamed of. However, due to the existence of the divine-mortal boundary, they were all trapped within the Primordial Immortal Realm, unable to advance even half a step. Through years of exploration, the Sages had reached a consensus: only by breaking the limits of Mountains and Seas with their own Sages' bodies could they enter the moment of divine separation. Yet now, Li Fan, through his own efforts, had brought them all in. The Dao of True and False was indeed incomprehensible.
"However, if I can attain divine might..."
"The transformations of true and false will also have to yield!"
Since Li Fan had given them the opportunity to experience it fully, how could they refuse? The twenty-eight Sages, at this moment, cast aside all thoughts of life and death. They poured their entire beings into comprehending the dark void before them. To become a Sage, especially a Sage in the Primordial Immortal Realm, one must be among the most supremely gifted beings of Mountains and Seas.
Gods and the later Mountains and Seas shared common ground. As the Sages observed, this dark space gradually brightened. With every bit of darkness that receded, the "divine might" Li Fan felt grew stronger. Mountains and Seas raged, but for a moment, they couldn't suppress them. The voice of Mountains and Seas trembling slightly echoed again. It was as if an unknown entity in the void was falling and descending.
*Poof...*
As if crushing an insect, twenty-eight streams of light were instantly extinguished.
"What was that just now..."
The Sages were bewildered, but Li Fan, hiding in the shadows, saw it clearly.
"This is the true power of a god."
"Like the finger of a True God."
"Mountains and Seas' devouring of the True God has yielded some results."
Through this action by Mountains and Seas, the True God's body in Li Fan's vision became even clearer. The closer he got to the god, the farther he seemed from all other worldly affairs. Li Fan felt as if he were leaping from the sea onto the mountains. The noise from the foot of the mountains and the surface of the sea faded away. Only the True God above and the few Mountains and Seas beside him remained. Li Fan no longer cared about the swiftly extinguishing lights in the distance. He climbed upwards, seemingly slowly but in reality incredibly fast. The sights and sensations around him, beneath his feet, occasionally brought him a strange sense of familiarity.
"All laws, all things, originate from the god."
"Mountains and Seas are thus, and so is the Great Dao of True and False."
"To reverse the cosmos through the transformations of true and false is, in essence, the god's own transformation..."
After all twenty-eight lights were extinguished, Mountains and Seas, finally regaining their senses, seemed to perceive Li Fan's presence. The mountains beneath them trembled and shook incessantly. The sea winds roared, attempting to blow Li Fan away.
"When true becomes false, and false also becomes true!"
Donning a straw cloak, Li Fan ignored the winds and rains from Mountains and Seas. He ascended with leisurely steps, as if strolling. As he climbed higher, even the mountains and the vast seas slowly receded from him entirely. All he could see were a few lonely mountain peaks and a corner of the sea visible in the distance. But ultimately, they could no longer affect Li Fan. The face of the True God above grew clearer. The effort required for each step Li Fan took grew greater.
"Mountains and Seas, God..."
All the experiences from past reincarnations swirled like a vortex in his mind, echoing continuously. It seemed as if everything could be reflected in the divine body. Using the knowledge and experience of the past as points, he gradually depicted the formless, intangible god.
When Li Fan could no longer take another step forward.
The God finally appeared above him. Li Fan's body and soul seemed to freeze at this moment, his thinking ability lost. Fortunately, the True God had already fallen, only its remains existing in the world. After an unknown period, Li Fan's thoughts, which had been frozen, slowly began to turn again.
"This... is this God?"
It was vastly different from what he had imagined. There was no divine might, no condescending gaze as he had expected. Only a vast expanse of deathly stillness lay above. Li Fan's earlier mental freeze was not due to divine pressure, but rather a consequence of the True God's demise.
"Before seeing the complete form of the god, I felt its divine might was omnipresent. But now, seeing its face..."
"God is no longer God. Emptiness and deathly stillness fill the void."
Li Fan frowned slightly. The True God's remains were indeed boundless, encompassing everything. All knowledge, all principles, seemed to find answers within this boundless dark cloud above. But one fact was unavoidable: The True God had fallen.
"Why did the True God fall?"
"Perhaps only by becoming a god can the answer be found."
Li Fan mused at this moment. He opened his mouth slightly, and the boundless dark cloud above him slowly rotated, absorbed by Li Fan. In just a few breaths, the data equivalent to Li Fan's past experiences was forcibly instilled into his mind, far exceeding his capacity to process. The normal method of dealing with this would be to take endless ages, like Mountains and Seas, to slowly devour and digest it. But Li Fan had found another way.
"Alas, true becomes false..."
Everything gained from the god instantly became ethereal and insubstantial. While it lost its weight for application, it still existed there; if one wished to access it, it could still be found. Feeling a lightness in his body, Li Fan accelerated his pace of consumption.
"By devouring all of God, one can inherit God's full power."
"But what I seek is not to become a god. It is to possess the gaze of a god..."
It was precisely because he had personally witnessed the birth of a new god in the past that Li Fan would not be tempted. His will was steadfast, and he hastily swallowed and ingested all the remnants of the True God. Not seeking to digest, merely to swallow whole.
Li Fan might maintain his composure, but his rivals, Mountains and Seas, fell into extreme fury. Mountains and Seas had already sensed that Li Fan's consumption speed far surpassed theirs. If this continued, Li Fan would undoubtedly be the one to become a god. Thus, Mountains and Seas went for broke. The mountains beneath them collapsed with a roar. The distant vast seas vanished entirely. Beneath the True God's dark clouds, two similar dark clouds suddenly appeared beside Li Fan. Although noticeably smaller than the True God's remains, they moved to surround and compress Li Fan.
Li Fan's heart remained undisturbed; he treated them as mere remnants of the True God. He swallowed them all. Unexpectedly... the effect was remarkably good. It seemed that the "taste" of Mountains and Seas was no different from that of the True God's remains? The only difference was that the two clouds of Mountains and Seas were filled with frantic resentment. They bore not only the traces of their bodies being stolen but also countless indescribable hatreds beyond them, appearing even more ancient than Mountains and Seas themselves. Compared to the erosion of Mountains and Seas' power, these resentful emotions were more troublesome. Even with Li Fan's current state of mind, his face would occasionally twist. Countless new personalities seemed to emerge in his mind, intending to replace Li Fan. Li Fan's original self, seeing one after another projection of himself appear, felt a strange sensation. It was as if Mountains and Seas' original birth had been similar. Reflecting on the dark clouds of Mountains and Seas, which closely resembled the fallen True God's remains, Li Fan seemed to understand: "Mountains and Seas were originally separated from the god."
"It's just that their consciousness originates from those previously devoured by the god..."
"Other gods?"
In Li Fan's vision, scenes of myriad gods fighting, leading to their own deaths, flickered. Just as he was about to further deduce this, he was interrupted by the countless newly generated projections of himself in his mind. Li Fan's eyes flashed with ferocity: "Fine, I'll taste them all together and see what they're like!" With an indiscriminate surge of intent, he swept them all up and devoured them.
As the true form was finally tasted, Li Fan discovered that the countless versions of himself seen in his sea of consciousness were not mere illusions or deceptive masks. Instead, each one was a genuine, authentic Li Fan.
With every being he consumed, Li Fan clearly felt the terror, resentment, and despair originating from those other selves. They even possessed unique life experiences, mirroring his own journey from the humble beginnings in the Xuanhuang Realm, enduring arduous cultivation, all the way to the initial stages of the Mountain and Sea Separation realm.
Though Li Fan knew with certainty that such events had never transpired in the true Mountain and Sea, as he devoured these apparitions, memories that belonged to his "food" began to bloom within his mind. It felt as if he were reliving everything he had experienced in past reincarnations!
"The ability to blend the false with the true..."
"But even if they were truly my past selves, so what?"
"I shall devour them regardless!"
"No matter your origin or background, you shall all become sustenance for my enlightenment."
Li Fan's emotions remained unperturbed. His expression unchanged, he calmly absorbed and digested the countless Li Fans, unfazed by the influx of memories. He treated them all as experiences from his own past reincarnations.
"Their experiences, their karma, what do they have to do with me?"
"I only accept their gifts. All else can be ignored."
Li Fan felt entirely at ease, as if this was how the world should naturally operate. He remained unmoved by the curses of the countless other selves. His Sea of Consciousness churned, gradually consuming all the faces. Then, he raised his gaze once more towards the colossal divine body above.
"The myriad distractions I experienced were merely a side effect of devouring divinity."
"But what I have absorbed so far is but a drop in the ocean..."
"I will continue to eat, and continue to digest."
As Li Fan completed his first round of digestion, the clamor from the Mountain and Sea realm faded entirely from his perception. The world seemed to shrink, leaving only him and the fallen divine body.
Li Fan continued his solitary and persistent act of consumption. With each bite, he felt as though he gained a deeper understanding of profound truths. Initially, Li Fan savored the varied tastes. However, as the novelty wore off, he began to disregard them, swallowing them whole. His sole focus was the act of "devouring" itself.
The power of a deity was an unimaginable delicacy to any cultivator in the world. Even Sages of the Mountain and Sea would fight to the death for even a morsel. But what about a second, a third, an infinite number of bites? The scale of the fallen divine body was immeasurable. The very act of finishing it became an unbearable burden. Li Fan felt physically uncomfortable, as if he were about to burst, yet the divine body before him had only diminished by a thousandth of its original mass.
With more and more memories of his past reincarnations flooding his mind, Li Fan would occasionally fall into a stupor. He would forget his name, his purpose for being there. Only a single, unwavering obsession propelled him forward in his act of consumption.
After Li Fan had devoured a third of the divine body, he felt as if he himself had disappeared. He was no longer "Li Fan," but had become part of the vast, dark cloud. The essence of the fallen true god, through him as a new conduit, was being revitalized. He felt a vague sense of unease. Yet, after years of ingrained habit, Li Fan mechanically continued his devouring.
The silent, abyssal cloud seemed to change. An ancient consciousness was slowly awakening within it. Li Fan remained oblivious. He instinctively continued to consume the diminishing divine body, driven by the desire to complete the task and escape this endless torment. The mortal devouring the divine. This journey was far too long. So long that Li Fan had forgotten why he had embarked on it in the first place.
Countless more years elapsed. Having ceased to ponder, Li Fan seemed to have lost his own consciousness entirely. The immense divine body's cloud was now left with only a tiny portion yet to be transformed. With Li Fan's current power, just one last bite would complete his arduous journey of devouring the divine.
The vortex spun slowly, the dark cloud gradually receding inwards. But at the very last moment, Li Fan suddenly halted.
"This feeling is..."
"Unease?"
Li Fan mulled over it for a long time, before finally identifying the emotion that resonated within him.
"And also fear, and anger."
Having devoured more than half of the divine body, he was no longer a mortal in the conventional sense. Li Fan felt that all the emotions within him were utterly alien.
"I could feel this way?"
"Why?"
His previously frozen thoughts naturally began to stir once more. He was on the brink of completing his transformation, with only a sliver remaining. Yet Li Fan paused. It was as if a surging river, flowing from the east, had suddenly been dammed. A certain emotion was gradually accumulating, brewing. Once it reached a certain intensity, it instinctively generated a driving force. Such changes would not have occurred in the fallen divine body itself. But now, only a sliver separated it from the god's revival. The immense consciousness within the cloud was on the verge of awakening. As if in a dream, it instinctively reached out.
"Hmm?"
Sensing a prompting from "another being," Li Fan couldn't help but frown. In the countless years of solitary consumption, he had grown accustomed to his own singular existence. Suddenly sensing another presence within the cloud was like a thunderclap in broad daylight. His frozen thoughts shattered, layer by layer. Li Fan's will rapidly recovered.
"Did I devour the god? Or did the god devour me?"
"That was close."
Glancing at his entire being, Li Fan instantly understood his predicament.
"It's like the moment before a true god descends. Except, the descent of a true god results in the 'return of all things to divinity, resurrection from death.' But now, it is a resurrection through borrowing a corpse!"
Li Fan, ignoring the increasingly insistent urging from the cloud, calmly contemplated.
"Devouring a god is no ordinary feat! Any iota of this cloud can create illusions, fabricating past experiences. For me to simply devour it so crudely, even if I could somehow swallow it all, the outcome would be only one."
"The fallen true god, using my body, returns."
"Close to godhood, all subsequent events are retracted to a time before they occurred."
"The separation of the Mountain and Sea, the isolation of the world, was not an illusion. It was because they truly ceased to exist."
Li Fan's heart vaguely understood. The separation of the Mountain and Sea was not a normal passage of time and space. Instead, it was a divergence from the state of the "true god." The moment the true god fell, in its most complete form, marked the beginning of the Mountain and Sea Separation. When the separation ended, and the divine body vanished without a trace, that marked its conclusion. As Li Fan devoured the divine body step by step, he drew closer to the true god's complete state. He had arrived at the very beginning.
Musing on the Mountain and Sea, Li Fan finally clarified a long-standing doubt. Why would the Mountain and Sea accept "separation," given the tempting nature of devouring a god? The desire for possession was inherent in all beings. Even for mundane cultivation treasures, one naturally wished to possess them exclusively. How much more so for the power of a true god?
"It was not unwillingness, but impossibility."
"If either the Mountain or the Sea had attempted to fully devour the god, their fate would have been the same as mine now."
"They would have merely become material for the true god's revival."
"Only through compromise, with the Mountain and Sea relying on each other, could they ward off the divine might."
Li Fan understood. The Mountain and Sea had each other for company, yet Li Fan, reaching this point, was destined to be alone. Fortunately, his initial goal was not to devour the god. It was to uncover the mystery of the god's demise!
"The current situation, though I haven't seen the god's complete form, is barely sufficient."
The urging from the vast cloud, like water behind a dam, grew with each passing moment, escalating from a gentle push to an unstoppable force. Li Fan knew his time was limited. He calmed his mind and began to observe.
"I hope this relatively complete corpse holds some clue."
Among all the divine bodies Li Fan had consumed, there had been no clues about how the god met its end. There was no memory whatsoever. Only pure principles of the Dao and laws. The very foundation of all things, the bedrock of existence. Li Fan, snapping back to reality, marveled at his own ability to swallow such a massive chunk of "stone." Such arduous effort was not in vain. The divine body's cloud was vast and boundless, yet Li Fan could now sweep it away with a single thought. He was just a breath away from becoming a god. His observation was akin to a soul departing a deceased body after death, examining the corpse to find traces of its demise.
He observed it the first time. "All Dao, all laws, were flawless, without any trace of damage or anomaly." Li Fan mused, then scanned it a second time. The conclusion remained the same. "Whatever caused the god's demise must have been world-shattering. I wouldn't be surprised to see even a massive scar. Why is it so normal now?" Li Fan found it difficult to comprehend. "Could it be that only by becoming a god can one understand the reason for a god's demise?" But it was obvious that if Li Fan were to take that step, even Return to Truth could not save him.
"The Great Dao of True and False, as long as the 'god' has not truly appeared, can be reversed and rewritten countless times."
"But if I were to become a god..."
"The Great Dao of True and False would also enter godhood, and such reversals would no longer be possible."
Li Fan understood this clearly, and thus, as soon as the thought of becoming a god arose, he ruthlessly suppressed it. He would rather live in eternal cycles of world destruction, maintaining his independent will, than to transform into a god and lose himself.
Li Fan, unwilling to give up, continued to examine the divine body repeatedly. The god's instinctual revival, however, became increasingly difficult to contain. The vast cloud gradually spiraled out of control. Li Fan felt that as he remained still for too long, the divine body began to reject him. Or, more accurately, the dam of instinctual propulsion was about to break through the stone barriers, allowing self-revival. And Li Fan, standing in the path of this mighty current, would be pulverized by the divine majesty.
"Before the true god revives, I must undergo Return to Truth, or face eternal damnation..."
Li Fan made his decision. Although he failed to uncover the mystery of the true god's demise this time, by devouring the body, he had gained complete knowledge of all laws and all things in the world. If he could fully digest what he had absorbed, Li Fan's comprehension of the Great Dao of True and False might surpass his previous self, reaching an unimaginable level. At that point, everything in the Mountain and Sea, from birth to death, would be within Li Fan's grasp, save for the god itself.
"This harvest is sufficient."
"I shall digest it for a while, and then explore further!"
With this thought, Li Fan was about to initiate Return to Truth. But in an instant, as he witnessed the increasingly restless divine cloud, his heart stirred.
"Only a true god can see the mystery of a god's demise."
"If that is the case, then I shall not impede the god's revival."
"With the Great Dao of True and False under my control, the god is no longer a god. There is a fleeting opportunity..."
Li Fan's gaze flickered, and he finally made his decision. His consciousness surged forth, no longer acting as an obstruction. The intent of revival, like a surging flood, instantly permeated the entire cloud.
A moment later...
Li Fan felt the boundless cloud disappear from his sight. Bewildered for a moment, he looked up. In the endless darkness and void, a single star seemed to ignite, like the solitary eye of a god, descending upon the world. Its starlight spread rapidly, faster than the eventual return of all things to divinity at the end of the Mountain and Sea era. Li Fan's vision and senses were completely consumed by the starlight. And indeed, he felt a power of return from above. The Great Dao of True and False, originally born from the divine, now returned to its source. Having experienced a similar scene before, Li Fan remained calm despite his shock. Relying on his consciousness, he struggled to hold on. His gaze focused intently, finally discerning the true form of the god. He compared it to the fallen divine body he had seen earlier. Time seemed to freeze at this moment. Li Fan disregarded his own safety, solely seeking an answer. The starlight became increasingly blinding, filling everything. And in that instant, all the starlight abruptly receded. The world plunged back into darkness and silence. Li Fan almost believed it was an illusion created by the peak intensity of the starlight. But soon, he realized something was amiss. In the darkness, a vast, formless entity seemed to stand before him. If Li Fan were in the state of the Mountain and Sea Separation's beginning, he would not have been able to behold the god's true appearance. But with countless years of devouring the divine's essence, he now possessed sufficient power to witness the scene before him. The true god sat on the ground. Its perfect body was marred by a single void in its center, rendering it imperfect.
...The true god was formless and without shape, so there was no "forehead" or "sitting." Li Fan was merely using his own perceptions to interpret the god's state, attempting to understand and explain everything that had happened to the fallen god. Thus, he saw that the god, who should have been in a position of supreme authority, looking down upon all beings, was somehow seated on the ground. He saw that the divine body, which should have been flawless, had a void in its center. Sitting on the ground was due to severe injury, and the near-death state was caused by that spot in its brow.
"Is this the mystery of the god's demise that I have been so painstakingly searching for?"
Li Fan stared intently at that single point, as if mesmerized. For some unknown reason, he felt a faint sense of familiarity from it.
Boom, boom, boom... A deafening sound echoed. The true god, seated on the ground, seemed to be attempting to stand up. Like a gust of wind, the Great Dao of True and False began to waver. It was on the verge of being swept away towards the heavens, towards the true god's location.
"Return to Truth!"
Li Fan cast one last glance, imprinting that inexplicable void deep within his mind.
"Fertile, it's time to eat."
When Bai Shuyue brought out the lunch she had painstakingly prepared, Li Fan finally snapped out of his daze.
He had been reborn for a long time, yet he was still immersed in observing the "gods." His eyes saw no worldly existence like Great Xuan, Azure Nether, or Mountains and Seas.
It was only when his aunt called out to him that he regained his senses.
He subconsciously looked at the table. The moment the thought of "food" materialized in his mind, the instinctual repulsion from countless years of consumption immediately made him feel nauseous.
"Ugh!"
Bai Shuyue was immediately stunned. She followed Li Fan's gaze to the table full of dishes she had prepared.
"What's wrong with Fertile? Three dishes and one soup, two meat, two vegetables. While they might not be exquisite, they certainly shouldn't be disgusting!"
Just as she was wondering and confused, Bai Shuyue's thoughts instantly froze.
Then, they turned to ashes and vanished.
It wasn't just her; Great Xuan, the Xuanhuang Realm, and even the original possibilities suffered the same fate.
They simply disappeared into thin air.
This time, it was Li Fan's turn to be stunned.
Heaven and Earth are my witness, it wasn't him who did it!
"Could it be that I haven't fully recovered from the anomaly of my previous life, and my power is out of control?" Li Fan frowned, looking around himself.
A mortal flesh and blood body, only adorned with the Great Dao of True and False.
Other than that...
He had slowly consumed it bit by bit for countless years, and he was incredibly familiar with the residual scent on his body.
It originated from the gods!
"No wonder I felt nauseous instinctively," Li Fan frowned.
He understood what had happened.
Observing the gods, then ingesting them.
Being one with the gods, even transforming into a god.
Li Fan's entire being was permeated with the power of the "gods."
Although he had used Return to Truth to return to the initial anchor point, he had not yet completely removed the divine power's contamination.
A slight fluctuation in divine power was a devastating disaster for the surrounding environment.
Bai Shuyue was an unfortunate victim of this unwarranted disaster.
However, the destruction and rebirth of living beings in Mountains and Seas had already undergone countless cycles.
Li Fan didn't take it to heart.
The Great Dao of True and False acted like a blade, grinding away the "scent" of the gods clinging to him, bit by bit.
Others yearned for it, but he, for the time being, did not want to have anything to do with it.
Moreover...
Li Fan looked around.
Even a mere residual trace of divine power seemed to be incubating, almost visibly birthing a vast consciousness.
It was not the fallen true god.
But rather like the flies and maggots born from the corpse of a god.
The reaction of Mountains and Seas was even more intense.
Although they had already devoured it countless years ago, its aura was reappearing now.
How could this not fill Mountains and Seas with dread?
Heavy pressure attacked from all directions, originating from within Mountains and Seas, intending to crush and grind this place into complete oblivion.
"Troublesome."
Li Fan first used the Great Dao of True and False to thoroughly cleanse his aura, then his figure flickered, and he left this turbulent world of Mountains and Seas.
Although the Sages of the Other Shore had sensed the situation here, they could not detect Li Fan's trace.
Having completely devoured the divine body.
Even without fully digesting it, Li Fan now stood on the threshold of becoming a god.
He was only one step away from transcending all living beings.
The transformation of True and False seemed innate.
With the effortless addition of "like my heart's desire," cultivation and realms were merely a matter of his thoughts.
He found another quiet place to temporarily hide.
Li Fan began to recall the sights and sounds of his previous life.
Undoubtedly, his greatest gain was finally glimpsing the reason for the god's fall.
Compared to that mysterious point he had glimpsed, even the creation of the entire divine body was insignificant.
"Why did I feel a hint of familiarity from that point?"
Li Fan was certain it was not his imagination.
Even recalling it now, the sense of familiarity had not faded.
The image of the god manifested in his mind was slowly blurring, while, in contrast, that point that slew the god became clearer and clearer.
The answer he sought was very close. Li Fan had even temporarily abandoned his comprehension of the divine body's creation.
Instead, he patiently replayed that inexplicable point.
A familiar trajectory, like a winding path. Li Fan followed the seemingly familiar traces, drawing closer and closer.
Finally, the point that slew the gods stood like a gate before Li Fan.
It was within reach as he looked up.
Li Fan's expression was calm, and he slowly reached out his hand.
Rumble, rumble, rumble!
That point suddenly shattered, transforming into a scene that leaped into Li Fan's mind.
The True God was dying.
The consciousness of the companions he had devoured had resuscitated within him like ghosts.
Through evolution, it eventually formed the dual imagery of Mountains and Seas.
This was the beginning of the fragmented consciousness.
At the brink of death, the True God foresaw the method to break the deadlock in Mountains and Seas, and thus, with his final strength.
He reached out into the vast void.
A beam of light pierced the endless darkness, originating from an unknown source.
It entered the divine body.
Like a bullet, it struck the center of his forehead.
The True God perished because of this.
..."The one who slew the god... was I myself?"
"No wonder I felt that trace so familiar!"
Li Fan's body and mind were shaken, and he was instantly pulled out of the boundless illusions.
With his current understanding of "gods," after observing the scene of the god's demise, he knew exactly what had happened.
Although the god perished because of him, it was not solely because of him.
Even without him, the consciousness within the divine body had evolved into the imagery of Mountains and Seas.
The systematic collapse of the True God and his absorption by Mountains and Seas was inevitable.
But the True God was unwilling to perish like this. After glimpsing the future, he used his last trace of strength to pull Li Fan over.
"I became, the last straw that crushed the god."
Li Fan seemed to understand.
"Logically speaking, a mere mortal, no matter how fragile a True God might be, would not be enough to crush a dying god."
"I don't think the beings in Mountains and Seas possess such ability. They would only become sustenance for the True God's recovery."
"But I am different."
Li Fan's divine sense swept over his own body.
Flesh and blood gradually faded and became transparent.
Internal organs and bones all disappeared.
Only a wisp of light, representing Li Fan's divine soul, illuminated the surroundings.
Seeing the heart and realizing the nature.
"I..."
"Came from outside the gods."
Li Fan looked inward, stripping away layer by layer the countless cycles of experience in this world of Mountains and Seas that had clung to him.
Revealing only his most primordial self.
"Whether it be gods, Mountains and Seas, or even the lone star and new gods that came later..."
"All are things evolved from within the gods."
"It's predictable that no matter who wins or loses, or how they merge and separate, new gods will eventually be born."
"But the previously fallen god's lingering thought remains. After endless years, the various consciousnesses will re-emerge..."
"Just like Mountains and Seas."
"The event of the god's demise will be repeated."
"This world is trapped in an endless cycle."
"True gods, Mountains and Seas, and stars are all just links in the cycle that cannot be escaped."
"Without an outsider, this cycle would repeat endlessly."
"But I have arrived."
Li Fan looked directly at himself.
"Although I am merely a mortal."
"But because I came from outside the gods, I am an 'absolute variable' that has never appeared in the cycle."
"This gives me the power to subvert everything."
"In the beginning, perhaps I was as insignificant as the mortals of this world. But if I can undergo a long period of incubation..."
"Variables will continue to accumulate. It will inevitably have an incalculable impact on the entire system!"
Li Fan's heart was profoundly calm as he understood everything.
"Perhaps that 'True God' who pulled me here did not do so solely for rebirth."
"But rather, to completely end the cycle."
Li Fan couldn't help but recall everything he had experienced since his transmigration.
Whether it was the former Li Fan or his current self.
Every time Return to Truth was activated and Mountains and Seas were reset, it was akin to the cycle that the True Gods experienced in this world.
But the difference was, precisely because Li Fan joined,
In the eternal stillness, there was "change."
"Protected by the Great Dao of True and False, this tiny variable of mine has been able to develop and grow."
"Finally, I can reach the threshold of slaying gods and shattering the cycle."
Upon deducing this, Li Fan understood the method to slay gods.
Gods were perfect and flawless.
Despite being within the endless cycle, as a whole, they always maintained their complete state.
If one were to extend the perspective, the repeated cycles of replacing gods were merely a change of appearance.
The true essence remained unchanged, and the core inside remained the same.
"Only an eternal external variable can slay an eternal god."
"However..."
Thinking of this, Li Fan's thoughts paused slightly.
To be honest, he was indeed powerful enough now.
But to completely destroy the gods' cycle...
He was still far from it.
"Perhaps I should find some backup from my hometown?"
This thought lasted only for an instant before Li Fan extinguished it.
Setting aside the fact that Li Fan did not possess this ability that only gods had.
Even if Li Fan had it, he would not do so.
"Although I was pulled into this world and experienced all this, which can be called a tribulation."
"It is also a great opportunity."
"It is incomparable to my previously ordinary life."
"Not to mention, after I slay the gods and break the deadlock, I will be the sole supreme ruler of this place."
"If that's the case..."
"How could I possibly share it with others?"
Li Fan stared, and a cold snort echoed in his heart.
"But if I don't ask for external help, how can I break the deadlock?"
Li Fan's thoughts churned, and soon, he had an idea.
"Although there are no other variables, I alone am enough!"
"When the true becomes false, the false also becomes true!"
The Great Dao of True and False was instantly activated.
His thoughts were like a sharp blade, forcefully carving out a temporarily absolutely safe space amidst the encirclement of Mountains and Seas and the annihilation of the Dao.
Because what Li Fan was about to do could not afford the slightest mistake, he had to make thorough preparations.
In the Grand Dao Hall, countless paths of the Dao transformed into streams of light and flew out.
Like bricks and tiles, they were continuously piled up, and a world with the same origin as Mountains and Seas suddenly appeared.
Hidden within Mountains and Seas, it was difficult to distinguish.
Yet it stood proudly and independently.
This was the first layer of protection.
"This world shall be named, [Slaying God's Transformation]."
Li Fan looked at his perfect creation and nodded to himself. With a thought, the Great Dao of True and False immediately enveloped it.
[Slaying God's Transformation] instantly seemed to disappear from Mountains and Seas.
Existing between true and false, Li Fan was confident that even if the Three Sages personally arrived or a lone star descended, they would not be able to detect the trace of [Slaying God's Transformation] in a short period.
Li Fan strode forward and entered it.
Seated in absolute emptiness, he held his breath and focused for a moment, then began his plan.
"From my first life, when I was a wealthy merchant, until now."
"Countless experiences, all severed!"
With a single thought from Li Fan, countless illusions surged out of his body.
They were all his reincarnated experiences.
His second life, relying on his foresight, he ascended to the position of Grand Tutor, wielding immense power over the world. Yet, upon seeing Kou Hong and Dao Xuanzi, he learned of the existence of immortals. Thus, he desired longevity.
After experiencing six more reincarnations, he finally left Great Xuan, this land of severed immortals, and officially began his cultivation journey.
Glazed Island, Cloudy Sea, Cloud Water Heavenly Palace.
He Zhenghao, Heavenly Physician, Su Bai, Doctrine Transmitter, Starving Immortal.
High Wall, Abyssal Star Sea.
Morality, Mound Guardian.
Qiu Xin Hui.
Lian Shan, Gui Hai, Tai Yi.
Mountains, Seas, Stars.
And the fallen True God.
...
Scene after scene, illusion after illusion, flowed out of Li Fan's body.
As these experiences were severed, Li Fan, who sat within them, with his cold and distant eyes, seemed to have subtly changed.
His gaze became slightly warmer, and at the same time, more animated.
"Since my transmigration, my past self, countless reincarnated experiences."
"All severed!"
Li Fan's actions did not stop there.
In the next moment, even more infinite brilliance erupted from his body.
The cycles of Mountains and Seas, the tragic appearances of countless beings.
Li Fan's facial expression constantly twisted and changed as a result.
He had been compassionate, he had been pained, he had been merciful, he had been full of confidence.
But all of this faded and disappeared under Li Fan's repeated blows.
In the end, only a naive, youthful face remained.
Compared to the hardships he had experienced after transmigration, the romantic sentiments and mundane struggles before his transmigration were nothing.
Li Fan's divine sense floated externally.
Staring at himself, his actions paused slightly.
Instantly, a myriad of thoughts flooded his mind.
He didn't know where it started or where it ended.
But eventually, Li Fan's gaze became firm and resolute once more.
"The final step. Sever all later consciousness, all thoughts."
"As for the next task... I'll have to trouble you."
As Li Fan spoke, the Great Dao of True and False also detached itself from Li Fan's body.
It transformed into a figure extremely similar to Li Fan.
It had no distinct features, only a blurry outline.
It bowed slightly to Li Fan.
Li Fan's expression was serene, and his divine sense returned to himself.
Then, facing the light that appeared before him, he smiled faintly.
All memories vanished.
He fell into a deep slumber.
And the figure of the Great Dao of True and False, also known as [Return to Truth], continued its work without pause.
Following Li Fan's previously established plan, it enveloped his original consciousness.
"When the true becomes false, the false also becomes true."
In the void, Li Fan's soft chanting seemed to echo.
Wisps of ripples trembled, and Li Fan, who was originally alone, actually split into two!
As if suffering immense pain, the two Li Fans, though still asleep, couldn't help but furrow their brows.
Fortunately, the light of Return to Truth nourished them in time.
Their brows smoothed, and their expressions slowly calmed.
[Return to Truth] acted again, and the separated Li Fan gained a physical body.
Then, a speck of light detached from the figure of the Great Dao of True and False and entered its forehead.
"This is [Slaying God's Transformation] One."
Li Fan's voice seemed to echo again, with a hint of pride.
A moment later, the "Li Fan" who had received the blessing of [Return to Truth] broke through this world.
Entering the world of Mountains and Seas.
Silently, without creating any ripples.
Return to Truth, tirelessly, began its next task.
Light and shadow flashed continuously, the second, the third, the fourth...
And then, thousands upon thousands of "transmigrated" Li Fans were sent into the world of Mountains and Seas, one after another.
Along with them came the supreme treasure [Return to Truth].
In the beginning, it was destined not to cause any major disturbances.
But...
The transformation of the gods had begun, and they were no longer mere players in the game.
Countless variants of the God-Slaying Transformation, their "Return to Truth" abilities naturally differed from the original, lacking the power to reset the Mountains and Seas in an instant.
Instead, the reset range was initially limited to a single possibility.
Furthermore, there was a limit of one hundred uses.
Even with such strict limitations, under normal circumstances, it would be enough for the God-Slaying variants to cultivate smoothly to the Transcendent realm.
Upon leaping out of their original possibility, their carried "Return to Truth" would "upgrade."
The reset would no longer be confined to a single possibility but would encompass a certain radius around themselves. Moreover, if they encountered a Sage of Mountains and Seas whose strength far surpassed theirs, the effective range of "Return to Truth" would further shrink.
There was another point...
If two God-Slaying variants were too close to each other, their "Return to Truth" would both become void. Simultaneously, they would sense each other.
The only way to restore the "Return to Truth" function was to kill the other party, plundering the fortune on their body.
The victor would live, their "Return to Truth" function restored, and even their comprehension of the Great Dao of True and False would advance by devouring the opponent's "Return to Truth."
The loser would die.
However, they would not completely dissipate.
Instead, under the protection of the Great Dao of True and False, they would return to the "God-Slaying Transformation" world where Li Fan's main body resided.
Their memories and experiences would then feed back to the main body.
Afterward, guided by "Return to Truth," all memories would be stripped away, and they would re-enter the cycle of reincarnation in the Mountains and Seas!
This cycle would repeat until the Mountains and Seas were destroyed.
The creation of these God-Slaying variants was not a task accomplished overnight.
Even Li Fan himself did not know the exact extent of accumulation before his actions, but he understood that this was the only way to slay gods.
Thus, he did not hesitate and proceeded.
As time flowed, ripples began to stir in the tranquil Mountains and Seas.
The countless variants created with Li Fan's original self as a template possessed ordinary cultivation aptitude. However, compared to the main body, their starting circumstances were, in most cases, much better.
Even if their first life's cultivation was unsuccessful, after numerous reincarnations, relying on their foreknowledge, they could generally embark on the path of cultivation smoothly.
They could even ascend to True Immortal status, and deploying variants rarely consumed more than thirty lifetimes.
However, the journey from True Immortal to Transcendent was like a chasm that blocked almost all variants.
Nearly ninety percent of the variants, even after ninety lifetimes of reincarnation, could not find a way to Transcend.
This situation was the exact opposite of Li Fan's main body's cultivation path.
Although the Xuanhuang Realm and the Primordial Possibility were rife with pitfalls and dangers at every step, in a sense, for Li Fan, who possessed the ability to constantly backtrack, they were filled with countless opportunities. As long as he seized any one of them, he could comprehend the path to Transcendence.
But most possibilities in the Mountains and Seas were not like this.
Exhausting an entire possibility, all individuals, all resources, and all attempts often made it extremely difficult to establish a path to Transcendence.
Otherwise, with the infinite possibilities and countless beings of the Mountains and Seas as a base, the number of transcendent cultivators nurtured would not be so small.
The "Return to Truth," which monitored the operation of the God-Slaying Variant plan, naturally became aware of this quickly.
Without reaching the Saint realm, no matter how numerous they were, they would never be considered "variables."
Before most variants exhausted their "Return to Truth" uses, "it" made a move.
It did not bestow power directly but placed it in a perfectly opportune position. As long as a variant, until their last life and last moment, did not give up seeking the path to Transcendence, things would take a turn for the better in their moment of despair.
After transcending, "Return to Truth" would be upgraded again, doubling the reset opportunities.
This ensured that the path to becoming a Saint was not hopeless.
As for those variants who actively gave up in desperation.
Their experiences and memories would still feed back to the main body, as they were, after all, a part of Li Fan.
However, they would not be dispatched to the Mountains and Seas for reincarnation again.
Instead, "Return to Truth" would destroy them.
With the Great Dao of True and False in place, it was possible to create countless variants at any time and anywhere, so there was no need to worry about them being depleted.
Compared to these "failures" who only managed to Transcend with the secret assistance of "Return to Truth."
Those variants who successfully forged their own path to Transcendence were more worthy of attention.
The phantom image of "Return to Truth" gazed at a certain location within the Mountains and Seas.
"Congratulations, fellow Daoist Zhang, for taking that step and being free from all constraints!"
Hearing the voice beside his ear, Zhang Fan, a God-Slaying variant, calmed down from the joy of successfully achieving Dao.
His expression turned serious, and he clasped his hands in a salute, "I must thank fellow Daoist Xuanyuan for your assistance, otherwise..."
"With my aptitude, I would absolutely not have been able to take this step."
The cultivator beside Zhang Fan smiled and said, "Instead of thanking me, you should thank Senior Angler."
If Li Fan's main body were present, he would have recognized this cultivator's identity at a glance.
It was the Heavenly Mysteries King, Xuanyuan Hong!
Numerous God-Slaying variants were scattered throughout the Mountains and Seas. By a stroke of fate, one of them had become deeply acquainted with the Heavenly Mysteries King.
Truly, the ways of the world were mysterious and unfathomable.
However, Zhang Fan, unaware of the main body's entanglement with the Heavenly Mysteries King, simply nodded in agreement, "If not for the treasure assistance of Senior Angler, I probably wouldn't have even been able to reach the True Immortal realm."
As he spoke, he bowed deeply towards a figure sitting cross-legged in the distance.
In his mind, he couldn't help but recall his cultivation journey.
He didn't know whether it was luck or misfortune.
When he was merely a Foundation Establishment cultivator, the secret of him carrying "Return to Truth" was discovered by Xuanyuan Hong and Senior Angler.
To this day, Zhang Fan clearly remembered the trembling and fear he felt when he suddenly realized that the two of them had not been reset along with the entire world.
At that time, he almost thought he was doomed for exposing his precious treasure.
However, he never expected that neither Xuanyuan Hong nor Angler had any intention of plundering his treasure.
They even repeatedly offered assistance on his subsequent cultivation path.
This led to the Zhang Fan of today.
Along the way, the three had become close friends, able to talk about anything.
Of course, Zhang Fan was acutely aware that he still held an insurmountable gap in strength compared to the two of them, so he always harbored a slight reservation in his heart.
Only today, as Zhang Fan, who had successfully achieved Dao and transcended, believed he finally possessed the qualifications and strength to truly interact as equals with Xuanyuan Hong and Angler, did he finally voice the doubt that had been in his heart all along.
"The Great Dao of True and False, with its ability to overturn Mountains and Seas. Why was Brother Xuanyuan unmoved?"
Xuanyuan Hong seemed to have expected Zhang Fan's question, and he smiled, "Firstly, I empathize. I know very well what it feels like to be coveted, so I wouldn't do that to others. Secondly..."
"Although the Great Dao of True and False is profound and unfathomable, the moment I saw it, I knew it was not something I could lay claim to. Rather than coveting it in vain, it's better to pretend not to see it, lest it only cause more trouble."
Xuanyuan Hong seemed to be hinting at something, and he smiled meaningfully.
Zhang Fan, however, could not grasp the meaning behind the Heavenly Mysteries King's words, and merely nodded thoughtfully.
"As for Senior Angler..." Xuanyuan Hong looked towards the Angler of Mountains and Seas, who was still sitting cross-legged and fishing, motionless like an ancient stone Buddha.
"In his eyes, there is only the word 'fishing.' The Great Dao of True and False is not even as appealing as the weak fish in the water."
With Xuanyuan Hong's words, the Angler suddenly reeled in his line.
Behold, a terrified figure fell into the Angler's hands.
The Angler laughed heartily, seemingly in high spirits.
"A mere stone tablet dared to covet my fortune."
"Hmm?"
Based on the Angler's initial action, it seemed he intended to release the figure he had caught. But for some reason, after a moment, he changed his mind.
"However..."
"What harm is there in teaching you a few tricks."
With that, the Angler tossed the figure aside and lightly pointed into the void.
"Watch carefully, learn well."
It was unknown what the terrified figure looked like before or what its origin was. Now, it had transformed into a young boy, wearing a straw cloak and a bamboo hat, holding a fishing rod, and attending to the Angler.
After a brief moment of shock and recovery, he, like the Angler, cast his line to fish.
There was no water in front of the Angler.
But as he cast his bait, the fishing grounds of the Mountains and Seas would invariably appear.
Immersed in fishing, he paid no attention to Zhang Fan's flattery.
In the beginning, Zhang Fan cared a little.
But now he was used to it.
"In the Transcendent realm, one can cross the Dao Erasure and explore the myriad Great Worlds. It is said that beyond the infinite possibilities, in the center of the Mountains and Seas, there is the Other Shore, jointly created by the Sages."
"It is said that there are majestic dynasties in the Mountains and Seas, spanning countless interconnected possibilities. Their ruler is known as the Sacred Emperor Tai Wei..." Xuanyuan Hong introduced the general situation of the Mountains and Seas to Zhang Fan.
In the first half of his cultivation, though he had experienced multiple reincarnations, he had always been confined to the present single possibility.
Now, hearing Xuanyuan Hong speak of the magnificent scenes of the Mountains and Seas, Zhang Fan couldn't help but feel a longing for them.
He was certain that with the Great Dao of True and False in his possession, even if faced with difficulties and dangers ahead, he could carve out his own path and even achieve the position of a Sage of Mountains and Seas.
Seeing Zhang Fan's subtle emotional changes, Xuanyuan Hong paused and then said, "However, the circumstances of both the Sages of the Other Shore and the Sacred Emperor Tai Wei may not be as you imagine..."
"Alright," the Heavenly Mysteries King pondered his words carefully.
"Brother Xuanyuan, what do you mean by that?" Li Fan asked, puzzled.
"Brother Zhang, living in this realm, you have always been under our protection and are unaware of the dangers of Dao Erasure. Previously, I worried that knowing the truth of Dao Erasure would affect your cultivation mindset. Now that you have transcended... Forget it, it's time for you to realize the true Mountains and Seas."
Xuanyuan Hong glanced in the direction of the Angler of Mountains and Seas.
The Angler slightly raised his head.
Instantly, the heavens and earth changed color.
It was as if the protective camouflage that had long covered them suddenly peeled away.
Zhang Fan was instantly plunged into the true Mountains and Seas.
It turned out that Dao Erasure was not merely the gentle stream he had always perceived flowing through the mountains.
It was a raging torrent that surrounded the entire mountain!
The wind was fierce, the water was high, and the waves were surging. At any moment, the small hilltop they relied on to escape could be submerged!
With Zhang Fan's initial Transcendent realm cultivation, he could navigate the mountain streams with ease.
But to survive in this furious torrent...
There was absolutely no possibility!
He feared that the moment he stepped in, he would be instantly swallowed.
Witnessing this scene, Zhang Fan instantly broke out in a cold sweat, his body trembling slightly from extreme fear.
At this moment, Xuanyuan Hong's voice echoed again.
"Brother Zhang, why not look up at the sky again."
There seemed to be a special magic in Xuanyuan Hong's voice. Zhang Fan obeyed and looked up at the sky.
His body instantly froze as if encased in ice.
The boundless, vast sky was dark and deep.
It was entirely filled with the aura of Dao Erasure!
The world he was in was like a speck of dust compared to it!
"This is the Void Realm."
"The surviving Mountains and Seas are merely isolated islands in the vast ocean of the Void Realm," Xuanyuan Hong's voice sounded again at the opportune moment.
It was like a clap of thunder striking Zhang Fan's heart.
Zhang Fan's body went limp, and he almost fell to the ground.
Overwhelmed with fear, he withdrew his gaze.
Various doubts arose in his mind.
Could Dao Erasure truly be this terrifying?
An immeasurable, boundless ocean. How could it be crossed? How could it be crossed?
His original ambition was shattered in an instant.
Zhang Fan hesitated and wanted to speak several times but could not bring himself to do so.
"Alright, stop scaring him," the Angler finally spoke.
The dark, deep scene instantly disappeared.
Heaven and earth returned to clarity.
The oppressive aura of the Void Realm vanished, like a drowning person being pulled ashore.
Zhang Fan gasped for air, greedily absorbing the hard-won sense of safety.
Moments ago, surrounded by the Void Realm, he had felt utter despair.
After a long while, when Zhang Fan's emotions had completely stabilized, Xuanyuan Hong spoke again.
With an apologetic expression, "Brother Zhang, you must understand that it's not that I intentionally tried to frighten you, but the crisis in the Mountains and Seas has reached a terminal stage. In fact, the current situation was foreseen countless years ago."
"The return of the Mountains and Seas to the Void is a foregone conclusion."
Having experienced the previous encounter, Zhang Fan was surprisingly not very shocked by hearing about the predetermined fate of the Mountains and Seas.
He just frowned and said, "Foregone conclusion? Predetermined?"
He instinctively felt disbelief at Xuanyuan Hong's certainty.
Xuanyuan Hong did not explain but continued, "The return of the Mountains and Seas to the Void is a settled fact. No matter what measures are taken to struggle, it will be in vain."
"Just like the cycle of life and death in the world."
"If there were no death, what meaning would life have?"
"The return of the Mountains and Seas to the Void does not mean the end of everything. On the contrary, it might be a new beginning."
"The so-called struggle to save the world is merely adding to the troubles," the Heavenly Mysteries King sighed softly.
"So, Brother Xuanyuan, what you mean is..." Zhang Fan stared blankly at Xuanyuan Hong.
Facing Zhang Fan's question, Xuanyuan Hong said seriously, "Instead of struggling pointlessly, it is better to stay here and enjoy carefree bliss until the cycle restarts."
"I can tell you now, besides Senior Angler, there are several other seniors living in seclusion here, enough to support us until the last moment of the Mountains and Seas without worry."
What Xuanyuan Hong said seemed to have some logic to it.
However, Zhang Fan embarked on the path of cultivation precisely for longevity and carefree bliss.
Having never personally experienced the despair of reincarnation in the Mountains and Seas, he was naturally unwilling to extinguish the stirrings in his heart just yet.
He did not answer but remained silent.
Xuanyuan Hong, seeing Zhang Fan's inner thoughts, added, "Of course, if your willpower is truly firm, and you recognize the truth of Dao Erasure in the Mountains and Seas, and still have the courage to step out..."
"We will absolutely not stop you."
As Xuanyuan Hong spoke, a strange expression flashed across his face.
While hesitating, Zhang Fan did not notice the change in Xuanyuan Hong's expression.
Indeed, he was somewhat shocked by the truth of the Mountain and Sea Dao Erasure he had just witnessed. But by nature, coupled with the supreme treasure "Return to Truth" at his side.
Could he truly remain forever in this confined space?
He was truly unwilling.
After all, he was not like Senior Angler, who seemed capable of fishing for a lifetime.
"Let me think about it more, let me think about it more," Zhang Fan was momentarily unsure of his decision.
Xuanyuan Hong did not urge him, but seemed to have foreseen Zhang Fan's final decision.
In this world, time seemed to have stopped.
The Angler and the newly captured Stone Tablet, one large and one small figure, sat eternally fishing.
Xuanyuan Hong spent most of his time with his Dao Companion, intimately attached, and occasionally came to check on Zhang Fan.
As for the other seniors Xuanyuan Hong mentioned, Zhang Fan did not find them.
He surmised they did not wish to be disturbed.
There were inhabitants in this place, but their lifespans were extremely long, with no worries of aging until the annihilation of the mountains and seas. And this world itself seemed to possess life, its scale growing daily. Resources were inexhaustible.
In a sense, it could indeed be called a paradise.
There should be no room for complaint.
But…
Ten years passed, a hundred years passed, and Zhang Fan still could not adapt here.
Even though he lived a carefree life every day, he always felt bound.
Eight hundred years later, Zhang Fan finally could not stand it.
He approached Xuanyuan Hong, his expression solemn.
"It seems you have made up your mind." Xuanyuan Hong said with emotion, having anticipated his arrival.
Zhang Fan nodded.
"You must think carefully. Once you leave here, there will be no chance to return," Xuanyuan Hong said with great seriousness.
Zhang Fan could not truly grasp the meaning of his words.
Eight hundred years of confinement, and a sudden escape. At this moment, his heart was like a wild horse, eager to gallop freely.
"My mind is made up. I will not regret it."
"Alright," Xuanyuan Hong sighed lightly.
"When are you departing?" he asked again.
"Now," Zhang Fan said in a deep voice.
"I fear that if I stay any longer, my resolve will waver, and I will lose this determination," he explained.
"Very well. Then I shall see you off one last time. The road ahead is treacherous, and I cannot help you further."
Accompanied by Xuanyuan Hong, Zhang Fan walked out of that false realm.
Feeling the boundless pressure of Dao Erasure again, Zhang Fan instinctively felt a flicker of fear.
But at the same time, he also felt the boundless freedom of "the sea is wide enough for fish to leap, the sky is high enough for birds to fly."
He just wanted to laugh to the heavens, to vent the joy in his heart.
Xuanyuan Hong let Zhang Fan express himself freely. At their farewell, he handed Zhang Fan a jade pendant.
"If you encounter a fatal crisis, this jade pendant can shield you from one disaster."
"However, it can only withstand one blow."
"Where you go from here is entirely up to your own destiny."
Zhang Fan thanked him profusely and bid farewell to Xuanyuan Hong.
He traversed the Dao Erasure and strode upon the waves within the Mountains and Seas.
And where he had come from, along with Xuanyuan Hong, suddenly vanished into the Mountains and Seas.
Within that world.
Xuanyuan Hong, the Angler, the Longevity Guest, and three other figures all looked up in unison.
Towards the figure of "Return to Truth" and the world of "Slaying the God's Transformation" where Li Fan's true body resided.
Their gazes swept across, and though they did not pinpoint the exact location, they locked onto the general area.
Zhang Fan had spent thousands of years in this realm, and his true details were still not fully understood, but they had a general idea.
"Actually, Brother Zhang is quite a good person. It's a pity that there will never be a second Zhang Fan to come here."
"After all, it is the Great Dao of True and False. It is not shameful to descend here due to its sudden breakthrough of the blockade. Fortunately, I have already perfected this realm's defenses, and no more pieces will be able to enter."
"Unless that person comes in person."
"Senior Array Breaker, you have worked hard," Xuanyuan Hong said.
Array Breaker's gaze, however, never left the direction of "Slaying the God's Transformation."
After a long silence, he said with a sense of loss, "In the past, it seems I fought alongside him. But now, I have lost my courage."
With that, he conjured a wine gourd and drank it dry.
"In the past, we believed that the continuation of the Mountains and Seas was the natural order of the Great Dao. Not just you, but all of us here, who did not strive to save the world?"
"But in reality, reincarnation is the true destiny here. Those who attempt to break reincarnation are heretics. Array Breaker, have you not yet realized this?"
A voice echoed, and Array Breaker merely snorted and took another few gulps.
"Knowing something is one thing, accepting it is another."
"Besides, when we jointly built this sanctuary, there was no agreement that we could not go back on our word and leave!"
...
The atmosphere turned cold for a moment.
"Ha, he took the bait!" The Angler's cheerful shout broke the tension.
After toying with the hooked fish for a while, then casually throwing it back into the Mountain and Sea Fishery, the Angler stopped fishing and stood up.
He joined his old friends.
Instantly, all eyes focused on him.
"That which does not change remains for a time. That which changes is eternal."
"Our comfortable stay here is merely to await an opportune moment. If we can act, we will. If we cannot, we shall continue to rest. Why argue?" the Angler said calmly.
"Know this, there are more than just us hiding within the Mountains and Seas, awaiting the true variable." The Angler's gaze seemed to penetrate the hidden currents of the Mountain and Sea Fishery, reaching out to all corners of the Mountains and Seas.
"Our combined old bodies are likely not as strong as just one of theirs." He chuckled self-deprecatingly.
Xuanyuan Hong repeatedly said, "Senior Angler, you are too modest. Although all Sages are equal except for True Gods, you are all bodies that have once 'become gods.' If we were to truly fight, we wouldn't fear anyone."
"'Become gods'..."
These two words seemed to stir ancient memories within everyone present, and they fell into silence once more.
"At the beginning of time, during the Primordial Era, the Sages fought incessantly, all for the sake of seizing the creation of the Mountains and Seas, and attaining the divine opportunity of becoming gods."
"For this, we lost our way. Just like we did back then."
"No amount of persuasion is useful. Only after one has truly become a god and experienced everything will one understand."
"Except for you, young Xuanyuan, you are the exception." The Angler slowly walked to a suitable spot in the world and sat down again.
He grabbed the Stone Tablet, which was completely stunned from overhearing the earth-shattering secret, and pulled it to his side.
And began fishing again.
Xuanyuan Hong gave a wry smile, "Compared to you seniors, I merely have self-awareness."
"After countless reincarnations, the change from True to False has finally brought forth a variable. Let him have his way. We cannot resist anyway."
"It's just that this time, I feel there might be something truly different."
After some discussion amongst the Sages, they dispersed.
And hid themselves within the world.
"It's just a pity about Brother Zhang."
"He is truly a sincere person. I don't know if we will have another chance to meet in the future," Heavenly Mysteries King sighed.
...
Zhang Fan, who had journeyed far away from this realm, knew nothing of these matters.
He had slowly recovered from the initial excitement of leaving.
Though he would never admit it, he was already regretting it somewhat.
The danger of Dao Erasure and its boundlessness far exceeded his expectations.
Seeing it from afar was one thing, but experiencing it firsthand was another.
Simply finding another possibility for a place to inhabit had consumed almost all of Zhang Fan's strength.
"The Dao Erasure within the Mountains and Seas is already like this, let alone the void outside the Mountains and Seas?"
Zhang Fan's apprehension grew, but the arrow was already shot, and there was no turning back. Zhang Fan could no longer find the path he came from, so he could only grit his teeth and press forward.
"Fortunately, 'Return to Truth' still has more than ninety uses left."
Just as Zhang Fan was feeling fortunate about this, his expression suddenly changed drastically.
"Someone nearby also possesses [Return to Truth]? Cannot be used temporarily?"
"What does this mean?"
Zhang Fan was shocked, even more so than when he had first witnessed the truth of the Mountain and Sea Dao Erasure.
From birth until now, possessing the Great Dao of True and False, he had always believed himself to be the legendary protagonist, destined by heaven. Thus, even if his cheating device was discovered, he could always remain safe.
He never expected to encounter an existence with the same template as himself so soon after leaving the beginner's village.
"What on earth is going on?"
Zhang Fan was both shocked and angry.
But before he could ponder, the surrounding possibilities had already erupted into a sea of flames.
Under the scorching heat of the flames, Zhang Fan was forced to reveal himself.
"Fellow Daoist, wait..."
Zhang Fan was still thinking about discussing the similarities of their situations with the other party.
However, the other person who also possessed "Return to Truth" had no intention of communicating with him. His offensive not only did not abate, but grew more intense.
The surrounding flames possessed the power to burn the heavens and destroy the earth.
Even the waves of Dao Erasure were momentarily suppressed by the intensity of the fire.
Zhang Fan attempted to escape but could not break through the fiery blockade.
"They actually intend to kill me!"
Zhang Fan finally realized. In the face of life and death, a cold glint flashed in his eyes.
"In that case, don't blame me!"
Having stayed in a protected world for many years, free from the worries of life and death, his cultivation and combat skills had become lax.
But after all, there were many powerful individuals around him.
The occasional advice Zhang Fan received was a fortune that others could not attain in a lifetime.
"He who takes the bait is willing!"
Zhang Fan narrowed his eyes, his gaze seemingly piercing through the sea of flames, finding the person hidden behind the scenes.
Using his hand as a fishing rod, he lightly cast it out.
The rod landed, and a catch!
As if without reason, Lin Fan, who had scattered the flames everywhere, was now caught in Zhang Fan's hand.
His face was filled with shock.
He instinctively wanted to struggle, but he felt as if he was bound by a heavy fishing line, unable to move at all.
With the enemy instantly captured, Zhang Fan hesitated when he was about to act and kill him.
After all, he had never killed anyone in his life.
Not to mention that the other party not only had a very similar life experience to him, but his aura was also subtly similar to his own.
"There must be some connection between us."
Zhang Fan mused inwardly.
Just as he was hesitating, a gust of wind seemed to blow past him.
Lin Fan, who had taken the bait, was engulfed by the flames and turned into ashes.
Zhang Fan's heart was instantly shocked.
Before he could even react, a dark flame shot towards his forehead.
"Am I to perish here?"
In Zhang Fan's mind, scenes from the past flashed by.
He felt regret, a sense of loss.
And anger towards this stealth attacker.
Just as the dark flame was about to incinerate Zhang Fan's soul, a green light appeared, blocking all the invasive forces.
"Brother Xuanyuan!"
Zhang Fan instantly reacted.
The one who saved his life was the jade pendant Xuanyuan Hong had given him before they parted.
He had thought that with "Return to Truth" in hand, he would never need this treasure in his life. He never expected that halfway through his journey, it would be triggered.
Knowing he would never get a second chance, Zhang Fan gritted his teeth.
"Life and Death Separation!"
As he spoke, Zhang Fan seemed to split into two.
One was filled with deathly aura, like a zombie that had slept for eons. The other was full of life, like an ancient green wood.
The embodiment of death slashed himself fiercely on the head.
As his head was severed, Lin Fan, not far away, also let out a scream.
His head, inexplicably, was also cut off.
It was not just their bodies.
Even their souls and intentions were separated by this entwined blow.
And fell into Zhang Fan's hands.
"Die!"
Zhang Fan no longer hesitated. The deathly embodiment pointed at the center of his own severed head.
His body shattered into pieces.
He dragged Lin Fan, his great enemy, along with him.
The dissipation of the embodiment of death did not affect Zhang Fan's actual survival.
The endless vitality of life nourished him, allowing him to recover his injuries quickly.
The psychological shock of this battle was far greater than that to his body and soul.
However, there were still gains.
"'Return to Truth' could be activated again, temporarily averting the crisis."
And...
"I can feel that the 'Return to Truth' power belonging to the other party has been absorbed by me."
Zhang Fan closed his eyes, sensing a strange energy growing within him.
"Senior Angler mentioned more than once that the so-called 'Return to Truth' is actually the transformation of True and False, the Great Dao of True and False."
"I also privately asked Brother Xuanyuan. It seems only I can comprehend and cultivate this Dao. Even someone as talented as him could not glimpse it."
"Now, a second one has appeared."
"And potentially more than just one."
After killing Lin Fan, Zhang Fan also intercepted some of his memories.
Before encountering Zhang Fan, Lin Fan had already met three other individuals who also possessed "Return to Truth." Lin Fan had fought his way through, but in the end, he fell at Zhang Fan's hands.
"This person's secondary cultivation is the Great Dao of Scorched Silence Fire..."
"Mediocre."
Zhang Fan frowned slightly, then relaxed.
From the other party's memories, he learned that this Dao was already considered one of the highest in the Mountains and Seas, something ordinary cultivators could not obtain in a lifetime.
"I already had a vague idea that Senior Angler's identity might not be simple, but I didn't expect it to be even more extraordinary than I imagined..."
Zhang Fan, realizing this belatedly, finally understood what Xuanyuan Hong meant when he said there was no going back.
But Zhang Fan only regretted it for a moment, and soon his resolve strengthened again.
"Compared to that eternal peaceful time, it is murder and plunder like this..."
"Is more suitable for me."
Even though this encounter yielded no substantial gains, Zhang Fan felt an uncontrollable excitement from the bottom of his heart.
"Let me see how many more like me are there in this vast expanse of Mountains and Seas!"
"I will kill as many as I encounter. Until..."
"I find the mastermind!"
Even though Zhang Fan did not yet understand that he might be caught in a huge conspiracy, he wanted to break free and seek revenge!
It is good to have ambition, but things do not always go as smoothly as one imagines.
Those who can rise from obscurity with their "Return to Truth" are all extraordinary individuals.
Zhang Fan's successful killing of Lin Fan relied entirely on the power of his divine abilities. However, in a life-or-death struggle, divine abilities are only one factor, not the sole determinant.
Ever since he was unexpectedly allowed to escape during one encounter, the ultimate techniques he learned from the protected world have spread throughout the Mountains and Seas.
Now, everyone knows he possesses great divine abilities such as "Baiter's Wish," "Life and Death Separation," and "Heaven Devouring Fortune." From a distance, people already guard against him. Moreover, he often faces the siege of multiple opponents.
In contrast, Zhang Fan often knows nothing about other individuals who possess "Return to Truth."
This has caused him great disadvantage.
"Damn it, I should have been more ruthless back then!"
Thinking of this, Zhang Fan felt immense regret. However, he couldn't entirely blame himself.
Who could have known that the person named Zhou Fan would resemble him in nine out of ten aspects? Even at extremely close proximity, he could faintly sense each other's thoughts, as if they were one person.
When the opponent's divine soul was almost annihilated, Zhang Fan felt as if he was experiencing it himself.
Horrified, he simultaneously felt a sympathetic feeling of "pity for myself."
Zhang Fan's mind was shaken, and his killing blow faltered. Zhou Fan, seizing the moment of his daze, broke free from his restraints and fled at light speed.
"You wait! This revenge will be repaid!"
The opponent's voice, filled with resentment and hatred, still echoed in his ears. At that time, Zhang Fan could never have imagined the immense trouble this person who fled in disarray would bring him later.
"Fortunately, I still have a trump card, [Reincarnation Annihilation], which I've never used. It might serve as a last resort."
"However, no matter how strong it is, it can't withstand such a war of attrition. I can only hide it for now."
"But hiding it like this is not a solution. Sooner or later, others will discover me."
Transformation and concealment techniques are effective for other cultivators. But for fellow Heavenly Mandate individuals who also possess "Return to Truth," these techniques are basically ineffective.
Heavenly Mandate individuals are the general term for all cultivators who possess "Return to Truth." No one knows who first coined the term, but with the Great Dao of True and False in their possession, they can indeed be called children of destiny. Everyone was satisfied, so they all became accustomed to this title.
The moment two Heavenly Mandate individuals meet, even if they are still a great distance apart, the similarity of their "Return to Truth" and divine souls will cause them to discover each other immediately.
What made Zhang Fan even more depressed was that Zhou Fan, through some unknown method, seemed to have directly exposed his identity as "Zhang Fan" among all Heavenly Mandate individuals.
Whenever any Heavenly Mandate individual encountered him, even if they had never met or heard of Zhang Fan before, all of Zhang Fan's information would spontaneously emerge in their minds moments later.
Furthermore, this public display of knowledge seemed to be shared and constantly updated among them.
Initially, Zhang Fan did not realize this. During a life-or-death battle, his divine abilities, [Baiter's Wish] and [Life and Death Separation], were successively deciphered by the opponent, and he gradually fell into a disadvantaged position. Afterward, he managed to turn the situation around by using the [Heaven Devouring Fortune] divine ability for the first time, killing the opponent. Zhang Fan was confident that he had thoroughly destroyed the corpse and eliminated all traces, clearing several surrounding possibilities and leaving no witnesses.
But when he encountered other Heavenly Mandate individuals later, they remained wary of [Heaven Devouring Fortune]. They would carry foul-smelling objects with them, using them to taint their own fortune to counter Zhang Fan's divine ability.
This caused Zhang Fan to suffer greatly, and his injuries had not yet recovered.
Currently, he could only temporarily retreat to an ordinary possibility within the mortal realm, absorbing the fortune of living beings to slowly recover.
"This public display of knowledge must be Zhou Fan's doing."
"This kind of perception only exists within the Heavenly Mandate individual group and does not take effect on other cultivators." Zhang Fan had confirmed this through extensive soul-searching.
"It's likely that he utilized some common characteristic between us. This characteristic might be the fundamental reason why we all carry 'Return to Truth,' and it might even be related to the mastermind behind all this..."
After figuring this out, Zhang Fan realized with a shock that he knew too little about himself.
"Where did 'Return to Truth' come from? Where did I come from?"
Zhang Fan forgot his past ambitions and the perilous crisis outside. He was immersed within himself, seeking the answer to these questions.
To see the heart and understand the nature, to observe oneself inwardly.
For others, this might be an extremely difficult task. But for Zhang Fan, for some unknown reason, it was exceptionally easy.
Zhang Fan vaguely sensed that it might be related to his time living in the protected world.
"There, heaven and earth grew infinitely and naturally, and all living beings had no worries of aging. It must have been protected by the Great Dao of [Longevity]."
"Moreover, I lived there for a long time and encountered almost no conflict or killing. It must have been some kind of Great Dao power that subtly transformed and nurtured the disposition of all things."
Although he hadn't been away for long, Zhang Fan, having experienced a series of life-and-death battles, had already undergone a transformation. Looking back, he realized that many things he had taken for granted were now suspect.
His longing for the novice village only lasted for a fleeting moment in his mind.
Zhang Fan's thoughts delved deep, as if directly confronting his own divine soul.
It was lustrous and translucent, as if gathering all the oddities of the world. Yet, it seemed to have no fundamental difference from the countless beings in the Mountains and Seas.
"Where does the connection lie?"
Zhang Fan attempted to examine himself from the perspective of an outsider.
In an instant, it was as if he split into two.
One returned to his own body, while the other floated out of his body, gazing from a distance.
Slowly, Zhang Fan seemed to gain some understanding.
"All beings of the mortal world belong to you."
"All beings of myself belong to myself."
As he uttered these words for no apparent reason, a transparent white light seemed to float out from the observing him.
It returned to the body of the seated "Zhang Fan."
At this moment, Zhang Fan seemed to have escaped the fate of a Heavenly Mandate individual, able to observe himself from the perspective of an "outsider."
A thin thread, or perhaps countless threads representing destiny, extended from his body.
They reached out to countless different corners of the Mountains and Seas.
And outside the Mountains and Seas...
In that unknowable place, all the threads converged into one point!
Boom!
The exploration lasted only for a moment before Zhang Fan was dragged back by a powerful attraction from within his own body.
He spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.
This reckless manipulation of his primordial divine soul had injured him far more severely than Zhang Fan had estimated. He had almost failed to preserve his Transcendence realm and was about to fall to the Nameless realm.
Fortunately, it was all worth it.
In that brief glimpse, Zhang Fan not only saw a way to avoid the influence of [Public Knowledge] but also glimpsed the mastermind behind all the Heavenly Mandate individuals!
"It's a pity that I only know how to break [Public Knowledge] but don't know how to use this divine ability. Otherwise, I could directly publicize the mastermind's location, and we could all go and kill them together..."
Zhang Fan's expression kept changing.
Unbeknownst to him, his thoughts froze.
A hazy figure, crossing endless time and space, appeared before him.
It was [Return to Truth]!
As the manipulator of Li Fan's plan, all things placed within the bodies of the gods were under its control.
All actions, even thoughts, could not escape its detection.
Therefore, the moment Zhang Fan showed signs of losing control, it made its move.
Even Return to Truth did not expect to be able to break the connection between the Divine Bodies so quickly.
The power that caused Zhang Fan to detach from himself seemed to still linger in the air.
Return to Truth gazed for a moment, then understood.
"Slay the Fate Master."
Immediately, it looked towards the location of the assembled Gods.
Without causing any ripples, the assembled Gods and the Protected Worlds they had created quietly and imperceptibly disappeared from the Mountains and Seas ahead of time.
Then, [Return to Truth] looked at Zhang Fan, who was frozen in ice, and hesitated for a moment.
Although this variation of the Divine Body seemed to have gone out of control, who could guarantee that this was not within the expected variables?
Just as [Return to Truth] was hesitating, Li Fan's faint voice suddenly appeared.
"Since it is a variable, it has its own significance."
"Let's see how far he can go."
The voice echoed, and [Return to Truth]'s figure had already disappeared and returned.
...
"We can all go and kill them together and capture the mastermind. Wouldn't that be more satisfying?" Zhang Fan's thoughts resumed their flow.
From beginning to end, he hadn't noticed Return to Truth's arrival or how close to death he had been.
After slightly recovering from his injuries, Zhang Fan began to recall the divine ability he had just comprehended to avoid the influence of [Public Knowledge].
"That feeling should have come from the butcher who occasionally handled the catches for the Angler."
The Angler of the Mountains and Seas did not release all the fish they caught.
In very rare cases, they would encounter a prized possession they were satisfied with and keep it with them, like that stone tablet.
Before taking it, they would often hand it over to a slovenly butcher.
Only after the butcher's swift knife work would the Angler confidently put away the treasured item.
"Such obvious skill that it's not an ordinary cultivator. Yet, before this, I never noticed it, instinctively ignoring it."
"Such strength..." Zhang Fan marveled inwardly.
As the image of the butcher appeared in his mind, his intuition regarding that path grew stronger.
The swift, clean blade light flickered in Zhang Fan's mind.
Slowly, he also slashed out a blade in mid-air.
It was as if a strand of hair fell in response.
Then, thousands of strands, like falling snowflakes, gently descended.
At the same time, countless bloodstains appeared on Zhang Fan's body, a price for severing the connection with the Heavenly Mandate individuals.
But Zhang Fan was not alarmed; instead, he rejoiced, with an irrepressible smile appearing on his lips.
"Slayer of Fate Blade, a good name!"
Severing the shackles, cutting off destiny.
With one strike, the bonds vanished.
The effect of [Public Knowledge] slowly disappeared, as if the perpetual gloom that had lingered in Zhang Fan's mind had finally dispersed.
An unprecedented sense of security enveloped him.
Zhang Fan fell into a deep sleep.
When he woke up, he was still alive, and his injuries had fully recovered.
"If I ever have the chance, I must go back and properly thank those seniors," Zhang Fan mused inwardly.
He knew clearly that the reason he was able to escape the fate of a Heavenly Mandate individual was not because he was special, but entirely due to the subtle care given by the Angler and other powerful beings during their usual interactions.
"I wonder what their realms are?"
"Could they all be so-called Sages of Mountains and Seas?"
As Zhang Fan pondered, he continued to sever all remaining connections.
When only a single thread remained, the Slayer of Fate Blade hesitated to strike.
The moment the blade light rose, an unspeakable dread rose in Zhang Fan's heart.
It felt as if the moment the thread broke would be the moment of his own demise.
After hesitating for a long time, Zhang Fan ultimately chose to trust his intuition and did not force the strike.
"It is not yet time."
"Perhaps when I attain the Sage realm, this blade can be truly swung," Zhang Fan realized.
"Speaking of which, could it be that my talent is truly exceptional? This [Slayer of Fate Blade] divine ability is profound and mysterious. I comprehended it quite smoothly, and it becomes more familiar with each use. And there are other divine abilities..."
Zhang Fan was baffled and could only attribute it to the hidden cultivation by the powerful beings.
He would never have imagined that all the assembled Gods, including the Angler, had now been erased by [Return to Truth].
All the Great Daos had temporarily become masterless.
As the only one among the Mountains and Seas who had any connection to these Great Daos, he had naturally comprehended them with ease.
Zhang Fan did not ponder so much.
His current mind was filled with the desire for revenge against Zhou Fan.
"Now, it's my turn to hide in the shadows. I hope you don't get caught by me too easily."
Zhang Fan's eyes narrowed, a cold glint flashing.
Zhou Fan's [Public Knowledge] divine ability had truly caused him considerable suffering.
If this revenge is not exacted, is he even human?
Soon, Zhang Fan left the mortal realm where he had been recuperating and began searching for Zhou Fan's trace in the darkness.
However, Zhou Fan was indeed cautious.
Relying on the mutual sensing of [Return to Truth], Zhang Fan had eliminated nearly a hundred Heavenly Mandate individuals, yet he still hadn't found his trace.
As the number of Heavenly Mandate individuals decreased sharply in a short period, everyone else had also begun to sense that something was amiss.
They all stopped being ostentatious and went into hiding.
This caused Zhang Fan's revenge mission to suffer another setback.
The turbulent Mountains and Seas entered a strange calm.
After painstakingly finding another Heavenly Mandate individual and killing and absorbing them, Zhang Fan was suddenly startled.
"Strange, the number missing in such a short time is too large."
"Something doesn't add up..."
"Could it be that besides me, someone else is hunting Heavenly Mandate individuals?"
His heart skipped a beat, as if confirming this speculation.
Zhang Fan's expression turned solemn.
"Who could it be?"
Zhang Fan was not surprised by this.
After all, the number of Heavenly Mandate individuals appearing in such a short period was indeed too great.
They attacked each other, disregarding the other powerhouses in the Mountains and Seas.
Furthermore, all Heavenly Mandate individuals possessed the treasure "Return to Truth," making them targets of envy.
"Those with the strength and motive should be the Sages of the Mountains and Seas."
Once upon a time, Zhang Fan had wanted to cross the Dao Erasure to visit the so-called Other Shore and the Sacred Dynasty to glimpse the Sages' demeanor.
Now, he had to avoid them at all costs.
"I am strong enough now. With divine abilities in hand, I can kill Transcendent cultivators like butchering chickens and dogs."
"Yet, I am not strong enough. Even though I haven't truly fought with a Sage, I know in my heart that I am no match for someone at the Sage realm at this time."
"Breaching this realm in a short period is impossible. To protect myself, I still have to rely on the transformation of True and False!"
Through the slaughter of this period, the True and False Dao that Zhang Fan had absorbed and accumulated was quite substantial.
"Return to Truth…"
The more Zhang Fan comprehended, the more uneasy he felt. He marveled at the profound mysteries of the Great Dao of True and False, yet also felt a twinge of sadness that it didn't truly belong to him. It was like gazing upon an unparalleled beauty, only to be able to appreciate her from afar.
Just as he felt a sense of loss, Zhang Fan’s heart stirred. "However, who truly possesses the Great Dao of True and False is still unknown. Even if the person behind the scenes sees us as mere pawns, they have still given us the opportunity to touch upon Return to Truth."
"There are no walls in this world that cannot be breached…" Zhang Fan soon rallied his spirits, dedicating himself wholeheartedly to comprehending the changes of True and False. Having partially escaped his restraints, he realized that besides directly plundering through mutual slaughter, his own comprehension could also strengthen his grasp of True and False. In fact, perhaps his own understanding was more ‘reliable’ than what he snatched from other Chosen Ones.
With this belief, Zhang Fan entered a long period of secluded cultivation. He remained steadfast in his enlightenment, oblivious to the sinister and bloody turmoil outside.
Time flowed, and the chess pieces that Li Fan had scattered across the mountains and seas perished in large numbers, silently and without fanfare. From the initial grand spectacle across the land, only a handful of individuals now clung precariously to life. The speed of this change was quite unexpected. The fundamental reason was that the "Return to Truth" in one place at one time was simply not the true [Return to Truth]. Without the power to reset the entire mountains and seas in an instant, the myriad of powerful beings in this realm possessed too many ways to counter "Return to Truth". What seemed like a mere difference in numerical values was in fact an essential distinction.
When Zhang Fan awoke from his slumber, he immediately recognized this point. He felt ashamed of his past arrogance and ignorance. "Truly, a newborn calf fears no tiger. I thought with the advantage of Return to Truth, I could traverse the mountains and seas freely. In reality, even someone at the Saint realm could likely break through the protection of Return to Truth and suppress me directly."
"And how many Saints are there in the mountains and seas! If they were to join forces…" With a thought, Zhang Fan silently recited, "When truth becomes falsehood, falsehood becomes truth." It was as if he were looking at the entire mountains and seas from the perspective of [Return to Truth], gaining a general understanding of the scattered Great Dao of True and False.
"In just the time I spent in seclusion, their numbers have dwindled so drastically."
"No… A large number are gathered in one place!" Zhang Fan's expression shifted. He did not dare to truly look, merely sensing it silently. While a sense of dread overwhelmed him, a hint of pity also arose. In the past, so many Chosen Ones were around, creating such a lively scene. He had even thought of gathering them all to expose the person behind the scenes. Now, it seemed…
"Indeed, possessing the Great Dao of True and False offers supreme protection. But treasure brings danger, and the risks faced are terrifying. With all the Saints watching, ordinary Chosen Ones have no good escape methods."
Thinking of this, Zhang Fan's resolve, born from this recent seclusion, only intensified. He decided to abandon the Great Dao of True and False and instead comprehend other paths that truly belonged to him! This decision, even to Zhang Fan himself, seemed incredibly unfathomable. The Great Dao was within arm's reach; why abandon it to pursue lesser paths? It was utterly unwise. Yet, Zhang Fan knew he had to do it.
"Because [Return to Truth] ultimately does not belong to me!" Zhang Fan sighed again. Throughout his long secluded cultivation, no matter how hard he tried to grasp it, the Great Dao of True and False did not draw any closer. Nor did it distance itself. It remained tantalizingly out of reach, as if preordained. After countless failures, Zhang Fan finally decided to give up.
"The wise know themselves, the intelligent know themselves."
"Giving up one great mountain does not mean losing all the mountain ranges in the world. Perhaps I can find the one that truly belongs to me…" Zhang Fan tried to convince himself. Although he had officially decided to abandon comprehending the Great Dao of True and False, it did not stop him from continuing to view [Return to Truth] as a "handy tool."
"Perhaps a temporary 'Return to Truth' in one place cannot completely turn the tide, but releasing it at a moment of life and death will invariably cause some disruption."
"Moreover, all the Saints believe that the greatest trump card of the Chosen Ones is Return to Truth. Perhaps this is my opportunity…" Zhang Fan's eyes flickered, and in a breath, a wooden fishing rod materialized in his hand. Simultaneously, a silver vortex appeared between his brows, and he seemed to hear the slow sound of a whetstone.
During his seclusion, though he did not actively seek to comprehend these paths, they had actively sought him out, their connection with Zhang Fan growing inexplicably stronger. It was as if he had returned to that place of protection, living comfortably with the Fishing Old Man and Xuan Yuan Hong. What he desperately sought but could not obtain, he now found blossoming unintentionally. This was one of the significant reasons for Zhang Fan's change in perspective.
Zhang Fan was not a dull individual; he had vaguely guessed the reason behind these Great Daos' transformation. "It is likely because of my circumstances that they have fallen." He felt no great sorrow, only a touch of melancholy. However, Zhang Fan soon cast aside his emotions and began to comprehend the Great Daos intertwined with himself.
"Aside from the Great Dao of Longevity, it is not mine."
"Do all the others spontaneously converge towards me?"
"Fate Severing, Fishing, Array Breaking, Heavenly Machine, Fortunate Luck, Paper Folding." Zhang Fan found all sorts of profound Great Daos incredibly familiar and intimate, without the slightest sense of obscurity or difficulty.
"Perhaps compared to the complete Great Dao of True and False, they are not even a fraction as strong."
"But compared to the incomplete Return to Truth…"
"They are actually stronger!"
"A bird in hand is worth two in the bush!" Zhang Fan gritted his teeth and finally made his decision. In an instant, as if a stubborn obsession had been severed, Zhang Fan felt his entire being lighten. The complex emotions he had felt towards "Return to Truth" had vanished. Only a calm acceptance, as if fate had decreed it, remained.
"If you are in my hand, I will treat you as a handy treasure. If you are gone… then consider the treasure broken." Zhang Fan smiled lightly. Although he had spent years comprehending the changes of True and False, only to decide to switch paths, it did not mean his efforts were in vain. Zhang Fan vaguely sensed that the changes of True and False shared many commonalities with the Great Daos intertwined with him, such as Fate Severing and Fishing.
"Or perhaps, the relationship between the changes of True and False and all the Great Daos in the mountains and seas is like this, serving as the foundation of the mountains and seas. Comprehending the changes of True and False first, and then comprehending other Great Daos, can yield twice the result with half the effort. Conversely, if one has a firm grasp of all other Great Daos in the mountains and seas, then the comprehension of True and False will also become increasingly proficient."
Zhang Fan pondered this and once again entered seclusion on the spot. Originally, the various Great Daos around him were separate and independent. But as time passed, Fishing, Fate Severing, Fortunate Luck, Paper Folding, and others seemed to be slowly merging. The changes of True and False acted as their fusion agent, causing these paths, which once belonged to powerful beings of the mountains and seas who had achieved divinity, to converge upon Zhang Fan.
As these Great Daos merged, especially considering they were all Great Daos of the mountains and seas, the time required was immensely long, measured on the cosmic scale of the mountains and seas. Zhang Fan seemed to have fallen into a deep slumber. Meanwhile, the Fortunate Luck of the mountains and seas, as if guided by fate, seemed to be exerting its effect. Zhang Fan sat there, quietly comprehending the Dao. During this long period, vast consciousnesses swept over him repeatedly, yet none could detect his trace.
After an unknown amount of time, all the aura emanating from Zhang Fan was withdrawn. He seemed to have vanished entirely from the mountains and seas. And the lifespan of the mountains and seas was nearing its end. Fortunate Luck could no longer protect his existence within the realm of possibilities, and the Dao Erasure was engulfing everything. However, it had no effect on Zhang Fan. Sensing the anomaly around him, Zhang Fan finally stirred from his deep slumber.
"Hmm? How long have I slept?" Zhang Fan was somewhat surprised. But upon sensing his own realm, all his emotions dissipated.
"I've become a Saint just like this?" Feeling his current state, Zhang Fan's expression was somewhat perplexed. The boundless mountains and seas, which he had seen stretching endlessly in the past, no longer appeared so majestic and imposing in his vision. His shoulders could bear them, and his body matched their scale.
"The mountains and seas, it turns out, are nothing more than this." In Zhang Fan's heart, such a thought arose. The breakthrough from Transcendent to the Saint realm should have been a world-shattering event. Yet, for Zhang Fan, it occurred so silently and naturally, as if it were a matter of course, without any surge of aura. He had become a Saint. To be honest, Zhang Fan felt a sense of disappointment at not personally experiencing the thrilling moment of achieving sainthood.
"Fortunately, I have finally completed this step."
"Now, I possess enough strength. I no longer need to fear anyone in the mountains and seas." Zhang Fan had initially thought he would confront the unseen entity behind the scenes, the master of [Return to Truth], but upon noticing the near-extinction of the Chosen Ones and the gathering of the Great Dao of True and False nearby, he changed his mind.
"Someone has to bring them to justice."
"Let me, who has survived, do it." Zhang Fan took a gentle step and walked deeper into the mountains and seas. There, the Saints were gathered. But all their attention was focused on a single spot. They did not react at all to Zhang Fan's quiet arrival. Zhang Fan's gaze followed theirs.
A towering tree stood in the void. Countless figures hung upside down from it, like ripening fruit. The faint or strong auras of the Great Dao of True and False on their bodies undoubtedly revealed their identities. They were Chosen Ones! Among these figures, Zhang Fan recognized many familiar faces, including Zhou Fan, who had caused him immense trouble using the divine ability [Public Knowledge]. However, that was countless years ago, and Zhang Fan's resentment had long since faded. There was no hatred, only deep sorrow for their fate as fellow Chosen Ones. Although they were still protected by "Return to Truth," seeming to possess the power to start anew at any moment, all the Chosen Ones were trapped in a powerful illusion. This was a net of restraint, woven by the Saints of the mountains and seas. It distorted the perceptions of the Chosen Ones. The worlds they experienced were not real worlds, and the Return to Truth they believed they unleashed had, in fact, never been activated.
"The Saints are doing this… to comprehend the Great Dao of True and False using the bodies of the Chosen Ones?" Zhang Fan initially thought. But he soon realized something was amiss. No one understood the elusive nature of the Great Dao of True and False better than he did. Even by borrowing the feelings and experiences of the Chosen Ones, they could not comprehend the slightest bit of [True and False]. Zhang Fan was certain that any attempt to comprehend [Return to Truth] was doomed to be futile.
"Besides the master of Return to Truth, no one in this world can truly comprehend and control True and False."
"After so many years, with the talent of the Saints, they wouldn't fail to realize this. So, they are…" The events that followed provided Zhang Fan with the answer. The mountains and seas faced their doomsday, with Dao Erasure raging and surging incessantly. Yet, the Saints remained unfazed. From the tree bearing countless Chosen Ones, faint, peculiar fluctuations began to emanate. Zhang Fan was naturally all too familiar with them.
"Return to Truth?!" he exclaimed inwardly. As faint light and shadow flowed, the mountains and seas, which had been consumed by Dao Erasure, returned and reappeared in the world, as if the mountains and seas had been reset. However, the great tree bearing countless Chosen Ones remained. The Saints remained. The mountains and seas, which should have been destroyed, ushered in a sliver of new life through this reset.
"But what is the meaning of doing this?" Zhang Fan was somewhat confused.
"As long as there is life, there is meaning," a voice replied. The gaze of all the Saints turned to Zhang Fan.
"Who are you?" Zhang Fan, looking at the young man who appeared before him, was filled with caution.
"Qiu Xin Hui," the young man stated plainly, then asked, "Have you come to avenge them?"
His motive exposed, Zhang Fan did not admit it but merely snorted, "I've come to free them!" Although Zhang Fan felt his current strength was enough to dwarf all the Saints, he still sensed a faint sense of crisis from this young man. Thus, he did not act immediately but chose to observe the situation. For some reason, Qiu Xin Hui's words felt inexplicably familiar.
"Freedom…" Qiu Xin Hui smiled again. He repeated, "As long as there is life, there is meaning. Your idea of freedom…"
"Do they truly wish for it?" Sensing he might not win an argument, Zhang Fan narrowed his eyes. "Whether they wish for it or not, I decide!"
"What, are you going to stop me?" Facing the assembled Saints, Zhang Fan felt no fear. He was even somewhat excited. His life had been rather dull. Fresh out of his cocoon, he was suppressed by powerful figures like the Fishing Old Man and had to obediently stay in the novice village. When he finally emerged, despite a brief period of skirmishes, most of his subsequent days were spent in hiding and secluded cultivation. By his own sensory experience, his life had not even spanned a century. It could be said to be quite uneventful. Now that he had finally achieved success in his cultivation and possessed the opportunity to contend with the Saints of the mountains and seas, how could he miss it? This was why he had to come here first.
His heart brimming with anticipation, he saw the glint of blades appearing above the heads of the Saints. At this very moment, a pale speck suddenly entered his field of vision. The light of the Fate Severing Blade dimmed completely. Zhang Fan's heart leaped in surprise, but he already felt a hand placed on his shoulder.
"Let's talk it out properly, no need to fall out," he said. "After all, our goal is the same." Although the other party did not explicitly state it, Zhang Fan knew who "our goal" referred to. The mastermind who created countless "Chosen Ones."
"Who are you?"
The hand on my shoulder was bone-chillingly cold. It even affected my life force, freezing it.
Even though I instantly shielded myself with the Transformation of True and False, I was still unable to escape the depletion of my vitality.
Despite being a Saint, I had rarely fought others in my life. Thus, this first battle after achieving sainthood put me at a slight disadvantage.
Fortunately, while I hadn't attained the Dao through Comprehension of Longevity, I had still benefited greatly from it. The gentle power of longevity flowed like a babbling brook in spring, resisting the complete onset of the frigid grip.
Zhang Fan, who had gradually recovered from the surprise attack, his expression turned cold, his gaze sharp as a knife, instantly locking onto the foe.
Even if he didn't know the opponent's identity or name, as long as they were within his senses, the Fate Severing Blade could descend!
And it wasn't just one blade.
A slender jade hand appeared out of thin air, gently grasping the Fate Severing Blade.
Then, like folding white paper, the Fate Severing Blade split into two, then eight. In the time it took to breathe, blades rained down, sharp and menacing!
"Who are you?!"
"Who are you?!"
"Who are you?!"
These were questions, and also challenges.
They questioned the identity of the other party, and challenged their very existence.
The sound boomed like thunder, echoing and striking down.
It aimed to obliterate the opponent.
The Folding Paper merged with the Fate Severing, and the Forgetful Machine combined with the True and False.
The moment Zhang Fan saw that pale point, he instinctively knew the other party was powerful. Thus, he unleashed all his divine abilities at this moment, as a gesture of respect!
The pale point let out a muffled groan, and the hand on Zhang Fan's shoulder vanished.
But the light it emanated remained as bright and steady as before, completely unaffected by Zhang Fan's myriad great Daos!
Although his divine abilities had accurately locked on and struck true, for some reason, they had completely failed to exert their intended effect.
"This feeling… it's the protection of the Transformation of True and False?"
Zhang Fan was instantly filled with surprise.
But a moment later, he realized the difference.
"It's not that he's unaffected, but rather that he seems to have experienced and endured all my divine abilities countless times before. He's already accustomed to all of this, so he suffers them as if he hasn't!"
Zhang Fan faintly sensed that the strength of this pale point before him might be even more unfathomable than he had imagined. Therefore, after forcing it back, he didn't rashly attack again.
The pale light faded, revealing its form.
It was the appearance of an ordinary, gaunt middle-aged man.
"I am Zhen Shiyin," the man said, cupping his hands and smiling faintly.
"Zhen Shiyin?" The moment these three words appeared in his mind, Zhang Fan felt the Great Dao of True and False he had comprehended tremble slightly. It was as if this gaunt man before him had some connection to Return to Truth.
Zhen Shiyin appeared no different from an ordinary mortal, yet simply by standing there, he exerted a subtle pressure on Zhang Fan.
Zhang Fan subtly retreated a bit, feigning ignorance, and asked, "I wonder what Master Zhen means by the mastermind behind the scenes?"
Zhen Shiyin did not expose Zhang Fan's feigned ignorance. Instead, he stated directly, "The mastermind behind this chaos in the Star Sea is naturally the master of the Great Dao of True and False."
"As for you, and them…"
"You are merely clones he created."
"Clones… clones?" Zhang Fan was stunned.
"Clones? So that's how it is."
Then, as if waking from a dream, he understood everything. He felt a sense of release, yet also a touch of bewilderment.
It was akin to never seeing Mount Lu's true face, simply because one was within its mountains. Zhang Fan had already vaguely perceived the potential mastermind behind the scenes and had even managed to break free from predetermined fate step by step, comprehending many extraordinary Dao principles of the mountains and seas, and achieving the realm of a Saint.
But he had always instinctively believed that the true culprit behind the scenes was someone else.
And he had subconsciously ignored the possibility that he himself was a clone.
Now, Zhang Fan came to a belated realization.
Perhaps it was due to the subtle influence of the Angler of Mountains and Seas and Xuan Yuanhong, and others.
"Precisely because I steadfastly believed that I was an independent being, not a clone of someone else, perhaps I was able to successfully inherit everyone's Dao principles and cultivate to become a Saint. If the thought of being someone else's clone had ever appeared in my mind, even for a fleeting moment, the path to sainthood would have been severed."
Zhang Fan, who was slowly understanding, couldn't help but feel a sense of relief.
"Fellow Daoist may already know that the mountains and seas are in an endless cycle of reincarnation."
"Birth and destruction, endless reincarnation."
"Matters of true and false are inherently illusory."
"However, in countless experiences, a scene like this is truly the first time," Zhen Shiyin said, pointing to a large tree standing in the void before them.
"Fortunately, it is so, that we are fortunate enough to observe the Great Dao of True and False at such close proximity."
There was an unmistakable fluctuation of emotion in Zhen Shiyin's words.
As for the cycle of mountains and seas, Zhang Fan only had a vague guess.
Now that it was confirmed by Zhen Shiyin, he wasn't too surprised.
His focus was more on the Great Dao of True and False. So, he asked, "Have you gained anything?"
Zhen Shiyin smiled again, "If one cannot even see it, how can one gain anything?"
"The Great Dao of True and False only favors one person. Even if one exhausts all methods, they cannot touch or comprehend it. Although I had a premonition in the past, it was only now that I have completely abandoned hope."
"Then, in the recent small-scale reset of the mountains and seas, why were you able to be preserved along with it?" This was the one thing Zhang Fan couldn't understand.
"Our continued existence is not due to our own strength. It is thanks to the efforts of the countless Chosen Ones of Destiny before us," Zhen Shiyin did not hide anything.
"Although we ourselves cannot comprehend or manipulate the Transformation of True and False, we can influence and distort the thoughts of the Chosen Ones of Destiny, causing them to willingly apply the power of True and False upon us."
"Of course, in their dreams, they may not truly realize what they have done."
Zhang Fan remained silent, looking again at the large tree built by countless "selves."
Zhen Shiyin seemed to have perceived Zhang Fan's inner thoughts and suddenly proposed, "It is not impossible to free them. In fact, you could be the one to personally end all of this."
Zhang Fan's heart stirred upon hearing this but he did not immediately respond.
"The Great Dao of True and False cannot be seen or touched. Although it can be used to a certain extent with the help of the Chosen Ones of Destiny, it has no practical significance. Conversely, if one can gain an ally who can turn the tide of events through this, it would be an extremely worthwhile exchange," Zhen Shiyin's expression was calm, but his tone was sincere.
"So, what is your objective?" Zhang Fan asked, looking at him.
"To seize the Transformation of True and False and return to divinity." Zhen Shiyin spoke only eight words.
Zhang Fan, however, fell into contemplation.
After a long while, Zhang Fan finally voiced his doubts, "What difference is there between the Transformation of True and False being in me, or in divinity? Wouldn't it still be the destruction and reincarnation of the mountains and seas?"
Zhen Shiyin's gaze was distant, "The past and present may have no difference. But the future…"
He remained silent for a long time, as if pondering something. Only when he had finally determined the outcome of his deductions did Zhen Shiyin continue, "If the Transformation of True and False is in divinity, the destruction of the mountains and seas is not truly destruction. Death is the beginning of life, and life is the beginning of death. Endless reincarnation, an endless future."
"But if the Transformation of True and False were with him…" Zhen Shiyin did not look at Zhang Fan.
Instead, he looked up towards the general direction of the world of "Transformation of the Gods," where Li Fan's true body was in seclusion, beyond the mountains and seas.
"The mountains and seas will be annihilated, reincarnation will cease, and all will return to one person."
"This is the outcome we foresee."
Zhang Fan was deeply shaken, body and soul.
"Reincarnation will cease, and all will return to one person?"
These eight words held an infinite magical power. Even though he was the one who would be encompassed, Zhang Fan couldn't help but be slightly dazed.
But he quickly regained his senses and asked in disbelief, "Can he truly achieve such a feat?"
Zhen Shiyin nodded, "These countless arrayed Chosen Ones of Destiny are the best proof. Although it is only in its early stages now, if it is not stopped…"
"The only thing awaiting us is annihilation."
"Annihilation…" Zhang Fan suddenly recalled Angler of Mountains and Seas, Xuan Yuanhong, and others who had suddenly vanished because of him.
From this, he might glimpse the true operating style of "him." He couldn't help but believe him a little.
Zhang Fan then frowned and asked, "What kind of person is he? Since you can know about the cycle of mountains and seas, you should be very familiar with him."
Zhen Shiyin negated Zhang Fan's guess, "When the Great Dao of True and False descends, the cycle of mountains and seas begins. Everything within the mountains and seas is destined to be reset."
"Even the Great Dao of True and False is the same!"
"Even though we have some cultivation, how can we escape such a fate? It's just that after too many cycles, a very small number of us can vaguely sense something."
"For example, having a 'intuition' about past events. This premonition was weakest at the beginning of the mountains and seas' reappearance. Only as the mountains and seas evolved and the senses accumulated could we recall more. Therefore, even though I know about the cycle of mountains and seas now, as the mountains and seas are reset, I will still lose all my awareness and repeat my past foolish actions…" Zhen Shiyin said with self-mockery.
"If I am like this, let alone them." The ones he was referring to were the Sages of Mountains and Seas who were still contemplating around the tree.
Sensing the surprise in his words, Zhang Fan's expression turned solemn, "May I ask, Fellow Daoist, what is your realm?"
"They are all at the realm of Saints. However, unlike most of them, I have attained a 'Divine Body.'"
"You can call me a 'Guest of Divinity.'"
Divinity.
Such a majestic and weighty word, yet Zhen Shiyin spoke it so casually, as if he didn't care.
Zhang Fan naturally knew that everything in the mountains and seas originated from fallen True Gods, and he understood the significance of the word "divinity."
Thinking that the cultivator before him had once attained the fruit of divinity, the invisible pressure he felt from him seemed to increase.
"Strictly speaking, it's not true divinity," Zhen Shiyin said with a smile, as if he had seen through Zhang Fan's thoughts, and began to explain.
He sighed, "The cycle of mountains and seas was not supposed to give birth to 'Guests of Divinity.'"
"Old gods fall, mountains and seas appear. Mountains and seas vanish, new gods emerge."
"New gods replace old gods."
"Once one becomes a god, they are eternally a god. Either they exist in the name of a god, or they perish and disappear."
"As for the so-called 'Guests of Divinity'…"
"They are Saints of the mountains and seas who, by resisting the flow of time, reached the stage of Scattered Divinity and forcibly seized the creation of old gods. Yet, they were reset by the Great Dao of True and False and remained."
"Although they returned to the mortal realm, they still existed for a period in the name of divinity, becoming subtly different from other beings in the mountains and seas."
"But it's only a little different."
Zhen Shiyin's lengthy explanation introduced Zhang Fan to the details of 'Guests of Divinity.'
"Only Guests of Divinity can know the truth in the cycle of mountains and seas. If that's the case, could Senior Angler of Mountains and Seas and the others possibly be 'Guests of Divinity'?"
Having understood the whole story, Zhang Fan, thinking of how he had spent time with the Guests of Divinity and had become accustomed to them, felt the pressure from Zhen Shiyin suddenly decrease.
As he breathed a sigh of relief, he was even more astonished by the power of the Great Dao of True and False.
Even though he had "possessed" it before and it still lingered around him, Zhang Fan felt that the might of the Great Dao of True and False was beyond his imagination.
Suddenly, he recalled something Zhen Shiyin had said earlier, and felt something was amiss.
"Fellow Daoist just said that everything within the mountains and seas is destined to be reset, even the Great Dao of True and False. If that's the case…" Zhang Fan frowned.
"Theoretically, shouldn't he also be reset along with everything else? How could he be…"
Www●● C〇
Zhen Shiyin's single sentence made Zhang Fan's words halt abruptly, and his doubts vanished: "That is because he is 'the person beyond the outside.'"
"So that's how it is, so that's how it is…"
Zhang Fan murmured repeatedly.
Zhen Shiyin's voice was melancholic as he continued, "Once, at the end of the mountains and seas, a group of Guests of Divinity who had regained most of their awareness gathered to discuss the source of the reset."
"But they could never figure it out."
"After all, we all attained divine bodies, yet we were repeatedly reset and restored."
"All things in the world come from gods, yet gods can be reset by the Great Dao of True and False. This seems completely illogical."
"Then, as the mountains and seas were destroyed again, we suddenly realized."
"'True and False' is a profound power that even gods cannot escape."
"Although it originates from within the True God, the True God itself is also influenced by it."
"We speculate that this might be an innate divine ability of the True God, and the fundamental origin of the cycle of mountains and seas."
"Even if they perish, they can be recreated from nothingness through the Great Dao of 'True and False,' returning to their original state. Immortality, incorruptibility, eternity – this is 'divinity.'"
From Zhen Shiyin's descriptions, Zhang Fan seemed to vaguely glimpse the mighty power of the True God who birthed everything in the mountains and seas.
But his thoughts soon took a sharp turn.
"If the Transformation of True and False surpasses even the divine body, then everything is easily explained."
"But…"
"For some reason, 'True and False' has fallen into the hands of the person beyond the outside."
"Divine authority has been usurped. Because he comes from beyond the outside, he can avoid the fate of being reset. The Transformation of True and False in his hands surpasses even that of 'divinity.'"
Zhang Fan faintly sensed a hint of fear hidden in Zhen Shiyin's words.
"With a mere thought, he can reverse everything we know and return to the beginning. He can retain memories from the past, while you remain ignorant."
"With such an opponent, how can we contend?"
"In countless cycles, we have seen no hope of breaking through, until…"
"Your appearance, Fellow Daoist."
"As for me..." Zhang Fan responded noncommittally, not letting True Gone's flattery cloud his judgment.
In a sense, his position, and that of True Gone, and indeed all beings in the Mountains and Seas, were fundamentally aligned. The Mountains and Seas were to be annihilated, Samsara would not return, and all would coalesce into one individual.
The actions of the Lord of the Great Dao of True and False, undertaken for the sake of proving his Dao, were truly horrifying. Whether for his own survival or driven by moral conscience, cultivators in the Mountains and Seas ought to unite and stop him.
Of course, that was assuming... That everything True Gone said was true.
At Zhang Fan's current level of cultivation, even if he hadn't known the truth initially, he could intuitively discern the veracity of dialogue when he heard it.
"True Gone isn't lying," Zhang Fan confirmed. "However, that doesn't mean he's told the whole story."
Zhang Fan had his own deductions. It was simple: if everything were as True Gone described, then the Angler and Xuanyuan Hong, and others, would absolutely have stood with True Gone. But they hadn't; instead, they had merely created a protected world and quietly retreated.
Zhang Fan's decision remained unchanged from the beginning. He intended to stand before the person behind the scenes and demand answers!
However, in front of True Gone, Zhang Fan didn't reveal his true intentions. He shook his head and said, "I am merely a mere avatar, one of countless scattered chess pieces. If the Lord of the Great Dao of True and False is truly as terrifying as you say, what role can I play?"
"Even if we join forces and succeed in killing him," Zhang Fan continued, "aren't you worried that I might become the new Lord of True and False, rendering all our efforts futile?"
"We've already set our sights on the single goal, which is the absolute limit of our current capabilities. Why would we aim for infinite possibilities afterward and bring trouble upon ourselves? Besides... I believe you wouldn't do that."
"Among all the Chosen Ones, you are the only one willing to abandon the Great Dao of True and False. If I hadn't seen that, we wouldn't be having this conversation," True Gone said, looking intently at Zhang Fan.
Zhang Fan scoffed, "Then I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you. The reason I abandoned it was because I couldn't attain it. Frankly, if the Great Dao of True and False were to appear before me and be up for the taking, I would undoubtedly choose it again..."
Before Zhang Fan could finish speaking, True Gone interrupted, "But you have already abandoned it."
"Even a good horse doesn't eat the grass it has already left. How much more so the Great Dao of True and False? Since you have the possibility to abandon the Great Dao of True and False, then even if, one day, the Great Dao of True and False becomes masterless, it will surely not choose the one who actively abandoned it once..."
"At least not in this lifetime," True Gone stated with great confidence.
Zhang Fan opened his mouth, momentarily speechless. He could only finally say, "Isn't that merely your conjecture?"
In his heart, Zhang Fan already had a clear understanding. The reason True Gone chose to cooperate with him was entirely due to his status as an avatar of the Lord of the Great Dao of True and False and the fact that he had no possibility of inheriting "Return to Truth." As for the actual chances of success? They had no other choice.
Since that was the case, Zhang Fan no longer held back. "Since we've come this far, any further hesitation on my part would be an insult to you. This tree is mine. From this moment on, we form an alliance to reclaim the Great Dao of True and False."
As he spoke, the Sages of the Mountains and Seas, engrossed in their enlightenment, all turned their gazes towards Zhang Fan. Beneath their calm exteriors, there was a hint of malice. Zhang Fan remained undaunted, awaiting True Gone's decision.
There was no great upheaval. It was evident that True Gone held significant influence among the Sages. Despite any reluctance in his heart, the Sages pursuing enlightenment made way, allowing Zhang Fan to truly approach the massive tree from which countless Chosen Ones hung.
"Aren't you afraid I'll go back on my word? Agreeing so easily?" Zhang Fan admitted, somewhat surprised by True Gone's decisiveness.
"We have no choice, and neither do you," True Gone replied.
Zhang Fan fell silent. Speechless, he sighed softly and slowly opened his mouth. Using the "True and False Transformation" as his hand, he gently brushed the fruits hanging on the great tree. A gust of wind seemed to sweep through the lingering remnants of the Mountains and Seas, causing the countless Chosen Ones to sway and tremble. Then, one by one, they fell and vanished.
Concurrently, Zhang Fan's aura became increasingly ethereal. While Zhang Fan had decided to abandon the comprehension of the Great Dao of True and False upon achieving Sainthood, he had not severed his connection to using the power of "True and False Transformation" as a tool. It was akin to what True Gone and the surviving Sages of the Mountains and Seas had done in this lifetime, except that as an avatar of the Lord of the Great Dao of True and False, Zhang Fan could personally wield the power of "True and False Transformation."
As fruit after fruit fell, the entire great tree withered. Its leaves turned yellow and drifted away. Its branches snapped and plummeted into the void, turning to dust. Correspondingly... The lives of the onlookers, the Sages, withered like flowers, one by one. Facing death, the Sages showed little fear, calmly awaiting their fate as they gazed at the "True and False Numbers" in the void.
"This..." Zhang Fan hadn't expected that this tree was sustained by the lives of the Sages. This finally explained why the Sages had remained unchanged during the reset of the Mountains and Seas. Though he hadn't killed them directly, they were dying because of his decision. Having spent most of their lives in secluded cultivation, interacting with others only in an environment imbued with kindness, Zhang Fan couldn't help but feel a tremor in his heart.
"It's fine, it's just dying once more."
"Blessed by the 'True and False Numbers,' they may not see through Samsara as we do now, but they understood their own destiny, and that's why they can face death so calmly. Regardless of whether our plan succeeds or fails, they will reappear with the reset of the Mountains and Seas," True Gone said, standing beside Zhang Fan.
In fact, Zhang Fan's heart tremor lasted only a few moments. His attention shifted to the cascading "Great Dao of True and False" that filled the air. It had once been sustained by countless Chosen Ones but now flowed like a gentle stream, all converging into Zhang Fan's mouth.
His vision gradually brightened. The apocalyptic Mountains and Seas were no longer shrouded in darkness; everything seemed to have a discernible pattern. A scroll unfurled before Zhang Fan's eyes, depicting all that the Mountains and Seas once were. However, as the erosion of Dao Erasure progressed, the landscapes within the scroll began to fade into transparency. To ordinary mortals, the Mountains and Seas would appear to have vanished. But to the holder of the Great Dao of True and False, merely injecting power back into it would cause the Mountains and Seas to reappear!
"This is the 'Outline of the Mountains and Seas Transformations'," Zhang Fan murmured, captivated by the mystical scene, a sense of realization dawning upon him.
It wasn't just that. Beyond the scroll of the Mountains and Seas, there seemed to be a figure, a Scroll Keeper, standing in authority. Everything within the scroll—all life and death, all changes, and even the scroll itself—was under this person's control.
After meticulously memorizing every detail within the scroll depicting the Mountains and Seas, Zhang Fan strained his vision, trying to pierce through the scroll's confinement and look at the Scroll Keeper. Due to this audacious act, the scroll depicting the Mountains and Seas began to tremble violently. The landscapes within it surged, attempting to obscure Zhang Fan's prying gaze. Zhang Fan, using his mastery of the Great Dao of True and False, suppressed all intrusions, his objective unwavering: to gaze upon the Figure outside the scroll.
The clash between these two powers tore the scroll of the Mountains and Seas apart, shredding it into pieces. Correspondingly, Zhang Fan's divine soul seemed to develop countless tiny cracks, teetering on the brink of collapse. It wasn't merely the damage; it was the backlash from the "True and False Transformation," causing the very foundation of his existence to erode.
The powers of "Longevity" and "Heavenly Machine" and the fundamental forces of the Mountains and Seas were working in desperate, albeit insufficient, attempts to mend the cracks in Zhang Fan's divine soul, buying him more time to gaze.
Zhang Fan's vision finally broke through the obstruction of the scroll's depiction of the Mountains and Seas, and he saw the Scroll Keeper.
*Boom boom boom!*
As if his divine soul had suffered a violent impact, all the phenomena of the Mountains and Seas, even the surrounding void and Dao Erasure, receded into the background, fading from his sight. Even myriad Dao paths, and the Great Dao of True and False, were like fleeting clouds. In Zhang Fan's eyes, only one figure remained.
In that instant, he saw himself. And... another deep, spectral shadow floating above him.
The world of the "God Slaying Transformation."
As Zhang Fan broke through layer after layer of obstruction, using the passage of the "True and False Transformation" to gaze upon Li Fan, Li Fan, in turn, utilized the other's gaze. For the first time, he examined himself from an external perspective. Consequently, he also discovered a deep, spectral shadow hovering above him.
Though he had stripped away all experiences and memories since his reincarnation, leaving only his purest state upon transmigration, there was an unknown external entity present above his head!
For some reason, upon witnessing this scene, Li Fan felt no great surprise. He had anticipated it long ago. In fact, if he didn't have a backup plan, it would have been the extraordinary circumstance.
"I just don't know if this shadow originates from my past self... or?"
"That fallen True God."
Li Fan's gaze met Zhang Fan's for only a fleeting moment. After the "Extra-Corporeal Vision" disappeared, Li Fan could no longer observe the persistent shadow above his head. It was as if it had never existed; even with the aid of the "True and False Transformation," he couldn't recall it in his mind. Even the memories of this shadow's existence were gradually fading.
After trying and failing to stop it, Li Fan decided to seize the last few moments to deduce the shadow's origin as much as possible. He first ruled out his past self.
"My current comprehension of the Great Dao of True and False is nearing the pinnacle of the Mountains and Seas. Even compared to my past self, I wouldn't be significantly weaker. I don't believe he possesses the strength to achieve this level."
"Residing within the body without consciousness or feeling, invisible, unrecordable, unmemorable."
"Beyond the Mountains and Seas, beyond cognition."
"A True God's phantom..." In an instant, Li Fan reached a conclusion.
"Based on prior knowledge."
"This world is trapped in endless Samsara. Even True Gods cannot live forever. As eons pass, new consciousnesses will differentiate within them. Whether this consciousness originates from the devoured deities of the past or is a pure new evolution."
"In short, the old gods perish, new gods descend; this is a fixed outcome."
"To say 'perish,' is more accurately described as 'return,' because..."
"'Gods' seem to possess uniqueness. Once one becomes a god, they are a god."
"As Samsara turns, and now that the Mountains and Seas are dividing consciousness..."
"Things have changed."
"The Mountains and Seas are merely two differentiated intents before the evolution of new gods. Their sole purpose was to be a transition during the period between the True God's fall and rebirth."
"But they foresaw their own inevitable demise. Unwilling to accept this, they attempted to alter fate. They orchestrated a grand play, deceiving the heavens to transform into stars. If the performance concluded perfectly, they would replace the god that was supposed to appear and achieve the status of a new god..."
Li Fan's thoughts paused as he reached this point. The True God's phantom was disappearing faster; he had to accelerate his deduction.
"Gods are unique. But who becomes a god doesn't seem to be singular."
"The original list of those becoming gods did not include the Mountains and Seas. But they forcefully changed it..."
"True Gods possess infinite power; they know the past, present, and future. Thus, as they were about to perish, they foresaw future changes."
"They pulled me from beyond the external realm, out of nowhere, to be a player outside the game to break the deadlock."
"But..."
"Is that all?" A cold glint flashed in Li Fan's eyes.
"With a god's foresight, they should have witnessed everything that happened after I successfully tore apart the grand play of the Mountains and Seas."
"Just as True Gone and the others said."
"'The Mountains and Seas are destroyed, Samsara ceases to exist, and all returns to me.'"
"..."
"This is not what the True God intended."
"Sacrificing himself just to break the endless Samsara of this world and make me, an outsider, ascend?"
"Are gods so benevolent?" Li Fan snorted coldly. He directly dismissed this possibility.
"But that True God did it without hesitation."
"Only because..."
"He was absolutely certain that I could shatter the grand play of the Mountains and Seas, and destroy the descending star, but ultimately could not slay a god."
"Gods can see into the future, foreseeing all possibilities. They exhausted all probabilities and did not foresee me successfully slaying a god, which is why they acted."
"Hiring me as a laborer, and then planning to make me a scapegoat..."
"This is truly going too far." Li Fan's mood was no longer one of the initial rage upon discovering the truth. He let out a helpless laugh. However, behind his laughter, Li Fan's gaze was colder than ever.
"The sole reason for this outcome... is this True God's phantom above my head?" In the remaining time, Li Fan deduced countermeasures as much as possible.
The phantom's ink-like form faded, and it was no more. Li Fan’s expression showed a moment of bewilderment.
"It seems..."
"I've forgotten something extremely important." Sensing the inexplicable tremor in his heart, Li Fan mused.
"Do you have any leads?" he asked the Return to Truth phantom standing beside him. The Return to Truth phantom lacked subjective consciousness and only possessed mechanical reactions. To answer Li Fan's question, the light and shadow attempted to backtrack. However, ultimately, it yielded nothing.
Li Fan's expression didn't change much. "Sometimes, the absence of an answer is the answer itself."
"I am already at the pinnacle of this world. What else could cause such a bizarre change in me..."
"Only [God]."
"Whether I remember it or not makes no difference."
"Let me see then, who shall be the last victor." Facing this inescapable doom, decreed by the True God of this realm, Li Fan's resolve remained unshaken.
As his thoughts flowed, myriads of lights appeared around him, like stars scattered across the sky. These were the thoughts, feelings, and insights of the clones he had previously deployed. It was as if he had personally experienced countless cycles of reincarnation within the Mountains and Seas, and in each instance, cultivated a different Great Dao.
It was as if a divine brush were constantly painting, transforming the once somewhat empty Hall of Great Dao into something increasingly sacred and solemn, aiming to restore its original form within the Mountains and Seas. The true-false transformation that stood atop the Hall of Great Dao, though a phantom of Ever-Reflection, became even more tangible, with indistinct facial features vaguely visible within its form. These features bore a resemblance to Li Fan, yet also gathered the characteristics of countless "Chosen Ones."
Even more astonishing was Li Fan's own transformation. "I am simply myself. Even if I were to reincarnate countless eons in this realm, not an iota of myself would change."
The starlight, like a beacon, enveloped Li Fan, illuminating his form. Yet, Li Fan himself remained unchanged. The starlight, like a torch, enabled Li Fan to perceive himself even within the void of darkness.
"This Hall of Great Dao, though brilliant and dazzling, may easily suppress the beings of Mountains and Seas. But before that True God, it is utterly useless."
"All the Daos and all the Laws in the Mountains and Seas originate from the True God. No matter how high one's cultivation, one cannot escape the doom of the God-Return Tribulation. If there are any exceptions... perhaps it is [True-False]."
"[True-False] is like a divine innate ability, allowing the divine to persist eternally through endless reincarnation. Therefore, all things in this realm, even the divine, are inescapable by True-False."
"In other words, the divine can actually be considered the true possessor of [Ever-Reflection]. However, compared to me who came from the outside, They cannot retain their memories through repeated Ever-Reflections."
"Despite this trait, it is still useless to use the True-False transformation to destroy the divine."
"Zhang Fan and Zhen Shiyin both believed I was the Lord of the Great Dao of True-False. In reality, the only one qualified to be called the Lord of the Great Dao of True-False is the [Divine]. Without the Great Dao of True-False, the divine cannot truly be called a True God; they are merely sojourners who became gods by accident."
"[Ever-Reflection] and the True God cannot coexist in this world. If I could prevent [Ever-Reflection] from returning to the divine, I could in fact prevent the True God's descent. It's a pity..."
"I cannot do it." Li Fan couldn't help but recall the final moments of every cycle in the Mountains and Seas. The convergence of all things to the divine was the destiny of the world. Once the trend was set, even [True-False] could not escape it.
"Looking at it this way, it's just as I inferred before. Only I can destroy the divine. It's just that, previously, I didn't have a concrete idea of *how* to destroy the divine. But now..."
Li Fan lowered his gaze, falling upon "Zhang Fan" who remained in the remnants of the Mountains and Seas. "Perhaps, this is the way to break this predicament."
...
"What did you discover?" Zhen Shiyin's voice came from his ear, startling Zhang Fan from his momentary daze. The instant their gazes met, witnessing those layers of phantoms, Zhang Fan's mind inexplicably became lost. It felt as though he had fallen into a dream. He seemed to have experienced countless bizarre events, yet upon waking, all of it was completely forgotten. Only those two overlapping figures, like inescapable specters, flashed in Zhang Fan's vision, sending chills down his spine.
Zhen Shiyin listened intently as Zhang Fan recounted what he had seen, falling into deep thought himself. However, time was running out for them in the Mountains and Seas. The Tree of True-False had already withered, and the tide of Dao Erasure was once again surging fiercely. The Mountains and Seas were collapsing, and the end times were returning. This time, there would be no chance to turn back.
Everything in the world was inevitably hurtling towards its foreordained end. Zhen Shiyin seemed to have made a decision. "It's time to have a talk with some old friends."
"Come with me."
A pale light enveloped Zhang Fan, instantly traversing the broken Mountains and Seas. They arrived at a peculiar place: the deepest part of the Infinite Sea, the very foundation upon which the Mountains and Seas were built. If the Mountains and Seas had a specific annual ring to represent their age, this would be the very first ring to appear. An ancient, primal aura flowed freely. However, even at this moment, the very logic at the lowest layer of the Mountains and Seas was beginning to collapse.
Yet, amidst this, a silver light stood out. Zhen Shiyin, leading Zhang Fan, flew rapidly, entering into that silver light. In that instant, Zhang Fan felt as though he had returned to the sanctuary world where the Angler and other sojourners who had achieved godhood resided. The oppressive feeling brought by the end of the God-Return vanished without a trace.
Zhang Fan attempted to observe this world, finding that even with his current strength, his divine sense was suppressed. He could only observe crudely. It was boundless, vast, and infinite. Its size and scale seemed no less than the current Mountains and Seas. However, there were no worlds or beings evolving here; it was merely an empty cosmos. It seemed to exist independently within the Mountains and Seas, with time frozen here. The calamities befalling the Mountains and Seas could not affect it in the slightest. Even though the outside world was facing its demise, this place maintained its eternal state.
"Where is this..." Zhang Fan was momentarily stunned.
"An old friend visits, why don't you show yourself!" Zhen Shiyin's voice echoed continuously, lingering for a long time.
A figure emerged, accompanied by faint ripples. "You're already on the verge of death, what are you coming to my place for?" The newcomer appeared to be a decadent man, as if he had just woken from a dream, speaking with a weak voice.
"Eh? And who is this beside you..." However, upon seeing Zhang Fan, a sharp glint flashed in the decadent man's eyes. Without another word, he reached out to grab Zhang Fan. "I've searched high and low for you, and now you've come right to my doorstep! I never expected you to appear today!"
Zhang Fan felt that the eternal world he was in vanished the moment the decadent man made his move. Or rather, the entire pressure of that world descended upon him. His body and mind were rendered utterly immobile under this immense pressure. He could only watch as the opponent approached.
"What are you doing!" Fortunately, Zhen Shiyin's voice broke the restraint. Under the illumination of the pale light, the eternal world reappeared, and the pressure instantly vanished. "He is not the one we are looking for; he's just a clone."
Hearing this, the decadent man's expression shifted multiple times. He stared at Zhang Fan, observing him closely for a long time, before finally confirming. "Such a variable..."
"This is bad." The decadent man's languid aura dissipated in the wind, and his expression became extremely serious.
"Allow me to introduce you to this one, Jia Yucun," Zhen Shiyin said, pointing to the decadent man.
"Greetings, fellow Daoist Jia," Zhang Fan cupped his fists. Disregarding the man's sudden aggression, Zhang Fan perceived that the power displayed by the man moments ago was subtly stronger than Zhen Shiyin's. "That power likely originates from this eternal, void world," Zhang Fan mused.
"Within the Eternal Samsara, countless sojourners who achieved godhood awaken. And their chosen methods of action vary."
"Jia Yucun's attempt was to construct and weave a separate void spacetime, seeking to evade the annihilation tribulations of the Mountains and Seas." Seeing that Jia Yucun made no move to speak, Zhen Shiyin took it upon himself to explain the origin of this world.
"Brother Jia's skill is profound, and he nearly succeeded. The Mountains and Seas perish, but this realm endures; even the surging tide of Dao Erasure cannot affect this place. It's a pity..."
"Ultimately, it cannot escape the destiny of returning to the divine," Zhen Shiyin sighed softly. "All the Daos and Laws in this world originate from the divine, but they do not include the void I have woven. If it were sufficiently sturdy, it should be able to withstand the residual impact of the True God's descent. However..."
"He can escape. But I myself find it difficult to evade the tribulation."
"If I cease to exist, this realm will ultimately be like the moon in a mirror or flowers in water; it will only last a moment longer before dissipating like bubbles," Jia Yucun also sighed.
"Therefore, I have always wanted to get close to the Great Dao of [True-False]."
"If I could obtain True-False, perhaps this realm could undergo a complete transformation, completely separating itself from the True God of the Mountains and Seas."
"However, the Great Dao of True-False is never something ordinary people can easily grasp. If it decides to hide, even if we joined forces, we would struggle to find its trace. I even recall, through multiple reincarnations, passing by it several times. It was almost within reach, yet each time, it slipped away."
"And in this life, although ripples of True-False have appeared in the Mountains and Seas, they are all too weak. One glance reveals them to be mere illusions cast by the Great Dao of True-False, so I paid them no mind. Only seeing you..."
"It seems your comprehension of the Great Dao of True-False has perhaps reached a proficient level, almost causing me to misjudge," Jia Yucun said slowly, his gaze fixed on Zhang Fan.
Zhang Fan shook his head slightly: "Proficient is beyond what I can claim. But it may be of some help to your weaving of this world, senior."
Jia Yucun's eyes lit up. Zhang Fan looked at this world anew, chanting softly, "When true becomes false, and false becomes true." Marvelous ripples emerged from Zhang Fan's body. A Tree of True-False seemed to sprout between his brows, causing the ripples radiating from Zhang Fan to spread rapidly throughout this realm. They reverberated endlessly, sweeping across the world in an instant.
Although Zhen Shiyin and Jia Yucun could not perceive the fluctuations of the True-False transformation, they could easily sense the changes occurring in this eternal world. The surprise and joy in Jia Yucun's eyes were undisguised. He clapped his hands in praise, "Magnificent! Truly magnificent! The Great Dao of True-False is indeed imperceptible and unknowable. But with me, [False Yu], as a reference, perhaps we can imprint and record the fluctuations caused by the True-False transformation."
"Apart from me, this realm is absolute void. Existing in the wild and primordial, any minute change will appear remarkably evident. By continuous experimentation, we might eventually capture traces of the True-False transformation."
"Although these are only traces, not the transformation itself. But..." A glimmer of hope also arose in Zhen Shiyin's eyes. "With time, perhaps by relying on the traces left by [True-False], we can shape and evolve the True-False unique to this world!"
Zhang Fan paid no heed to their overjoyed exclamations. He focused intently on the blank canvas before him, wielding his brush to paint, applying the True-False transformation. While Zhen Shiyin and Jia Yucun could not truly perceive the changes of True-False, he could. And compared to applying it within the Mountains and Seas, the Great Dao of True-False was undoubtedly more evident in this eternal void realm and spacetime. The previously elusive and mystical Dao, stripped of all complex appearances, paradoxically seemed simpler.
Using True-False as his brush, with each moment of creation in this realm, Zhang Fan felt his comprehension of True-False increasing exponentially. This was not purely to assist Jia Yucun, but also for himself. Invisible ripples spread outwards continuously, and all three were immersed within them.
How much time passed, none could say...
Boom!
A violent tremor awakened the three. Zhen Shiyin and Jia Yucun exchanged glances. "It seems the Mountains and Seas have once again entered their final moments."
"The time is too short to leave any traces of True-False. Moreover, we don't know if these traces will disappear once the Mountains and Seas are reset," Jia Yucun said with deep regret.
"However, we finally have a glimmer of hope. It is worth taking this risk." Zhen Shiyin's tone was resolute. "We will delay it for as long as we can." With that, he transformed into a pale beam of light and tore through the void.
Zhang Fan paid no attention to Zhen Shiyin's departure, continuing to focus on painting. Through his continuous efforts, the formless and unseen [True-False] seemed to gradually become more concrete. Not long after, Zhen Shiyin returned. Accompanying him was a ray of purple light, along with a disgruntled voice: "If you're going to fight to the death, do it sooner! Why call me only when you're on the brink of death? What were you doing before!" It was a hunched, white-haired old man.
"Elder Kong Daoist, stop spouting nonsense and help us protect this place!"
"After countless reincarnations, we have found the only variable. If we miss this chance, we may never find it again!" Although the hunched old man continued to grumble, his body instantly erupted with immeasurable radiant light. Purple qi steamed forth, as if originating from the east, filling this eternal void world.
"All my accumulations over countless years!" Elder Kong Daoist lamented.
Zhen Shiyin snorted, "No matter how much you accumulate, it will all be lost when the Mountains and Seas are reset."
"You know nothing! Although the Mountains and Seas are repeatedly reset, the speed at which I condense purple qi increases each time. One day, I might be able to rival the divine with this immeasurable purple qi. But in the past, I always actively ended my life the moment the God-Return Tribulation descended, thus avoiding the gods' gaze and minimizing the impact."
"Choosing to resist this time will likely mean the loss of all my past accumulations..."
"We have no other choice! We don't have much time left!" Zhen Shiyin's words silenced Elder Kong Daoist. He ceased his muttering, his form fading, leaving behind boundless purple qi to cleanse the surroundings.
Zhang Fan discovered that this purple qi had no impact on the current eternal spacetime; it merely repelled the tribulations from the outside. The painted scroll stabilized once more, allowing Zhang Fan to resume his painting. However, outside, the final moments of the Mountains and Seas' destruction had clearly arrived. The purple qi was being consumed at a terrifying rate. And the True-False transformation Zhang Fan was applying began to show subtle distortions, as if the lines he was drawing were repeatedly deviating.
"What is this..." Almost instantly, Zhang Fan understood why. "The True God appears, True-False returns." A chill ran through him. He suppressed the shock and forcibly continued to draw. On the scroll, the True-False transformation became increasingly complete, almost identical to what he perceived it to be. Yet, just as he was about to add the final stroke, Zhang Fan's hand suddenly stopped. He found himself utterly unable to continue painting.
"This True Yin, that False Yu, you two each owe me a life!"
While Zhang Fan hesitated, the boundless, surging purple energy was completely depleted.
Without the protection of the purple energy, this Eternal World was once again plunged into upheaval.
"A pity, just a little short," False Yu sighed softly.
As the creator of this world, he vaguely sensed that a supreme and profound Dao law was about to be gestured within it. It was just one step away.
But a single step's difference made the chasm between heaven and earth.
"If it could truly be born, the imprint would be completed. With this mark, my Eternal Void World would also gain its own True-False Transformation, allowing it to transcend the cycle of endless reincarnation. I'll die anyway." False Yu pondered, having already made up his mind.
"I'll buy you a little more time. Whether you can succeed..."
Without finishing his words, a silver light erupted, shooting beyond the heavens.
Although the Eternal World appeared to be stable once more, True Yin and Zhang Fan knew that its foundation was lost.
It wouldn't be long before it completely collapsed.
"The True-False Transformation returns to the True God."
"And I, this Fated Child, this clone, will also return..."
"Into his body."
"This is what's called an inescapable fate."
Zhang Fan vaguely understood why his final stroke could never be completed.
"So, it turns out this True-False Transformation was something even he hadn't fully grasped. As a clone, naturally I can't surpass the main body."
Zhang Fan felt a sense of relief.
Then, a thought stirred in his mind: "If that's the case, my understanding of True-False Transformation is actually no less than the main body's? How is this possible?"
In Zhang Fan's ingrained perception, his main body, the orchestrator behind everything, must possess unimaginable power, perhaps even capable of contending with a True God.
Although he hadn't given up on confronting his main body, he had never dared to underestimate him.
To his surprise now, he discovered that his lifelong arduous cultivation had brought him on par with his main body?
This was an idea Zhang Fan had never entertained before.
He never dared to even imagine it.
As understanding dawned, an irrepressible ambition bloomed in his heart.
"Who is true, who is false, who is master, who is clone."
"It's yet to be known!"
"There is still... the final chance!"
Zhang Fan knew that his main body must be waiting for him outside this Eternal World.
Once this place shattered, before returning to the True God. He would have to absorb Zhang Fan first.
"But this is precisely my only chance of survival!"
With this thought, he looked at the nearly completed painting and True Yin, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
"Senior, please lend me your head for a moment!"
The brush that painted the True-False scroll appeared out of nowhere and then quietly descended.
It heavily landed on True Yin.
A trace of bewilderment appeared on True Yin's face. He didn't understand why Zhang Fan's demeanor would change so drastically in an instant.
"You still have a chance to try again, but I might not."
"Please grant my request, Senior!"
Seeing that True Yin could still persist under the stroke of his genuine brush, only his body trembling slightly, Zhang Fan was inwardly shocked.
He didn't increase the pressure of his stroke again. Instead, he flickered his light, transmitting all his momentary insights to True Yin.
True Yin's gaze shifted from Zhang Fan to the outside of the Eternal Void World.
Unsure of what he contemplated, he actually abandoned his resistance.
His form dimmed, his light gradually receded, eventually transforming into a dead, silent white spot.
It slowly fell into Zhang Fan's palm.
Zhang Fan remained silent for a moment, then bowed solemnly towards the place where True Yin had perished.
Without hesitation, he then swallowed the silent white spot.
Although for True Yin, falling was not true death, his sacrifice of a lifetime to give Zhang Fan a sliver of a chance to fight for survival was an immeasurable kindness.
Zhang Fan seized the last moments, savoring the taste of the dead silence left by True Yin.
"Death is merely an illusion."
"The Great Dao of True and False, though invisible and unknowable to Senior True Yin, he attempted to imitate and represent the creation of truth and falsity through the imagery of life and death."
"The result was like a blind man touching an elephant, grasping only a part. However, it genuinely carried a hint of the flavor of truth and falsity."
"What a great supplement!"
As if struck by a flash of inspiration, Zhang Fan furiously scribbled, adding another half-stroke to the True-False painting.
Then he looked again at this Eternal Void World.
He could sense that False Yu had already perished.
As False Yu had said earlier, although this world could exist independently of mountains and seas, it was ultimately nothing but void, its foundation entirely built upon False Yu's cultivation.
Facing the might of the approaching True God, it had no power to resist.
It was no longer trembling; it was on the verge of complete collapse.
Zhang Fan laid down his brush, and before this world could shatter, he extinguished it first.
"The living are supported by the void, beyond the false."
A flash of silver-white light, strikingly similar to False Yu's, flickered in his eyes. Zhang Fan completed the last half-stroke on the True-False painting.
"I don't seek to completely deconstruct the True-False Transformation, only to..."
"Surpass you!"
His left eye turned silver-gray, his right eye pale.
In his mind, images of Fishing Immortal, Fate Severing Master, Array Breaker, Heavenly Machine, Fortunate Luck, Paper Folding, and other guests who attained godhood flickered.
"These are the firewood, igniting the fire of True-False!"
The True-False painting, personally painted with ink, was instantly engulfed in flames, transforming into a blazing inferno visible only to him.
The Eternal Void World ceased to exist, and Zhang Fan plunged into the End of God Return.
Even though he had deduced it countless times in his mind, when he truly found himself in it, he was momentarily lost.
What a horrifying scene of an apocalyptic end.
Life forms were no more, mountains and seas were no more. The Dao Erasure was no more, the Void Realm was no more.
Only a wisp of starlight, like a solitary divine eye, hung high above.
Or like the rising sun in the east, its crimson glow overflowing, about to devour everything.
Apart from the approaching Divinity, only two figures remained, like duckweed in the wind, desperately holding on.
Of the same origin, the Main Body itself.
"Still not returning!"
The Main Body's voice was cold, like an elder reprimanding a junior.
Zhang Fan felt himself uncontrollably drifting towards the other.
The attraction of assimilation was so strong that it even surpassed that of returning to the True God.
At this moment, Zhang Fan felt as if he was out of sync with the vast torrent of God Return surrounding him.
Only towards the Main Body ahead did he faintly resonate.
"Is this your reliance?"
Zhang Fan sneered in his heart.
"A clone returning to the main body, it seems this should be the natural order."
"But today, I will tell you..."
"There is never anything in this world that is inherently right!"
A resolute glint flashed in Zhang Fan's eyes.
Not only did he cease resisting the attraction from his main body, but he even accelerated his approach.
Just as he was about to merge with his main body, a ball of True-False fire ignited within him, erupting outwards.
"Utterly foolish!"
"How can the creation of True-False harm me?"
Facing Zhang Fan's counterattack, his main body remained unmoved.
He softly chanted, "When the true becomes false, the false also becomes true!"
The raging inferno that had been burning moments before instantly extinguished, vanishing as if it had never existed.
The Main Body's cold voice echoed, "This is your reliance? You actually dared to try and overturn me using the Great Dao of True and False, to replace me..."
Before he could finish speaking, the Main Body's expression suddenly changed.
Because around Zhang Fan, faint figures seemed to materialize.
True Yin, False Yu, Fishing Immortal, Xuanyuan Hong, Fate Severing Master, Array Breaker...
They seemed like independent entities, yet also like beings born from Zhang Fan.
"Haven't you always wanted me to merge with you?"
"In this life, I have comprehended many Great Daos of Mountains and Seas, and I have understood the foundations of all the guests who achieved godhood. My understanding of the Great Dao of True and False is now superior to yours!"
"Yet, I am willing to give it all to you. Let us become one!"
A hint of madness flickered in Zhang Fan's eyes. As the True-False fire extinguished, he collided with his main body.
Like two water droplets merging, they instantly became one.
But...
Figures of the guests who achieved godhood appeared within them, like haunting spirits.
"Return to Truth! Return to Truth!"
The starlight from above grew increasingly intense.
The carrier of the Great Dao of True and False, uncontrollably drifted towards that solitary eye.
A ferocious voice, again and again, roared "Return to Truth."
But because of the presence of these phantom figures, the True-False Transformation found it difficult to activate.
Each time "Return to Truth" was about to initiate, another faint voice would sound, interrupting the process.
"Return to Truth!"
"Will not return."
"Return to Truth!"
"Will not return."
...
The phantoms of the guests who achieved godhood were not truly those who had fallen.
They were anchors used by Zhang Fan to differentiate himself from his main body.
Only the guests who achieved godhood in the Mountains and Seas could retain some faint memories through the constant resets of the Mountains and Seas.
In this life, through his interactions with the guests who achieved godhood, Zhang Fan confirmed that his main body had never intersected with them before in his reincarnations.
All possibilities within the Mountains and Seas, all paths he had traversed, all experiences he had undergone, his main body might have gone through.
Only the guests who achieved godhood were an exception.
Therefore, this could be used to distinguish him, Zhang Fan, from his main body.
Upon closer inspection, though the two water droplets had merged, the latter one entering had acquired certain peculiar traits, allowing it to exist independently for a time.
Undoubtedly, with his main body's control over his clone, this peculiar characteristic wouldn't last long.
A clone, after all, was just a clone.
From the moment of its creation, its fate was sealed, unable to resist.
Under normal circumstances, these phantoms of guests who achieved godhood would at best only extend Zhang Fan's lifespan for a fleeting moment.
They couldn't change anything substantial.
But now...
Being in the End of God Return, this fleeting opportunity was enough to turn the tide.
As they drew closer to the True God, Zhang Fan still showed no intention of ceasing his resistance.
He was clearly intending to drag his main body down with him to perish together.
The Main Body finally lost all composure.
"Do you want to die?!"
"If you want to die, don't drag me down with you!"
"As long as we can Return to Truth, there's still a possibility. If we descend into the True God, then it's eternal damnation, no second chances!"
Anger and panic.
Zhang Fan witnessed all his main body's pathetic displays.
He merely faced him with a cold gaze: "It is precisely because I do not wish to die that I must risk my life!"
The starlight spread everywhere.
As if leaping into the world.
The star hanging high above now resembled a great sun, standing proudly alone.
Both Zhang Fan and his main body could clearly sense that the True-False Transformation attached to them was becoming increasingly faint.
It could leave at any moment.
"Madman! Madman! If this continues, we'll both die!" the Main Body roared, his defenses breached.
"Return to Truth, Return to Truth!"
Zhang Fan's eyes blazed, his mind calming in the face of mortal peril.
Sensing that the long-awaited opportunity had arrived, Zhang Fan finally dispersed the anchors of the guests who achieved godhood.
He no longer resisted the complete assimilation with his main body.
The Main Body rejoiced immensely.
Impatiently, he wanted to completely devour Zhang Fan and then return to the original anchor point.
But...
The next moment, as if he had swallowed a pebble, the Main Body not only failed to digest Zhang Fan but also bloodied his mouth from the impact.
"How is this possible! How did you..."
Zhang Fan grinned sinisterly: "Without the support of the True-False Transformation, how much stronger can you, this so-called main body, truly be compared to me?"
"Let us have a fair fight."
"Both to determine victory and to decide life and death!"
With that, Zhang Fan lunged at his main body.
There were no Dao laws, no divine abilities.
Only a brutal, pure will against will battle.
Two incredibly similar, or rather, identical divine souls, fought a life-and-death duel for their own survival.
An eternal struggle.
At this moment, they seemed to have forgotten the End of God Return outside, forgotten their impending fate of eternal damnation.
Their eyes were fixed only on each other, determined to achieve a victory.
At any cost.
The brutality of their fight was beyond description for outsiders.
To those outside, it seemed to happen in an instant.
But for the two in that arena, it felt like countless eons had passed.
"Damn it, damn it, damn it..."
The Main Body, barely clinging to life, cursed incessantly.
However, his only response was Zhang Fan's unrestrained, wild laughter.
The water droplets shifted again.
The two, utterly merged as one.
"In the end, I won."
Zhang Fan, the victor, was incredibly weak, but he didn't feel much joy.
Having swallowed his main body as a clone, he inherited everything from him.
But at this moment, he didn't have time to examine it closely.
The remaining vestige of the True-False Transformation in his body was as tenuous as a wisp of thread.
He was infinitely close to the True God's return.
"Fortunately, heaven has not abandoned me!"
"Even with only an inch of the True-False Transformation remaining, it can still be activated."
"Return to Truth! Return to Truth!"
Zhang Fan finally uttered the two words his main body had repeatedly cried out before.
With no other intention obstructing him, and after a brief pause, the Great Dao of True and False descended upon this place.
The starlight that had spread everywhere suddenly dimmed.
It was as if an invisible giant hand had grabbed the sun in the sky.
Then, with an irresistible and overwhelming force, it was dragged downwards, step by step.
A magnificent spectacle unfolded before Zhang Fan's eyes.
As if time were rewinding, countless brilliant streams of starlight slowly returned within the stars.
The silent darkness surged forth once more.
This time it had been too perilous.
Only a sliver of a chance separated them from the True God's ultimate descent.
Erasing the impending True God and resetting everything took longer than all previous attempts combined.
But in the end, success was achieved.
The string of tension in Zhang Fan's mind finally loosened.
He let out a long sigh of relief.
He cast a final lingering gaze at the fading silhouette of the True God, his spirit soaring: "I can defy heaven, usurp my main body. In the future, I will be able to shatter stars and slay gods!"
"Just you wait!"
As if sensing Zhang Fan's thoughts, the fading starlight suddenly erupted one last time.
Then it vanished into invisibility.
Rolling darkness immediately followed, engulfing Zhang Fan's consciousness.
Year One of Anchor Point.
"Ah!"
As if waking from an extremely long dream, Zhang Fan's head throbbed. His mind was blank; he had no idea who he was or where he was.
"Fan'er," Bai Shuyue appeared, her face etched with worry. Her presence was like a spark, illuminating the missing fragments of his memory. Past scenes flashed through his mind.
"Auntie?!" Zhang Fan instinctively called out, then fainted once more.
Three years later.
"Fighting me, you're even more brutal than I imagined," the voice of Zhang Fan echoed. He was lying on a chair, watching the sunset. He pressed a finger to his gently throbbing temple. "We both fought until we were nearly spent and out of power. The most fatal blow was launching Return to Truth so close to the end of God Return. Even after these three years, though I've used the Great Dao of True and False to constantly cleanse myself, that blazing starlight still flares up occasionally."
Using his frail, ailing body to forcibly wield the Transformation of True and False had left him not fully recovered from his weakness. Even a moment's thought brought a wave of fatigue. "Fortunately, Auntie is here to care for me," he sighed inwardly.
Just then, Bai Shuyue's voice called out, "Fan'er, it's dark. Time for dinner." She pulled the wheelchair-bound Zhang Fan inside and personally began to feed him. "Auntie, I have the strength to eat myself now," Zhang Fan said, a hint of helplessness in his tone.
Bai Shuyue frowned. "You said the same thing a year ago, and then you fainted again. Let's focus on recovering first. I may not have had much schooling, but I understand that illness hits like a mountain and leaves like drawing silk. Once you're well, everything else will follow." Without further argument, she continued to bring food to Zhang Fan's lips.
This simple meal lasted for nearly half an hour, a long and warm interlude.
"Auntie is such a good person. To think I treated her so terribly in the past, I'm less than a beast! Not only did I control her like a puppet, but the plan to help her ascend to Sainthood also fell apart for no reason."
"With the power of True Spirit Infusion, combined with the Great Dao of True and False, even a mortal could be helped to Sainthood. Yet, I didn't. I'd rather assist outsiders." Zhang Fan shook his head inwardly. In his opinion, there was a clear distinction between closeness and distance. Those like Morality, Inch-by-Inch, and Mound Guardian couldn't compare to Bai Shuyue.
"I received your body and inherited your karma. The sins you committed, I shall repay."
"In this life, I will definitely take Auntie and leave the Xuanhuang Realm together." Zhang Fan vowed in his heart. However, he didn't rush. He decided to patiently recover from his injuries first. According to his past self's memories, the Xuanhuang Realm was indeed exceptionally perilous. A single misstep, a wrong move, and one could face eternal damnation.
"How should I put it? He is indeed my past self. To be able to fight and survive in such a place, even with the ultimate treasure, Return to Truth, in hand, is truly remarkable." Zhang Fan compared his current experiences to his past self's and had to admit that his own journey had been surprisingly smooth, astonishingly lucky.
"Perhaps my past self scattered countless avatars across the Mountains and Seas. Only fortunate individuals like me could survive until the end."
"As for the final confrontation, the desperate struggle where I usurped the host's role..."
"...that was entirely due to my own resilient will and unyielding spirit." Every time he recalled how he counterattacked in a desperate situation by utilizing the end of God Return, Zhang Fan couldn't help but feel a surge of pride. "Reaching the pinnacle of the Mountains and Seas, the highest point below True Gods, my past self was truly an unmatched overlord. It's a pity that the student surpassed the master. I am superior!"
A growing sense of self-satisfaction filled him, even alleviating some of the injuries to his body and soul. After a long while, his surging emotions finally subsided. Lying in bed, under the cloak of night, Zhang Fan silently recited "Return to Truth."
Instantly, countless firefly-like lights converged from the surrounding darkness, forming a luminous screen that slowly unfurled. However, a strange resistance seemed to exist in the void. The screen formed at an agonizingly slow pace. Occasionally, bizarre flickers of light would flash by, much like the sudden bursts of starlight at the end of his past life.
Zhang Fan knew that Return to Truth itself was not damaged. It was his current state; the influence of True God had not been fully purged. Return to Truth risked being corrupted, thus naturally elicring resistance. Zhang Fan tried again. The more the Return to Truth screen expanded, the faster the starlight pulsed. The brilliance spread, almost giving the illusion of returning to the day of God Return's finale. Zhang Fan knew it was an illusion, but he still felt a pang of unease.
"Forget it. I'll wait until I've completely cleansed these divine influences." All other thoughts vanished, and Zhang Fan fell into a deep sleep.
Ten more years passed before he fully recovered. During this time, Zhang Fan secretly intervened to slow down his aunt's aging. Although this slightly delayed his own recovery, Zhang Fan deemed it worthwhile. To make his cultivation path appear more logical, he immediately used his unpredictable Azure Nether Profound Energy to alter the environment of the Xuanhuang Realm.
"The reason mortals here cannot cultivate is due to the Celestial-Mortal Miasma."
"This Heavenly Dao rule, however, was formed by Dharma-Preachers defying the laws of nature." Having inherited his past self's memories, Zhang Fan was intimately familiar with the history of the Xuanhuang Realm. Yet, he harbored no particular fondness for it.
"Those who stand in my way should simply disappear." With a single thought of true and false, Dharma-Preachers and Heavenly Physicians were erased from this world, as if they had never existed. Without the suppression of Dharma-Preachers defying nature, the Heavenly Dao of Azure Nether slowly returned to its normal flow amidst roaring sounds. He then shattered the Immortal Execution Array that had sealed the Great Xuan pocket world.
Several days later, at the dinner table, Bai Shuyue suddenly remarked, "Fan'er, have you noticed the weather becoming much more pleasant these past few days? It's strange; it was scorching just a while ago." Zhang Fan nodded in agreement.
Without anyone explicitly teaching cultivation techniques, as long as Spirit Qi existed, cultivators would naturally emerge. Half a month later, the first Qi Refining cultivator appeared in the Great Xuan pocket world. The pursuit of cultivation spread like wildfire.
"Cultivation... according to them, does that mean I can cultivate too?" Bai Shuyue murmured from her room, feeling the clear flow of spiritual power within her body with disbelief. "Fan'er, what about you?" she asked immediately, full of concern.
"Don't worry, Auntie. I can also feel the Spirit Qi in this world," Zhang Fan replied with a smile. Bai Shuyue breathed a sigh of relief. "Heaven bless us, ancestors bless us!"
With the path of cultivation opened, the two left Great Xuan and entered the Xuanhuang Realm, seeking further progress. With Zhang Fan's covert protection, there were naturally no risks. Their journey was smooth, and they reached the Dao Integration realm.
With Dharma-Preachers fallen and the path to Longevity severed, their cultivation had reached its limit in the Xuanhuang Realm. They decided to venture into the dark star sea, seeking the legendary possibility of becoming Immortals. The external obstacles, the Nameless Starving Immortal, had already been eradicated by Zhang Fan. The shackles of the The Great Barrier were but a trifle before the Transformation of True and False. However, to make things appear more plausible, Zhang Fan deliberately created some complications. On the surface, it seemed they had endured countless hardships to enter the The Great Barrier and obtain the Inheritance of Mound Guardian.
"Infinite Sea, Mount Shang."
"This world... it's actually this vast." Bai Shuyue was stunned into silence upon learning the truth of the Mountains and Seas.
True Immortal, Nameless, Transcendent. The three realms, difficult for ordinary people to overcome, were easily crossed by Bai Shuyue under Zhang Fan's guidance.
"Next, it's time to truly interact with the Mountains and Seas."
"For Auntie, the Mountains and Seas are still too dangerous. Only a world that offers protection would be safer." Looking at Bai Shuyue's face, Zhang Fan thought to himself. He set his sights on the distant depths of the Mountains and Seas, towards where the Angler Senior resided.
Zhang Fan silently recited, "Baiter's Wish!"
In the vast void, a faint sound of surprise seemed to echo. Moments later, an immense force traversed the Mountains and Seas, engulfing Zhang Fan and Bai Shuyue, and drawing them into the world of the Guest of Divinity. Bai Shuyue immediately lost consciousness, like a fish in a basket. Zhang Fan, however, instantly broke free by using the Transformation of True and False.
He stood before the Angler, smiling. "Senior, it's been a long time."
"Who are you?" The Angler narrowed his eyes. He vaguely felt as if the person before him was familiar, but it was only a faint sensation. The Mountains and Seas were not yet beyond hope, and the memories of the Guests of Divinity had not fully awakened. The Angler knew nothing of the events of his past life.
"Everyone, please come out together." With that, the profound aura of the Great Dao of True and False intertwined around Zhang Fan. Then, it swiftly shifted and transformed. Fate Severing, Fishing, Heavenly Machine, Longevity, Array Breaking... all sorts of Great Daos manifested. The Guests of Divinity, who had been recuperating in this protected world, were shocked to sense their own Dao paths on another. Figures emerged one after another, surrounding Zhang Fan.
"Three Sages of Lian Shan, Gui Hai, and Tai Yi, possess the Method of United Hearts. Are you willing to join me?" Without regard for the growing strange atmosphere, Zhang Fan spoke frankly.
"United Hearts?" While the Guests of Divinity lived together, they didn't particularly get along. Naturally, they were unwilling. But Zhang Fan's revealed secret now made them curious.
The Array Breaker suddenly remarked, "I have a compromise method, called 'Young Man's Wandering.' It can recreate past experiences, without the power of 'United Hearts,' but it can also prove your origin." The expressions of the other Guests of Divinity suggested they leaned towards this solution.
Zhang Fan sighed and feigned helplessness. "It's a pity then. You will miss the chance to gain insight into the 'Great Dao of True and False.'"
"True and False?" Upon hearing this, the CPUs of the Guests of Divinity lit up with unconcealable excitement. Simultaneously, they fell into thought.
"So that's how it is. For you to possess our Dao..."
"If it's the Transformation of True and False, then everything makes sense."
As if a single stone stirred a thousand waves, in the face of the "True and False," even the once-divine Sages couldn't help but lose their composure. Ultimately, unable to resist the temptation of a glimpse into True and False, the Guests of Divinity agreed to "Unite Hearts" with Zhang Fan.
A moment of upheaval within the protected world. Then, the entire realm seemed to fall into a strange stasis. After a long time, the Guests of Divinity awoke from their profound enlightenment.
"So, this is what True and False is like."
"To hear the Dao in the morning and die in the evening is enough. Even if I ultimately cannot escape the fate of becoming a god, I have no regrets."
"I never expected you to actually succeed?" The Guests of Divinity lamented, while Xuan Yuan Hong was overjoyed. With Zhang Fan's help, everyone had recovered some of their past lives' memories. Xuan Yuan Hong said, "In the last reincarnation, we detected the descent of the Great Dao of True and False, intending to directly erase us. We knew that the arrangements made by Fate Severing Senior had taken effect. Although we couldn't change the outcome of being erased by True and False, we felt immense satisfaction. Before disappearing, we decided to help you one last time."
"We didn't expect much to begin with. Who would have thought..." The Fate Severing Master's untimely words suddenly rang out. "That previous master of Return to Truth, who rose from humble beginnings, from the perilous Xuanhuang Realm, step by step reaching the pinnacle of the Mountains and Seas. Meticulous, ruthless, and possessing unparalleled skill. He repeatedly survived desperate situations. And this time, he was actually backstabbed by his own avatar?"
"Could it be that this was his plan?" As this question was posed, the atmosphere instantly turned cold.
Zhang Fan responded immediately, his expression arrogant. "Absolutely impossible!" Just as Li Fan was certain that his past self had truly perished and become Return to Truth, the current Zhang Fan was equally certain that it was his own desperate struggle for survival that led him to usurp his past self, not a plan orchestrated by the latter. However, seeing the thoughtful expressions on the faces of the assembled Guests of Divinity, Zhang Fan's expression flickered through several changes.
After a moment, he said solemnly, "I implore all of you, please help me investigate thoroughly." Since they had united their hearts, there were no longer any personal secrets. Therefore, Zhang Fan directly released his divine soul, allowing the Guests of Divinity to scrutinize him. With their hearts united, he feared no danger.
The matter was of great importance, and the Angler and others dared not be negligent. They began their investigation meticulously. Once, twice. After a long time, everyone withdrew their divine senses.
"You are a perfect fusion, with no flaws. It's a natural creation. It seems we were overly worried," the Fate Severing Master said.
"Under the end of God Return, without the amplification of the Great Dao of True and False, that so-called master of Return to Truth had no advantage. Victory or defeat was uncertain. It is indeed feasible for an avatar to backstab the main body."
...
The Guests of Divinity exchanged views and found no flaws.
"However, considering the insurmountable advantage the master of Return to Truth possessed—preserving memories through countless reincarnations—it's possible he might have some unknown methods. It's always good to be prepared." Even so, they had no particularly effective way to intervene in the conflict between the avatar and the main body. All they could do was offer a reminder.
Moving past this matter, they began to discuss the main agenda. Now that the Great Dao of True and False was on their side, they had the potential to overturn True Gods. Coupled with Zhang Fan, an outsider, even the Guests of Divinity, who had always been content to "lie flat," began to stir.
"I will never repeat the story of that person, devouring all the Mountains and Seas and slaughtering all the gods."
"But how can we preserve the Mountains and Seas while avoiding another cycle of reincarnation?"
“Ja Yu Cun's eternal void world can serve as a backup. My previous life's attempt to inscribe the [True-False] imprint failed. This life, after devouring my main body and improving my comprehension, a qualitative change has occurred. Perhaps I can try again,” Xuanyuan Hong said first.
“How about you attain divinity?” Lord Fate Severer’s words were startling.
“Even if you obtain the True-False creation, it’s not easy to become a savior. You still need to patiently accumulate several more lifetimes, observing all sorts of changes,” Angler was not so optimistic.
…
Despite their shared resolve, the gods-to-be still held differing opinions on this matter.
Zhang Fan merely listened, not voicing his opinion lightly.
“Regardless, we must first visit seniors Zhen Shi Yin and Ja Yu Cun.”
Leaving Bai Shuyue there with peace of mind, Zhang Fan, with the help of Angler and others, first located Zhen Shi Yin, who was hidden within the mountains and seas.
It had to be said that Zhen Shi Yin's hiding place was truly secretive.
Even though they already knew of his existence, Zhang Fan searched the mountains and seas thoroughly but could not find any trace of Zhen Shi Yin. Even when he stimulated his comprehension of the Dao of Seeking Concealment, Zhen Shi Yin still kept to himself.
It was only after the gods-to-be conducted a meticulous search, like casting a net, that they finally found him.
“Making such a big fuss, you must have ill intentions,” Zhen Shi Yin stared at the group that had suddenly barged in.
Zhang Fan said with some helplessness, “Daoist friend, you might not believe this, but I’ve come to repay a debt of gratitude.”
“Repay a debt of gratitude?” Zhen Shi Yin sneered.
“You understand the Dao of Concealment that I comprehended. You must have killed me in a previous life. No wonder I had a vague impression of you. This time you’ve gathered so many helpers…”
Zhen Shi Yin’s eyes gleamed fiercely, “Stop the nonsense and attack! Even though you have numbers on your side, I, Zhen Shi Yin, might not fear you!”
Facing Zhen Shi Yin's misunderstanding, Zhang Fan simply said, “You use [Concealment] as your brush to try and depict [True-False], yet you’ve always failed to achieve it. Now, the Great Dao of True-False is right before your eyes, don’t you want to give it a try?”
“Hm?”
Thus, with their shared resolve, the misunderstanding dissolved.
Zhen Shi Yin was overjoyed and seemed like a completely different person from before.
“Excellent, excellent! I never thought you would truly succeed!”
“The Great Dao of True-False is truly wondrous!”
The deathly pale light that occasionally flashed from his body grew deeper. With Zhang Fan's perspective, he finally saw the ultimate creation he had been desperately pursuing.
Zhen Shi Yin, who was already at the pinnacle of the mountains and seas, saw his cultivation and strength advance by leaps and bounds in a short period.
In fact, after glimpsing the True-False, all the gods-to-be gained something.
However, their respective Daos were not as closely related to True-False as Zhen Shi Yin's.
Therefore, their gains were significantly less.
After seeing Zhen Shi Yin, the last step was to find Ja Yu Cun.
“I wonder if his world has left any traces.”
Soon, their doubts were resolved.
Led by Zhen Shi Yin, they returned to the eternal void world. The moment they arrived, Zhang Fan sensed a faint, familiar feeling.
And Ja Yu Cun was standing in the center of the world, staring at a trace that shouldn't have appeared there, his expression grave.
“It's not fully preserved, only a faint residual trace… but…”
“It’s definitely a good start!”
Everyone was overjoyed, as if seeing hope.
After another session of shared resolve, Ja Yu Cun's doubts completely vanished.
He was even more excited than the other gods-to-be. “Attaining one can lead to attaining all. If the trace were complete, perhaps this eternal world could truly nurture its own [True-False]!”
Finally, they found Daoist Kong. A scene of unprecedented harmony and peace unfolded in the mountains and seas.
Under their shared resolve, they would assist Zhang Fan in painting the scroll of [True-False].
Attempting to engrave the imprint of True-False.
At the same time, the gods-to-be were also discussing the possibility of helping Zhang Fan attain divinity.
“Throughout the long cycle of reincarnation, we have all defeated the mountains and seas and attained divinity.”
“However, according to the main body's memories, the [Stars] we faced after attaining divinity were not truly fallen and returned to the True God, but rather the true mountains and seas.”
“In other words, although we call ourselves gods-to-be, we are merely false gods.”
“However, fellow Daoist Zhang Fan may be able to attain divinity as a [True God].”
…
This was the best solution they had come up with after collective deliberation.
When all beings return to divinity, how can this be reversed? Even though they stood at the pinnacle of life, they could not find an answer through collective wisdom.
“Only by becoming a True God might there be a solution.”
“The only question is, after becoming a True God… will I still be myself?”
Zhang Fan’s gaze swept over everyone.
Although the memories of the main body he inherited were incomplete, the fear of the end of returning to divinity was incredibly clear in his heart.
“Therefore, this step must be taken with extreme caution.”
“After all, no one in this world knows what will happen after becoming a god.”
“We are merely insignificant consciousnesses, living within a link in the long, endless cycle of reincarnation.”
He did not rush to make a decision, as this lifetime had just begun, and there was ample time for preparation.
The painting of the True-False scroll proceeded smoothly, perhaps even more so than Zhang Fan had expected.
Perhaps his fundamental being had undergone another transformation after the battle with his main body.
He easily accomplished what even his previous self and main body could not.
In the eternal void world, a boundless scroll flashed by.
It appeared within the world, yet seemed to encompass the entire world.
It only appeared for a moment before vanishing.
But everyone clearly saw it.
“This world is no longer void.”
Ja Yu Cun wept with joy. Under the influence of their shared resolve, the other gods-to-be were also profoundly moved.
“The immediate task is to find a way to delay the arrival of the end.”
“Allow [True-False] to be nurtured from this imprint.”
Zhang Fan nodded, “Although the imprint of True-False has been formed, it is merely a brand. It will still be subject to the changes of True-False.”
“With each reset, the imprint will likely be significantly weakened. Only when [True-False] is nurtured within this world, confronting True-False with True-False itself…”
“Can an unchanging constant be left behind amidst repeated resets.”
“Besides myself, an outsider, it will be another unchanging constant,” Zhang Fan repeated.
Since a consensus had been reached, it was time for the gods-to-be to showcase their individual strengths.
“We have been in hiding for so long, it's time to move around a bit.”
Lord Fate Severer spoke first, “I will go to the Primordial Immortal Realm first and forcefully cut off their thoughts. If we want to extend the survival time of the mountains and seas as much as possible, the first step is to reconnect the mountains and seas and perform internal strengthening. Only at the Saint realm can one traverse and reconnect. Those in the Primordial Immortal Realm can serve as assistance.”
Thinking of something, the usually lazy Angler's eyes flashed with a hint of excitement.
He stood up abruptly, “I’ll go with you. Hehehe, it’s been a long time since I’ve made a move, I’m getting restless.”
If only Lord Fate Severer, a god-to-be, had acted alone, there might have been some complications.
But if Angler were added…
Even with numerous Saints in the Primordial Immortal Realm, they wouldn't be able to make much of a splash.
Everyone present was absolutely certain of this.
After all, only after attaining divinity would one truly understand the vast gulf between [God] and [Mortal].
Although they were only transient gods-to-be, the changes brought about by their experiences of divinity were enough to crush other Saints of the mountains and seas.
Not to mention, they now had the advantage of [True-False].
Primordial Immortal Realm.
All things flourish, yet a hidden struggle brews.
After countless years of conflict, this realm had achieved a subtle and bizarre balance.
All Saints were in hiding, waiting for unforeseen changes to arise, so they could seize the opportunity to become gods.
However, the arrival of Lord Fate Severer and Angler did not attract their attention at all.
Angler surveyed his surroundings, his eyes filled with emotion, “I haven't been to this place in a long time.”
“Back then, I was so stubbornly attached.”
Lord Fate Severer, on the other hand, was not sentimental, his tone chilling, “Waking them up early is a good thing for them.”
“Let’s begin.”
The moment Lord Fate Severer finished speaking, all the Saints in this realm, regardless of where they were hiding or how they concealed themselves, terrifyingly discovered that a blade, existing between the virtual and real, True and False, had quietly appeared above their heads.
It had no physical form, yet could not be removed by any means.
With the blade hanging over their heads, it felt as if their lives were hanging by a thread.
“Who?”
Most of the Saints were enraged internally, trying to find the master behind the spectral blade.
Some, vaguely sensing an ominous premonition, attempted to flee this realm and escape to the mountains and seas.
However, the moment they tried to leave the Primordial Immortal Realm, their vision went black.
Then, they found themselves trapped in an unknown place.
“Stay put for now.”
A calm voice came from above, as if it contained an irrefutable charm.
“This voice is…”
“Angler of the Mountains and Seas?”
“His strength is terrifyingly immense?”
The Saints were filled with fear, and simultaneously, countless questions arose in their hearts.
Instantly locking onto all the Saints, capturing them with a single thought.
What realm was this?
If they were so strong, why didn't they participate in the struggle for fragmented consciousness?
Just as they were filled with doubt, figures were continuously thrown down from above.
They were all individuals familiar to the Primordial Immortal Realm.
The Saints were even more shocked.
It didn't take much time to pack up the Primordial Immortal Realm.
“Alas, how boring. I thought they would at least put up some resistance.” Lord Fate Severer sighed.
“I can release them all, and then you can try again. No need for the True-False transformation,” Angler suggested with a smile.
“Then forget it. Too troublesome,” Lord Fate Severer shrugged.
Then, he suddenly sighed again, “The True-False transformation is indeed profound and boundless. But it doesn't truly belong to us. I fear that in the next life, without shared resolve and the blessing of True-False, it will be difficult to adapt, leading to greed.”
“It’s like how we once pursued divinity. Even though we knew it was unattainable, our obsession remained.”
“If something like that happens…”
“Please stop me,” Lord Fate Severer said earnestly.
“Me too,” Angler said, his smile gone.
A moment later.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve had such a bountiful harvest. A toast is in order!”
A gourd appeared in Angler’s hand. He tilted it back and took a large swig, then casually tossed it to Lord Fate Severer.
Lord Fate Severer didn't disdain it and drank it down heartily.
Then, the two glanced at the now silent Primordial Immortal Realm and quietly departed.
The Saints were released.
Although they regained their freedom, with the blade still hanging above their heads, the Saints did not act rashly.
“Attaining divinity is an illusory matter, so don't waste your efforts.”
“Of course, I know it’s useless to advise you. That's why I placed a blade above your heads.”
“Please assist in reconnecting the mountains and seas. When the mountains and seas are rebuilt, I will grant you your freedom.”
Lord Fate Severer said coldly.
Although his words were polite, even using the word "please," the Saints clearly felt the sharpness of the blade above their heads intensify, closing in.
Even though they dared not agree, they all nodded in assent.
“However, the mountains and seas are continuous and endless, and to successfully reconnect them…”
“Even with our efforts, it would likely be like a drop in the bucket,” Sage Ta said gravely.
“Don’t worry, you just need to take the lead.” It was Zhang Fan who spoke.
With a single thought, hundreds or thousands of phantom images differentiated from Zhang Fan.
“I will continuously shape the Saints of the mountains and seas through the method of True Spirit Infusion. You will be the main force, and the newly formed Saints will be auxiliaries. With everyone's efforts, even though the mountains and seas have countless chasms now, it won't take long to reconnect them.”
“True Spirit Infusion? Shaping Saints?” The Saints of the Primordial realm were all shaken by this revelation.
The mountains and seas they once knew were shattered in an instant.
They now suddenly realized that the truth of the mountains and seas might be far more profound than they had imagined.
Circumstances forced their hand.
Even though they were unwilling, under the pressure of the blade above their heads, the Saints could only comply.
Reconnecting the mountains and seas was indeed a tedious and arduous task.
Even with the strength of the Saints of the Primordial realm, and with the continuous reinforcement of new Saints, they still felt mentally and physically exhausted during the long process of rebuilding the mountains and seas.
However, after the blade above their heads mercilessly struck [The Net], who tried to escape this fate, the rest of the Saints all became obedient.
Helplessly, they continued.
The Net did not perish.
With a flash of Lord Fate Severer's blade, The Net lost its Dao path and fell from the Saint realm.
However, it was forcefully infused with True Spirit, given a different Dao path, and sent back to the grand undertaking of reconnecting the mountains and seas.
But at this point, it was far less comfortable than before.
Like all other continuously sculpted Saints, it had to physically exert itself, traversing the void realm. Then, using its body as a bridge, it constructed the passages for reconnecting the mountains and seas.
The Saints of the Primordial realm, on the other hand, only needed to oversee the overall situation and intervene at critical moments to ensure everything went smoothly.
The difference between these two roles was perhaps not noticeable in the short term, but with the passage of time, the perceived difference was like that between heaven and earth.
The drastic difference in The Net's fate completely extinguished any thought of escape from the Saints of the Primordial realm.
Although the project of reconnecting the mountains and seas was long, fortunately, given the current situation, it was not without end.
They just had to endure it.
When the mountains and seas were reconnected, they would be free.
With the realm and strength of "gods-to-be" like Lord Fate Severer and Angler, they wouldn't deceive them.
“Fellow Daoist Fan, your method is indeed marvelous. I originally thought that suppressing and supervising would require a lot of effort.”
“I didn’t expect all the Saints to be so obedient, saving us quite a bit of trouble,” Sage Forgetfulness sighed in admiration.
“It’s just…”
All the gods-to-be looked at the eternal void world.
The nurturing of True-False still seemed distant.
“If the mountains and seas are successfully reconnected, and new True-False does not arrive, then what?”
Zhang Fan’s expression was calm, his gaze deep, “Then we can only make the Saints of the mountains and seas suffer a bit longer.”
The mountains and seas shattered, then returned to the stars. This was destiny, the final verdict. Even if all the Sages joined forces, they could only temporarily alter the situation. However, what the Star-Seekers desired was merely to delay the inevitable as much as possible. Beyond creating enough time for the Eternal Void World to nurture the Dao marks of truth and falsehood, they also needed to find a fundamental solution to counter the End of God Return. Though the lifespan of mountains and seas was long, it seemed insufficient. From the nascent beginnings of the mountains and seas to the end of time, a total of one hundred and sixty billion years had passed. Millions of mountain and sea fragments, fractured by the encroachment of Dao Erasure, had been lost. Reconnecting even a single section of the mountains and seas required the concerted effort of many Sages, a monumental undertaking. Yet, what once seemed impossibly distant progressed with unexpected speed. Countless avatars of Zhang Fan, wielding the divine abilities of True Spirit Infusion, resolved the logistical issues for the Sages in the void realms. The Star-Seekers and the Primordial Sages collectively oversaw the grand design. Over one hundred billion years of shattered mountains and seas were now being painstakingly repaired, piece by piece. Even the Sages involved fully throughout the process found it incredible when they looked back.
“Before, I scoffed at the idea of reconnecting the mountains and seas. Now, it doesn't seem so difficult!”
“All the Sages united, putting aside all their disputes. This in itself was almost an impossible feat. I am quite curious what the Star-Seekers are collectively plotting.”
“Forget it, no need to dwell on it. It only leads to more worries. I’ve been exhausted for too long; after the reconnection is complete, I want to have a good rest.”
“Soon, very soon.”
Under the watchful gaze of all, the final fissure in the mountains and seas was repaired. As the Sages finally found release, a faint sense of bewilderment washed over them. For so long, they had been driven by the goal of reconnecting the mountains and seas; it had become an ingrained instinct. Now that the project was complete, the Sages felt lost, somewhat unsure of themselves.
The Star-Seekers had fulfilled their promise. The Fate-Severing Blades, once poised above their heads, gradually vanished, and the threat was gone. However, the Star-Seekers themselves seemed to vanish from the mountains and seas, leaving no trace. Some of the Sages, weary and disillusioned, retreated to quiet corners of the mountains and seas to live in seclusion. Others, yearning for the power of the Star-Seekers, became infatuated and once again journeyed to the Primordial Immortal Realm. Some, accustomed to their interactions with the beings of the mountains and seas during the reconnection process, had integrated themselves into the populace, living as mortals, hidden amongst them.
The Eternal Void World was no longer an empty expanse. Instead, a magnificent and sacred Grand Dao Hall stood erected in its center. The hall was boundless, seemingly an entire realm unto itself. Within its infinite expanse, myriad Great Daos were laid out in solemn array. The Star-Seekers surveyed the Grand Dao Hall, nodding in approval.
“The Dao paths of the Sages of the Mountains and Seas have all been incorporated here.”
“The current stable state of the mountains and seas should last for ten billion years. After ten billion years, Dao Erasure will return, and the mountains and seas will shatter once more, only to begin anew,” said Star-Breaker, as if glimpsing the dark tide that had been repelled beyond the mountains and seas.
Zhang Fan continued, “By then, I will use the transformation of truth and falsehood to erase all the Sages. Then, using this Grand Dao Hall as a foundation, I will reconstruct a new batch of Sages for the mountains and seas. In this way, another cycle of reconnection will commence.”
Xuanyuan Hong sighed, “After all, we made a promise to them. If we were to repel them again, it would inevitably lead to conflict. While it would be a simple matter, I fear they might not expend as much effort in the subsequent reconnections.”
“It would be better to simply recreate them using truth and falsehood.”
The Star-Seekers raised no objections, clearly sharing the same sentiment. After countless years of understanding the interplay of truth and falsehood, their ways of thinking had subtly shifted. They themselves might have noticed this shift at some point, but having mastered the principles of truth and falsehood, it became difficult to regard other beings and matters as truly equal. Moreover, the vast majority of the Star-Seekers' focus was still on dealing with the End of God Return. Minor details held little interest for them.
“The Dao marks of truth and falsehood have already been two-thirds nurtured.”
“However, the rate of evolution slows as it progresses. It may still require three times the current duration for it to fully form.”
“No matter. It’s merely three more cycles. We have already mastered the origins of all Sages. With the Great Dao of Truth and Falsehood, we can create new Sages at any time for reconnection. The only concern we have is the mountains and seas themselves.”
An image of the boundless mountains and seas flashed before the Star-Seekers. During the reconnection of the mountains and seas, the Sages’ footprints had traversed every inch of them. The Sages were their eyes. As the true creators of the mountains and seas, almost every inch was within the control of the assembled Star-Seekers.
“The End of God Return for the mountains and seas is destiny. An unstoppable destiny.”
“Though we have reversed it with great power, each cycle of birth and destruction will only intensify the onslaught.”
“It will even double each time.”
“Until… Dao Erasure appears, and the mountains and seas are instantly submerged.”
“There will be no more opportunity for us to slowly reconnect them.”
“Therefore, the time left for us is truly scarce.”
Under the gaze of the Star-Seekers, the image of mountains and seas shifted numerous times. Then, a solitary star hung high above the mountains and seas.
“Fellow Daoist Fan, how are your preparations?”
“The current Great Daos within the mountains and seas are already known to me. I can seize them at any moment and replace the mountains and seas, achieving the position of a new God. The stars that transformed from the mountains and seas behind the scenes are certainly no match for me. My only concern is still the Gods.” Zhang Fan said indifferently.
“Therefore, we must await the birth of the Dao marks of truth and falsehood.”
The Star-Seekers nodded slightly upon hearing this. Over the years, as Zhang Fan’s power grew, he had gradually detached himself from the idea of “united hearts and minds.” Even though Zhang Fan intended to share with the other Star-Seekers, as he drew closer to becoming a “God,” he would inadvertently fade from their shared consciousness. Thus, Zhang Fan’s words held unspoken implications. Theoretically, the higher one’s power and the more thorough their preparations, the greater their confidence in defeating the Gods. However, the reality was quite the opposite. Zhang Fan had deduced countless possibilities for what might happen after destroying the stars. But the results were always “nothing.” No victory, no defeat. It was as if after completing the destruction of the stars, he would vanish into thin air. This bizarre outcome left Zhang Fan perplexed. Currently, he was arguably the closest being to becoming a God in the entire mountains and seas. Therefore, he understood more clearly the immense power of Gods.
“It’s still not enough.”
A fleeting sense of powerlessness arose in Zhang Fan’s heart, though he quickly suppressed it. He now understood, years later, why his original self had scattered avatars to seek a way out of the predicament. It was truly a case of exhausting all possibilities and achieving nothing.
“But I am different from him.”
Zhang Fan extinguished all extraneous thoughts.
“What he couldn’t accomplish, I might be able to!”
“Defeat the Gods…”
Zhang Fan’s gaze swept across the phantom image of the mountains and seas, as if truly witnessing the actual mountains and seas. He secretly made a decision in his heart.
…
As the Star-Seekers had predicted, after ten billion years of stability, Dao Erasure returned once more. The mountains and seas fractured, and the Sages were profoundly shaken. Seeing this familiar scene, memories of the past flooded back.
“Could it be that they’re going to capture us again to reconnect the mountains and seas?”
“Damn it, this time I’ll fight to the death!”
“Hmph! Although the Star-Seekers are powerful, we are not without our own strength. If they try to force us again, then…”
While the Sages were still deliberating, Zhang Fan’s consciousness enveloped all of the mountains and seas.
“True becomes False.”
With a single, calm sentence, devoid of any emotional resonance. Moments later, the existence of the Sages was erased without the slightest ripple.
“Fellow Daoist Fan’s comprehension of the Great Dao of Truth and Falsehood has deepened significantly,” praised Fate-Severing Master.
With the Sages of the mountains and seas lost, the world felt like a cargo ship that had lost its ballast. Under the pressure of the Dao Erasure tides, it became unstable, seemingly on the verge of being engulfed by the storm.
“False becomes True!”
Zhang Fan’s cold voice echoed through the mountains and seas once more. And so… figures, one after another, appeared, adorning various locations within the mountains and seas. This included the Primordial Immortal Realm. Just as before. These newly created Sages seemed oblivious to everything, still immersed in their past memories and actions.
“Let’s go. We’ll just capture them again.”
Fate-Severing Master sighed. Fishing Immortal, lacking his initial excitement, merely followed. Before long, the mountain and sea reconnection project began anew. However, apart from Zhang Fan and the Star-Seekers, all other Sages were unaware that this was their second arduous undertaking.
“Mountains and seas, Great Dao, truth and falsehood…”
Zhang Fan, having completed this monumental feat, did not feel particularly strained. He merely felt a surge of inexplicable emotions in his heart. Sages were the pinnacle of all beings in the mountains and seas. Yet, he could erase them with a thought, and create them with a thought. What was there to speak of in comparison?
“Is this… what it means to be a God?”
A peculiar gleam flickered in Zhang Fan’s eyes. From then on, Zhang Fan became increasingly taciturn, seemingly engrossed in his contemplative solitude. He would only occasionally inform the Star-Seekers of the general progress. The mountains and seas soon underwent their second cycle of reincarnation. The reconnection was successful, a period of peace followed, and then another devastating shattering. This time, the mountains and seas remained intact for a duration of five billion years.
“True becomes False!”
“False becomes True!”
The Star-Seekers repeated their actions. A new cycle began. However, this time, a sense of numbness began to creep into their hearts. They performed their tasks mechanically, without any emotional engagement.
…
And so, the mountains and seas went through cycle after cycle of reincarnation. With each turn, the backlash from Dao Erasure grew more intense. The ultimate limit predicted by the Star-Seekers—Dao Erasure appears, mountains and seas vanish—was fast approaching.
In the Eternal Void World.
“We are only a hair’s breadth away from completion, yet why are the [Truth and Falsehood] Dao marks refusing to be born?” The Star-Seekers’ faces were devoid of their usual composure. The Dao marks of truth and falsehood had been on the verge of birth for a long time, but for some inexplicable reason, they seemed stuck, showing no further progress. Despite enduring three cycles of mountain and sea reincarnation, there had been no advancement. This led the Star-Seekers to doubt. Could their plan truly succeed?
“Fellow Daoist Fan, what should be our course of action?” Fate-Severing Master asked. His tone and demeanor suggested a degree of trepidation.
Zhang Fan was not physically present, but Fate-Severing Master knew that merely mentioning his name would alert him. In recent years, Zhang Fan’s aura had become increasingly ethereal, like the inscrutable Great Dao of Truth and Falsehood, existing yet not manifesting in the mortal world. The idea of “united hearts and minds” had become a mere formality. While Zhang Fan's phantom image remained, they could no longer perceive his thoughts.
Moments later, Zhang Fan's voice resonated in their minds. “We have done all we could. The Dao marks of truth and falsehood are slow to appear…”
“This world, though called Eternal Void and existing independently, still has faint connections to the mountains and seas, stemming from the existence of the False Cosmos. If we are to truly nurture truth and falsehood, we must sever all external connections and exile it beyond the mountains and seas.”
“There may be a glimmer of hope.”
The Star-Seekers naturally understood Zhang Fan’s implication. After a moment of silence, as if finding release, they said, “We have done our best. Let fate decide. We have already done more than enough.”
“Excellent,” Zhang Fan replied with a single word. The next moment, within the Eternal World, the bodies of the Star-Seekers dissolved into countless flecks of light, like ashes drifting into the air. They all converged towards a single point. Then, the entirety of the mountains and seas followed suit. It was as if an unseen great fire had descended, silently incinerating everything within the mountains and seas. There was no pain, no consciousness. In silent demise, the mountains and seas perished, beings were annihilated, and the Sages vanished. All the flecks of ash gathered in one place: Zhang Fan. He now fully understood his original self’s intentions. Preserving the mountains and seas while facing the True Gods was pure folly.
“Only by returning everything can there be…”
“A sliver of a chance of victory.”
A trace of hesitation flickered in Zhang Fan’s heart. To be honest, even now, he could not see any possibility of defeating the True Gods. But the arrow had been loosed, and there was no turning back. The mountains and seas were entirely absorbed by Zhang Fan. The Void Realm, having gained nothing, erupted in fury. Its mission, entrusted by the [Star], had been utterly betrayed. Endless tides of Dao Erasure surged towards Zhang Fan. But for some reason, moments later, chaos erupted within the Dao Erasure itself. It seemed the Void Realm itself had some expectation for the current spectacle.
Zhang Fan naturally knew the reason.
“Sun Piao Miao…”
“I will grant you release.”
“After all, you were once a part of the mountains and seas, and you cannot be absent.”
The void of the Void Realm was nothing compared to [Truth and Falsehood]. Where his will reached, all was erased. Or rather, returned to the mundane. With the mountains and seas, and the Void Realm, gone, the stage they had constructed crumbled. The entity behind the scenes then revealed itself. In mere moments, an endless expanse of starlight cascaded into the world. In this scene, which felt strangely familiar, Zhang Fan sensed an infinite rage emanating from above. Under the starlight, even the Great Daos of Truth and Falsehood trembled. But Zhang Fan merely scoffed, “A scurrying rat hiding its head, daring to contend with my brilliance?” Facing the scattered starlight, Zhang Fan did not dodge or evade. His body expanded infinitely, absorbing all the starlight. Within the starlight, he sensed countless chaotic and deranged thoughts. Along with immeasurable shattered images. These images held no tangible meaning, merely representing the past experiences of the mountains and seas, or rather, this world, through endless cycles of reincarnation. Yet, each image carried the weight of the mountains and seas. Upon contact, it felt like a collision. Zhang Fan sat alone, gazing upwards. He felt as if all the stars in the universe were falling towards him. If it were the Zhang Fan who had just counterattacked his original self, he would surely not have been able to withstand such a terrifying onslaught. But having endured numerous cycles of mountain and sea reincarnation, having absorbed everything, he could now calmly bear it.
“As I said, the so-called [Star] is by no means my opponent.”
“My only concern is still the Gods.”
The countless stars in the sky gradually dimmed. Zhang Fan silently awaited the arrival of the final moment.
The moment all starlight was swallowed, all external visuals and sounds vanished. Pure, absolute darkness and silence completely enveloped Zhang Fan. Nothing existed but Zhang Fan. Even the concept of time ceased to be.
After a long period of deathly stillness, faint, rambling voices began to whisper in Zhang Fan's ear. Against the profound silence of his surroundings, they sounded like thunder.
"What is this..." Zhang Fan found the voices strangely familiar yet couldn't recall their source. Though only an instant had passed since the utter annihilation of all things, to Zhang Fan, it felt like an eternity. His memories even began to decay and blur. Instinctively, he tried to listen more intently.
It was like the suddenchirp of a single cicada, quickly followed by the chorus of thousands. What had been mere whispers moments before erupted into a grand, magnificent symphony.
"Xuan Yuanhong, Fate Severer, Angler..." Familiar yet unfamiliar names surfaced in Zhang Fan's mind, causing him to hesitate. Zhang Fan could no longer remember who these individuals were. Yet their hoarse cries seemed urgent, as if they were desperately trying to tell him something.
Sensing their emotions, Zhang Fan attempted to calm himself and filter out the other chaotic sounds. But it was all in vain. Soon, these familiar voices were drowned out by the tide that followed, new voices emerging. Both familiar and strange. So familiar that Zhang Fan could utter their names, yet so strange that he had no recollection of them in his mind.
Zhang Fan vaguely sensed something was wrong. "Am I..." "Decaying?"
In that instant, Zhang Fan was consumed by doubt and confusion. He suddenly recalled his goal: to slay the gods. His past ambitions remained vivid. After proudly devouring mountains and seas, and extinguishing stars, his cultivation, strength, and state of mind had all reached their peak. He had made perfect preparations to face the legendary fallen True God. But he never imagined that he would not find a True God. Instead, he was met with endless solitude and darkness.
An instant became an eternity. His body and consciousness began to decay and weaken. And the things he had once absorbed within him began to awaken. This was entirely different from what he had expected. As if deceived, a surge of pure malice rose within Zhang Fan.
"Get out!" "You! Get out!" he roared in extreme anger. Yet, he himself could not hear his own shout. The dark void was eternal and unchanging, like cold seawater silently engulfing Zhang Fan.
In that moment, Zhang Fan felt the bone-chilling coldness emanating from the darkness before him. He felt himself suddenly grow weak, the very ground he relied upon rapidly disappearing. He instinctively tried to gasp for air, but could not reverse this trend. The voices constantly transmitted to his ears grew louder, like dark clouds eclipsing the sun. Zhang Fan felt like a dying behemoth, lying on the ground, stripped of all strength and unable to struggle, letting the sun scorch him, his body decay, and insects feast upon him.
"I am dying." This realization flashed through his mind. Then, a wave of immense unwillingness surged within him. "I worked so hard, from a mere ant-like clone, to grow to this point. Devouring the original, swallowing mountains and seas, destroying solitary stars. I almost became a god!" "How can I die so meaninglessly?"
Zhang Fan angrily waved his hand, trying to swat away the insects circling his body. But his outstretched arm only became a fertile ground for their growth. Instead of improving, the situation worsened, and the surrounding sounds grew even louder, like a surging tide. Despite his myriad unwillingness, Zhang Fan felt his existence growing weaker, inexorably closer to death.
In a hazy state, he seemed to hear a chilling chewing sound. It was as if a colossal entity in the darkness was slowly consuming him. Compared to the tiny insects, its feeding was slow and elegant, as if playfully savoring the downfall of this "new god," Zhang Fan.
Like being doused with ice water in winter, Zhang Fan's boundless rage was instantly extinguished. Only fear remained. At this moment, not a single thought of resistance against it could form in his mind. All that remained was a desperate desire to struggle free from its maw. But its feeding was undeniable, an inescapable destiny.
Zhang Fan could only watch with utter clarity as every inch of his body was gnawed, shredded, and swallowed. Then digested. All that he had previously consumed was lost with this invisible digestion. Ultimately, only Zhang Fan himself remained. In the next moment, even he was about to be completely devoured.
With no external restraints or burdens, Zhang Fan suddenly felt a surge of hope for life. He had forgotten many things, almost everything. But there was one thing he still remembered.
"True..." "True-False..." It was like a flickering lamp in the darkness, precarious yet briefly illuminating Zhang Fan's lost thoughts. "True-False... Dao marks?" He vaguely recalled that in a certain world, [True-False] was about to be conceived. It was only a hair's breadth away from birth, but due to its location in the mountains and seas, it could never succeed. In the process of proving his divinity, he had not swallowed that world. He had merely let it change.
"That place is still there!" As if seeing a glimmer of hope, Zhang Fan's remaining essence was fully ignited. He struggled to open his eyes, trying to find that sole possible refuge from the boundless darkness.
"There!" His memories resurfaced, and Zhang Fan quickly located his target. An eternal world, floating silently. It seemed to have been there since its birth, eternally unchanged. The silent feeding in the darkness ignored him as if he were nothing. Like finding his last straw, Zhang Fan's remaining divine sense resisted the devouring power from the outside, and he quickly reached that eternal world.
Though just a small corner, it brought Zhang Fan unprecedented peace. All external threats vanished instantly, and Zhang Fan miraculously survived. The darkness receded, and time regained its meaning. Zhang Fan became powerful once more. After all, he was the one who had once devoured the entire mountains and seas, and even absorbed a solitary star. Even a residual portion was enough to be called "powerful."
He slowly regained his composure. Everything he had just experienced felt like a nightmare. Even now, Zhang Fan couldn't comprehend what had happened. But the familiar [True-False] aura emanating from this eternal world brought him a sense of peace. His rationality gradually returned.
"It actually succeeded in being conceived?" This was the first normal thought that surfaced in Zhang Fan's mind.
"Inconceivable..."
Putting aside the boundless strangeness of the outside world, Zhang Fan carefully pondered the "Truth and Falsehood" before him. It was as if he were looking in a mirror; the "Truth and Falsehood" he observed in this world bore no difference from the [Truth and Falsehood] he had always controlled.
"There is no distinction between strong and weak, no difference between high and low, no order of before and after."
"As it is Truth and Falsehood, it is Truth and Falsehood."
As if beholding a peerless treasure, Zhang Fan's divine sense became lost. It was only after a long while that he regained his senses, his heart filled with countless doubts and curiosities.
"If there is no difference between two truths and falsehoods..."
A thought stirred in Zhang Fan's heart, and he reached out, attempting to capture this newborn Truth and Falsehood. But something he hadn't expected happened. Although he could perceive Truth and Falsehood, the newborn Truth and Falsehood was like a reflection in the water or a flower in a mirror to him – unattainable.
"It is the same Truth and Falsehood, yet it is not the Truth and Falsehood I control."
After several failed attempts, Zhang Fan mused, no longer trying to grasp it. Instead, he sat down on the spot, attempting to sense the newborn supreme Dao principles of this eternal world from scratch.
A moment later, his brow furrowed. The very first instant he tried, his body encountered immense resistance, which even shook the foundation of his existence. While he could indeed sense and cultivate the newborn Truth and Falsehood, the price was the separation and severance from the Great Dao of Truth and Falsehood he currently controlled.
"Can the two not coexist?"
A hint of regret flickered in Zhang Fan's heart. Although this was within his expectations, a bit of regret was inevitable.
"To have supreme treasures before me, yet only be able to gaze from afar."
Fortunately, he quickly adjusted his mindset and looked out towards the world beyond. In the darkness, he could faintly sense the colossal entity descending. Although it was formless and shapeless, and a world separated them, Zhang Fan still felt an irresistible, immense pressure.
"The divine body has appeared."
"Only lacking Truth and Falsehood, and the True God will descend upon the world."
"Moreover, this True God was nurtured from my own person, or rather, from my decaying body."
As his gaze deepened into the darkness, the pressure Zhang Fan felt increased exponentially. He was forced to avert his eyes.
"The resurgence of the True God is now unstoppable."
The Great Dao of Truth and Falsehood within him began to stir. It seemed to want to leave his body and return to the True God's body, its rightful place.
Zhang Fan sighed inwardly, knowing that his attempt in this life had failed. While the Truth and Falsehood could still be maintained stably for the last moment, he analyzed the reasons for the current situation as much as possible.
"Devouring mountains and seas, destroying lone stars. Everything went smoothly until..."
"The moment after becoming a god."
Just like those gods who had appeared in the sea of mountains and seas before, Zhang Fan could indeed be called a [God] in this life. Yet, he couldn't escape the fate of perishing. Zhang Fan carefully recalled the events of that time. Before the Truth and Falsehood was about to completely leave his body, he arrived at an answer.
"It was not that the fallen True God reappeared, causing my demise. Instead, it was because my body was gradually decaying and about to perish that the True God within me was engendered."
"My death was the cause, and the True God's appearance was the effect."
"That boundless darkness seems to be able to solidify and corrupt even the will of gods. Even with my divine body, I can hardly survive?"
Zhang Fan's mind was in turmoil, the Great Dao of Truth and Falsehood was about to completely detach. In this final moment, Zhang Fan silently recited [Return to Truth]! A ray of light ignited from Zhang Fan's body, illuminating the surrounding darkness. In this instant, he seemed to witness the complete divine body of a god, as if making eye contact with the fallen True God. Then, he saw the True God's body, under the illumination of Return to Truth, melt away like snow and ice, returning to its origin.
Mountains and seas reappeared, anchored for 1 year!
"Fan'er..."
Ignoring Bai Shuyue's cry, Zhang Fan channeled the Truth and Falsehood with a thought, returning his cultivation to the Saint realm. His figure shot like lightning, heading straight for where Jia Yucun was. He had to confirm whether the newborn Truth and Falsehood, which the combined power of all the Sages of mountains and seas had pushed forward and nurtured in his previous life, still existed. This point was crucial.
Jia Yucun's Eternal Void World, created by him, was independent of the mountains and seas. Without directly intervening, even Zhang Fan found it difficult to observe any changes. Fortunately, he was familiar with the path, and within no time, he arrived.
"Truth and Falsehood is still here!"
An indescribable thrill surged through Zhang Fan's heart. This was, so far, the only thing besides himself that could be preserved after the reset by Return to Truth!
"If the newborn Truth and Falsehood were in the mountains and seas, I'm afraid it would still be reset by Return to Truth, just like that divine body."
"Gods, and even Truth and Falsehood itself, cannot escape the changes of Truth and Falsehood."
"However, this Eternal Void World, after nurturing the newborn Truth and Falsehood, has clearly become completely independent of the mountains and seas. The two exist in parallel, interfering with each other. The reset of the latter will not affect me in the slightest."
The hidden pain in his heart, consumed by darkness and the True God, was dispelled by this discovery. This time, Zhang Fan truly saw hope for breaking the cycle of destiny.
"Who is it?"
Due to the significant fluctuation in his emotions, Jia Yucun finally noticed Zhang Fan, this uninvited intruder.
"Hahahaha!"
Zhang Fan did not reply, only laughing heartily. Just as Jia Yucun was about to make a move, a series of images flashed through his mind.
"Fan... Fellow Daoist?"
Driven by instinct, he inexplicably uttered this name. They had spent too long together in unity and accord in the previous life. Therefore, even after the reset of mountains and seas, all the ascended gods retained memories of each other.
Soon, the ascended gods reunited. In this Eternal Void World.
"United Hearts!"
Zhang Fan said solemnly, and the Sages finally witnessed the newborn [Truth and Falsehood] in this place.
"No... Inconceivable! The supreme Great Dao has truly been nurtured in the world I created! No wonder I felt something was amiss from the beginning of this life, yet I could never pinpoint it." Jia Yucun trembled uncontrollably from extreme excitement.
"It can withstand the reset by Return to Truth and remain unchanged. It can be basically confirmed that this world has truly transcended and become independent. It can perhaps serve as a saving boat." The Angler also lost his usual calmness.
Amidst the surging emotions, Zhang Fan posed a series of questions.
"The newborn Truth and Falsehood can escape the reset of mountains and seas. As for the beings within it, their fate... requires further verification."
"But first, there is a crucial question. Will the beings hiding in this world reappear in the mountains and seas after the reset by Return to Truth?"
"If so, wouldn't there be two existences simultaneously?"
"And if not..."
"Wouldn't that mean the absence of gods?"
Zhang Fan's questions brought the ascended gods back to calm. Besides the mountains and seas, another world had been born. This was an unprecedented event. No one knew the answers to these questions; only practice would reveal the truth.
Jia Yucun volunteered: "This time, I will stay here and await the changes before and after the Return to Truth."
Zhang Fan pondered and reminded him: "There may be unknown risks."
Jia Yucun scoffed: "To witness the birth of Truth and Falsehood is enough. I have no regrets even if I die immediately."
Zhen Shiyin then smiled: "Since he is not afraid, I will join him. To personally witness an event that twists the destiny of mountains and seas is enough to make our cultivation worthwhile."
Zhang Fan nodded and wasted no more time. After leaving this world with the ascended gods, he immediately activated the transformation of Truth and Falsehood once more. Opening his eyes, he found himself back in the Xuanhuang Realm. To verify what had happened, Zhang Fan hurried to the Eternal Void World again.
"Why have you returned?"
Jia Yucun, who was sitting in the center of the world, was first stunned, then seemed to realize something and exclaimed: "You've already activated the Return to Truth once?"
Beside him, Zhen Shiyin also showed a look of joy.
True Concealment and False Existence remained in their state from the previous life, a time before the reset of the Sea of Mountains. This proved that this Eternal Void World could truly exist independently, unaffected by Return to Truth.
"Are we... still here?" True Concealment couldn't help but ask Zhang Fan with a peculiar expression amidst his surprise.
"Within the Sea of Mountains, there are still those who are 'True Concealment' and 'False Existence'. However, they are no longer you," Zhang Fan replied. Even on their way here, Zhang Fan had sensed two different Eternal Void Worlds within the Sea of Mountains. One was a pure land created by False Existence, existing without a duality of truth and falsehood. The other was where he was now. It was a new vessel, nurtured through the united efforts of countless Sages who painstakingly reconnected the Sea of Mountains after an immeasurable amount of time, and through Zhang Fan's relentless refinement with his understanding of truth and falsehood.
Receiving the answer, True Concealment's expression grew complex. "We are now like items bound by Return to Truth in the past. We exist independently of the Sea of Mountains, and we cannot perceive each other. Otherwise, only one could remain."
False Existence, on the other hand, appeared indifferent. "I am me, and he is not me. Now that we are in the new vessel, their lives and deaths have nothing to do with us."
"Since the results have been verified, I will go and notify the Angler and the Fate Severer," Zhang Fan said, his heart filled with emotion. "After countless reincarnations, we finally see hope of escaping our fate."
"Does this world have a carrying limit? Furthermore, as guests who have attained divinity, we originated from the Sea of Mountains. If too many of us pour in, causing the vessel to fall into a vortex and be unable to escape the tribulation..." False Existence suddenly became anxious, worrying about the unknown.
Zhang Fan simply smiled. "We'll know with a try."
Not long after, the Angler, the Fate Severer, and others arrived. Upon learning of the new vessel's birth, they were also filled with mixed emotions. After countless failed attempts to save the Sea of Mountains, choosing self-preservation by withdrawing might be the wiser choice.
This Eternal World was boundless. It was originally created by False Existence to mimic the Sea of Mountains and nurture the duality of truth and falsehood. Especially now that False Existence had truly birthed his own distinct Great Dao of Truth and Falsehood, in a sense, it could be considered another Sea of Mountains. The gathered guests who had attained divinity did not cause any burden to it. Eternal peace enveloped them, with nothingness surrounding them.
Soon, the group began discussing their evacuation plan.
"Should we bring others with us?" Xuanyuan Hong hesitated, but finally asked. All the guests who had attained divinity looked at Zhang Fan. If the new vessel had a navigator, it could only be Zhang Fan. The guests who had attained divinity were indifferent; the primary consideration was to respect Zhang Fan's opinion.
A fleeting image of Bai Shuyue crossed Zhang Fan's mind. He pondered for a moment and finally nodded. "We can bring them selectively, regardless of their cultivation realm. Also..."
"I am not leaving."
His words stunned everyone.
"However, this world still needs a helmsman." As he spoke, a faint figure floated out from Zhang Fan. It bore a slight resemblance to Zhang Fan, but possessed no cultivation aura at all. This was inspired by Zhang Fan's insights from obtaining countless avatars from his past "main body."
"He will replace me and leave with you all."
"As for me..." Zhang Fan remained silent, only shaking his head slightly.
"Fellow Daoist Fan, are you concerned that once you leave the Sea of Mountains, you might not be able to use Return to Truth to return to the beginning?" True Concealment asked, seeing his reaction.
Zhang Fan smiled confidently. "With a single thought of truth and falsehood, regardless of the time, place, or state of existence, if I activate Return to Truth on the new vessel, the Sea of Mountains will disappear from its original location. Outside the new vessel, the Sea of Mountains will reappear."
The guests who had attained divinity looked at him with confusion. "If that's the case, why are you unwilling to come with us, Fellow Daoist Fan?"
"There is still one matter that needs verification. Don't worry, with him here, it's as if I am here myself." Zhang Fan pointed to his avatar. Seeing that Zhang Fan's decision was final, the guests no longer insisted. As he had said, they selectively brought along some beings, familiar or with potential, and entered the new vessel. The initially empty and silent world became more lively with these additions. Moreover, with the guests who had attained divinity remodeling it, there was no need to worry about survival.
Zhang Fan watched everything, then subtly glanced at his avatar. "Let's call him... Zhang Xiaofan."
"He is my avatar, born with the knowledge of truth and falsehood. Although he appears to be just an ordinary mortal now, he, like me, possesses the ability to reset and reverse with a single thought. The initial anchor point was the moment the new vessel departed the Sea of Mountains."
"I hope they can last a little longer," Zhang Fan's eyes flickered with an inexplicable emotion. Although everything was ready, the new vessel could not leave the Sea of Mountains at this moment. This was because, in everyone's perception, both the Sea of Mountains and the void realm were parts of the True God from the past. Even with the new vessel as an artifact, they could not escape this limitation.
"Only when the Sea of Mountains completely disappears, in the moment before the True God awakens, will we have the opportunity to leave," Zhang Xiaofan said with a solemn expression, his tone and demeanor indistinguishable from Zhang Fan himself.
The guests who had attained divinity nodded, expressing their understanding. They had already experienced countless reincarnations; waiting a little longer now was nothing. This time, Zhang Fan once again played the role of the Sea of Mountains' undertaker, devouring landscapes, destroying lone stars, and confronting the True God. Everything felt familiar. From the initial shock and awe, to this second time, Zhang Fan had grown somewhat numb and accustomed to it.
Endless darkness once again enveloped Zhang Fan. It was as if he was the only thing in existence. In this moment, time seemed to halt, or perhaps accelerate by hundreds of billions of times. This was a power that could even decay a divine body. Perhaps only the fallen [True God] could withstand it. Zhang Fan had only absorbed the divine body and inherited the duality of truth and falsehood; he had not possessed the [divine] consciousness. Thus, he could only watch himself slowly wither and decay in the darkness.
But...
He seemed to detect an unusual scent emanating from himself, and in that instant, Zhang Fan's gaze turned towards a certain spot in the darkness. He vaguely sensed that a new vessel, carrying his avatar and a large number of beings, was there. Compared to Zhang Fan, who had now become a [God], the new vessel was undoubtedly minuscule. Yet, for some reason, its existence illuminated the darkness like a candle, repelling the corrosive power within.
"As expected." Zhang Fan slowly regained his consciousness, attempting to find a way to survive safely in the darkness. However...
In the darkness, a gust of wind seemed to blow. The sole candle in existence flickered precariously. Zhang Fan vaguely saw the guests who had attained divinity struggling to save it. But in the end, the flame was extinguished. Without the candle's illumination, the coldness, stillness, and decay once again enveloped Zhang Fan.
Though seemingly at the end of his rope, Zhang Fan did not immediately activate Return to Truth. Instead, he waited for something. As expected, he was not disappointed. Moments later, a flickering flame ignited once more in the darkness. That was... Zhang Xiaofan's duality of truth and falsehood!
Even when on the verge of becoming a True God, survival in this darkness was incredibly difficult. Much less for that eternal world. It was like a flame extinguished, offering no resistance at all.
Fortunately, Zhang Fan’s clone, wielding the power of True and False Transformations, could reverse the cosmos with a single thought, rekindling dying embers.
But… that was all he could do.
It was much like the Mountains and Seas. The New Boat, placed with such high hopes by the God-Becoming Guests, immediately plunged into the same endless cycle of reincarnation upon its maiden voyage.
Even more, its predicament was far crueler than that of the Mountains and Seas!
With the volume of the Mountains and Seas, each reincarnation could last for hundreds of billions of years. Innumerable variables, sentient beings would be born and evolve.
However, the New Boat that the God-Becoming Guests occupied… could only persist for the duration of a few breaths. Moments later, it would return to the instant it broke free from the Mountains and Seas, only to falter like a candle in a gale. In mere moments, it would be utterly extinguished, only to be reset by the [True-False] power, returning to the moment of its departure. This cycle repeated endlessly.
If the God-Becoming Guests could indulge in complacency amidst the vast eons of the Mountains and Seas' reincarnation cycle, then on the New Boat, they were trapped in a perpetual cycle of death.
There was no hope, no future. Only endlessness.
In the cold, dead darkness, there was no concept of time. But from Zhang Fan's perspective, the candlelight had flickered repeatedly for millions upon millions of times.
From the millionth flicker, Zhang Fan had sensed a faint notion from his clone, a desire to seek liberation. But Zhang Fan’s reply was: "You are not permitted."
To exist within darkness meant one could not escape the inevitable decay. Fortunately, the continuous flickering of the New Boat's candlelight served as a warm anchor, greatly slowing Zhang Fan's own decay.
"Do not blame me. This is the only way to attempt survival," Zhang Fan’s thoughts would sometimes drift through his mind amidst his struggle in the darkness. Initially, he felt some guilt, but it quickly turned to resolute determination. "To escape fate, someone must make a sacrifice."
"Rest assured, as long as you wait for me, I will endure this darkness like a True God…"
With the candlelight as his anchor, Zhang Fan struggled for survival. Slowly, he came to a new understanding of the surrounding darkness. This was the universe's most primal, most fundamental, and ultimately, its first and final form. The place where all things are conceived and where all things perish.
"Even True Gods cannot alter this cycle of life and death. They can only use their [True-False] divine abilities to maintain their existence."
"If even Gods are like this, what can be said of others?"
"The myriad beings in the Mountains and Seas, and even the God-Becoming Guests, were merely emanations of a part of the God's power. Without the protection of [True-False], they could not last for even a moment."
"..."
The candlelight, acting as an anchor, could only delay the inexorable trend towards decay, not halt it. Zhang Fan again smelled the scent of his own decay.
"Sages, Mountains and Seas, God-Becoming Guests, Stars."
"All are but fleeting passersby on a grander stage, each taking their turn, vibrant and lively."
"But all eventually face their final bow."
"The only entity capable of reappearing from oblivion is the God."
"Because that is the [True-False] original anchor point."
Within his mind, thousands of voices rustled and spoke in unison. But Zhang Fan no longer felt the initial panic. He gazed at the distant candlelight, his thoughts struggling to maintain their tranquility.
"It's like the anchor point of oneself in the cycle of time."
"No matter what happens within the reincarnation, with a single thought, one will return to the predetermined moment."
"The God is truly the master of the Great Dao of [True-False]. His application of [True-False] surpasses mine. It does not require a conscious activation; as soon as everything perishes, fulfilling the condition of the God’s demise, it is triggered."
"Returning to the moment when the [True God] still existed, the initial anchor point in time."
"And the true environment of the universe is the absolute foundation upon which this plan will inevitably be executed."
"Even Gods themselves need [True-False] to survive. All other beings born from Gods naturally cannot escape this fate."
"No matter what, they will perish within [True-False], ushering in the return of the True God."
"My previous attempts to truly reflect, time and time again, were merely creating smaller cycles within a larger one."
"..."
The clamoring voices grew louder, making it difficult for Zhang Fan to think steadily. A sliver of despair arose instinctively in his heart. He was facing a dead end. To escape the cycle laid out by the True God, the only method he could conceive was to render [True-False] ineffective, to invalidate the True God’s anchor point. But Zhang Fan now knew that even [True-False] itself could not escape the changes of [True-False]. He was merely the temporary holder of the Great Dao of [True-False] after the True God's demise. How could he rewrite the rules of [True-False]?
"The only thing I can do is truly reflect, time and time again, to eke out a fleeting existence, just like…" Zhang Fan looked again at the candlelight not far away.
"The paths may differ, but the destination is the same. There is no difference."
Hundreds of billions of years of time, versus a few breaths. At first glance, one seemed an eternity, the other negligible. But if the number of cycles were infinite, then there was no difference between them. Both were merely pathetic creatures struggling endlessly.
"It is all meaningless…"
The scent of decay grew stronger, and Zhang Fan's will was gradually consumed by the rising cacophony.
"Enough. Go."
He permitted his clone, Zhang Xiaofan's, thought of seeking liberation. As the tiny candlelight, which had shone for hundreds of millions of times, finally extinguished, Zhang Fan’s annihilation arrived with even greater speed. Instinctively, he wanted to truly reflect, but countless images flashed through his mind, all of them his own past experiences, or those of his main body. Zhang Fan felt a sense of weariness.
"It is meaningless…"
Despair, an utter void, enveloped Zhang Fan, causing him to completely disregard the sense of crisis that came with impending annihilation. He calmly faced his death. His attention was no longer focused on himself, but on contemplating the previous True God, the master of [True-False].
Suddenly, Zhang Fan felt a subtle inkling that something was amiss.
"If everything is predetermined, then why did He go to such great lengths to capture me, an outsider, for what purpose?" Zhang Fan was instantly perplexed. Then, in a flash of understanding: "An outsider possesses a characteristic that even Gods lack: the ability to maintain personal change within the cycle of Return to Truth."
"Gods, just like all beings in the Mountains and Seas, tried to break free from this endless cycle. That is why I arrived."
"His objective…" Zhang Fan's thoughts raced, recalling many things. He recalled his main body scattering countless clones, seeking variables. He recalled the incomplete fragments within his own consciousness and memories.
"So that's how it is."
Zhang Fan should have felt anger. But at this moment, he was extraordinarily calm.
"To escape fate, someone must make a sacrifice." He mumbled, repeating the phrase. Earlier, he had said this to his clone, Zhang Xiaofan. This time, he was saying it to himself. Given Zhang Fan's nature, making such a decision was incredibly difficult. After much struggle, with furrowed brows, he finally relaxed.
"Then, I shall fall into the God’s end."
At this moment, Zhang Fan feared no death, for he knew that after his demise, his main body would surely reappear.
The overwhelming scent of decay finally consumed Zhang Fan. The clamoring voices ceased abruptly.
A God was born anew.
A God had returned.
As divinity manifested, all decay and clamor retreated. The True God revived, standing tall within the darkness, and all returned to their original state. Beyond the divinity, nothing else existed. The God seemed unsurprised by its own return, merely continuing its inherent mission. It moved with faltering steps through the darkness, as if meticulously searching for something. The abyss of night was so profound that even the God struggled to traverse it. The journey was long, without beginning or end. Gradually, the God began to decay, yet it remained indifferent to its impending demise, even harboring a hint of anticipation.
After the God was fully consumed by the darkness, an immeasurable time passed. A spark of light suddenly blazed, and the God reappeared from nothingness. This was the manifestation of "Truth and Falsehood." The newly awakened God stood frozen for a moment, seemingly recalling something. Soon, it sensed that something was amiss. Events had not unfolded as it had anticipated. Furthermore… something was missing. The God’s gaze instinctively swept into the darkness, but found nothing.
At that precise moment, a voice suddenly echoed within the God’s mind: "Are you looking for me?" It was Li Fan!
...
The perspective shifted to when Zhang Fan, using Zhen Shiyin, Jia Yuchun, Diaodiao, Zhanming, Pozhen, and Wangji as fuel, ignited the fire of "Truth and Falsehood." Within the world of "Transformations of the Gods," Li Fan sat cross-legged, observing what Zhang Fan observed and comprehending what Zhang Fan comprehended. His left eye was silver-gray, and his right eye was pale. The scene of mountains and seas, which was mere brushstrokes away from complete structural integrity, was instantly perfected.
"As expected, it's a great supplement!" Li Fan mused. "The guests who attained godhood are all extraordinary. Their perceptions and insights transcend mountains and seas, touching the shadows of divinity. Moreover, they retain some memory within the cycle of Return to Truth. If I were to forcibly seize it, it would undoubtedly require a difficult battle. But now, without much effort, they willingly offer everything! Merely for that illusory sliver of hope..."
He let out a cold scoff. "This is the reward for being changeable."
With the main body and clones comprehending the Dao simultaneously, all things became illusory, mountains and seas vanished, and the True God was about to return. Li Fan had little time left. In an instant, he experienced trillions of thoughts. His silver-gray and pale eyes seemed to pierce through countless cycles of reincarnation and infinite epochs, glimpsing the only possibility to break free from the predicament. He withdrew his gaze and turned to the Return to Truth phantom, which had been floating quietly.
"For countless cycles of reincarnation, you were the golden finger, entrusted to me. Now, it's time for a change." Li Fan chuckled softly. The Return to Truth phantom rippled faintly. It wasn't a response to Li Fan's words, but rather the increasingly powerful pull of the True God's return, making it difficult even for "Truth and Falsehood" to maintain its own stability. It was like playing music to a cow, yet Li Fan was unfazed. If Return to Truth had developed its own independent consciousness and spoken at this moment, his plan would have been altered.
"So-called Return to Truth originates from the True God's divine abilities. The transformation of 'Truth and Falsehood' is the cornerstone of the God's existence. Without the creation of 'Truth and Falsehood,' even the True God would be annihilated in this endless desolate darkness. But with the transformation of 'Truth and Falsehood,' the True God can be reborn from destruction time and time again. However..." Li Fan gazed at the True God in the darkness, which seemed to be revealing its ferocity. "Each rebirth of the God is not like my Return to Truth. It's more akin to an 'out-of-the-box' reset. The Great Dao of 'Truth and Falsehood' is too powerful as a cornerstone for the God's existence, affecting even 'Truth and Falsehood' itself, and even the True God. The True God, much like those guests who attained godhood in the mountains and seas, cannot escape the effects of the reset. At most, only a few vague memories remain. Immortal, yet fallen into endless reincarnation. The True God desires to break free from fate. Hence, my arrival as an outsider. This is the beginning of everything. Fortunately, I was not the one who endured the torment of endless reincarnation in the beginning. It was him, the so-called 'Shan Fan'."
"Shan Fan was captured and brought here, lost within the mountains and seas. Unaware of the truth, he witnessed the apocalyptic scenes of mountains and seas collapsing. Driven by instinct and emotion, he sought to 'save the world'..." Thinking of this, Li Fan let out a cold snort. "And he actually managed to achieve it step by step. Holding the divine blessing, comprehending 'Truth and Falsehood,' and creating 'Return to Truth.' He single-handedly averted disaster and propped up a collapsing world. Unfortunately, only after painstakingly repelling the 'Dao Erasure' and saving the mountains and seas did he discover the truth behind the scenes. The conflict between mountains and seas and Dao Erasure was merely a play orchestrated by the true 'Mountains and Seas' to attain godhood."
"This is what I previously deduced about Shan Fan's experiences. But..." Li Fan continued, "it's not the complete story yet. The thought of 'Return to Truth' can reset the mountains and seas. Shan Fan's comprehension of 'Truth and Falsehood' has reached its limit. 'Mountains and Seas' are not his match. There is one final segment of the past, not in my mind, but hidden within..." Li Fan pointed to the Return to Truth phantom. "...'Return to Truth.' Before comprehending 'Truth and Falsehood,' I was myself, and Return to Truth was Return to Truth. But after comprehending 'Truth and Falsehood'..."
"Return to Truth is I, and I am Return to Truth." Li Fan extended his hand, attempting to touch the Return to Truth phantom. The figure that had been constantly rippling suddenly seemed to gain support, stabilizing for a moment. It was as if melting snow merged with water, becoming one with Li Fan. "Truth and Falsehood originally belonged to the True God. But now, after comprehending 'Truth and Falsehood,' I can perfectly merge with it. This is because..." Li Fan's eyes flickered as he made a decision. "Shan Fan was once the True God!"
"However, I still need to make a final arrangement." Li Fan looked down at Zhang Fan, who was about to awaken from his enlightenment and charge towards them, a playful smile on his face. With a gentle flick of his finger, a figure almost identical to Li Fan materialized out of thin air. Its eyes ignored Li Fan, fixated only on Zhang Fan below, quietly awaiting his arrival. "Let you be the main body for now," Li Fan thought. He then ceased resisting, softly chanting the maxim forever etched on the Return to Truth panel: "When the true becomes false, the false also becomes true." His form, along with that of Return to Truth, began to fade simultaneously, eventually vanishing. Before his consciousness was swallowed by the darkness, he vaguely heard the "main body" exclaim, "Why aren't you returning!"
Subsequently, Li Fan seemed to lose his independent thoughts. Operating like a machine, he transformed into the Great Dao of 'Truth and Falsehood,' silently observing Zhang Fan's struggle. Simultaneously, he fulfilled the duties expected of 'Return to Truth.'
Until this moment. Zhang Fan perished, falling into the end of the God Return. The True God revived, decayed, and vanished once more. Everything returned to its original anchor point. Not Li Fan's original anchor point, but the True God's initial anchor point. However, unlike countless past cycles of reincarnation, besides the True God itself, another consciousness existed, manifested as "Truth and Falsehood"! The True God did not express anger at being deceived. It merely silently felt the mutated Great Dao of Truth and Falsehood within its being, as if making eye contact with Li Fan. Li Fan was also fearless. A natural boundary existed between God and mortal. Even if their eyes met, even if Li Fan had now transformed into "Return to Truth," becoming the God's "golden finger," he could not grasp the True God's thoughts. He only knew that Shan Fan had also reached this point. The next step would be to usurp the position, replacing the True God. By transforming into Return to Truth and returning to the original anchor point, he had stepped outside the cycle of reincarnation set by the True God. Replacing the True God was no longer an unattainable dream, but a tangible possibility. Unconcerned by the surrounding darkness, he let the True God bear its brunt. What Li Fan had to do next was... to gradually claim the True God for himself.
At this moment, Li Fan finally understood why Shan Fan, having reached this point, still chose to relinquish it. "Now I have transformed into 'Return to Truth,' I am in an unassailable position. Then, I only need to perform similar actions, occupy and assimilate everything the God possesses. When the God returns from decay, the God will disappear, and only I will remain."
"However..." Li Fan continued, "to assimilate all of the God's being means completely consuming everyone, everything, and all Dao within the mountains and seas that the God has known. Starting with Bai Shuyue, then Kou Hong, Dao Xuanzi, Xiao Heng, Zhang Haobo, He Zhenghao; Su Bai, the Doctrine Transmitter, the Heavenly Physician; Shouqiu, Lian Shan, Gui Hai, Tai Yi; the Angler, the Fate Severing Master, Xuanyuan Hong... The Great Xuan pocket world, the Xuanhuang Realm, the Primordial Era, the Other Shore, the Mountains and Seas, the Void Realm. Those who are assimilated by me will cease to exist when the cycle of mountains and seas begins anew. They will vanish completely. Although there might be people with the same names and surnames, they will no longer be them, but merely my clones."
"Killing all beings to achieve the ascendance of one. No wonder Shan Fan did not do it. But... if he didn't, I will!" Li Fan's will was resolute, as cold as iron. This was destined to be an incredibly long path. Each cycle, only one person, one Dao, or one object could be assimilated. But once corrupted and transformed by Li Fan, they would no longer belong to the God, but completely to Li Fan. Even upon returning to the God's original anchor point, it would be the same. Like ants moving house, no matter how vast the mountains and seas, they would eventually be hollowed out. And with the anchor point here, even if the True God wished to self-destruct, it could not. Even choosing mutual destruction would still lead back to the predetermined moment. The True God appeared unharmed, but internally, it had subtly changed.
"Then, let the cycle begin anew." Li Fan's will collided violently with the True God's will. The newly born True God faced division once more. Mountains and seas began to rise, and the cycle reappeared!
"Fan'er..." When Bai Shuyue's familiar voice once again reached his ears, Li Fan opened his eyes. Meeting Li Fan's gaze, Bai Shuyue was startled and recoiled in fear. "Fan'er, why are you..." Li Fan's expression was calm. "Aunt, my salvation begins with you." Bai Shuyue's body instantly stiffened. "When the true becomes false, the false also becomes true..." The phantom-like voice echoed endlessly. Li Fan's form completely faded amidst the mountains and seas, leaving behind only the existence named "Bai Shuyue," who was in reality "Li Fan."
"'I' have transformed into Return to Truth, I have transformed into Shu Yue, I have transformed into all things. In reality, there is no difference." "Bai Shuyue" looked towards the mountains and seas outside the Xuanhuang Realm and took a step forward, initiating Li Fan's god-devouring cycle. The God's demise was unstoppable. But when the God reappeared from destruction, things had changed. Besides "Truth and Falsehood," there was another presence within the God's being, stained with Li Fan's color. Although this presence was insignificant compared to the God, it foreshadowed the God's inevitable end.
The cycle began anew. In the endless and desolate darkness, the God was born and perished repeatedly. Like a flickering lamp, it would light up and extinguish. Even if each illumination lasted for hundreds of billions of years, when viewed on an immeasurable timescale, this vast duration would pass in the blink of an eye. When the mountains and seas once again welcomed the end of the God Return, the entire realm fell into a bizarre state. Facing impending doom, all living beings and all paths displayed no fear. Instead, they all succumbed to a state of confusion. The confusion gradually dissipated, transforming into fanaticism. Countless beings and all paths simultaneously roared with ecstatic cries: "It is time! It is time!" The calamity continued, and all beings returned to the God!
However, this time, the returning True God had a new identity: Li Fan. A vast expanse of time had passed since the first god-devouring cycle. To the point where Li Fan, having achieved his ultimate goal and successfully replaced the God, stood stunned for a long while before recalling the past. His heart was devoid of joy or sorrow, utterly calm. "Is this... is this the longevity I've always sought?" Upon becoming a God, his vision was vastly different from before. As if adapting, the surroundings were no longer completely black, but he could faintly discern the environment. Even though the darkness had slightly receded, the entire world was empty apart from him, stretching endlessly. After achieving all his goals, Li Fan no longer knew what to do. With the transformation of "Truth and Falsehood" and a will that could even surpass it, Li Fan could disregard the threat of the profound darkness and the decay of his divine form. He could exist eternally, but alone. Without companions, without anything to say. He simply stood in the darkness, wandering aimlessly.
"This..." Li Fan fell silent. Time continued to flow silently. In the darkness, the lamp representing Li Fan, flickering on and off, must have done so trillions upon trillions of times. Finally, Li Fan could bear it no longer. "This is so boring..." After a long sigh, Li Fan gazed forward. After a long pause, he made a decision. With a single thought, the mountains and seas, which had long vanished, reappeared! However, this time... they were not the same as the past. There was no longer the fear of falling into endless reincarnation, thus no disturbance from the void's Dao Erasure. Li Fan had recreated every cycle he had experienced. And amidst all the mountains and seas, Li Fan's figure was nowhere to be found.
Thus, within the Heavenly Profound Mirror, the Heavenly Physician's clone looked forward at the empty space before him, lost and bewildered. Outside the Xuanhuang Realm, the Heavenly Physician's main body, speeding along, also inexplicably paused. He was stunned, realizing he could not recall why he had desperately rushed back to the Xuanhuang Realm. It was as if he had forgotten something of utmost importance...
The Heavenly Physician, clad in a black robe, looked at his empty hands, a flicker of bewilderment in his eyes. Looking back at the long trail of destructive marks he had left, he frowned deeply. With a single thought, he swept across the Abyssal Star Sea. As his divine sense passed over the True Immortal meditating in the Immortal Ruins, it paused slightly. He showed a hint of hesitation before reaching out and lifting the skeletal figure of the Starving Immortal. Flying out of the The Great Barrier, he traversed a long, blank passage. As he looked up at the end, the Heavenly Physician's body stiffened abruptly, and the hand holding the Starving Immortal involuntarily loosened. He stood frozen on the spot. While the path he had taken was filled with Dao Erasure, for some reason, it was no longer there!
Meanwhile, the Sages of the Mountains and Seas, who were urgently pursuing Return to Truth, were suddenly momentarily bewildered. After a brief recovery, they all exclaimed in unison, stunned: "Where is the Mysterious Woman Great Dao? How has it vanished without a trace?" Only Xingfu, with a peculiar gleam in his eyes, lowered his head, frowning, and repeatedly pondered with confusion: "Is it... Return to Truth?" "What is Return to Truth?"
It wasn't just the mountains and seas. Li Fan had also created playgrounds for the Void's Dao Erasure and the Stars, separate from the mountains and seas, unseen by each other. The Stars, like a newborn sun, pierced the darkness. A ray of starlight reappeared, shining upon the world. But the starlight only lasted for a moment before it seemed to sense Li Fan's gaze. The brilliance suddenly dimmed, terrified into not revealing itself in the slightest.
"Hahahahaha, fascinating, fascinating!" Li Fan's long-dead heart finally revived. He felt a joy he hadn't experienced in ages. "As the saying goes, returning home in brocade robes is like walking in the night – who would know! To become a God alone, how utterly boring!" "I want my name to resound throughout this vast ocean!" Although with his current status and cultivation, he could change anything with a thought, what fun would that be? He wanted to do it himself! Li Fan clasped his hands behind his back, walked with an air of pride into the newborn mountains and seas. At that very moment, Li Fan suddenly froze. He looked at the mountains and seas before him, now brimming with life and free from the threat of destruction, and then at the familiar faces within them. The figure of Shan Fan flashed in his mind, and a realization dawned upon him: "I schemed against Zhang Fan, but Shan Fan would not scheme against me. Because he knew that if I succeeded, given my temperament, I would surely be unable to endure the torment of endless darkness. Whether for amusement or out of sheer boredom, I would eventually recreate these mountains and seas. Perhaps this is..." "His last act of tenderness for these mountains and seas."